“Miss Fang, I apologize for keeping you waiting.”
The gentleman across from her had just taken his seat, a warm smile still lingering on his face.
Fang Yinian looked up and slowly took him in—the man before her had sharp, handsome features, a high-bridged nose, and a tailored suit that accentuated his tall, upright frame. The warm lighting cast a sheen of light across his face.
She smiled gracefully. “No trouble at all—I just arrived myself.”
She and Xie Jiansheng had crossed paths a few times in the United States. Fang’s mother was extremely exacting in her requirements for her daughter’s blind date candidates—she cared not only about family background but also professional capability. Ordinary young wastrels could never catch the old lady’s eye.
After much deliberation, she had settled on Xie Jiansheng as the most satisfactory choice. The reason was simple: the Xie family had long been far ahead in the aerospace sector, and Fang’s mother was drawn to the value and wealth that field brought. Moreover, Xie Jiansheng was the only son of the family, with none of those messy family troubles.
By Xie Jiansheng’s credentials, he fit the old lady’s requirements for a future son-in-law perfectly.
Except the two of them had always been business partners—but after today, that might no longer be the case.
“The last time we met was in the States. I didn’t expect we’d see each other again so soon.” Xie Jiansheng chuckled.
Fang Yinian took a sip of red wine to mask her awkwardness. “Quite a coincidence, indeed.”
Xie Jiansheng smiled. “I heard you’ve joined Qianyi?”
Qianyi was the company her parents had founded together. When she was in middle school, her parents had gone through a divorce, and her father had taken half the assets, leaving the company much diminished. It wasn’t until seven years ago, when Fang’s mother remarried Shang’s father and Qianshi injected capital, that the company gradually stabilized.
The two families had agreed long ago that she and Shang Heyu would each handle one company—she would take Qianyi, he would take Qianshi. Neither would owe the other anything.
Fang’s mother and Shang’s father were more like partners wearing the guise of a married couple.
“Yes, I just returned to the country not long ago. I’m still familiarizing myself with the company’s operations.”
“Xinghang Technology, under my name, has taken on a satellite launch project. I heard from my father that Aunt Fang is also interested in investing in this sector. If you have any needs, I can make introductions for you.”
“That sounds great. I’ve never been involved in the aerospace field, and I’d actually like to learn more.” At the mention of work, Fang Yinian perked up with interest.
Xie Jiansheng was easygoing and conversational—more suited to being a business partner than a blind date candidate.
The two got so caught up in their discussion that they completely forgot the real purpose of today’s meeting.
Just as they wrapped up their last topic, Xie Jiansheng seemed to realize something and looked at Fang Yinian with an apologetic expression. “Sorry, I almost forgot today is a blind date, not a business meeting.”
Fang Yinian thought to herself, thank goodness there was business to discuss—if this were truly just a blind date, wouldn’t it be unbearably awkward?
She cleared her throat. “No worries. This is fine too.”
Xie Jiansheng’s smile deepened, his voice carrying a hint of magnetism. “So, shall we go through the blind date formalities, or…?”
Fang Yinian cut straight to the point. “Let’s just go through the formalities.”
Xie Jiansheng nodded. “Miss Fang, what do you like to do in your spare time?”
Fang Yinian answered with great finesse. “I enjoy concerts, opera, and art exhibitions.”
These were the standard answers she’d found online for blind dates. In reality, she didn’t care much for opera, she tended to fall asleep at concerts, and art exhibitions were the only one she had some interest in.
The curve of Xie Jiansheng’s lips remained unchanged. “In my free time, I like to play golf. Every winter, I go skiing—especially freestyle skiing.”
Upon hearing his hobby, Fang Yinian was shocked. She hadn’t expected that someone who appeared as refined and cultured as Xie Jiansheng would also pursue extreme sports.
For people from families like theirs, a hefty insurance policy was taken out at birth, and they would never be allowed to engage in such extreme sports.
Fang Yinian was taken aback. “Your parents actually agreed to this?”
“Why not just not tell them?” Xie Jiansheng said with a smile. “They only know I go skiing every winter—they don’t know I’m into this. Besides, nothing has happened in all these years, which proves my skills are decent enough. There’s no need to tell parents everything; young people should have their own private space too.”
Hearing this, Fang Yinian chuckled inwardly. This Xie Jiansheng was indeed interesting.
A blind date dinner passed in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.
Finally finishing the meal, Fang Yinian secretly rejoiced—she was about to end this fake performance.
By then, her assistant had already parked the car by the street.
Xie Jiansheng spoke warmly, a polite smile on his face. “Miss Fang, actually, compared to being blind date partners, we’d be better suited as business partners.”
This thought aligned perfectly with Fang Yinian’s own.
She smiled gracefully. “I think so too.”
If they couldn’t be boyfriend and girlfriend, then being business partners was a fine alternative.
Xie Jiansheng extended his hand. “I hope we have a pleasant cooperation.”
“Pleasant cooperation.” Fang Yinian shook his hand in return.
The next moment, a little boy suddenly darted out from the roadside and crashed straight into Fang Yinian. A forceful impact threw her off balance, and she stumbled directly into Xie Jiansheng.
Fang Yinian: “…”
What the hell!
What kind of cheesy cliché was this!
How embarrassing!
Xie Jiansheng let out a muffled grunt, leaning forward to embrace her. In the midst of the chaos, Fang Yinian couldn’t help but freeze.
He asked with concern, “Miss Fang, are you alright?”
Fang Yinian snapped back to her senses, a hint of lingering shock in her eyes. “I’m… I’m fine…”
The little boy’s parents came forward to apologize to the two of them, explaining that they hadn’t been watching their child.
Fang Yinian calmed down, her breathing gradually steadying.
She looked at the man beside her. “Let’s call it a night here then.”
Xie Jiansheng responded, “Alright, take care on the way.”
He watched Fang Yinian’s car drive away before slowly strolling back to his own vehicle. At that moment, a Maybach not far away quietly followed the car ahead.
Wenshan Residence.
After the date ended, Fang Yinian dragged her weary body into the elevator. She had just swiped her access card when the elevator doors, about to close, suddenly opened again.
A familiar scent of woody, cool fragrance wafted into her nose, and a tall, slender figure suddenly appeared in her field of vision. The man before her wore a dark suit paired with a wool overcoat, his facial features sharp and imposing, still carrying the lingering chill of the outside air.
Fang Yinian’s languid body instantly stiffened.
The man stepped into the elevator with her.
Fang Yinian pressed her lips tightly together, a look of alarm on her face. “Why are you here?”
This clearly wasn’t someone waiting downstairs in the building—it was more like he had followed her all the way back.
She narrowed her eyes. “Shang Heyu, are you stalking me?”
Shang Heyu’s tone was measured. “Isn’t one man like me enough? You still go to see other men?”
Fang Yinian let out a light scoff. “What exactly is our relationship?”
The elevator stopped at the twenty-sixth floor, and the doors slowly slid open. Fang Yinian stepped out to the side, her fingertips just touching the fingerprint lock.
The next second, Shang Heyu grabbed her shoulders and spun her around, seizing her hands and pressing her against the door.
The scent of fir wrapped tightly around her body, Fang Yinian’s eyes shimmered with a shifting gaze, her curled lashes casting a shadow.
Shang Heyu remained expressionless, his low voice murmuring close to her ear: “Lovers.”
She lifted her eyes, boldly appraising the man before her.
“Brother, we are siblings.”