“You’ve been unhappy these three days because of a man? If this one doesn’t like you, why not find another? Your brother knows so many outstanding young talents—let him introduce you to some.” Yin’s mother gently stroked her face. “Don’t worry, I’ll tell your brother.”
“I don’t like anyone else, I only like him…”
“Who?” Yin’s mother grew curious.
Yin Shuyang was about to speak when a message suddenly popped up on her phone.
“Mom! I won’t be home for dinner tonight.”
She quickly stood up, rushed upstairs, and ran to the wardrobe to pick out clothes while replying to Xie Guanlan’s message.
It turned out he had gone on a business trip.
He had just landed.
She had misunderstood.
Yin Shuyang changed clothes, applied makeup, and came downstairs. Yin’s mother watched her with a smile, seeing her swift and eager demeanor—a grown daughter no longer staying close to home.
“Yangyang, will you come home tonight? You must not stay out overnight again, be careful! I’ll have a bodyguard accompany you!”
After Yin Shuyang got into the car, there was a driver in the driver’s seat and a bodyguard in the passenger seat.
She couldn’t smile.
Not even a little.
She had planned to drink a bit tonight—a woman three parts drunk, acting until Xie Guanlan shed tears.
“Tonight, you two don’t need to wait outside; don’t delay me finding a husband for you.” Yin Shuyang said, transferring ten thousand yuan each to the bodyguard and driver. “Go eat something, take a stroll. I’ll call you if needed.”
“Second Miss, if something unexpected happens, we won’t be able to explain.”
“Nothing unexpected will happen! Even if there is, it should be on the other side…”
Yin Shuyang had been chatting with her mischievous friend Shi Man these past few days.
A man like Xie Guanlan was hard to pursue. They could marry first and fall in love later, or she could first have a baby and let Xie Guanlan take responsibility.
But she didn’t dare do that.
Xie Guanlan had booked a private dining restaurant in the suburbs. Generally, such places were harder to reserve than those French restaurants.
Could she boldly guess that Xie Guanlan, knowing he would be away on business, had booked the spot ahead of time?
Yin Shuyang, holding her apology gift, followed the server into the private room.
In early autumn, the wooden glass window revealed the night’s stars and the bright white moon.
Inside the room, Xie Guanlan had removed his suit jacket, wearing only a white shirt as he sat at the table. Under the soft light, the lines of his profile were flawlessly perfect, like meticulously carved.
His deep, ink-dark gaze looked over, cool and indifferent, matching his aloof, restrained face perfectly.
The more indifferent he was, the more Yin Shuyang wanted to see him lose control.
Indeed, people most loved to watch gods fall.
In her eyes, Xie Guanlan was that proud, cold, ascetic god.
Yin Shuyang obediently sat opposite him, pushing the gift in her hand forward. “An apology gift.”
“No need to apologize.”
Yin Shuyang smiled sweetly. “Please accept it, as an advance apology for any future behavior of mine that might offend you.”
Xie Guanlan had to accept it, curious in his heart about how she would offend him later.
The private dining featured Chinese cuisine, which Yin Shuyang loved very much.
Besides specialty dishes, this restaurant also had privately brewed fruit wines.
Xie Guanlan ordered plum wine and peach wine for her.
He poured the wine elegantly and gently. “This wine isn’t strong; you can try it.”
“My tolerance isn’t good. If I get drunk, Brother Xie, can you take me home?” Yin Shuyang was already looking forward to it. “To your home is fine too~”
“Hmm?”
Xie Guanlan was always on guard, but in front of Yin Shuyang, he was so relaxed that he didn’t even catch what she said in the latter half of her sentence.
“I’ll just have a little taste.”
The private room was quiet and elegant, with even the drinking cups being delicate, small porcelain ones. Had Xie Guanlan ever been to a place like this with other girls before?
Yin Shuyang took a small sip of the peach wine. It was sweet, with a faint aroma of alcohol—not intoxicating at all.
“It’s delicious.”
With such a tasty, low-alcohol drink, how could she possibly get drunk?
How could she possibly lean into Xie Guanlan?
During the meal, Xie Guanlan hardly spoke.
Yin Shuyang couldn’t even figure out why Xie Guanlan had invited her to dinner. Was it because she was Yin Shujun’s sister?
Yin Shuyang had a low tolerance for alcohol, and even though it was fruit wine, it still flushed her cheeks.
She felt her face grow warm, her gaze turning hazy as she propped her chin on her hand. “What kind of girl do you like?”
Bold and straightforward, passionate and fervent.
Xie Guanlan’s mind flashed back to what Yin Shujun had told him: “My sister has always been impulsive since she was young. She’s still young, easily swayed, and doesn’t really understand what true affection is. Besides, even if she likes you now, it doesn’t mean she’ll still like you in the future. And you’ve never been interested in women anyway. I’m afraid she’ll only end up more heartbroken later. Better to cut it short now than let it drag on. Make it clear to her.”
Tonight’s dinner with Yin Shuyang was also at Yin Shujun’s suggestion.
Seeing him remain silent, Yin Shuyang asked, “Would someone like me do? I’m 21 years old, a university graduate. I’m 158 cm tall, but with high heels, I can reach over 170 cm. Our heights would be just perfect for kissing~”
Yin Shuyang stood up, her left hand gliding along the wooden dining table as she slowly walked to Xie Guanlan’s side.
She leaned down, revealing two lovely dimples, her eyes sparkling with a soft, radiant light, her voice sweet and tender. “Xie Guanlan, can I pursue you?”
“Can I? Can I? I like you so much~”
Although she adored Xie Guanlan’s aloof, restrained demeanor, his silence now made Yin Shuyang feel both anxious and wronged, on the verge of tears.
Why wasn’t he saying anything?
“No,” Xie Guanlan refused coldly. “Yangyang, we’re not suitable.”
Hearing “not suitable” from Xie Guanlan’s mouth felt completely different from hearing it from her brother.
She could argue with her brother, but she couldn’t argue with the person himself.
Her eyes reddened, and in an instant, glistening tears blurred her vision.
She choked back a sob, her small face leaning closer to his handsome, refined features. “What’s not suitable?”
“Yangyang, you’re still young,” Xie Guanlan blurted out, unable to think of a better reason to refuse.
“I’m not young! I’m 21, already a year past the legal marriage age. You’re six years past it!” Tears streamed down Yin Shuyang’s flushed eyes.
Xie Guanlan said, “That’s exactly why we’re not suitable. I’m too old for you.”
Yin Shuyang cried even harder. “Twenty-five isn’t old at all! It’s only a seven-year age difference. I like you, and I don’t mind. What are you worried about? Or are all men just terrible, wanting to find someone who’s 85?”
“That’s not it,” Xie Guanlan took out his handkerchief, intending to wipe her tears.
But he hesitated mid-air, feeling it was inappropriate.
If he was going to reject her, he shouldn’t engage in any intimate gestures.
He lowered his voice. “Wipe them yourself. Your makeup is smudged.”
Yin Shuyang took his handkerchief and hastily dabbed at her tears. “I get it. You don’t like someone like me.”
“Then could you tell me what kind of person you like? I’ll try harder in that direction…”
Xie Guanlan was once again charmed by her—even after being rejected, she still wanted to try harder.
Yin Shujun protected his sister so well. With her being so adorable and sweet, how could she possibly like a man like him, who was inherently cold and always wore a stern face toward everyone?