Chapter 22 You just let my sister-in-law give it to me…
Seeing that Xie Tang remained silent, Qin Wu racked her brains to find a topic to try and please her: "Um... is Auntie feeling better? Which hospital is she recuperating in? I..."
Xie Tang turned her head and cut her off sharply: "Why ask so many questions? What's it to you?"
"I... I just want to go see Auntie..." Qin Wu's voice was filled with humble pleading.
"You're not allowed to go!" Xie Tang refused firmly. "My mother—she doesn't want to see you."
“…Oh.” Qin Wu seemed to have all her strength drained away in an instant. She pursed her lips, lowered her head, and finally silently turned and left the hall.
The heavy, carved wooden door closed silently behind us.
Xie Tang stood absentmindedly in the shadows of the foyer for a moment, the inexplicable unease in her heart still lingering.
Chu Song's willingness to marry her was nothing more than a tacitly agreed-upon transaction.
Just as her agreeing to marry him was merely a matter of mutual benefit.
However, the weights on both sides of this deal are completely different.
What she wanted was clearly the cold, hard cash in Qin Ruhai's hands, and the villa that held her grandfather's memories.
But what Chu Song really wanted was merely to find out the truth about Xiao Yun's car accident and escape the shackles of the old house?
Behind that seemingly clear and certain goal, is there a deeper, more unfathomable abyss lurking beneath?
The thought, like a cold snake, suddenly coiled around her heart, sending a chill down her spine.
She needs a place to calm down, or to be overwhelmed by noise.
She could faintly hear music and crashing sounds coming from downstairs, and followed the sounds down the spiral staircase.
The villa's basement has been transformed into an entertainment maze filled with cyberpunk aesthetics and modern luxury.
The huge space was opened up, with a brightly lit KTV room on the left. Ambient lights cast changing shadows on the walls, and a huge high-definition screen silently played gunfight scenes from classic Hong Kong movies.
On the right is the billiards area where the lighting is more concentrated.
Xie Tang appeared at the entrance like an unexpected ray of cold light, instantly cutting through the smoky, alcoholic, and hormonal atmosphere of the room.
The first person to notice her was the woman nestled in the large central sofa.
She nestled in Dou Xiao's arms, his hands roaming unrestrainedly over her waist.
The woman raised her eyes, her gaze sweeping over Xie Tang with undisguised scrutiny, her eyes filled with intense curiosity and devoid of any kindness.
Xie Tang looked back and was slightly taken aback.
The woman possessed a rare scholarly air about her, and her attire was not the flamboyant style of the place. It was completely out of place with the dissolute aura emanating from Dou Xiao. She was like a lamb that had strayed into a pack of wolves, yet she also carried a strange kind of obedience.
Dou Xiao followed the gaze of the person in his arms and looked up. A deep, aggressive smile immediately spread across his lips. His voice was not loud, but it had a deliberate penetrating power: "Oh? Isn't this your sister-in-law? What a distinguished guest!"
That one word, "sister-in-law," instantly drew everyone's attention.
Those playing ball stopped, those drinking put down their glasses, and everyone's eyes were focused on Xie Tang.
Alarm bells rang in Xie Tang's mind.
Dou Xiao exudes an extremely unsettling frivolity.
She suppressed her disgust, put on a standard social smile, and nodded very slightly at him, wanting only to get away from this troublesome place as soon as possible.
Tang Yunsong's forehead was already beaded with cold sweat. He strode forward and led Xie Tang away, saying, "Sister-in-law, over here..."
"What's the rush?" Dou Xiao had already put down his wine glass, stood up lazily yet swiftly, his tall figure exuding an imposing aura, and blocked Xie Tang's path in a few steps, just in time to stop Tang Yunsong.
He lowered his eyes, his gaze carrying an undisguised amusement as he swept over Xie Tang's face inch by inch, a wicked smile playing on his lips.
Tang Yunsong's heart sank to the bottom, a chill ran down his neck, and he could almost foresee Chu Song's impending thunderous rage.
"Your sister-in-law is really beautiful," Dou Xiao leaned down slightly, "and her voice is lovely too...tsk, she must be even more alluring when she sings. How about singing a song to liven things up for your brother?"
Xie Tang took a half step back, his back tense, but his face maintained an impeccable aloof smile: "Young Master Dou is joking, I can't sing."
She tried to sidestep him.
Dou Xiao shifted his feet slightly, blocking her path again. His eyes suddenly sharpened, and his smile contained blatant coercion: "What are you shy about? Sister-in-law, even if you sing just so-so, with that voice, it's still a pleasure to listen to you."
His gaze lingered on her, possessing an undeniable and forceful intensity.
Xie Tang met his gaze, her eyes growing cold.
The urge to take off her high heels and smash them against his smiling face flashed through her mind, but Chu Song's pride and the possible consequences made her hold back.
Don't act impulsively!
We can't cause trouble for Chu Song!
"Young Master Dou, Young Master Dou!" Tang Yunsong's voice trembled with anxiety, almost pleading, while he frantically winked at Zuo Meng on the sofa, "What song do you want to hear? I'll go find you the best singer right now! Zuo Meng! Zuo Meng is the best singer!"
Zuo Meng, who had been observing coldly, finally stood up and approached, softly taking Dou Xiao's arm. "What does Xiao want to hear? I'll sing it for you?"
Dou Xiao, however, swatted away an annoying fly, his arm swaying, his gaze fixed on Xie Tang's face with a fanatical madness: "No, I want her to sing for me."
He took another step forward, almost casting Xie Tang into his shadow.
Tang Yunsong felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, realizing that tonight was truly an unlucky night. He had thoroughly offended both Chu Song and Dou Xiao, two formidable figures, and he felt like banging his head against a wall on the spot.
Just as Xie Tang was on high alert, contemplating how to escape, Chu Song approached with a calm yet chilling aura, as if a storm was brewing.
He didn't give Dou Xiao a chance to speak again, pulling Xie Tang into his arms. His strong arms formed an absolute protective circle, separating her from Dou Xiao.
His gaze was calm and unwavering, but when it fell on Dou Xiao's face, it was like a sharp blade: "Dou Xiao, jokes should stop now."
Xie Tang stumbled into a warm and reassuring embrace, the familiar, crisp scent of pine filling her nostrils.
She looked up and saw Chu Song's hard, cold jawline. The gentle smile that was usually on his face had vanished, replaced by a chilling seriousness that she had never seen before.
This silent protection instantly pulled her away from the cold scrutiny and aggressiveness.
An indescribable warmth suddenly welled up in my heart, dispelling the previous humiliation and tension.
Dou Xiao's smile froze for a moment, then he grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth, his eyes still full of provocation. "Tsk, she's just a woman, why is Brother Song protecting her so fiercely? Like she's protecting his own eyeballs!"
"Brother Song, what kind of joke is this to make you let your wife sing for us?" He glanced at Xie Tang, deliberately emphasizing the last four words, with a blatant implication.
Tang Yunsong's gaze swept rapidly between Chu Song's suddenly icy expression and Dou Xiao's undisguised arrogance, and he felt a chill run down his spine, a coldness shooting straight from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
That's it, there's no way to salvage this now.
He could almost see the invisible sparks in the air, and even his breathing stopped.
"Brother Song, let's play a game. If you win, your wife won't have to sing." Dou Xiao looked at the pool table and grinned mischievously, "I won, didn't I..."
He drawled out the last syllable, his gaze fixed on Xie Tang's face, "...you should have your sister-in-law sing me a song."
"I—don't—gamble." Chu Song's eyes were icy, and his tone was resolute.
Dou Xiao's contempt was almost overflowing as he sneered, "Brother Song, are you a sore loser? Or are you afraid of losing to me and losing face in front of your wife?"
"Provocation won't work on me." Chu Song's expression remained unchanged, his eyes filled with disdain and tolerance for not arguing with a junior: "With me here, no one will be able to force her to do anything today."
"Ha..." Dou Xiao felt as if he had been slapped hard across the face, and the resentment and anger of being looked down upon exploded in his chest.
He stared at Chu Song's face, which was exactly like his brother's—always calm, composed, and aloof—and a strong urge to destroy grew wildly within him.
He hated these self-righteous "gentlemen" the most, and wished he could personally press them into the mud and watch them suffer in utter disarray!
With a quick glance around, Dou Xiao suppressed his anger and feigned magnanimity, taking a step back: "Fine! Brother Song has a lot of face. Let's change the game. We'll play a round. If you win, I'll apologize to your wife. How about that? Is that sincere enough?"
Chu Song's lips curled slightly, his voice tinged with amusement: "Is it worth fighting a whole battle just for a simple 'I'm sorry'?"
Dou Xiao sensed his dissatisfaction and added with a grin, "Look at my memory! An apology alone isn't enough. How about this, if I lose, besides sincerely apologizing to my sister-in-law, I'll also give her a big red envelope as a token of my joy! I wish Brother Song and Sister-in-law a long and happy marriage and many children!"
"Sounds good." Chu Song's gaze was calm as he countered, "But what if I lose?"
Dou Xiao's smile instantly turned incredibly arrogant: "Then Brother Song, you have to offer me three toasts! Not a single one less!"
Xie Tang's heart leaped into her throat as she looked at Chu Song with worry.
Even though it wasn't her fault, she always felt like she had caused him trouble.
Chu Song gave her a reassuring look and walked steadily toward the pool table.
Dou Xiao followed behind him with a smug look on his face, as if he could already see Chu Song bowing his head to offer a toast.
Tang Yunsong leaned close to Chu Song with a worried expression and lowered his voice: "Song, I know you're good, but Dou Xiao is notoriously crazy when he plays. I heard even his brother can't control him. He's clearly after you, trying to embarrass you... Why don't you find an excuse to decline?"
Chu Song's gaze pierced him, his voice suppressing his anger: "You think this still counts? Tang Yunsong, open your eyes and look, who 'meticulously' prepared this scene?"
Tang Yunsong instantly broke out in a cold sweat and shrank back guiltily.
It was indeed him. He wanted to throw a lively party to welcome Xie Tang, but... he attracted all sorts of monsters and scoundrels!
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Soft lighting enveloped the dark green velvet table tennis table, and Xie Tang's gaze followed Chu Song intently.
She wore a simple black shirt with the collar slightly open, outlining her smooth neckline.
His slender fingers gently caressed the golf club, his eyes focused and sharp, yet when he looked at her, a hint of tenderness inadvertently crept in.
Dou Xiao, on the other hand, was completely different.
Wearing a flashy shirt and sporting his signature provocative smile, he didn't forget to give Xie Tang a flirtatious wink before teeing off.
Xie Tang looked away expressionlessly, inwardly rolling her eyes.
The match begins.
Dou Xiao took the first shot, striking the cue ball like a cannonball, sending it flying through the triangle of balls, and the two colored balls fell into the pocket.
"pretty!"
He whistled, but his eyes darted towards Xie Tang like hooks, full of smugness.
Immediately afterwards, he launched a relentless attack, scoring three more goals!
After each point, he would cast a provocative glance at Xie Tang, as if she were the key to the outcome of the match.
Xie Tang's anger flared.
She saw through Dou Xiao's trick—using his flippancy towards her to humiliate Chu Song!
Just as Dou Xiao arrogantly fired his fourth shot, she spoke in a cool voice, "Young Master Dou, how about I play a game with you?"
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Author's Note: La la la, good morning! Today's update is complete. Have a wonderful Saturday! It's such a rare sunny day, eat well, drink well, and have fun!
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