Chapter 77

Xi Heng waited for Song Pianxian in the private room of the Cantonese restaurant for half an hour before she arrived.

He sized her up with displeasure.

“Why are you late?”

This was the first time Song Pianxian dared to make him wait.

Handing her coat to the waiter, Song Pianxian sat opposite Xi Heng.

Thinking about what Meng Yue said, Xi Heng said, “Is it because of last night? I’ve told you several times, I’m often not at home. Don’t make the same mistake next time.”

“Why do you think it was me who was wrong?”

Song Pianxian asked this question out of curiosity. What was Xi Heng’s logic?

No matter how childish the original self’s mentality was, persistently waiting at the boyfriend’s doorstep. While Xi Heng was enjoying himself elsewhere, not checking his phone, letting his girlfriend endure a night of cold wind, and now he was blaming her for being unreasonable.

Subconsciously, Song Pianxian felt that she had never encountered such a person before, not even pretending to be decent, selfishly righteous.

Xi Heng was taken aback, then furrowed his brows deeply, continuing to use an accusatory tone: “You’re still in a bad mood. I don’t want to argue with you. Be good.”

Song Pianxian remained noncommittal but put down the chopsticks she had just picked up.

A bit nauseating.

Xi Heng continued, “Dress up tomorrow night. Meng Yue will come to pick you up at your place.”

He didn’t ask if Song Pianxian had other plans, only slightly curling his lips: “Be obedient, and I’ll treat you well.”

Listening to his rambling, Song Pianxian took a sip of lemon water and said, “I also have something to tell you.”

Xi Heng looked at her elegant posture and raised an eyebrow.

“I won’t continue to work as the company’s receptionist,” Song Pianxian informed him.

“You’ve only been working for three months. As you know, I can’t let you into the CEO’s office,” Xi Heng said, blaming her for not being sensible.

“For our future, you should endure a bit. Don’t cause so much trouble just because Xia Lei casually deducted your salary,” he continued.

“I’m already tired from work. You can’t help, so don’t make trouble,” Song Pianxian said, her expression unchanged, raising her hand with the palm facing him, signaling him to stop.

Xi Heng paused, then looked at her displeased.

Seeing the striking resemblance between her and Nie Lingbo in her lips and nose, and the slight resemblance in her facial features, Xi Heng softened his tone:

“What’s wrong with you today? Suddenly so unreasonable. What’s a little salary deduction? Is it because your bank account is empty—”

“In fact, I’m considering whether our relationship needs to continue,” Song Pianxian said calmly.

“What did you say?”

“I’m in a very bad mood right now. If you continue, I will break up with you right now.”

Xi Heng frowned at Song Pianxian, his anger clearly rising.

After downing a glass of lemon water, his gaze turned heavy as he looked at Song Pianxian’s face, resembling Nie Lingbo’s:

“Tomorrow, Meng Yue will come to pick you up. I hope you’ll be calmer tomorrow.”

After saying this, he picked up his suit jacket and left without looking back, leaving Song Pianxian behind.

Song Pianxian remained calm throughout.

Xi Heng’s personality is quite complex. From his childhood experiences, he was sensitive and insecure. Therefore, when he rose to a high position, he couldn’t tolerate any disobedience, especially from his girlfriend.

He viewed his girlfriend as his possession, trampling on the personalities and self-esteem of the girls as if they were roadside weeds, yet gazing at the moon with a self-assured but insecure gaze.

Song Pianxian had no interest in being a saint to guide him to goodness, nor would she continue such a relationship with him.

After Xi Heng left, she enjoyed the delicious food alone.

Finally able to eat.

As she enjoyed the tender and delicious crispy pigeon, Song Pianxian internally said to the dumbfounded 09:

“I think ending this relationship is the most reasonable development.”

“…” 09 hesitated, “But…”

She struggled for a while, unable to come up with anything. After all, she also thought that if it weren’t for the money and that plate of sliced noodles, nobody would have been interested in Xi Heng. Both hosts didn’t care; they would just break up if they wanted to.

But…

“Ending it right from the start?”

Completing one of the two tasks already?

Song Pianxian shook her head.

Seeing how Xi Heng could entangle himself in a melodramatic relationship with the original self, Song Pianxian knew that Xi Heng wasn’t someone who could let go easily.

The current Song Pianxian was just an ordinary employee, a rootless female student, facing Xi Heng was definitely at a disadvantage.

Even if she proposes a breakup, Xi Heng won’t let go. Not to mention the difficulties in work and survival, there are also many plots in the president’s novel where he dominates forcefully.

Song Pianxian didn’t want to challenge Xi Heng’s shallow legal and moral concepts, so she didn’t immediately propose a breakup just now. Even if she did, she wouldn’t be able to break away.

Song Pianxian wiped the corner of her lips, her movements unhurried.

Besides, tomorrow night, without her having to break up, Xi Heng will take the initiative to disappear from her presence for a while.

Song Pianxian acted on her words and went back to submit her resignation letter to the manager. The manager, afraid to let people go easily, made a phone call to the president’s desk.

Not knowing what Xi Heng said, the manager responded nervously, telling Song Pianxian that she could resign, but they needed to find a replacement first.

Song Pianxian didn’t make it difficult for the manager and agreed.

Usually obedient Song Pianxian suddenly caused trouble. Although Xi Heng didn’t think it was a difficult problem to solve, it did make him displeased.

Song Pianxian was still too fond of throwing tantrums, but Xi Heng still liked her, especially the lower half of her face—

Facing that, as long as she didn’t make too much trouble, Xi Heng would always tolerate her.

He even thoughtfully prepared an anniversary date for their one-year relationship, just tomorrow night.

Song Pianxian had always been moved by this, and she would definitely be touched then, no longer causing trouble over trivial matters like Xia Lei.

This was all within Xi Heng’s plan, and the other small quarrels were harmless.

Xi Heng relaxed his brows, then turned his attention away from Song Pianxian and opened a social media app, skillfully finding Nie Lingbo’s profile.

He looked at the person in the photo with longing and admiration.

Nie Lingbo attended an industry symposium, among a group of middle-aged men, she was mature and charming, looking directly at the camera. Her eyes seemed to captivate souls, easily stealing everyone’s attention.

Looking at the short video, almost everyone present seemed to be paying attention to her movements. Whenever she moved, she drew everyone’s gaze, and people greeted her with their eyes.

The news used Nie Lingbo’s attendance as the headline, placing it in the most prominent position.

Academic symposiums are usually unpopular, but as long as Nie Lingbo comes, the enthusiasm soars due to her legendary talent and superior appearance.

She is the desire of everyone’s hearts, haunting their dreams. Naturally, people look up to her and pursue her.

Xi Heng’s fingers brushed over her face, opening the edited version of the symposium, skipping to the part where Nie Lingbo spoke.

Nie Lingbo’s slightly deep and magnetic voice echoed in the office.

He squinted, as if listening to celestial music.

Just wait a little longer, in two years, he would go abroad and appear in front of Nie Lingbo—

Meng Yue pushed open the door, holding a phone.

“President, it’s Mr. Fu on the line.”

Xi Heng, slightly disturbed, furrowed his brows and took the phone.

“Dad, what’s up?”

“Your sister is coming back. I heard her friend is arranging a welcome party for her, and you should go too.”

“Xi Zihua?” Xi Heng asked. “It’s been three years. Why is she suddenly coming back?”

“It’s her friend’s arrangement, what’s it to do with me?”

“I heard from your aunt that she’s coming back with Nie Lingbo.”

Xi Heng’s eyes widened suddenly.

“You know Nie Lingbo, right? She has made great achievements overseas over these years, and the Nie Family listens to her opinions. You should meet such a noble person.”

“I heard she also went to S University. You’re considered her junior, and also Xi Zihua’s brother. If you go and build some connections, you won’t have to worry in the future.”

Xi Heng’s throat tightened, and for a moment, he couldn’t speak.

Nie Lingbo was coming back? His palms became slightly sweaty, and his fingertips turned white.

All this sudden goodness felt like a dream. In a daze, he heard Nie Lingbo’s voice from the symposium video:

“Next, I will return to Huaguo and develop the domestic market.”

It’s not a dream, not a dream.

Xi Heng couldn’t wait to ask, “When? When is she coming back?”

“Tomorrow,” Fu Siyuan said, “I don’t know the specific time. Ask around, don’t be afraid of trouble.”

How could he be afraid of trouble!

Xi Heng immediately called some friends, asking around, and surprisingly, it was Xia Lei who gave him the information.

Xia Lei loved to meddle in everything, and now hearing that Xi Heng was going too, she found it strange.

Who didn’t know that Xi Heng played dirty tricks? His dad was even a heartless scumbag, emptying the family’s assets for Xi Heng.

Although Xi Wei and Xi Zihua, siblings, didn’t have to worry about their clothes and lived in the villa as usual, ultimately, they still relied on their generosity and looked at the faces of the mistress and the unfaithful husband.

If not for this, would Xi Zihua, who always spoke softly, have gone abroad to try her luck?

Now that Xi Zihua was coming back, she seemed to be in a hurry.

Xia Lei promised to take Xi Heng along, but she wanted to see what Xi Heng was up to.

“What time is the gathering?” Xi Heng asked as soon as Xia Lei agreed.

“Oh, tomorrow at seven in the evening.”

Xi Heng hung up the phone and instructed Meng Yue, “Clear my schedule from tomorrow afternoon to evening.”

“Okay.” Meng Yue paused and asked, “Should we also cancel the reservation for Ningzhou Garden’s evening private booking?”

Only then did Xi Heng remember his appointment with Song Pianxian, their one-year anniversary.

His expression froze, as if a singing magpie in his heart suddenly hit a snag—

But in the next moment, he made a decision without hesitation:

“Cancel it.”

“Should I inform Ms. Song?”

“I’ll do it myself,” Xi Heng said magnanimously.

Perhaps it was inherited blood, inheriting Fu Siyuan’s obsession with Bai Yueguang, while also inheriting a compensatory mentality towards the “main wife.”

But after Meng Yue left, he suddenly remembered that he hadn’t prepared a gift for Nie Lingbo—

Yes, he hadn’t prepared a gift for Nie Lingbo.

This gift must be personally prepared by him to show sincerity.

Xi Heng’s heart burned with warmth. After thinking and pondering in the office, he finally came up with something suitable. He grabbed his car keys and left the company, leaving behind work and Song Pianxian, completely forgetting about them.

After finishing her call with her mother, Xi Zihua turned away from the window of the VIP lounge.

A staff member from the VIP lounge approached her with a warm smile and softly informed her that she could board the plane now.

Xi Zihua nodded and held her phone, looking at the woman sleeping lightly on the sofa in the corner.

The woman wore a black silk eye mask, covering her eyebrows and eyes. Her full red lips were enticing, and her curly hair was slightly messy, some falling onto her collarbone. She gently scratched herself, exuding a charming demeanor.

In the past, Xi Zihua thought highly of her own looks because she was used to seeing Nie Lingbo, which corrected her self-perception.

Some people naturally make others feel inferior.

Regardless, what excited her the most was finally returning to the country. Therefore, Xi Zihua woke up the sleeping beauty without hesitation:

“Lingbo? We can depart now.”

“Uh.” A shallow murmur made her ears tingle. Xi Zihua couldn’t help but scratch her ear.

The sleeping beauty stretched out her slender, fair hand and removed the black eye mask.

With her hair slightly messy and sleepiness in her eyelashes, her reddish-brown eyes glinted under the light, as cold as ice wine.

Xi Zihua couldn’t help but say, “You just finished a project. You should rest for a few more days. Why rush to return to the country with me?”

She boldly guessed, “Are you afraid I’ll be bullied and want to support me? Lingbo, you’re so kind.”

Nie Lingbo glanced at her, took a step forward, and walked out first:

“Because this is the nearest flight.”

“…”

She chased after her, “But why?”

Why?

Nie Lingbo didn’t stop walking.

She also wanted to know why.

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu

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