The subsequent meeting with the Sang family was private and brief.
Any occasion where Xie Yuli appeared was strictly controlled in terms of attendance. Only a handful of people were allowed to be present.
Xie Yuli fulfilled all proper social courtesies.
He was not a talkative man.
Most of the time, he remained silent, making it impossible to determine his preferences or thoughts.
He was difficult to read.
People like him were often dangerous.
What could not be understood could not be controlled.
Most people instinctively kept their distance.
Shen Bingci came from a distinguished family.
Receiving a personal invitation from Xie Yuli was already an extraordinary honor.
She understood that.
Originally, she had thought he was someone capable of warmth and consideration.
But once the formal gathering began, he returned to his usual cold and detached demeanor.
He neither participated in flattery nor joined the lively conversations.
Still, she had to admit one thing.
Xie Yuli possessed an exceptionally pleasant voice.
Clear as cool jade.
Smooth and captivating.
Deep, magnetic, and capable of making one’s heart itch.
Sang Shiqing’s father, Sang Shan, teased them.
“I’ve heard that the Xie and Shen families are about to become relatives. Looking at the two of you, you’re truly a perfect match.”
Shen Bingci lowered her head in embarrassment.
The news had spread far too quickly.
Seeing her reaction, Shen Jinbai smiled fondly and patted her shoulder.
“Uncle Sang, please stop teasing her. Look at our timid little girl—she can’t even raise her head anymore.”
Shen Bingci disliked feeling this way.
Why was she embarrassed?
Sneaking a glance at Xie Yuli, she discovered that his expression had not changed at all.
He remained as elegant and distant as morning mist.
Standing tall and noble.
As though he had merely heard something entirely ordinary.
“You’re too kind, Uncle Sang.”
It sounded as though they were discussing someone else.
At that moment, the warmth and excitement she had been feeling suddenly faded.
This was her fiancé.
Her future husband.
The man she would spend the rest of her life with.
The reason she had resisted the engagement was because she had never met Xie Yuli.
Instinctively, she wanted to reject him.
She didn’t like him.
So why should she marry him?
But now that she had seen him…
Other than being somewhat quiet and old-fashioned, she truly loved his face.
Then she began wondering about him.
Did he like her appearance?
Did he like her as a person?
Did he want to marry her?
The answer seemed obvious.
No.
To him, she was equally a stranger.
And strangers did not inspire affection.
The night grew late.
After handling all his obligations, Xie Yuli finally got into his car.
His long fingers pinched the bridge of his nose as he said quietly,
“Uncle Chen, let’s go.”
Uncle Chen had watched him grow up.
He was both Xie Yuli’s trusted butler and closest assistant.
The moment Xie Yuli entered the car, everything was already arranged according to his preferences.
The temperature was perfect.
The air carried the cedarwood fragrance he liked.
Knowing he disliked coffee, a cup of Longjing tea had been prepared instead.
“Young Master, your father called earlier.”
Uncle Chen turned the steering wheel smoothly.
“He asked whether you’ve met Madam yet.”
Xie Yuli had been resting with his eyes closed.
At the question, he slowly opened them.
His cool gaze sharpened slightly.
“She hasn’t married into the family yet.”
“Don’t confuse her status.”
Uncle Chen immediately responded,
“Yes, sir. My apologies. I spoke carelessly.”
The lights from the street illuminated Xie Yuli’s sharp features, deepening the shadows beneath his brows.
His expression remained calm.
Closing his eyes once more, he relaxed into the familiar scent of cedar.
The peach fragrance from earlier tonight had been far too strong.
Too overwhelming.
Too capable of invading his senses.
He disliked feeling out of control.
“I met her.”
He finally answered.
No one understood Xie Yuli better than Uncle Chen.
Xie Yuli valued etiquette and discipline.
He would never reprimand someone over a simple mistake unless he was genuinely angry.
And when he truly became angry…
The consequences were something most people could neither endure nor imagine.
After taking control of the family, the young master had ruthlessly restructured the Xie family.
At twenty years old, he had already controlled most of the Xie Group’s power.
The resulting dissatisfaction within the family had been immense.
Yet after three years of relentless and terrifying political cleansing, nobody dared question him again.
Xie Yuli stood at the peak of power.
His background was unmatched.
His abilities were frightening.
He was regarded as a godlike figure in Hong Kong.
An unattainable moon admired by countless people.
And yet, despite all that, he sometimes apologized first and never abused his status.
“Good. It’s good that you’ve met her.”
Uncle Chen smiled sincerely.
“Chairman Xie was worried you wouldn’t come. Fortunately, you arrived in time. Both your father and mother were very happy.”
Truthfully, Xie Yuli had never objected to the marriage.
To him, it was simply a powerful alliance.
By marrying Third Miss Shen of Beijing, the Xie and Shen families would unite.
The balance of power across the country—and even internationally—would be reshaped.
It was beneficial to everyone involved.
Anything that benefited the family and the Xie clan was something he was willing to do.
After all, all he had to do was marry a stranger and spend the rest of his life with her.
The sacrifice was far smaller than the rewards.
“You’ll be fortunate to marry Miss Shen.”
His father had said those words with obvious satisfaction.
When Xie Yuli first heard the news, he remained completely calm.
It felt no different from making a business decision.
He simply replied,
“Understood.”
“I will marry Shen Bingci.”
As the eldest son of the Xie family and its future leader, this was his responsibility.
At first, he thought nothing of it.
Yet as discussions progressed, things began to feel strange.
His parents constantly mentioned a young woman named Shen Bingci.
As a result, he found himself researching her through every possible channel.
Online.
Offline.
Through every source available.
He needed to meet her.
Build a relationship with her.
Establish good ties with her family.
For his entire life, the family had planned a single path for him.
Now, another person had been tied to that path.
A woman.
A woman seven years younger than him.
What gradually irritated him was his parents’ insistence that he become familiar with her as quickly as possible.
That expectation made him restless.
After all, Shen Bingci had never once sought him out after learning about the engagement.
Yet he was expected to approach her.
More shocking still—
Until a few hours ago, she didn’t even recognize him.
But he was her fiancé.
Shouldn’t she have done what he did?
Shouldn’t she have searched for information about her future husband?
Shouldn’t she have browsed through his admittedly boring news articles?
Clearly, she had made no effort to understand him.
Instead, despite knowing she had a fiancé, she had approached a complete stranger and asked to be friends.
And today—
She had dressed beautifully.
There was nothing inherently wrong with that.
But when he heard her words, his first instinct had been to frown.
He simply chose not to show it.
A gentleman did not display irritation openly.
Others often said his expression became frightening when he was unhappy.
He had no desire to accidentally intimidate her.
And then?
After revealing his identity, she barely reacted.
Instead of speaking to him directly, she let her brother handle everything while she sat quietly in the background.
And after that?
Her attention became entirely focused on the emerald necklace.
Was he really less interesting than a piece of jewelry?
At that thought, Xie Yuli frowned slightly.
His father’s messages continued to arrive.
He casually opened his phone and glanced at a few of them.
[Father]: Treat Bingci well in the future. I’ve heard she’s been pampered since childhood. You’re her fiancé, so remember to indulge her a little and build a good relationship with her.
Xie Yuli loosened his tie slightly.
Turning his head toward the neon-lit city outside the window, his profile appeared sharp and cold.
Then, in a low and magnetic voice, he said:
“Help me look for some jewelry lately.”
After a brief pause, he added:
“Preferably something related to jade.”