The first thing Qiao Yiming did after returning to China was to go find Anna.

She felt that her older brother's silence on her whereabouts for so many days was suspicious, and that he was definitely plotting something against her.

So he went to Anna's place, and after saying only a few words, he enthusiastically pulled Anna along, saying that they should go back to the Joe family's house together.

Anna had no idea what was happening; she was already at the Joe family's doorstep.

...

"What's wrong with you two siblings? You're both acting strangely?" Anna, sitting in the passenger seat, looked at Qiao Yiming, who had a "ready to die" expression in the driver's seat, with some doubt.

The next second, Qiao Yiming turned around and looked at her pitifully: "Right! You also think Qiao Yiyang has been acting really strange lately, don't you?! I told you, he's definitely up to no good! Don't let his macho appearance fool you, he's got a lot of ulterior motives!"

Anna was unsure whether she should interrupt after her brother complained about him in front of his employees.

I had no choice but to get off the bus with her.

A silver-gray car was parked at the entrance, and it looked somewhat familiar to Qiao Yiming.

"Hmm? We have a guest?" She breathed a sigh of relief. "Then he probably won't cause me any trouble today..."

Muttering to herself, Anna walked up to her and asked, "What's wrong? Aren't you going inside?"

"Ah... Oh oh"

The two went in together, pushed open the door, and found that a series of laughing and joking sounds were coming from the usually quiet hall of the Qiao family villa. Why did it sound so familiar?

Qiao Yiming looked closely and exclaimed excitedly, "Dad! Mom!! Why are you back?!"

Since handing the company over to Qiao Yiyang, Qiao's father has been taking Qiao's mother out for a walk, returning home only two or three times a year. So Anna wasn't surprised that Qiao Yiyang acted as both brother and father.

Seeing the family reunion reminded Anna of her mother, who was still in the hospital, and she felt a little awkward. Just then, she caught Qiao Yiyang's gaze on her.

The two nodded to each other in greeting, and Qiao Yiyang's expression suddenly became somewhat unnatural.

Perhaps the two never saw each other again after leaving Song Xingyao that day, and with Qiao Yiming going abroad, their last bit of contact was also severed.

But he still silently stood up and led Anna to sit next to him.

Qiao Yiming snuggled up to his mother and said in a slightly aggrieved voice, "Mom, you've gone too far. You've been gone for so long and haven't come back even once, leaving me with my brother."

Before he could finish speaking, Qiao Yiming burst into tears.

While comforting her, Qiao's mother said to the guests sitting opposite her, "I'm so sorry you had to see this."

After saying that, he added, "Yiming is a bit willful. You two are the same age and your families are quite familiar with each other, so you can visit each other more often."

Qiao Yiming then noticed that there were other guests on the sofa opposite him. When he turned around and saw the face clearly, he was terrified.

The coquettishness that had been stuck in her throat suddenly disappeared.

Why is Bai Xiujin here?!

Like a bolt from the blue, her mind went blank, and she blurted out the question that had been nagging at her: "Why are you here?!"

Somewhat flustered, Qiao Yiyang, sitting opposite, looked at her younger sister, then turned to look at Bai Xiujin, only to find that his expression remained unchanged.

But Qiao Yiming's panic and unease were impossible to hide, and even Anna could see it.

Their gazes shifted between the two.

Bai Xiujin smiled gently and didn't rush to respond to her.

Mr. Qiao spoke first, "Yiming, you're not allowed to be rude!"

Turning back to Bai Xiujin, she said, "Look, we've spoiled them. Xiujin, don't mind!"

Mrs. Qiao also pulled Qiao Yiming off her and explained, "Xiu Jin came to deliver the invitation. This weekend is Madam Bai's birthday banquet. He happened to be here and saw that we had returned, so he delivered the invitation."

"Just right..." he murmured to himself. Was it really that coincidental?

Qiao Yiming thought to himself: The two families haven't been in touch for a long time. He just slept in S country and now they're sending out invitations. What a coincidence...

She looked at Bai Xiujin's flawless expression with some worry, as if he really was just here to deliver an invitation, and that the person she had been in bed with the day before yesterday was not him.

After all, both families knew that the two of them had a past.

Sitting in a space drinking tea with a man she had a one-night stand with in front of her parents and her agent, the tea tasted bitter.

She didn't dare leave the table for a moment, afraid of hearing Bai Xiujin say something shocking or revealing something he shouldn't.

As dusk settled, Qiao's mother noticed that the servants were preparing to serve the dishes at the table. She then spoke up, leaving it to Xiu Jin to eat at home.

Qiao Yiming interrupted him directly: "No, you guys eat. I have something to talk to him about. Anyway, you can see each other again this weekend. Let's talk next time!"

Qiao Yiming, who had been on edge all afternoon, couldn't stand Bai Xiujin chatting and laughing with his family.

She quickly stood up from the sofa and glared at the man in front of her.

Bai Xiujin had no choice but to stand up, bid farewell to the Qiao family, and follow Qiao Yiming out.

Qiao Yiming was so anxious that he left the house without even changing his shoes.

Anna and Qiao Yiyang exchanged a glance.

The next second, Qiao's mother spoke up: "You are Anna, right? I've heard Yi Yang mention you before. You are very capable. I feel very reassured that Yi Ming is in your care. Please stay for dinner. Everything is prepared. After you finish eating, Yi Yang will take you home."

Anna was somewhat taken aback, not expecting that Qiao's mother knew about her, and that she had only heard about it from Qiao Yiyang. She nodded and stared blankly at the man sitting next to her.

Qiao Yiyang stood up awkwardly and coughed twice: "Let's eat."

He went to the dining table first.

Qiao Yiming, standing outside the door, realized that he hadn't taken his phone, wasn't wearing a coat, and was still wearing his slippers.

He cursed Bai Xiujin inwardly for making him look so pathetic.

He stomped his feet twice.

A voice came from behind: "You hate me that much? You wish you could stomp on my feet?"

He glanced at Qiao Yiming from head to toe.

His gentle and refined expression carried a hint of mockery, and Qiao Yiming was about to speak.

She shut up and pulled him into the car.

"Why are you here?!" came the question that had been puzzling me.

The car started, and warm air blew out of the vents, making me feel a little colder. "Auntie already explained for me that I'm here to deliver an invitation."

He leaned back in his chair, took his suit jacket from the back seat, and threw it at her.

"Come on! Why would the young master Bai need to personally come all the way here just to send an invitation from your Bai family?" Qiao Yiming pouted and said sarcastically as his clothes were slapped against him.