Chapter 2 (2/2): Wants Someone to Sleep Beside at Night

The comfort from physical closeness and touch was irreplaceable.

Her mother didn’t know about her condition, and what was set couldn’t be changed.

Maybe Mr. Song Huaixu didn’t want to bring extra people, or maybe bringing her was just out of convenience…

Or maybe, as long as she insisted and Song Huaixu agreed, that would be enough?

With that thought, Miss Xu Nanyin went downstairs.

Miss Xu Mother was in the dining room, her phone ringing non-stop—sometimes business associates asking about Mr. Xu, sometimes other ladies inviting her out.

Finally, she had a spare minute or two and asked what plans Miss Xu Nanyin had for the day, reminding her not to forget to come home in the evening.

Miss Xu Nanyin still needed to give Miss Lin Zhijun an Acupuncture session—she’d already arranged to go to her house.

At the end, she softly asked, “Do you have the contact information for that Mr. Song from last night?”

The phone rang again.

Miss Xu Mother didn’t have time to correct her unfamiliar address, but before answering, she asked, “Yes, why?”

Miss Xu Nanyin quickly said, “I have something I want to ask him.”

Miss Xu Mother was so busy today she barely had time to send a phone number, so she replied in passing, “He’s staying at No. 75. You’ll pass by on your way to Zhijun’s house.”

Miss Xu Nanyin failed to pick up a shrimp dumpling.

Wasn’t that the villa they bought but hardly ever stayed in—the one A Li always said was a waste of money?

So, had the house changed owners again, or was he actually the owner from a couple of years ago?

She took a car to the gate and rang the doorbell.

The Butler saw the beautiful girl outside on the screen and recognized her as the Xu Family heiress from nearby.

Although he didn’t understand why the master had been so generous before—letting her and her friends come in even when he wasn’t home—now that the master was here, he had to ask first.

Secretary Jiang Chen had already seen her face.

“Let her in.”

“Should we always let her in from now on?”

The Butler needed to be sure.

“Today, it’s fine. In the future, you’ll have to ask the boss.”

It would depend on her future status.

It was Miss Xu Nanyin’s first time inside. In truth, it wasn’t much different from other mansions, except there were fewer people, making it feel a little cold.

There were some invitations on the table, one even dusted with gold powder.

The Butler was gathering them up to dispose of.

Seeing Secretary Jiang Chen, Miss Xu Nanyin smiled politely.

“Is your boss home?”

Secretary Jiang Chen nodded. “He’s resting.”

In China, everyone loved to talk business over drinks.

Last night’s banquet wasn’t just for mingling; there was business too.

The rain was heavy at night, so the drive back along Binhai Highway was slow—they only returned to No. 75 at midnight.

Miss Xu Nanyin checked the time and realized it was a bit early.

“Then I’ll come back later. What time does he usually wake up?”

Even if she was Miss Xu Nanyin, Secretary Jiang Chen wouldn’t reveal the boss’s schedule.

“Miss Xu, if you have something to discuss, you can tell me first.”

Miss Xu Nanyin replied seriously, “I need to tell him myself.”

Secretary Jiang Chen was genuinely curious about what she wanted to say.

Judging by her expression, it seemed important, but he didn’t press further.

“No later than eleven.”

With a definite answer, Miss Xu Nanyin left in her little leather shoes, pondering how to phrase her request two hours later, when she suddenly saw the Observatory’s tsunami warning.

Her heart skipped a beat, but it was only 10cm high.

Miss Lin Zhijun was waiting at home for her Acupuncture session.

When she arrived, she asked, “Zhuzhu, who was that guest at your house yesterday?”

Miss Xu Nanyin changed her shoes.

“My fiancé’s older brother.”

“So it wasn’t the real deal.”

Miss Lin Zhijun was disappointed.

“Next time, just let the older brother stand in for the groom. It’s all for show anyway!”

Since it wasn’t the fiancé himself, her curiosity faded. After Acupuncture, she invited Miss Xu Nanyin to stay for afternoon tea.

Her family’s chefs were hired from all over the world.

“Did you see the news? Even Liang Jiamin didn’t expect your fiancé to get more attention than her bachelorette party.”

“It’s only because nobody knows who he is, so everyone’s curious.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

Miss Lin Zhijun waved it off.

“Yesterday, my brother was hanging out with that Song guy again. If your fiancé was replaced by him, I’d eat three bowls of rice just looking at his face.”

Miss Xu Nanyin nibbled at her citrus tart, looking refined and clean.

“The Song guy you’re talking about is probably my guest.”

Miss Lin Zhijun’s eyes widened. She was just joking around.

“Fine, anyone who can chat with my brother is scary. But you’re not marrying him anyway. I heard that in the mainland, couples don’t live with their families after marriage.”

“But if the older brother is that handsome, the younger brother can’t be bad, right? Of course, you can’t rule out a genetic mutation.”

Miss Xu Nanyin recalled Mr. Song Huaixu’s face.

He really was extremely good-looking—so good it felt distant and dangerous.

When she said she’d be going to Ning City for a month, Miss Lin Zhijun stared at her.

“You’re not getting married that soon, are you? No way, that’s way too rash!”

“No, it’s just a marriage investigation.”

Miss Xu Nanyin immediately used Song Huaixu’s answer.

She didn’t know what the investigation would result in, but it felt good to have the right to decide.

Miss Lin Zhijun let out a sigh of relief.

“That’s good. But men are good at pretending. Some are so sweet-talking that believing even ten percent of what they say will get you killed. You’re so well-behaved, you’re the easiest to fool.”

“If he’s pretending, he’ll be exposed sooner or later.”

“Some cunning old foxes can pretend their whole lives.”

Miss Xu Nanyin thought, If he could really pretend for a lifetime, maybe that wouldn’t be so bad.

“Is it something important?”

The man in a bathrobe raised his brows.

The cold light cast perfect shadows on his face, like a flawless sculpture.

Secretary Jiang Chen stood a few steps away.

“That’s what she said—she insisted on telling you herself.”

“Where is she?”

“Her car headed toward the Lin Family. Miss Xu is probably giving Miss Lin Acupuncture.”

It wasn’t a secret. On his first day in Port City, Young Master Lin had joked about it.

Mr. Song Huaixu wiped his hands with a towel, his face expressionless, his tone calm. “Doesn’t sound that important, then.”

He walked to the table and picked up a glass of water.

Secretary Jiang Chen thought, You’d have to ask her. “I told her to come back before eleven.” He checked his watch.

“It’s already ten.”

At half past ten, Miss Xu Nanyin left the Lin Family and arrived at No. 75.

She entered without obstruction, though Secretary Jiang Chen wasn’t there.

The servants led her straight to the living room.

“Would you like something to drink?”

The Butler offered.

“A glass of warm water, thank you.”

Miss Xu Nanyin was quiet by nature and rarely made requests in someone else’s home.

“When will your master be available?”

The Butler answered truthfully, “I’m not sure. When the master is busy, we can’t disturb him. Is your matter urgent, Miss Xu?”

Miss Xu Nanyin shook her head.

She held the pretty cup, wondering if Mr.

Song Huaixu would agree to her request, not noticing at all that he was coming down the stairs.

It felt even harder than making a request to her elders.

Mr. Song Huaixu was six years older than her.

They weren’t even in the same world.

When she was in kindergarten, he’d already skipped grades to middle school.

By the time she reached middle school, he was already involved in family affairs.

If it didn’t work… Should she act cute?

Her mother was so strict, but even she would occasionally give in when coaxed.

“Xu Nanyin.”

A deep voice suddenly sounded from across the room.

Miss Xu Nanyin instinctively looked over.

The man walked over and sat down across from her, wearing a deep indigo silk shirt, the collar loose, the top button undone, giving him a slightly languid look.

Even dressed so casually, his presence was still overwhelming.

Their eyes met, and Miss Xu Nanyin couldn’t help but want to retreat.

At some point, the servant polishing the vase in the living room had disappeared, leaving just the two of them.

Mr. Song Huaixu’s dark eyes watched her, his posture relaxed, making no move to speak first.

Miss Xu Nanyin took a deep breath, obediently addressing him, “Huai Xu-ge.”

She knew very well that when making a request, you had to sound sweet.

Even if it was a bit cloying, it didn’t matter as long as she got what she wanted.

The man across from her replied with a neutral “Mm.”

Miss Xu Nanyin paused, blinking at him.

“I want to bring A Li with me. Is that okay?”

A Li?

That playmate who was always by her side.

Mr. Song Huaixu thought for a moment and made the connection.

Her request was just like she was—formal yet well-behaved. Her misty eyes looked at him, making it hard for anyone to refuse.

The man’s long fingers tapped lightly, one after another, absent-mindedly.

“Reason.”

“A reason that will make me agree.”

His tone was lazy.

Miss Xu Nanyin looked away, lowering her head slightly.

Her dark hair brushed against her fair face, and the tips of her ears blushed faintly.

“At night, I need someone close by to fall asleep…”

To a man long-accustomed to business negotiations, all the unnecessary words fell away, leaving only the essentials.

She needs someone to sleep with her at night.

A bad habit.

Mr. Song Huaixu was silent for two seconds.

“Alright.”