Sleepless Spring Tides - Chapter 1 – Freud 1

Yi Siling received a piece of news that ruined her good mood for the day just as a young master stood by her table, inviting her for a drink.

It was the third young master of Yu Xin Bank, usually arrogant and surrounded by countless beauties. At this moment, he was shamelessly trying to make a move, which looked rather ridiculous.

Yi Siling smiled at him, her jeweled fingers tapping on her phone screen, indicating that she was currently occupied.

Her gaze shifted away, no longer paying him any attention.

The message was from a casual acquaintance in her circle, someone she occasionally played mahjong with. Their relationship was neither close nor distant. Unexpectedly, this sudden message nearly shocked Yi Siling to death.

[BB¹, heard you’re getting married soon! Congratulations!]

Yi Siling didn’t understand, biting her lip in confusion. After pondering for a while, she sent back a question mark.

The other person laughed at her for pretending: [Oh come on! Everyone knows already, spill it! Who’s the big shot fiancé?!]

The young master who had been waiting nearby was growing impatient but didn’t dare to show it. Instead, he turned to toast the woman sitting across from Yi Siling.

The woman handled the social niceties for Yi Siling, offering a perfunctory smile and taking a sip. The young master had his way out, saving face.

Yi Siling had no time for these social intricacies. Her mind was filled with “marriage” and “fiancé,” and an indescribable irritation welled up in her heart. Her clear eyes narrowed as she absentmindedly gazed out the floor-to-ceiling window.

The view was excellent, overlooking the entire Victoria Harbour.

A light rain had fallen in the early morning, and now the sky was a pristine blue. The glittering skyscrapers stood tall along the open riverbank, and a helicopter leisurely passed by, slowly descending onto some wealthy person’s helipad.

The bright light was blinding, and she turned back.

The occasion today was quite lively-a celebration of the opening of this Thai restaurant. Due to the owner’s extensive connections and social skills, many guests had come to show their support. A few acquaintances wanted to come over and toast, but seeing Yi Siling’s distracted state, they wisely avoided her.

Why upset Miss Yi? Even the young master from the Yu family hadn’t fared well.

“What’s wrong with you?” Yi Leling had glanced at her several times without getting a response and finally spoke up.

Yi Siling tossed her phone onto the sofa, “I’m getting married.”

The Tom Yum hot pot on the table emitted a misty steam, blurring her strikingly beautiful face.

Yi Leling was hit by this bombshell and couldn’t process it immediately. After a few seconds of silence, she said, “…Getting married to whom?”

“Exactly, getting married to whom?” Yi Siling hugged her arms in frustration, sulking.

Yi Leling was both amused and exasperated, her ears tingling from Yi Siling’s coquettish tone. She said helplessly, “Which paparazzi is spreading rumors about you getting married, ruining your mood? Dad hasn’t said anything, so who are you marrying? And who would you marry?”

Though she said this, both of them were actually uncertain in their hearts.

Last month, Yi Kunshan publicly gave an interview to Caijing Tianxia. The Hong Kong media, always eager for gossip, couldn’t resist slipping in a few questions unrelated to finance but guaranteed to boost ratings-

“Mr. Yi, we know everyone is interested in you, your four precious daughters, and, of course, your future sons-in-law.” There was a burst of laughter, and the host continued, “Would you mind sharing if there are any suitable candidates for the role of son-in-law yet?”

Yi Kunshan waited for the laughter to subside before responding calmly, “There are indeed some promising ones.”

The host joked, “So it sounds like good news is on the horizon?”

Yi Kunshan played along, “I’ll do my best. I’m aiming to find a model husband for my eldest daughter before I turn fifty.”

The audience erupted into cheers and laughter, and the host chimed in, “Mr. Yi, you’re truly witty and humorous! Let’s all look forward to it and offer our blessings!”

Yi Siling was that unfortunate eldest daughter. Her marriage prospects were always a hot topic of speculation, gossip, and heated discussion in their social circle.

“But…”

Yi Leling lowered her gaze and sighed. “Dad has been acting strange lately. First, he goes on that interview and says all that nonsense, then he keeps dropping hints… Last week, I even saw him playing golf with Chairman Zheng. They were all buddy-buddy. Do you think maybe…”

“Second Child!” Yi Siling glared at her indignantly. “I’m warning you, Second Child, don’t you dare jinx me!”

Yi Leling, the second daughter, was two years younger than Yi Siling.

Yi Leling knew she had stepped on a cat’s tail, but she felt compelled to continue, “You dumped that womanizer. If your ex-boyfriend becomes your husband, that’s just bad luck. But after thinking it over, I believe the chances are highest that Daddy will choose the Zheng Family. You need to be prepared.”

“Impossible.”

Yi Leling patiently pressed on, her tone gentle yet firm, “Mia, I’m just saying, if Daddy insists on you marrying into the Zheng Family, what would you do?”

Yi Siling fell silent for a long moment before lifting her chin and scoffing, “Then I’ll marry him. If that womanizer dares to marry me, do you think I’m scared to marry him? Am I afraid of him?”

Yi Leling rubbed her temples, softening her tone further, half coaxing, half reasoning, “Mia, I need to remind you-that womanizer hooked up with a model just a month after breaking up with you. Don’t tell me you’re planning to tolerate that. I’m saying all this so you can prepare yourself in advance and think about how to handle it. Don’t just argue with me… okay?”

The womanizer they were referring to was the Zheng Family’s Second Young Master, Zheng Qijun, also Yi Siling’s ex-boyfriend.

When they first got together, Young Master Zheng had been utterly devoted to Yi Siling, catering to her every whim. But for some inexplicable reason, two months ago, he had suddenly turned cold and stubborn over a minor disagreement, declaring that unless Yi Siling backed down, he would never give in.

But he forgot that Yi Siling wasn’t the type to back down.

Once words were spoken, they couldn’t be taken back. Young Master Zheng cared too much about his pride, and so their relationship ended abruptly, without closure.

The next time she heard about him was last month, when the paparazzi caught Young Master Zheng with a new flame at a luxury hotel-Yi Siling’s hotel.

The incident turned Yi Siling into a laughingstock in their social circle, and it had been eating at her ever since.

“I’m not throwing a tantrum. This isn’t about enduring-it’s about acting. Zheng Qijun and I are just putting on a show. What do you know?” Her tone was both spoiled and flippant, and utterly unreasonable.

Yi Leling felt like her head was about to explode. She wanted to strangle Yi Siling but managed to hold back.

Strangling her would only mean spending a fortune to make up for it later. Not worth it.

Just then, a waiter approached and said, “A Mr. Zhang is asking if you’re available. He’d like to invite you for a mojito.”

What nonsense. Yi Siling brushed it off casually and continued, “Anyway, no matter who I marry, it’s all just an act. At least Zheng Qijun is someone I know. The others? I don’t even recognize them.”

“Do you think I want this?”

Her voice softened, her long lashes drooping as she fiddled with the diamond bracelet on her wrist. Her beautiful face was obscured by the steam, exuding an indescribable sense of gloom.

It was rare for her to feel this way.

Yi Leling’s heart ached. She knew that Yi Siling’s arranged marriage was inevitable-and she herself might not escape the same fate either.

It was only a matter of time.

Her usually cool expression now showed a hint of defeat and frustration. “Fine, I can’t win this argument. If he really is a womanizer, maybe you should find a new boyfriend to make him jealous.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Yi Leling regretted it, scolding herself for saying something so reckless. She was about to backtrack when she noticed the dullness in Yi Siling’s eyes suddenly brighten-

“You’re my little strategist!” Yi Siling exclaimed, her voice rising with excitement. “If I find a man now, whether it’s real or fake, that Zheng guy will be furious. Maybe he’ll even be so embarrassed that he’ll call off the engagement himself! That’s what you meant, right?”

“…”

Yi Leling pressed her lips together, ultimately staying silent.

She didn’t want to ruin Yi Siling’s mood.

.

The last two desserts were a berry sorbet and a coconut milk pudding. Lumi, the restaurant owner, came over to toast and once again thanked Yi Siling for leasing the space to her.

The restaurant was located on the upper floors of the Star Top Hotel, one of the most prime locations in Hong Kong, where every square inch was worth a fortune. Countless people had vied for the spot, but Lumi had secured it by keeping Yi Siling happy.

After all, the hotel belonged to Yi Siling-the building, the land, everything.

Yi Siling’s mood improved slightly, and her attitude softened. Lumi, sensing the shift, became even more attentive, effortlessly spouting flattery. She was a former Miss Hong Kong who had married into wealth a few years ago, relying on her charm and social finesse to navigate high society.

During their small talk, the waiter who had been dismissed earlier returned, bowing respectfully. “Miss Yi Siling, a Mr. Xie would like to invite you to his private room for a brief chat. He’s asking if you’re available.”

The waiter, oblivious to the intricacies of social politics, simply delivered the message without realizing how awkward it would make the situation.

Inviting Yi Siling to a private room for a chat.

What audacity.

Lumi froze, not daring to smooth things over, and could only watch Yi Siling’s expression carefully.

Yi Siling merely smiled, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and said nonchalantly, “Who invited this Mr. Xie? How interesting.”

Lumi’s face changed slightly, realizing that Yi Siling was subtly calling her out as the hostess. The event wasn’t strictly exclusive-there was a guest list she had prepared, but friends had also brought their own acquaintances. She couldn’t possibly know everyone, and she silently cursed the idiot who had caused this trouble.

She forced a smile and said, “It’s just because our BB is too charming! Even at my little gathering, six or seven people have asked about you. Don’t worry, BB, I ignored them all! These clueless men, knowing full well you have a fiancé, still try to get close. So annoying…”

As she spoke, she suddenly noticed Yi Leling watching her with a warning in her eyes and immediately stopped talking.

Yi Siling hadn’t expected that the news of her impending marriage had already spread like wildfire, even reaching Lumi’s ears, while she, the person directly involved, was left in the dark.

It was almost certainly the Zheng Family. Daddy must have been too afraid to bring it up with her, so he kept it a secret.

Yi Siling swallowed her bitterness, forcing herself to stay calm. Then she pulled a thousand-yuan² Hong Kong bill from her bag and handed it to the waiter. “Please relay this message to Mr. Xie: I’m deeply in love and have no interest in chatting with unrelated men. Tell him to go find somewhere else to cool off and stop embarrassing himself.”

She wanted to vent her frustration, so her words were harsh. If anyone was to blame, it was this clueless Mr. Xie for walking right into her line of fire.

The waiter felt like he’d hit the jackpot of bad luck.

Lumi jumped in to salvage the conversation, “BB and your fiancé are so sweet together.”

Yi Siling feigned innocence, “Hmm? Did I say it was my fiancé?”

“…”

Yi Leling quickly nudged Yi Siling’s foot under the table, signaling her to calm down.

Yi Siling nudged back, assuring her it was fine, then smiled sweetly and blinked at the stunned Lumi. “Next time, I’ll bring my boyfriend along to hang out.”

Without a doubt, this news would spread like wildfire and quickly reach Zheng Qijun’s ears.

In the private dining room of the restaurant.

The unfortunate waiter stood stiffly, his eyes fixed firmly on the ground.

“She really said that?” Xie Mingsui pressed, determined to have the waiter repeat Yi Siling’s exact words verbatim.

The waiter’s voice grew softer as he spoke. “Those were her exact words. Miss Yi said she has a boyfriend and is deeply in love… She’s not in the mood to chat with anyone…”

He didn’t dare repeat the more embarrassing part.

Xie Mingsui’s brow twitched. Great, the original phrasing was even harsher.

She handed the waiter a tip, signaling for him to leave, then subtly glanced toward the man sitting diagonally across from her.

The Tom Yum Hot Pot bubbled steadily, its white steam obscuring the man’s calm, unreadable eyes.

His jade-like fingers held the chopsticks with practiced ease as he ate unhurriedly, saying nothing.

“Sister-in-law probably doesn’t know about the marriage arrangement…” Xie Mingsui offered, trying to diffuse the tense atmosphere.

“I don’t believe she doesn’t know! Didn’t the Yi Family say the wedding would be in two months?” Xie Zhiqi slammed his hand on the table, his handsome face flushed with anger. “Fine, so they think the Xie Family is full of pushovers? I’ll go ask her myself and get to the bottom of this!”

The chair screeched against the floor as he stood.

“Sit down.”

Two heavy words.

Xie Zhiqi froze in place, not daring to act rashly, but he was still fuming. “Big Brother, she actually dared to tell you to get lost! Who does she think she is? Even the Chief Executive wouldn’t dare act like that with you!”

This wasn’t an exaggeration.

Hong Kong Island, currently reeling from the financial crisis, was experiencing a sluggish market downturn. Its ties with the mainland had deepened, as had its reliance on it. Lan Yao Group, one of the mainland’s top five conglomerates, had responded to policy calls in recent years by increasing its investments in the Greater Bay Area, launching several billion-yuan projects. During this visit to Hong Kong, the Chief Executive had personally overseen Xie Xunzhi’s reception, accompanied by the mayor of Bin City.

Xie Xunzhi’s eyes were half-lowered as he leaned back in his chair, relaxed but not lazy, his thoughts impossible to decipher. “We’re not married yet. She’s free to date whomever she wants.”

Xie Zhiqi thought his brother had lost his mind. How could he say something so absurd? He said, heartbroken, “Wake up, Big Brother! She’s just trying to put you in your place! I’ll admit she’s decent-looking, so it’s understandable if you’re momentarily bewitched, but this is a green hat! A green hat! Xie Mingsui, you talk some sense into him!”

Xie Mingsui covered her nose in disdain, choosing to ignore him.

Xie Xunzhi slowly lifted his gaze, fixing it on his restless younger brother. His tone was gentle but firm. “Xiao Qi, if you can’t control your mouth, you’ll return to the Capital immediately and reflect on your behavior for a month.”

The man’s voice was calm, but Xie Zhiqi shivered.

When Big Brother said “a month,” he meant every single day, minute, and second.

He clamped his mouth shut and sat back down, sulking. Xie Mingsui took the opportunity to pinch the brat. He’s going to be the death of me.

Things had taken an unexpected turn, one that Xie Mingsui hadn’t anticipated. Accompanying Big Brother to Hong Kong this time was partly for business, but more importantly, it was about the marriage arrangement.

Amid their busy schedule, they had carved out this noon to meet Miss Yi.

The meeting had indeed happened, but it was far from what she had imagined-

Miss Yi was stunning, with an air of grandeur. Her outfit alone was likely worth millions. However, her words were surprisingly sharp. Xie Mingsui couldn’t help but wonder if this was Miss Yi’s way of asserting dominance, not just over Big Brother, but over the entire Xie Family.

She was increasingly baffled by her mother’s decision. After years of careful selection, she had ultimately chosen Miss Yi.

This wasn’t a gentle, virtuous flower suited for a peaceful household. This was a dazzling, high-maintenance bloom.

Big Brother was serious and composed. How could he possibly match with such a flower?

Xie Mingsui sighed inwardly.

The meal was tasteless and ended hastily. Xie Xunzhi had Uncle Mei settle the bill, while Xie Mingsui pulled Xie Zhiqi aside, whispering a warning to tread carefully, lest he provoke another sharp retort.

…

Yi Siling also found the meal uninspiring. She absentmindedly stirred her ice cream with a fork, turning it into a kaleidoscope of colors.

“Your lipstick’s smudged,” Yi Leling reminded her, urging her to stop overthinking.

Yi Siling immediately pulled out her compact and lipstick from her bag. “At least that womanizer lives next door.”

She twisted the lipstick tube open, gazing intently at her reflection in the mirror. “If we ever argue, I can just come home anytime.”

She was quite skilled at comforting herself.

The Yi Mansion was located at No. 28 Repulse Bay, while the Zheng Mansion was just 200 meters ahead, at No. 29.

Yi Leling teased her, “You don’t even need to argue yourself. Just send Fourth Child to handle it.”

Yi Siling’s laugh was delicate and charming.

The tom yum soup still steamed on the table as the meal neared its end. Yi Leling excused herself to the restroom, leaving Yi Siling alone. Once her sister was gone, Yi Siling fell into a daze, idly twirling the lipstick between her fingers like a pen.

She still needed to figure out how to make this act convincing. Just spreading a false rumor wouldn’t be enough. Maybe she should hire a fake boyfriend?

Or perhaps…

Distracted, she lost her grip on the lipstick. It fell with a soft thud onto the emerald-green enamel floor tiles, sliding away.

Yi Siling curled her fingers, pouting, but made no move to pick it up.

Her mood soured again, and she stubbornly refused to retrieve the lipstick, simply watching as it trembled to a stop in front of a pair of men’s leather shoes.

Polished Oxford shoes, handmade, British-style, immaculate.

Her gaze traveled upward, to the crisp lines of tailored suit pants, the fabric luxurious and perfectly pressed.

Yi Siling blinked, her eyes involuntarily moving higher.

Xie Xunzhi paused expressionlessly, bending down to pick up the lipstick that had rolled into his path. As he straightened up, his gaze locked precisely on Yi Siling.

Caught off guard by the sudden eye contact with this stranger, Yi Siling felt a jolt in her chest. Her eyes flickered with a mix of confusion and admiration.

He’s really handsome… she thought silently.

The man was tall and imposing, with a commanding presence, yet his demeanor was the opposite-calm, composed, and exuding an almost infinite tranquility. Behind him stood a rebellious-looking teenager in sunglasses and an elegant, poised woman.

When he stopped, the other two followed suit.

No words were exchanged, and the atmosphere grew heavy.

The man then strode toward her. Despite his gentle, polite gaze, it felt like an unfathomable shadow creeping closer, bringing with it an intangible yet overwhelming pressure.

He stopped right in front of Yi Siling.

Yi Siling curled her fingers, her heart inexplicably racing.

Pretending to be composed, she smiled and gestured to the lipstick in his hand. “Sir, that’s mine.”

Her voice was captivating, reminiscent of simmering red wine, wafting a faint yet alluring and rich aroma into the air.

Xie Xunzhi’s eyes flickered slightly. Of course, he knew it was hers.

He had been observing her from the start.

A month ago, his mother had sent him a photo of a girl, asking for his thoughts. He had opened it hastily during a conference break.

Very beautiful.

That was his only impression-nothing more.

In person, she was even more stunning than the retouched photo, like a radiant, luxurious flower, beautiful to the point of seeming almost superficial. Her every glance carried a pampered elegance, lazy and haughty, yet not unpleasant.

It was hard to dislike someone so beautiful.

But here was this woman, excessively beautiful, who, with only two months left until their arranged marriage, was deeply in love with another man and had no time to discuss their engagement.

She had even told him to get lost.

This marriage was likely doomed.

Xie Xunzhi averted his gaze and placed the lipstick on the table.

Yi Siling was about to say thank you, but the man turned and walked away, leaving behind a cold and sharp silhouette.

Footnote:

1. BB(宝贝): In this context, “BB” is a Chinese slang term derived from Cantonese that is used as a term of endearment, similar to “baby” or “babe” in English. It is often used to refer affectionately to a friend, partner, or significant other.
2. Yuan(元): Yuan (yuán) is the basic unit of currency in China. The symbol for yuan is ¥, 1 yuan ≈ 0.15 USD. Yuan (yuán)