3 – Xie and Rao, Aren’t You Ashamed?
After Xie Yurao quickly finished her bath, she applied makeup, changed into a dress, and put on jewelry.
Though it was already late at night, she looked as if she were preparing to attend a banquet.
Tan Shen leaned lazily against the side, watching her get ready.
The little fox had a head of damp, wavy hair like seaweed, wearing a black strapless dress, looking as exquisite and beautiful as a doll.
Except she wore a cold expression and ignored him.
“Don’t wear high heels,” Tan Shen suddenly said.
He glanced down at her bare, fair little feet. Perhaps from dancing all afternoon, her heels were slightly red and chafed.
Xie Yurao: “I have to wear them.”
Qin Yun was strict about posture and demeanor—a chaebol heiress must always maintain elegance and grace.
“Wait, who said I was talking to you!”
“…”
Tan Shen watched as she struggled to put on her high heels, kicking them around with her little feet, unwilling to bend down.
Finally, he sighed helplessly, crouched down, and knelt on one knee in front of her.
The little fox tried to kick him, but the man easily caught her foot and rested it on his knee.
“Stop fussing.”
He gently helped her put on the high heels.
Xie Yurao looked down at him. The man wore a tall, restrained suit, his features sharp and handsome, exuding a wild, untamed, and lethally attractive aura.
He was too handsome.
Suddenly, she wasn’t as angry anymore.
After a pause, Xie Yurao suddenly leaned down and sniffed him. “Tan Shen, why does your mouth smell like lychee?”
Tan Shen paused.
He replied, “No, you’re mistaken.”
“Really?”
Xie Yurao wasn’t entirely sure either.
She reached out, pinched the man’s chin, and commanded haughtily, “Open your mouth. Let me smell again.”
Tan Shen: “?”
He was genuinely taken aback for a moment, then laughed in response. “Xie Yurao, aren’t you ashamed?”
What kind of girl asks to smell someone else’s mouth?
Xie Yurao’s fox-like eyes widened for a moment as she glared at him fiercely. “Who allowed you to call me by my full name?”
Tan Shen changed his address, saying helplessly, “Miss.”
Just then, a maid knocked on the door outside. “Miss, Madam has arrived and is waiting for you downstairs.”
“Coming.”
Xie Yurao quickly responded, then immediately stood up from the chair. Holding her skirt, she said to Tan Shen, “I’ll deal with you later!”
“…”
Downstairs.
“Where’s Rao Rao?”
A beautiful woman sat on the sofa with an unhappy expression, her charming fox-like eyes sharp and questioning.
The maids, always afraid of Madam Xie, stood trembling in a row, heads bowed.
“Mommy~”
A sweet voice came from upstairs, followed by the graceful descent of a beauty holding her skirt as she walked down the stairs.
“Don’t be mad. I finished practicing dance and took some time to get ready, so I was late.”
The beauty’s voice was sweet and coquettish, with a lazy lilt at the end.
Tan Shen followed behind her, hearing this coquettish tone, and felt a shiver run down his spine.
“…” So cloying.
Though Qin Yun was usually strict, she doted on her daughter. Seeing her dressed so exquisitely, her expression softened slightly.
“Rao Rao, come here.”
Xie Yurao sat down beside her and asked curiously, “Mommy, are you in a bad mood today?”
Qin Yun didn’t deny it, saying calmly, “Your second brother is returning to the country tomorrow.”
Xie Yurao was taken aback. “Xie Jingchuan?”
The so-called second brother was nothing more than the illegitimate son her father had with his first love.
Xie Yurao had heard Qin Yun tell the story—an extremely cliché tale.
The first love, of humble status, disappeared without a word, taking the child with her. But years after Xie Zong married Qin Yun, she fell seriously ill and could no longer raise her son, so she sent Xie Jingchuan back to the Xie family.
Xie Zong, of course, was heartbroken.
So even at the risk of being beaten to death by the old master, he had to bring the illegitimate child back to acknowledge his roots and return to the family.
“Xie Jingchuan returning at this time…”
Xie Yurao slowly narrowed her fox-like eyes and chuckled softly, “Seems he caught wind of something and couldn’t wait to come back and fight for the family fortune.”
Xie Zong’s health had been gradually declining in recent years, and he intended to step down and cultivate an heir for the conglomerate.
Thanks to Xie Zong’s saintly heart, the family now had three younger generation members.
Xie Luowen, Xie Jingchuan, Xie Yurao.
The first was the orphan of a comrade-in-arms, adopted by Xie Zong and raised as his own son.
The second was an illegitimate child—doted on but of low status, the first to be opposed by the old master.
The third, though the legitimate eldest daughter, was still a woman after all, somewhat unable to shoulder the immense family business.
Xie Zong was now also indecisive, hesitating over who to support for the position of conglomerate heir.
Qin Yun nodded, “Naturally.”
She said with a cold expression, “Your father just started having this idea, and both of them can’t hold back anymore, eagerly hoping your father steps down soon.”
As soon as she finished, she saw her daughter curiously leaning in, blinking her eyes as she asked.
“Mommy, can you give me a little hint—how many more years does my dad have to live?”
Qin Yun: “…” This one clearly can’t hold back either.
Truly, each one is a great filial child.
Qin Yun sighed helplessly, “What nonsense are you thinking? It’s still a long way off.”
That’s what she said, but Qin Yun naturally also hoped her daughter would ultimately inherit the family fortune.
Otherwise, after being Mrs. Xie for half a lifetime, only to have the family fortune handed over to someone else in the end—who wouldn’t go crazy over that?
Xie Yurao seemed to know what she was thinking, “Don’t worry, it’s not certain yet who will end up with the family fortune.”
She had always loved Qin Yun and wouldn’t let such a thing happen.
Though Qin Yun regretted not having a son, her daughter was well-behaved, which somewhat made up for her discontent.
“Tan Shen, come here for a moment.”
Hearing Qin Yun’s call, Tan Shen walked over, “Madam.”
Qin Yun instructed worriedly, “Keep an eye on Xie Jingchuan’s return this time, lest he try anything against Rao Rao.”
The Xie family were all old foxes, full of underhanded tricks—one had to be cautious.
“Rest assured, Madam.”
Qin Yun nodded; she had complete confidence in Tan Shen.
After all, back when Rao Rao was in danger, Tan Shen had nearly lost half his life rescuing her.
But Xie Yurao suddenly said, “I don’t want him.”
Tan Shen glanced up at her but said nothing.
Qin Yun frowned slightly and quickly asked, “What’s wrong?”
Had something happened that she didn’t know about?
Xie Yurao huffed angrily, “Not only did he not peel lychees for me today, but he also secretly ate them himself.”
Qin Yun: “…”
Tan Shen’s temples were throbbing, “…”
If he ever ate Xie Yurao’s leftovers again, he wouldn’t be Tan Shen!
Even the maids couldn’t help covering their mouths to stifle laughter.
One moment she was fiercely declaring she would fight for the family fortune, and the next she was sulking over a few lychees.
The young lady could sometimes be adorably childish.
Qin Yun, always poised and elegant, now twitched her lips in speechlessness as she tapped Xie Yurao’s forehead.
“Then eat less; they’re too sweet.”
Xie Yurao: “??”
“I’m heading back.”
Qin Yun was just passing by and didn’t plan to stay long.
“Oh, right, remember to come home tomorrow night for your second brother’s welcome banquet.”
Xie Yurao was still stuck on the fact that her mommy had sided with Tan Shen instead of her.
She replied sullenly, “Okay.”
Her puffed-up cheeks were just too adorable; Qin Yun couldn’t resist giving them a gentle pinch. “Try not to get into arguments with Tan Shen so often. It’s only because he has a good temper that he puts up with you.”
She knew exactly how spoiled her daughter could be.
A bodyguard like Tan Shen—top-tier in skill, free of ulterior motives, and willing to risk his life to protect her—was hard to come by.
Xie Yurao sounded as if she’d just heard a joke. “Tan Shen has a good temper?!”
That bastard was clearly arrogant as hell.
Sometimes, when she managed to annoy him, he’d even snap at her, overstepping his bounds by calling her by her full name.
In short, he didn’t act like a bodyguard at all!
Tan Shen said, “Madam, let me see you out.”
“Alright.”
After escorting Qin Yun out of the villa, Tan Shen turned back and saw the young mistress still sulking on the sofa.
His long legs came to a stop in front of her as he looked down.
“Do you want me to carry you upstairs?”
Xie Yurao retorted, “Didn’t you refuse to carry me? You even turned me down in front of my new dance partner. Do you think I have no pride—”
With a soft sigh, Tan Shen decided not to waste words. He simply bent down and scooped her up from the sofa into his arms.
“…Huh?”
The man stood at 190 centimeters tall, and Xie Yurao nestled in his arms, a delicate and petite bundle.
Her defiant demeanor faltered as she stared at him in stunned silence.
Tan Shen strode upstairs with his long legs, the little fox in his arms unusually quiet.
Puzzled, he glanced down.
Suddenly, Xie Yurao buried her small head against his chest.
Her slender, pale fingers clutched the button on his shirt as she muttered softly, yet with a touch of pride, “Hmph, I’ll forgive you… for now.”