The lights fell upon everyone’s faces, casting long shadows.
Tao Xixue picked up the drink beside her and took a sip.
“What did you say?”
Her mother reacted a moment late, her face filled with disbelief.
“I have no interest in men. If that is why you came here, then please leave.”
Tao Xixue pulled out her phone and began scrolling, completely ignoring how angry her mother was becoming.
Once she made up her mind, she rarely changed it, regardless of who tried to persuade her.
Watching her daughter’s rebellious display, the mother’s lips parted slightly.
“Little Tao, I know you haven’t seen your father much since you were born, but that is no excuse to act like this. If you keep going on this way, what are your father and I supposed to do?”
“That is your problem. I am an adult now. When I say I am not interested, I mean it. No matter what you say, nothing will change.”
Tao Xixue shrugged and sipped her juice, looking entirely indifferent.
Knowing she could no longer outargue her daughter, the mother sighed.
“You have an answer for everything, fine. Let me ask you something else then. Your father and I only have you as a daughter, and when we are old, you will be the one running this place. The pressure on a single person is immense. If you find a woman, she has no legal responsibility toward you. What if she spends all your money and runs away?”
“Can we even spend all of our family’s money?”
The mother: …
‘Wait, is it actually impossible to spend it all?’
‘No, no…’
‘Is that really what we should be discussing?’
“Well, what if it does run out? We have to prepare for the worst-case scenario.”
“Now you are just being pedantic. I might also think about sleeping in tomorrow, but who can say for sure what will happen?”
Seeing that her daughter only grew more stubborn the more they spoke, the mother finally put her foot down.
“Absolutely not. At the very least, if you truly meet a woman, you must bring her back for me to see. I need to vet her and test her depth before anything else.”
“Why do you even need to see her? Besides, I do not even have someone I like right now.”
“I know you are a sensible girl. However, I have to make this agreement with you in advance. Fine, I will stop nagging. Think about these things slowly.”
The mother sighed, stood up, and left the observation deck.
Tao Xixue finished the rest of the juice in her glass.
Her gaze fell upon the swaying night scenery outside the window, her lips pressed into a thin line.
Just then, her phone received a new message.
[Tao Xixue, are you free right now? I need to see you.]
Tao Xixue was somewhat surprised to see that the sender was Su Wanqing.
She stood up and headed outside.
After waiting for a short while, a black sedan pulled up at the entrance.
“You really are here.”
Su Wanqing stepped out of the car aggressively.
When she saw Tao Xixue’s outfit, she covered her mouth.
“Good grief, in private, you are so stu… fashionable? I could not tell at all normally.”
“Stop talking nonsense. Why did you need to see me in person?”
“I need you to do something for me. You know Photography, right? Can you help me take a photo of someone? I went to your studio just now, but you weren’t there.”
“Of who?”
Tao Xixue was a bit surprised.
She sized Su Wanqing up, not expecting the other woman to go through so much trouble.
“Just a member of my group. We work together often. I want you to help me take a good photo during the freshman welcome party.”
Su Wanqing hesitated for a moment before handing over a photo of Jiang Ran.
“You should have seen her a few days ago.”
“I have. No.”
“Okay, wait—why not?”
“I ran out of film. If you want a photo, take it yourself.”
“Ran out of film? Of all the excuses you could find… let me see that camera.”
“It is in my bag, you—”
Before Tao Xixue could move, Su Wanqing exerted her will, and everything around them came to a halt.
‘Activating Time Stop repeatedly while overloaded means I can only maintain it for thirty seconds. I have to be quick.’
Su Wanqing hurriedly pulled out Tao Xixue’s camera and flipped through the history.
When she saw nothing but scenery photos, she let out a sigh of relief.
‘Thank goodness there are no photos of Jiang Ran.’
‘But why did she use such a lame excuse to turn me down when I used Jiang Ran to test her?’
Su Wanqing pressed her throbbing temples, put the camera back where it belonged, and canceled the Time Stop.
“—if you want to use it, I will get it for you,” Tao Xixue finished her sentence.
Panting slightly, Su Wanqing waved her hand.
“Forget it if you do not want to take the photo. Besides, I remember that being a digital camera. Where would you even get film? You are just being lazy.”
“Since you already know, why say anything? However… since you are already here, what do you want to drink? It is on me.”
“Is that so? If the benefactor is offering, then bring out the most expensive wine in your shop for me to taste.”
Su Wanqing gave a look to a nearby servant, and a golden bag was handed over.
Once Su Wanqing walked away, Tao Xixue took out her camera, her brow furrowing slightly.
‘Why were my camera settings touched?’
Tao Xixue narrowed her eyes.
She reviewed the recent operations on the camera and discovered that someone had been looking through her photo album.
‘Tsk… how interesting.’
Tao Xixue pushed open the door and led Su Wanqing to a booth on the Second Floor where there was no smoke.
After the two sat down, Tao Xixue opened a bottle of low-alcohol cocktail.
Su Wanqing glanced at it.
“Are you teasing a child with juice? This thing only costs dozens of dollars.”
“Line your stomach first. If you start with something strong, you will not be able to handle it.”
“I do not need your reminder.”
Su Wanqing pressed her hand against her temple.
Forcing the activation of Time Stop had put a severe strain on her body.
Under normal circumstances, she should not have been using Time Stop so frequently; her sanity was teetering on the edge of a breakdown.
She had originally been in bed preparing to rest early, but because Jiang Ran had not replied to her messages, she had mindlessly scrolled through their previous chat history.
She realized that not long ago, she had sent Jiang Ran to deliver documents.
Once she realized what she had done, Su Wanqing wanted to slap herself.
She had heard from her subordinates that Tao Xixue’s tastes were a bit strange and that she always liked to stare at women.
If Jiang Ran had gone to Tao Xixue’s office, heaven only knew what would happen…
Feeling increasingly uneasy, Su Wanqing had gone to Tao Xixue’s studio, intending to use the camera as an excuse to see clearly.
When Tao Xixue wasn’t there, Su Wanqing realized she might be at the bar her family managed.
“Your tone is becoming more and more unrefined,” Tao Xixue said.
She pushed the drink over.
Su Wanqing, clutching her aching head, took a large gulp.
“Refinement is reserved for humans.”
“Is it really that fun to argue with me?”
“It is.”
Su Wanqing took another sip of the drink.
Seeing that Su Wanqing’s face was turning slightly red, Tao Xixue spoke with a smile.
“Speaking of which, the subject of that photo you gave me is very beautiful. What class is she in?”
“What are you trying to do? She is a member of my club. I do not know much about her, and she… she is actually my relative. I am her Sister. Do not go getting any ideas about her.”
Sensing a conspiracy, Su Wanqing quickly fabricated a lie.
Although claiming to be Jiang Ran’s Sister felt a bit immoral, it was better than letting her be targeted by a strange woman like Tao Xixue.
Tao Xixue rubbed her lips.
“Does Miss Jiang Ran know you are her Sister? You two do not look alike at all. Come on, tell me, how far have you two progressed? If there really is any development, I might even be able to give you a bit of advice~”
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.