59. The Moon Hides the Egret

◎"Really? Then you absolutely mustn't be too kind to me, this delicate flower."◎

Everyone watched as Li Xiran and Shang Xinuan left together, some with envy and others with sighs.

They were all Shang Dan's good friends, so they were three or four years younger than Li Xiran.

However, within the same circle in Shanghai, the name Li Xiran is widely known.

Within the business world, the Li family went from being on the verge of collapse to returning to normal operations in just six months, and then quickly transformed and gained a foothold. Today, it has achieved a domestic monopoly and expanded overseas.

This legendary figure in the industry is treated as an honored guest by people from all walks of life.

Even their parents have to give Li Xiran some face.

But when Li Xiran first arrived in this land, everyone scoffed at this gentle and refined young man.

No one believed that one day in the future, he would become a prominent figure among Shanghai's younger generation.

All that remains is admiration and respect for the formidable methods behind it.

And at this moment, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes...

None of them could believe that Li Xiran, who was rumored to be a powerful figure in the business world, would be so tainted with a romantic lifestyle because of Miss Shang.

The stark contrast left them speechless until Li Xiran's figure disappeared from sight. "I wonder who's luckier," they thought.

They were a good match in terms of social standing and their personalities complemented each other perfectly.

Now there is absolutely no resistance from their family; the whole world is making way for them.

Meanwhile, in the corner, Li Xiran buried her head in Shang Xinuan's warm hair and whispered aggrievedly, "Nuan Nuan, I admit I'm a petty person." Even a glance from others made her unbearably jealous.

"But I also feel that a young lady should be loved by many people." Ideally, she should always be surrounded by grandeur and prosperity.

Shang Xinan gently patted Li Xi's back, feeling his body temperature gradually rise. "Why is Chairman Li, who is always so confident, suddenly so anxious?"

Li Xiran hugged her tighter, carefully tightening his arms around her as if afraid of hurting her in the slightest. "I only feel this way about you, this fear of loss."

He would wake up in the middle of the night and see her sleeping with her back to him, to the point that he would turn over and pull her into his arms.

"Li Xiran, all these years, I've only ever liked you." Despite having many suitors, her eyes and heart only held affection for him.

Even when angry, she ultimately can't help but soften and like him.

The young lady always got what she wanted, except for a brief period of unrequited love for him.

-

After Shang Dan and Qiao Xi's engagement ceremony, everything returned to normal.

On the weekend, in the pavilion on the second floor of the Shang family's house, four people sat around a mahogany octagonal table, each busy with their own tasks.

"This is my last year. I'm begging God to let me graduate quickly!" The young lady muttered to herself as she wrote her thesis on her laptop, her face clouded with worry.

Qiao Xi stopped drawing, tore off the sketch she had just finished, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it into the trash can. "I have absolutely no inspiration for the new quarterly designer assessment."

Looking at Li Xiran and Shang Dan, there was not a trace of sorrow between their brows.

"You two young ladies, there's no reason to take your frustrations out on your boyfriends just because you're having trouble at work."

Shang Xinuan and Qiao Xi exchanged a glance, pouted, and slumped onto the table.

"This research paper is so difficult, especially since I have to go on business trips with my seniors and professors after the semester starts, it'll be even harder." Shang Xinuan silently removed her finger from the power button on Li Xiran's computer. "I'm really, a graduate student during the day, and researching myself to death at night!"

Qiao Xi leaned to the side and fell into Shang Dan's arms as well, "Honey, are you really not planning to acquire our company?"

The two men each held their precious girlfriends, offering only comfort and promises of material rewards.

But the two young ladies, who were never short of money, still wore mournful expressions, saying that life was too hard.

“If you can finish your paper this week, we’ll go to Florence next week,” Li Xiran said.

A trip to Europe is the only thing that can pique the young lady's interest.

Then Qiao Xi perked up, "I want to go too!"

Before their engagement, she and Shang Dan had planned a trip, but at that time Shang Dan had just acquired a small business and was delayed by internal integration work.

“Sure,” Shang Dan replied. “Shall we go somewhere else and travel alone?”

Qiao Xi used to travel and play with Shang Xinuan often, but since the eldest daughter went abroad to study and she started working, the two sisters have had fewer and fewer days together. "Isn't it better to be with Nuannuan?"

Shang Xinu stuck out her neck and retorted, "Exactly, isn't it better to be with me?"

Seeing Shang Dan speechless, Li Xiran said, "We're afraid that if we travel together, Shang Dan and I will become third wheels."

The sisters' close relationship is obvious to everyone, and now they're even more closely related through marriage. Whenever Shang Xinuan returns home, Qiao Xi insists on moving back to the Shang family's old house for a while.

Sometimes, when the two get really into a conversation, they end up sleeping in the same room.

To avoid being alone in an empty room while traveling, Li Xiran and Shang Dan tacitly suggested that they travel separately.

Shang Xinuan broke free from Li Xiran's embrace and said, "We're usually inseparable, so I already have very little time to play alone with Xixi. After I graduate and start working, I'm afraid we'll have even less time to play together."

It's rare enough for Li Xiran and Shang Dan to have half a day of leisure time per week, let alone for all four of them to have their time together.

"Florence is also where Qiao Xi goes to school. With her as a guide, it will definitely be more fun."

"Yes, yes, yes! I also want to go back to my alma mater."

Li Xiran and Shang Dan naturally couldn't refuse the two young ladies, so they compromised and had their assistants postpone next week's work.

"Then you two should focus on writing your papers this week and submit the design draft."

"must!"

One week later.

For the first time in their lives, the four of them went out together.

On the plane, Shang Dan quickly pulled Qiao Xi to his side.

Shang Xinu rolled her eyes at him speechlessly, "Brother, how childish are you?"

Li Xiran put his arm around the young lady's shoulder. "Let's sit here."

"Miss, please give me and your sister-in-law some private space."

For three days in a row, Shang Dan and Li Xiran have not seen each other during the day and have been alone in their rooms at night.

Shang Xin Nuan and Qiao Xi said that there are just too many things to prepare before going on a trip.

We need to buy clothes that match the local style and season, along with matching jewelry and bags. In the evening, we also need to discuss the itinerary, but the conversation often veers off into gossip, and we completely forget about the two men.

"Old Li, you don't care about Shang Nuannuan at all."

“You know, in our family, everything is decided by the eldest young lady.” Li Xiran shrugged and retorted, “Then I’ve never seen you care about Qiao Xi at all.”

Shang Dan forced a smile, "It's the norm for older men to have younger wives; I'm the one being controlled."

"Shut up!" Qiao Xi finally couldn't take it anymore and reached out to cover Shang Dan's mouth.

The cabin finally quieted down after the plane took off.

After a nearly twelve-hour flight, the group first landed in Amsterdam, and then transferred to a flight to Florence.

In August, Florence is bathed in sunlight, which makes the whole city feel relaxed and comfortable.

The four of them slept the entire flight. After landing, they handed their luggage directly to the driver who picked them up and then Qiao Xi took them out to play.

After a long flight, the group was already starving.

As soon as Shang Xinuan got into the car, she slumped into Li Xiran's arms. "Quick, take us to eat."

Qiao Xi gave the driver the address of a restaurant, "This restaurant has the most authentic Italian Western food. The steak is a T-bone steak from a breed of cattle native to Tuscany. It's coated with salt, pepper, and olive oil and then grilled over charcoal. Every bite is tender and juicy, and the mixed juices explode like fireworks on your taste buds."

"Qiao Xixi, you really should study advertising. I'm so hungry!" The young lady never lets herself go without food.

During her year studying in the UK, Li Xiran made her even more discerning with food.

"You're already craving it?" Qiao Xi continued, "The central square near Dante's birthplace has the best tripe sandwiches in all of Florence, but they're probably sold out by now. I guarantee you'll crave them after just one bite."

"What else is good to eat?"

"Fennel sausage, wine."

Shang Xin sighed deeply, "This is the first time in my life I've been this hungry."

"We're almost there," Qiao Xi said. "After we finish eating, we can go to Piazzale Michelangelo, where we can see the whole of Florence."

"Yay!" The young lady happily patted Li Xiran's face. "See! I told you that playing with Xixi is the most fun."

Li Xiran raised an eyebrow, wrapped his arm around Shang Xinuan's waist and rubbed it, asking jealously, "So that means going to Paris with me isn't interesting?"

Shang Xinuan was slightly taken aback at first, "No! Playing with my girlfriends is definitely a different experience than playing with my boyfriend."

The little fox lay in his arms, its eyes sparkling with a shimmering light.

Li Xiran naturally understood the expression in her eyes, but he maintained his status as an elder in front of Qiao Xi and was very proper.

Li Xiran gave a faint "hmm," and asked, "So, do you like me more, or do you like Qiao Xi more?"

"..." Shang Xinuan was speechless and closed her eyes.

"Hmm?" The man in his thirties persisted, asking again.

"Aren't you being childish?" The young lady poked his chest. "Xi Xi and my brother are listening."

Shang Dan, not wanting to miss an opportunity, also looked at Qiao Xi and asked, "So, what about you? Do you like me more, or do you like Shang Xinuan more?"

One second Qiao Xi was laughing at the situation, the next she felt like she was a joke too. "My uncle has gone mad, please wake up."

The two men, who were usually decisive and efficient, were acting completely out of character, resorting to all sorts of shamelessness and coquettishness.

The four of them arrived at the restaurant amidst their playful banter.

On the way to the private room, Li Xiran kept holding Shang Xinuan's little finger and kept asking, "Who do you like?"

Unable to bear it any longer, the young lady suddenly stopped before entering the private room. Seeing that no one was paying attention, she tiptoed and kissed Li Xiran on the lips.

The man, who had just been defiant, suddenly turned bright red in the next second, until his earlobes disappeared into his collar.

"Uncle, are you having an allergic reaction?" Qiao Xi noticed the unusual look on Li Xiran's face after everyone was seated.

"It's nothing." He coughed twice, and quickly clenched the small hand that was about to do something naughty with his hands on his knees.

"What are you doing!" Shang Xinuan leaned closer and warned in a low voice with ill intent.

“Miss, you’d better leave some room for maneuver tonight.” He pretended to chat, making flirtatious remarks with a straight face, “Otherwise, if you start crying, don’t blame me for not being chivalrous.”

Shang Xinuan was still dazed with her cheeks puffed out when she heard this. She first suppressed her smile, then turned to Li Xiran and said to him with an innocent expression, "Really? Then you must not pity this delicate flower."

The air seemed to freeze, and even at such close proximity, the veins on Li Xiran's forehead bulged.

A note from the author:

The young lady was constantly testing the limits of danger, spending sleepless nights every day.

Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 2023-06-17 23:54:27 and 2023-06-19 23:31:35!

Thank you to the little angels who watered my soy milk: I spilled 3 bottles of it;

Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!