That resolute back view silently conveyed the message, "I'm very unhappy, you'll bear the consequences."
A moment of silence returned to the living room.
The air still lingered with Nie Beini's unique, slightly aggressive perfume scent.
Qin Ruoyan blinked her big, dark eyes, curiously looking at her brother's face.
She tilted her little head, as if trying to guess what the brief exchange just now meant.
Qin Xiao, on the other hand, appeared completely at ease.
He reached for his phone on the sofa and casually swiped his fingertips across the smooth screen.
Then, he dialed the number with the nickname "Little Angel with Heartfelt Kiss".
The phone rang a few times before being answered quickly.
A gentle, soothing female voice, like that of someone from the water towns of Jiangnan, came through the receiver.
At this moment, however, the voice clearly carried a hint of barely perceptible nervousness and shyness.
"Qin... Qin Xiao?"
The voice was very soft, as if afraid of disturbing the deep night, and with a hint of tentative hesitation.
"Why did you call..."
"It made me... I was a little embarrassed..."
Qin Xiao chuckled softly.
The sound, carried by the electric current, possessed a unique magnetism, making it exceptionally clear in the quiet living room.
"Haha, Miss Liu, what brings you here so late at night?"
The person on the other end of the phone seemed to pause for a moment.
Then, with a cautious confirmation, it rang again.
"Qin Xiao...are you...coming to my grandmother's birthday banquet?"
"yes."
Qin Xiao's answer was crisp and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
Liu Qingyou's voice suddenly rose a few decibels, as if a sensitive nerve had been touched, and it was filled with obvious urgency.
"So, are you... still going to participate in that... that marriage contest?"
Qin Xiao raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly.
Although the voice on the other end of the receiver was urgent, it still retained a soft, gentle quality, like a jar of honey that had been accidentally spilled, cloyingly sweet.
How did you know about the marriage proposal?
He countered with a question tinged with a barely perceptible hint of amusement.
Nie Beini had barely left when this Miss Liu found out?
The news network in the capital city is incredibly fast and extensive, with almost no delays.
On the other end of the phone, Liu Qingyou sounded like a kitten whose tail had been stepped on, her voice instantly becoming excited.
She spoke much faster, rattling off her words in rapid succession.
"Qin Xiao! You absolutely mustn't participate in that marriage contest!"
"You absolutely, positively must not go!"
Her voice trembled slightly with excitement, and the last syllable even carried an almost pleading tone.
This is in stark contrast to her usual gentle and quiet image.
Qin Xiao's smile faded slightly, his eyes narrowed, and his tone became more serious.
"Why is that?"
Liu Qingyou remained silent for a few seconds, seemingly trying to organize her thoughts and find a suitable explanation.
Finally, she only said one sentence in a low voice, her tone ambiguous yet undeniably firm.
"In short... just don't go! Trust me!"
After saying that, before Qin Xiao could ask any more questions, she hurriedly hung up the phone as if afraid of being asked another question.
Listening to the busy tone coming from his phone, Qin Xiao thoughtfully rubbed his chin.
My fingertips glide across the smooth, cool phone screen.
The Liu family's birthday banquet, along with the so-called marriage proposal event, seemed to be much more interesting than he had expected.
***
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
On the day of the old lady of the Liu family's birthday banquet, the weather in the capital was sunny and the breeze was gentle.
Qin Xiao, along with Qin Ruoyan and Nie Beini, who was dressed in finery, traveled by car to the Liu family mansion located in the scenic garden district of the capital.
The Liu family mansion is not a modern villa estate.
It covers a vast area and retains a complete Chinese garden architectural style, making it an ancient and exquisite residence.
With its upturned eaves, carved beams and painted rafters, pavilions and towers are arranged in a harmonious and orderly manner.
Small bridges and flowing water meander through the area, while artificial hills and stacked rocks add to the charm.
Everywhere you look, you can feel the rich, ancient, and elegant charm and the profound heritage of a distinguished family.
It was Qin Ruoyan's first time visiting such an exquisite garden, and she was as excited as a little rabbit that had just been released from its cage.
Her big, dark eyes looked around curiously, her little mouth slightly open, occasionally letting out a small gasp of surprise.
"Wow! Brother, this place is so beautiful! It's just like the palaces on TV!"
Qin Xiao reached out and habitually ruffled her soft, short hair.
His tone carried a hint of helplessness, but even more so, it was full of doting affection.
"Hey, stop looking around like that. Behave yourself and don't act like you've never seen the world before."
Although he said that, his eyes were subtly searching his surroundings.
He is looking for Liu Qingyou.
What secret is the girl on the phone who spoke urgently and repeatedly told him not to participate in the marriage contest?
What does her warning mean?
Nie Beini wore a well-tailored white suit skirt today.
The clean lines accentuated her tall and beautiful figure.
Her blonde hair and blue eyes made her stand out in the crowd; she exuded a capable yet elegant aura.
She attracted many admiring or inquisitive glances along the way.
She looked around at the well-dressed, chatting and laughing guests, her brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.
"It seems that all the prominent young talents in the capital are here today."
Her gaze swept over several young men gathered together, clearly there for the purpose of "finding a husband".
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