To evoke a sense of guilt in her grandfather, Hua Ruoling pretended to be harassed by Ao Fengyang at the banquet. Ao Fengyang saw through her act, but still refused to give up on her.

Ao Fengyang stubbornly said, "Ruoling didn't do it on purpose! I can understand her predicament."

This is probably the ultimate level of being a simp.

Shi Xi sighed, "Instead of wasting your time getting soaked in the rain, you should do something useful."

Do you think she's avoiding you because she doesn't like you?

Ao Fengyang pursed his lips and lowered his eyes.

Shi Xi advised, "Hua Ruoling was born a proud daughter of heaven, the apple of everyone's eye. Now that she has fallen from grace, she can't bear the psychological gap."

I know you don't like me because I stole Hua Ruoling's position in the Hua family.

But even without me, can you win her heart?

Ao Fengyang said bitterly, "Ruoling would be much happier without you!"

Shi Xi was speechless, and simply said, "What Hua Ruoling likes is money, power, and status."

I heard that your company is currently experiencing cash flow problems.

Ao Fengyang turned his head away and retorted, "What's it to you?! Mind your own business!"

Shi Xi chuckled, "I thought you were a smart person who knew what to do so that you wouldn't need to look up to Hua Ruoling anymore."

Ao Fengyang wasn't unaware of these things; he simply refused to believe that Hua Ruoling could be such a superficial person.

Seeing that Ao Fengyang was still so persistent, Shi Xi handed him the umbrella and said, "Hold an umbrella for yourself first, then think about holding an umbrella for others."

"You can't expect everyone else to get wet in the rain too, can you?"

Ao Fengyang took the umbrella from Shi Xi, his expression complex.

Shi Xi said no more, handed the umbrella to Ao Fengyang, and then opened the car door and got back into the car.

Hua Xuan noticed that Shi Xi's clothes were soaked by the rain and scolded her, "Why did you have to go out in such heavy rain? Couldn't you have said what you wanted to say in the car?"

"It's better to say some things face to face," Shi Xi said with a faint smile.

Before the car even entered the manor, the two saw Ao Fengyang leaving with an umbrella in their rearview mirror.

Hua Xuan asked in surprise, "What did you say to him? He's willing to leave now?"

Shi Xi laughed and said, "I was just saying that the rain was too heavy today."

Hua Xuan didn't ask any more questions.

Many people have tried to persuade Ao Fengyang not to wait, but Shi Xi actually managed to convince them to leave, which relieved them of a worry.

After all, it's annoying to see a grown man standing outside all the time.

Upon entering the living room, a waiter handed Shi Xi a clean towel.

Hua Ruoling came downstairs, slipping on her slippers, with a cat in her arms.

She stroked the cat's back, looked at Shi Xi, and said excitedly, "Congratulations."

Shi Xi asked, "Congratulations on what?"

She had no idea what joy she had to congratulate.

Hua Ruoling smiled and said, "Grandpa and the Xie family are discussing your marriage with Xie Er. It will be settled sooner or later. I'd like to congratulate you in advance. Aren't you happy, sister?"

"Xie Er? When did I say I was going to marry him?" Shi Xi looked at Hua Xuanhe.

Hua Xuan said coldly, "The Xie family has brought up this matter, but we disagree."

Hua Ruoling, however, gloated, saying, "Xie Er is the only son of the Xie family. In the future, all the wealth of the Xie family will belong to him. Once you marry into the family, you will be the young mistress of the Xie family. What is there to be unwilling about?"

Shi Xi smiled and said, "If that's the case, why don't you marry him? I remember you two had a close relationship."