Wen Xuxue nodded. “Let’s go, we’re heading back.”
She walked ahead first, with Zhao Sui following a few steps behind.
He quietly observed her outfit for the day.
A water-blue mermaid dress made of silk, shimmering with a delicate luster under the dim light.
She was very slender, the lines of her back both alluring and languid.
The dress wasn’t revealing, but on her, it carried a hint of restrained sensuality.
A dark emotion flickered in Zhao Sui’s eyes as he suddenly asked, “Did you have plans tonight?”
Wen Xuxue replied, “Yes.”
Zhao Sui asked, “With a man?”
Wen Xuxue said, “Yes.”
“Hmph.”
Zhao Sui sneered coldly. “I’ve never heard of you having any male friends. You don’t even…”
He glanced at her, his eyes full of disdain. “…have many female friends. Are you deliberately putting on an act, or did you say that just to provoke me?”
Wen Xuxue was left speechless and exasperated by his words.
She fired back with full force. “You’re overthinking things. Who do you think you are? I don’t even like you, why would I want to provoke you? Who cares about your feelings, you narcissist.”
Zhao Sui was furious and wanted to argue with her, but they had already reached the private room door. No matter how heated things had just been, they now had to put on a polite and friendly facade.
When the door was pushed open, the four elders had already stood up and were exchanging pleasantries. It seemed they had eaten and drunk their fill and were ready to leave.
Wen Xuxue breathed a sigh of relief.
Great.
They could leave soon.
She didn’t want to stay with Zhao Sui, nor did she want to be with her father.
As the elders walked out together, Zhao Sui and Wen Xuxue obediently stood by the door, neither of them stepping out of line.
Suddenly, Su Lishu paused and asked, “Xiao Xue, do you have any plans for tonight?”
Her question made the other elders stop and look at Wen Xuxue.
Wen Xuxue hesitated for a long time before stammering, “N-no, not really.”
Su Lishu then turned to Zhao Sui and asked, “What about you, Xiao Sui?”
Since Wen Xuxue had said she was free, he naturally didn’t dare to say he wasn’t. So he replied, “Auntie, I’m free.”
“Good.” Su Lishu smiled. “Then why don’t you come with Xiao Xue to my place for a visit?”
Wen Xuxue stiffened. Although Zhao Sui was reluctant, his parents stood nearby without saying a word, clearly giving their silent approval. He had no choice but to say, “Sure, Auntie.”
With both young people agreeing, the four elders were naturally overjoyed. They chatted and laughed as they walked toward the parking lot.
Wen Xuxue and Zhao Sui lagged behind. She shot him a glance and complained, “Why didn’t you refuse?”
Zhao Sui frowned. “You didn’t refuse either, did you?”
Then, his expression darkened as he said, “Did you really have plans tonight?”
Wen Xuxue replied, “Of course I did.”
Zhao Sui snorted coldly and added, “Well, your plans are off now. Your mom clearly intends for me to stay at your place tonight.”
Wen Xuxue’s mood sank.
She could, of course, see her mother’s intentions.
Or rather, it was the shared intention of all four elders.
They were joining forces to push forward her and Zhao Sui’s romantic relationship.
Even after getting into the car, Wen Xuxue’s expression remained gloomy. She frowned as she typed on her phone.
Typing, deleting, retyping, and pondering for a moment, she finally sent the message: 【Older Brother, my mom wants me and my boyfriend to stay at home tonight, so I won’t be coming over to your place.】
Zhou Shijing had always responded to her messages within three minutes.
But this time—
Ten minutes had passed, and Wen Xuxue still hadn’t received a reply from him.
He must be angry, she thought.
She had stood him up again and again. Even an ordinary person would be upset, let alone someone as important and temperamental as him.
Wen Xuxue sighed inwardly and silently put down her phone.
The night was deep, and three cars were driving in succession along the smooth road.
The car carrying the two young people was still some distance away from the one with the four elders.
From afar, Wen Xuxue saw the two Maybach S480s ahead suddenly stop in the middle of the road.
Her home was in the suburbs, a luxurious mansion nestled amidst picturesque mountains and clear waters. Now, only a few hundred meters away from that villa, with no one or other cars on the road, why had they suddenly stopped?
Wen Xuxue wanted to ask, but her relationship with Zhao Sui was far from the point where they could casually chat like that, so she chose to remain silent.
Only after Zhao Sui drove closer did she realize that a long black Bentley was parked at the very front of the road.
The license plate was striking.
【Jing A·99999】
Wen Xuxue’s breath hitched as she understood what was happening. She immediately unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car.
The night breeze was gentle but enough to lift the hem of her skirt. The young woman walked forward through the wind, her hair flowing, her beauty breathtaking.
Even with the four elders standing between them, she spotted that distinguished figure at first glance.
Zhou Shijing wore a black cashmere coat. The golden cashmere still shimmered with an air of nobility even in the dim light of the night, accentuating his tall and striking presence.
“Xiao Xue,” Wen Yu called to her, smiling warmly, “When did you start working at your Older Brother’s company?”
Her father’s gentleness felt unnatural to Wen Xuxue.
She knew this was the courtesy he extended to her in front of others.
Unaware of what Zhou Shijing had said to the elders, she glanced at his eyes and told a small lie: “It’s been a few days.”
“In that case,” Zhou Shijing suddenly spoke, his voice steady, clearly concluding the earlier conversation with the elders, “I’ll take Xiao Xue with me now.”
Wen Xuxue was taken aback, but Wen Yu responded with great enthusiasm, “Of course, of course. Please take her with you.”
He then patted Wen Xuxue’s shoulder and earnestly advised, “Xiao Xue, learn well by your Older Brother’s side and don’t cause him any trouble, understand?”
Wen Xuxue glanced at Zhou Shijing, unsure of what he had said, but still replied, “I understand.”
The suburbs were prone to sudden gusts of wind, especially in scenic areas like this. In just a moment, a chilly breeze began to blow.
Wen Xuxue was only wearing a thin dress and instinctively hunched her shoulders.
Zhou Shijing glanced at her, then took the scarf he had been carrying over his arm and handed it to her, saying, “Put this on.”
Wen Xuxue accepted it.
At this moment, Wen Yu’s expression darkened slightly. “Mr. Zhou, should we let her go back and change? Wearing this dress by your side might not be appropriate.”
He was bringing up her attire again.
Wen Xuxue pursed her lips, feeling wronged.
Her father was just too patriarchal, wanting to control everything.
Zhou Shijing’s expression remained calm as he said, “I think it’s perfectly appropriate.”
Wen Yu’s expression stiffened.
Zhou Shijing spoke again, his tone gentle, almost placid: “When children grow up, what they choose to wear is their own freedom. I never interfere with what my employees wear, and I imagine Uncle Wen wouldn’t interfere with his daughter’s clothing either, right?”
Another “Uncle Wen” pressed down, and Wen Yu couldn’t withstand being addressed like that.
Though his tone was calm, it carried a faint, almost imperceptible hint of reproach.
Wen Yu felt puzzled but didn’t dare ask further, only slightly bowing and agreeing: “Of course. I would naturally give my child ample freedom.”
Zhou Shijing: “Mm.”
He seemed satisfied, saying: “Xiao Xue, let’s go.”
Then he took the lead and got into the car.
After bidding goodbye to her parents, Wen Xuxue followed and got into the back seat of the Bentley.
Then, with a press of the accelerator, the black Bentley sped away.