Chapter 331: Ran into an acquaintance

Xia Xi bit her lip to hold back laughter, shaking her head desperately.

Xu Yanfeng found her behavior strange, couldn't read her, and didn't know how to respond: "Just tell me what's on your mind, don't make me guess."

"Really, nothing." Xia Xi took a deep breath, her expression back to normal.

Xu Yanfeng narrowed his eyes, looking at her just‑now demeanor; it didn't look like nothing was wrong.

Xia Xi changed the subject: "Let's walk around; we've finished decorating for months, I almost forgot what each place looks like."

Zi Heng panted, following behind his parents as they toured the villa.

Xu Yanfeng still harbored a hint of doubt, unwilling to let it go; when they reached the second‑floor terrace, he grabbed Xia Xi's hand: "If you don't tell me, I won't sleep tonight."

"What?" Xia Xi rested her other hand on the railing, turned sideways to look at him and smiled.

"Explain why you looked like you were laughing and crying when you first came in." Xu Yanfeng was not only puzzled, but also upset.

Given their current relationship, is there anything she still can't say directly to him?

Seeing Xu Yanfeng's brow slightly furrowed with a hint of grievance, a smile touched Xia Xi's lips. She glanced inside; Zi Heng was crouched by the desk lamp, repeatedly pressing buttons, the light shifting through warm yellow, pale blue, brilliant white—sometimes like sunset, sometimes like starry sky, sometimes like moonlight. She told Xu Yanfeng, "It's nothing important."

Xu Yanfeng insisted: "Then you say it."

Xia Xi let him hold her hand without pulling away, turned to lean against the railing: "When we were renovating this villa, you should still remember what state our relationship was in, right?"

Xu Yanfeng nodded, recalling it clearly, and could describe it precisely: "Whenever I got close, you'd lash out with hurtful words, or simply avoid me—refusing to meet, refusing to talk, not even sparing me a glance."

Xia Xi's guilty conscience made her eyes dart about; how long had it been? Hearing him bring it up, she unexpectedly felt a deep pang of guilt.

"Am I wrong?" Xu Yanfeng lowered his gaze to look at her face.

Xia Xi, flustered, forced the conversation back: "Right, right, right—so back then I just wanted to finish the renovation quickly and hand it over, without deep discussion with you; you said how to decorate, so I did it that way."

"Any problem?"

"The problem is that people's taste changes over time." Xia Xi smiled softly: "I followed your requirements exactly in the design, but that was my taste from years ago."

After going around in circles, Xu Yanfeng finally understood, stunned for two or three seconds, his expression the same as when Xia Xi first entered—half‑laughing, half‑crying: "You mean you don't like this style anymore?"

"You can't say I don't like it." Xia Xi turned and took his hand, pulling him inside; Zi Heng was still playing with the desk lamp. She looked around: "After all, I designed it myself, and it's still pretty, isn't it?"

Especially the interior decorations—she bought them according to her own taste, because during the later stage of renovation Xu Yanfeng completely left it to her, just saying she could decide.

"Zi Heng, let's go."

Xia Xi called Zi Heng, headed up to the third floor, and as she toured she pointed out the places she liked, explaining to Xu Yanfeng why she'd designed them that way.

Xu Yanfeng stayed silent; as Xia Xi kept talking her voice faded, she turned her head and gave him an amused look: "What are you thinking about? I said I don't dislike it. This is my work, I'm satisfied with it."

Xu Yanfeng looked at her; she truly didn't dislike it, she just wasn't that fond of it.

It was his oversight—he didn't consider how time changes things; the aesthetic of a few years ago isn't the same as now, she's gained more life experience, broader horizons, and her understanding is naturally richer than when she was in the ivory tower years back.

"Sigh——"

Xia Xi let out a long sigh; she knew this would happen. If she didn't say anything, he'd keep worrying; if she did, he'd get tangled up.

She glanced at Zi Heng; the little tyke looked around curiously, not noticing what the two adults were discussing. She seized the moment to plant a quick kiss on Xu Yanfeng—so fast he didn't react, just blinked, looked at her, wondering what had just brushed his lip.

Xia Xi pinched his fingers and said, "Life isn't an idol drama; we don't need to chase perfection in everything. Let's move in when everyone has free time."

Thinking about how Lu Mingji had talked her into taking a lousy variety show, and how busy she'd be afterward, she suggested: "Why not wait until Zi Heng's summer break?"

Xu Yanfeng slowly nodded, placed his palm on the back of her neck, drew her close, and kissed her lips. Xia Xi's eyes blinked, her face flushed: "Don't— the kid's still here."

As she turned, Zi Heng indeed looked at them helplessly; when she glanced his way, he instinctively turned his back, holding the stair rail and walking down step by step.

Xia Xi punched Xu Yanfeng in the arm and pulled him downstairs.

Because touring the house took up a lot of time, by the time they went out it was dark, and Xia Xi understood why Xu Yanfeng had bought cake to tide her and Zi Heng over.

Xu Yanfeng had booked the restaurant ahead of time, so they didn't need to queue; a usher led them to a private room upstairs. Xia Xi lowered her head to reply to a message, lagging a bit, so Xu Yanfeng told Zi Heng to go in first while he waited for her at the door.

Xia Xi got the reply, glanced at it, slipped her phone into her bag, and out of the corner of her eye spotted a somewhat familiar figure; she paused, furrowed her brows, and looked over.

Seeing Xia Xi frozen there, not moving forward, Xu Yanfeng walked two steps toward her, followed her gaze down the hallway, and asked, "Ran into an acquaintance?"

"Isn't that an acquaintance?"

Xia Xuan's husband Chen Songbai had just stepped out of the elevator, a young woman at his side, tilting her head as she chatted and laughed with him, looping her arm through his.

"Keep an eye on Zi Heng." Xia Xi said, then strode straight toward Chen Songbai.

Xia Xi's aura was fierce; Chen Songbai naturally noticed right away, his gaze flicking over with slight surprise: "Sis."

Xia Xi's gaze lingered on the young woman's face for a few seconds, then shifted to Chen Songbai; since she hadn't figured things out yet, she couldn't lose her temper, so she calmly asked, "Who is this?"

Chen Songbai hurried to introduce her: "Miao Yijia, my cousin. She came to my and Xuanxuan's wedding too; that day there were many guests, you might have seen her but don't remember."

Miao Yijia covertly sized up Xia Xi, thinking her looks were overly striking, like a big star—she wore a white shirt with lace embroidery on the chest and sleeves, light‑blue jeans, simple and neat yet pretty. Miao Yijia imagined that's what she'd look like when she grew up, but reality fell far short; she had neither a high‑paying job nor a pretty face.

Chen Songbai reminded her to greet, and she smiled sweetly: "Older sister, hello."

Xia Xi blinked, her tension easing; she indeed had no impression of this girl, and had been wondering… glad she'd asked first, otherwise it would have been a mix‑up: "Hello."

Since he'd brought his cousin to eat, it obviously wasn't a work meal; Xia Xi smiled and asked Chen Songbai, "Where's Xiao Xuan? Isn't she with you?"

"I just called her; she's taking a cab over." Chen Songbai said, glancing at the man behind Xia Xi, "Are you guys also here to eat? Why not join us—more people, more fun. But this restaurant is hard to book; you'd have to wait a while for a private room."

Xia Xi thought her sister would be arriving soon, so she turned back to tell Xu Yanfeng. He had no objection, and she summoned Chen Songbai and his cousin over.

Xia Xuan hadn't arrived yet, so Xu Yanfeng asked the waiter to bring a pot of Bi Luo Chun tea first.

Miao Yijia eagerly picked up the teapot, took charge of pouring, and first filled Chen Songbai's cup. Chen Songbai laughed, saying she didn't know the etiquette, and instructed her: "You should pour for General Manager Xu first."

Miao Yijia bit her lip and gave Xu Yanfeng an apologetic smile.

Xu Yanfeng didn't mind these minor details, gave a light smile: "We're all family, no need to stand on ceremony." He took the cup Miao Yijia had handed him and passed it to Xia Xi, gently reminding her, "Don't drink too much, or you'll have trouble sleeping tonight."