78 Bai Quesi X Li Yuzhan
The luckiest thing that ever happened to me was meeting you.
In April, the crabapple blossoms in Beijing are in full bloom.
The spring sunlight was also very generous, shining into a courtyard garden somewhere in Houhai.
A few rays of light pierced through the French windows of the modern Chinese-style courtyard house, casting the swaying, faint shadows of flowers onto the woman holding a wooden mallet.
"Ladies and gentlemen, next up is the grand finale of this ancient painting auction—Four Seasons Scenery. Starting bid: 21 million." Bai Quesi wore a traditional Chinese ink-wash style cheongsam, her long hair meticulously tied into a low bun with a black jade hairpin.
She switched between Mandarin, English, and Cantonese to announce her message, then gracefully adjusted the silver-rimmed frameless glasses perched on her nose.
It was a simple gesture, yet it exuded composure and poise. He quickly and calmly scanned the entire room, a gentle smile playing on his lips.
"Twenty-two million, OK!"
"Twenty-three million."
"Twenty-five million!"
Almost simultaneously, she announced a string of figures, "Thirty million!"
Bai Quesi held a gavel in one hand, her eyes rapidly scanning the entire area. Her gentle smile seemed to have a magical power, prompting people to raise their paddles and bid higher.
"Fifty million, Fair Warning." Bai Quesi issued the final warning, and with a swift strike of the gavel, announced the sale of the item.
Amidst sighs and murmurs, the auction came to a close.
Bai Quesi put down the gavel and stepped off the stage from the side. His assistant was already waiting there. "Mr. Bai, your appointment notice was issued just one minute ago."
Bai Quesi hummed in agreement. "First, urge the on-site signing of contracts and card swiping. I'll look into the appointment notification later."
The most important part of the performance is often the minute on stage, but it's all over by the end.
Only after she had collected all the purchase contracts did she walk towards the office, supporting her assistant's shoulder.
"Ms. Bai, you've worked hard," the assistant said with a smile.
Bai Quesi has a classic oval face, with an elegant and scholarly appearance.
With a delicate and refined elegance, it gives people a sense of beauty that grows more beautiful the more you look at it.
However, this doesn't quite match her personality. In the eyes of the employees of Dongfang Lide, Bai Quesi is a mature and elegant female CEO.
"President Bai probably hasn't seen the appointment notice yet. You've been appointed by headquarters as the president of the Oriental Lide Shanghai Jewelry and Calligraphy Group!" the assistant said excitedly.
For the rest of the journey, almost everyone was congratulating her.
Bai Quesi greeted everyone with a smile, and only after closing the office door did she seriously look at the personnel appointments issued by headquarters.
"Direct appointment, no other notification?" Bai Quesi asked.
Normally, Yijing branch would hold a promotion banquet for her to warmly congratulate her.
She's the first person in the entire company to announce a personnel appointment so quietly and without fanfare.
"No, we also find it strange."
It's no wonder Bai Que was overthinking things; anyone would have some doubts in such a situation.
"Could it be because of General Manager Liu?" the assistant said. "Both you and General Manager Liu are people that headquarters has high hopes for this time."
It's normal for there to be competition for positions within a company, and she naturally had competitors as well.
Liu Chao was a confidant of the chairman of Yijing branch, but she was the one who got promoted. It is indeed possible that he favored people based on their connections.
“But this is a document issued directly from headquarters. We shouldn’t have to worry about the branch office chairman’s opinion.” Bai Quesi sighed and raised an eyebrow. “Fine, let’s just say we’re giving our competitor some face.”
Liu Chao had worked for the company for many years before she joined, rising through the ranks from the bottom. He later became a confidant of the chairman of Yijing Branch and served as the head of the calligraphy and painting group.
Later, Bai Quesi joined the calligraphy and painting group. In her first auction, she won the sales champion in the newcomer group and broke the sales record of the calligraphy and painting group. Even the headquarters sent someone to present her with an award.
Over the next five years, Bai Quesi rose through the ranks, and now at the age of 28, he has become the president of Oriental Lide's Shanghai headquarters.
Seeing one's juniors rise through the ranks, it's easy to feel embarrassed.
"But your strength is undeniable. If you're not convinced, Mr. Liu, let's have a contest."
Bai Quesi leaned on the table to get up. "Alright, it's fine to say this in front of me, but don't let it really get back to President Liu."
"I know."
"Then you can go out. I'll reply to headquarters."
When she was the only one left in the office, Bai Quesi finally relaxed and slumped lazily in her chair.
Her pupils were slightly vacant, and even the joy she felt from the promotion was barely perceptible on her face.
It's like a sophisticated and beautiful programmed robot that has just finished a high-intensity task and entered a state of self-dormancy.
After a while, Bai Quesi got up again and went to the bathroom.
The thin wooden board was not soundproof, and just as she was about to flush the sink, she heard murmurs coming from the sink.
Because the subject was her name, Bai Quesi stopped what she was doing.
"Did President Bai really spend a lot of money to get into headquarters?"
"You don't know she's the daughter of the Bai family in Yijing?"
This floor is the office of the calligraphy and painting group, and she recognized the voice as that of a new intern in the group.
"I really didn't know the Bai family was so powerful."
"Incredible. She went from being a scoundrel to a powerful figure, and became involved in both legitimate and illegitimate activities. I heard that when Boss Bai first joined the company, everyone secretly called her 'the rich heiress of a scoundrel.'"
Hearing the discussions, Bai Quesi remained silent for a moment.
The Bai family does have some influence, but not as much as they claim. After all, no family would dare to act so recklessly at the gates of the capital.
"My God! So you mean all her high-priced collections are from her own family?"
"It's like a banking system, where it's all about customer deposits, and newcomers can't do without help from their own people."
The Bai family has relatives in the banking system, and they had heard that local branch employees have performance targets.
But at the auction, this was the first time she had ever heard such an absurd rumor.
"But I feel that President Bai is very capable, not like..."
"It's not to say for sure. Because I've also heard that Ms. Bai is the illegitimate daughter of the Bai family, and her biological mother is a popular female celebrity..."
Bai Quesi looked up at the ceiling; it was indeed true.
Her biological mother made a lot of headlines back then in order to climb the social ladder, and the Bai family claimed to the outside world that she and the newly born third young master of the Bai family were twins.
She was taken back to the Bai family, while her biological mother, having offended the Bai family matriarch—the real heiress—disappeared from the world.
Some people tried to seek justice for the actress, but the Bai family was too powerful.
For a period of time, it intimidated many of the women around the Bai family head.
Even as a child, Bai Quesi sensed that the Bai family didn't like her, especially her father's wife, Miao Qian.
The only one who treated her somewhat well was Bai Quezhou, her brother who was publicly known as a twin.
Miao Qian disliked her son having contact with her, and the Bai family had a rule that boys must study abroad before adulthood.
In the vast Bai family mansion, apart from the servants, only she and Miao Qian were there every day.
Mr. Bai rarely came home; he was either in the conference room or at the home of his mistresses.
"But I've heard that lady is very shrewd..."
"It was a business marriage, there's no affection between them at all. They're probably even glad he doesn't come home."
Miao Qian controls many of Bai's assets and hardly respects Bai's father. Therefore, she doesn't care about his various romantic affairs and treats him as a free professional manager.
But at such a young age, she felt like she was living a life of widowhood, and Miao Qian initially had an almost insane desire to shop.
From buying luxury goods to purchasing properties and streets, she wanted to fill the emptiness in her soul with money.
It wasn't until she came to their home that Miao Qian finally regained her sense of self.
Living people are the most fun toys.
Bai Quesi didn't want to recall those years, so she planned to wait until the interns left before going out.
Just then, another person entered. He must have overheard their entire conversation as well, because he disdainfully chimed in, "Whether she's a real heiress or a fake one, she still has the Bai family backing her. Otherwise, at her age, she couldn't possibly have made it in this circle so quickly."
When Bai Quesi first entered the auction world, only she knew how many obstacles the Bai family had created.
Miao Qian only wanted to marry her off to a political alliance while she was still young. All the men she chose were high-ranking officials, and since they were high-ranking officials, they were basically all divorced at that age, and some of their children with their first wives were much older than her.
Finally, Bai Quesi made an excuse that by entering this circle, she could make more connections and convert resources for the Bai family, which gave her a sliver of hope.
So, hearing the mocking remarks outside the door, Bai Quesi pushed the door open and walked out.
When the three of them saw her in the mirror, they were all stunned.
Bai Quesi washed her hands, smoothed the wrinkles in her cheongsam, and said in an icy tone, "Family backing? Do you want me to help you out and give you a promotion opportunity?"
Everyone in the company knows that Bai Quesi's smile is only on the auction stage. She is usually serious and taciturn. Now that she has been appointed as the president of the headquarters, dealing with them would be as easy as crushing an ant.
"Mr. Bai, I'm sorry, we were just joking."
"Mr. Bai, we're so sorry, we're so sorry, please don't take it to heart."
Bai Quesi glanced at it coldly, shook the water off her hands, and left the bathroom.
There are so many rumors and gossip about her, and as she gets older, she seems to have lost the will to care.
Back in the office, Bai Quesi slumped down at her desk when her phone rang.
When Miao Qian's call appeared on the screen, she finally felt a surge of electricity in her brain.
"Hello, Mom."
"I'll be home for dinner tonight."
Miao Qian's words were brief; she hung up the phone immediately after speaking.
It wasn't a discussion, it wasn't a notification, it was an order.
She's been like this since she was a child, and she's long been used to it.
Bai Quesi felt a tingling sensation on the tip of his tongue, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw the notice of his transfer to the Shanghai headquarters.
-
When she got home, Miao Qian was kneeling in front of the Buddha statue in the central hall.
Miao Qian had a strong faith, and incense burned in the Bai family's courtyard every day.
Amidst the rising smoke, Bai Quesi obediently knelt on the lotus cushion beside Miao Qian.
To outsiders, they didn't seem like mother and daughter; after all, Bai Quesi was just a living Barbie doll for Miao Qian to pass the time.
When Miao Qian was in a good mood, she would dress her up; when she was in a bad mood, it was common for her to be scolded or beaten.
Bai Quesi was beaten since childhood, and many of the beatings became muscle memory.
Now that she might be leaving, Miao Qian's mood plummeted.
"Isn't there anything you want to say to me?" Miao Qian preemptively asked.
On the way home, Bai Quesi was actually thinking about how to bring up the company matter with Miao Qian.
She had never been satisfied with Bai Quesi's work, and now that she had to get away from her, Miao Qian seemed calm, but she was actually going crazy.
In particular, none of Miao Qian's three children were close to her.
The three of them started their own families and moved out of the Bai family home.
The seemingly glamorous families are actually only beautiful on the outside.
"Mom, I got a promotion. I'll be going to the Shanghai headquarters next week." After thinking it over, Bai Quesi decided to be straightforward.
Over the years, Bai Quesi used his position to help the Bai family connect with many powerful and influential people.
She knew that even if Miao Qian was unhappy, she wouldn't stop her from going to Shanghai.
"It's fine," Miao Qian said.
Bai Quesi seemed surprised that she would say that, and looked at Miao Qian with slight astonishment.
"I'll be going to Shanghai with you next week."
"With me?"
At that moment, Bai Quesi admitted that her heart had gone empty.
She had thought she was about to escape from her.
"Come with me to see an old acquaintance." Miao Qian adjusted her skirt, and Bai Quesi immediately helped her up. "The Li family in Shanghai, you know them, right?"
Bai Quesi had already guessed what Miao Qian meant. "I know."
The Li Group is the largest real estate investment company in China.
Miao Qian is a close friend of the mother of the current chairman, Li Xiran.
“The Li family has one son from each of the two branches. The eldest son from the second branch is the same age as you. He is still not married. You two should meet him.”
"Li Xiran? Him, from the Buddhist family..."
Miao Qian glared at her. "If it's true, I won't let the two of you meet."
Bai Quesi nodded, but she already knew Miao Qian's true thoughts.
She felt she was losing control, so she wanted to exploit her last remaining value.
Li Xiran's background is the same as hers; both are illegitimate children. Only by getting married can they continue to be bound by the matriarch of their families.
"Meeting is easy, but the rest..."
"Bai Quesi, this is your business."
Bai Quesi lowered her head, thinking: Yes, she has always been the one giving orders.
“If you can’t marry into the Li family, I’m afraid you’ll only have the chance to see Secretary Shao again…” Miao Qian gave her a cold look.
Everyone thought the Bai family was her pillar, but the Bai family was the one that truly bleeds her dry.
Because everyone knew she was the daughter of the Bai family, no one dared to pursue her. It was an unspoken certainty that she was a sacrifice.
"I understand." Bai Que thought and thought, but could only come up with this one reply in her mind.
Then Miao Qian disgustedly shook off her hand and left the front hall.
With glass walls on all four sides allowing light to pass through, the room is scorching hot outside, but bitterly cold inside.
Looking at the benevolent Buddha statue before her, Bai Quesi cried out in her heart, "Save me..."
The law of the trapped beast rendered her unable to even resist at the most basic level.
She could only be like a puppet on a string, exquisite yet pale, boring and bland.
-
On the plane bound for Shanghai, Bai Quesi held her phone.
Due to work, she has many people on her WeChat list, but none of them are her friends.
When they learned of her promotion, everyone offered only perfunctory congratulations.
Bai Quesi blinked her burning eyes and looked out into the sky.
Large clouds swept across the wings of the plane. Although the sky was so beautiful, she felt that the world was exceptionally pale.
But in reality, her world had been pale for 28 years, and she thought she had already compromised.
At one time, the auction stage was her freest place, and she thought that this promotion would give her a chance to leave.
As a result, Miao Qian was unwilling to give her that idea at all and directly chose the final step of a marriage alliance.
Before coming to Shanghai, she had investigated Li Xiran. The Shang family's daughter had been pursuing him for many years. He was a spoiled and willful person, and if she got involved, no one knew what kind of trouble would result.
But life always pushes her forward, never giving her time to think.
Suppressed feelings seemed to have become her norm, which was probably what Miao Qian most wanted to see in her, so she could only play the role of Bai Quesi.
When the plane landed in Shanghai, a car from the Li family was already waiting to pick them up on the tarmac.
Miao Qian remained cold towards her, but gave her many instructions.
But most of them were Li Xiran's preferences, which she wasn't actually interested in.
When the vehicle arrived at the Li family's old house, Chen Shaoyi was standing at the door waiting to greet them.
Compared to Miao Qian's plain and unremarkable appearance, Chen Shaoyi has a more Buddha-like look.
She smiled gently, her beauty serene and compassionate.
"Long time no see, old sister."
Miao Qian rarely showed a smile, and hugged Chen Shaoyi before stepping aside to let her forward, saying, "This is Aunt Chen."
Bai Quesi said obediently, "Hello, Aunt Chen, I am Quesi."
Chen Shaoyi looked at her with a scrutinizing gaze, sharp as if judging whether she was easy to control.
It was perhaps her gentle and elegant appearance, typical of Eastern cultures, that gave her a refined and domestic charm, which made Chen Shaoyi very satisfied.
"She's really pretty, and she looks very well-behaved."
"Be good," was Miao Qian's usual requirement for her.
"乖" means that someone is easily controlled by her and can be a docile puppet.
Bai Quesi sometimes felt that they were completely alienated from modern society.
They wanted to escape barbaric civilization, yet were firmly bound by their own feudal rule.
"Where is Xiran?" Miao Qian asked.
She also wanted to see if the son-in-law she had personally chosen could become another of her toys.
Chen Shaoyi shrugged and replied, "He's busy at his company, he'll be back later."
In that split second, Bai Quesi caught a glimpse of panic in Chen Shaoyi's eyes.
She wasn't as confident as Miao Qian, and probably didn't have the same ease with which Miao Qian controlled her.
There are many more uncertainties surrounding Li Xiran and Chen Shaoyi.
Miao Qian probably noticed this as well, and the two exchanged a glance across the distance.
Upon entering the Li family residence, Bai Quesi had the illusion of returning to the Bai family of Yijing.
The same huge manor villa, equally empty except for the mistress and her marionette.
Bai Quesi sat on the sofa, holding a teacup, feeling an indescribable sorrow in her heart.
While Chen Shaoyi went out to make a phone call, Miao Qian patted her arm and said, "Remember what you need to do today, don't let me down."
Bai Quesi's throat felt bitter, then she nodded and said, "I understand."
She was surrounded by cages, and she didn't even have time to wallow in self-pity.
If she's lucky, she'll marry Li Xiran; if she's unlucky, she'll marry someone surnamed Shao.
But it seems that no matter who she marries, or whether she marries at all, there will be nothing in her life that brings her joy or good fortune.
The gears of fate were probably set in motion from the moment she was born...
“Let’s have dinner first. Xiran has a meeting tonight that will last a long time…” Chen Shaoyi said.
Bai Quesi continued to act as a well-behaved puppet, following Miao Qian around and doing whatever she was told.
It wasn't until very late that the sound of a car engine could be heard in the yard.
Judging from Chen Shaoyi's expression, it's clear that Li Xiran has returned.
Bai Quesi glanced at the time without showing any emotion. It was past ten o'clock at night. She knew without even guessing that this Mr. Li had absolutely no interest in her.
The fact that he only returned at this time was probably a subtle reminder to her how little he valued this blind date.
However, Miao Qian and Chen Shaoyi didn't seem to care at all, leisurely sipping their tea while waiting for Li Xiran to push the door open and enter.
Bai Quesi was slightly surprised when the man in the black suit came in.
She had heard that Li Xiran was good-looking, but when she saw him in person, she found that he was even more stunning than the rumors suggested.
He has a striking mixed-race appearance with three-dimensional and deep-set features, and his eyes are exceptionally beautiful.
Even Miao Qian was taken aback.
As a woman herself, Bai Quesi could see Miao Qian's disappointment and resentment.
After all, in Miao Qian's heart, she didn't deserve someone with a good family background, good character, or good looks.
In short, she doesn't deserve anything that the world considers good.
Bai Quesi secretly observed Miao Qian's expression, and seeing her frustrated and helpless look, he felt a little smug.
She had no expectations of Li Xiran, but seeing that he could make Miao Qian unhappy made her feel much more at ease.
"Chairman Li, seeing is believing, hello." Bai Quesi withdrew her gaze from Miao Qian and took the initiative to greet Li Xiran.
Although Li Xiran was indifferent and showed slight resistance in his actions, he still politely returned the greeting, "President Bai, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Perhaps it was at that moment when their eyes met that Bai Quesi felt that the person in front of her could be an ally, and that they both probably wanted to escape their current situation.
Rather than becoming a pair of puppets being held captive, becoming accomplices on the road to defection seems like a pretty good option.
"Why don't you two have a chat?" Chen Shaoyi suggested.
This is the usual procedure for blind dates: having a meal, drinking tea, and chatting alone.
Li Xiran returned late, so we can fast forward to the private chat segment.
Chen Shaoyi and Miao Qian left together, leaving the living room to the two of them.
Bai Quesi adjusted her cheongsam and returned to her silent state.
“Miss Bai, although I don’t know what my mother said to you, we are not suitable for each other,” Li Xiran replied resolutely.
Bai Quesi pursed her lips, not intending to beat around the bush with him, "Chairman Li, I think the same way as you."
"It's clear that Chairman Li also has his own reasons for not being in control of his own life. Between us, it seems more appropriate to be allies in defection than to be a pair of miserable puppets."
At this stage, Li Xiran is not strong enough to compete with Chen Shaoyi.
Bai Quesi was in the same situation, and her predicament was even more difficult.
Fortunately, Li Xiran is a smart man, and he understands immediately without her having to say much.
"Miss Bai's idea is indeed good."
For him, even if there were no Bai Quesi, there would be Huang Quesi and Lan Quesi later.
Rather than having another troublesome ally, it's better to choose a smart partner.
Bai Quesi felt a pang of regret as she watched Li Xiran explain his thoughts to her. Such a smart man, it was a pity they weren't meant to be.
Forced by fate, she lost the ability to make her own choices.
Just as the two were in silence, someone suddenly knocked on the door and came in.
Bai Quesi glanced at Li Xiran subconsciously, probably knowing that this person was also arranged by him.
But after chatting with the two, Bai Quesi felt that it didn't seem like it.
The man was dressed in a uniform similar to that of a judicial officer, and had a very handsome appearance. His features vaguely revealed a connection with Li Xiran's.
Bai Quesi lowered her eyes and continued drinking her tea, clearly showing that she was not interested in the man in front of her.
"Oh, let me introduce you. This is my cousin, Li Yuzhan," Li Xiran said, looking at her.
Bai Quesi finally understood and politely stood up, "Hello, I am Bai Quesi."
Bai Quesi only knew a little about Li Yuzhan.
He was the second son of the eldest branch of the Li family, a child born late in life to a loving couple, and was doted on by them.
So she was somewhat surprised when she saw Li Yuzhan.
The child who was raised with complete freedom actually looks even more well-behaved than Li Xiran.
However, judging from the judicial badge he was wearing on his chest, one could probably guess what was going on.
"Hello."
Li Yuzhan stared at her intently, but she didn't feel offended.
Bai Quesi's job requires her to figure out what her clients are thinking, but strangely, she can't guess what Li Yuzhan is thinking at this moment, and she can't even guess the look in his eyes when he looks at her.
"I'll bring you the documents, then everything will be fine. I'm going back now, brother," Li Yuzhan said to Li Xiran, then looked at Bai Quesi, "Your mother has already left, can I give you a ride on my way?"
Bai Quesi didn't know that Miao Qian had already left. She guessed it was all planned by them so that Li Xiran could take her home and give each other a private and secluded space.
Once the rebellious thought took hold, Bai Quesi felt as if she were beginning to grow wings. She nodded and thanked him, "Okay, thank you then."
Li Yuzhan raised an eyebrow and opened the door for her, saying, "No need to be polite, it's my pleasure to serve a beautiful lady."
Bai Quesi laughed; she had thought that people working in the judicial system would be very rigid.
But then I thought, children like Li Yuzhan who are raised freely will naturally live much happier lives than them.
On the way back, Bai Quesi lowered the window of the SUV and felt the Shanghai wind blowing through the stray hairs at her temples.
“Miss Bai, I doubt my brother would like your type of girl.” He said to her very seriously, as if he had thought about it for a long time.
Bai Que thought that he probably didn't know about the consensus they had reached, but she still couldn't help but retort in a huff, "I don't care what type he likes."
Anyway, she didn't like Li Xiran.
Li Yuzhan chuckled, probably amused by her words, "But it's not absolute. Let's add each other on WeChat, just in case we really become family..."
Although it was a lame excuse, Bai Quesi had no doubt about his other intentions.
She readily accepted the phone he offered and scanned the QR code to add him as a friend.
"Miss Bai, do you have feelings for my brother?"
"You seem to care a lot about your brother's feelings."
Bai Quesi closed her phone and retorted with another comment.
Perhaps she herself didn't realize that when facing Li Yuzhan, she was like a reckless firecracker.
"Hmm? I care about his feelings?" Li Yuzhan smiled. "We're at your house."
He didn't continue speaking, but Bai Quesi wasn't interested in delving into his purpose.
After all, she only wanted to form an alliance with Li Xiran and get rid of the Bai family as soon as possible.
"Goodbye, Mr. Li." Bai Quesi picked up her handbag and jumped out of the car.
Looking at the scarlet taillights, Bai Quesi sighed again.
Suddenly she realized that she hadn't added Li Xiran, whom she had met on a blind date, on WeChat that night, but she had added his younger brother, Li Yuzhan.
On the cobblestone path home, Bai Quesi took out her phone and inexplicably opened her chat with Li Yuzhan.
His profile picture is of himself, wearing a judge's robe and with a serious expression.
Then Bai Quesi clicked into his WeChat Moments, and almost all of them were public posts related to the Shanghai People's Court.
Bai Quesi was now completely certain that Li Yuzhan worked at the court.
Among his friends' photos was a work badge that showed his position as a judge.
Bai Quesi looked at the employee badge and chuckled softly.
In her memory, Li Yuzhan's appearance was not as stunning as Li Xiran's. He had a typical Asian appearance, with a more upright and honest look.
But through their conversation, Bai Quesi sensed that he wasn't a dull person, and was quite confident.
Although in her memory Li Yuzhan was a bit frivolous, Bai Quesi didn't dislike the man overall.
Moreover, he was very different from many men in the public sector that I knew. As for how he was different...
She smiled, her blind confidence fading, and she no longer spent the entire conversation asking about her father.
But then I thought, he was born into the Li family and grew up in an environment of love, so it's not surprising that he's a confident and leisurely young master.
Bai Quesi thought to himself, "Maybe I can develop some connections in the future."
If she can get the support of the judiciary, then she will have more leverage to leave Chen Shaoyi.
Just as she arrived at her doorstep, Bai Quesi stopped and looked up at the sky.
It's hard to believe that in just one day, she went from being pessimistic and resigned to choosing to try to rebel and escape.
When she got home, Miao Qian sat on the sofa and waited for her.
Bai Quesi was startled when she pushed open the door. "Why aren't the lights on?"
Miao Qian placed her hands on her knees, as if interrogating someone, "Did Li Xiran bring you back?"
Bai Quesi believed there was no point in hiding it, and if she found out later that it was Li Yuzhan who gave it to her, it would only increase her suspicions.
"Li Yuzhan." After saying that, Bai Quesi pretended to be afraid that she didn't know, and introduced her, "He is Li Xiran's cousin."
As expected, Miao Qian's expression changed, and she frowned as she asked, "Why is it him?"
Bai Quesi was best at playing the innocent little white flower in front of her, "I don't know, we were chatting when he suddenly showed up..."
Miao Qian rolled her eyes at her, "This story was deliberately staged..."
This means that he did not take a liking to Bai Quesi.
Bai Quesi pinched the tabard ornament hanging on her cheongsam with her fingers, "Then, what should we do?"
"Here's what I'll do: I'll give you two tickets to a play. You can ask Li Xiran out yourself."
Bai Quesi remained submissive, simply accepting the theater tickets Miao Qian handed her, saying, "Okay, I understand."
Miao Qian then got up and went straight back to her room without asking what the two of them had talked about.
-
Bai Quesi originally thought that she and Li Yuzhan would be like passersby in life, but she did not expect that the two would meet again so soon.
After some effort, she finally got Li Xiran's contact information and told him about the play tickets.
After asking for the time, Li Xiran did not reply to her again.
Bai Quesi arrived at the theater on time and then sat in the lobby to wait.
She doesn't like plays, so she didn't even bother to read the script or the title of the play.
She's usually too busy with work, so she often stays up late to prepare auction item information and familiarize herself with the auction items.
Aside from work hours, getting enough sleep is a real luxury.
For example, she was recently busy with an auction because she had to report to headquarters.
Bai Quesi's eyes, gazing into the distance, seemed unfocused, and she appeared listless for a moment.
It wasn't until someone suddenly tapped her on the shoulder that Bai Quesi turned around. "What, it's you?"
When she saw Li Yuzhan again, her eyes were filled with disbelief.
“My brother is busy, and he knows you're going alone and probably won't be able to go home and explain yourself, so he asked me to fill in.”
Bai Quesi crossed her arms and stared at Li Yuzhan for a long time. "Are you really busy, or are you pretending?"
"You care about my brother a lot, do you have time?"
Bai Quesi flicked her long hair. "I didn't mean it the way you think."
What do I mean?
"I would like your brother" means
From their first meeting, Bai Quesi sensed that Li Yuzhan loved to speculate whether she liked Li Xiran.
She didn't really care whether he would misunderstand, but since they were going to be allies, she still didn't want to give others the possibility of misunderstanding.
"I just noticed that a lot of young girls like my brother, so I'm just giving you a friendly reminder."
“I’m not a little girl, I’m a few years older than you.”
Li Yuzhan pursed her lips, seemingly not liking the answer. "My brother is very mature, so it's hard for him to like people like him."
"So, according to you, your brother would be the kind of person who likes to take young girls to amusement parks to ride roller coasters."
"Pretty much, he definitely prefers playing with little girls."
Bai Quesi guessed who Li Yuzhan was talking about, "Then he's just not interested in plays, so it's not that he doesn't have time."
"So smart?"
Bai Quesi smiled, then suddenly looked at the person in front of her and asked, "And you? Do you prefer riding roller coasters with little girls, or watching plays with older sisters?"
Li Yuzhan narrowed his eyes and took the theater ticket from her hand. "What do you think?"
“...”
“Obviously, I prefer the latter,” Li Yuzhan answered decisively. “I just don’t like older sisters who prefer older brothers or younger brothers.”
With a slightly provocative air, Bai Quesi stepped forward, took a ticket from his hand, and headed straight for the ticket gate.
After the two took their seats, the stage lights were quickly turned off, and the first act began.
Bai Quesi was somewhat relieved that Miao Qian had arranged for her to see a play instead of chatting in a teahouse or coffee shop, which would have been incredibly painful.
This quiet, undisturbed state was what she considered the most comfortable.
But after working overtime for several days, Bai Quesi listened to soothing music and quickly fell asleep.
Li Yuzhan found her asleep halfway through the game, and then stared at her sleeping face for a long time.
In his memory, the last time he saw Bai Quesi sleeping was when he and his colleagues went to Yijing to attend an auction.
As the auctioneer, Bai Quesi fell asleep during the ten minutes she was waiting in line, so she sat on the bench in the waiting area.
She was clearly wearing exquisite makeup, but Li Yuzhan could still tell she was tired.
He stood there, watching for who knows how long. The silence was broken only when her phone alarm rang.
However, Bai Quesi, upon waking up, didn't even glance at him before taking the file folder and heading straight into the auction hall.
He wandered around the building alone until he finally saw her personal profile on a wall.
He had originally planned to get her contact information after the auction, but unfortunately, fate was not on his side, and he was called away by a last-minute phone call midway through the auction.
The next time Chen Shaoyi heard Bai Quesi's name was when she was chatting with her sister and mentioned the blind date she had arranged for Li Xiran.
He simply walked by casually, and then quickly gathered a lot of information.
So he developed feelings of affection, including pity, for the girl he had only met once.
Only then did he realize that the weariness he saw on her face was not only exhaustion, but also the heavy burden of worldly concerns weighing on her shoulders.
Li Yuzhan was born in the family of his parents, and he had heard a lot about the relationship between his uncle and aunt.
He might be a romantic idealist who, during his teenage years, announced to the world that he wanted to find true love and then get married.
In the entire Li family, he was the only one who didn't have to consider a business marriage.
With his sister and Li Xiran as his support, he is already free to choose the life he wants.
At this moment, the life he wanted was right in front of him.
-
Ten minutes before the end of the play, Bai Quesi suddenly woke up.
She was somewhat shocked that she had fallen asleep at this time, and then secretly glanced at Li Yuzhan. Fortunately, he was engrossed in watching her and did not notice that she had just taken a nap.
But when she looked down, she noticed the clothes covering her knees.
Bai Quesi sighed inwardly; as expected, such things couldn't be kept secret.
"You can sleep for another five minutes," Li Yuzhan whispered as he approached.
Bai Quesi was a little embarrassed, "I've been working overtime a lot lately..."
"I understand, have some water." Li Yuzhan smiled and opened a bottle of juice for her. "Are you hungry?"
She finished get off work in the morning, ate something quickly, and came straight to the theater. After the performance, she did feel hungry.
"I'm hungry." Perhaps because she had slept next to him, Bai Quesi had let her guard down.
After the play ended, Li Yuzhan pointed to the alley next door and said, "That's where I work. There's a barbecue restaurant next to it."
Bai Quesi pursed her lips. "A barbecue restaurant?"
"Don't you like the food?"
"No."
She didn't say anything more and followed Li Yuzhan.
Actually, what she meant by "no" was that she hadn't eaten it.
Miao Qian is a very picky person; all the ingredients in her home are turned into high-end Western dishes by the chef.
So when she saw the barbecue restaurant that Li Yuzhan had mentioned, the kind with a few tables and chairs set up on the side of the road, she hesitated for a long time about whether to sit down.
"You don't really not like the food, do you?"
However, Bai Quesi finally forced herself to sit down and asked, "Do you often eat here?"
The waiter then brought hot water and a menu, but Bai Quesi waved her hand, indicating that she didn't know what to order.
Li Yuzhan first asked about her dietary restrictions, then quickly sketched out, "Can you eat spicy food?"
Bai Quesi swallowed hard. "I can only eat a very, very small amount."
"Then I'll order you some mutton soup noodles as your main dish. It's very fragrant and not spicy."
After the waiter left, Li Yuzhan picked up the kettle and started washing her cups and dishes. "This place is close to our workplace. Legal workers often work overtime, and the barbecue restaurant is always open late, so my colleagues and I like to come here."
Crucially, the lively atmosphere of a barbecue can help relieve mental stress.
"Have you never eaten at a street food stall before?"
Bai Quesi smiled and nodded, "No, this is the first time."
She couldn't help but scrutinize the person in front of her. He was clearly a noble young master, but she never expected him to be so down-to-earth.
"Give it a try. If you really can't accept it, I'll take you to a Western restaurant."
"good."
Perhaps it was the lively and bustling atmosphere here, but after looking around, Bai Quesi's smile deepened.
Thinking back to the old dining tables, it was always just her and Miao Qian, and the only sound was the clinking of knives and forks.
This is the first time it has been so vivid.
She found that Li Yuzhan was really interesting.
"May I ask a rather abrupt question?" Li Yuzhan suddenly asked.
Bai Quesi snapped out of her daze, smiled, and nodded, "Sure, go ahead and ask."
"Are you obligated to marry into the Li family?"
This question instantly brought her back to reality.
Miao Qian's warning echoed in her mind again: if she didn't marry Li Xiran, she would only have the second-marriage man who could be her father to choose from.
She looked around and was certain that this was a civilized and law-abiding society, but if she were really asked to rebel against Miao Qian and the Bai family, she wouldn't dare.
"Li Yuzhan, not everyone has the right to freely choose their own life." To outsiders, she is a glamorous heiress and a capable career woman.
But if you really analyze her, she's just an empty shell, a puppet on strings.
"So, I have to marry into the Li family?"
"My other option is that I'm old enough to be my father's second wife..."
She still didn't have the courage to continue, after all, it was too unbearable.
Facing Li Yuzhan, she now felt as if they had known each other for a long time, and it was the first time she had ever felt like she had a friend.
Bai Quesi lowered her head, as if all the pretense and numbness she had hidden in her heart had collapsed.
“You know my brother’s current situation; he’s having a tough time too. If you want to get out of your current predicament in the short term, perhaps you should consider someone else,” Li Yuzhan said.
Bai Quesi not only knew that Li Xiran was in a difficult situation, but also that Li Xiran had someone he loved.
She could never compare to that young lady. If she really angered the Shang family because of this, the Bai family would not offend Old Master Shang for her sake.
“I don’t have many choices, or I might…” she choked up, “never marry.”
Miao Qian couldn't control her forever; everyone gets old eventually.
If she endures a little longer, she will eventually be free.
"Bai Quesi, what I meant was, perhaps you could consider me?"
Bai Quesi was stunned by these words. But looking at Li Yuzhan's serious expression, she didn't think he was teasing her at all.
"Considering you?"
"Consider me as your boyfriend."
Bai Quesi chuckled to himself, and the once lively surroundings suddenly fell silent.
She slowly stood up, exhaled at the night sky, and said, "I'm going back now. You can eat by yourself."
-
Bai Quesi didn't let Li Yuzhan take her home. After randomly hailing a car, she didn't even dare to go home and went straight to the company.
The company is quiet at night, and the view from the upper floors is great, overlooking the entire Lupu Beach.
The dim light reflected into her office only made her seem even more lonely.
Her phone, which was on her desk, rang and then went out; it was Li Yuzhan calling.
After countless missed calls, she finally answered the call.
“Li Yuzhan, I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but I’m really living a very repressed life. I can’t take any jokes.” She preemptively said, “If you want to help your brother, then you don’t have to. We are really allies.”
"Are you angry about this?"
"I'm not angry, it's just that too many people look down on me, as if I was born to be someone who gets played."
After being a puppet for a long time, even being scolded and ridiculed seems like the most normal thing.
But she is, after all, a living, breathing human being, and it is impossible for her to be completely numb.
"Then I can tell you with certainty that I like you. I like you so much that I want to marry you."
Bai Quesi found it somewhat amusing. "You like me? Young Master, I really can't stand being teased by you privileged kids. And why me?"
She despises herself and sometimes wishes she could be like an ostrich, burying her head in the sand and leaving only her body alive.
“You don’t need any conditions to like someone; one glance is enough,” Li Yuzhan replied.
"Do you know? From childhood to adulthood, this is the first time you've said you like me without considering my conditions." Bai Quesi thought that living like a corpse would make her painless, but she was a normal person with a beating heart. "In the eyes of the world, my mother was a gold digger who failed to marry a rich man. I really don't want to reopen old wounds, but I also want to remind myself of this."
She wasn't someone who could take risks, so she learned her birth mother's methods.
“Alright, listen to me.” Li Yuzhan was standing by the river, with the sounds of cruise ship horns and waves crashing against the shore coming from the receiver. “I don’t need to inherit the family business. I just want to do the job I like. I’ve watched my father dote on my mother since I was little, so my biggest dream is to find someone I love and marry.”
"Call me a rich second-generation with no ambition, I don't care about any evaluation. Not everyone has to live a brilliant life or have great ambitions."
Bai Quesi held her phone, and after a long pause, she sighed and said, "So, you can afford to gamble and you can afford to lose. I can't."
As he said, he had his family to back him up. She didn't; she always had only herself to rely on.
She dared not turn her back to anyone, because she knew that the story of being shattered to pieces with the slightest misstep was not just a joke.
The Bai family has many tricks up their sleeves, and they made her pay a heavy price.
"Li Yuzhan, someone like me really can't handle playing with emotions. If you want to be in a relationship, you should find someone else." She wanted to say that Li Yuzhan was a very good person, and the first person to make her feel the warmth of everyday life.
If she were a little greedy, she would want the two of them to be good friends.
"I understand..." Li Yuzhan finally fell silent.
After hanging up the phone, Bai Quesi collapsed onto the office sofa and didn't fall asleep for a very long time.
For three days in a row, she received no further news about Li Yuzhan.
She didn't return home until she finished her first auction after being promoted, dragging her exhausted body home.
Just as she reached the entrance of the residential area, she saw a familiar car, and Li Yuzhan saw her at the same time.
Then, Bai Quesi could no longer move her feet.
She watched as Li Yuzhan got out of the car carrying a file folder and walked straight toward her.
“You said you don’t want to be in a relationship because you can’t afford to play with emotions. Okay…” He opened the file folder and showed it to her one by one. “This is all my real estate, this is my shares in the Li Group, my car, my investments, and this is my salary card from the court.”
Li Yuzhan's eyes were red, but he was still very serious. "ID card, household registration book. Let's talk about marriage."
-
The day Bai Quesi and Li Yuzhan confirmed their marriage registration was the winter solstice.
On the way to the Civil Affairs Bureau, Bai Quesi looked at Li Yuzhan and asked, "Are you really not afraid that I only agreed to marry you because I desperately wanted to get rid of the Bai family?"
Li Yuzhan smiled and raised an eyebrow. "Don't worry, that would be my honor."
Bai Quesi gave a cold "tsk" and extended her hand for Li Yuzhan to hold, saying, "Then the luckiest thing for me is probably meeting you."
End of article / July 19, 2023
Taoyu
A note from the author:
The story is now complete! Thank you to all the lovely readers who supported Peach.
After that, I started revising the text intermittently.
My next book is "Wild Crow Camellia," and those who are interested can check out my author page and add it to their favorites!
The text is as follows:
Wealthy young master X female college student
Long-awaited reunion X Broken mirror mended
1.
Lin Yujing's teenage years were filled with love letters, paint, and poverty.
In his senior year of high school, in order to pay for the high cost of training for art exams, he shamelessly agreed to help a powerful figure in Beijing find his son.
In Penghu, a town known as a paradise for art exam takers, she stayed at the home of a gentle and reserved young man.
At first, the boy did not react to her subtle flirting.
Later, on a hot night filled with the chirping of cicadas, she would place her feet under the table on the boy's lap.
Anyone who looks down can see Chen Jingshu ambiguously caressing her ankle.
It was just a heart-fluttering story of youth, which ended with the girl's disdainful and indifferent remark: "I like Chen Jingshu from the Chen family of Yijing, not Chen Jingshu from Pengzhen No. 1 Middle School."
On a stormy night, the boy's fist missed her cheek and landed on the old locust tree. He roared fiercely, "Get out, and don't let me see you again."
2.
Lin Yujing met Chen Jingshu again at a business investment reception in Yijing.
At that time, he was already Chen Jiagui's sole and unspoken heir, while she was just a student representing the Academy of Fine Arts of Tsinghua University to solicit investment.
Given their vastly different social statuses, Lin Yujing didn't even dare to entertain the thought of humiliating herself.
Just as she was being relentlessly harassed, Chen Jingshu suddenly appeared.
"I'll give you one minute to convince me." The man's tone was icy.
Having long since toned down her boisterous nature, she became somewhat cautious, saying, "My project to protect endangered animals..."
"Jingjing, you should know what I'm interested in." Chen Jingshu's eyes were red, as if suppressing surging hatred, or as if unable to dissipate love.
After that night, the news spread throughout the elite circles of Beijing that Chen Jingpeng had kept a beautiful female con artist by his side.
At first, everyone thought that Young Master Chen was a gentleman who would take revenge even after ten years, but later they watched as he poured all kinds of resources into Lin Yujing.
They held an art exhibition for her at Yintai Centre and even set up a personal studio for her outside Hepingmen, where land is extremely valuable.
My friend joked, "Young master, your method of retaliation is quite clever. First, you lift someone up high, then you throw them down hard."
The man looked tenderly at the person walking towards him and pondered, "The person I support is not someone who will fall."
Forget about the phrase "destined to meet but not to be together." If you just nod, I have the power to unleash a torrent of emotions. — Chen Jingshu
Reading Guide:
1. SC, 1V1, clean everywhere!
2. The school period is presented in flashbacks and is not very long.
3. The "Beijing-Shanghai-Hong Kong-Suzhou Rich Family Series"—Sweet Romance Novels set
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