Chapter 58: Who Is Your Intended Spouse?

Xia Xi's expression froze; she was about to say she wasn't Xu Yanfeng's girlfriend when he put his arm around her shoulders. She turned to look at him, face full of shock: What is he doing?

Xu Yanfeng smiled, lips pursed, facing the middle-aged man, and without denying said, "Exactly."

Xia Xi: "?"

Xu Yanfeng lowered his gaze to the person in his arms, giving her a look full of deep meaning, signaling her to go along with the act.

Xia Xi didn't want to be arbitrarily labeled "Xu Yanfeng's girlfriend"; she twisted her body uncooperatively, trying to break free, but he held her tighter, almost breaking her arm. Xu Yanfeng, unchanged in expression, introduced her: "This is Mr. Shen of Zhonghe Group; we might have a chance to cooperate later—let's get acquainted."

"Oh?" Shen Zong's interest piqued, eyebrows raised, he asked curiously, "What does your girlfriend do?"

Xu Yanfeng replied: "She works as a lead designer at Bo Ya Design Company."

Zhonghe Group is a major player in real estate; although the industry has declined these years, Zhonghe's position remains far ahead and unshakable. Shen Zong sized up Xia Xi; she appeared composed, neither coy nor flattering. To catch the eye of that Xu family kid, it couldn't be just looks. Shen Zong also gladly gave face, nodding: "We might really have a chance to cooperate later."

Xu Yanfeng patted Xia Xi's shoulder: "Whether it works out or not, I'll thank Shen Zong for her first."

Xia Xi didn't say a word from start to finish, quietly watching Xu Yanfeng perform alone.

"Sure, sure." Shen Zong watched the two clinging together, shook his head and laughed: "You young lovebirds are inseparable. Alright, I won't waste more time; I have some business, let's talk again later."

Xu Yanfeng watched the person to the elevator: "Take care, see you again."

After Shen Zong's figure disappeared behind the closing elevator doors, Xia Xi frowned, jabbed him with her elbow, easily pulled away from his embrace, turned and glared at him: "What game are you playing?"

Xu Yanfeng covered his chest and coughed; that blow of hers really held nothing back.

He eased up and explained: "The other day I had a meal with Shen Zong; he's a heavy drinker, kept pouring me alcohol. You know my tolerance—I couldn't drink more, so offhand I claimed I had a strict girlfriend, so I wouldn't have to explain getting drunk; that's why he let me go. Now, running into you two here today, he saw us come out of the suite, got the wrong idea, and I could only go along with the mistake and keep up the act."

His explanation sounded seamless, yet it didn't convince Xia Xi; she locked eyes with him: "Why don't you say Ling Yan is your girlfriend, and that I'm here with you just to talk work?"

Xu Yanfeng composed himself, tone not pleasant: "I already asked you once—why do you think Ling Yan is my girlfriend?"

"Isn't it?" Xia Xi countered.

"No." Xu Yanfeng answered without a hint of hesitation.

Xia Xi had already planned what to say next—that they should keep some distance to avoid misunderstanding by his girlfriend, which would be hard to explain—but then he said… not? How could it not be?

"Isn't the villa you're renovating supposed to be the wedding home?"

"It is the wedding home." Xu Yanfeng looked at her. "But it has nothing to do with Ling Yan."

"Then who is your intended spouse?"

"There isn't one now."

"……"

"That doesn't mean there won't be one in the future."

Xia Xi was speechless, didn't even say goodbye, turned and walked away.

The elevator reached the hotel lobby; Xia Xi grabbed her bag and went out. Huang Shiyu had lunch at the hotel restaurant, didn't dare go up to disturb her, didn't dare call, and feared missing her, so she sat in the lobby lounge waiting, occasionally glancing toward the elevator.

Seeing Xia Xi walk out of the elevator, Huang Shiyu jumped up, took the packed meal box in her hand, and walked over: "Sister Xi, are you done?"

Xia Xi lifted her gaze to her and answered with an "uh."

Huang Shiyu raised the bag in her hand, gave it a light shake: "You haven't eaten yet, right? I packed you a simple meal. I've tried it—the food at this hotel is pretty good."

Xia Xi: "Thanks, I've already eaten."

"Ah?" Huang Shiyu froze, then realized: "Senior Xu wouldn't let Sister Xi work on an empty stomach; he'd surely have prepared lunch for her." So, "Well, I'll save it for dinner then."

Xia Xi smiled: "I'll reimburse you when we get back."

On the way back, Huang Shiyu's gossipy side surfaced; while observing Xia Xi's expression, she cautiously asked: "You and Senior Xu… are you back together, or are you testing the waters on the road to reconciliation?"

Their breakup wasn't a secret at school, but their current interaction doesn't look like they've cut ties; she was dying of curiosity, like a cat's claw scratching her heart.

Xia Xi, driving, gave her a sideways glance: "You still claim you don't gossip."

Huang Shiyu shook her head, feigning innocence: "Huh? Is this gossip? I'm just concerned about you, Sister Xi."

Xia Xi curled the corner of her mouth: "Thanks for your concern."

Huang Shiyu fiddled with the Ling Na Bear plush charm on her bag and chattered on: "You probably don't know, but at Nan Da your story with Senior Xu has been passed down for generations, never fading. Back then, posts about you on the tieba still get people checking in and gawking, even though hardly anyone uses tieba now. Many girls say you gave them the courage to pursue love actively. Others treat your old posts as a wishing well, leaving comments downstairs hoping to be with their crush soon."

Xia Xi can't even recall which posts she made back then; when she registered for the campus tieba she used her real name, no holds barred, constantly spouting off—digging them up now would likely become her black history.

"Do those wish-makers not know I broke up with Xu Yanfeng?" Xia Xi, after a long silence, spoke: "How inauspicious—why would they still believe it?"

"I know." Huang Shiyu pressed her palms together, turned sideways to bow to her: "But you really did snag the male god—nothing else matters. That's why they all admire you, including me!"

Xia Xi twitched the corner of her mouth: "What superstitious little assistant have I gotten? Don't bow—it's creepy."

At 2:30, the two returned to the company; everyone had finished lunch break and was busy with their own work.

Passing the small meeting room, Xia Xi heard a somewhat familiar voice drifting out. The room's soundproofing is actually decent, but the speaker's voice is too loud to miss.

She hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but since they mentioned her name, she had to stop.

Huang Shiyu also stopped, hearing the person inside say: "Manager Jiang, frankly, you only gave her that big project because you have a crush on Xia Xi and want to chase her—who knows if she even likes you? Don't end up working for nothing and gaining nothing."

Inside the meeting room, Jiang Tian was hit where it hurt, his face flushing red.

"Why aren't you speaking? Did I hit the mark, haha?"

Jiang Tian, afraid of being overheard and causing bad talk, lowered his voice: "Senior Engineer, I haven't offended you, have I? We're discussing business—why are you suddenly bringing this up?"

(End of chapter)