Night was approaching.
The living room of the villa was adorned with flowers and balloons, while champagne and red wine covered the tables.
Han Shixu had an eccentric temperament. Apart from Jing Yuanxi, he only really talked to Li Chengshuo within their social circle.
In truth, the Li family’s business had little connection with the Han Group, and there were very few projects they could collaborate on. Yet, for some reason, Han Shixu only got along well with him.
This villa was something the two of them had secretly bought behind their families’ backs. Sometimes, when they wanted peace and quiet, they would come here to stay.
“This is my first time here. It looks like you’ve been living here for quite a while,” Bai Huina murmured softly as she stood before the wall covered in famous paintings.
She had originally thought the welcome party would be held at some manor. Little did she expect Li Chengshuo to bring them to a villa instead.
Hearing the voice, Jin Mingzhu, who was sitting on the sofa, also looked around.
Although it couldn’t compare to the main family residences, upon closer inspection, there were quite a few valuable items here.
Decorated with such care, it was clear someone had lived here for a long time.
Bai Huina walked over and asked, “Do you come here often?”
Li Chengshuo coughed and hurriedly explained, “I rarely come. But Shixu runs over here every other day. Most of the things here were bought by him.”
Although they had generous allowances, secretly buying a villa decorated with famous paintings and artifacts still required saving up for some time.
Especially since Han Shixu loved collecting such things.
Looking at the walls covered in famous paintings and the meticulously chosen decorations, Bai Huina said with an inexplicable tone, “He sure knows how to keep secrets. If it weren’t for this welcome party, we wouldn’t have known about this place.”
Not only did they not know, but even Yuanxi was unaware.
Yuanxi was both Han Shixu’s fiancée and possessed the top-tier influence of the Jing family, yet she knew even less than Li Chengshuo.
If she came tonight, she’d probably be upset again, wouldn’t she?
Li Chengshuo silently took a sip of champagne, discreetly observing Bai Huina’s expression.
Her expression hadn’t changed much; she just pursed her lips tightly and wordlessly fiddled with the red wine on the table.
Jin Mingzhu and the others didn’t dare speak, and the atmosphere froze just like that.
If it were anything else, they wouldn’t feel so awkward—after all, it was just Bai Huina in front of them. But they knew she would definitely tell Jing Yuanxi about this.
Finally, the roar of a car engine came from outside. The people in the living room seemed to have found their cue and instantly came to life.
“He’s back, quick, quick, get ready!”
Jin Mingzhu lifted the curtain to take a look, then immediately ran to turn off the small lights. Another person brought over a few small party poppers and handed them out one by one.
As if the earlier conversation had never happened, Bai Huina smiled and took a party popper, hiding by the entrance with the others.
…
The luxury car screeched to a stop at the entrance.
Song Enya stepped out of the car, holding a worn-out suitcase, and stared blankly at the grand villa before her.
Even without the lights on, its silhouette alone made it clear that this house was worth a fortune.
Song Zhenxian carried down the remaining bags and then looked at the carefree young master, saying:
“Thank you for temporarily taking us in. Today’s rent can be deducted from our wages.”
They had just arrived in Zhongdu, penniless, with nowhere to stay.
If they didn’t come here, they had nowhere else to go.
Han Shixu paid no mind to her words. Tossing his car keys in his hand, he walked ahead first.
Following behind, Song Enya carried a backpack on her back and dragged two suitcases in her hands. She heard the person ahead speak casually:
“The contract for my housekeeper still has a few days before it expires. You’ll stay here temporarily, of course not for free. Daily cleaning will be your responsibility…”
The door was pushed fully open, and the boy’s voice abruptly stopped as the lights suddenly brightened.
“Bang—”
“Bang—”
“Bang—”
“Shixu, welcome back—!”
Under the enormous crystal chandelier, countless streamers fluttered down. The soft lighting illuminated the villa’s luxurious furnishings clearly.
Han Shixu clearly hadn’t expected anyone to be inside.
And Li Chengshuo and the others hadn’t anticipated that Han Shixu would have other people behind him either. An obvious moment of silence fell.
“…Shixu, who’s behind you?” Bai Huina craned her neck to look past him, while the others also curiously peered over.
But Han Shixu showed no intention of moving aside.
It wasn’t until Li Chengshuo walked around with a smile on his face that he clearly saw the mother and daughter behind him.
To be honest, after seeing the plainly dressed pair, Li Chengshuo was genuinely stunned.
Unable to stop him, Han Shixu could only pretend not to care as he walked to the sofa and picked up a glass of water to drink.
With him moving away, both sides saw each other completely.
A group of richly dressed young men and women stood together under the crystal chandelier.
Without a doubt, these were people nurtured by wealth.
Across from them stood two people in faded, grayish clothes, with an almost-broken old red suitcase and military-green bags of various sizes—utterly out of place with everything else.
“This is my new housekeeper, temporarily helping me clean the villa,” Han Shixu suddenly spoke up.
Jin Mingzhu immediately understood with an “Ah,” withdrawing her gaze and saying with little interest, “So it’s the housekeeper.”
“Of course it’s the housekeeper. What else could they be looking like that? Relatives or friends?” As she spoke, Jin Mingzhu glanced amusedly at the mother and daughter opposite, her tone carrying a slight sting.
Just as everyone was about to return to the sofa area, Bai Huina, who had been quiet all along, suddenly chuckled.
“Are both of you housekeepers?” she asked, looking at the two before her, especially the young woman with delicate features.
Reason told Bai Huina that the two before her weren’t worth caring about, yet she couldn’t shake a strange feeling.
Even they were learning about this villa’s existence for the first time, showing how tightly Han Shixu had kept it hidden.
If he wanted peace and quiet so much, why would he hire two housekeepers at once?
Song Enya, standing opposite, felt uncomfortable with her tone and looked away without responding.
In truth, she didn’t have a good impression of any of these wealthy people before her.
Their eyes, their tone… everything exuded an air of superiority.
Unlike Song Enya’s displeasure, Song Zhenxian’s hand gripping the bag suddenly tightened.
Especially when the others redirected their attention to them because of this remark, it nearly made her hair stand on end.
Just as she was about to speak, Han Shixu cut in first, “No, the other one is her daughter.”
Hearing it was the housekeeper’s daughter, Bai Huina shifted her gaze away and fell silent.
“Ah? Why bring the housekeeper’s daughter here…”
Jin Mingzhu muttered quietly a couple of times, then seemed to think of something amusing. With a rather gleeful expression, she nudged the person beside her with her elbow. “Could it be she’s going to live here with you all?”
Li Chengshuo’s expression instantly changed upon hearing this. “Shixu, you wouldn’t arrange it like this, would you?”
He looked questioningly at the person by the sofa.
Han Shixu met his gaze calmly, as if discussing something ordinary. “They will be staying here for a few days, but why are you reacting like this? You don’t usually come to stay for a couple of days either.”
Li Chengshuo seemed oblivious to the impatience in his eyes and replied with a grin, “I don’t argue with my family often, so of course I don’t need to run away from home regularly.”
“Hey, Li Chengshuo, if you’re going to brag like that, you’re going to offend quite a few people,” Jin Mingzhu said with a displeased expression.
Seeing the topic being diverted, Han Shixu, worried they might cause trouble again, subtly waved at the mother and daughter, signaling them to leave.
Song Enya remained sullen, her lips pressed tightly together, as Song Zhenxian firmly pulled her away.
Song Zhenxian’s movements were gentle, even lifting the suitcase slightly off the ground to avoid making any noise that might draw their attention again.
As she wished, their departure indeed went unnoticed by the others.
Except for Li Chengshuo.