13 – Whose lover is Xu Ni?
What does “temporarily not” mean?
Xu Ni was caught off guard by this statement.
Outside, rain suddenly began to fall, pattering against the car window. The road ahead became blurred, and the windshield wipers busily swung into action. She couldn’t help but shift her gaze outside. The autumn rain carried a lingering chill, yet inside the car, a warmth seemed to envelop the air.
In less than twenty minutes.
They arrived at the Western Hills Courtyard Villa District.
The car stopped in front of a brightly lit villa.
Xu Ni smiled brightly at him. “Last time, Mr. Fu took me to the hospital, and I haven’t properly thanked you yet. How about we have a meal together sometime?”
Fu Guidu glanced at his wristwatch. “No need. There’s an umbrella by the car door.”
Xu Ni wasn’t about to give up.
She swept her gaze across the car and, as expected, spotted a box of business cards placed on his side.
Immediately, she unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned over, brushing past his chest to take one out.
“I’m someone with a conscience who repays kindness, Mr. Fu. Please don’t dismiss my sincerity.” Xu Ni smiled gently. “We’ve met four times now. We should get to know each other properly, right?”
He remained silent, shrouded in the dim light, listening intently to her words.
But it seemed as if he was faintly smiling.
So faint she couldn’t quite grasp it.
Xu Ni tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before rummaging through her bag for the two lingerie show tickets she had gotten from Tang Ru. She placed them beside his steering wheel. “Friday night, Mr. Fu. Come take a look if you have time.”
Fu Guidu glanced at the ticket.
He had heard of that famous show, but he had never been interested.
This woman, offering him such tickets right from the start, inviting him to watch a parade of models in revealing outfits?
Should he call her bold or recklessly daring?
Having obtained his business card, Xu Ni felt at ease and got out of the car.
Knowing when to stop was enough.
She understood the importance of maintaining a sense of tension.
Taking the umbrella from his car, she stepped out.
Standing in the curtain of rain, she squinted and waved at him inside the car with a smile. Without lingering too long, she turned and entered the villa.
Fu Guidu didn’t leave immediately. He withdrew his gaze from the window.
He took out a cigarette and held it between his lips, letting the smoke curl lazily upward.
Xu Ni walked with light steps, her mood exceptionally joyful.
She was even humming a tune before entering.
But the moment she closed her umbrella and pushed the door open—
Something flew toward her, scattering across her face and clothes.
The sickly sweet smell and sticky texture made her expression shift instantly. She looked up, taking in the joyful and harmonious atmosphere in the spacious living room, where everyone was celebrating their momentous occasion.
Her sudden arrival clearly surprised everyone.
The atmosphere immediately turned awkward.
Especially her grandmother, whose face instantly darkened.
Soon.
Footsteps approached, accompanied by a soft, apologetic voice. “I’m sorry, I accidentally got cake on you. Here, let me help you wipe it off.”
Xu Ni calmly looked at the woman before her.
Delicate as a flower, with innocent, rabbit-like eyes, she wore her grandmother’s heirloom jade necklace around her neck and a birthday tiara on her head. Surrounded by happiness, she was the cherished princess, adored by all.
This was Xu You Yi.
For twenty-two years, Xu Ni had been her substitute. Now that the real one had returned, she, the dull imitation, was naturally cast aside into a dark, forgotten corner.
Hearing Xu You Yi’s words.
The uncle sitting on the sofa immediately chimed in, “Youyi didn’t do it on purpose. Xu Ni, don’t be so petty. Smashing your cake is just a way of sharing the joy with you. What’s there to be unhappy about, right?”
There were seven or eight people in the living room. Besides Xu Fu and Xu Mu, there was also Xu Laotaitai, along with other relatives.
In response,
Xu Laotaitai stretched her face and said, “You’re never home all day. You haven’t even properly greeted Youyi since she came back. If it weren’t for her, could you have enjoyed over twenty years of wealth and luxury?”
Although her biological daughter had returned, Xu Mu still felt somewhat reluctant toward Xu Ni and said, “Just get along well from now on. Ni Ni isn’t a spoiled person. She won’t be unreasonable.”
Xu Fu added, “Youyi has suffered for so long. Ni Ni, be more considerate of your sister.”
Xu Ni looked at the expressions of this entire family.
She couldn’t help but feel a sense of irony.
Xu Youyi had been lost and suffered hardships outside, which was the fault of the elders for failing in their responsibility. It was their negligence in losing Xu Youyi that led to everything that followed, not Xu Ni’s fault!
Yet now, it sounded as if she had stolen everything that rightfully belonged to Xu Youyi.
She had never asked them to adopt her.
She had been brought to the Xu family while still in swaddling clothes. Since childhood, she had been taught that she was adopted, not their biological child, all for the sake of doing good deeds and accumulating virtue to find Xu Youyi as soon as possible. Everything had been a gift to her.
Xu Ni wiped the cream off her cheek, her expression calm.
She didn’t pay any attention to Xu Youyi.
Seeing her remain silent, Xu Youyi took Xu Ni’s hand and said, “Thank you so much for taking care of Mom and Dad for me all these years. Now that I’m back, I’ll definitely do what I should. Thank you, Xu Ni.”
Xu Ni frowned.
These words were truly insidious.
She pulled her hand away, forcing a smile. “You’re welcome.”
Seeing Xu Ni’s attitude,
the uncle immediately stood up, pointing at Xu Ni disapprovingly. “Who are you giving that attitude to? Youyi is sharing half of everything with you. You should be more grateful! It’s all because your mother spoiled you!”
Xu Mu said, “It’s normal for Ni Ni to have some emotions. It’s fine. She’ll get used to it gradually. My love for her won’t diminish.”
The uncle retorted, “Sis, you can’t spoil a child. Look at her. Do you even know what she does outside? Coming home so late at night—what kind of job keeps her so busy?”
Immediately after,
Xu Youyi asked softly, puzzled, “Ni Ni, this umbrella… it looks like the kind that comes with a Rolls-Royce, doesn’t it? Did you buy such a nice car?”
As her voice trailed off,
the whole family turned to look.
Xu Fu, being knowledgeable about such things, naturally recognized that the umbrella in Xu Ni’s hand was the customized type that came with that particular car model. Just this umbrella alone was worth hundreds of thousands. Where did she get the money to buy such a car?
Even he hadn’t been willing to splurge on a car of that brand.
“Where did this umbrella come from?” Xu Fu asked.
Xu Mu was confused. “What’s so special about an umbrella?”
The uncle stepped forward, snatched the umbrella from Xu Ni’s hand, and examined it repeatedly before saying, “Sis, you don’t understand. Top-tier luxury cars come with these customized umbrellas. They’re part of the package—you only get this kind of umbrella if you have the car. You wouldn’t have bought her such an expensive car, and she’s not famous or wealthy enough to afford it herself. So where did it come from?”
Xu Youyi tried to mediate, “It probably isn’t that. The kind of people who own such cars are too few—mostly uncles with exceptionally high status and reputation. How would Xu Ni even know people like that?”
After she finished speaking,
Xu Mu immediately frowned. “Xu Ni, who have you been associating with?”
Xu’s father rushed over first. “Tell me honestly! Have you been fooling around outside?!”
Xu Ni had always been wild by nature. No matter how much they tried to control her, she never seemed like one of their own—her temperament was simply different. What if, now that Xu You Yi was back, she had gotten some dirty ideas and gone to become… a mistress for those business tycoons? How could the Xu family ever hold their heads high again?
And those with status and wealth—weren’t they all half-buried in the ground by age?!
Which one of them didn’t already have a proper wife at home!