In the Starlight Gala lounge, Xu Xiu was giving Jiang Yumeng’s makeup its final inspection.
She lifted Jiang Yumeng’s chin, her gaze slowly sweeping across her flawless skin before she whispered softly:
“Perfect.”
Jiang Yumeng had been sitting quietly with her chin raised, letting her check, but when her eyes landed on Xu Xiu’s face, she was momentarily stunned.
She had always known Xu Xiu was beautiful, but seeing her beauty up close and magnified like this still carried an overwhelming impact.
Unable to help herself, she suggested:
“Are you really not going to switch careers? With your looks, it’s a waste not to go into the entertainment industry.”
Xu Xiu let go of her and curled her lips slightly.
“My advantage is makeup. I wouldn’t have any competitiveness in the entertainment industry.”
In her previous life, in her own world, many people from the entertainment industry had extended invitations to her.
As a young woman back then, she had hesitated too—but eventually, she saw the truth clearly.
The public might be interested in her looks and give her some popularity, but long-term success required real professional ability.
Acting and singing were not her strengths. There was no need for her to step into those muddy waters.
With her makeup skills alone, she could still reach the top.
Jiang Yumeng was genuinely impressed that she could resist the temptations of the glamorous entertainment world.
She said sincerely:
“I have a feeling you’ll definitely become a top figure in the beauty industry one day.”
“I’ll take your good words,” Xu Xiu smiled.
Jiang Yumeng teased:
“When you get famous and your schedule is packed, don’t forget to give me priority.”
“No problem.”
After everything was ready, a staff member knocked on the door.
“Sister Yumeng, it’s almost your turn for the red carpet.”
“Got it.”
After sending her off, Xu Xiu went to the backstage lounge.
After celebrities walk the red carpet, they enter the venue and wait for the gala to officially begin.
Special guests, however, stay in backstage lounges until the event starts.
On her way back, Xu Xiu overheard several staff members gossiping:
“I didn’t expect Mr. Shen to come. It was totally unannounced—and he even brought a child. No one knows who that kid is.”
“Hush, I’ll tell you a secret. I heard from my aunt’s coworker’s husband’s niece—the kid is his son!”
“What?! Mr. Shen has a son?!”
Their conversation made Xu Xiu stop in her tracks.
She caught the key detail from their words.
Her little dumpling is here too?
She looked toward the VIP lounge in the distance and lowered her head to message him.
But before she could even take a few steps, a small figure suddenly rushed out from the corner and hugged her leg.
“Mommy!”
Xu Xiu looked down in surprise and instinctively picked him up.
Then she saw Shen Xingyi’s assistant, Zhang Zhou, and others following behind.
“Miss Xu.”
Zhang Zhou finally relaxed when he saw it was her.
Just moments ago, while he was escorting the young master to find Mr. Shen, the child suddenly ran ahead, and he had panicked while chasing after him.
Xu Xiu’s expression turned serious as she looked at the little dumpling.
The child looked a little guilty, puffing out his cheeks, but still complained softly:
“Uncle Zhang Zhou, how can you tattle on me?”
Zhang Zhou quickly corrected him:
“This isn’t tattling—it’s reporting truthfully. Your mom cares about you, so she needs to know.”
Xu Xiu also corrected him:
“Xiao Ran, there are so many people backstage. It’s very dangerous if you bump into someone or get bumped into. And there are many strangers here—how can you run off from Uncle Zhang Zhou and the others?”
Seeing her serious expression, the little dumpling immediately knew he was in the wrong and quickly admitted his mistake.
“Mommy, I’m sorry. I saw you through the window and got too excited, so I ran over.”
His little hands were clasped behind his back, his expression sincere, and Xu Xiu’s anger instantly faded.
But worried he wouldn’t take it seriously, she still maintained a stern tone.
Looking around and seeing people might pass by at any moment, she decided to leave first.
“After work today, Mommy will come pick you up.”
According to her agreement with Shen Xingyi, she would take him home today.
But the little dumpling didn’t want her to leave.
“Mommy, I made new friends today. Can you come meet them?”
He tugged at her sleeve pitifully, making it impossible to refuse.
Xu Xiu felt like she was being completely manipulated.
In the end, she agreed.
He led her to a lounge door. Worried she might meet someone inconvenient, she looked at Zhang Zhou.
After all, her identity was sensitive, and Shen Xingyi might not want the biological mother of his child to appear in front of others.
Zhang Zhou understood her concern and explained:
“Miss Xu, don’t worry. Only Mr. Shen is inside.”
Only then did she relax.
Inside the lounge, Shen Xingyi was not wearing glasses. He leaned back on the sofa with his eyes closed, resting.
Even after they entered, he didn’t open his eyes.
“Little Rongrong and Big Strong Brother aren’t here anymore? Mommy, I didn’t lie to you.”
The little dumpling’s words made Shen Xingyi slowly open his eyes.
His slightly upturned phoenix eyes landed on Xu Xiu.
His gaze was cold and probing, fixed directly on her.
Xu Xiu felt it, but didn’t look back. She only crouched down and said to the child:
“Then Mommy will see them next time.”
“They’ll be back soon.”
Even Shen Xingyi himself didn’t realize when the words left his mouth.
The room fell silent for a few seconds. Then a knock at the door broke the stillness.
The children mentioned earlier—Rongrong and Strong Strong—had arrived.
Once the kids were together, they immediately became lively, and the lounge grew noisy.
Only then did Shen Xingyi quietly let out a breath.
Even he hadn’t expected himself to speak just now.
Would Xu Xiu think he was trying to stop her from leaving?
In his view, he had simply answered a factual question.
Nothing more.
So there should be no misunderstanding.
With that thought, the faint panic in his heart gradually settled. His gaze returned to the group of children—and then to Xu Xiu.
Today, he hadn’t planned to attend the gala.
But after hearing that Rongrong and Strong Strong would be here with their father, Shen Zhirang had asked if he could come too.
He checked his schedule and came.
What he didn’t expect was that Xu Xiu would also be here.
Looking at his son playing happily with the two children, his expression softened slightly.
Rongrong and Strong Strong were siblings. Their father, Su Yuhe, was a long-time business partner of his and a close family acquaintance.
After thinking it through, he felt that only Su Yuhe’s children were close in age to Shen Zhirang.
And Su’s family had good upbringing and character, so he brought Shen Zhirang to meet them.
People often say children prefer playing with slightly older kids. He originally thought Shen Zhirang would prefer Strong Strong, who was two years older—but unexpectedly, he got along even better with Rongrong, who was half a year younger.