Chapter 288: Old Cow Eating Tender Grass, Don't Even Think About It

Jiang Baobao stood blankly where she was, her expression complex for a moment.

Seeing her like this, Li Beijue felt an even greater sourness in his heart and finally couldn't help but ask, "Which friend are you asking for, anyway? Uncle doesn't just like someone randomly; it's best to advise her to give up that idea."

"It's Xiao Tang," Jiang Baobao answered subconsciously.

After saying this, she felt it was somewhat difficult to explain, so she said quickly, "Don't tell Li Xiao about what happened today. Just pretend I never asked. I'm going back to my room to rest now, goodnight."

Jiang Baobao dropped the sentence and turned directly to return to her room, looking somewhat hurried.

Li Beijue was left outside the door, standing blankly for a few seconds before he suddenly realized something.

She was asking for Cai Xiaotang just now?

Li Beijue raised an eyebrow, and the jealousy in his heart suddenly vanished in an instant.

As long as it wasn't she herself who was interested in this question...

Li Beijue took an amused look at the tightly closed door in front of him before turning to leave.

Inside the room, Jiang Baobao didn't even have time to change her clothes before she dialed Cai Xiaotang's number.

"Hello? Baobao... are you home?" Cai Xiaotang's voice sounded a bit groggy, as if she had already arrived home and had lain down to rest for a while.

Jiang Baobao took a deep breath and then said cautiously, "Xiao Tang, I... I might have some bad news to tell you..."

"Hm? What bad news? Go ahead."

Cai Xiaotang asked curiously in a puzzled tone.

Jiang Baobao thought for two seconds before saying, "I happened to run into Li Beijue when I came back just now, so I asked him about Li Xiao. According to what he said... I think Li Xiao might be... serious about you..."

"Ah? What does that mean? Be more specific!" Cai Xiaotang's voice instantly perked up, and she flipped over and sat up from the bed.

Jiang Baobao then repeated everything Li Beijue had just said.

Immediately after, she heard the other end of the line go quiet, with no one speaking for a full several seconds.

"Hello? Xiao Tang?" Jiang Baobao asked tentatively.

Then, a loud sound of a table being slapped came from the other end of the phone!

"Damn it! I knew that guy wanted to rob the cradle! And he likes younger women! He should look at how old he is this year!"

Cai Xiaotang's voice was extremely loud, shaking Jiang Baobao into holding the phone further away.

Listening to her finish venting, she brought the phone closer again and whispered, trying to persuade her, "Don't be angry yet... After all, when it comes to dating, if you don't like it, no one can force you. If he really pursues you, you can just refuse..."

"Of course I won't be forced!" Cai Xiaotang answered without hesitation, then continued in an irritable tone, "I just find it troublesome. The feeling of knowing you're being targeted by a man is very unpleasant. Do you understand what I mean?"

Cai Xiaotang sighed helplessly, her tone full of distress.

Hearing this, Jiang Baobao couldn't help but tease her amusedly, "Of course I know. In the past, whenever a man showed even the slightest bit of interest in you, you ran faster than a rabbit, desperate to clear things up."

Cai Xiaotang's eyes flickered for a moment as she suddenly thought of the past events involving the Mu Family.

She immediately adjusted her mood and replied as if nothing had happened, "I just don't want to date. What's so good about men? A new-era independent woman should rely on herself!"

"Yes, yes, yes, I know you're the best." Jiang Baobao shook her head with a smile, knowing she was always like this, and didn't say anything more.

The two chatted for a few more sentences, said goodnight, and hung up the phone.

On the other side—

Liu Xin'ai had just stepped through the moonlight and cautiously pushed open the front door.

The living room was quiet; everyone had gone to sleep.

She let out a shallow sigh of relief, cautiously returned to her room, and tidied up a bit, but she didn't have the slightest bit of sleepiness.

The test report wouldn't be out until tomorrow...

If there really was a result, then Cheng Hao and herself...

Liu Xin'ai's mind was a mess, and all her thoughts surged into her heart at once, making it impossible for her to calm down even a little bit.

After lying on the bed for a long time, she simply got up, found half a sleeping pill, and finally drifted into a deep sleep.

Early the next morning, she was woken up by the incessant ringing of her phone.

Seeing it was a call from a friend, Liu Xin'ai hurriedly answered it.

"Hello? How is it? Is the test report out?"

Liu Xin'ai quickly answered the phone and asked straight to the point.

Then, not knowing what the person on the other end said, her brows suddenly furrowed tightly, and she said in disbelief, "That's impossible! Send the test report to my email; I want to look at it again!"

As she spoke, she quickly cut off the call, scrambled out of bed, and turned on the computer.

She quickly pulled up a test report from her email.

"Drug elements... content normal..."

Liu Xin'ai whispered the results on the test report, her mind blank for a moment.

So it was normal medicine to improve mental conditions?

How could this be!

This is impossible!

Liu Xin'ai stared blankly at the computer in front of her, forgetting to move for a moment.

Until the door to the room was suddenly knocked on.

"Eldest Miss, are you awake? The Master says he has something to discuss with you..."

The butler's voice came from outside the door.

Liu Xin'ai came back to her senses, hurriedly turned off the computer, and then walked over to open the door.

"Eldest Miss, the Master is already waiting for you in the study."

The butler said respectfully.

"What is it?" Liu Xin'ai asked subconsciously.

As soon as the words fell, she saw the butler's expression become somewhat subtle; he shook his head slightly and said in a low voice, "You will know once you go..."

A flash of confusion crossed Liu Xin'ai's eyes, but she did not ask any more questions; she changed her clothes and went straight to the study.

She pushed open the door and saw Liu Tengnian standing in front of the window, his back looking inexplicably somewhat weathered.

"Dad, you were looking for me?" Liu Xin'ai asked tentatively, closing the study door behind her.

Liu Tengnian turned around slowly with a serious expression on his face and pointed toward the sofa.

Liu Xin'ai's gaze flickered for a moment, then she obediently walked over and sat down.

Immediately after, she saw Liu Tengnian walk over and slowly sit down beside her.

"Xin'ai, what have you thought about the engagement with Yiyan?"

Liu Tengnian went straight to the point without any ambiguity.

Liu Xin'ai was stunned upon hearing this; she took a deep breath, and a sense of powerlessness suddenly welled up throughout her entire body.

Ever since she returned from that blind date, she had heard this question countless times...

Was there really no other choice?

Was her fate really to be manipulated by others like this!