Xia Yuan went upstairs, washed up, changed into her pajamas, and lay on the bed, but she couldn’t fall asleep no matter how much she tossed and turned.
She missed the warm, soft body with a faint cold fragrance beside her.
She missed Meng Xiyue.
She turned over again, her nose brushing against the pillow, and Xia Yuan sneezed.
After sneezing, Xia Yuan suddenly sat up, her eyes catching a glimmer of light.
Meng Xiyue must be thinking about her.
Otherwise, why would she sneeze?
Thinking of this, Xia Yuan couldn’t sit still any longer. She got out of bed, grabbed a coat, took a car key from the drawer, and went downstairs.
Xia Ke had just finished his work for the day and went downstairs to drink some warm water, admiring the snowy scenery through the floor-to-ceiling window.
Hearing hurried footsteps coming down the stairs, he turned his head and saw his sister wearing just a coat, looking like she was about to go out.
What could be so urgent?
“What’s going on? Yuan’er, where are you going?” Xia Ke’s gaze fell on her pajamas.
His sister was always so meticulous, but now she looked quite disheveled.
Xia Yuan, whose mind was full of thoughts about Meng Xiyue missing her, was startled by Xia Ke’s sudden voice. She exhaled, “Brother, you scared me.”
Xia Ke raised his hands in surrender, “Yuan’er, you still haven’t said where you’re going. It’s so late.”
A faint blush spread across Xia Yuan’s cheeks as she adjusted her coat, looking a bit smug, “Meng Xiyue misses me.”
Xia Ke was puzzled, “…Huh?”
Xia Yuan didn’t want to explain further; she needed to hurry before Meng Xiyue fell asleep. “I won’t say more. I have to go find her.”
With that, she walked away in her cotton slippers, and soon, Xia Ke heard the sound of an engine starting.
Xia Ke: “???”
He took a sip of warm water, feeling a bit strange inside.
It seemed that when his sister mentioned Meng Xiyue, her expression was off. Was she surprised that Meng Xiyue was so good to both of them?
Xia Ke couldn’t figure it out.
But, thinking back to their school days, where girls could be close enough to go to the bathroom together, it didn’t seem that strange.
The friendship between girls.
Always hard to understand.
…
Meng Xiyue closed her computer. She rarely brought work home, but this was an urgent task.
In the evening, she received news that the Li family was planning to sell 20% of their shares. Besides N.S eyeing this opportunity, many other companies were also coveting it.
N.S had to secure a quarter of this 20%. Combined with the previous 12%, N.S would then hold 17% of Tianyu’s shares.
Adding the 10% from Hua Shi and Hua Yue, it would total 27%.
Meng Xiyue pondered. Even after selling 20%, the Li family would still have 40% of the shares, maintaining absolute control over Tianyu.
Her slender, fair fingers tapped the table as a sharp light flashed in her cold eyes.
The Li family must sell another 10% of their shares.
After drafting the next steps of her plan, Meng Xiyue stood up. As she was about to leave the study, her gaze fell through the window, watching the sparse snowflakes drifting outside. A vision seemed to pass before her eyes.
A pair of eyes filled with stars.
And that warm kiss.
She lowered her gaze, her fingertips unconsciously touching her lips, her eyes misty.
Uncomfortably pressing her lips together, she noted that it was getting late. She should go to bed.
There was work to do tomorrow.
Meng Xiyue had just changed into her pajamas and was about to turn off the lights when she heard the doorbell ring.
Through the monitor, Meng Xiyue could see the other person’s particularly soft face under the night light, exhaling cold air.
It seemed like the other person knew she was watching, as they looked up. That soft, tender face glowed white under the light, breaking into a radiant smile.
“Meng Xiyue.”
At that moment, Meng Xiyue couldn’t maintain her composure.
Xia Yuan didn’t have to wait long before the door opened.
Hearing the slightly hurried breathing of the other person, it was clear that she had rushed over as soon as she saw her. Xia Yuan’s eyes sparkled with a mix of brilliance and pride. “Meng Xiyue, you missed me, didn’t you?”
Her slender, fair fingers trembled slightly. Meeting those bright eyes, she felt a tingling sensation from head to toe, a warm current flowing through her entire body.
Meng Xiyue’s eyes held a faint smile, even the corners of her lips were lifted, but she answered reservedly, “Yes.”
She missed her.
Xia Yuan’s cheeks flushed as she averted her gaze, suddenly feeling very cold. She reached out pitifully, “Meng Xiyue, my hands are so cold, my whole body is cold.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a warm hand covered her cold one, making her shiver slightly. Then, she was led into the warm house, feeling warmth all around her.
She sighed comfortably, sitting on the sofa. She wanted to take off her coat, but Meng Xiyue’s quiet gaze made her retract her hand and sit obediently.
After a while, the other person brought her a cup of warm water.
She took a sip, and the warmth spread through her body instantly. Glancing at Meng Xiyue, who hadn’t said a word since sitting down, she pouted and moved closer, questioning, “Meng Xiyue, are you mad at me?”
No hugs? No loving kisses?
Meng Xiyue looked at her, holding Xia Yuan’s still cold hand. “It’s snowing, it’s very cold, you’ll catch a cold.”
Xia Yuan fiddled with Meng Xiyue’s fingers. “I won’t, you have to trust me.”
She added, “It’s because you missed me so much that I came.”
Meng Xiyue pinched her mischievous hand, stood up, and led Xia Yuan to the door. Her slender fingers set something on the fingerprint lock, then she pressed Xia Yuan’s finger against it.
“From now on, you don’t need to ring the doorbell.”
Xia Yuan looked up and met the other’s gentle and serious eyes. Her hands and feet started to feel warm, and she couldn’t help but curl her toes. Her heart itched, “O-okay.”
Then…
In her sleep, Xia Yuan once again hugged a soft and fragrant body, sleeping very deeply.
＊
“Sister Xia, did you change your style today?”
Zhong Le was surprised to see Xia Yuan dressed in a cold and aloof style, with a very noble and cool expression.
Having followed Xia Yuan for so long, she had always seen her in a sexy and charming style. This was the first time she saw her in a cold and aloof look.
To be honest, she felt this outfit looked familiar, but she couldn’t remember where she had seen it before.
However, Lin Qi, who usually didn’t talk much but had a good memory, said, “Isn’t this N.S. President Meng’s outfit?”
Xia Yuan curled her lips and lightly hummed, “She’s my girlfriend. Can’t I wear her clothes?”
She didn’t bring anything last night, only wearing pajamas when she went over, so naturally, she wore Meng Xiyue’s clothes and used her makeup too.
Unfortunately, despite holding her head high for so long, these two assistants didn’t notice a thing.
Boring.
Lin Qi and Zhong Le: “No problem at all.”
They were inexplicably shown off to again.
Xia Yuan glanced at them, got in the car, and crossed her legs, “It’s freezing. What’s the schedule for today?”
Lin Qi remembered her cousin’s instructions and quickly said, “There’s a face mask endorsement offer. Sister Xia, do you want to take it?”
Xia Yuan fiddled with the buttons on her sleeve, “What face mask?”
Lin Qi reported the name of the face mask, and Xia Yuan frowned. It was a brand she had never heard of, “No.”
Lin Qi wasn’t surprised; it was a budget-friendly face mask brand. Xia Yuan hadn’t heard of it, so she wasn’t surprised either. “Alright, there’s also a fashion magazine photoshoot.”
Xia Yuan: “I’ll take that one.”
Lin Qi: “Okay.”
After Lin Qi finished reporting the schedule, Zhong Le continued, “Sister Xia, the ‘Pursuit’ crew sent a message. They want to start filming early, so we need to be prepared.”
It had started snowing, and the crew was worried that delaying the shoot would affect the schedule.
It was just the first snow, which had stopped in the middle of the night and melted by morning. The crew was still concerned about heavy snow, so they decided to start filming early.
‘Pursuit’ was the project where Xia Yuan played the Miaojiang witch. She responded, “No problem.”
Zhong Le: “I’ll inform the crew right away.”
Xia Yuan didn’t have time to chat with her two assistants as her phone’s WeChat notification sounded.
“Mm, it’s cold. Wear more clothes.”
She sent a message:
“Meng Xiyue, I’m wearing your clothes.”
Xia Yuan hummed. It was so late, and she had already put them on.
After thinking for a moment, she decided to take a photo to send to Meng Xiyue.
She glanced at Lin Qi beside her. Zhong Le was sitting in the front passenger seat, replying to the director of ‘Pursuit.’
Lin Qi was puzzled: “Sister Xia?”
Xia Yuan raised an eyebrow: “Move over a bit. I’m taking a selfie.” How could she let another woman appear in the photo meant for Meng Xiyue?
Lin Qi: “…Okay.” She then quietly huddled in a corner, watching Xia Yuan take several photos and spend a long time choosing one before finally sending it.
“Sister Xia, who are you sending that to?” Lin Qi couldn’t help but ask.
Xia Yuan glanced at her, her voice sweet: “Meng Xiyue.”
Lin Qi: “…Oh.” She felt like she shouldn’t have asked.
＊
N.S.
Meng Xiyue, who was listening to Secretary Gao’s report, heard her phone ring. With a slight press of her slender fingers holding the document, she answered it.
Secretary Gao adjusted his glasses. He had noticed a WeChat notification. After finishing his report and leaving, he saw Meng Xiyue pick up her phone. Her expression was different from the calm and indifferent one she had when facing him earlier.
At that moment, her lowered eyes seemed gentle.
Secretary Gao closed the door quietly.
He already knew who had sent the message.
…
Meng Xiyue opened WeChat, and the first thing she saw was a face with a bright and radiant smile.
The smile was like a blooming flower, dazzling and brilliant.
She was wearing her light-colored professional attire, which surprisingly fit well and looked appropriate.
Lowering her eyes, she looked at it for a while before saving the picture with a tap of her finger.
＊
Just after finishing a fashion magazine shoot and preparing to leave work, Xia Yuan heard Zhong Le telling her to pack up and go to Yunnan tomorrow.
Xia Yuan crossed her arms and spoke in a displeased tone, “Explain.”
Zhong Le was momentarily stunned and felt wronged, “Sister Xia, you agreed to this.”
“When did I agree to go to Yunnan for three days?” Xia Yuan thought she must have been crazy to agree to that.
She had already planned to go home and pack her things to move in with Meng Xiyue.
Yesterday, Meng Xiyue had hinted so clearly. If she didn’t go, what if Meng Xiyue got upset?
She knew that Meng Xiyue had a cold personality and was very traditional, keeping her feelings hidden inside.
Now, Meng Xiyue had taken the initiative to ask her to move in together. If she didn’t hurry, Meng Xiyue would definitely be disappointed.
After all, her fingerprint was already registered in the door system.
The hint was so obvious that it was impossible to pretend she didn’t know anything.
Thinking of this, Xia Yuan couldn’t help but feel excited.
This time… this time she could use her tongue, right?
Zhong Le still didn’t know what Xia Yuan was thinking, but she already knew that Xia Yuan definitely hadn’t seriously read the script. Besides, her lines weren’t many to begin with. Zhong Le quickly explained, “Sister Xia, this Miaojiang witch role needs to be filmed in a small ethnic town in Yunnan.”
The movie was very realistic in its approach to this aspect.
Xia Yuan said willfully, “Cancel it, I’m not doing it.”
As soon as she said this, Zhong Le and Lin Qi were almost in tears, “Sister Xia, we can’t cancel it. The actor has already been decided, the crew has already issued a notice, and the cast list has been announced.”
“The tickets and hotel have been booked. If you cancel, Sister Xia, there won’t be enough time to find another actor.”
This role was given to Xia Yuan by the director of “Pursuit” after watching her in “The Third Person” and several endorsements.
If she backed out at the last minute, where would they find another actor to replace her?
The company would also have a hard time explaining, especially since the director had a big background, being from a military family for three generations.
In short, he was not someone to mess with.
Xia Yuan walked a few steps in frustration and glared fiercely at Zhong Le, “I’ll let it go this time.”
Zhong Le quickly nodded, “Sister Xia, you’re so kind. I’ll make sure to explain everything clearly next time.”
Xia Yuan snorted, accepting her flattery, but in her heart, she was secretly pondering how to explain this to Meng Xiyue.
Meng Xiyue liked her so much. If she left for three days, who knew what Meng Xiyue would think of her.
Tianyu
Xia Yuan had repeatedly refused the marriage proposal. It wasn’t a case of playing hard to get; she genuinely had no lingering feelings for him anymore.
Xia Yuan truly didn’t like him anymore…
But how could that be? When they were kids, Xia Yuan always chased after him, saying she wanted to marry him. She had chased him all the way until now, so how could she just give up?
Li Ting swiveled his office chair and looked through the floor-to-ceiling window of his office at the large screen in front of the mall downstairs. It was playing an advertisement for the new generation of N.S phones.
In the video, Xia Yuan looked stunningly beautiful and proud.
When did Xia Yuan stop chasing after him? Was it after he got together with Ding Yaoyao?
But he had many lovers before, and Xia Yuan never gave up.
Why?
Li Ting frowned.
If Xia Yuan could help Tianyu get through this crisis, he would cut off all ties with other women in the future. That way… Xia Yuan should be satisfied, right?
Before he could come out of his thoughts, his phone rang.
“Mr. Li, Miss Ding has run away.”
Today was the day Li Ting was supposed to take Ding Yaoyao for an abortion. They had agreed on it, but that damned woman dared to run away.
“Find her and force the abortion.”
N.S.
Assistant Li: “The Li family suddenly sold 20% of their stocks, causing panic among shareholders. Now, a large number of shareholders are starting to sell their stocks.”
Meng Xiyue nodded: “Continue the acquisition.”
