Chapter 349

Ling Yan stopped behind her, not like she came to use the restroom, but rather like she came to find her. Xia Xi could no longer ignore her, turned and glanced at her: "I warn you, I have no interest in fighting you in the restroom."

She had wanted to pretend Xia Xi didn't exist, but Ling Yan found it difficult, and she herself didn't know why she had followed her in, as if under a spell.

"I lost so thoroughly, so embarrassedly—are you secretly mocking me for overestimating myself?" Ling Yan's expression was cold, "But I really don't know where I lost!"

Xia Xi felt bewildered: "I never mocked you."

Ling Yan insisted: "Then tell me! Where did I lose? Tell me!"

She looked abnormal, her eyes full of madness, but Xia Xi remained calm, calmly retorting: "Can feelings be judged by winning or losing?"

"Why not?" Ling Yan gave a self-mocking laugh, her bloodshot eyes rolling, full of hatred, "Isn't the fact simply that you won and I lost?"

Xia Xi couldn't reason with her, lifted her foot and left.

Ling Yan didn't want her to just leave like that, grabbed her wrist, and Xia Xi reflexively shook off her hand. She hadn't forgotten that last time at the banquet, absentmindedly she tripped and fell, even ending up in the hospital, which originated from her argument with Ling Yan.

She didn't want to go through the same thing a second time.

Ling Yan's anger was ignited by her snake-and-scorpion-like avoidance, her voice rising: "Xia Xi, I can't understand—on what grounds! On what grounds have you betrayed him yet still be with him!" Unable to change the situation, she could only use such words to make Xia Xi uncomfortable: "Don't get too pleased too soon; you're not yet Mrs. Xu, everything is uncertain. You may look like you're winning now, but that's just relying on Xu Yanfeng's favor toward you. One day, when he starts minding your past, your fate will only be to be discarded by him. Women like you will meet retribution, and your family too..."

"Slap!"

Ling Yan's face, which had healed only a few days ago, felt the familiar pain again.

Xia Xi looked at her own hand, palm still numb and slightly red: "We're even."

Ignoring Ling Yan's fury, which made her want to lunge and devour her with her gaze, Xia Xi brushed past her shoulder, returned to where she had been, and told her two friends: "Let's go."

Zhao Lei and Liang Yuan each grabbed their bags, one on the left, one on the right, following Xia Xi, chatting and laughing.

On the appointed day to go to the Xu family's house for dinner, Xia Xi woke early, took a shower, washed her hair, sat at the dressing table to put on makeup, carefully drawing her brows and applying eyeshadow—she had never been this meticulous even when appearing on a show.

From the jewelry box she picked out a pair of pearl studs and inserted them into her ear piercings. Xia Xi looked at herself in the mirror from left to right; they matched her dress well, so she felt reassured.

Xu Yanfeng had already groomed himself, leaning against the edge of the dressing table, watching her.

Being stared at by him made Xia Xi embarrassed: "Go prepare some food and toys, and let Zi Heng take them over for Youyou."

Bringing the child on the first visit would be inappropriate and inconvenient for adult conversation; what the situation would be was still unknown, and Zi Heng understood everything, so she couldn't let him be present lest he hear what he shouldn't. Xia Xi decided to send him to Su Jinru's place, to pick him up after the gathering. Xu Yanfeng originally disagreed, but was persuaded by Xia Xi.

Xu Yanfeng found Zi Heng's backpack and packed some snacks and toys.

After he left the bedroom, Xia Xi opened the bottom drawer, took out the ring he had given her when he proposed, put it on her hand, lifted it to admire—it was indeed very eye-catching.

After finishing her preparations, Xia Xi came out of the bedroom. Zi Heng widened his eyes exaggeratedly, staring at her: "Mom, you're so beautiful."

Xia Xi smiled and rubbed his head.

Xu Yanfeng stared at her, lost in thought.

Xia Xi wore a white long dress, shoulder straps three fingers wide, the upper body fitted, the skirt flowing down, elegant and dignified yet not seeming deliberate, just right. Though her makeup involved many steps, the overall look was clean; her lip color was a matte berry shade, brightening her complexion. Her black hair was slightly waved, hanging loose, the pearl studs peeking through her hair.

"Should we set off now?" Xia Xi spoke, breaking the strange silence.

Xu Yanfeng's gaze remained fixed on her, unblinking; Xia Xi's ears grew hot, she bumped him lightly, moving her lips only slightly: "Is there really such a big difference from usual?"

Otherwise, how could his expression be so... aston to the point of being dazed?

Xu Yanfeng came to his senses, a glint flashing in his dark eyes, and said softly: "The difference isn't great, but it's more formal than usual."

"Ah, don't talk nonsense—I specifically took Zhao Lei's advice, aiming to be proper without being overly formal." Xia Xi, feeling regretful from his words, said: "I'll pick another outfit."

Xu Yanfeng grabbed her hand: "It's just a bit more formal than usual, not ostentatious, quite suitable—no need to change."

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely sure."

Xia Xi hesitated, then went out, first to Su Jinru's house; the door was opened by Xia Xuan. Xia Xi wondered: "How did you come over?"

"Sis, you look really pretty today." Xia Xuan changed the subject.

Xu Yanfeng, one hand holding Zi Heng, the other carrying a small backpack, followed Xia Xi inside, hearing the sisters chat; Xia Xi was pressing Xia Xuan for when she had come over.

Xia Yue brought over washed fruit; she had already divorced Zhou Hongsheng smoothly and obtained the divorce certificate, her whole demeanor different now, wearing a floral long dress, hair tied up, smiling as she invited them to sit, and speaking for Xia Xuan: "She says she's not busy lately, came over to keep me and Mom company."

"Big sister!" Xia Xuan said anxiously, afraid Xia Yue would spill the beans.

Xia Xi paused, then looked at Xia Yue: "Not busy lately? When did she come over?"

Xia Yue answered truthfully: "A few days, I guess."

Xia Xi wasn't so easily fooled; she stared at Xia Xuan and guessed: "Did you argue with Chen Songbai?"

Xia Xuan shook her head vigorously: "No, no."

"I'll call Chen Songbai to ask." Xia Xi immediately pulled out her phone from her bag.

Xia Xuan was really afraid of her, quickly wrapping her arms around Xia Xi's arm to stop her: "We really didn't argue." She lowered her eyelids, sighing silently, knowing that the second sister wasn't as easily fooled as the eldest, she said unhurriedly: "Chen Songbai's cousin, the one you've met, you still remember her, right?"

"I think her name is Miao Yijia?"

"Right. Something happened to her." Xia Xuan said: "She was renting that place, and the neighboring guy kept harassing her, so she asked Chen Songbai for help. Chen Songbai has been busy these days, couldn't set aside time to find her another place, and worried that if she stayed in the rental something might happen, so he suggested she stay at a hotel for a few days until a new place was found. Miao Yijia said it was a waste of money, so she moved into my home."

Xia Xi heard this and frowned outright.

Xia Xuan: "I don't click with her aura; to avoid any conflict, I simply moved in to our mom's place." After saying that, she glanced left and right, relieved that Su Jinru wasn't here to hear it, otherwise she'd have to worry about her again.

"Did Chen Songbai give any explanation for your returning to your parents' home?"

"I didn't tell him much, just said I came back to keep Mom and the eldest sister company." Xia Xuan sighed: "He's been swamped lately, still has to squeeze in time to look at houses, crammed with subordinates in the company dormitory, and hasn't gone back to his place."

Xia Xi stared at her intently, then after a few seconds poked her forehead: "You, you—what can I say about you? How can it be right to let others take over your nest while you sneak out?"

She could tolerate it, but Xia Xi couldn't.

"It'll be fine in a few days." Xia Xuan touched her own head, pouting: "Don't worry yourself needlessly; better think about how to handle meeting the parents later."

Xia Xi, annoyed, gave her a slap on the waist. Xia Xuan giggled and dodged, pinching a cherry tomato from the fruit bowl and stuffing it into Xia Xi's mouth.

Su Jinru came out of the room; Xu Yanfeng rose to greet her, then took Xia Xi and left.

Xia Xi temporarily set aside the matter of meeting the parents, pondered Xia Xuan's situation, still felt something was off, looked up the contact labeled "Chen Songbai" in her address book, and dialed.

But Chen Songbai didn't answer her call.

Today is Sunday, and I don't know if he's really that busy.