The extended Lincoln limousine drove smoothly along the winding mountain road, the scenery outside the window rushing past, gradually transitioning from lush green forests to the brightly lit cityscape at night. Lin Nuannuan, holding Xie Chen's arm, sat upright, her body stiff as a stone.
A tense, almost stagnant atmosphere filled the car. Xie Chen closed his eyes to rest, his profile appearing even more hardened in the flickering headlights, like an iceberg that refused to communicate. The muscle definition in his arms, transmitted through the expensive fabric of his suit, carried an undeniable sense of power, making Lin Nuannuan dare not move an inch.
She was like a doll that had been carefully dressed up and taken out for a display, even her breathing was deliberately kept quiet.
The notification sound from 088 kept echoing in his mind: "Ding—The side quest [The Test of the Family Banquet] has been activated. Please strictly abide by the quest requirements: play the role of 'owner' well, stay within Xie Chen's sight, and do not actively provoke conflict. Good luck!"
Good luck? Lin Nuannuan smiled bitterly to herself. Stepping into a den of dragons and tigers requires more than a little bit of good luck.
The car eventually drove into a heavily guarded, extremely secluded estate, and finally stopped in front of a magnificent, brightly lit, retro-style villa. A uniformed waiter respectfully opened the car door.
Xie Chen got out of the car first, and then he did something that made Lin Nuannuan and the servants standing by with their hands at their sides glance at him—he turned around and extended his hand to her.
Instead of the previous gesture of gesturing for her to take his arm, he simply opened his palm and waited for her to place her hand on it.
Lin Nuannuan looked at the hand with its distinct knuckles, long and strong, the same hand that had once chained her, and her heart clenched. This was a further step in control and a declaration. She hesitated for a moment, but under the silent gaze of those deep eyes, she finally placed her slightly cool, trembling fingers gently in his warm palm.
His hand immediately closed, completely enveloping her slender hand. The pressure was neither too light nor too heavy, but it carried an absolute possessiveness, leaving her no room to break free. He led her, as if leading a pet tied with a beautiful ribbon, step by step towards the door that resembled the maw of a giant beast.
The villa's luxury far exceeded Lin Nuannuan's expectations. Crystal chandeliers reflected dazzling light, and the air was filled with the mixed scents of food, champagne, and a certain cool perfume. The atmosphere was lively, with elegantly dressed people and clinking glasses, but when Xie Chen appeared at the banquet hall entrance, hand in hand with her, the previously noisy scene seemed to be muted instantly, falling silent.
Countless gazes, filled with scrutiny, surprise, disdain, and inquiry, focused on them like spotlights, or more precisely, on Lin Nuannuan, who was being held tightly by Xie Chen and bore a striking resemblance to Gu Weiwei.
Lin Nuannuan felt as if she had been stripped naked and thrown onto the stage, every inch of her skin exposed to the scrutinizing gazes of the crowd. Humiliation and tension almost suffocated her. She could clearly feel Xie Chen's grip on her hand tighten slightly, as if silently warning her: Don't lose your composure.
He led her by the hand, ignoring the complex gazes around them, and headed straight for the head of the table. As they passed, the crowd parted to make way for them, like Moses parting the sea, but no one dared to approach and speak; only respectful nods and suppressed whispers rang out.
"Is that the female companion Mr. Xie brought?"
"He looks just like that guy from the Gu family..."
"Tsk, just a body double, and you dare to bring him to this kind of occasion?"
"Keep your voice down! Are you out of your mind?"
Those whispers were like poisonous needles, piercing Lin Nuannuan's ears. She tried hard to maintain a calm expression, even forcing a gentle smile, playing the role of a perfect decorative vase. But only she knew that her back was already soaked with cold sweat.
On the sofa at the head of the table sat several imposing elders. In the center was an elderly man with gray hair, exuding an air of authority; he was likely the head of the Xie family, Xie Chen's grandfather. Beside him sat several middle-aged men and women of varying demeanors, presumably Xie Chen's uncles, aunts, and cousins.
Xie Chen, holding Lin Nuannuan's hand, stood before the old man, his tone calm and even: "Grandfather, I've arrived."
Old Master Xie's gaze was like that of a hawk, first sweeping over Xie Chen, then sharply landing on Lin Nuannuan. His gaze carried a heavy pressure, as if he wanted to see through her inside and out.
Lin Nuannuan felt her heart was about to jump out of her throat. She subconsciously shrank behind Xie Chen. This subtle, protective gesture seemed to please the man beside her, and she felt that the strength of his grip on her hand seemed to loosen a little.
"And who is this?" Old Master Xie's voice was old but loud, carrying the authority of someone who had long held a high position.
"Lin Nuannuan." Xie Chen's introduction was brief and stingy, with no mention of identity or background, just a name.
But that's enough to show her attitude—she's his woman, no other labels are needed.
Old Master Xie's cloudy yet shrewd eyes lingered for a moment on Lin Nuannuan's face, which bore a striking resemblance to Gu Weiwei's. He then glanced at Xie Chen's unquestionable demeanor and finally let out a barely audible hum, saying nothing more, which could be considered tacit approval of her existence.
However, there are always those who can't stand being alone.
A young woman wearing a royal blue floor-length dress, with exquisite makeup and a resemblance to Xie Chen in her eyes and brows, walked over with a wine glass in hand, her face bearing a smile that seemed enthusiastic but was actually critical.
"Ah Chen, you've finally arrived. This... is Miss Lin? Seeing is believing, indeed... beautiful." She looked Lin Nuannuan up and down, her gaze lingering on Lin Nuannuan's face, which resembled Gu Weiwei's. The meaning in her tone was clear to anyone. This was Xie Chen's cousin, Xie Ying, who had never gotten along with Xie Chen.
Lin Nuannuan's heart skipped a beat; she knew the difficult situation was about to begin. Remembering the mission requirements, she didn't provoke any conflict. She simply lowered her head slightly, revealing a section of her fair and delicate neck, and said in a soft voice, "Miss Xie, you flatter me."
Seeing her weak and submissive demeanor, Xie Ying's eyes flashed with disdain, but her smile became even more "friendly": "Miss Lin, don't be nervous. Our Xie family isn't a den of dragons or tigers. I'm just a little curious, I wonder which family you come from? I don't think I've seen you in the circle before? Did you study abroad?"
A series of questions, seemingly casual conversations, actually questioned her background and qualifications, placing her in an awkward Cinderella-like position as she tried to infiltrate high society.
The gazes around them grew even more intense, carrying an undisguised air of anticipation.
Lin Nuannuan felt Xie Chen holding her hand tightly, but he didn't seem to be trying to help her out. He seemed to be waiting, waiting for her reaction.
She understood that this was also part of the test. A test of whether she would lose her composure under pressure, and whether she would "embarrass" him.
She took a deep breath, raised her head, and met Xie Ying's smiling, scrutinizing gaze. Her face maintained that gentle, even slightly bewildered smile, as if she hadn't grasped the underlying meaning in Xie Ying's words at all.
"Miss Xie, you can just call me Nuannuan. My family is just an ordinary family, not in this circle." She frankly admitted her "ordinary" nature without a trace of inferiority or concealment, which actually made Xie Ying's prepared sarcasm choke her.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Lin Nuannuan turned to look at Xie Chen, her eyes filled with complete dependence and a little helplessness after being teased, and softly asked for help: "Sir, I'm a little thirsty."
Instead of directly answering Xie Ying's pointed questions about her background and education, she deftly deflected the difficult question, handing the reins back to Xie Chen and silently declaring—my destiny lies here, and only he can decide everything for me.
This move not only fit her "delicate canary" persona but also cleverly avoided the trap, and in front of everyone, it reiterated Xie Chen's absolute ownership of her.
A barely perceptible ripple flashed across Xie Chen's deep eyes. He glanced down at her; the girl's clear eyes reflected the light of the crystal chandelier, and his own shadow.
He didn't say anything, but simply let go of her hand and took a glass of warm juice from a passing waiter's tray, handing it to her personally.
This seemingly ordinary gesture was nothing short of a mini-earthquake in the eyes of those familiar with Xie Chen's personality! When had Xie Chen ever been so... considerate and attentive to a female companion? Not even to Gu Weiwei!
Xie Ying's smile froze completely, and the surrounding gazes that had been watching the spectacle instantly turned into one of surprise and uncertainty.
However, the real storm always arrives at the most unexpected moment.
Halfway through the banquet, the atmosphere seemed to have eased, and Lin Nuannuan followed closely behind Xie Chen, trying to minimize her presence. Suddenly, a small commotion arose at the entrance of the banquet hall.
A woman dressed in a white fishtail dress, with a refined and elegant demeanor like a rare orchid in a secluded valley, slowly walked in, accompanied by a middle-aged man.
Her appearance instantly attracted everyone's attention.
Gu Weiwei.
Xie Chen's unrequited love, the real person behind this substitute, has returned!
Lin Nuannuan felt the man beside her suddenly tense up, his grip on her hand tightening abruptly, making her knuckles ache! His aura visibly turned cold and sharp, his gaze like a tangible arrow, fixed on the slowly approaching white figure.
The banquet hall fell silent once more, with everyone's gaze shifting back and forth between Xie Chen, Lin Nuannuan, and Gu Weiwei, a strange yet exciting undercurrent filling the air.
Gu Weiwei also saw Xie Chen, and... the girl beside him who looked remarkably like her. Her steps faltered slightly, a fleeting, complex emotion flashing across her cool face, but she quickly regained her composure. She nodded slightly in Xie Chen's direction as a greeting, her posture elegant and poised, yet carrying a sense of aloofness.
Xie Chen didn't respond; he just stared intently at her, as if the whole world consisted of only her. Lin Nuannuan could clearly feel the tension in his body and the stiffness in his arm muscles—a violent emotional fluctuation mixed with extreme desire, anger, and resentment.
And she, the substitute he held tightly in his hand, at this moment, clearly felt what a "tool" and a "shadow" were.
Looking at his almost out-of-control profile, at the undisguised turmoil in his eyes for another woman, an indescribable bitterness and coldness quietly crept into her heart. It wasn't because she had any feelings for him, but because this situation of being completely ignored and reduced to an emotional substitute made her feel a deep sense of powerlessness and sorrow.
Just then, Xie Chen suddenly let go of her hand.
Without any warning.
The hand that had been tightly enveloping her, providing her with invisible support (or rather, restraint), suddenly withdrew.
He seemed to have completely forgotten his own existence, all his attention drawn to the white figure, and subconsciously took a step towards Gu Weiwei.
Lin Nuannuan's hand froze in mid-air, her palm still warm and firm from his previous touch, now replaced by the cold air. She stood there alone, dressed in a gown strikingly similar to the original, exposed to the gazes of everyone—some sympathetic, some mocking, some gloating—like a poorly made imitation carelessly discarded by its owner.
An overwhelming sense of embarrassment and isolation washed over her like a tidal wave.
The whispers around them grew louder.
"See? A stand-in is just a stand-in. The real person gets thrown aside as soon as they arrive."
"I thought it would be something special, but it's nothing special."
"Young Master Xie is truly still deeply in love with Miss Gu..."
Xie Ying made no attempt to hide her mockery, as if to say: See, your value ends here.
Lin Nuannuan stood rooted to the spot, feeling her limbs stiffen. Should she be grateful? He had released her, and she seemed to have gained a moment of "freedom." But this "freedom" came with such sharp humiliation.
She watched Xie Chen walk away towards Gu Weiwei, his back resolute and focused, as if she were just an insignificant background figure.
The mission requirement was to "stay within Xie Chen's sight," but now, she was no longer in his sight.
What should she do? Follow them? Like a pitiful abandoned dog? Or stay here and endure everyone's pointing fingers and ridicule?
Just as she was torn between her inner turmoil, between humiliation and reason, the tall figure that was walking towards Gu Weiwei suddenly stopped a few steps away from her.
Xie Chen seemed to be suddenly pulled by something, and abruptly turned around.
His gaze swept across the bustling crowd and precisely landed on the girl who was left alone, pale-faced, with a look of bewilderment and helplessness in her eyes.
She wore the dress he had chosen, styled her hair in the way he had specified, and wore makeup similar to Gu Weiwei's. Yet, at this moment, she resembled a fledgling bird drenched in rain, lost and disoriented, completely out of place in the glamorous and bustling environment around her.
A strange, restless, and uncontrollable feeling suddenly seized his heart.
He looked into her clear eyes, now veiled with tears, and saw her standing there all alone, as if she might be swallowed up by this superficial world at any moment.
The next second, to everyone's astonishment, Xie Chen made a move that plunged the entire banquet hall into deathly silence once again—
Without hesitation, he turned around, abandoning Gu Weiwei who was right in front of him, and strode back.
Then, before Lin Nuannuan could react, he grabbed her wrist again with such force that he almost crushed her bones, and pulled her towards him!
Caught off guard, Lin Nuannuan let out a soft cry and uncontrollably crashed into his hard, warm chest. Her nose was instantly filled with his cold, masculine scent, mixed with a hint of suppressed anger.
He lowered his head, his hot breath brushing against her ear. His deep eyes were inches from hers, churning with dark, turbulent emotions she couldn't decipher. His voice was hoarse and dangerous, carrying an almost gritted teeth tone.
"Who gave you permission to leave my side?"
This sudden turn of events, this forceful and almost brutal confinement, left Lin Nuannuan completely bewildered.
Didn't he... go find his white moonlight?
Why did you come back again?
And he looks... even angrier?
The suspense in the story reaches its peak at this moment—is Xie Chen's unusual turn and anger due to possessiveness, or is it driven by other emotions? What will Lin Nuannuan, who has been pulled back to his side, face? All will be revealed in the next chapter.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com