Xie Yuli was always composed and dignified.
No matter what happened, he remained calm and unshaken, his expression unchanged, steady and courteous. He gave Shen Bingci a slight nod, formally greeting her for the first time.
“Miss Shen, hello. I’m Xie Yuli.”
The meaning behind that expression was clear:
Hello, I am your fiancé.
Xie Yuli.
So this was the man everyone praised to the heavens—the most powerful figure in Hong Kong.
His name represented power, status, influence, and elegance.
He was the dazzling existence everyone admired and pursued.
So he had recognized her all along.
He had known she was his fiancée.
Yet moments ago, he had pretended not to know her.
Why?
Probably because he wanted to watch her make a fool of herself.
Shen Bingci felt thoroughly embarrassed.
She couldn’t find the words to speak.
Only after her brother’s reminder did she finally regain her senses and reluctantly return his gaze.
The rest of the conversation was mostly between Shen Jinbai and Xie Yuli.
Xie Yuli remained polite yet distant.
Most of the time he listened in silence, occasionally responding appropriately when necessary.
Shen Bingci could tell they weren’t particularly familiar.
He was merely being courteous.
Still, Xie Yuli handled everything flawlessly.
No one could find fault with his behavior.
And she finally understood why everyone praised him.
He truly considered every detail.
“This meeting was arranged rather hastily. Once I’m finished with my current commitments, I will definitely pay a formal visit.”
Xie Yuli expressed his apologies.
His features remained cool and elegant.
His back was straight as a pine tree.
The Windsor knot of his tie suited him perfectly.
Everything about him embodied refinement.
Naturally, Shen Jinbai was extremely satisfied with this future brother-in-law.
“You’re too polite, Mr. Xie. When the time comes, I’ll have Bingci show you around Beijing. The scenery is wonderful, and there are plenty of interesting places to visit.”
Receiving the signal from her brother, Shen Bingci noticed Xie Yuli’s gaze shift toward her.
It was as though he was waiting for her decision.
The impression he gave was simple:
Whatever she chose to do, he would handle it perfectly.
“I… understand.”
Her voice was weak.
She truly wasn’t in the mood.
Still, she offered Xie Yuli a polite smile.
“Please forgive me, Mr. Xie. I’m just a young girl. The places I enjoy might seem childish to you. I hope you won’t mind.”
In truth, her words sounded rather distant.
After all, they were engaged.
Their elders had intentionally arranged this meeting so they could become closer.
But Shen Bingci was clearly trying to keep her distance.
Xie Yuli’s expression didn’t change.
She was twenty-two this year.
He was already twenty-nine.
A seven-year age gap.
There really could be a generation gap between them.
To him, it sounded as though she was implying he was old.
“Then I’ll have to trouble Miss Shen when the time comes.”
His tone remained gentle.
“I trust your taste.”
When Xie Yuli spoke, he was actually quite warm.
He was naturally aloof and possessed a cold appearance, so during social interactions he always paid careful attention to his expression.
He disliked causing misunderstandings or appearing discourteous.
As someone highly perceptive, Shen Jinbai immediately understood the underlying meaning.
He deliberately glanced at his sister.
“I’m twenty-seven, yet I can still visit the places you like.”
Shen Bingci became even more frustrated.
She hadn’t meant to mock Xie Yuli’s age.
But now that she thought about it carefully, he really was twenty-nine.
Almost thirty.
The difference between them was indeed quite large.
She loved eating, drinking, dancing, and having fun.
Would he really enjoy going to bars with her?
She had only been trying to prepare him in advance.
They weren’t even married yet, and her brother was already taking his side.
Hmph.
She didn’t want to talk to her brother anymore.
At that moment, an assistant entered the room carrying a square box.
He glanced at Xie Yuli with a hesitant expression.
Just as Xie Yuli was about to excuse himself, Shen Jinbai spoke first.
“It’s fine. We’re all family here. You can say it directly.”
Xie Yuli looked at him calmly before leaning back into his seat.
The assistant nodded.
“This is the final auction item purchased at the Bakafi Auction House some time ago. It has just been delivered. Please take a look.”
The item was a European emerald necklace.
A century-old one-of-a-kind treasure.
A piece famous enough to be recorded in European history books.
Rumor had it that a mysterious billionaire had bid without limit to acquire it.
Coincidentally, Jiang Yan—who had competed fiercely against Shen Jinbai for the necklace—had once publicly declared:
“If I ever find out who stole the jewelry I intended to give my girlfriend, we’re enemies for life!”
Jiang Yan considered that person his mortal rival.
People throughout their social circle had been trying to discover the buyer, hoping to earn Jiang Yan’s favor.
Yet now, standing before the unfamiliar Xie Yuli, Shen Jinbai showed no hesitation.
He opened the box and inspected the necklace personally.
“The quality is excellent.”
Then he glanced toward Xie Yuli with a smile.
“Mr. Xie, you have extensive knowledge. Why don’t you help me confirm whether this necklace has been switched?”
It was a gesture of goodwill.
Xie Yuli politely declined the praise before standing to examine the piece.
“It’s authentic.”
“I want to see too.”
Naturally, Shen Bingci hurried over.
Suddenly, a fluffy head appeared within Xie Yuli’s peripheral vision, tilting left and right with lively curiosity.
The intoxicating scent of peaches from her body drifted into his senses.
It lingered around him, almost occupying all of his attention.
Focused entirely on the necklace, Shen Bingci accidentally brushed his left arm with her fair arm.
Without drawing attention to it, Xie Yuli quietly stepped half a pace to the right.
As expected.
She was still just a young girl.
The moment she saw beautiful jewelry, she couldn’t resist.
Inside the box, the emerald gleamed with brilliant green light.
The necklace shimmered like waves upon the sea.
A century of power, prestige, and history seemed to have settled within it.
Every inch of it radiated supreme elegance.
No wonder it was considered a one-of-a-kind treasure.
It truly was beautiful.
Shen Bingci examined it from every angle before nodding in satisfaction.
“It’s really beautiful. No wonder my brother spent so much money on it.”
Xie Yuli quietly watched her smile.
This smile was genuine.
Unlike the polite, forced smile she had worn earlier.
Now she was radiant as a blooming rose.
Bright and fresh, with dewdrops still clinging to the petals.
Her cheeks flushed faintly.
Shy and charming.
Shen Jinbai signaled the assistant to put the necklace away.
“Perfect. Since Mr. Xie is here, I can formally entrust it to you.”
One of Xie Yuli’s brows lifted slightly.
Shen Jinbai explained:
“I heard that Third Miss Xie is celebrating her birthday next week. Consider this an early gift.”
“I originally planned to deliver it on the day itself, but transporting it back and forth would attract too much attention. It’s safer to give it directly to you now.”
“In that case, I’ll thank you on her behalf.”
Xie Yuli accepted without hesitation.
This was a gift from his future brother-in-law.
Naturally, he would accept it.
Taking the opportunity, he also conveyed a message regarding his sister’s birthday banquet.
“My father’s invitations haven’t arrived yet, but since we’re already here, I’d like to formally invite both of you. I hope you’ll honor us with your presence.”
His elegant gaze landed on the slightly bewildered Shen Bingci.
Specifically, he added:
“Miss Shen, I look forward to seeing you there.”
The words escaped her before she could think.
“Why?”
Shen Jinbai nearly rolled his eyes.
Why?
Because he was her fiancé.
When would she finally remember that?
Bathed in the soft glow above him, Xie Yuli seemed almost unreal.
The light gilded his features with a faint golden hue.
His appearance was cold and pristine, like blue ice hidden within mist.
His sharp Adam’s apple moved slightly as he spoke.
For a moment, she thought she saw heaven’s favoritism embodied in a single person.
“If you come, it would be my honor.”
His voice was calm and sincere.
“I would be very happy.”
This was her fiancé.
Her future husband.
The man she would have to face for the rest of her life.