Chapter 464 - 462: Going to See an Acquaintance
Si Wen made a face at Xue Yang.
Hmph, that’s what you get for annoying me. I’m Lin Xi’s best friend, after all. She’ll definitely take my side.
However, much to Si Wen’s surprise, Lin Xi said, "Si Wen, that’s enough."
Si Wen’s eyes widened. "Well, look at you! You’re not even married yet, and you’re already taking his side."
Lin Xi’s pretty face flushed, and she nearly buried her face against Xue Yang’s chest. "You’re talking nonsense."
Xue Yang saw through Si Wen’s intentions at a glance. "Are you sure you’re staying here because you want to, and not because you don’t want to go home?"
Si Wen was left speechless. She decided to ignore the annoying couple for the rest of the evening. She picked up Xiao Bai and started to head to her room.
But Xiao Bai, apparently aware that Xue Yang had returned, squirmed out of her grasp. It dashed over to Xue Yang, meowing at his feet and rubbing its head against his pant leg, a complete bootlicker begging to be held.
Si Wen was stunned by the cat’s behavior. "Xiao Bai, you’re a cat, not a dog! Stop fawning like that, will you?"
If animals weren’t forbidden from attaining sentience in this day and age, she would have suspected Xiao Bai had done just that.
Xue Yang bent down and scooped up Xiao Bai, petting its smooth fur. He glanced at Si Wen. "Even Xiao Bai is more sensible than you are."
"Alright, alright, so it’s three against one, is it? Why don’t you all just live happily ever after? I’ll just leave, alright?"
Just then, Auntie Shen appeared. "Miss Lin, Young Master Xue, Miss Si Wen, dinner is ready."
As if she had been given a graceful exit, Si Wen snorted and marched off to the dining room, leaving Xiao Bai behind.
Xue Yang followed, holding Lin Xi’s hand with one arm and cradling Xiao Bai in the other. They looked like a harmonious family of three, a sight that made Si Wen nearly grit her teeth to dust.
After dinner, Si Wen grabbed Xiao Bai by the scruff of its neck, ignoring its protests, and stormed upstairs to her room. She was determined to teach it a lesson tonight and make sure it knew who its real master was.
"If you fail to recognize your owner one more time, I’ll never give you dried fish again!"
After resting in the living room for a while, Xue Yang and Lin Xi also went upstairs.
"Are you free tomorrow morning?" Xue Yang casually asked after his shower.
"Yes. Aren’t you going to work?"
"I’m taking you to meet someone tomorrow."
"Who is it?" Lin Xi asked, her curiosity piqued.
"She’s something of a benefactor to me. It’s General Manager Jiang from LoL."
"Okay."
Lin Xi also knew the general manager of LoL; they had met a few times. She’d heard the woman had divorced early and was raising her daughter on her own. Lin Xi found her remarkable for that alone—to have had the courage to divorce under pressure and raise her daughter by herself.
「The next day.」
Lin Xi woke up early. Auntie Shen had already arranged for a skincare expert, a makeup artist, and a stylist to be waiting for her.
When Xue Yang woke up, he was somewhat surprised to see several unfamiliar women sitting in the living room. After an introduction from Auntie Shen, he understood what they were there for. The dazzling array of things they had prepared astonished him.
This was the first time Xue Yang had ever truly witnessed Lin Xi’s lifestyle as a true heiress, and he couldn’t have imagined it before. There were specialists for skincare, makeup, and even fashion. From head to toe, inside and out, everything was custom-tailored for her. It was the polar opposite of the life he had always lived.
But he didn’t say much. After a simple greeting, he went to the study to take care of some work.
Their appointment with Jiang Wei was at ten o’clock. It wasn’t even seven yet, so there was still plenty of time for him to deal with urgent matters.
Around 9:30, Xue Yang had nearly finished his work, and Lin Xi’s preparations were also wrapping up.
Xue Yang closed his laptop and headed to where she was. It was a gazebo-like glass room in the villa’s garden, filled with a profusion of flowers. Year-round, the climate control kept the air balmy, and the moment he stepped inside, he was met with the scent of spring.
His gaze followed the colorful panorama of flowers to where Lin Xi sat right in their midst. The makeup artist was applying her lipstick. She had already changed into a white, floral-print silk dress. Wearing it, she looked like a butterfly poised to take flight at any moment.
The flowers were beautiful, but she was even more so. For a moment, Xue Yang was mesmerized.
"Miss Lin, it’s all done," the makeup artist said after finishing the lipstick. After receiving Lin Xi’s nod of approval, she began to pack up. People in her profession generally didn’t make small talk with clients. They did their job and made a quiet exit, mission accomplished.
Lin Xi approached Xue Yang, her face, tinged with a faint blush, was stunningly beautiful.
For an instant, Xue Yang didn’t want to take her out. He wanted to hide her away in the villa where only he could see her and no one else. But he knew if he actually did that, Xiao Xi would definitely not be happy.
"Xue Yang, I’m ready." Lin Xi came to him and stood with her hands crossed neatly before her, the very picture of a well-bred young lady.
Xue Yang took her hand. "Let’s go."
They arrived promptly at the location they’d arranged with Jiang Wei. She was already waiting.
When she saw Lin Xi, she froze. "Miss Lin?"
When she had made plans with Xue Yang the day before, he had mentioned he would bring his girlfriend. But she had never imagined that his girlfriend would be the heiress of Lin Corporation. Jiang Wei hadn’t made it to her current position by being unperceptive. It didn’t take her long to understand why the higher-ups had agreed to release Xue Yang’s game.
So that’s how it is...
Jiang Sisi saw Xue Yang and immediately ran toward him. "Brother Xue Yang, long time no see!"
Xue Yang crouched down to her level. "Sisi, long time no see. You’ve grown taller."
Jiang Sisi pouted. "Brother Xue Yang, have I only grown taller?"
Xue Yang paused for a second, then quickly understood. "Sisi has become prettier."
"Mom, you heard that! Brother Xue Yang also said I’ve become prettier, so you can’t call me a little dark-skinned girl anymore."
Compared to Lin Xi’s pale, cool-toned skin, Jiang Sisi’s complexion was indeed much darker. Describing her as a dark-skinned girl wasn’t an exaggeration. In reality, Jiang Sisi simply had a healthy skin tone.
"But you are a little dark-skinned girl. Mom isn’t wrong about that."
Hearing her mother still insist on calling her a dark-skinned girl, Jiang Sisi became upset. She folded her arms, pouted, and sat off to the side, ignoring her mother.
Jiang Wei, however, seemed accustomed to this. She chuckled and said to Xue Yang and Lin Xi, "I’m sorry about that. Sisi’s just a child and throws tantrums like this often. I usually don’t bring her when I’m meeting someone for work, but she insisted on coming when she heard I was seeing you."