The guests’ blessings were far too enthusiastic, and Xie Wanshi could barely keep up.
Fortunately, not many people had been invited.
After all, their circle was only so large, and very few people were qualified to attend an event at the Xie residence.
Xie Yanxun had not returned to the country in a long time.
He had been overseas expanding the family’s international markets and was usually so busy he barely had time for phone calls.
But for his third sister’s birthday, he had pushed aside countless work matters to come back.
“Wanshi, drink less.”
“If you get drunk, I won’t take care of you tonight.”
Xie Yanxun frowned.
Xie Wanshi clinked glasses with a guest and was about to drink, but her wrist was firmly caught by her second brother.
Xie Yanxun gave the guests a polite smile and pulled her behind him.
“Sorry, everyone. My sister has had too much to drink. I’ll take her to sober up.”
With a cold expression, he dragged Xie Wanshi back to the lounge.
She was dizzy and clearly drunk.
Letting him do as he pleased, she looked like a delicate doll.
Her wrist lay soft and weak in his palm.
Unable to pull her steadily, Xie Yanxun had no choice but to support her by the shoulders.
Once inside, he closed the door with one arm and tossed her onto the sofa.
She immediately slumped sideways.
“Xie Wanshi, you really don’t listen anymore.”
He sighed deeply and called for sobering soup to be delivered.
Then he tugged at his tie, feeling irritated.
His sister always missed him.
She often called him, begging him to come home, saying she hadn’t seen him in so long and wanted to talk to him.
She even cried over the phone.
And now?
Xie Yanxun patted her face and called her name.
No response.
She only giggled foolishly.
His head ached.
“Xie Wanshi.”
His profile looked cold.
“Don’t call me by my full name!”
“I don’t like it!”
Xie Wanshi whined and kicked her legs on the sofa.
With that movement, the strap of her dress slipped from her shoulder, revealing much of her fair skin.
Her cheeks were flushed.
Her hair was messy.
For a moment, Xie Yanxun’s brows twitched.
He clenched his fingers before slowly calling her by her nickname.
“Shishi.”
“What happened today?”
“You drank too much.”
Xie Wanshi pouted, her orange-tinted lips pressed together.
Opening her eyes slightly, she looked almost like a little rogue.
“You still have the nerve to ask me?”
“What I do is none of your business.”
“Don’t you love going abroad so much?”
“Then don’t come back!”
“Why did you even come back?”
Xie Yanxun skillfully caught her wrist and rubbed the tender skin gently.
“I went abroad for work.”
“Stop making trouble.”
“There you go again, saying I’m making trouble!”
“I’m not making trouble!”
“You don’t understand me at all!”
Xie Wanshi lost her temper and started hitting him.
She even kicked him with her long legs.
Knowing she wouldn’t stop once she got angry, Xie Yanxun simply let her vent.
He let her hit him.
Let her kick him.
Let her lose her temper.
Only when she finally ran out of strength did he reach out and hold her slender ankle.
“Shishi.”
“Have you calmed down?”
Creak—
The door opened.
It was Xie Yanxun’s assistant, Tang Yuchao.
The moment he entered, he saw the beautiful and delicate Third Miss Xie lying on the sofa with a flushed face, while her long leg was held in Xie Yanxun’s hand.
Xie Yanxun’s face was cold.
But Tang Yuchao knew that hidden deep in his eyes was an affection no one else could see.
Not daring to look any longer, Tang Yuchao lowered his head and walked in.
He placed a bowl of sobering soup and several boxes of medicine on the table.
“President Xie, everything is here.”
Xie Yanxun did not bother avoiding his own assistant.
He had already pulled a blanket over Xie Wanshi.
His cold expression remained unchanged.
“Leave it on the table.”
“Close the door when you go.”
Tang Yuchao nodded.
As he closed the door, he saw Xie Yanxun blowing on the hot sobering soup, preparing to feed her personally.
Expressionlessly, he shut the door.
Shen Bingci’s hand trembled.
She nearly dropped Xie Yuli’s phone.
At the same time, she bit her honey-colored lower lip.
Her heart pounded wildly.
“Miss Shen, what’s wrong?”
The man’s steady voice sounded like jade falling onto a plate.
It made warmth stir in her chest.
Shen Bingci quickly handed the phone back to him and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Nothing.”
She cleared her throat, hoping he wouldn’t notice anything unusual.
It was only a contact name.
Why was she reacting so strongly?
Xie Yuli accepted the phone calmly.
He swiped across the screen, opened a contact, and typed a few words.
Shen Bingci tried to detect any embarrassment from him.
But there was none.
He was completely composed.
Even the contact name he had given her was open, direct, and almost proud.
As though he wanted everyone to know she was his fiancée.
In his private contacts, he called her Fiancée.
Yet in front of her, he had never called her that even once.
He followed proper boundaries.
Maintained distance.
Protected the relationship.
Every action was faultless.
He was so open that she, by comparison, felt guilty.
Thinking of how she had saved his contact simply as Xie Yuli, and had even once considered adding old-fashioned man after his name…
She decided to forget it.
Her gaze fell on the dark green diamond cuff button at his wrist.
Against his pale skin, it looked fresh and luminous.
But for some reason, she thought—
With skin so fair and wrists so beautiful, a bright translucent red might suit him even more.
There were a few shops whose cuff buttons she had always liked.
Perhaps she could look at the men’s styles later.
After all, she couldn’t always let Xie Yuli be the one giving.
That would make it seem like she only knew how to accept his kindness.
Feelings should be mutual.
She hoped Xie Yuli could also feel her sincerity.
“Let’s go.”
“My parents are waiting for you.”
Xie Yuli made a gentlemanly gesture.
Shen Bingci smiled and thanked him.
She focused only on walking forward.
She didn’t notice that the hem of her pink dress had caught on a corner.
Walking behind her, Xie Yuli reached out in time and gently freed the fabric.
She didn’t stop.
Her posture was excellent.
Her shoulders and back were slim and straight.
Her skin was white as porcelain.
Her heels clicked softly against the floor.
When she was happy, she even swayed slightly as she walked.
Xie Yuli carried the hem of her pink dress the entire way.
His gaze fell on the soft white skin at the back of her neck.
His eyes darkened quietly.
He had heard she danced ballet.
Now he believed it.
Even when walking, she looked proud like a white peacock.
There was not a single flaw on her.
Even standing so close, close enough to see the soft pale fuzz at the back of her neck, he couldn’t find any imperfection.
She was simply fair.
And fragrant.
The strong scent of peaches filled his senses.
Xie Yuli blinked slowly.
Even his mind seemed to soften.
He did not like the backless design of her dress.
It meant anyone could glimpse her exposed skin.
Anyone could see her graceful figure, her slender waist, and her fair body like a pure jasmine flower.
His thoughts returned to the information he had gathered on Shen Bingci.
Her life was dazzling like a diamond.
Brilliant beyond what ordinary people could reach in a lifetime.
No lows.
No stains.
Only one peak after another.
And most importantly—
The point he cared about most—
Her romantic life was completely clean.
Not a single scandal.
That was the key reason he had agreed to the marriage.
Ex-boyfriends, current boyfriends, or a man she loved—
None of that was acceptable to him.
Not only would it be troublesome, forcing him to clean up endless messes…
More importantly, it would disgust him.
Shen Bingci fully met his standards.
As though she had been chosen especially for him.
Feeding Xie Wanshi medicine proved difficult.
Xie Yanxun had to hold her still with one hand while feeding her with the other.
The delicate little princess of the Xie family had a bad temper.
Especially in front of him.
In front of their eldest brother, however, she was unbelievably obedient.
That often irritated him.
And it irritated him now.
Xie Wanshi was held in his arms.
One moment she leaned left.
The next she leaned right.
Then she threw her leg over him and rubbed against him.
After several rounds, Xie Yanxun’s hair had been messed up by her.
“Xie Wanshi.”
“The Xie and Shen families are about to discuss Eldest Brother’s marriage.”
“Are you planning to meet him like this?”
In an instant, she stopped moving.
As if he had touched some sensitive nerve.
Weak and dizzy, she punched his chest lightly.
“Second Brother…”
“If you dare tell Eldest Brother on me, I won’t forgive you.”
Xie Yanxun sighed.
He brought a spoonful of medicine to her lips.
His eyes darkened slightly.
“Then behave and drink.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll behave.”
“I’ll be good.”
Xie Wanshi drank the medicine in small sips.
Silent, Xie Yanxun fed her spoon by spoon.
From time to time, he wiped the corners of her mouth.
His instructions were expressionless.
“Mom and Dad will be there later.”
“Don’t act improperly in front of them.”
Xie Wanshi nodded quickly like a little rattle drum.
She immediately understood what he meant.
In front of their parents, she had to behave like a proper young lady.
She couldn’t act the same way she did with him—
No rules.
No boundaries.
Constantly hitting and kicking him.
That would be far too undignified.
Second Brother must mean that.
Xie Yuli held the hem of Shen Bingci’s dress all the way until they entered the room.
Only then did he slowly let it fall.
The motion was tiny.
Almost no one would have noticed it.
But Shen Jingqian loved observing details.
Originally, he had merely wanted to observe Xie Yuli’s expression.
Unexpectedly, he found something even better.
He gave Lan Shixi a look.
She instantly understood.
After seeing Xie Yuli release Shen Bingci’s dress hem, both of them smiled in satisfaction.
They had originally thought Xie Yuli was too aloof and noble to ever bow his head for someone.
Now it seemed that wasn’t true.
The two families were gathered.
Only the second son of the Shen family was absent.
He was too busy and truly couldn’t make it.
He had already apologized to his parents in advance.
Xie Wanshi and Xie Yanxun arrived late.
She walked in front.
He followed behind.
Even after sobering soup, medicine, and rest, Xie Wanshi still walked a little unsteadily.
Xie Yanxun stayed behind her, watching carefully.
The moment they entered, Xie Yuli knew his sister had been drinking.
And his second brother had clearly known and allowed it.
Xie Chenqiao’s expression naturally darkened.
The in-laws were present today.
Yet these two juniors had arrived late and kept both families waiting.
“Yanxun.”
“What’s going on?”
“Why are you so late?”
“Didn’t you know both families were waiting for you?”
Xie Wanshi was about to admit her mistake.
She had been too happy that her second brother had returned, so she drank a few extra glasses.
Delaying such an important matter was her fault.
But before she could speak, Xie Yanxun stepped forward and apologized.
“My apologies, Father and Mother.”
“My apologies, Uncle Shen and Aunt Lan.”
“I haven’t returned to the country for many years, so I pulled my sister aside to catch up.”
“We spent too much time talking.”
“I’m truly sorry.”
Xie Chenqiao remained silent.
The atmosphere grew heavier.
The Shen family, however, didn’t mind.
They were only ten minutes late.
And everyone present was perceptive enough to see the truth at a glance.
Third Miss Xie had clearly drunk too much, and her brother was covering for her.
What else could it be?
Shen Jingqian was about to smooth things over.
After all, they couldn’t leave a junior standing awkwardly like this.
But Xie Yuli stood first.
“It’s understandable that Second Brother has been overseas for years.”
“It was also my fault for not sending someone to remind them in time.”
“Father, Mother, Uncle Shen, Aunt Lan, please forgive us.”
Xie Yuli apologized formally.
“After today, I’ll speak with Second Brother properly.”
“This won’t happen again.”
He took the fault upon himself.
Shen Bingci hadn’t expected that.
She looked at him in surprise.
She had thought he was a cold, distant eldest brother.
Apparently not.
Shen Jingqian took the initiative to ease the situation.
“It’s normal for young siblings to catch up.”
“We understand.”
“Young people always have plenty to talk about.”
“And they’re close siblings. Naturally, they wanted to spend time together.”
“We don’t mind.”
Hearing those words, Xie Yanxun’s gaze darkened further.
Xie Chenqiao and Ling Qinglian’s expressions also shifted slightly, though they quickly returned to normal.
“Good son-in-law.”
“Sit down and talk.”
Xie Yuli looked over calmly and smiled.
“Thank you for your understanding, Uncle Shen.”
Everyone present understood the weight of the words good son-in-law.
This was Shen Jingqian giving Xie Yuli and the Xie family reassurance.
It meant the marriage between the two families was certain.
Otherwise, given how sought-after Shen Bingci was, the Xie family would still have had to put in considerable effort.
There were far too many people who wanted to marry her.
Hearing her father’s words, Shen Bingci shyly looked toward Shen Jingqian.
She even seemed to pout a little.
Lan Shixi smiled at her indulgently.
Honestly.
Her father was too direct.
They weren’t even married yet.
How could he say it so openly?
Shen Bingci pressed her lips together and lowered her head.
Her whole body felt warm.
Beside her, Shen Jinbai coughed softly.
“Mind your image.”
“Your fiancé is looking at you.”
His precious little sister was wonderful in every way.
Except her face hid absolutely nothing.
It always worried him.
Shen Bingci quickly looked over.
Sure enough, Xie Yuli was looking at her.
Directly.
Openly.
Without any intention of hiding it.
He admired her.
Respected her.
And gave her his full attention.
At that moment, the lighting was perfect.
As though the entire world favored him.
The man stood elegant and refined, like an immortal descended to earth.
“Being able to become engaged to the distinguished Miss Shen is the greatest honor of my life.”
“Please rest assured.”
“I will take good care of Miss Shen.”
Inside her heart, waves surged like a roaring sea.
Along with the rising tide came Xie Yuli’s open and solemn promise.
It struck directly at the softest part of her heart.
Leaving her unable to recover for a long time.
In that instant, her eyes held only him.
Everyone else seemed to blur into the background.
For the first time, she saw Xie Yuli with such an expression.
Solemn.
Serious.
Elegant.
Proud.
And at the same time—
Filled with a tender indulgence meant only for her.