Chapter 37 — You two actually went to someone else's engagement reception to act out public displays of affection!

After Jian Yan finished talking with the staff of Fantasy Wardrobe, she left, conveniently completing the formalities for resigning on the way. In his office, He Xiu smiled lightly as he looked at her. "To be able to become the male lead of Teacher Tang Zhi's writing, I am extremely honored."

Jian Yan curled her lips. "Be less smug. I only saw that you looked handsome, so I wanted to use you as the model for the male lead."

He Xiu replied, "Then I am thankful that I am so handsome, as I am able to help Teacher Tang Zhi."

Jian Yan: "&h.e.l.lip;"

Do you believe that I will go online and burst open his mask&h.e.l.lip;

"Then I'll return to work first. Remember to send me my pay."

He Xiu couldn't help laughing. "I don't dare to forget." He walked forward and bowed his head to lightly kiss Jian Yan's forehead. "I'll contact you the first instance I'm free."

"Oh&h.e.l.lip;" Jian Yan touched her hand to her forehead, a nearly undetectable blush emerging on her cheeks.

He Xiu gazed at her before chuckling once again. "I stand corrected. It should be Teacher Tang Zhi to remember to contact me when she is free."

Jian Yan laughed and said to him, "Then you might need to wait five to six years. Once I finish my new project, I'll contact you then."

"Then it is still better if I contact you." The corners of He Xiu's lips had been curved up into a smile the entire time. His smile was neither prominent nor faint, yet inconceivably enticing. "Let's eat together tonight. I'll pick you up."

"Okay."

Stuck in the office for over twenty slow-going minutes, Jian Yan finally finished this resignation procedure. After returning home, she opened Weibo, thinking of how she would respond to her readers. Reading their comments for a while, Jian Yan typed out in the edit box:

「Who knew that I, as a manhua artist, would  also be drawn into this kind of matter 『smile-cry』 Compared to my emotional problems, I even more hope that everyone pays more attention to my work. 《 Satisfactory 》's complete book collection is currently being prepared fervently. The contents are super-luxurious! I always try my best when I draw ^_^ Additionally, preparations are being made for a new project. I hope everyone will be able to meet it this spring 『cute』」   

News of 《 Satisfactory 》's complete book collection and the new project smoothly s.h.i.+fted the reader's attentions. Exploiting the current exceedingly high attention, she easily gave her work a surge of advertis.e.m.e.nt. Jian Yan felt that she really was too quick-witted.

Even the editor responsible for 《 Satisfactory 》intentionally sent her a message of praise.   

He Xiu went on Nan Si's Weibo to give her a like before notifying his lawyer to have them deal with this matter. Although Jian Yan had said to ignore them, he needed those paparazzi to be aware that he was not as magnanimous as they imagined him to be.

The eve of Xu Ying and He Chen's engagement reception unwittingly arrived. The fervor over Jian Yan and He Xiu had also gradually faded away online at long last.

On the day of the engagement reception, He Xiu naturally drove his car to pick up Jian Yan. Jian Yan had specially styled her hair and had applied delicate makeup. She was wearing that high-end dress from Bunny, each step of hers extremely cautious.

"You look absolutely stunning today." He Xiu brushed her long hair behind her ear, a smile gracing his face as he looked at her. "When your photograph is taken and given to Lewis later, he will definitely think you're breathtaking."

"Eh, do we really need to send it? It's quite embarra.s.sing."

He Xiu commented, "Seeing the clothes he designed worn so beautifully, as a designer, he will certainly be happy. If he's happy, he might collaborate more with you."

"Then I can earn even more money." Jian Yan blinked rapidly. Last time, her collaboration with Bunny had indeed earned her a lot of money.

He Xiu silently quirked his lips and slowly started the car.

The closer they approached the engagement reception venue, the quicker Jian Yan's heart pulsed. She hadn't even felt this nervous when she had went up stage to accept a prize before. She was now incomparably glad that she was wearing bought clothes. The confidence gained from wearing borrowed clothes and bought clothes was distinctly different.

Especially when there were so many wealthy entrepreneurs gathered.

"What's wrong, nervous?" He Xiu turned his head to look at Jian Yan.

Jian Yan exhaled and admitted, "A little."

He Xiu pacified her. "You don't need to be nervous. Just treat it as going to eat a meal."

"Mn."

Today, He Chen and Xu Ying were also wearing splendid clothes, already talking cheerfully and wittily with all the gentlemen and ladies at the engagement reception venue. Everyone was grinning from ear to ear as they spoke praises. Although Xu Ying knew that an innumerable amount of these were falsely construed, she still felt very happy hearing them.

She casted another glance to the doorway. Catching her actions, He Chen disdainfully snorted at her bad habit. "Who are you waiting for? He Xiu?"

Xu Ying's delicately painted eyebrows daintily knitted together. She said to him, "With so many people here today, I don't want to quarrel with you."

The smile on He Chen's face grew colder. "What, does He Xiu's name immediately make you so sensitive? Can you not even tolerate it being mentioned?"

"You&h.e.l.lip;"

Just as Xu Ying opened her mouth, He Jing Long approached them, asking He Chen, "When is your older brother arriving?"

He Chen shrugged. "Don't know. There are so many people here waiting for him, though, that I don't even know who is supposed to be today's protagonist."

He Jing Long's brows wrinkled slightly. In the end, he didn't say anything else, merely having his a.s.sistant go and ask He Xiu where he was. Just as his a.s.sistant was about to make the phone call to the side, someone pushed open the doors of the ballroom.

He Xiu led Jian Yan through the doors. For a moment, everyone remained silent.

Gentlemen thoughtfully looked at them while the ladies very quickly began to whisper comments, unable to restrain themselves.

"Who is that woman beside He Xiu?"

"Don't know. I've never seen her before. She's wearing the latest high-end dress from Bunny; that must have costed several million yuan."

"Yi, haven't you all previously heard of He Xiu being with Tang Zhi. From what I see, this lady looks similar to the one in the photos."

"Are you talking about that manhua artist? The paparazzi have always been writing about He Xiu these past several years without basis. I was under the impression that this was also bogus."

"At first I also didn't care, but he even brought the person here&h.e.l.lip;"

Later, it went without saying that in everyone had their own ideas. After He Xiu and Jian Yan pa.s.sed by them, they would curve the corners of their mouths, revealing graceful and occasion-appropriate smiles.

When Tang Zheng caught sight of He Xiu and Jian Yan walking together, he was also stunned for a moment. Having finally reacted, he walked up to bar their way with righteous indignation filling his chest. "Even if you two are together, you two actually went to someone else's engagement reception to act out public displays of affection!"

He Xiu looked askance at him and smiled, remarking, "Similar to how in the eyes of the poor, whenever the wealthy do something, they are always flaunting their wealth, in the eyes of single dogs, whenever couples do something, they are always making a public display of affection."

Tang Zheng: "&h.e.l.lip;"

He Xiu took out his invitation and flashed it in Tang Zheng's face. "I only came after receiving this invitation."

Tang Zheng turned away, not wanting to deal with him anymore. He looked toward Jian Yan and exposed a small, amiable face. "Extremely beautiful lady Jian is truly gorgeous today, absolutely the envy of all beauties.

"Thank you." Jian Yan smiled at him.

He Xiu saw He Jing Long looking at them from the side as he waited and led Jian Yan by the hand to bypa.s.s Tang Zheng. "We'll leave first to go greet others."

"Okay."

Jian Yan followed him forward, her gaze accidentally meeting Xu Ying's. Her complexion dimmed a bit before Jian Yan slightly curved her lips to reveal a smile to her.

"Congratulations, you two," He Xiu congratulated He Chen and Xu Ying, his smile and tone both very sincere and enchanting.

Xu Ying's complexion was somewhat unsightly. Contrarily, He Chen responded with ease before his eyes lit up with curiosity when he looked at Jian Yan. "Are you not going to introduce this beautiful woman?"

He Xiu announced, "Jian Yan, my girlfriend."

He Chen didn't expect him to introduce her so directly as his girlfriend, causing him to be stunned. To the side, He Jing Long and Zhao Ying Fang also very clearly heard their conversation. He Jing Long examined Jian Yan and asked He Xiu, "When did you get a girlfriend? How come I didn't hear you mention this?"

He Xiu seemed to not want to say much to him, merely replying with one brief word. "Recently."

He Jing Long had long been accustomed to this att.i.tude of his, so he didn't mind at the moment, merely continuing to stare at Jian Yan. A few days ago, he had heard about He Xiu having a scandal with a manhua artist, which he originally didn't take seriously. He didn't expect He Xiu to actually bring the person here directly.

With He Xiu's looks and family background, several wealthy young ladies had been stubbornly pursuing him over the last years, but he had never seen He Xiu place someone in his heart. This time, he had brought someone in front of everyone. In other words, he had already set his mind on her.

He Jing Long had thought about a lot in this brief moment. He Xiu had never listened to him, but on this matter of marriage, He Jing Long couldn't not care.

Originally, he wanted to chat with Jian Yan, but He Xiu very quickly drew her away. He Jing Long also couldn't chase after them. After all, today was He Chen's engagement reception.

He Chen pursed his lips against his gla.s.s of champagne and glanced to the side at Xu Ying, who had not said a word. "What, originally, you wanted to show off in front of his face, yet in the end, he played you instead, so your heart is uncomfortable?"

Xu Ying lifted her head to stare at him, wrinkled her brows, and didn't speak. He Chen's smile also disappeared from his face. With a heavy expression, he said, "Don't forget that the man you are marrying is me. This was even your own choice. I am not that magnanimous."

Xu Ying pursed her lips, swallowing stiffly with reluctance and resentment.

After He Xiu greeted everyone in his family, he led Jian Yan to a corner to eat. Jian Yan watched as he filled his place with small, delicate cakes. Drinking a mouthful of champagne, she asked him, "That beautiful woman over there with long legs, isn't that the female star Pei Ying?"

He Xiu smiled and said, "Mn. She and CEO Song came together. I heard that there will be good news to come."

"Wow." Jian Yan sighed. This wealthy party was distinctly different, allowing one to casually look at celebrities. Her gaze swept over the man beside Song Nan Chuan. Jian Yan was stunned. "That—that man beside CEO Song, isn't that the G.o.d of Gambling?"

"G.o.d of Gambling?" He Xiu looked at her in puzzlement.

Jian Yan replied, "You don't know? At New Year's Eve, he also came to line up to buy lucky bags. Not only that, he even arranged a mahjong table in the plaza. I heard the security guards say that he had come last year as well, and when he had played mahjong the entire evening, he never lost."

He Xiu couldn't help but chuckle lowly. "It seems like CEO Xiao's mahjong skills are indeed excellent. CEO Song had the fortune of playing with him once."

"The result?"

"Naturally a loss."

"Haha. He didn't even give CEO Song face?"

Jian Yan giggled quietly as he said to her, "See that person over there? Do you know who he is?"

Jian Yan looked in the direction he was staring at and saw a man standing in a suit with straight posture as he talked to a man beside him. "Don't know, but he looks very handsome." Jian Yan felt that it was truly a great loss that Lin Zhen did not come to this engagement reception today. Everyone here was an elite, and moreover, there were all so handsome!

He Xiu informed her, "Your favorite, CEO Yu of Yu Zhi."

Shua! Jian Yan's eyes immediately brightened. CEO Yu, King of the Culinary World. No foodie doesn't love him. "He is a man worthy of the greatest admiration."

Pfff. He Xiu was amused by her. "I will feel jealous with you praising other men like this."

Jian Yan gazed at him and blinked. "He helps us solve the problem of eating, while you let all women to wear beautiful clothes. You both are worthy of the greatest admiration."

Author's Note:

Expressing thanks to sponsors

Chapter 38 — I had previously forgotten to ask you, do you have any ex-girlfriends?

Hearing Jian Yan's words, He Xiu couldn't help but laugh.

Although the two of them stood far away, they still couldn't avoid some people coming over to chat. He Xiu was unable to escape for awhile, so Jian Yan stood to the side, eating the refreshments alone. She had heard that all the food at the engagement reception was catered by Yu Zhi; this food could be considered to be worth eating.

Today, He Xiu had brought her and arrived with great fanfare. Just now, he had introduced her to his family, which naturally caused others to take note. There were also people coming up to greet Jian Yan. Perhaps she would be the wife of the Eldest Master of the He Family the next time they met her?

Although Jian Yan was slightly surprised, she still politely responded and chatted with them. She hesitated the moment a man extended his hand to her in greeting, though.

The other party was merely greeting her politely, but what could she say to him? Say she had misandry, so she couldn't shake hands with men? To her, this reasoning sounded completely preposterous. Because she was slow and hadn't moved, the other party was already displaying a puzzled look. Jian Yan clearly realized that regardless of what she said now, she wouldn't leave a good impression with the other party. Harshly quelling her heart, she smiled and grasped his hand.

Her movement was swift, the two of their hands merely touching lightly before separating. Yet still, a familiar feeling of disgust swept through her.

Her complexion paled, and she pursed her lips before forcing herself to reveal a smile to them. "Excuse me, I need to use the ladies' room."

After she said this, she very quickly walked to the doors. He Xiu glimpsed her leaving out of the corner of his eyes and smiled to the people in front of him before taking his leave. "Excuse me."

He set down his winegla.s.s and chased after Jian Yan. After Jian Yan left the ballroom, she headed straight to the outdoor balcony and took deep breaths, gasping.

The wintry night had a somewhat piercing cold wind, but after the chilly air poured into her body, she seemed to barely suppress the feeling of nausea that was on the verge of erupting within her heart.

"What happened to you?" He Xiu walked up from behind her, staring at her with a worried expression. Jian Yan sucked in a deep breath and then turned to smile at him. "It's nothing."

He Xiu knitted his brows. "Still saying it's nothing? Do you know how unsightly your complexion is?"

Jian Yan said, "Just then I shook hands with a man. I originally believed I was lucky and that my misandry was already cured. It seems that it's not. It's only you that I do not oppose, that's all."

He Xiu grasped her right hand, her ice-cold fingers causing his brows to knit together a bit more. "Is this the hand?" He looked at her hand grasped in his and brought it to his lips, lightly breathing on it. "Is it a little bit better now?"

The temperature of He Xiu's hand seemed to truly be seeping through her fingers and reaching her heart. Jian Yan nodded. "Mn. I apologize&h.e.l.lip;" Although just now she had already tried her best, but with the way she had run off, it would be difficult to escape from what others would think about it.

"It doesn't matter." He Xiu lightly brushed aside her long hair, his voice as gentle as moonlight. "I also don't want others to touch you anyway."

Jian Yan finally laughed. "It really is very mysterious. Why do I not feel disgusted at all when you touch me?"

He Xiu quirked his lips and moved closer to her, softly asking, "Then what about this?" The same time his words fell, his lips also dropped onto Jian Yan's in a kiss. This time, not only did he not let her lips go, he softly pried open her parted lips, slipping his tongue inside.

Although Jian Yan was startled, she didn't resist. Just, when she realized that the only thing separating He Xiu's hand from caressing her skin as his hands roamed all over her body was the dress, she wrinkled her brows and lightly pushed him away. "Wait a minute, this dress is several billion yuan. Don't ruin this because of me."

He Xiu pressed his hand against her forehead, chuckling lightly. "You’re concerned about the dress at a time like this?

"Of course I'm concerned. This is several millions of yuan."

He Xiu asked her, "Is several millions of yuan important or am I important?"

"&h.e.l.lip;You're very childish."

"If I'm childish, then I'll be childish. Which do you say is more important?"

"&h.e.l.lip;"

Before Jian Yan could reply to him, Xu Ying's angry voice rang out from the side. "What are you two doing?"

He Xiu furrowed his eyebrows together as he turned his head to look at her with annoyance. "Do we need to report to Heiress Xu whenever we're doing something?"

"You&h.e.l.lip;" Xu Ying's angry complexion changed. Practically fuming with rage between gritted teeth, she said, "This is next to the ballroom! You two doing things like this in a place like this, you truly have no sense of shame!"

He Xiu curved his lips into a cold smile as he helped Jian Yan straighten her dress. "What Heiress Xu says is right. Then, we will just return home first. We'll be taking our leave."

"He Xiu, you!"

Xu Ying still wanted to lose her temper, but He Xiu straightforwardly led Jian Yan out of the building. After reaching the car, Jian Yan raised her dress and very carefully sat in the front pa.s.senger seat. He Xiu saw her fixate her gaze on him the entire time, so while he started the car, he asked her, "What do you want to say?"

Jian Yan's beautiful eyes blinked rapidly before she asked, "That Xu Ying, does she like you?"

He Xiu drove the car out, laughing almost inaudibly. "No, she likes many things. I am simply the most insignificant."

Jian Yan's eyes flickered as she looked at He Xiu with a smile. "Oh, that's right.  I had previously forgotten to ask you, do you have any ex-girlfriends?"

He Xiu chuckled softly. "I don't, you wouldn't happen to be thinking that Xu Ying was my ex-girlfriend, right?"

Jian Yan admitted, "I don't know. That's why I asked you. Speaking of which, that washboard I gifted you last time, you haven't thrown it away, right?"

This time, He Xiu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "She truly isn't my ex-girlfriend. She was already sweethearts with He Chen during senior high school."

"Then junior high school?"

He Xiu pretended to look at her in astonishment. "You're not even letting a junior high student off?"

"&h.e.l.lip;What, primary school students now would also have puppy love."

He Xiu chuckled and shook his head, saying, "I went to the He Family when I was seven years old. Because the relations.h.i.+p between the Xu and He Families were good, the children of the two families also frequently played together. Xu Ying and He Chen were of similar age, so at that time, they always liked to pester me. Back then, she was still an innocent and cute little girl. Even if the matter of my mother made me very cold and detached towards those around me, she would still run around and try to speak to me, giving me small snacks that she liked to eat many times."

Jian Yan clicked her tongue twice. "See, not just primary school students; even before school, kids chase after boys."

He Xiu helplessly laughed. "We were so young in those days; what did we know? She also just simply saw that I was handsome, so she wanted to get close to me."

"&h.e.l.lip;Your face is very thick." But that Xu Ying's eye for aesthetics was very accurate at such a young age.

He Xiu smiled and said, "If you say it like this, then there were many children that liked me when I was young."

Jian Yan curled her lips and questioned closely, "What happened after? Since Xu Ying liked you so much, how come she ended up being He Chen's girlfriend?"

He Xiu explained, "Maybe because they became aware that she was getting quite close to me, her family told her something."

Jian Yan gradually stopped joking around. "Told her what?"

"For example&h.e.l.lip;I am merely a b.a.s.t.a.r.d, and He Chen is the real inheritor of the He Family estate in the future."

Jian Yan suddenly became furious in her heart. "She was so young, yet she already accounted for these things?"

He Xiu mockingly quirked his lips. "Although she didn't understand anything, her parents understood. When she was entering primary school, she was deliberately enrolled to study in the same school as He Chen. At that time, I felt that it truly was very ridiculous." Now, however, he was indifferent to this. Back then, he had long seen clearly the artificial and hypocritical nature of those around him.

In her heart, Jian Yan felt pained. She also didn't know what she should do to comfort him. Why did she always ask about matters that caused him to feel deeply hurt?

After He Xiu said this, he once again turned his head to look at Jian Yan. "What about you? Are you not worried? In the future, I might not be able to receive a single yuan from the He Family, only able to sell my singing to make a living."

Jian Yan said, "It doesn't matter. I'm well-off. I guarantee that you'll life in a big house and eat delicious food."

He Xiu smiled. "Then I thank Teacher Tang Zhi in advance. In the future, I'm counting on you to support our family."

"Mhmm. No problem; you only need to be responsible for serving me."

The smile on He Xiu's face changed slightly. "How do you wish for me to serve you? Is that kind of serving just a moment ago okay?"

"&h.e.l.lip;Why are you so dirty."

He Xiu once again burst into laughter. He looked at her and said, "Don't worry. I definitely will not let you become that exhausted." He felt that what Tang Zheng said was right. Why did he need to let He Chen and them off lightly?

After driving Jian Yan home, he naturally didn't continue what they did earlier. Jian Yan went upstairs to change clothes, and since he reckoned that she hadn't eaten her fill that night, he went into her kitchen without permission to find ingredients.

When Jian Yan went downstairs, she looked at him with pleasant surprise. "Beginning to learn how to serve me so early?"

He Xiu winked ambiguously at her. "Yes, the things I know how to do are not limited to just these." 1

Jian Yan's face, for some inexplicable reason, began to burn. It was clearly her who wanted to tease him for a bit, yet in the end, she was embarra.s.sed by his words.

Afraid that he really did intend to do something, Jian Yan pushed him out of her home once they finished eating. She didn't even let him wash the dishes.

When He Xiu returned home, He Jing Long was sitting alone in the drawing room. He didn't know if the engagement reception was finished or not, but he didn't ask. Just like in the past, he acted as if he hadn't seen He Jing Long and walked over to the stairs.

"He Xiu."

He Jing Long called for him to stop. He Xiu's steps paused, and he turned around to look at him. "What's the matter?"

He Jing Long asked, "Why did you leave first just a moment ago?"

"Jian Yan was feeling slightly unwell, so I drove her back home first."

"Is she alright?"

"She's alright."

"Mn, that's good then." He Jing Long nodded, his expression somewhat absent-minded. "I don't know why, but seeing her makes me remember your mother."

When he spoke of 'mother,' He Xiu finally had had no patience left. He turned around and walked upstairs before He Jing Long once again called for him to stop. "I know you recently had a slight disagreement with your younger brother, but you can relax. I have already said long ago that Starlight General Merchandise was built for your mother. I will definitely set it aside for you."

He Xiu turned his head around and coldly glared at him. "You think I value your family property? If it were not for my mom, I wouldn't even be managing Starlight General Merchandise these past several years."

He Jing Long's voice sounded as if the blue sea turned into mulberry fields.2 "I know you hate me. I let down your mother&h.e.l.lip;"

"What use are your apologetic words? She pa.s.sed away a long time ago." After He Xiu said this, he didn't look back anymore as he walked upstairs.

Author's Note:

Tomorrow, I want to upload a long chapter! Sticking a flag here in advance!

Expressing thanks to sponsors

Chapter 39 — In the future, he will build the largest general merchandise department store in A City.

After He Xiu went upstairs, He Jing Long remained sitting in the drawing room by himself.

He Xiu spoke correctly. What use was there in apologetic words; she had pa.s.sed away a long time ago&h.e.l.lip; All these years, he had always harbored guilt, so he wanted to make it up to He Xiu when he returned. He Xiu, however, didn't appreciate the kindness at all.

He Xiu hated him, and yet, he didn't loathe the him at that time.

When He Xiu's mother had just become acquainted with him, he had merely been a young carpenter. Under the management of his brethren, he helped people install doors and windows for a living. At that time, although his livelihood wasn't prosperous, he was only in his twenties, and with He Xiu's mother by his side accompanying him, he didn't feel that his days had much hards.h.i.+p.

He Xiu's mother had always loved to dress up. She didn't have other interests, but she had not even the slightest resistance to beautiful clothes. There were no large-scale general merchandise department stores at that time. It was already pretty good that there were several stores specialized in selling clothing. He frequently kept her company as she strolled around. The clothes he could afford to buy, he would buy them without hesitation for her.

After he and his brethren's group scattered and the equipment was divided amongst them, he established his own small private company with him as the chief labor contractor. Because life was better than the years before, he was able to take He Xiu's mother to stroll through malls of more economically developed cities. To this day, he still remembered her excited appearance when she first entered a department store.

Back then, he had pledged to her that in the future, he would build the largest general merchandise department store in A City so she could stroll through it every day without needing to travel so far.

An opportunity came later. Their company received a government project. Because the government funds were insufficient, land was given to him as compensation for the project.

The first thing he thought of was building a general merchandise department store there, but to develop a general merchandise department store well, the development of a shopping mall nearby was also extremely important. He knew the surrounding land all belonged to the Zhao Family, so he thought of collaborating with them in building this.

At first, the patriarch of the Zhao Family was not very supportive of this project of his, and his willingness to collaborate was not very high. His daughter Zhao Ying Fang, however, was actually very supportive——supportive of He Jing Long.

He appeared young, promising, and handsome. It really was very difficult for a girl at her age to not have her heart moved.

He Jing Long naturally also realized Zhao Ying Fang's thoughts towards him. If he could get through to Zhao Ying Fang, then he would definitely be able to persuade the Zhao Family. Furthermore, at that time, not only did Zhao Ying Fang say to him that she wanted a plaza built in the surroundings, she even said the plaza would be named after his department store.

He Jing Long was shaken.

His original intention in building the general merchandise department store was for He Xiu's mother, but now this had become more of a business opportunity to He Jing Long. He knew that building only the store itself was very limiting. If he invested in this business, then he could harvest a greater return in the future.

He was undecided for a very long time, but in the end he still brought up separation with He Xiu's mother. At that time, she didn't cry or wail. Her eyes were simply full of such deep despair that he might not be able to forget in this lifetime.

She very quickly disappeared from his world. He had married Zhao Ying Fang. Eight years later, He Xiu was brought right to him.

Thinking of this, a burst of acute pain split through He Jing Long's head again. At that time, he had truly been completely shocked. If he had known that she had already been pregnant with their child, he definitely wouldn't have broken up with her.

He closed his eyes and leaned against the sofa, lightly kneading his aching temples. Some undefined time later, Zhao Ying Fang came in from outside and caught sight of He Jing Long in the drawing room. She coldly laughed. "What, thinking of that woman?"

He Jing Long's complexion s.h.i.+fted. He opened his eyes to look at her. Zhao Ying Fang's smile became colder as she walked up to him in her high heels. "I still haven't asked you, what was He Xiu's intention tonight? Today was Chen'er's engagement reception, yet they came dressed in splendid clothes and stole the show. What is he plotting?"

He Jing Long's expression was blank as he said,"Don't speak such unpleasant words when you talk. You have the clearest understanding on how you have treated him all these years. What can he even be plotting?"

"Ah, he still feels wronged? I helped raise another woman's son for so many years, and outsiders even call him Eldest Master He. The one who should feel wronged is I!"

He Jing Long's anger was finally stirred. "Don't make yourself sound so innocent! That year when you approached me, didn't you know of his mother's existence?"

Zhao Ying Fang pursed her lips, her voice inadvertently raising a few notches. "If I knew that you built Starlight General Merchandise for her, I definitely would not have gone to persuade my father! If I had known that earlier, I should have built a dumpster next to your department store!"

They two of them were making so much noise in the drawing room, He Xiu naturally heard them. Starlight General Merchandise was built by He Jing Long for his mom. After he came to the He Family, he had also heard He Jing Long say this. He felt that it was very ironic that this general merchandise department store was built for his mom, yet she had never even stepped inside.

He recalled when she had brought him to Starlight General Merchandise for the first and only time many years ago. She had stood by the doorway for a very long time. At that time, what had  she been feeling?

He Xiu couldn't help but be depressed. He went to the bathroom to run a bath. After emerging, he went to his bedside to dial Jian Yan's number.

At the moment, Jian Yan was drawing. Hearing her phone ring, she glanced at it out of the corner of her eyes. Seeing that He Xiu was calling, she reached out with her left hand to accept the call while her right hand continued to draw atop the digital tablet. "It's so late; what's the matter?"

As always, He Xiu's lips curved into a slight smile upon hearing her voice. "Nothing. I just wanted to ask what you're doing."

"I'm drawing."

He Xiu lightly furrowed his brows together. "You're still drawing so late into the night?"

"Yes. After all, I shoulder the responsibility of supporting our family. It's only natural that I work hard to earn more money."

He Xiu chuckled and said to her, "Don't tire yourself too much. Rest earlier."

"Mn."

"You must not stay up late."

Jian Yan also laughed. "Eldest Master He, I haven't married you yet, and you're already taking care of me?"

"Can't I? Is it that you want me to personally come over and supervise you?"

"Okay, okay. I got it."

He Xiu faintly smiled. He remained silent for a moment before saying, "After we marry, I'll move out of my home."

"Marry? You're already thinking of marriage?"

"What, don't tell me you are thinking of going back on your word?"

Jian Yan giggled and retorted, "Then when that moment comes, I'll clear out a room for you."

"This is how you're making arrangements for our marriage bedroom?" He Xiu said in discontent, "It's better if I took care of the preparations for our marriage bedroom."

"Oh."

"You should go to sleep early then. Don't draw anymore." Once He Xiu finished talking of this business, he began urging her to go to bed.

Jian Yan, without any better option, helplessly said, "Okay, okay. I'll go to sleep after the call's over."

"Good girl; I'll take you out to eat tomorrow night. What do you want to eat?"

"Anything will be fine. How about I head straight to Starlight General Merchandise to look for you to eat? Haha. There are lot of places to eat there anyway."

"Well, I'll wait in my office for you then. Goodnight."

Jian Yan seemed like she recalled something. She asked him, "Last time when I listened to your concert, everyone wanted you to give a Mai Kiss, but you refused. Can you give one now?"

He Xiu smiled lightly as he said, "What meaning does a Mai Kiss have? How about I come over and personally kiss you?"

"&h.e.l.lip;No, too troublesome."

He Xiu curved his lips into a smile and lightly kissed into the phone. "Goodnight."

Jian Ya jolted because of this voice, her heart throbbing as he spoke the phrase 'goodnight.' Peng—peng— After the call ended, she used her slightly cold hands to cool her burning face. Saving the rough sketch, she turned off her computer.

Men with pleasant sounding voices really were very criminal. Always so attractive when speaking during a call, so annoying.

The next day, the matter of she and He Xiu attending the engagement reception somehow reached Lin Zhen's ears, as she had called Jian Yan first thing in the morning, impatiently asking her, "The situation with you and He Xiu wouldn't happen to be true, right?"

Jian Yan had already gotten out of bed and was cooking congee in the kitchen as she spoke into the phone. "What situation are you talking about?"

"That paparazzi reported earlier, you are his girlfriend!"

"Oh&h.e.l.lip;it's true."

Lin Zhen: "&h.e.l.lip;"

She actually found herself a partner first!?!?

She remained dumbfounded for quite a while before asking about the final hope she carried, "He and Tang Zheng aren't&h.e.l.lip;?"

"&h.e.l.lip;" Only then did Jian Yan o recall that she had kept forgetting to speak of this matter with Lin Zhen. "Oh, before was a misunderstanding of ours."

Lin Zhen: "&h.e.l.lip;"

In that case, what expression should she use when confronting Tang Zheng? Furthermore, their collaboration&h.e.l.lip;

Recalling that Tang Zheng had also not contacted her for a good while, this was a good coincidence. She also&h.e.l.lip;wouldn't take the initiative to contact him.

Before she hung up, she asked, "What about your misandry? Aren't you allergic to men?"

"Mn&h.e.l.lip;this is strange to me as well. I'm actually not allergic to him."

"&h.e.l.lip;" Lin Zhen was silent for a long time before hatefully saying to her, "Deadline's approaching. You still haven't handed over your draft. How are your preparations for your new project?"

Jian Yan curled her lips. "Don't worry. I will definitely hand over the draft on time. As for the new project, didn't you previously not want me to overwork myself? I think what you said is right."

"&h.e.l.lip;Goodbye." Lin Zhen suddenly hung up.

Why! Why are people younger than me all finding partners! If Jian Yan marries before me, I will break off my friends.h.i.+p with her!

Jian Yan worked until 5:00PM before she began to tidy herself up, preparing to head to Starlight General Merchandise in search of He Xiu. As it so happened, she ran into Xu Ying in the elevator.

Xu Ying also didn't expect to run into her. With an unsightly complexion, she asked, "What are you doing here?"

Jian Yan smiled at her and answered, "I'm looking for He Xiu."

Xu Ying scoffed and looked at her, saying, "You only met He Xiu after coming to Starlight General Merchandise, right? I, however, have known him for over twenty years."

"So what?"

"Do you know what he was like when young? We had a very good relations.h.i.+p as kids. He was also especially fond of me. Whenever I felt sad, he would sing for me to listen. His voice is very pleasant to hear. Every time he sang a song, I would immediately stop crying."

"Oh." Jian Yan answered with a tone that was neither cold nor warm.

Xu Ying's brows wrinkled. This person was simply like He Xiu as a child, not into the oil and salt.1 No matter what was said, he would have no reaction whatsoever.

"I'm telling you&h.e.l.lip;"

"Miss Xu." Jian Yan suddenly turned her head to look at her with a smile. "Your engagement reception yesterday was very wonderful."

Xu Ying's complexion instantly changed. She turned her head away and no longer spoke.

When the elevator door opened, He Xiu was standing outside. He had come to receive Jian Yan, but upon catching sight of Xu Ying, his eyes immediately darkened. "Why are you also here?"

Xu Ying sneered and asked, "So only she can seek you out?"

"Oh? I don't know what Miss Xu is seeking me out for?"

His cold, estranged, and sarcastic manner made the fire in Xu Ying's heart burn fiercer. "I came because I wanted to tell you not to be deceived by this woman's outward appearance! Isn't she just chasing after your money? These years, have you seen little of these kinds of women?"

He Xiu looked at her with irritation, the anger in his countenance already becoming very apparent. "My money? Didn't Miss Xu already determined that I didn't have money long ago?"

Xu Ying's face paled. "That was my mother&h.e.l.lip;"

Jian Yan pressed a few b.u.t.tons on her phone and then showed it to Xu Ying. She beamed at her. "This is the balance on my bank card. Miss Xu must not have been thinking that I've merely been working these past several years for fun, right? Although several tens of millions may be nothing in the eyes of the Xu Family, but it's not like I have never seen money before, okay? This is merely the pittance I earned from my work 《 Satisfactory 》. I'm convinced that this work is not the pinnacle of my career at all. Later, I will create many more works that are much better, earning even more money. And you? How much money do you earn as part of Xu Zhi? I previously heard people say that last time, you messed up the project you were in charge of. Perhaps you should first set small goals and let the company not lose money?"

"You!" Xu Ying's complexion paled as she spoke. She glanced at that long string of numbers that was Jian Yan's balance again before turning around to the elevator, pressing the elevator b.u.t.ton with lightning speed.

After she left, furious, Jian Yan's heart was very delighted. She turned her head back to see that He Xiu was indeed looking at her with an interested expression.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

He  Xiu smiled as he looked at her, saying, "Nothing; I just wanted to see how much Teacher Tang Zhi has in her bank balance."

Jian Yan put away her phone and said to him, "Not letting you look."

"Why? You showed it to her." He Xiu's tone sounded very indignant.

Jian Yan replied, "Don't worry. I said that you'll live in a big house and eat delicious food. I won't go back on my words at all."

He Xiu smiled and embraced her. Unable to help himself, he lowered his head to kiss her lips for a moment. Startled greatly, Jian Yan hurriedly pushed him away. "This is the workplace! Pay more attention!"

"Oh." He Xiu nodded and sincerely said, "Then it would be better if we go home to eat dinner. This way not paying attention is okay."

Jian Yan: "&h.e.l.lip;"

The smile on He Xiu's face grew bigger. "I'll cook. It's enough if you're only in charge of eating."

Author's Note:

A thousand extra characters. Is this considered long? Hahaha ○ ￣ _

I had a slight writing block today. Tomorrow, I will continue to write longer. Ku—jiji

Expressing thanks to sponsors

Means a very obstinate person