Chapter 114

Watching her sister leave, Bai Yuerou let out a complicated sigh and sat dazedly by the bed.

To answer Bai Jingxi’s question was, in fact, to reveal her own stance.

It was true that Bai Yuerou resented her, but that didn’t mean she refused to acknowledge her sister’s abilities. So when Bai Jingxi said, “I’ll help you,” Bai Yuerou was genuinely moved.

Even though she wasn’t the type to fight over things, the image of the two of them holding hands still flashed through her mind, and an instinctive longing appeared in her eyes.

So, even knowing she shouldn’t let her sister get involved, that inner longing made her unable to resist opening Pandora’s box, defaulting to silent acquiescence.

After all, when you fall for someone at first sight, how could you possibly let them go to someone else?

……

In the bedroom, Bai Renli was sitting in a chair reading when his wife walked in, her face full of worry. He frowned and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Xu Jingwen told her husband about what had just happened between the sisters downstairs.

Bai Renli sighed and said, “I’ve always said, let the children forge their own happiness. I told you not to interfere too much in Rou’s life, but this time, you insisted on letting Jingxi go ask Jin. I disagreed, and now look, the sisters’ relationship is so strained.”

“I just feel that Jingxi would never harm her little sister. You know she’s cherished her since they were little,” Xu Jingwen said, looking a bit aggrieved. She muttered, “It’s not that I don’t trust Jin, but something this important… how could I be at ease if I didn’t ask?”

“Jingxi is smart and does adore Rou, that’s true.” Bai Renli also looked troubled. “But don’t forget, she’s never been in a relationship herself.”

He comfortingly patted Xu Jingwen’s shoulder and said gently, “Don’t worry. Jingxi will make things right with Rou.”

“I hope so.”

……

After Tang Huaijin came back, his sister immediately showed her jealousy. Even though it was already past ten, she still insisted on cuddling up with him on the sofa to watch a movie. When her brother sneakily got a bit handsy, she didn’t resist.

Tang Yaoyao played with his hand, pouting as she said, “Jin, your Teacher Shen keeps asking me out these past two days. I don’t know why.”

Tang Huaijin’s heart skipped a beat. He gently held his sister’s hand and asked, “So, did you agree?”

“Mm…” Tang Yaoyao looked a bit helpless, muttering, “It’s hard to keep refusing her. I’ve agreed to go out with her tomorrow afternoon and have dinner together.”

Tang Huaijin had been racking his brain about how to tell his sister he’d be going out with Xia Xinya tomorrow. Hearing this, he instantly relaxed, smiling as he said, “It’s fine, go ahead. You should have your own life too, sis.”

Tang Yaoyao had originally intended to go out with her brother tomorrow. Now, feeling a bit guilty, she leaned in and gave Tang Huaijin a gentle kiss on the lips, acting spoiled: “So tomorrow I won’t be able to keep you company, Jin.”

Tang Huaijin lowered his head and affectionately rubbed noses with his sister, his voice soft: “It’s okay, we have plenty of time together. No need to rush.”

A sweet smile appeared on Tang Yaoyao’s face. She burrowed into his arms, acted spoiled a little more, then obediently gave him a goodnight kiss before heading back to her room to sleep.

Tang Huaijin silently turned off the lights in the living room, sighing inwardly. He needed to speed things up with Xia Xinya. If he kept hiding things from his sister, something was bound to happen.

……

The next day at noon, after lunch, Tang Huaijin saw his sister off from the apartment complex and watched her get into Teacher Shen’s car.

After seeing Shen Yiqiu’s Audi S8 drive away, Tang Huaijin took out his phone and sent Xia Xinya a message, telling her to come pick him up.

Earlier that morning, Xia Xinya had invited him out. Her tone was full of reluctance-if Tang Huaijin didn’t know her, he’d really think she didn’t want him to go with her.

Not long after he sent the message, a black Bentley pulled up by the roadside and stopped next to him.

After Tang Huaijin got in, Xia Xinya, who had been waiting impatiently, suddenly felt a surge of joy for some reason. Still, she pouted and complained, “Why are you so slow? I can’t believe you made me wait for you.”

Today, Xia Xinya wore a beige knit V-neck cardigan over a white T-shirt for safety, paired with a camel-colored pencil skirt. Her long, slender legs were wrapped in black stockings-slim but not bony-and she wore a pair of little boots.

What surprised Tang Huaijin the most wasn’t this alluring outfit, but Xia Xinya’s face.

With her natural beauty and tender, dewy skin, Xia Xinya had always gone bare-faced. But for some reason, Miss Xia had actually put on makeup today-a light, exquisite look that added a touch of youthful charm to her features.

Catching the flash of amazement in the young man’s eyes, a hint of pride appeared in Xia Xinya’s gaze. She said coquettishly, “What are you looking at? Disgusting. Haven’t seen a beauty before? Rascal.”

Tang Huaijin coughed lightly, feigning annoyance: “What are you talking about, silly girl? Why are you wearing makeup today?”

“I just felt like it,” Xia Xinya said, a trace of awkwardness flickering across her face. She sounded a bit dissatisfied, “What’s wrong? Don’t I look good?”

“You look good, you look good,” Tang Huaijin replied with a helpless smile, though he was a bit puzzled. “Where’s Rou?”

Hearing him praise her, Xia Xinya felt a sweetness in her heart. But then he immediately asked about Rou, and her face fell. She pouted and ignored him, instead telling the bodyguard, “Drive, let’s go pick up Rou.”

Tang Huaijin didn’t notice the change in Xia Xinya’s expression, thinking she was just eager to see Bai Yuerou.

After waiting for a while at the Bai Family villa entrance, Bai Yuerou got in, smiling as she greeted them. When she saw Xia Xinya was wearing makeup, she paused in surprise and asked curiously, “Xinya, why did you put on makeup today?”

Faced with her best friend’s question, Xia Xinya suddenly felt a bit guilty and mumbled, “Just felt like it before I left the house.”

She quickly changed the subject: “Rou, where should we go?”

Bai Yuerou smiled softly, her voice gentle: “Let’s walk around the mall, then catch a movie?”

Xia Xinya nodded, grinning: “Sure, sure.”

As she finished, she was about to have the bodyguard head for their destination.

But Tang Huaijin felt uneasy. His sister was also out with Shen Yiqiu today-if the two sides ran into each other, he’d be doomed.

Thinking of this, he quickly said, “Let’s do something else. Always going to the movies is a bit boring.”

“True,” Bai Yuerou agreed, looking a bit troubled. After a moment’s thought, her eyes suddenly lit up and she smiled, “How about we go to the amusement park?”

Xia Xinya was curious: “Rou, aren’t you afraid of roller coasters and things like that?”

Bai Yuerou’s cheeks flushed. She gave her best friend a reproachful glance and said, “The amusement park isn’t just roller coasters. There are other things, like the Ferris wheel…” As she said this, she subconsciously sneaked a glance at Tang Huaijin.

Xia Xinya felt a surge of excitement. She hadn’t been to an amusement park in ages, mostly because there was never anyone to go with her-and Rou was timid. But this time, she could have the rascal accompany her for a good time.

Thinking of this, she couldn’t hold back her happiness: “Let’s go, let’s go! To the amusement park!”

But Tang Huaijin was speechless: “Go where? Look at what you’re wearing-is that suitable for the amusement park?”

Bai Yuerou was fine; she was wearing wide-legged pants. But this silly girl Xia Xinya was wearing a skirt in late autumn-even with safety shorts, it wasn’t suitable for the amusement park.

Bai Yuerou finally noticed her best friend was wearing black stockings, frowned slightly, and asked, “Xinya, aren’t you cold dressed like this?”

“I didn’t think we’d be going to an amusement park today. I thought we’d just be indoors,” Xia Xinya pouted, thought for a moment, and then grinned: “It’s fine, the amusement park sells clothes. Didn’t we see that last time?”

Seeing Bai Yuerou nod, Tang Huaijin couldn’t say much more. Thinking about Shen Yiqiu’s personality, she probably wouldn’t go to an amusement park anyway, so there was no need to worry about running into his sister. He smiled helplessly and said, “Alright, then. Let’s go.”