“Good night, Miss Xia.”
On a night lightly veiled by drizzle, Xia Yuan stood watching the receding lights of the cars, before finally turning back to the Xia residence.
It was supposed to be a dinner she invited the other party to, yet it ended up ruined by her.
Next time then.
Upon entering the hall, she saw her brother working there. Muttering to herself, she poured a cup of warm water for him: “Brother, you seem not too busy these days.”
Xia Ke took the warm water, took a sip, and felt a sense of comfort. He chuckled, “What? Annoyed by me?”
Xia Yuan quickly shook her head, sat down next to Xia Ke, and looked at the dense English documents on the computer, feeling a headache: “Brother, you’ve been working hard.”
Xia Ke patted her head, gently saying, “As long as you behave, I won’t find it hard.”
Xia Yuan held back her retort.
When had she ever been disobedient?
“Cough.” Xia Yuan coughed, signaling she had something serious to say. Xia Ke looked at her cooperatively. Xia Yuan straightened up: “I acted in a film, and now I’m an actress. The director even praised me today for being exceptionally spirited.”
A natural performance, vivid and lively.
This was Director Zhang Yuan’s private comment about Xia Yuan.
Xia Ke knew that being an actress meant facing online trolls, whose words could be extremely harsh. However, seeing Xia Yuan’s uncontrollable smile, his worries dissipated. With him around, his sister wouldn’t be wronged. He also mentally went through his contacts related to the entertainment industry, planning to give them a heads-up. He praised her, “It looks like our family is going to have a movie queen.”
Xia Yuan beamed, “Brother, wait for me to bring the movie queen trophy to you.”
“Okay.”
With his sister finding a new hobby, Xia Ke felt more at ease, especially since being an actress meant she would often be away.
In time, the less Yuan’er and Li Ting see each other, the weaker their feelings would become.
Only then would he truly be at ease.
Thinking this, Xia Ke casually asked, “How was your dinner with Miss Meng today?”
Red wine, steak.
Roses, music.
And tears.
Thinking of all these, Xia Yuan’s face darkened, and she hummed unhappily, “Brother, Brother Li… Li Ting is out there on a date with a woman who’s not even close to being as good as me.”
Hearing Xia Yuan’s petulant nickname, Xia Ke’s brow twitched. He knew in advance that Li Ting would be there today, which is why he arranged for Xia Yuan to have dinner there.
It seems the effect was better than expected.
“Yuan’er, what do you think?”
Xia Yuan pouted, “I don’t know.” The more she thought about it, the more irritated she became, “I’m going to sleep.”
Xia Ke didn’t dwell on the topic, smilingly moving past the unpleasant conversation, “Don’t forget the flight at nine tomorrow.”
Only then did Xia Yuan suddenly remember she was going to the United States to see a fashion show.
Thinking about going abroad, her mood immediately lifted, “Got it, brother.”
Watching Xia Yuan’s cheerful departure, Xia Ke couldn’t help but think he sometimes overthought things.
Who else could see the person they like with someone else, feel heartbroken for a moment, and then immediately cheer up and prepare for other things?
In the end, it was just a childhood obsession.
It couldn’t be real.
*
At eight in the morning, Meng Xiyue, with her materials prepared, went to the airport. This time to the United States, she only brought Assistant Li with her, leaving Secretary Gao in the company since the collaboration with the Xia family needed supervision.
Assistant Li had some experience with business trips, but this was his first time going abroad for work. Waiting for the plane, he felt a bit nervous.
Then, turning his head, he saw his boss calmly browsing the morning news, as serene as the cloudless sky.
His heart strangely calmed down.
Upon hearing the broadcast announcement, the two entered the VIP passage.
…
Meng Xiyue had just sat down when someone took a seat across from her. Xia Yuan was surprised to see Meng Xiyue.
“Meng Xiyue?”
With a slight movement of her indifferent eyebrows, Meng Xiyue turned her gaze and saw Xia Yuan across from her.
Meng Xiyue: “…Miss Xia, what a coincidence.”
Xia Yuan stood up, her bright and bold eyes slightly drooping as she glanced at Assistant Li sitting next to Meng Xiyue. Assistant Li immediately moved to Xia Yuan’s seat, understanding the hint.
Xia Yuan adjusted to a comfortable position and lazily leaned back: “What brings you here?”
Meng Xiyue replied succinctly: “Business trip.”
Xia Yuan shifted and muttered to herself, regretting asking the obvious question.
Originally, she had planned to go to a fashion show with Wang Yueyue, but her friend canceled at the last minute, leaving Xia Yuan to attend alone.
However, it was fortunate to meet Meng Xiyue, an acquaintance, making the journey less boring.
“What’s your schedule like today? I’d like to invite you to dinner as a way to make up for…” her voice trailed off, “…yesterday’s unpleasantness.”
Xia Yuan was a magnet for accidents and, aside from necessary social interactions, Meng Xiyue preferred to keep her distance.
“Sorry, my schedule is already full.”
Xia Yuan believed her, given Meng Xiyue’s consistently indifferent expression, and expressed her regret: “I’ve been to a restaurant with great desserts, I was hoping…”
Now, Xia Yuan had a good impression of Meng Xiyue and was willing to engage in more conversation.
She genuinely wanted to make up for it with a dinner.
But then she heard Meng Xiyue’s cold response: “The plane is taking off, silence, Miss Xia.”
Xia Yuan slightly lowered her gaze. The light and shadows outside the window fell on Meng Xiyue’s face, highlighting her cool and distant features, with her lips carrying a hint of coldness.
Xia Yuan suddenly held her breath, huffed, and turned her body away, no longer wanting to deal with Meng Xiyue.
Meng Xiyue was happy for the peace and quiet, closing her eyes that were as beautiful as the moon, and took a short rest.
When Xia Yuan’s anger subsided and she wanted to say something, she turned her head and was met with the other’s peaceful sleeping face.
Xia Yuan: “……”
She felt that getting angry with such a person was simply punishing herself.
With a snort, she adjusted the blanket properly and also pulled up the blanket that was on Meng Xiyue’s legs, thinking to herself that she was just repaying the other for her help.
Then she closed her eyes to catch up on some sleep.
Not long after Xia Yuan closed her eyes, Meng Xiyue opened hers, her gaze falling on the blanket that Xia Yuan had adjusted. Under her lowered eyelashes, her eyes sparkled slightly, her lips curved up slightly, and her eyebrows seemed tender and gentle.
…
*
After getting off the plane, Meng Xiyue and Assistant Li had already arranged for a private car. Before leaving, seeing Xia Yuan alone in the lobby, she glanced at her wristwatch.
She whispered an instruction to Assistant Li.
As soon as Xia Yuan got off the plane, she felt somewhat lost. Before coming to America, she had made many arrangements with Wang Yueyue, so she had declined her brother’s arrangements. Now that her plans were disrupted, she needed to consider her next steps.
Hearing that Meng Xiyue was offering her a ride, she felt overwhelmingly grateful.
However, she knew Meng Xiyue was here on a business trip. Would there be enough time?
Assistant Li answered: “There’s enough time, but it’s a bit tight.”
Suddenly, Xia Yuan couldn’t describe how she felt.
So, in Meng Xiyue’s heart, she was actually more important than work?
