Chapter 3: Never Appear Before Me Again

Xia Xi bustled about, finally arranging the groom's numerous relatives properly, she supported her waist and let out a long sigh.

Su Jinru felt sorry for her daughter and wanted to call her over to sit and rest a moment, but her hand was suddenly tugged by a soft little hand; she looked down and saw her own little grandson, who had slipped down from the chair.

"What's wrong, Zi Heng?" Su Jinru bent down to speak to the child, her tone unconsciously softening, a smile spreading across her face.

Xia Ziheng covered his little butt with one hand: "Grandma, I need to poop."

"Oh, this can't wait, come on, Grandma will take you to the restroom." Su Jinru took the little friend's hand, and before leaving the table she reminded the other child: "Youyou, stay here and don't run around; Grandma is taking your brother to the bathroom."

The little girl blinked her big, dark-grape-like eyes, holding a half-eaten chicken leg in her hand, her small mouth oily: "Okay, Grandma."

Su Jinru patted the girl's little head, said "Good," and took Zi Heng out through the side door of the banquet hall.

Xia Xi glanced sideways and just happened to see the silhouettes of one adult and one child; she was about to go over when her hand was suddenly grabbed, she turned sharply—it was the groom's mother, Miao Cuixia, smiling all over: "Xia Xi, thanks to you today! Yesterday I just called my hometown to say that Songbai was having a wedding today; who knew so many people would come? If you hadn't arranged things in time, I really wouldn't have known what to do."

A smile rose on Xia Xi's slightly weary face: "It's what I should do."

"The last time our families ate together I could tell you're someone who can handle big matters; otherwise I wouldn't have so quickly agreed to Songbai and Xuanxuan's marriage. You know, your younger sister has an illness, and ordinary families find it hard to accept."

Xia Xi's brow twitched; she forced herself not to frown, but those words made her feel extremely uncomfortable inside.

As far as she knew, it was Chen Songbai who had actively pursued Xia Xuan, even saying he would marry no one else; yet now, at Chen Songbai's mother's place, it seemed as if Xia Xuan couldn't get married unless she clung to Chen Songbai. "Auntie, what exactly are you trying to say?"

Xia Xi didn't want to cause unpleasantness in this setting, so she restrained her temper and didn't put on a sour face, trying to keep her tone calm and peaceful when speaking with the elders.

Miao Cuixia gave an embarrassed smile, as if finding it hard to speak, her expression shifting repeatedly before she finally blurted out: "Look, suddenly so many guests showed up, and our banquet budget went over. Initially I said we could hold it at another hotel where I have contacts and could get a discount. But Xuanxuan likes this hotel, and our Songbai argued with me over giving her the grand scene she wanted."

Xia Xi understood her meaning and didn't want to argue: "I'll cover the extra cost."

Miao Cuixia's face lit up, and she said no more: "Then I won't disturb you; I'll go chat with the relatives. You're busy, you're busy."

Xia Xi twitched her lips and watched her leave.

She truly disliked Chen Songbai's mother's manner—shrewd and mercenary; if it weren't for Xia Xuan's sake, she wouldn't want to say a word to her.

After this incident, she couldn't help but worry about Xia Xuan's life after marriage.

Dating is a matter between two people, but marriage involves many more things.

"Xi Xi, you've been busy all morning; come sit and rest a while." A loving voice sounded from beside her; Xia Xi looked over—it was her grandmother, who patted the empty seat next to her.

Xia Xi lifted the corner of her mouth: "Okay."

Xu Yanfeng instantly spotted the woman chatting and laughing in the crowd, wearing a dress like a wedding gown, her black hair coiled up, her features more radiant and dignified than before.

His dark eyes narrowed slightly, he strode over, and in front of all the guests he grabbed the woman's wrist.

Many people around looked over, their eyes filled with doubt and surprise, accompanied by murmuring whispers.

When Xia Xi was seized, she thought it was Miao Cuixia returning again with something to ask her; she turned her head, and her whole body froze, the shock in her eyes stronger than anyone's.

She had thought that if Tang Yizhou ran into him, he might tell Xu Yanfeng about this—after all, they were as close as could be—but she hadn't expected Xu Yanfeng to arrive so quickly.

Upon seeing him, all her senses seemed to vanish, as if some magic had pulled her into another time and space, leaving her dizzy and light‑headed.

Xu Yanfeng dragged her away as if no one else existed, until they left the banquet hall; only then did Xia Xi regain her senses, her vanished senses returning, she tried to twist her wrist to break free of his hold, but the disparity in their strength was huge—any struggle was futile.

"Sir, please let go of me." Xia Xi squeezed out a few words through clenched teeth.

Sir?

A hint of a mocking smile curled at Xu Yanfeng's lips, making his already frost‑covered face turn terrifyingly cold.

Such an Xu Yanfeng was all too familiar to Xia Xi; before she had managed to win him over, he habitually faced her with that icy, frosty visage, an air of keeping people at a distance, warning her to know her limits. Back then she feared nothing, dared to confront difficulties head‑on, vowing to melt that iceberg—and in fact she ultimately did.

But now…… she lacked the courage to face him again.

Xu Yanfeng brought her to the end of the corridor, a secluded spot with no one around; he flung his hand away and slammed her hard against the wall.

Her exposed back struck the hard wall, a sharp, burning pain shot through her; Xia Xi gasped, and then a large hand closed around her neck, the tiger's mouth pressing against her throat.

The force wasn't strong, yet it made her feel suffocated, the rise and fall of her chest growing larger.

The man leaned in close, his stern face looming large before Xia Xi, each word he uttered sounding as if steeped in ice: "Xia Xi, how dare you……"

How dare you marry someone else!

Xia Xi resisted meeting his gaze, turned her head away, and dug her nails hard into her palm to force herself calm: "Sir, you've mistaken me for someone else."

Xu Yanfeng gave a cold snort; he had thought she possessed some clever tactic to resist his anger, but it turned out she was merely feigning ignorance. His hand gripped her shoulder, turned her around and pressed her against the wall, his fingertips rubbing a few times on her back shoulder—the slick sensation aroused no amorous thoughts, he was simply filled with pent‑up fury.

Soon, a layer of concealer was rubbed away, revealing the clear bite mark hidden beneath.

Xu Yanfeng's exhaled hot air sprayed onto Xia Xi's ear root, like a tongue of flame licking her skin, making her shiver. His voice low and cold, as if he wanted to devour her: "Xia Xi, how else do you intend to quibble?"

That bite mark was made when, years ago, they struggled together on the bed; it was the brand he left to prove she was his property, forbidding her to heal it with medicine.

He wanted her to remember him forever.

Xia Xi's throat felt tight and dry; she swallowed a mouthful of saliva, unable to argue.

With her back to Xu Yanfeng, she naturally couldn't see the reddening of his eye corners; she only heard him ask, each question colder than the last: "Xia Xi, didn't I tell you never to appear before me?"

Xia Xi closed her eyes, very much wanting to say in her defense: "It was you who came looking for me; I didn't intend to show up before you."

But she didn't say it.

Just then, a child came running from somewhere, bumped into Xu Yanfeng's thigh, and pounded him with soft little fists, the clear, baby‑like voice full of anger: "Don't you bully my mom! Let her go quickly!"

Mom……

Xu Yanfeng's whole body stiffened, and he lowered his head to look at the child.

The little girl in a pink puffy dress frowned, looking displeased.

The little girl's brows and eyes bore some resemblance to Xia Xi's.

The child looked about four or five years old; Xu Yanfeng suddenly had a brainwave, released Xia Xi, and asked the child in a trembling voice: "How old are you this year?"

Xia Xi's heart tightened, she turned and blurted out first: "Four years old!"

The child, unaware of adult affairs, only knowing that mistakes must be corrected, tugged at her mother's skirt and said innocently: "Mom, I'm five years old—did you remember wrong?"

Xu Yanfeng's pupils contracted slightly; he and Xia Xi had been separated for six years, and this child was five years old……

Who would have thought we'd reach the plot point from the synopsis this quickly, hahahahahaha.

Hold a bit, laughing too loudly.

I restrained a bit, hehehehehehe.

(End of chapter)