When Jiang Xin signaled with her eyes for her son Xie Tingnan to see Wen An’an off, she noticed her youngest daughter, Nannan, clinging to him.
“Second Brother, come here quickly. Where’s the skincare products you promised to buy me from Hong Kong Island?”
Xie Tingnan flicked his little sister’s forehead. “Wait. I need to see Uncle Wen and Auntie off first.”
He didn’t catch his mother Jiang Xin’s meaningful glance, but his words gave her the answer directly.
Jiang Xin’s eyes dimmed slightly, but she said nothing.
In the shadows, Xie Nannan whispered, “Second Brother, how clever am I as your little assistant? Praise me!”
The man curled his lips. “That’s why I bought you an extra diamond.”
“Second Brother is the best!” Xie Nannan beamed, her large eyes flashing with a hint of mischief. “Second Brother, you don’t like Wen An’an, do you?”
Xie Tingnan looked at her. “She’s too ugly. Not as pretty as Nannan.”
“Haha…” The little girl was delighted. When she went to fetch her gift, she practically skipped.
Tonight, Xie Tingnan had accompanied the two big shots and drank quite a bit. Having just returned from a business trip to Hong Kong Island, he deserved a good rest.
After seeing the guests off, Jiang Xin asked the housekeeper to arrange for fresh bedding to be placed in Xie Tingnan’s room.
“Mom, no need,” Xie Tingnan paused. “I’m going back to the Imperial Dragon Residence today.”
“Tingnan, it’s past nine. You’ve had a long journey and drank alcohol. Take a shower and rest. Why leave?” Jiang Xin was puzzled.
The man’s phoenix eyes held a smile. “Dad rarely has time at home. I wouldn’t want to interrupt you two showing affection.”
The excuse was flimsy, but it made Jiang Xin feel pleased.
She privately instructed Yin Ren to take good care of Xie Tingnan.
The Rolls-Royce soon departed from Purple Bamboo Garden.
Yin Ren, in the driver’s seat, glanced at the man in the back through the rearview mirror.
The man was relaxed, his tall frame leaning leisurely against the seatback, idly toying with a low-key yet distinctive jewelry box.
Although he had said at Purple Bamboo Garden that he was heading to the Imperial Dragon Residence, Yin Ren had his suspicions.
So, he asked softly, “Chairman Xie, to the Imperial Dragon Residence?”
The man in the back curled his lips. “Where do you want to go?”
Yin Ren smiled. “Naturally, wherever Chairman Xie wishes to go.”
“Oh.” Xie Tingnan set the jewelry box aside. “Did you call Aunt An earlier?”
“Yes. Aunt An said Miss Yu hasn’t slept yet. She’s been in the study researching and writing her thesis.”
The man in the back nodded silently, his thin lips forming a faint upward curve. “To Yi Garden.”
Yin Ren had long anticipated this answer. He promptly replied, “Yes,” and the car sped toward Yi Garden…
In the study at Yi Garden, soft, soothing music played.
A slender figure in a lotus-pink silk nightgown sat attentively flipping through a book beside the walnut-colored desk.
Yu Wanwan hadn’t expected that Yi Garden would have a study similar to a library.
It was understated and elegant, with an antique charm, designed in the style of a Song Dynasty academy. Upon entering, the scent of books filled the air, evoking a natural reverence for knowledge.
Inside, bookshelves were arranged in staggered rows. With so many books, there was a dedicated search computer at the entrance for easy lookup.
Yi Garden had a dedicated librarian. Book categorization, organization, disinfection, old book preservation, new book cataloging, and more were all handled by specialists.
The young girl had indeed been amazed when she first arrived.
So, that man truly was fundamentally different from the wealthy heirs of business families.
Children from prestigious families almost always have one essential task from birth: learning.
A mind enriched with poetry and literature exudes an elegance and grace that no amount of wealth can adorn.
The gentle knock on the study door went completely unheard by Yu Wanwan, who was deeply immersed in her book.
Aunt An brought over a cup of warm milk and placed it softly on the desk. “Miss Yu, take a break. The milk is just the right temperature.”
The young girl looked up, lightly tucking a stray strand of long hair behind her ear. Her amethyst-like eyes were clear and bright, and her delicate, fair oval face broke into a sweet smile. “Thank you, Aunt An.”
Aunt An smiled warmly. “Miss Yu, you truly are a natural beauty. In my fifty-plus years, I’ve never seen anyone more beautiful than you.”
Yu Wanwan sipped her milk, her long, thick eyelashes fluttering gently. She said nothing.
She was well aware of her beauty. Natural grace was hard to conceal, and the nurturing she received later only enhanced it.
Meticulous care and cultivation of her talents had maximized her innate beauty.
Aunt An had something on the tip of her tongue but held back.
Xie Tingnan was coming tonight, but Yin Ren had forbidden her from saying anything.
By the time the courtyard gate opened and the car engine sounded, Yu Wanwan had already finished her milk and closed her book.
It was already ten o’clock at night.
She loved the serene and elegant atmosphere of the study.
She decided to have the aunt bring her a yoga mat, changed into a tank top and leggings, and began her pre-sleep yoga routine in the study.
When Xie Tingnan came upstairs, he saw Yu Wanwan in the middle of her yoga practice.
Her soft, supple waist, as delicate as a willow, moved with her gentle yoga poses, coiling and biting at his senses like an enchanting white serpent.
The stunning curves wrapped in her yoga tank top swayed rhythmically with her fluid movements.
Each subtle tremor was like a gentle drumbeat, echoing in Xie Tingnan’s heart.
The man stood silently at the study door, his gaze heavy as he watched the delicate and alluring Yu Wanwan on the yoga mat.
After completing her routine, the young girl rose gracefully, ready to head to the guest bedroom to shower and sleep.
Turning around, she noticed a tall, imposing figure standing at the door.
Yu Wanwan instinctively startled, a faint blush spreading across her fair cheeks. Her voice was soft and obedient. “Why are you here?”
The man’s lips curved into a smile. “Right, my home, I shouldn’t come. Is that what you mean?”
“That’s not what I meant.” Yu Wanwan blinked her beautiful eyes, her lips pursing slightly.
“Wanwan, come here.” Xie Tingnan’s lips held a faint smile.
Under the light, the man’s figure appeared exceptionally tall and imposing, casting a soft shadow.
That shadow enveloped Yu Wanwan’s petite 168-centimeter frame perfectly.
The young girl looked up at him and noticed that when Xie Tingnan smiled, two charming dimples appeared at the corners of his lips, adding to his noble and handsome demeanor.
Yet, his playful phoenix eyes held an undeniable, intense possessiveness.
Suddenly, her throat felt dry. She didn’t move, instead letting out a soft cough where she stood.
Xie Tingnan strode forward, gathering her into his arms and lifting her upright so she was at the perfect height for him to look up at her. With one hand, he gently stroked her back.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
Yu Wanwan’s face flushed even more from the coughing.
His considerate gesture took her by surprise.
Staring into his inscrutable eyes, she said earnestly, “I’m fine. Can you put me down? I just finished yoga, and I’d like to shower first.”
Xie Tingnan’s eyes darkened slightly, but he said nothing.
He simply leaned in close to the snow-white neck within his line of sight, his nose lightly sniffing, while his cool, soft lips brushed faintly over the delicate skin.
The faint greenish stubble made Yu Wanwan feel a tingling, slightly itchy sensation.
Her face flushed with shyness, and she instinctively avoided Xie Tingnan’s intimate gesture.
Then, she heard the man’s murmur near her neck: “Shall I help you?”