OSTF - 11

Chi Suisui hung up the phone, ending Song Miaoli’s fantasy.

Today’s breakfast was probably made by the aunt who came over, and it was all-inclusive, looking very beautiful and with a wide variety.

“Why didn’t you call me to get up?” Chi Suisui sat down opposite him.

“Are you sure you want me to push open your door and call you to get up?” He Xingwang took a sip of porridge and glanced at her. “Your—”

“Forget it, I can get up myself.” Chi Suisui quickly interrupted him, lest she hear something she shouldn’t.

From childhood to adulthood, her sleeping posture had always been quite varied. Her mother had mentioned it more than once, and He Xingwang had even seen it.

After all, they had grown up together since childhood, a proper childhood sweetheart relationship. They had seen each other’s sleeping postures since they were little.

Chi Suisui raised an eyebrow. “Such good memory.”

He Xingwang remained noncommittal, not arguing with her. The young lady would never let herself suffer a loss; she was a thorny rose.

Halfway through the porridge, Chi Suisui remembered her purpose. “What do you think of my money-making proposal yesterday?”

He Xingwang frowned. “I don’t think there’s any benefit for me.”

Chi Suisui leaned forward on the table, blinking. “How can there be no benefit? Or do you want a share of the profits too?”

“...”

“Your parents seem to like it quite a bit,” Chi Suisui said meaningfully. “And I think they seem to have misunderstood something.”

As she spoke, her fingers unconsciously tapped on her lips.

He Xingwang’s gaze followed.

Her lip color was lustrous, contrasting clearly with her fair fingers, sinking slightly with a light press, an indescribable softness.

Chi Suisui withdrew her hand and took another sip of sweet soup.

Watching those lips disappear behind the bowl, a subtle emotion stirred in He Xingwang’s heart. He shifted his gaze and finally asked, “Misunderstood what?”

“Misunderstood that I kissed it on,” Chi Suisui said, not feeling the slightest bit shy. “A real kiss wouldn’t be so intact.”

“...”

He Xingwang hummed after a long while.

The image of Chi Suisui’s earlier action flashed before his eyes again, and he felt like he was going crazy.

The sound of spoons clinking against bowls was crisp and pleasant. The phone notification finally broke the tranquility.

He Xingwang glanced at the message. It was from his mother: 【Come back for dinner with Suisui tonight.】

Chi Suisui also received the message.

The two of them looked up at the same time, their eyes meeting, and even their words were spoken in unison—

“We’ll go back for dinner together tonight.”

“Your mom wants us to go back together.”

At six o’clock in the evening, Chi Suisui and He Xingwang arrived at the He residence.

Through the car window, they could see the warm lights inside the house. Chi Suisui closed half the window. “We’re here.”

She had been to the He residence many times. The two families had a good relationship, and because they had been engaged since childhood, they were even closer.

Ordinary people might think that arranged marriages between wealthy families were devoid of emotion, but that wasn’t always the case. Many couples cultivated feelings for each other from a young age.

The He family had many members, but only He Xingwang’s immediate family lived here.

As soon as Chi Suisui got out of the car, someone came over to take their gifts. She handed over her bag as well and smiled slightly. “Auntie He.”

“You shouldn’t have brought anything,” Jiang Huiyue said with a smile, pulling her along. “Let’s go in quickly.”

“Is Suisui here?”

A kind voice came from inside.

“Grandma.”

Chi Suisui’s own grandmother had passed away when she was young. She often came to the He residence, so the old Mrs. He loved and doted on her, liking her very much.

Over time, she had started calling her Grandma along with He Xingwang.

The old Mrs. He saw Chi Suisui’s figure from afar, her eyes narrowed. “Come over here and let your old grandma take a look at you.”

As she waved, the candy in her hand fell out.

“Grandma, you’re stealing candy again.” The Wang auntie from the house quickly went over to pick it up and didn’t give it back to her.

“It’s my own candy, how can it be called stealing?” The old lady looked quite dissatisfied. “Give it back to me quickly.”

Chi Suisui quickly walked over, took her outstretched hand, and winked at Wang auntie to divert the old lady’s attention.

He Xingwang was behind her all along, his expression calm and elegant. “Mom, Dad, Grandma.”

He was the most稳重 child in the younger generation of the He family. Although he spent most of his time training, he had already begun to take over some of the He family’s businesses.

For the adults, shooting was just a hobby. Moreover, He Xingwang had won glory for the country, causing the He Corporation’s stock to rise as a result.

So, returning to inherit the business was only a matter of time.

Chi Suisui sat down holding the old lady’s hand. The old lady was still brooding over the candy that had just been taken away.

“Your aunt is also coming back today,” Jiang Huiyue said, walking up to He Xingwang.

“Hmm,” He Xingwang replied.

“It should just be her with your cousin,” Jiang Huiyue sighed. “She won’t get a divorce even though she should. I don’t know what she’s thinking.”

She turned to Chi Suisui. “I saw the video from two days ago.”

Jiang Huiyue was referring to the S University graduation ceremony.

He Xingwang’s expression was indifferent. He only raised his gaze to look ahead and slowly said, “I won’t have much time in the next month.”

“Understood.”

Jiang Huiyue looked at her son. The longer time passed, the more he seemed unlike her and her husband. That incident back then had matured him almost overnight.

From the youthful impetuosity of the past to the mature restraint of the present.

More than one person felt this way. Now, at any banquet, those his age were wary of him, let alone others.

Just as they were talking, the doorbell rang again.

“Why didn’t anyone come to pick me up?” He Chuhua’s voice was loud. Before anyone even appeared, her voice was heard.

The auntie at home quickly went to take the things.

Walking all the way in, seeing Chi Suisui sitting beside the old lady, He Chuhua was stunned, but quickly smiled again. “Suisui is here too.”

Chi Suisui curved her eyebrows. “Yes, Aunt He.”

She and He Chuhua had never gotten along, but they would still put on a show of politeness.

Chi Suisui wouldn’t let others affect her manners, especially since this wasn’t her own home.

Just as she was speaking, a child’s head popped out.

Chi Suisui looked at the timid child behind He Chuhua. Clearly, both parents came from good families, yet the child had been taught to be like this.

He Chuhua looked at Chi Suisui’s youthful vitality and then at the child behind her. Her just-calmed heart stirred again.

She was only a few years older than Chi Suisui. The He family’s discipline was strict, and she was rebellious, often being scolded by her family during her adolescence. Chi Suisui, on the other hand, was a princess doted on by everyone.

Everything Chi Suisui did was right; everything she did was wrong.

Everyone in the He family liked Chi Suisui. She was the only one who didn’t. Later, she married and had children, but her marriage was unhappy, and there were constant conflicts.

In the blink of an eye, several years had passed.

Chi Suisui was still the bright and flamboyant girl of the past.

Before dinner, Chi Suisui went to the kitchen to take a look.

The old lady’s diet had to be specially controlled, and He Xingwang’s diet also needed attention. Both were top priorities.

When Chi Suisui came out, she heard He Chuhua’s sharp voice in the living room again. Jiang Huiyue just came over to get something, looking a bit embarrassed.

“Chuhua has been like this since last year,” Jiang Huiyue sighed. “It’s our fault for not choosing the right person for her, but she was the one who insisted on him.”

Chi Suisui looked thoughtful.

She had been abroad and sick when He Chuhua got married, so she hadn’t come to the wedding but had only sent a gift.

There were only a few prominent wealthy families in South City, and He Chuhua happened to marry someone who had fallen on hard times. In the past two years, all sorts of gossip in South City had been related to her.

“We want her to get a divorce, but she refuses, saying the child needs a father,” Jiang Huiyue glanced towards the living room.

“Aunt He, you shouldn’t interfere too much,” Chi Suisui said.

“I’m not interfering. What right does a sister-in-law have to interfere?” Jiang Huiyue smiled at her meaningfully. “I’m only thinking about you and Xingwang now.”

Chi Suisui’s eyes curved into a smile, but she didn’t say anything.

Jiang Huiyue was about to continue speaking when they heard a clattering sound from the living room, followed by He Xingwang’s cold voice.

“Aunt.”

He Xingwang looked at her coldly.

With this one word, the living room fell silent. He Chuhua was actually an elder, but she was inexplicably intimidated by He Xingwang. His gaze made her back feel cold.

Chi Suisui looked on curiously. Did elders fear their juniors?

The old lady was resting there with her eyes closed. Jiang Huiyue went over to comfort her. Chi Suisui walked to He Xingwang’s side and asked softly, “Did you scare her?”

He Xingwang said, “Do you think I would?”

He pondered for a few seconds. “In your eyes, would I do such a boring thing?”

Two consecutive questions showed how much he disliked this matter.

Chi Suisui carefully looked at He Xingwang’s face and burst out laughing. “You probably wouldn’t do such a boring thing.”

He Xingwang remained noncommittal.

The old lady was upset, and the whole family went over to take care of her. Chi Suisui would only be in the way if she went over, so she stood there waiting.

He Chuhua’s voice came from behind her. “Speaking of which, Suisui didn’t even attend my wedding back then. Was she trying to disrespect me?”

Chi Suisui turned her head. “Aunt He, you’re not a child anymore. Grandma is old and has high blood pressure. You’re still arguing with her.”

“What did I argue about?” He Chuhua had always been sarcastic, and now she was even more easily provoked. “Chi Suisui, you haven’t even entered the He family yet. Aren’t you interfering too much? Besides, marriage can also end in divorce.”

She spoke meaningfully, full of sarcasm.

“You’re right.”

Chi Suisui’s expression didn’t change, and she said with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, “I didn’t make it to your wedding back then because I didn’t have time. I should have time for your next wedding.”

He Chuhua didn’t react at first. By the time Chi Suisui gracefully walked away, she was so angry that her nose was crooked.

Wasn’t this cursing her?!

If Chi Suisui knew her thoughts, she would definitely feel wronged. Aunt He herself had proposed for love, and now she was a bitter wife from a humble background. Divorce would actually be more liberating for her.

During dinner, the atmosphere at the table became even more bizarre.

He Xingwang’s father, He Minghua, was helpless with his younger sister. He couldn’t hit her, and scolding her would only lead to her scolding back even more fiercely.

So, he directly ignored her at the table and turned to Chi Suisui and He Xingwang. “Suisui just graduated, and Xingwang doesn’t have any competitions recently. When do you two plan to have a formal engagement banquet?”

The childhood engagement was, after all, just verbal. Both families attached great importance to this matter, so an engagement banquet was absolutely necessary.

All eyes at the table were on Chi Suisui and He Xingwang.

Before Chi Suisui could speak, He Xingwang put down his chopsticks, his eyebrows slightly raised, and said calmly, “There’s no need for an engagement.”

As soon as his words fell, the entire dining room fell silent.

Even Chi Suisui was stunned, her gaze falling on the man beside her. For a moment, she wondered if he had fallen for someone else.

Jiang Huiyue almost dropped her chopsticks. “Xingwang, what nonsense are you talking about?”

He Chuhua, who had been looking down, now raised her head, a gloating look in her eyes as she glanced at Chi Suisui with a hint of mockery.

“Oh dear, Xingwang, how can you say that? Wouldn’t Suisui be gossiped about as a rejected woman in the future?”

Chi Suisui put down her spoon, which landed in the porcelain bowl with a crisp sound.

He Chuhua’s heart skipped a beat as she saw the casual glance Chi Suisui threw her, a hint of a cold smile in it.

“Auntie really needs to improve her Chinese,” Chi Suisui said, the corners of her lips curving into a meaningful smile as she glanced at her. “It wouldn’t be good for a junior like me to teach you the correct usage of this word.”

Why didn’t she ever learn?

So many years had passed, hadn’t He Chuhua ever thought about getting any advantage from her? She respected her elders, but it depended on who they were.

No one in South City dared to gossip about Chi Suisui.

He Chuhua always felt like she was being attacked.

After thinking it over, she still felt confused. It was still Chi Suisui’s comment about attending her next wedding that was more infuriating.

“Aunt, talk less. No one will think you’re mute,” He Xingwang glanced at He Chuhua, his voice slightly cold.

Upon hearing this, He Chuhua forced an awkward smile. “Xingwang, what did I say? Wasn’t I telling the truth? Wasn’t I helping Suisui—”

Chi Suisui’s expression was natural and very calm.

He Xingwang glanced sideways. Chi Suisui’s profile was stunningly beautiful, like a thorny rose.

“Engagement is a bit troublesome,” He Xingwang said, his expression unchanged, anticipating their misunderstanding. “What I mean is, let’s get married directly.”

His voice was like the collision of ice cubes, hitting everyone’s hearts in the dining room.

The entire dining room fell silent, and even the candy that the old Mrs. He had just hidden in her hand fell out in fright.