Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Who else could it be besides my wife? ...
the next day.
Yan Jiu made an appointment with Xiang Tianjiao to have afternoon tea.
The location is the terrace of a shopping mall. The designer transformed it into a dreamy French-style hanging garden, which provides a quiet place in the bustling city. The girl sculpture in the terrace fountain is graceful and charming in the dripping water.
"Even if you don't ask me out, I will ask you out." Xiang Tianjiao said with a smile after handing the menu to the waiter.
Yan Jiu pursed his lips and chuckled, "Miss me?"
Xiang Tianjiao: "Yes, it feels like a long time since we last met."
After some joking, she quickly got down to business.
"The Chen family is holding a birthday party this week?"
"Yes." Yan Jiu pursed her lips. The date was tomorrow. This was her first time attending a banquet of this scale. Prestigious people from all walks of life in Juancheng and celebrities from aristocratic families would attend. She felt a little nervous.
Xiang Tianjiao noticed her uneasiness and reassured her, "This is your home. You're the host and everyone else is just a guest. There's nothing to worry about."
She curled her lips and said, "But my annoying cousin will also be attending. I don't know how she got the upper hand over the eldest daughter of the Sheng family."
Xiang Tianjiao glared at Yan Jiu and continued, "I heard something. Don't be angry. My cousin said that Mr. Chen, your husband, and the eldest daughter of the Sheng family were childhood sweethearts and had a deep affection for each other. I know she's definitely talking nonsense, but it's best for you to stay away from them."
Yan Jiu nodded. She had no plans to interact with them and just wanted to get by tomorrow. As for the childhood sweetheart thing, she believed Chen Yuchu's statement. If he really wanted to have something with someone, he could just do it openly.
Her autumn-water eyebrows curved, "I will try my best not to have any intersection with them."
Xiang Tianjiao finally felt relieved. At first, she only knew that Yan Jiu was getting married, and she thought that the other party was a suitable match for her family, but she didn't know the other party's identity. Now that she knew the identity of Yan Jiu's husband, she truly understood Yan Jiu's helplessness during that period.
She could also imagine that Yan Jiu might not be living such a good life in the Chen family, and that beneath the glamorous appearance, he might be deeply helpless. So she didn't want Yan Jiu to get into a conflict with others at the birthday party due to information gap or being provoked or using other means.
Xiang Tianjiao felt a huge weight lifted off her chest. Thinking of the man she met at the class reunion, she couldn't help but joke, "I've only seen your husband in magazines. I didn't expect him to be so handsome in person. Was he jealous that day? Did he tie you up and interrogate you? What kind of games did he play?"
There is no such thing as tying it up.
But she was so frightened that she stepped on the broken glass.
Yan Jiu didn't tell Xiang Tianjiao about her injury. Thinking about what happened last night, was it a game she was talking about? The ends of her curled eyelashes trembled. She had never thought that such a thing could be like this.
Her thin eyelids seemed to be dripping with blood. After a moment, her pale pink lips parted slightly, and her voice was soft and gentle, "No. How could he be jealous?"
She wore a light pink T-shirt today, and tied her beautiful black hair into a neat ponytail. A hint of obscure emotion flashed in her sparkling eyes.
Yan Jiu didn't quite believe Chen Yuchu was jealous that night. Perhaps he didn't want his wife to be too close to her ex-boyfriend. This seemed to be the most logical reason. How could a man like him tolerate such a thing? Perhaps he treated her as his "property"? That's why he specifically stated this in the marriage agreement.
Like he would even stipulate in the agreement who would be Ping An's boss.
"Ladies, here are your drinks and snacks." The two waiters took the trays, put them down gently, and introduced them with a smile.
They ordered a nine-square dessert, and the waiter also gave them two sets of refrigerator magnets and badges.
Xiang Tianjiao's drink was savory cheese latte, and Yan Jiu's drink was jasmine tea.
There were only a few guests on the terrace, spaced far apart to protect their privacy. The waiters were waiting far away, unable to hear the guests' conversations, but always within sight and ready to provide service at any time.
Xiang Tianjiao stirred the coffee in front of her, pondered for a while, and struggled to speak: "The question just now was asked by Qin Rong. He was afraid that your husband would do something to you."
She paused for a moment, "He's still worried about you."
Xiang Tianjiao immediately felt that it was inappropriate. What was she doing now? Was she trying to bring Yan Jiu and Qin Rong back together? They had been separated for so long, and one of them had already started a family. They shouldn't and couldn't have any intersection again.
She blushed, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't..."
She just missed the days when the three of them were in England. She didn't want to see Qin Rong sad, nor did she want to see Yan Jiu sad. She didn't know what to do to return to the happy times in the past, but she also knew clearly in her heart that the past could never be returned.
The wind from the terrace blew through Yan Jiu's hair, and her beautiful ponytail was as soft as silk. The smile on her face disappeared. After a moment of silence, a gentle voice rang out: "Jiao Jiao, we all have to look forward."
"I hope I can continue to be with Chen Yuchu."
***
Under the warm sunshine of a spring afternoon, the wood carvings on the eaves of the brocade building come alive, as if they are about to fly into the sky.
A black Rolls-Royce stopped smoothly, the logo on the front of the car emitting a dazzling light in the sun, the door opened, and the spotless black handmade Oxford shoes stepped firmly on the ground.
Without a pause, the man went up to the top floor accompanied by the manager and a group of people.
"Mr. Chen is such a rare guest. Why don't you stay at home and be a good gentleman?" Shang Yu heard the sound of the door opening, raised his eyelids lazily, and raised his eyebrows in a pleasant voice.
Chen Yuchu was wearing a light grey linen suit and white handmade trousers. The thin fabric fitted his slender figure perfectly, making him look more casual and relaxed than usual. Upon hearing this, he only glanced at him indifferently and said in a cold voice, "Shang Yu."
Shang Yu coughed lightly, adjusted the chain of his gold-rimmed glasses, picked up the red wine in front of him and took a sip, and his voice became completely silent.
Wen Yunhui chuckled. Shang Yu had been afraid of Chen Yuchu since he was a child, but he just loved to provoke him the most. If he really provoked Chen Yuchu, he would hide behind him.
Fortunately, Chen Yuchu never cared about this kind of teasing. He took off his coat and put it on the sofa, then slowly poured himself a glass of water.
Shang Yu's courage grew again, his fox eyes darting upwards, as if he was enjoying the fun. "A lot of people came here today, playing downstairs."
"What's so strange?" Chen Yuchu said casually and in a nonchalant tone.
"Sheng Jingyao asked you if you were coming, and I said I didn't know."
As soon as Shang Yu finished speaking, Wen Yunhui raised his eyebrows. Sheng Jingyao had indeed come just now, but Shang Yu's answer was that Chen Yuchu would come today.
But he didn't expose Shang Yu.
Chen Yuchu replied calmly, his handsome face changing slightly. He picked up the glass with his bony fingers, took a sip, and said nonchalantly, "You told her I would come."
Wen Yunhui chuckled, his eyes flickering back and forth between the two men's faces, and Qingjun's face was full of unconcealed ridicule.
The three of them grew up together and knew each other's personalities well. Shang Yu was able to lie without changing his expression or heartbeat, but unfortunately Chen Yuchu was too good at judging people and ruthlessly exposed his lies.
Shang Yu hooked the chain of her gold-rimmed glasses, curled her lips, and said, "Tsk!" "How boring."
The reason why Shang Yu could keep making jokes about Chen Yuchu and Sheng Jingyao was simply because he really hated Sheng Jingyao. Every time he saw her being rejected by Chen Yuchu, the little devil in his heart would dance.
He likes the hustle and bustle.
Chen Yuchu's eyes remained calm from beginning to end. Upon hearing this, his pale lips curled up, "Boring."
There was a knock on the door. Wen Yunhui took a sip of tea, and the corners of his lips curled up. "Speak of the devil, and here he comes."
Shang Yu glanced at Chen Yuchu, and the fox tail hidden behind him shook. He stood up and opened the door himself. Seeing the few people at the door, he raised his eyebrows and asked, "What's going on?"
Sheng Jingyao had long seen that the people in front of her didn't like her. She was a smiling fox who appeared harmless but was actually creepy. Her smile froze for half a second before quickly rising again. Her voice was so sweet that it was sickening. "These are some of my friends. We know that Brother Yu Chu likes quietness, so we came up to say hello and leave."
"Oh~" Shang Yu drew out the tone, moved sideways to make way, and instead of returning to the sofa, he walked to the bar and added tequila and liqueur into the shaker. His eyes were always fixed on the sofa, but his hands kept moving. He lifted the shaker, and a pleasant and rhythmic sound of ice cubes hitting each other was heard.
Sheng Jingyao stood in front of the sofa, her ballet-trained body straight and her palm-sized face gentle and demure. "Brother Yuchu, Brother Yunhui."
The luxurious light fell on Chen Yuchu's face. His handsome and flawless face seemed to be carved out. His outline was sharp and cold under the light and shadow. His black eyes were as deep as the ocean, and he looked distant and indifferent.
However, Sheng Jingyao had long been accustomed to Chen Yuchu's attitude, and everyone else also knew that the eldest son of the Chen family in Juancheng was an unapproachable flower on the mountain top, as cold and lonely as a snow-capped mountain.
They also greeted Sheng Jingyao. Chen Yuchu didn't say anything, but Wen Yunhui spoke up: "Are you all having fun?"
Xiang Yayun stared at the spacious leather sofa in the center of the room, and saw a tall and strong figure wrapped in a tailor-made linen suit. The man had a casual and cool expression, but his dignity could not be concealed. She thought of the many rumors about this gentleman in the social scene.
He was known for his ruthless and merciless methods, a dominant figure in the business world. He led every project, ensuring it was a success. He had turned loss-making subsidiaries into profitable ones, and his investments often yielded returns tens or even hundreds of times the original value. He was exceptional in both appearance and ability.
Everyone can see that this person will be the one in charge of the Chen family in the future.
As if noticing her gaze, the man cast a casual glance at her.
This cold glance almost froze Xiang Yayun. She looked away and fixed her gaze on the handsome man who had just spoken. He looked like the most talkative person in the room. He was neither as cunning as Shang Yu, nor as indifferent and cold as Chen Yuchu. His expression and demeanor were very gentle, like a brother next door, making people trust and approach him involuntarily.
She calmed herself down and smiled. "We played billiards for a while. My name is Xiang Yayun, and my father is the chairman of Dongxing Electronics."
Entertainment activities are opportunities to expand social circles, and Xiang Yayun's behavior is not uncommon. The others immediately reacted and introduced themselves.
Wen Yunhui maintained a proper smile. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Chen Yuchu's cold and impatient brows. He curled his lips and said in a clear and pleasant voice, "Then you guys continue to have fun."
This was basically a polite way of getting rid of the guests. Sheng Jingyao said tactfully, "I'll take them downstairs to play first. I won't disturb you."
When they left, they considerately closed the door. Wen Yunhui slowly withdrew his gaze and asked calmly, "Is there something wrong with Xiang Yayun?"
He noticed that when Xiang Yayun introduced herself, Chen Yuchu's gaze lingered on her for a while longer, which was not common.
Chen Yuchu's expression remained unchanged. He took out his phone from his trousers, tapped it lightly with his slender fingertips, and replied nonchalantly, "This surname is not common."
Yan Jiu's friend also has the surname Xiang. He tapped the clean screen with his fingertips and clicked send.
Chen Yuchu: Where?
Wen Yunhui nodded, reviewed the information in his mind, and slowly spoke: "There's been a lot of fighting going on within the board of directors of Dongxing Electronics Group. Although the two brothers Xiang Liquan and Xiang Yuande haven't publicly fallen out, they're always at odds, and naturally the board is divided into two factions. Xiang Yayun's father, Xiang Liquan, asked an intermediary to meet me, but I declined. He must have had his eyes on you too, but I didn't expect him to be able to meet you, and his daughter did meet you first."
Shang Yu mixed two glasses of wine and walked over slowly. Knowing Chen Yuchu wouldn't drink, he handed them to Wen Yunhui and said, "So what if he saw him? Would Yuchu be involved in this brotherly feud? The accounts of Dongxing Electronics Group are completely unclear."
A trace of contempt flashed in his eyes, and he spoke without mercy, "This kind of young person thinks that knowing a few people is useless. Even if she gets close to Sheng Jingyao, what will happen? Sheng Jingyao has no ability to help her. If she asks that old fox of the Sheng family for help, I'm afraid half of Dongxing Electronics will be eaten up. And after being eaten up, you still have to offer a napkin and ask if the other person enjoyed the meal."
Wen Yunhui shook his head. "You don't have to be so mean. It's not a bad thing to make more friends and open up more opportunities. Not everyone has a good background like you and can do whatever they want."
The phone screen lit up, and it was a message from Yan Jiu, with a photo attached.
Yan Jiu: [Having afternoon tea with Xiang Tianjiao.]
Chen Yuchu's sharp facial features softened a little, and the cuffs on his arms embraced his strong and thin arms, giving him a gentle and cold air.
Chen Yuchu: [I'll take you home.]
Shang Yu leaned over curiously, "Who are you messaging with? It's so sweet?"
Chen Yuchu raised his eyebrows. "Who else could it be except my wife?"
He didn't wait for Shang Yu to speak. His brow bones looked a little sloppy under the light, and his voice was magnetic and lazy. "You have time to stimulate Sheng Jingyao, but no time to bring Xia Zhirui back to China?"
Xia Zhirui is the girl who was slapped twice by Sheng Jingyao when she was a child. After that, she developed a mental illness. In order to treat her and get away from the high-pressure environment that was not good for her, her parents moved the whole family abroad.
Xia Zhirui used to be a little tail beside the three of them, always following behind Shang Yu and calling him brother, which caused Sheng Jingyao's dissatisfaction. Shang Yu used to find Xia Zhirui annoying, but only felt lost after she left, so she always targeted Sheng Jingyao.
But Shang Yu had a strange personality and did not invite Xia Zhirui to come back. She just secretly went abroad to see her every once in a while.
Chen Yuchu stood up, picked up the suit jacket on the sofa, and said softly: "I'm leaving first, to take my wife home."
"Tsk." Shang Yu snorted, took off his gold-rimmed glasses and roughly wiped the fog off the lenses with handmade shirt cloth. "You're amazing for having a wife."
With a gray suit hooked at the crook of his arm, under the luxurious ceiling light, his broad-shouldered and narrow-waisted figure was wrapped in a well-tailored shirt. His slightly taut muscles made him look like a walking clothes rack. Chen Yuchu curled his lips, without looking back at Shang Yu, but waved his hand lazily and loosely.
“It’s truly remarkable.”
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