Tang Yushen chuckled softly, “If I hadn’t restrained myself, do you think you’d still be standing here talking to me properly?”
“Uh…”
That was indeed quite restrained.
She felt Tang Yushen might need…
Hmm…
To take care of certain urges.
But she didn’t dare say it, nor let her eyes wander. He should have just left when he walked away earlier – she shouldn’t have asked that extra question.
“I came to give you this.” Tang Yushen took a black card from his wallet. “My supplementary card. Since you’re going out tomorrow, spend freely. Buy whatever you like!Xia Qiaoxi stared at the black card, where an elegant cursive character “Yu” was beautifully engraved – graceful and free-spirited, just like Tang Yushen himself.
Xia Qiaoxi refused, “I can’t accept this.”
“You don’t want it?” Tang Yushen lowered his head, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “If you don’t want this card, does that mean you want me instead?”
What kind of logic was that?
Not wanting the card meant wanting him?
How could he compare himself to an object?
“I’ll take the card…” Xia Qiaoxi accepted the card.
She couldn’t choose him.
Tang Yushen felt a hint of disappointment. If she had hesitated even for a second, he wouldn’t feel this upset.
Little Xi’er truly didn’t want him at all!
Not even a moment of indecision.
“Good night.” Tang Yushen turned and left.
This time he had to leave completely.
No looking back.
Bang!
The sound of the door closing echoed behind him.
Tang Yushen: “…”
Little Xi’er was really… decisive.
So quick to close the door.
Was she afraid he might come back?
Tang Yushen savored the memory of their kiss earlier. Thinking about that kiss tonight should help him sleep well.
The next day.
Xia Qiaoxi drove out alone.
She went to the government building to handle some procedures, visited a company, stopped by the bank, and finally drove past Tang Song Group. Looking at the tall, magnificent building, she remembered that just down the road was the apartment Tang Yushen had bought for her.
If it weren’t for the oppressive atmosphere at the Xia family that made her feel so miserable, what would it matter to be a substitute?
Although Tang Yushen’s feelings for her might be fake, the apartment he gave her was real, and the card he provided was real.
What could be more important than making money?
But she still felt down.
In the CEO’s office of Tang Song Group, Tang Yushen loosened his tie and picked up his coffee, his eyes fixed on the computer screen showing the GPS tracking.
Little Xi’er’s car was approaching!
She’s reached the company.
Little Xi’er was coming to see him!
Excited, Tang Yushen put down his coffee and straightened his tie. “How do I look now?”
Chen Hei stood across the desk. “Very good.”
“Go down and bring her up.”
“Who?” Chen Hei asked instinctively. “Boss, you don’t have any appointments scheduled after this.”
“My woman! My woman!” Tang Yushen almost went himself.
But he needed to maintain his image – maybe Xia Qiaoxi liked the business elite type.
As the saying goes, nothing is more attractive than a man focused on his work.
“Understood.” Chen Hei gathered some files and turned to leave.
Xia Qiaoxi was here?
Before Chen Hei could exit the spacious office, Tang Yushen spoke in a controlled, deep voice, “Come back!”
No need to go.
She drove away!!
She actually drove away!
Even though she had already reached the company entrance.
Chen Hei: “…”
Tang Yushen stood up abruptly. “Maybe… she wants to check out that apartment, cook for me there, and invite me over later. We…”
How perfect!
Little Xixi is just too good.
How could he resist when she treats him so well!
“Go order a bouquet of flowers,” Tang Yushen said with a slight lift of his brow.
“Yes.”
As soon as Chen Hei left the office, Tang Yushen watched the car moving further away from the residential area.
Little Xixi must have gone to the supermarket to buy groceries, planning to cook for him personally.
An hour later, in Tang Yushen’s black, white, and gray office, a vibrant red rose bouquet sat on the black coffee table.
He stared at the roses and scoffed.
Women.
Little Xixi had actually gone straight home.
All those thoughts about her coming to the company to see him or waiting for him at his apartment were just his imagination.
Xia Qiaoxi had merely been passing by.
The Chen brothers, Chen Hei and Chen Bai, exchanged awkward glances as they watched Tang Yushen’s gloomy, despondent expression.
“Boss, if you miss her so much, just go back! Don’t worry about things here at the company!” Chen Bai picked up the flowers. “Take these back with you!”
Tang Yushen gave him a cold look. “Go find out what she did at the government building.”
Her ID card had already been returned to her, and he’d even helped her obtain her household register.
What else could she possibly need to do there?
As the sun set in the west, the summer’s scorching sun had baked Yu Xi Manor all day, leaving everywhere radiating with sweltering heat.
Xia Qiaoxi sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, absorbed in her book.
Completely unaware of Tang Yushen gradually approaching.
“Xixi.” Tang Yushen bent down, gently placing his right hand on her shoulder. “Someone’s here to see you.”
“See me?”
How would anyone looking for her know to come here?
She turned around curiously.
A sunny, handsome young man in school uniform, Xia Zhao, who stood about six feet tall, approached with his backpack. “Sis…”
“What are you doing here?” Xia Qiaoxi’s face turned cold. “Go back.”
“I came to see you.” Xia Zhao walked around the sofa. “Let’s talk privately.”
“Your little brother here was waiting outside my company. If I didn’t let him come, he threatened to throw himself in front of my car.” Tang Yushen gave her shoulder a light squeeze. “Why don’t you go talk with him in the side hall.”
Xia Qiaoxi put down her book and walked toward the side hall without looking back.
Xia Zhao followed silently behind her.
After closing the door, Xia Qiaoxi sat on the sofa. “This isn’t where you should be.”
“And this isn’t where you should be either.” Xia Zhao set down his backpack. “Sis, so what if you didn’t marry He Luyi? What’s this about Tang Yushen? Did Mom and Dad pressure you again? Tang Yushen isn’t like He Luyi who’s sickly and easy to control. Mom and Dad are pushing you into a pit of fire.”
Xia Zhao leaned closer. “Don’t worry, I’ll talk to Mom and Dad tonight. I’ll tell them not to arrange any marriage for you. The Xia family’s company is doing well enough now—they don’t need to rely on your marriage alliance to…”
Xia Qiaoxi’s expression turned icy.
Xia Zhao paused. “I…”
“You know they won’t listen to you anyway.” Xia Qiaoxi gently pushed him away. “I’m not staying here because of them. Tang Yushen brought me here himself.”
“He has ulterior motives!”
“Hmm…” Xia Qiaoxi responded indifferently. “So what?”
Back at the Xia family, both her biological father and stepmother had ulterior motives too.
They treated her like a tool.
“I’m perfectly happy now. I can go wherever I want, I have money to buy whatever I desire. No one tells me what to do or how to behave. Tang Yushen is the young master of the Tang family in the capital. Being with him, I get everything I want – if I want the wind, I get the wind; if I want the rain, I get the rain. I’m much happier than I ever was in the Xia family.” Xia Qiaoxi’s eyes turned icy cold. “Xia Zhao, my affairs have never been any of your business, and I don’t need your concern. Go back!”
“Don’t come looking for me here anymore. He wouldn’t like it.”
“Tang Yushen wouldn’t like it? Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for him already?” Xia Zhao frowned. “Sister, you’ve always yearned for freedom, never wanting to be bound by marriage. But are you truly free now? Aren’t you being restrained by Tang Yushen instead?”