Her brother’s words still seemed to echo in her ears.
Gradually pulling herself out of her thoughts, Shen Bingci finally tried to look properly at the man before her.
He was…
extremely handsome.
In her more than twenty years of life, she had never seen anyone like him. He was like a clear mountain and a bright moon. Compared to him, everyone else was insignificant—not even worthy of being called the stars surrounding him.
For a brief moment, it felt as though something had lifted her spirits.
Even if she were to marry the man before her, it would still be better than marrying a man she had never met.
If she could somehow create some connection with him…
At the very least, she wouldn’t be the one at a disadvantage. Maybe she could even use it to ruin the arranged marriage.
“Sir,” Shen Bingci said with a smile as she stood up politely. “Are you here to see Mr. Sang?”
The message on Xie Yuli’s phone had indeed directed him here. Shen Jinbai would arrive shortly.
As for the woman before him—
He had seen her photos before.
In fact, throughout Beijing, Hong Kong, and Macau, there was hardly anyone who didn’t recognize her.
Third Princess Shen had grown up in the public eye. Even her childhood ceremony of choosing symbolic objects had been broadcast nationwide. Who wouldn’t know her?
This was probably his father’s arrangement—to let him, Shen Bingci, and Shen Bingci’s brother become familiar with one another through this opportunity.
Although he and the Shen family were about to become relatives through marriage, this wasn’t ancient times where engaged couples couldn’t meet before marriage.
Still, the feeling of being arranged made him uncomfortable.
Thinking of that, a shadow briefly passed through Xie Yuli’s eyes.
His expression remained calm and refined as bamboo.
“Yes,” he replied with a polite nod.
Xie Yuli sat down on the sofa beside her.
He looked like a perfectly sculpted Greek statue, pleasing and dazzling to the eye.
Yet his demeanor remained indifferent.
He showed no intention of chatting with her.
From time to time, he lowered his gaze to check his watch.
Shen Bingci immediately recognized it.
Only three of that watch existed in the world.
Its value started at fifty million yuan.
The silver watch rested against his pale wrist. His prominent wrist bones and the faint green veins on the back of his hand drew her gaze repeatedly.
Thinking about her engagement, Shen Bingci secretly gritted her teeth and encouraged herself.
Since he could appear here and possessed such an extraordinary bearing, he was undoubtedly someone of status.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t be treating her with such calm indifference.
“Sir, you look somewhat familiar. May I know your name?”
She smiled charmingly before introducing herself.
“My name is Shen Bingci. I’d like to be friends with you.”
Familiar?
With him?
Xie Yuli replied calmly,
“I’m nobody important.”
His voice was cool and jade-like, his manners impeccable.
It seemed that his fiancée truly did not recognize him.
Yet she wanted to become acquainted with a strange man.
For some reason, a faint emotion stirred within his heart.
It was very slight.
Like a feather brushing lightly against his chest.
Shen Bingci clearly hadn’t expected rejection.
Did he not recognize her?
Logically speaking, nobody here should fail to recognize her.
She had grown up beneath the spotlight of media attention.
Though not a celebrity, she held a status in the public eye that surpassed many celebrities. Backed by power and influence, she was someone people admired and envied.
She hesitated.
By nature, she wasn’t particularly outgoing.
Most of her social interactions required effort.
And now, after gathering the courage to extend a hand of friendship to a complete stranger, he had refused.
It felt like a direct blow to her pride.
“I think you’re elegant and refined. You seem like someone easy to get along with.”
She maintained her smile.
“I like interacting with people like you. I’m only asking to be friends. Are you really going to refuse?”
She wasn’t asking him to marry into her family.
Why was he acting so cautious?
As though she were some dangerous predator.
Xie Yuli lifted his gaze slightly.
His eyelids were thin, his eyes long and sharp.
When he looked at someone directly, there was an intimidating edge to him that made eye contact difficult.
In a low voice, he addressed her.
“Miss Shen.”
“If we become friends, what kind of relationship do you want with me afterward?”
The question struck directly at her hidden intentions.
Her eyes widened.
She could hardly believe he had actually said it aloud.
At that moment, the door opened.
Shen Jinbai entered in a black suit, looking slightly hurried.
The moment he saw Xie Yuli, he adjusted his expression and immediately stepped forward to shake hands.
“I didn’t expect you to arrive so quickly. My apologies, Mr. Xie. Traffic delayed me.”
Xie Yuli stood and returned the handshake.
His manners were flawless, his expression gentle.
“It’s fine. I haven’t been waiting long.”
Shen Bingci remained frozen.
She still hadn’t recovered from the previous shock.
This scene hit her even harder.
“Brother… do you know him?”
Her voice sounded distant even to herself.
Shen Jinbai’s expression paled slightly.
The first thing he did was offer Xie Yuli an apologetic look.
After all, it was indeed improper that his own sister didn’t recognize her fiancé.
“Bingci.”
He turned toward her.
“This is Xie Yuli.”
“Your fiancé.”
Shen Bingci’s lips parted slightly.
She stared blankly at Xie Yuli.
Unable to say a single word.