Chapter 149: At Most Just a Cannon Fodder

The originally bustling hall gradually grew quiet as a few people arrived.

Under the gaze of dozens of eyes, Ling Yan showed no discomfort, raised her swan neck, and walked into the crowd with effortless grace, her smile just right, warm and proper: "Hello, I'm Ling Yan, a friend of Afeng."

Afeng...

Hearing her so intimately address Xu Yanfeng, everyone speculated wildly. They felt Ling Yan's bearing was extraordinary, not something an ordinary family could raise; at a glance she seemed born of wealth, her background comparable to Xu Yanfeng's.

Several other boys were the same.

They didn't even bother with self-introductions, acting as if they were entering their own home, familiar with the way to the side hall.

Not finding Xu Yanfeng in the side hall, Tang Yizhou frowned and shouted: "Where are the two Xus? I've been here half a day, and he hasn't even shown his face—do you think that's acceptable?"

Tang Yizhou sauntered out of the side hall, plopped onto the sofa, and dialed Xu Yanfeng's number.

As soon as the call connected, he put on the airs of a grandmaster, scolding in a pompous tone: "How can you treat guests like this? You're hiding away to sit the month? Hurry up and come over, this young master of mine has come all this way—" The line was cut off, Tang Yizhou gave a "hey," lifted his phone to show Fu Li beside him, and said, "He hung up on me."

Fu Li wasn't surprised: "With that mouth of yours, who else would hang up on you if not me?"

Everyone present heard Tang Yizhou's call, and became all the more convinced that his relationship with Xu Yanfeng was rock-solid; otherwise he wouldn't dare joke like that.

Upon hearing that distinguished guests had arrived, the butler personally brewed a few cups of tea and brought them over, casually asking if anyone else wanted some.

Everyone shook their heads, indicating the drinks on the table were sufficient.

Xia Xi waved a hand: "Give me a cup."

The butler glanced at her, gave a slight nod, went to the tea room, brewed a cup, and brought it to her.

Ling Yan found a seat, knees together, calves slightly tilted to one side, one hand holding her teacup, the other the saucer, a ladylike posture; her gaze glanced toward Xia Xi as if unintentionally, not expecting to see her here, yet she still had the nerve to appear in Xu Yanfeng's line of sight.

Being rejected after a confession isn't the problem; the real issue is that the person confessed to never showed up at all.

Anyone else would have died of embarrassment, but Xia Xi's mental fortitude is strong; she can still come to Xu Yanfeng's private villa as if nothing happened, sitting among the crowd chatting and laughing.

Ling Yan lowered her eyes, gently blew on the tea leaf floating in her cup, and took a light sip.

She came today just to find out which girl Xu Yanfeng likes—the girl who gave him roses on New Year's Eve definitely holds a certain place in his heart; even if it's not love, there's at least fondness.

That is her true enemy; as for Xia Xi, she's at most cannon fodder.

Usually she has no chance to meet Xu Yanfeng alone; each time she sees him it's under the pretense of a gathering, with Tang Yizhou and the others present, and since Xu Yanfeng is tight-lipped, everyday conversation yields no useful information, so she can only hope for an occasion like today.

The gathering organized by Xu Yanfeng consists of members of the Student Union and their friends; that girl is surely among them. Even if Xu Yanfeng doesn't speak, she'll let something slip.

Who exactly is it?

Ling Yan showed no emotion on the surface, but secretly observed several rounds; aside from Xia Xi's outstanding appearance, she didn't see any other girl who stood out, yet Xia Xi had been excluded from her consideration from the start.

Suddenly a commotion arose in the crowd, and everyone's gaze turned toward the same direction.

Ling Yan felt something and turned her head; it was Xu Yanfeng coming down from upstairs, wearing a rare home outfit, still handsome and striking enough to walk a red carpet.

His white linen-cotton shirt, normally prone to wrinkles, was ironed flat, slightly loose, his frame giving it crisp edges; only the button near the collar remained unfastened, the rest done up tight. His pants were also white, with a fold piled at the instep, his feet in slippers, making him appear casual and relaxed, less distant than usual.

This made many girls on site feel their hearts flutter like startled deer, unable to calm.

He had probably been sleeping before; his voice a little hoarse as he spoke: "Everyone, don't be restrained, enjoy yourselves to the fullest."

A male student quickly responded: "Report, senior, can we play in the swimming pool?"

Xu Yanfeng nodded in agreement: "Sure."

"Great! I'll go swim a couple laps later."

"I'll go too, shall we race?"

"Race it is! The loser has to bark like a dog."

"I'm not afraid of you."

Amid the din, Xu Yanfeng casually swept his gaze over those present, lingering a few extra seconds on Xia Xi before shifting away as if nothing, then sat beside Fu Li and asked, "How did you guys get here?"

Fu Li lifted her chin, pointing at Tang Yizhou: "Ask him."

Tang Yizhou, calm and composed, held a bunch of grapes, popped one into his mouth, and said: "You, such an aloof person, hardly ever throw a party—I naturally had to come join the fun."

Upon hearing the description "aloof," Xu Yanfeng's face darkened.

With outsiders present, Tang Yizhou didn't dare go too far; he raised both hands in a surrender gesture and left it at that.

Xu Yanfeng chatted a few words with his friend, then rose to pick wine from the cellar; everyone's an adult, having a drink is no big deal. Besides, tomorrow is Sunday, no classes, so it won't interfere with anything.

Since Xu Yanfeng appeared, Xia Xi's gaze never left him, tracking him closely; even when he left, she stared at the direction he went, so she'd notice him the moment he returned.

Wu Qinglu nudged her elbow: "Why aren't you going to greet Xu Yanfeng? Isn't that why you came? Dressed so beautifully, you should be swaying in front of him a few more times."

She thought Xia Xi's quietness was a bit unusual.

Xia Xi sipped her tea, then drawled: "Why bother greeting? No one else did, and it would be awkward to thrust myself before him. He's not blind to me; there's no need to deliberately flutter before his eyes—we should be effortlessly beautiful. Let me share some experience: when pursuing someone, you need strategy—advance when you should, retreat when you should, never rush in."

Wu Qinglu calmly replied: "Does your experience actually work? But you still haven't caught Xu Yanfeng."

Xia Xi: "……Life's hard, don't expose it."

After a while, Xu Yanfeng pushed over a wine cart bearing the red and white wines he had selected.

Just then the butler came over to say dinner was nearly ready, and they could start.

Everyone gradually moved to the dining area, which had already been set up: three tables several meters long, covered with clean white tablecloths, with various dishes arriving in a steady stream and placed upon them.

Beside the moving cart lay trays and tongs for serving; anyone could freely take what they liked, and if they had special requests, they need only tell the butler, who could immediately have the kitchen arrange it.

Xu Yanfeng had considered every detail.

No one held back; they opened their bellies and ate and drank freely.

Xia Xi seized the moment, approaching Xu Yanfeng with a plate as if casually, pointing at the food before him: "The charcoal-grilled lamb chops look good; could you pick one for me?"

Xu Yanfeng turned his head to look at her, his gaze lingering a moment; the diamonds on her skirt sparkled, especially under the light, brightening her face somewhat. He moved his lips and said softly: "You have no hands?"

"I didn't take the tongs." Xia Xi blinked innocently.

Xu Yanfeng clipped a piece of lamb chop onto her plate: "Enough?"

Xia Xi: "I want another piece."

Xu Yanfeng: "……"

He again gave her a piece.

Xia Xi smiled contentedly, then leaned close to him and whispered, "Xu Yanfeng, you're especially handsome today."

Xu Yanfeng felt a bit uneasy, shoved the clip into her hand, told her to take whatever she wanted to eat, and walked away with a cup of sparkling water.

After eating and drinking their fill, they began to explore the villa's other entertainment venues; most people went to the indoor pool, having previously obtained Xu Yanfeng's permission. The boys jumped in one after another like dropping dumplings, and in an instant they started competing to see who could swim faster.

Xia Xi was eating dessert and chatting with a few girls by the poolside when water splashed onto her face; she stepped back a few steps and sat down on a lounge chair.

"Xi Xi, I'm going to the restroom," Wu Qinglu said, leaning close to her ear.

Xia Xi: "Are you okay alone? Do you want me to come with you?"

Wu Qinglu: "I can manage."

There were several private bathrooms on the first floor; since it was someone else's home, Wu Qinglu felt a bit reserved, chose the one most secluded, and as she approached she heard voices inside.

She turned to leave, but her ears caught a familiar name, and her steps unconsciously halted.

"Xia Xi is all dressed up; let's make her embarrass herself, listen to me, we'll..."