Qiao Ling frowned slightly. “Wasn’t he in Youhe? When did he come to Shengjing?”
“He just arrived a few days ago. He was afraid of disturbing you, so he asked me to pass on the message, but I forgot.” Yu Wanli casually brushed her hair and glanced down at her glittery manicure, talking to herself. “I need to get my nails done. That little green tea bitch Xing Xueyu is definitely going to show up uninvited. This rich lady must outshine her down to every strand of hair!”
Xing Xueyu and Yu Wanli were sworn enemies. Their relationship was a bit complicated. After Wanli’s parents divorced, her mother remarried into the Xing family, so Xing Xueyu was Wanli’s stepsister without any blood relation.
Whether from the perspective of a best friend or her own, Qiao Ling didn’t like her.
“Yu Fupo, even if you wore a burlap sack, you’d still be the most dazzling pearl. She’s just a worthless pebble, worlds apart from you.”
Yu Wanli’s eyes sparkled, and she laughed like a delicate flower. “Darling, I just love hearing you talk.”
Qiao Ling raised an eyebrow. She was only telling the truth. Yu Wanli was an undeniable seductive beauty—fair skin, stunning looks, long legs, and especially those pure yet enchanting fox-like eyes that were utterly captivating.
A beauty doesn’t need excessive adornment. Dressed in a black polo crop top and short skirt, paired with combat boots, her sweet and spicy style was accentuated by her waist-length dark brown curly hair tied into a high ponytail. As she moved, the ends of her hair swayed, and the smile on her delicate face grew even brighter.
If Qiao Ling was a fierce and solitary wolf, Yu Wanli was the cunning and sly red fox.
After leaving the 4S dealership, the two sisters headed to the beauty salon. It wasn’t until evening, when Chi Nian started bombarding them with calls, that they finally left.
Chi Nian’s birthday party was held at Shengjing’s top-tier gentlemen’s club.
When Qiao Ling and Yu Wanli arrived at the entrance, Chi Nian was squatting on the steps, a cigarette dangling from his lips as he typed on his phone. It was unclear who he was chatting with, but he was grinning brightly.
“Hey, birthday boy, why are you squatting at the entrance instead of waiting in the private room?” Yu Wanli, who had stepped out of the car first, walked up behind him and glanced at his lit-up phone screen.
Chi Nian removed the cigarette from his lips, his handsome and rebellious features softening into a smile. “What else? Just here to welcome you two young ladies.”
“Third Brother, are Brother Huai and the others already here?” Qiao Ling tossed her car keys to the valet and walked toward him, carrying an exquisite black paper bag.
The girl’s long hair, cascading down her back, was gently lifted by the breeze. Her ethereally beautiful face wore a faint smile as she walked in a cream-colored crop top and black shorts. With each step, her slender waist peeked out between the hem of her top and the waistband of her shorts, while her long, straight legs were perfectly proportioned and fair. A hint of green bamboo, tattooed around her ankle, peeked out from beneath her shoes.
“Brother Ting is here. Brother Huai and Brother Jinyue haven’t arrived yet.” Chi Nian watched the girl approaching him, his eyes filled with an enduring sense of awe. He had always felt that Qiao Ling’s face was unreasonably beautiful, with every part of her perfectly proportioned.
She was a rare gem in this world, a fantasy beyond reach.
“Wow, it’s rare for Brother Ting, the busy man, to arrive early for once.” Yu Wanli draped her arm over Qiao Ling’s shoulder, her tone casual and amused. “Let’s go in and keep Brother Ting company. No need to wait for those two.”
Qiao Ling hummed in agreement and handed the paper bag to Chi Nian. “Birthday gift.””Can I open it now?” Chi Nian took it in his hands, a wide grin spreading across his face, his happiness completely unrestrained.
Qiao Ling curled her lips. “It’s Third Brother’s gift, you decide.”
Hearing this.
Chi Nian raised a brow, exuding a roguish handsomeness. He didn’t dye his hair, wear earrings, or deliberately style himself. The bangs over his forehead were always parted in a three-seven split, and he carried an air of lazy, careless decadence—both cool and aloof.
Inside the paper bag was a long, rectangular black box. Unable to resist his curiosity, Chi Nian took it out. Opening the box, he was slightly taken aback to see a large red booklet lying quietly inside.
Property Ownership Certificate…
Lingling had given him a property?
“It’s not a residence, it’s a small office building,” Yu Wanli said softly. “On the outskirts of Central City. Didn’t you want to get into esports? Lingling said you could convert this building into your team’s base.”
She had only learned on the way here that Lingling’s so-called “gift of money” meant this.
It was impossible not to be surprised—after all, this was a building worth tens of millions—but it was also somewhat expected, because Lingling always chose the perfect gift.
Chi Nian was equally astonished. He had always known Lingling was a hidden wealthy woman, but in reality, she was far richer than he had imagined!
“Third Brother, are you about to cry?” Qiao Ling teased, seeing his moved expression.
Chi Nian replied, “Brother is so happy he can’t tell east from west! Wanli, quick, hold me up!”
“Only spoiling you today,” Yu Wanli chuckled, reaching out to support his raised arm.
The three of them walked in, chatting and laughing.
Private Room 6106.
Chi Nian pushed open the door, and a flood of colorful lights mixed with booming music poured out through the open doorway. Inside the room, small groups of people sitting together all turned their eyes toward the entrance.
Instantly, a chorus of greetings erupted, adding another wave of commotion to the already noisy room.
In the corner, a young man’s handsome face was hidden in the shadows. The dim light outlined his refined features, his sharp jawline lending an air of cool detachment, and an aura of unapproachable distance surrounded him.
“Brother Ting.” Qiao Ling and Yu Wanli sat down on either side of him.
Xie Songting raised a brow, his voice gentle. “You haven’t eaten tonight, have you? I brought you some pastries from Qianzhai Lou.”
“Tsk, on a day like today, Brother Ting doesn’t even treat me specially. He had to wait for the two young ladies to arrive before opening the snacks,” Chi Nian pouted, opening the exquisitely packaged pastry box on the table and handing them to the two.
Qiao Ling picked up a lotus puff, about to take a bite, when a familiar voice sounded beside her ear.
“Sister.” The boy’s voice was clear and pleasant, the slightly rising tone like a refreshing mountain spring soothing the heart.
Qiao Ling glanced sideways, her lips curving into a smile.
The boy wore a plain white T-shirt, black shorts, and sneakers, with a silver pendant hanging on his chest. His jet-black short hair fell softly over his forehead, and a pair of black-framed glasses rested on his straight nose. His narrow phoenix eyes tilted slightly upward, their deep black irises seeming to shimmer with moisture, startlingly bright.
When he smiled, two dimples appeared on his cheeks, making him look both sweet and clean.
“The top-tier obedient little puppy is here!” Yu Wanli teased, leaning forward with interest to look at the two.Qiao Ling motioned for him to sit down, asking softly, “Weren’t you supposed to stay in Youhe for a month?”
“Family matters were all settled, so I came back early.” Xu Xing watched her nibbling on the lotus flower pastry, unscrewed a bottle of mineral water, and pulled out a tissue to catch the crumbs falling from the pastry.
His movements were practiced, as if he did this often.
Chi Nian tossed a cigarette to Xie Songting, both of them looking indifferent.
The pastry was too sweet; Qiao Ling ate one and didn’t touch another, wiping her hands. The young man suddenly brought the water to her lips, “Sister, have some water.”
“Thanks.” Taking the bottle, Qiao Ling noticed he seemed about to throw something away, so she hooked the trash bin over with her foot.
Xu Xing happened to stand up just then and accidentally tripped over the bin that had suddenly appeared at his feet. Afraid he might fall onto Xie Songting, Qiao Ling reached out and pulled him back.
Under the force, Xu Xing stumbled toward her, but he reacted quickly, bracing one hand on the sofa back and stopping just before falling into her arms.
“Sorry.” Qiao Ling lowered her head slightly.
A faint scent of woody roses mixed with a hint of lotus sweetness lingered in the air. Xu Xing’s eyes flickered slightly as he looked up at the stunning face so close to his, his Adam’s apple bobbing. He smiled innocently, “Don’t worry, sister, I’m fine.”
The two were already close, and with Xu Xing’s hands braced against the sofa back, it looked as if he were holding Qiao Ling in his arms… as if they were about to kiss…
Yu Wanli was only separated from Qiao Ling by Xie Songting. Even from her angle, the two seemed unusually intimate, let alone from anyone else’s perspective.
……
“You two…” Yu Wanli was about to speak up when she suddenly saw the tightly closed private room door being pushed open. The tall, imposing figure at the forefront caught her eye. She paused for a moment, then changed her words, “Lingling, Brother Jinyue… is here.”