Chapter 48

Xia Xi found traces in the river of memory—those words were ones she had said before, so she felt familiar.

Back when they were deeply in love, she had also imagined a future scene of living together with Xu Yanfeng.

It was a rainy night; she was nestled in Xu Yanfeng's embrace, feeling a bit hot, her arm sticking out from under the blanket, and suddenly, in that quiet moment, she thought of the future.

She played with Xu Yanfeng's long fingers, her voice soft and sticky with a hint of hoarseness, asking him: "Do you think we'll get married?"

Xu Yanfeng closed his eyes, leaning against the headboard, half his chest exposed, skin fair and clean, muscles toned, lines beautiful. She got no response, so she shoved him: "Don't pretend to sleep, answer me."

He usually speaks little, saying nothing if he can avoid it; if she asked, he wouldn't ignore her.

"Not getting married……"

As the man uttered those three words, he took a punch to the chest; Xu Yanfeng lifted his eyelids, looking at someone, then continued with the words he hadn't finished: "Are you planning to start something and then abandon it?"

Xia Xi: "What's your deal, speaking in bits and saving it for the New Year?"

Xu Yanfeng chuckled, tightening his arm around her; she immediately frowned, covering her scalp and hissing: "You're pulling my hair, big brother."

He loosened his grip, swept her long hair aside, smoothed it with his fingers, and touched her head to comfort her.

Xia Xi felt as comfortable as a kitten, burying herself in his embrace, squinting her eyes, listening to the rain, she said haltingly: "When we get married, maybe I'll already be a senior architect; I'll definitely buy a large villa of six hundred square meters, decorate it in a creamy wood style to feel cozy. The kitchen must be big—I've always been interested in learning to cook, though I lack time, I'll definitely learn later; how could the second young lady of Peishan Grand Hotel not know cooking? The kitchen needs an island; when idle, I could sit on a high stool and sip a drink—just thinking about it makes me happy. As for the master bedroom, a walk-in closet is essential; I love buying clothes, and if I could have a separate room just for my wardrobe, that would be even better. The vanity should at least be custom-made two by three meters; I have many miscellaneous items, one vanity isn't enough, so I'd buy two. The bathroom must have a bathtub; I want to soak while watching dramas. Oh, the bathtub size should also be larger, so we can soak together, hehe……"

Before she could finish, Xu Yanfeng covered her mouth. He looked solemn, as if aloof, as though the one who had been teasing her in bed earlier wasn't him: "Restrain yourself, Xia Xi."

Xia Xi blinked her innocent big eyes, making a series of "mmm" sounds.

Xu Yanfeng moved his hand, and her voice became clear: "You're thinking dirty, Senior Xu; I just meant taking a pure bath together—where did your mind go? Your own heart, don't assume others are the same."

Xu Yanfeng narrowed his eyes; his heart? Yeah, his actions are dirty too.

As soon as the thought came, he rolled over and pressed her beneath him, vowing to let her see what real filth is.

She didn't sense the danger at all, laughing uncontrollably beneath him, waving her hands and squealing: "Xu Yanfeng, you're despicable! After having your thoughts exposed, you resort to this trick when you can't argue! Ahhh, I was wrong, big brother, don't... I really know I was wrong!"

……

Xu Yanfeng stared at the dazed Xia Xi, waving his hand before her eyes: "Xia Gong, you don't listen at all—are you planning to rely solely on a recording?"

The sweet images in Xia Xi's mind scattered cleanly at his words; her gaze focused, and the face before her gradually became clear.

Six years have passed; many things have changed. She didn't become a chief architect, instead turning to interior design, while Xu Yanfeng inherited the family business and is now about to marry someone else.

Things remain, people are gone—that's exactly what this means.

Xia Xi blinked, then asked solemnly: "Let me confirm once more—are your renovation suggestions serious? Once construction starts, making changes later will be a hassle."

How could he be decorating the wedding suite in the style she used to like?

Once his new wife finds out, how should she conduct herself?

Perhaps he's deliberately teasing her? It couldn't possibly be that the person he's going to marry is actually her.

Xu Yanfeng retorted: "Do you think I'm playing house with you?"

Xia Xi: "……"

The customer comes first; after Xia Xi confirmed, she had no worries, and she nodded: "Okay, I understand."

After Xia Xi finished measuring the remaining rooms, the sun was already setting. As she was about to leave, she formally informed Xu Yanfeng: "I will use the holiday period to draft the floor plan and elevation model, and give you the specific renderings about a week after the holiday. If you have any other ideas during this time, feel free to add them."

Xu Yanfeng pulled out his phone, his hint obvious: "So, Xia Gong, how am I supposed to add to it anytime?" Xia Xi froze for a moment, looked at his phone, and understood—he wanted to add contact information.

To facilitate communication with the client, adding contact details is necessary; we can't always meet in person.

Xia Xi closed her eyes, resigned, and said: "I'll scan you."

Xu Yanfeng didn't hesitate for a second, as if afraid she'd change her mind, immediately opened his WeChat QR code and handed it to her.

With a 'beep', the scan succeeded.

Xu Yanfeng timely reminded her in a slow, teasing tone, as if playing with her: "What you need to do isn't just scan to add a friend, but to pull me out of your blacklist, Xia Gong."

Xia Xi: "……"

With a boom, something exploded in her mind, and immediately her cheeks began to burn. She slowly lifted her head to meet an expressionless face.

He must have done it on purpose—why didn't he warn her earlier? He waited until after she scanned the code to say that, not to embarrass her but for what reason? Xia Xi feigned calm as she opened the 'Contacts Blacklist'; sure enough, Xu Yanfeng's avatar lay there, the only person she had ever blocked.

When she decided to go abroad years ago, she blocked all of Xu Yanfeng's contact methods.

Xu Yanfeng glanced and sneered: "What a unique honor."

Xia Xi felt embarrassed, her scalp tingling and toes curling; she tapped the screen twice to move him out of the blacklist.

She exhaled: "All right."

Having achieved his goal, Xu Yanfeng slipped his phone into his pocket and sauntered away.

After Xu Yanfeng left, Xia Xi also walked out of the villa, and seeing that figure in the front yard, she remembered that Huang Shiyu was still waiting for her.

Huang Shiyu didn't know when the two inside finished talking, and she didn't dare go back, idly wandering the yard, occasionally kicking at the little weeds that sprouted. Hearing footsteps, she turned and saw Xu Yanfeng. The man's lips curled slightly, seeming to smile, but on closer look it didn't seem so. Huang Shiyu couldn't figure it out, waited a bit longer, and finally Xia Xi came out.

"Let's go." Xia Xi called out.

Huang Shiyu hurried to catch up, walking shoulder to shoulder, glancing sideways at her face—her lower lip was split.

The kiss was intense enough.

Xia Xi didn't notice her assistant stealing glances at her, eyes downcast, walking absentmindedly, not watching where she was going, and nearly bumped into the iron gate—fortunately Huang Shiyu pulled her back in time.

Xia Xi gave her a smile, pretending to be calm.

When they reached the parking spot, Xia Xi said: "Get in, I'll drive you home."

Since it was on the way, Huang Shiyu didn't object, but seeing Xia Xi's condition not great, she volunteered: "How about I drive?"

"I'm fine." Xia Xi opened the driver's door and got in.

After driving a stretch, Xi Xi's phone rang in her bag; she told Huang Shiyu: "Please check who's calling."

Huang Shiyu helped her take out the phone, glanced at the caller ID, and said: "It's your mother; should I answer?"

"Mm."

Huang Shiyu pressed the answer key, turned on speakerphone, and Su Jinru's voice, choked with tears, came through, anxious and frightened: "Xi Xi, you… you need to come to the hospital right away—something happened!"

Upon hearing that, Xia Xi's heart plummeted.

Don't tell me something happened to the child.

Looks like we'll have to wait until tomorrow to see~ (End of chapter)