Chapter 423: Skillful Technique

"Thank you," she said quietly, then added, "Nice touch."

Zhao Xiyue was stunned for a moment, then smiled. The hostility in her eyes dissipated a lot, and she looked more cheerful. "Of course. If you dare to mess with my friends, you must be prepared to bear the consequences."

The sun is still shining brightly and the aroma of tea is lingering.

The annoying noises finally disappeared completely, and the world returned to the tranquility it deserved.

After dealing with the pile of documents, Chi Wenyan rubbed his brows. All the fatigue in his body disappeared in an instant when he thought of Ji Wan, leaving only deep longing and a hint of anxiety.

He picked up his coat and hurried out of the office, only responding perfunctorily to the assistant's report behind him.

He wanted to see her, immediately, right away.

I've been so busy these days that I can only say a few words on the phone.

Now, he just wanted to hold her, feel her body temperature, and smell her faint fragrance.

He doesn't do anything, just stay still.

With such expectations, Chi Wenyan drove to Ji Wan's residence.

He even bought her favorite dessert in advance, and the corners of his lips couldn't help but rise.

Pushing open the half-open door, the smile on Chi Wenyan's face suddenly froze when he heard laughter coming from the living room.

On the sofa, Zhao Xiyue was talking to Ji Wan with a cheerful expression, holding a piece of cake that she had just taken a bite of. It was the brand he had bought, and maybe even the flavor he wanted.

Ji Wan sat in front of the easel, facing sideways to the door, holding a paintbrush in his hand, occasionally tilting his head to respond to Zhao Xiyue's words. His tranquil profile was breathtakingly beautiful in the afterglow of the setting sun.

But this harmonious picture stung Chi Wenyan's eyes.

"Cough." He coughed heavily, announcing his arrival.

Zhao Xiyue turned around when she heard the voice and saw Chi Wenyan's handsome face which clearly showed displeasure. A sly smile flashed in her eyes and she deliberately raised her voice.

"Oh, Mr. Chi is here? You're a rare guest. Have you been busy lately?"

Ji Wan also turned around and saw Chi Wenyan. He put down his paintbrush and looked calmly, "Are you done?"

"Yeah." Chi Wenyan suppressed his unhappiness and walked to Ji Wan's side. His eyes swept over Zhao Xiyue and the annoying cake, and his voice became a little deeper. "It just ended."

He wanted to say, "I bought your favorite dessert," but the words were swallowed back because Zhao Xiyue was shaking the piece of cake in her hand: "Wanwan, this cake is really good. I'll bring you another one next time."

Chi Wenyan: “…”

He felt the veins on his forehead throbbing.

"No need, I just bought some too." Chi Wenyan put the dessert box on the table and emphasized his tone, "It's the flavor Wanwan likes."

Zhao Xiyue said "oh" in a long tone and leaned over to take a look.

"Oh, what a coincidence, I bought the same thing. It seems that Wanwan and I have more and more similar tastes. Unlike some people, we only buy the common ones."

Chi Wenyan's face turned completely dark, and the air pressure around him became frighteningly low.

Ji Wan looked at this one, then at that one, picked up the teacup and took a sip, as if he didn't feel the undercurrent of competition between the two of them: "Sit down, everyone, what are you standing for?"

Chi Wenyan took a deep breath and sat down on the single sofa next to Ji Wan, his eyes fixed on Ji Wan, trying to convey the message with his eyes that I want to be alone with you.

However, Zhao Xiyue completely ignored the cold air he exuded, and instead moved closer to Ji Wan, continuing the previous topic with great interest: "Wanwan, let me tell you, that Mrs. Wang later came to me to beg for mercy, crying and crying, what were she doing before..."

Chi Wenyan listened to Zhao Xiyue chattering on and on about gossip that he was not interested in, and found it extremely noisy.

He just wanted to talk to Ji Wan, even if it was just to stay together quietly.

"Miss Zhao," Chi Wenyan finally couldn't help but interrupt her, his tone cold, "You seem to be very free?"

Zhao Xiyue raised an eyebrow and stared back at him without showing any weakness: "Yes, I'm not like President Chi who is always busy with affairs. However, I still have time to spend with my friends, especially Wanwan."

She deliberately emphasized the last two words and affectionately took Ji Wan's arm.

Ji Wan's hand paused, he glanced at Zhao Xiyue, but did not pull away.

Chi Wenyan looked at the hand on Ji Wan's arm, his eyes suddenly becoming sharp, as if a knife was about to cut him out. His hand on his knee unconsciously clenched into a fist.

"Wanwan, what do you want to eat tonight? I'll ask the restaurant to deliver it..." Chi Wenyan tried to regain the initiative.

"No need to trouble Mr. Chi," Zhao Xiyue immediately interrupted him, "I've already reserved a table nearby. Wanwan said she wanted to try the private kitchen there."

Chi Wenyan suddenly looked at Ji Wan.

Ji Wan met his gaze and nodded: "Yes, Xiyue asked me out."

Chi Wenyan: “…”

A feeling of depression was stuck in his chest, unable to go up or down, and his face turned ashen.

He clearly came to find Ji Wan, so how did it become a battlefield between him and Zhao Xiyue, and Ji Wan, the protagonist, seemed like a referee who was not involved?

Over the next few days, the situation intensified.

Chi Wenyan wanted to invite Ji Wan to see the art exhibition, and Zhao Xiyue said that she also had a ticket, and it was a VIP ticket.

Chi Wenyan wanted to take Ji Wan to a newly opened restaurant, but Zhao Xiyue said that she had been there before and the food was not good, so she took Ji Wan to another one.

Chi Wenyan wanted to take a walk alone with Ji Wan in the evening, but Zhao Xiyue always found various excuses to show up, either to deliver something or just to happen to pass by.

President Chi has lived for thirty years, and for the first time he experienced what it means to be frustrated and what it means to have strength but nowhere to use it.

Unfortunately, Zhao Xiyue is Ji Wan's friend, so he can't really do anything to her. He can only be pissed off by her again and again, and still have to maintain his composure on the surface.

Ji Wan seemed to be happy to see this happen, or rather, she didn't care about the competition at all and continued to live her peaceful life.

Drawing, reading, drinking tea, occasionally being dragged out shopping by Zhao Xiyue, and occasionally dealing with Chi Wenyan whose face was getting more and more sour.

That day, Chi Wenyan once again ran into Zhao Xiyue at Ji Wan's house. Finally, when Zhao Xiyue left, he couldn't help but complain to Ji Wan with a sour tone: "Why does she come here every day?"

Ji Wan was watering a new orchid. Upon hearing this, she looked up at him with clear and innocent eyes: "Friend, can't you come?"

Chi Wenyan was choked and speechless. He could only watch Ji Wan slowly tending to the flowers and plants, while the villain in his heart scratched the wall frantically.

The happy and lively days seemed to belong only to those two people.

All that was left for him was growing jealousy and an increasingly sour face.

The night was deep, and moonlight filtered through the gauze curtains, casting a shadow on Ji Wan's slightly bulging belly. With only a week left until her due date, the air was filled with anticipation and a touch of nervousness.