When Chang Yuan learned this news, she for a moment couldn’t say if she was happy or unhappy. If Wen Xian and Shen Lingge could last long, she definitely would be happy. But thinking that before when Chang Ligu had asked Wen Xian to live in Mingcheng, she wasn’t willing, and now just for a man she stayed here.
She couldn’t help but complain: “Dad, Xian Xian wasn’t like this before. You earnestly and sincerely called her for so many years and never saw her planning to come, saying things like not willing to part with Aunt and Uncle. I think she’s just…”
“Chang Yuan!”
Chang Ligu harshly interrupted Chang Yuan’s words. Right now, he didn’t want to hear anyone mention Wen Tianlin and Chang Shuang.
Chang Yuan was startled by Chang Ligu’s sudden change of expression. She stammered: “Dad, I won’t say anymore.”
After a moment of silence, Chang Ligu seemed to realize his reaction was too intense. He restrained the emotion in his eyes, lightly coughed once and said: “Yuan Yuan, Xian Xian is your younger sister. Moreover, now A’Yi has finally managed to establish a connection with the Shen family. I don’t want to hear you say such things again.”
After Chang Yuan responded, she didn’t bring up this matter again. But in her heart, she still felt a little strange. Whether it was now or the day Wen Xian and Shen Lingge had dinner at home before, it seemed like as long as she mentioned Aunt and Uncle, she would get scolded.
Last time it was Xie Xin, this time it was Chang Ligu again.
She didn’t know why she couldn’t bring up Aunt and Uncle. After thinking for a long time, Chang Yuan still couldn’t figure out a reason. She didn’t get too caught up in it, after all, it was all things from a long time ago already.
Shen family.
Shen Lingge was holding a video meeting in the office. He would occasionally raise his eyes to glance at Wen Xian leaning on the desk to the right, drawing. This afternoon she had to go out, so she followed him to the company.
She never brought up the matter of wanting to go out to work. Recently she had been very well-behaved—either accompanying him at the company or going to find Song Mingxi to play.
Occasionally she would also follow him and Chi Yanyu to their gatherings, but most of the time she was very quiet.
Having been away from that circle for many years, she had already gotten used to not being the focus of a crowd.
He lowered his eyes, planning to discuss with Song Mingxi the matter of opening a studio for Wen Xian.
Song Mingxi had once subtly asked Wen Xian if she had interest in doing her own brand. She and Duoduo all really liked the clothes Wen Xian designed. But Wen Xian had never thought about this matter.
This little girl only knew how to hide in her room secretly drawing, then drawing clothes to give to Song Mingxi and Duoduo.
If she was willing, at that time she only needed to focus on designing. As for other things, he would handle all of them for her. He often felt there weren’t many things he could do for her; now he had finally found an opportunity.
By the time Shen Lingge finished the meeting, it was already noon. After explaining the follow-up to Xiao Song, he was ready to take Wen Xian to eat.
Shen Lingge stepped over to Wen Xian’s side. He glanced at the drawing on her paper. Recently she had been practicing colored pencils—hue, brightness, purity, warm and cool tones, all of these she had already balanced very well.
He could tell that when she was learning to draw, she was very serious, also very hardworking.
She had always been learning to grow, never stopping her steps forward.
Shen Lingge reached out his hand and lightly patted her head: “Xian Xian, we should go out to eat. In the afternoon didn’t we make an appointment with cousin to look at wedding dresses?”
Wen Xian finished coloring that small leaf before putting down her pen. She leaned on Shen Lingge’s hand to get up: “Shen Lingge, when you get off work and go home in the afternoon, remember to bring my drawing bag back.”
Shen Lingge answered in a low voice.
…
One o’clock in the afternoon.
Shen Lingge sent Wen Xian to the entrance of a private haute couture wedding dress design shop.
When Chang Yuan arrived, she happened to see that seemingly indifferent man lower his head and hug Wen Xian once before turning around to leave, and after he left, the bodyguard behind him followed along.
Chang Yuan lightly pressed her lips together. There was still a girl standing next to her.
This was Lin Zhiyi’s biological younger sister, Lin Zhiyiya.
Lin Zhiyiya leaned her head out and looked curiously: “Saozi, is that your cousin? Her boyfriend looks a bit familiar, but I don’t remember where I’ve seen him before. She looks really good.”
Chang Yuan glanced at Lin Zhiyiya. It seemed Lin Zhiyiya’s brother had only told their parents about Shen Lingge’s matter and hadn’t spread it outside.
Since that matter, Chang Yuan could clearly feel that Lin Zhiyi’s parents’ attitude toward her had changed a little. Although originally their attitude towards her wasn’t bad, recently it had become much warmer.
Chang Yuan answered: “Mm, her boyfriend, in all of Mingcheng there aren’t many people who don’t recognize him.”
Lin Zhiyiya became interested: “Saozi, who is that?”
Lin Zhiyiya had just turned eighteen this year, still hadn’t started to touch the upper circles too much, but following her older brothers and sisters, she had already learned quite a bit. In Mingcheng’s circle, there wasn’t a single outstanding young man whose name she couldn’t say.
Chang Yuan hooked her lips: “Shen Lingge.”
Lin Zhiyiya: “……”
She stared wide-eyed and glanced at Wen Xian: “Saozi, what kind of background does your cousin have?”
Chang Yuan didn’t explain any further. She only looked toward the shop entrance and raised her voice to call: “Xian Xian!”
Wen Xian turned her head and looked at Chang Yuan and Lin Zhiyi. She jogged over to Chang Yuan’s side and obediently called her: “Yuan Yuan-jie.”
After Wen Xian finished calling, she glanced at Lin Zhiyi. Before Chang Yuan could explain, this little girl already leaned over: “My name is Lin Zhiyiya! Ah ah ah, up close you look too good, I want to be friends with you!”
Chang Yuan pulled back the overly lively Lin Zhiyi: “This little girl is just like this in personality, Xian Xian, let’s go in first.”
Wen Xian curved her lips toward Lin Zhiyiya.
Chang Yuan had already picked out styles in advance. When she went in to change clothes, Wen Xian and Lin Zhiyiya sat on the sofa outside. On the tea table in front of them were placed delicate desserts.
Wen Xian picked up an album and flipped through it, while Lin Zhiyiya was secretly looking at Wen Xian.
She looked for quite a while before she understood why Shen Lingge had been single for so many years. His requirements for a girlfriend were just too high— not only did she have to look good, her personality also had to be that soft and cute.
Wen Xian lowered her head looking at the luxurious and expensive wedding dresses in the album. She had once thought that marriage was something very far away from her, but after meeting Shen Lingge, her life seemed to speed up moving forward.
Thinking of this, she couldn’t help missing Shen Lingge a little again. Wen Xian took out her phone and sent him a text message.
[Wen Xian: Your Xian Xian kind of misses you.]
[Shen Lingge: I’ll have the driver turn around and come pick you up.]
[Wen Xian: …It’s not to that extent.]
[Shen Lingge: Will you come home for dinner tonight? I’ll come pick you up.]
[Wen Xian: Tonight I’m going shopping with cousin and them, you go have fun on your own.]
[Shen Lingge: I’ll pick you up after shopping. I’ll go sit at A’Yu’s place for a bit.]
[Wen Xian: Don’t go halfway and start boxing again, all covered in medicine smell. I don’t want to share a bed with you.]
[Shen Lingge: Won’t go. Also won’t drink or smoke.]
[Wen Xian: Kiss kiss.]
[Shen Lingge: Kiss.]
Chang Yuan tried on a total of three sets of wedding dresses. Wen Xian and Lin Zhiyiya’s opinions were very unified, both giving all their votes to the second lotus-pink palace-style wedding dress. This style really suited Chang Yuan.
The light pink bridal gown and the handmade embroidery on the hem were both incomparably exquisite. The lush branches and leaves were vivid and lifelike.
Every single wedding dress here was one of a kind.
By the time Chang Yuan finished trying on all the formal dresses, night had already fallen. The street lights on the roadside were all lit, the warm yellow light illuminating the bushes sunk in shadows.
A silver moon hung high in the night sky.
Chang Yuan linked arms with Wen Xian and Lin Zhiyiya as they walked out: “Thank you both for today. Coincidentally, a sister of mine arranged a dinner gathering. I’ll take you both there for a big meal. That private restaurant isn’t easy to book.”
Lin Zhiyiya reminded: “Saozi, I have to go back and catch up on homework. Tomorrow’s already Monday. Our professor is really scary; I don’t want my credits deducted.”
Only after Lin Zhiyiya said that did Chang Yuan remember: “Then saozi will have the driver take you home first.”
Lin Zhiyiya waved her hand: “No need, saozi, my friend is nearby. I’ll go along the way with her.”
After saying that, Lin Zhiyiya blinked at Wen Xian: “Pretty jie jie, I’m heading off now\~”
Without waiting for Wen Xian to respond, after speaking she walked away on her own.
Wen Xian’s words “Be careful on the road” got stuck in her throat. Seeing her leave, she silently swallowed it back down.
Chang Yuan brought Wen Xian to a private garden-style restaurant. Usually, reservations took one month in advance.
That private restaurant was in the suburbs. They got stuck in traffic for a while on the way. By the time they arrived, it was already 7 p.m. Wen Xian’s phone battery was almost dead. She thought of calling Shen Lingge once so he wouldn’t worry.
But Shen Lingge didn’t pick up her call. Wen Xian only dialed once and didn’t call again, after all, there were bodyguards following her. Shen Lingge wouldn’t be unable to find her.
When Wen Xian followed Chang Yuan into the private room, she paused for a moment, because most of the people inside were men, with only two women sitting.
It seemed Chang Yuan knew all of them.
Most of the men in the private room set their gaze on Wen Xian the moment she walked in.
When Jiang Xinjing saw Wen Xian, a trace of interest flashed in his eyes. He couldn’t resist licking his back molar. It had been a long time since he’d seen such a pure woman in the circle.
Just looking made his heart itch.
Chang Yuan didn’t carefully introduce Wen Xian’s identity, only said she was her cousin.
After Wen Xian sat down, she didn’t feel comfortable. The entire room was filled with smoke smell, and the table was piled with alcohol. She symbolically took two bites then excused herself to go to the restroom.
The moment Wen Xian stepped out of the private room, she finally let out a breath of relief.
The night wind blew away some of the cigarette smell that had clung to her body. In the corridor, there was only Wen Xian alone. She walked forward with her head slightly lowered. Actually, she just wanted to find a place to sit for a while.
She didn’t notice that someone had been watching her from behind the whole time.
Jiang Xinjing did not follow immediately. As soon as he stepped out, he saw that this girl had bodyguards with her. Four or five bodyguards stood scattered not far away, but all of them were paying attention to her movements at all times.
Jiang Xinjing leaned against the doorway smoking a cigarette. Only when Wen Xian disappeared along the path to the restroom did he lift his steps and follow after.
At the same time.
Shen Lingge also saw the missed call on his screen. He was eating at a private restaurant with Chi Yanyu and the others. Just now, he had been forcibly dragged by Chi Yanyu to watch the girls in the private room making tea, which was why he didn’t pick up Wen Xian’s call.
He unlocked the screen and immediately called Wen Xian back.
Restroom.
When the ringtone rang, Wen Xian was washing her hands. She sped up, rinsing the foam off her hands with water, casually pulled a piece of paper to wipe her hands, and then picked up the call.
Wen Xian held the phone and turned around: “Shen Lin—ah—”
She suddenly bumped into someone’s chest. The strong smell of smoke mixed with a faint hint of alcohol. Wen Xian instinctively lifted her eyes to look. A man was standing right behind her.
Short bluish-black hair, features clean and handsome.
After being bumped into, not only did he not move aside, he even gave her a rogue-like smile: “You’re very beautiful, especially your eyes.”
Wen Xian: “……”
She glanced at the phone screen that showed the call was connected, and felt like she was done for.