Back home, Miss Xu Mother was sitting in the living room, waving at her.
“Zhuzhu, do you want to go to Ning City for a trip?”
Xu Nanyin was surprised.
“Mom, you’re not busy lately?”
“I’m not going.”
Miss Xu Mother said, “Song Sheng is returning to Ning City tomorrow; just have him take you along to relax.”
Could it be that Song Huaixu coming to the house this morning was to talk about this?
He only mentioned marriage to her, but hadn’t brought it up to his parents?
However, since he brought it up first and she didn’t agree, it seemed the parents were hard to handle.
Xu Nanyin snapped back to reality, noticing her mother was watching her.
She touched her face. ‘
“Is there something on my face?”
Miss Xu smiled.
“Zhuzhu, you’re already a flower in full bloom. In just one glance, you’ve reached the age where you can decide on marriage yourself—no need for parental consent anymore.”
In Port City, girls can marry at sixteen, but if they want to marry before twenty-one, they need a guardian’s signed consent form.
Xu Nanyin’s birthday was at the end of this month; she would be twenty-two.
No matter how Song Sheng was, he was a man, and Miss Xu Mother didn’t think it impossible for him to be moved by her daughter.
“Well, I won’t hide it from you either.”
Xu Nanyin went up and hugged her face.
“I’ll definitely let you know.”
Miss Xu smiled again and talked about the Ning City trip.
“Although it’s with Song Sheng, don’t bother him too much. Don’t stay at his place—stay in a hotel. If you don’t like hotels, you can buy a villa you like.”
Xu Nanyin felt a little nervous, always feeling her mother seemed to know something but not quite.
“Got it.”
How could she live with Song Huaixu now?
This time she planned to bring A Li along.
Miss Xu told her to have fun and went upstairs to remind Azhou what to bring.
That night, when she went back to her room, Xu Father said, “Going again?”
Miss Xu replied, “Our daughter hasn’t been happy lately. Going out to play isn’t a big deal.”
“She’s been to Ning City quite a few times lately. The last time was just a few days ago, and now again. I’m thinking maybe we should just move back.”
“It’s only two or three times.”
“Two or three times is still a lot.”
“Come on, the ticket money isn’t as much as what you lost.”
At this, Xu Father fell silent, pondering: “Zhuzhu really doesn’t like Zheng Yuze. I guess that’s over. That guy’s family isn’t bad, and he’s fairly good-looking.”
Miss Xu was picky about Zheng Yuze: “He publicly confessed at the TV station, and the news about joining fees is known to everyone. They’re putting Zhuzhu on the spot—is that pursuit or forced marriage?”
Men and women see things differently, and in the end, they argued until the lights were out.
Back in her room, Xu Nanyin first posted the group photo.
She logged out of the chat app.
Lin Zhijun sent several messages, asking if the person who picked her up today was Song Huaixu’s car.
He was close with Young Master Lin and had been to her home several times.
It wasn’t strange she recognized the car.
Xu Nanyin admitted it.
Lin Zhijun then asked, “What did he want from you?”
Xu Nanyin dared not say it was about marriage; she didn’t even understand why he suddenly brought up marrying him.
They had only known each other a short time; as for compatibility in that area, not to mention—several times it was her feeling comfortable; she hadn’t done anything to him.
If marriage was considered, they could be said to be well-matched socially.
Xu Nanyin turned off read receipts on WhatsApp, then opened Zheng Yuze’s chat.
The last message was from the evening asking why she hadn’t replied.
Since then, Zheng Yuze hadn’t sent a single message.
He used to bombard her with messages, which was why she blocked him.
Xu Nanyin felt surprised but hoped it would stay that way.
She didn’t know her parents had argued about her for half a day, then the next day she boarded a private plane with Song Huaixu to Ning City.
Arriving in Ning City, they still stayed at the Feilan International Hotel.
Even the hotel’s private butler was Yun Xia, and since the two had already interacted before, nothing needed to be said.
Xu Nanyin quietly asked, “Do you guys all keep Song General informed about things here?”
Last time she was in Ning City, she didn’t get involved in the Song family’s business, yet Song Huaixu found out.
Yun Xia honestly replied, “Miss Xu, if you go out here, for your safety, I have to inform Song General.”
“If it’s at the hotel and not a big deal, and you don’t want Song General to know, I won’t tell him.”
Xu Nanyin was unfamiliar with the place; not only did Song General not feel at ease, even Yun Xia was a bit worried.
“I understand.” Xu Nanyin nodded.
“Don’t worry, Song General won’t interfere with your itinerary.”
Yun Xia promised.
“Just in case.”
Xu Nanyin had no plans to go anywhere anyway, as she found Ning City hotter than Port City, with people’s warmth.
Port City’s season was rainy and coastal; she was used to that kind of heat.
Azhou had been with Song Huaixu since morning; now standing in Ning City, she was still confused.
“Zhuzhu, what’s your relationship with Song Sheng?” she asked.
“…Relationship?”
Xu Nanyin blinked, speaking vaguely, “Mutual help, cooperative.”
Though currently it was only his one-sided help; last time he even rejected her offer of help.
A Li thought she meant the previous annulment of an engagement, “Song Sheng is still a good person.”
Xu Nanyin covered her ears.
“Shh.”
By the time they arrived in Ning City at one in the afternoon, they played a little at the hotel, then got bored again.
Xu Nanyin sent Song Huaixu a message: [What time do you get off work?]
Song Huaixu: [Six o’clock.]
Xu Nanyin asked Yun Xia: “Does he stay at Feilan?”
Yun Xia knew who “he” was. “No.”
He didn’t stay there.
Xu Nanyin was surprised.
Could it be he lived at Baihu Bay?
Thinking this, she told A Li to stay and play while she was sent by Yun Xia to the Baihu Bay villa.
During the day, only Butler De Shu and a few servants were there.
Xu Nanyin wandered around by herself.
Only on a careful exploration did she realize the villa wasn’t small at all; the backyard had a large lawn, enough for playing ball.
There was even a swimming pool, different from Villa No. 75 in Port City but still with a skylight, exquisitely beautiful.
Looking down from the terrace, it felt like living in an overwater bungalow on a holiday island.
After wandering for a while and getting tired, she ate some pastries prepared by De Shu, then went upstairs into Song Huaixu’s room.
Nothing had changed inside; the colors were monotonous and cold.
The only difference was a pale pink Liu Su Shawl hanging on a nearby clothes rack—her shawl!
Her memory revived—last month when she came to exchange a little toy, she accidentally spilled water on his desk and left in a hurry, forgetting to take her shawl.
Xu Nanyin sent a voice message: “Song Huaixu, my shawl is at your place. Why didn’t you remind me?”
Song Huaixu replied, “Forgot.”
Then she played it again several times.
That was a reasonable excuse.
What could Xu Nanyin do?
She pouted and finally took over his bed, planning to take a short nap.
Just a nap, not staying here.
Upstairs was quiet; De Shu hadn’t gone up to check.
The villa’s owner said not to bother with whatever she did, so the butler naturally followed orders.
Until the man’s figure appeared in view, De Shu approached and reported everything honestly: “Miss Xu toured the house today, ate pastries, drank tea. She said this kind of tea is cold in nature and shouldn’t be drunk much. Then she went upstairs and hasn’t come down yet.”
“Hmph, I know.”
Song Huaixu removed his suit jacket casually.
De Shu took the clothes and put them away, noticing the man hadn’t even drunk the tea he just poured before going upstairs.
He left a message: “No need to come down.”
The master bedroom door was ajar.
Song Huaixu reached out and pushed it half open.
Inside was dim, with only a floor lamp on, casting light on a bulge on the bed.
The person tucked under the covers revealed only their head.
A gray Judy Eye Mask with two big pink bunny ears, the rest of the face white and delicate, long black wavy hair spread on the pillow, sound asleep.
His bed was all hers now.
Xu Nanyin slept for a long time, then yanked off the Judy Eye Mask, dazed for a moment before coming back to her senses.
She opened her phone. It was 7:50.
Song Huaixu said he came back at six—almost two hours ago.
Had he come back?
Why hadn’t anyone woken her?
Xu Nanyin messaged him: [Are you home?]
Seconds later.
Song Huaixu: [Yes.]
Song Huaixu: [In the study, having a meeting.]
Song Huaixu: [If you want, just come in.]
Xu Nanyin didn’t go.
Business was important; she never disturbed her parents at work.
Today, Zheng Yuze also hadn’t messaged.
While she breathed a sigh of relief, she was also more curious—it didn’t fit his personality.
The group chat was still buzzing about yesterday’s photoshoot, and Liang Jiamin was most proud because her data had the highest numbers.
Lin Zhijun said that was because Liang Jiamin had mobilized Dai Hongshu’s friends.
Two people teaming up against one was unfair.
She even created a poll asking if everyone agreed with her.
Xu Nanyin clicked “agree.”
No one knew she had come to Ning City; even they thought she was hiding from Zheng Yuze at home.
No wonder Zheng Yuze hadn’t gone out today.
Liang Jiamin didn’t care about that.
Seeing the votes change and hers rising, she immediately sent a private message: [Got something good to share with you. You must see it.]
Xu Nanyin: [What?]
Liang Jiamin: [You’ll know when you see it.]
Liang Jiamin: [Absolutely real, exclusive material, you won’t find a second copy in this lifetime!]
It sounded like paparazzi gossip, but the hype was enough. Xu Nanyin trusted her once and received the files she sent.
The titles were all numbers, mysterious. She was used to casting videos to the big screen.
But it was her first time using a Mainland device; she fiddled for a while, seemingly successful, but the screen had no response.
Xu Nanyin suspected Song Huaixu’s TV was broken, or maybe the files Liang Jiamin gave her were problematic.
She called Liang Jiamin.
“Jiamin, are the videos you gave me inappropriate? Do they have viruses? I can’t cast them.”
Liang Jiamin immediately got defensive: “Impossible! I forced Dai Hongshu to record them personally, no one else touched them!”
Xu Nanyin: ?
Her tone sharp: “That sounds even scarier than having a virus.”
Liang Jiamin calmly flipped her hair.
“Maybe your screen casting is broken, Xu Zhuzhu. If it’s broken, get it fixed quickly. No money? I’ll lend you some with 30% interest. If you don’t pay, I’ll ask Song Sheng.”
Xu Nanyin: “…”
It was also possible that Mainland devices and Port City’s systems were different, causing her failure.
After all, she only found out after coming here that in the Mainland, even Fei Cui Tai could only be legally watched on Guangdong province’s TV.
Xu Nanyin stopped worrying because her focus changed: “How did you force Dai Hongshu?”
The study’s international video conference was halfway through.
Due to time differences with foreign countries, meetings usually took place at night. Working during the day and night made no difference to Song Huaixu.
The computer screen was split into several sections.
Song Huaixu leaned back in his chair, expression indifferent, listening to a senior executive reporting their work, others focused as well.
Suddenly, a strange AI mechanical voice echoed in everyone’s ears.
“Latecomer’s perspective on how to seduce a boy until he’s blind and what his reactions mean when he’s really enjoying himself—”
Everyone instinctively looked toward the source of the background sound, stunned to find it was their usually taciturn and stern boss.
Song Huaixu glanced at his own brightly lit screen not far from his desk but didn’t suspect a supernatural event.
The person sleeping on his bed woke up.
The senior executive’s report stopped, and everyone looked at the expressionless handsome face on the screen.
“Today’s meeting is adjourned.”