When Lin Xiaoxue and Lin Taozi came to Beijing, Lin Chacha took them to S City Airport and only felt relieved after watching them board the plane. She and Song Cheng were too busy to personally send them over.
That evening, Bai Ruan drove with Lin Xiazhu to pick up Yan Xin from the airport. Yan Xin originally wanted to come along, but her mother called her home.
"Wow, is this Brother Xiao An? I almost didn't recognize him." After greeting Lin Taozi and Lin Xiazhu, Lin Taozi turned her attention to the person next to her.
In fact, Bai Ruan's appearance hasn't changed much, but her clothing and temperament have changed drastically. She used to be aloof and indifferent, but now she has a noble air about her, exuding an aristocratic temperament from the inside out, and her whole person is full of aura.
"Peach has grown up too." Xiao An smiled gently and reached out to ruffle her hair.
The initial sense of distance immediately turned into intimacy. Lin Taozi looked at him with a smile that narrowed her eyes. Brother Xiao An is even more handsome than a big star.
Lin Xiaoxue was a little embarrassed at this moment. She used to call him Xiao An. Back then, she could call him whatever she wanted in the Lin family. But now that Bai Ruan had a noble status, she dared not call him Xiao An directly anymore. But following Taozi's lead and calling him Brother Xiao An felt very awkward.
She wanted to shamelessly call out, but Bai Ru'an's cold, piercing gaze made her throat tighten, leaving her unsure whether to call out or not.
She really didn't know what to call him. Calling him "brother" felt inappropriate, as they didn't have that kind of relationship. Calling him by his name seemed unworthy. She was so conflicted.
So she remained silent, her expression shifting, and didn't say another word.
Fortunately, Taozi kept talking to them, and no one seemed to notice her abnormality. Soon they left the airport, took a car back, and Lin Xiaoxue breathed a sigh of relief.
Lin Xiaoxue was not an honest person, and her unusual quietness was obviously abnormal. Lin Xiazhu noticed it early on and guessed what was going on after observing for a while, but she did not point it out immediately.
Bai Ruan drove them directly to a high-end hotel to welcome them. Lin Xiazhu wanted to cook at home, but he didn't want her to go through too much trouble and insisted on eating at the hotel.
Seeing his insistence, Lin Xiazhu went along with him, and she found a more relaxed life.
Unfortunately, after the four entered the hotel, they ran into acquaintances. Bai Ru'an had requested a private room, and the hotel staff were leading them to it. In the corridor, Gu Yan and Gu Qiao'er were standing not far away, talking about something.
It seemed there had been some argument, as both of them looked rather grim. Lin Xiazhu, with her sharp eyes, spotted them. She glanced at Xiao An and, seeing that he didn't seem to have noticed Gu Yan and the other woman, she rolled her eyes and pretended not to see them either.
“Brother Mingxuan…” However, Gu Yan quickly spotted them and called out to Xiao An.
Now there was no way to pretend not to know. Lin Xiazhu looked over and saw Gu Yan's face light up with joy. Although her cousin didn't show it so obviously, her eyes lit up and she seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
Bai Ru'an seemed to only notice her now, stopping in her tracks to look over, a faint smile playing on her lips, "Yan Yan, you're eating here too?"
"...Brother Mingxuan, today is my cousin's birthday. We usually celebrate at home, but this time we want to celebrate outside with our friends. A friend recommended this place to us..."
After entering, she looked at the menu and realized that the prices here were unusually high, far beyond her means. However, her friends had already ordered, and when she wanted to order, she saw the prices. She roughly calculated that this meal would cost her several months' worth of allowance.
The Bai family is generous to her, allowing her to live a high-class life, but they do not support her extravagance. She has a monthly allowance of five thousand yuan, and the Bai family covers her food and lodging. Usually, this is enough for her and she can save some money. But today's meal will cost at least ten thousand yuan. It's not that she can't afford it if she really wants to eat it, but she will have to tighten her belt in the days to come.
She was a little angry and wanted to go somewhere else to call her cousin out to discuss it. Gu Qiao'er advised her not to get agitated, saying that her friends were all inside waiting for the food to be served, and if they said they didn't want to eat now, would the hotel agree?
Gu Yan was heartbroken over her savings and was on the verge of tears when she turned around and saw Bai Ru'an. She had truly met a sucker... uh, no, a savior.
After listening to Gu Yan's explanation, Bai Ru'an remained calm and said, "Put your bill on my end, and I'll pay it all together later."
"Thank goodness you came, Brother Mingxuan. If you hadn't come, I might have had to stay and wash dishes to pay off my debts," Gu Yan said, crying tears of joy. However, she quickly calmed down. "Why don't you come with us, Brother Mingxuan? It would save us the trouble of asking for another private room."
"No need, I booked the private room in advance. Xiaozhu and the others aren't familiar with your friends, so you guys go and have fun." After saying that, Bai Ruan turned around and followed the hotel staff to the private room she had booked.
"Brother Mingxuan..." Gu Yan was a little disappointed, biting her lip and stamping her foot.
“Those two are Lin Xiazhu’s younger sisters. It seems that Brother Mingxuan treats them very well.” Gu Qiao’er’s tone was ambiguous.
Gu Yan sniffed, her eyes darkening, but she didn't reply. She turned around to go back to their private room. "Let's go eat first."
She was also heartbroken. It was obvious that Mingxuan valued the Lin family more and was closer to them. Since returning from abroad, he hadn't come to see her once, but she heard that he often went to see Lin Xiazhu and would even bring her back to the Bai family.
But her distress was useless. She ate the Bai family's food and wore the Bai family's clothes. Could she possibly point fingers at the Bai family?
Don't even mention that she wouldn't dare. Even if she were brainless enough to do it, Mingxuan's uncle could crush her with a single finger. Daring to challenge the authority of the Bai family, she's living too comfortably, isn't she?
Gu Qiao'er watched Gu Yan turn away without looking back, her eyes flashing. Sigh, why can't they get Bai Ru'an's favor? If it weren't for Lin Xiazhu as a comparison, they would actually be doing quite well, but comparisons are hurtful.
Compared to Lin Xiazhu, Gu Yan was nothing to Bai Ruan. If it weren't for the kindness of her uncle in raising her, Bai Ruan probably wouldn't even give her a second glance.
Gu Qiao'er was also a shrewd person. She knew that Bai Ru'an was indifferent and cold to everyone. Only when facing the Lin family did his eyes and face show some warmth. He truly regarded the Lin family as his own.
"The food here is outrageously expensive. Gu Yan must have struck it rich to be able to splurge here. She said she invited about ten people. This meal must cost at least ten thousand yuan, maybe even twenty or thirty thousand. Is she going to eat gold?" Lin Xiaoxue exclaimed, looking at the menu.
The words spoken were both overt and covert accusations that Gu Yan was too extravagant with her money, that it was one thing for her and her cousin to come and splurge, but to bring a whole group of people with them, as if she really thought she was the daughter of the Bai family.
She dared not utter a single bad word about Xiao An, but she was not afraid to speak her mind about others, saying whatever she wanted, which suited her perfectly well since she was feeling unhappy.
Xiao An has lived in the Lin family for seven or eight years, which is about the same as the time she spent in the Gu family. Why can Gu Yan spend the Bai family's money at will, while the Lin family doesn't get any benefits?
Back then, her sister treated Xiao An better than she did. She never missed out on any good food or useful things.
"If you don't want to eat, then go out. If you do want to eat, then order quickly. Will you become mute if you don't speak?" Lin Xiazhu scolded in a low voice. Did she not know what her third sister was thinking?
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