Chapter 14: Secret Meeting at the Old House

Four of Captain Xu’s men followed behind, while Jian Xi walked side by side with him.

“Did that group leave?”

“They left.” Xu Jin had sharp eyes and ears; five minutes ago, he saw three cars pass by in succession on the distant road.

Jian Xi responded with an “Oh,” meaning they wouldn’t bother He Ran again.

Back at the old house, Tao Xinglai was fussing with the cake. Upon seeing her, he grumbled discontentedly, “You can disappear just by taking a walk? We were waiting for you.”

Jian Xi’s wool coat still had dew on it. The warmth inside made her shiver. “It hasn’t been long since we ate. Are you hungry already? Are you even serious about showbiz?”

“What kind of talk is that? This isn’t just fooling around; it’s my career.” Tao Xinglai clapped his hands together. “Dad, Mom, and all the fairy godmothers, come eat the cake!”

Jian Xi laughed and scolded, “Silly goose.”

The main lights were turned off, warm light flooded the walls, reflecting the glow of candles. Amidst the birthday song, Tao Xihong celebrated her fifty-second year.

Tao Xihong had built her fortune in dishwashing detergent. Her company had grown to become a leader in the central and eastern regions’ daily chemical industry. In recent years, she gradually relinquished control, showing signs of retiring behind the scenes.

After the commotion, Tao Xihong called Jian Xi aside. “Xi Xi, come here.”

“Just a moment.” Jian Xi finished her last bite of cake and wiped her mouth.

“Young Lu is quite sensible; he even called me to wish me a happy birthday,” Tao Xihong said, her manicured nails bright and vivid as she tucked Jian Xi’s stray hair behind her ear. “Mom knows you’ve liked him for many years. Has he shown any interest recently?”

“What kind of interest?” Jian Xi didn’t understand at first.

Tao Xihong smiled. “Men need experiences to mature. Mom thinks he still has feelings for you.”

Jian Xi remained silent for a long time.

“Set a time for him to come over for a casual meal.” Tao Xihong suggested. “Both you and Xinglai are good kids, never deliberately mentioning your father’s status. If you and Lu Pingnan have a connection, it doesn’t matter if he finds out—Little Xi? Why aren’t you speaking?”

Jian Xi lowered her eyes, her thoughts indiscernible. “We’ll see.”

Tao Xihong patted her shoulder. “Let Mom know when you arrange it.”

________________________________________

Jian Xi returned to her bedroom and flopped onto the bed.

Closing her eyes, her mind wasn’t filled with thoughts of “Lu Pingnan pursuing her” anymore. Instead, it was the heartbeat she heard an hour earlier on Yati Road, held protectively in that man’s arms.

Like thunderous, blood-pumping sounds.

But just before leaving, he seemed unhappy? That displeased face looked like he would snap at her any second.

Jian Xi chuckled, feeling tangled up in all sorts of messy emotions for so long, only remembering his explosive temper.

She rolled over, picked up her phone, and opened WeChat. He Ran’s profile picture was a torch icon.

Jian Xi: [Are you back yet?]

She typed, deleted, retyped, hesitated for a long time, and finally added a “pat on the head” emoji.

A quick reply came.

He Ran: [No.]

Jian Xi: [Are you outside enjoying the breeze? It’s pretty cold.]

He Ran: [Only my wife can boss me around.]

Jian Xi burst into laughter, her doubts and bad moods swept away. She hugged her phone, rolling twice on the bed, facing the ceiling, typing: [Can you speak properly?]

He Ran: [Yes.]

Jian Xi stared at the screen, the chat page showing “the other party is typing.”

The dialog box flashed, popping up from below, He Ran: [If you want to boss me around, I’ll definitely let you.]

Jian Xi’s heart raced uncontrollably. She dropped her phone, which hit her face with a “thud.”

“Ow!” Jian Xi cried out in pain, quickly searching for her fallen phone.

He Ran’s latest message arrived, two words: [Come down.]

Jian Xi thought she misread it, forgetting even the pain in her nose. Once she realized, she practically tumbled off the bed, rushing to the window and pulling the curtains open forcefully.

Under the street lamp, He Ran stood far away, leaning against a tree, looking at his phone.

Noticing movement on the second floor, he looked up, his eyes instantly lighting up.

Without typing, Jian Xi sent a voice message directly: [I’m coming right now, wait for me.]

Breathing heavily and running, He Ran listened, lips curving into a smile, then put his phone back in his pocket.

“Woah, missile launch!” Tao Xinglai happened to bring out bird’s nest soup from the kitchen, watching Jian Xi flash past, marveling, “Her shoes are on the wrong feet.”

Jian Xi pulled open the door, hopping down the steps in three strides. He Ran, cigarette in mouth, watched the woman sprinting wildly, smiling broadly.

“Why are you here?” Jian Xi bent over, catching her breath, standing before him.

He Ran took the cigarette from his mouth and smiled. “Actually, I followed you after you left. I only felt at ease once I saw you safely enter the house.”

Jian Xi responded with a “Hmm,” lowering her gaze to rub her shoe sole. He Ran’s eyes followed downward, frowning. “Your shoes are on the wrong feet.”

“I was in such a hurry I didn’t notice.” Jian Xi touched her head, feeling embarrassed.

Quickly, she took off one shoe, balancing on one foot to switch them. Wobbling unsteadily, He Ran firmly supported her. “Go ahead and change.”

With support, Jian Xi transferred half her weight onto him. After changing the shoes, she looked up and smiled, politely asking, “Do you want to come in and sit for a bit?”

He Ran’s eye corners lifted, his smile curved. “What will you tell your parents? That I’m your boyfriend?”

He teased, testing her straightforwardly and directly.

Jian Xi pursed her lips, poking him in the shoulder with her index finger. “Dream on.”

“So you’re getting physical now,” He Ran clicked his tongue. “Don’t think I won’t dare to discipline you.”

Jian Xi tilted her head, a smile playing on her lips. They stood quietly; neither spoke for several seconds.

“Let’s go back.”

“Let’s sit for a bit.”

They spoke simultaneously, their tones matching perfectly.

He Ran laughed aloud, while Jian Xi turned her head, bending her lips to gather her windblown hair.

“I won’t sit. I’m leaving.” He Ran paused, then leaned forward, lowering his voice. “Next time when you’re alone at home, I’ll sit. You can make me sit all night if you want.”

Her ears heated in circles. Jian Xi straightened her gaze, glaring at him, then turned and walked into the house.

Facing away from He Ran, she couldn’t help but grin widely, her smile lingering until she entered the house.

________________________________________

The next morning at the old house, Tao Xinglai left for a TV appearance before six. By seven-thirty, Jian Xi arrived at the hospital, donning her white coat, spotting the queue already forming outside the consultation room.

Another batch of intern nurses had arrived, quick-handed and organized, much to Jian Xi’s liking.

At four o’clock, she received a text from Lu Hanxiao, giving an address and inviting her to visit after work.

Lu Hanxiao was also quite eccentric—a member of a prominent family with complex kinship ties. Despite growing up in such an old aristocracy, he chose a path less traveled, hiding a ruthless capability beneath a carefree exterior.

Jian Xi thought for a moment; she had no other plans that night, so she agreed.

Driving to Jincheng Mansion after work, it was nearly seven o’clock. A waiter greeted her at the entrance. Giving Lu Hanxiao’s name, the waiter led her to the VIP floor with practiced ease.

The largest private room echoed with continuous karaoke singing even before reaching the door.

Jian Xi pushed the door open, and a few people near the entrance turned, exclaiming, “Oh, a beautiful woman.”

Lu Hanxiao, sitting at the bar, pushed away the flirtatious woman in his lap, standing up and pointing at those few people. “Get lost. That’s my sister—stuck in traffic, huh? So late?”

Jian Xi muttered, “Yeah, there was a rear-end collision on the bridge, causing a massive jam. I haven’t eaten yet.”

Lu Hanxiao, wearing a flashy black shirt, draped his arm over her shoulder and led her to a smaller adjacent private room. “No one should starve my sister. Let me order food for you. What do you feel like eating? Garlic shrimp?”

Jian Xi: “Fried noodles.”

With a single command, within ten minutes, a waiter brought a large bag of takeout. Besides fried noodles, it included all of Jian Xi’s favorite dishes.

Jian Xi ate hungrily, making slurping noises. Lu Hanxiao handed her a reheated honey pomelo tea, saying, “Don’t choke. Eat as much as you want.”

“You left that beauty in the neighboring room; not very gentlemanly of you. Go back; I don’t need company.” Jian Xi’s cheeks bulged.

“How can they compare to you?” Lu Hanxiao bit his cigar, his thick brows and deep-set eyes piercing. “Eat your fill.”

Jian Xi pushed a bell pepper aside, asking, “You and He Ran are close friends? Last time, it seemed like you’ve known each other for a long time.”

Lu Hanxiao lit his cigar, smoke billowing like fog. “More than a decade of friendship.”

Jian Xi hadn’t expected such a long history. She looked up, curious. “Why have I never heard about you having such a friend?”

“You’ve always been such a good girl, excelling in both character and academics. I’ve been protecting you; how could I let you mingle with people from my circle?” Lu Hanxiao chuckled.

“How old is He Ran?”

“The same age as me.”

That meant twenty-nine. Jian Xi thought for a moment and asked, “Is he a local?”

“No, he’s from Lichuan in Yao Province. We met while doing business.”

“He used to be in business?” Jian Xi frowned.

Lu Hanxiao noticed Jian Xi coughing from the cigar smoke and promptly extinguished it. He softly laughed. “You haven’t seen He Ran from a few years ago. In Yao Province, he was quite the figure, extremely fierce.”

Jian Xi began to understand the source of He Ran’s arrogant and domineering aura.

“A cousin from his family betrayed him, ruining a multimillion-dollar deal and nearly landing him in an economic lawsuit. I was abroad at the time. When I returned, I heard about it, but he was nowhere to be found.”

Towers rise, towers fall; in the blink of an eye, the world changes.

He Ran had once commanded the high-rise life, spending money like water, a dashing young master. But once the walls crumble, everyone pushes, leaving behind only a dark legend.

Lu Hanxiao pinched his brow, his tone cooling. “That cousin of his, drunk with success, stole He Ran’s family business and his woman.”

Jian Xi, who had been silent, suddenly looked up. “His girlfriend?”

“A childhood sweetheart,” Lu Hanxiao sneered coldly. “Hooked up with his cousin. If it weren’t for He Ran stopping me, I’d have taken care of that pair of dogs long ago.”

Jian Xi lowered her eyes, bitterness rising in her heart. Life’s affairs are never perfect. How regrettable, fate gave this man a taste of sweetness, then cruelly bestowed upon him heart-wrenching pain.

Lu Hanxiao watched her silently. “Little Xi, He Ran likes you. What about you? What do you think?”

Jian Xi tightened her hand, loosened it, and confessed, “I don’t know.” After a pause, her voice was small and trembling. “I think... I might still like Lu Pingnan.”

Lu Hanxiao furrowed his brows slightly at her words, took out a match, and relit his cigar while lowering his head. “Don’t jump to conclusions. Think carefully, don’t let superficial things cloud your heart.”

He spoke calmly and resolutely. “When it comes to feelings, if you misjudge, it’s suicide.”