Inside the apartment, warm yellow light poured down.
It was Little Bean who had been clinging to Jiang Si and refused to let go, so he carried her up.
Jiang Si sat on the sofa, his long legs casually stretched out, the lines beneath his suit pants firm and powerful.
His deep voice gently explained the story from the picture book to her.
The scene was unexpectedly harmonious.
Qiao Xi walked over, placed the water on the coffee table, and casually asked.
"Director Jiang, have you had dinner yet?"
Jiang Si said he was worried about her, so he came with President Shang's car and had been waiting outside Tianyu Garden.
He had waited for over an hour.
Jiang Si raised his eyes to look at her and said three words.
"Not yet."
Qiao Xi's heart was pricked, and a sense of guilt instantly surged.
"I don't have many ingredients here. If you don't mind..."
"I don't mind," he replied immediately, crisp and decisive.
"Then I'll cook you a bowl of noodles," Qiao Xi said, then fled into the kitchen as if escaping.
Jiang Si's gaze followed her, watching her busy figure in the small kitchen, his eyes gradually softening.
At this moment, he suddenly understood the meaning of "home."
Having a woman he liked, a cute child, and a light left on for him.
A peaceful and beautiful life, that's probably what it was like.
In a moment, Qiao Xi came out holding a bowl of noodles.
"Director Jiang, please eat your noodles first."
Qiao Xi walked over and casually took Little Bean from his embrace.
Jiang Si walked to the dining table and sat down.
He looked at the bowl of plain noodles, topped with a well-cooked soft-boiled egg, its golden edges slightly fragrant with char.
There was also a thick slice of luncheon meat and two pieces of green vegetable on the side.
The presentation was perfect.
He picked up his chopsticks, scooped up a mouthful of noodles, and brought them to his mouth.
The flavor was good.
His way of eating was elegant, neither fast nor slow, composed and unhurried, his good upbringing etched into his very bones.
Qiao Xi, holding Little Bean, thanked him again.
"Thank you so much today."
Jiang Si suddenly paused his chopsticks, looked up, and stared directly at her, asking.
"Qiao Xi, do you have feelings for me?"
"Huh?" Qiao Xi was startled.
This question... how was she supposed to answer?
Jiang Si didn't give her too much time to feel awkward and continued.
"The first time I saw you two years ago, I fell for you."
"At Anning Yuan."
The corner of his mouth curled into a smile, a clean and gentle smile that made Qiao Xi stare blankly.
Two years ago?
At that time, she had just returned to Ningcheng. She immediately sold the wedding room left by Shang Beichen and exchanged it for Anning Yuan and this small apartment.
Then she joined Tianyu.
He had noticed her back then?
Qiao Xi was a bit flustered, completely unsure how to respond.
He said again, "Qiao Xi, you can try to like me."
His eyes held a longing she had never seen before, and his tone was gentle and polite, completely unlike the aloof and distant demeanor rumored about him.
Suddenly, a mobile phone ringtone broke the tense atmosphere.
Jiang Si glanced at the caller ID, said "Excuse me," and quickly answered.
He only said into the phone, "I'll be right there."
Then he hung up.
He stood up, his tall figure casting a sense of oppression.
"Something urgent came up, I have to go."
"Okay," Qiao Xi finally breathed a sigh of relief, holding the child, she walked him to the door.
At the entrance, Jiang Si stopped and turned to look at her again.
"I hope you'll consider it carefully."
"...Mm."
Qiao Xi nodded vaguely. She didn't relax until the door was closed, but her mind was in a mess.
Jiang Si... had liked her for two years?
So, half a year ago, when he swept her up in his arms in the pouring rain downstairs at the company, was that also within his "liking period"?
He was the unattainable flower of Tianyu, the dream lover of all the unmarried women in the company.
How could it be... sigh, it was too unreal.
She lowered her head to look at Little Bean in her arms and carried her towards the bathroom.
"Little dirty cat, Mommy will take you for a bath."
Steam filled the bathroom, and the sound of water splashed.
The little one was naked, splashing in the bathtub like a happy little fish, humming an out-of-tune nursery rhyme.
"Mommy."
Little Bean tilted her wet face up.
"Can Uncle Jiang be my daddy?"
Qiao Xi's hand, which was scrubbing her back, paused.
She softly asked, "Do you like Uncle Jiang very much?"
"Mm!"
"Then, between Uncle Jiang and that bad uncle, who do you like more?"
Little Bean's little brows furrowed, and she thought very seriously.
"I like Uncle Jiang. He won't bully Mommy."
"But..." she added in a small voice, "I like the big dog at the bad uncle's house."
Qiao Xi was amused by her and pinched her little nose.
"You little thing, you're quite greedy."
As Shang Beichen's supercar stopped steadily downstairs from Qiao Xi's apartment, the driver, Old Wang, jogged over, his posture very humble.
"President Shang, that man has left."
"Just left?"
"Yes, he went up and stayed for about twenty minutes before coming down."
Shang Beichen tapped his fingertips on the steering wheel, his eyes deep, revealing no emotion.
He made a phone call, gave a few brief instructions, then started the car and merged into the traffic.
Not long after, the doorbell rang.
Qiao Xi's heart skipped a beat; she was a little afraid of the doorbell now.
When she opened the door, she saw a familiar, elite face.
Shang Beichen's Special Assistant, Chen Zheng.
Dressed in a suit and leather shoes, immaculate.
"Secretary Qiao," Chen Zheng nodded slightly and handed over the high-end box in his hand.
"President Shang has a private gathering and needs your company. This is your evening gown. The car is waiting downstairs."
The color instantly drained from Qiao Xi's face.
She blocked the door, her voice cold.
"Please tell President Shang that I have a headache and cannot go."
"I was in a car accident today. If he hasn't lost his memory, or if he still considers himself human, he wouldn't exploit his employees like this."
Was he trying to squeeze every last drop out of her?
Chen Zheng's expression remained unchanged. "Secretary Qiao, please don't make things difficult for me."
"Doesn't he still have Secretary Su and Secretary Qin?" Qiao Xi laughed in anger. "Why does he need me to accompany him?"
Chen Zheng's eyes were devoid of emotion.
"President Shang said, it has to be you."
These four words carried an undeniable domineering tone.
Qiao Xi took a deep breath and changed her reason.
"I have a child at home, only a little over three years old. I can't leave her alone at home."
"You don't need to worry about that," Chen Zheng produced an exquisite toy gift box from behind him.
"President Shang has already instructed that I will look after the child until you return. Please go with peace of mind."
Go to hell!
Qiao Xi was completely speechless.
This was simply a meticulously planned trap, calculated to the extreme.
At this moment, Little Bean, wrapped in a large bath towel, ran out dripping wet, her hair still dripping water.
"Who is this?"
Qiao Xi's heart tightened. She quickly pulled the child back, covered her little head with a towel, and frantically wiped her dry.
She squatted down, cupping her daughter's small face.
"Baby, sister has to go out for a bit. Uncle Chen will play with you for a while. You need to be good, understand?"
Little Bean blinked her big eyes and nodded obediently.
"Mm."
Qiao Xi blew her hair dry, dressed her, and brewed a pot of warm milk, letting her lie on the bed and drink it while holding it herself.
After doing all this, she resignedly walked towards the room.
Ten minutes later, when she reappeared, she was a different person.
A high-end golden slip dress outlined her graceful figure, her long hair loosely tied up, revealing beautiful shoulder and neck lines.
She wore eight-centimeter high heels, each step as if treading on a knife's edge.
She seriously gave Chen Zheng a few instructions before opening the door and leaving.
The black Rolls-Royce downstairs had been waiting.
Qiao Xi opened the car door, and Old Wang's heart skipped a beat.
He hoped this young lady wouldn't slam the car door tonight.
Otherwise, he would be the one to pay the bill.
The scene would be unpleasant then!
Qiao Xi took out her phone and sent a WeChat message to Xia Cheng.
【The guy surnamed Shang has dragged me to be his errand runner. Come help me watch Little Bean in a bit.】
Xia Cheng immediately replied with a table-flipping emoji.
【Damn it! This capitalist dog! Is he even human? Didn't you get into a car accident?】
Qiao Xi twitched the corner of her mouth and typed.
【He said, it has to be me.】
【Puke! He's gaslighting you! I'm coming to rescue you!】 Xia Cheng replied instantly.
Qiao Xi looked at the screen, a wave of warmth flowing through her heart.
【No, I can handle it. Go help me watch Little Bean.】
【Okay.】
The car finally stopped in front of a secluded private clubhouse.
At the entrance was a low-key black and gold gate, without even a sign, only uniformed doormen standing respectfully on either side.
Qiao Xi followed the doorman inside, stepping on the soft carpet, and passing through winding corridors.
The air was filled with gentle jazz music and a faint scent of alcohol.
The people here were either rich or noble. The men were impeccably dressed, and the women were elegant and proper, conversing softly, the atmosphere relaxed yet exuding a detached nobility.
This was perhaps the so-called upper-class circle.
As soon as Qiao Xi stepped into the hall, all eyes, *swish*, focused on her.
Damn, this woman is too stunning.
She wasn't wearing a single piece of jewelry, not even earrings.
A simple golden slip dress outlined her curvaceous figure.
But it was that cool, detached aura, combined with her beautiful face, that was simply a trump card.
Her features were as exquisite as if painted, yet her eyes held a hint of aloofness, making people want to approach but hesitate.
This kind of natural, top-tier appearance, compared to those socialites adorned with jewelry, had a much higher temperament.
Whose daughter was she?
Damn, the dress she was wearing was an evening gown from the MC brand's latest runway show, worth millions, and not yet available for sale in Ningcheng.
The women present showed undisguised jealousy in their eyes.
Qiao Xi spotted Shang Beichen at a glance.
He was standing by the railing of the terrace, talking with a few men.
The man was tall and straight, his perfectly tailored black suit accentuating his flawless proportions.
Even from just his back, the powerful aura of being in control of everything emanated from him.
He held a glass of whiskey, the amber liquid gently swirling in the crystal glass.
Three beautiful women were gathered around him, practically clinging to him.
Qiao Xi walked straight over and called out.
"President Shang."
The men beside Shang Beichen's eyes lit up; this woman was truly beautiful.
Shang Beichen's gaze shot over, and while he was stunned, his brow furrowed slightly.
Little vixen, who allowed her to dress like this?
He grabbed her hand and pulled her into his embrace, preemptively declaring his claim.
"This is my... Secretary Qiao."
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