Li Zishen and Shen Yiming chatted their way into the villa, but they hadn’t walked a few steps before Li Zishen suddenly stopped, standing still in the center of the lobby.
Shen Yiming looked relaxed and at ease, while Li Zishen’s gaze was deep and profound.
"The girl in this painting is... Xiao Wan."
On the wall directly opposite the hall hung an enormous oil painting.
It depicted a pond with verdant lotus leaves, with a young girl in a floral dress standing shoulder to shoulder with a boy, the scene immensely idyllic.
The person who haunts his dreams, even just her silhouette, could be recognized at a glance.
Not to mention the pond was exactly like Mei Garden.
"Mr. Li really has a good eye, indeed, it is Lady Tang, Tang Xiaowan, Leng Lingxiao’s childhood sweetheart and new bride. Isn’t she beautiful?" Shen Yiming asked unabashedly, obviously intending to remind him.
"Indeed very beautiful, and the painting is well done!" Li Zishen nodded slightly, replying in an indifferent tone, but his heart felt as if it were being pierced by a thousand arrows.
Childhood sweethearts? That’s a bit of a stretch, he’s clearly ten years older than Xiao Wan!
"Why not tell Mr. Li another secret? This was painted by Mr. Leng himself, impressive, right? Wouldn’t you never guess if I hadn’t mentioned?"
"Mr. Leng really is... inscrutably profound!"
With a heart full of sourness, Li Zishen slowly shifted his gaze away, smiling as he walked toward the sofa, fearing he would lose control of his emotions if he continued looking.
At that moment, he even regretted coming; this was simply adding to his own troubles.
Unfortunately, this thought was fleeting.
Before he could sit down on the sofa, Tang Xiaowan approached gracefully, her hand gently held by Leng Lingxiao as they descended the stairs together.
"Zishen, when did you arrive?"
"Just a while ago." Li Zishen replied tenderly, his eyes joyfully fixated solely on Tang Xiaowan.
She wore a black printed dress with her wavy hair loosely braided over one shoulder, looking both beautiful and composed. The full set of ruby jewelry she wore only added to her radiance.
This was none other than the set Leng Lingxiao had custom-ordered at Wanhua Jewelry headquarters in Country Y.
However, there was a particularly glaring red mark on Tang Xiaowan’s fair neck, as dazzling as a rose, making Li Zishen’s passionate heart feel like it had fallen into a bottomless icy pit.
His eyes grew cold, the clearly defined bones in his hands unintentionally making a creaking noise, forgetting for a moment that he was just a guest in Lingxiao Manor.
Tang Xiaowan: Ah, Huahua’s aim has been achieved, I really sacrificed myself this time!
Shen Yiming: Jealous much?
Bai Long: What’s gotten into Brother Shen, he wouldn’t be thinking of getting into a fight with Leng Lingxiao, would he?
Just then, Li Ruonan happened to come from the kitchen and saw this scene, utterly confused and unsure of what had happened.
"Mr. Li, hello! Nice to see you again!"
Li Ruonan’s greeting broke the tension and subtly reminded Li Zishen of his place.
"Mrs. Shen is well, I trust?"
"Good, all good, haha!"
Speaking, Leng Lingxiao, in high spirits, also arrived with Tang Xiaowan in tow.
"Mr. Li, welcome, welcome. Got held back by something just now, hope Mr. Li won’t mind. Please, please, have a seat!"
Leng Lingxiao’s voice was very loud, his expression exuding triumphant joy.
"I’m sorry to disturb, may everything go smoothly and auspiciously for you." Li Zishen said with a faint smile, directly handing the gift box containing the Jade Ruyi to Tang Xiaowan.
This was, after all, a blessing meant for her, and he did not wish to pass it through Leng Lingxiao’s hands.
"It’s so heavy, thank you!" ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ N0veI.Fiɾe.net
After speaking, Tang Xiaowan smiled sweetly.
Li Zishen seemed to want to say more, but Leng Lingxiao suddenly extended his arm towards him.
So, the group, each with their own thoughts, took their seats while the servants began to serve tea.
Wang Meijuan was also there, but while the other servants followed Zhao Renjie out, she silently stayed beside Tang Xiaowan.
She remembered what Cheng Shi had said.
She thought: This is Lingxiao Manor. If you dare have any improper thoughts, this lady will ensure you never leave here alive!
At this moment, the atmosphere was laden with various undercurrents of wariness.
After Li Zishen had taken his first sip of tea, Leng Lingxiao started with a smile.
"Mr. Li, I’ve heard that you’re interested in building a five-star hotel in Chicheng... Have you decided on the location yet? If you need any help... just let me know, no need to be polite."
Upon hearing this, Bai Long’s thin lips slightly moved.
He really thinks Chicheng is his own backyard!
Li Zishen, however, just smiled faintly, "Thank you for the kind offer, Mr. Leng, I appreciate the gesture."
How could he possibly accept? Wouldn’t that mean admitting in front of Tang Xiaowan that he was inferior to Leng Lingxiao, unable to secure even a simple piece of land?
Moreover, before he entered the door, Bai Long had received a call; everything was going according to plan.
"Oh, okay then, let me know if you need anything."
After Leng Lingxiao finished speaking, he turned his head and looked at his little wife, Tang Xiaowan, with a smile in his eyes.
"Tangtang, you’ve just taken over Chi Sea, if there’s anything you don’t understand... it’s perfect since Manager Bai is here, he has more experience with hotels."
What’s this, putting on an act of modesty now?
"I wouldn’t dare say I have experience, but Lady Tang, if you have any questions, feel free to ask," Bai Long replied, looking at Tang Xiaowan with a gentle demeanor.
Lady Tang? Good choice of title—is it because you refuse to acknowledge... that I’m already married to Leng Lingxiao?
"Ah, I do have something indeed, um..."
And so, Tang Xiaowan naturally took over the conversation, asking Bai Long all sorts of questions, important and trivial alike.
It was really just small talk. Tang Xiaowan felt that this was better than having Leng Lingxiao and Li Zishen come into conflict.
It wasn’t until ten or so minutes later, when Zhao Renjie came to report that the meal was ready, that they followed Tang Xiaowan to the dining room.
The dining table was covered with various exquisite seafood, large lobsters, abalones, crabs, and more—all of which Leng Lingxiao and his company had caught themselves while diving that afternoon. Additionally, there was a roasted lamb, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, as well as seafood pancakes and pan-fried shrimp dumplings made by Li Ruonan herself.
After Li Zishen was seated, Bai Long sat down right next to him, with a very serious demeanor.
Li Zishen’s gaze would occasionally sweep over to Tang Xiaowan, wondering how he could find an opportunity to talk with her alone for a few minutes, to ask if she was truly happy, if she really planned to settle in Chicheng.
Bai Long, while answering Shen Yiming’s questions, would occasionally glance at Leng Lingxiao—between them, there was clearly a subtle atmosphere.
Everyone knows what’s happening with the commercial street.
"Just eating is too boring, how about we play a game?"
Leng Lingxiao looked at Tang Xiaowan, "Sure!"
The look filled with only you, and the speed at which she responded, were almost too obvious—a typical case of wife following the husband’s lead, as long as you’re happy.
"What should we play?" Shen Yiming then asked.
"How about hot potato, and whoever it lands on has to share a childhood story, to amuse everyone?"
"Sure, that sounds good, no one is allowed to cheat, they must make everyone laugh."
"Let’s keep it simple, it counts if even one person laughs."
Tang Xiaowan’s words were undoubtedly giving Li Zishen an out, worried he might not be able to relax.
"Alright, no problem, let’s start."
After Leng Lingxiao finished speaking, he looked towards Zhao Renjie.
Zhao Renjie nodded and quickly took two backup plates from a servant’s tray, smiling at everyone, "Ladies and gentlemen, let’s use a silver plate as the drum, and the other as..."
"We need a big red flower; it just doesn’t feel like childhood without one," Shen Yiming suddenly interrupted, standing up.
Tang Xiaowan laughed, "Meijuan, find a red ribbon."
But before Wang Meijuan could turn around, Leng Lingxiao waved her off.
"The napkins are burgundy, let’s use that. Dark red or bright red, it’s all red. Just tie it into a simple knot, and there we go, a big red flower."
"Right, that’s pretty too!"
With that, the atmosphere among the six people grew much lighter, and the game of hot potato began with a command from Zhao Renjie.
However, deep in Bai Long’s heart, there was a constant sense of guard and alertness.
He didn’t believe Leng Lingxiao was being so friendly.