Chapter 76: You wouldn't really like me, would you?

Ling Yan hadn't seen Xu Yanfeng in a long time.

The last time she had someone follow him, he found out, and then they mistakenly thought she had swapped the paternity test report, causing a scene in the restaurant where they parted unhappily; after that she hadn't seen him again.

Their relationship was already pitifully fragile, sustained solely by her; if she didn't seek Xu Yanfeng, they could never meet, because Xu Yanfeng would never take the initiative to find her.

She had been painfully depressed for so long; hearing that he was hosting a party here tonight, she mustered her courage, dressed up carefully, and came to find him without having received an invitation.

She thought that after so much time, even if he had immense anger, it should have subsided.

Ling Yan was quite certain: since Xu Yanfeng believed she had swapped the paternity test report, he would surely look for another chance to do the test again, and the result would inevitably show that Xia Xi's child had nothing to do with him.

He should realize that he had wronged her.

She hadn't tampered with the paternity test report!

Ling Yan pressed her lips, wore her usual gentle and proper smile, and softly called out, "A-Feng."

Tang Yizhou turned his head, saw it was her, then glanced at Xia Xi in the distance, feeling the situation was not good. He clicked his tongue, afraid he'd say something wrong again, found an excuse and hurried off: "Didn't Fu Li say he was coming? Why isn't he here yet? I'll go see if he's arrived."

He downed the drink in his glass in one gulp, then casually tossed it onto the tray held by a passing server.

Ling Yan hesitated, stepped closer, and said: "Long time no see, have you been busy lately?"

Xu Yanfeng looked at Ling Yan, his face showing no expression, neither surprised nor displeased by her arrival. That was the most tormenting part—whether he liked or disliked her, he should have shown some attitude.

Lack of attitude meant he didn't care, wasn't concerned.

It showed you meant nothing to him.

The poised and generous facade Ling Yan struggled to maintain was almost cracking; her thick, long lashes trembled and drooped, not minding appearing humble before him. Isn't it always the one who gives more who ends up more humble?

"I really know I was wrong." Ling Yan's voice weak, "I've reflected a lot during this time; I shouldn't have meddled in your affairs under the pretense of doing it for your own good, acting as if I knew best. Sorry, I won't do it again—can you forgive me?"

Even before she uttered the first word, Xu Yanfeng's gaze had already left her; he was looking elsewhere, as the members of the design firms that had lost the bid, one after another, were toasting Xia Xi in a frenzy.

It was unclear whether they were genuinely congratulating her, using the chance to vent their frustration over losing, or simply joining in the fun.

Xia Xi's brain had been kicked by a donkey; she didn't know how to refuse, smiling as she drank one glass after another, her eyes under the crystal lights becoming hazy and moist, she curled her lips, exuding endless charm.

Even her simple white dress couldn't contain her allure.

Xu Yanfeng watched and watched, his brows gradually knitting; unable to bear it any longer, he lifted his foot to go rescue her, but Lu Mingji beat him to it, stepping in front of Xia Xi; the refined man smiled like a spring breeze, taking on all the drinks those people were offering her.

Xu Yanfeng stopped in his tracks, his brows not relaxing much.

Ling Yan had poured out a bunch of what she thought was heartfelt confession, yet she got no desired response from Xu Yanfeng; she lifted her face to look at the person before her, only to discover he wasn't looking at her at all.

She followed the direction of his gaze and looked over, her fingers suddenly clutching the hem of her skirt.

That was... Xia Xi.

Ling Yan bit her lips, unwilling to let go, bringing up the old matter again: "A-Feng, you should already know—I didn't deceive you, I didn't tamper with that paternity test report, you..."

Xu Yanfeng withdrew his gaze, finally looking at her; he moved his lips and said, not what she wanted to hear: "So what?"

So, what, then?

Ling Yan froze instantly, her eyes vacant—did he even know what he was saying?

Did he mean that even if Xia Xi's child wasn't his, he wouldn't mind? Ling Yan thought it absurd—what love potion had Xia Xi fed him, that he didn't mind her bearing another man's child and still wanted to stay entangled with her?

Ling Yan's face turned pale as she stepped back, her emotions on the verge of breaking. At this moment, she especially wanted to pry open Xu Yanfeng's mind to see what he was thinking.

*Lu Mingji helped Xia Xi block several rounds of people offering toasts; Xia Xi happily hid behind, leaning against the long table and drinking on her own.

After Lu Mingji dealt with those people and turned back to look for her, she was already drunk; he raised his eyebrows in surprise: "What a partner—I helped you block the drinks, and you're drinking here yourself; didn't I do that for nothing?"

Xia Xi curled her lips in a faint smile, her drunken eyes hazy, revealing an unconscious charm; she reached out and pushed his shoulder once: "As a boss, helping your own employees block drinks is only proper." She gave him a thumbs-up, slurring her praise: "Lu Zong, awesome!"

Lu Mingji grunted an "um," then concluded: "Xia Xi, you're drunk."

Xi Xi shook her head, stubborn as ever, refusing to admit she felt a bit dizzy and blurry: "I—I, you don't know my alcohol tolerance?"

Lu Mingji thought seriously, then answered: "Really not sure. Have you ever been drunk before? I don't think I've ever seen it."

"Well then, that proves I can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk."

As she spoke, Xia Xi raised her glass to her lips; the liquor provided by the Xu Clan Group was, of course, excellent—smooth, fragrant, and lingering on the palate, though its kick was a bit strong, possibly because she'd drunk too much.

Lu Mingji fixed his gaze on her cheeks, flushed with a pale red, then casually took a cup from the table, leaning against the edge like she did, one hand braced behind him: "Are you in a good mood or a bad one?"

He couldn't figure it out.

Xia Xi broke into a smile, her whole face instantly blooming like a flower, radiant to the extreme: "Of course I'm in a good mood. Once the contract with the Xu Clan was signed, the design fee we received is enough for Broad and Elegant to eat well for several years."

Lu Mingji took a sip of wine: "Mm, you're a great contributor to Broad and Elegant."

The two chatted intermittently, drinking more; Lu Mingji also felt a bit light-headed, his gaze toward her growing less clear, tinged with infatuation. Xia Xi sensed it, frowned, and looked back at him: "I'm saying, you wouldn't really like me, would you?"

Besides the two of them, there was no one else around; Xia Xi's head was fuzzy from drink, she didn't know how to speak tactfully, and her question was quite direct.

With a "dong," Lu Mingji felt as if someone had struck him on the head with a stick; he snapped sober, wanting to deny it, yet he also felt this was an opportunity.

Perhaps if he didn't speak now, there would never be such a suitable moment again.

Probably the alcohol really bolstered his courage; his heart was beating fast, some words sat on the tip of his tongue, as if they'd burst out the moment he opened his mouth.

Xia Xi slightly widened her eyes, looking at him with a playful expression, as if she were playing a prank, curious how he would answer.

Lu Mingji opened his mouth and uttered an "I," when someone interrupted: "Lu Zong, Xia Gong, why are you hiding here, making it hard for me to find you! Everyone else has already offered a toast, and I want to give one too."

Xia Xi, disregarding propriety, shoved Lu Mingji out, saying softly: "This good boss, it's all up to you." She smiled at the person coming to offer a toast, made up an excuse: "You chat with Lu Zong, I'm going to the restroom."

Lu Mingji watched her flee in a halting, staggered way, gave a helpless smile, turned and clinked cups with the comer, the wine he swallowed inexplicably picking up a hint of bitterness.

Xia Xi didn't go to the restroom; she took her half-finished glass of alcohol to the balcony to sober up, having forgotten to bring a shawl, and a wind blowing from somewhere made her skin break out in gooseflesh the moment it touched.

She wrapped her arms around herself and rubbed, the glass tipped accidentally, spilling a few drops of liquor.

The white hem instantly acquired several red stains; Xia Xi felt a bit annoyed, set the glass on the balcony stone railing, lifted the hem to inspect—red wine stains are the hardest to remove, and this dress was extremely expensive.

Suddenly, a suit jacket warm with body heat wrapped around her, dispelling the chill.

Xia Xi grabbed the jacket's lapel, turned her face sideways, her expression startled— the person before her wasn't Lu Mingji as she'd thought, but Xu Yanfeng.

Xu Yanfeng's complexion was awful, his tone harsh, like a debt collector: "Who do you think I am?"

Xu Er: "I've tolerated you for a long time."

(End of Chapter)