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  • I’m Actually Really Rich Chapter 47

    Edited by Elv

    Kiss Him If You’re Jealous

    At noon, Zhou Kao took Wen Le to a restaurant near the company. There were many white-collar workers from the same building there, and when the two of them appeared, they attracted a lot of attention.

    Wherever handsome guys and beautiful women went, they were the centre of attention, and with the level of looks that Wen Le and Zhou Kao possessed, they were like walking beacons, shining brightly.

    After lunch, Zhou Kao didn’t have any meetings in the afternoon. He just needed to review some documents in his office, and occasionally someone would come in and ask him to sign something. However, such documents were rare because Zhou Kao, as a student, wasn’t yet independent enough to make decisions on most matters. Therefore, most of the documents had to be approved by the vice president, and Zhou Kao only needed to sign a few of them.

    Occasionally, young team leaders would come in and discuss projects with Zhou Kao. Sometimes, they sought his opinion, and other times, they just wanted to share their thoughts with him. Zhou Kao was not a micromanager, but he was an open-minded and gentle leader. It was clear that he had a good relationship with these young employees.

    Zhou Kao didn’t just listen and casually agree with what others said. He listened carefully, thought about it, and sometimes even humbly sought advice. Therefore, even though Zhou Kao was just a university student yet to graduate, he was not underestimated.

    Perhaps this had something to do with Zhou Kao’s family background. Both his father and mother were leaders, and they had unique insights into handling interpersonal relationships and leading subordinates. Influenced by his family, Zhou Kao had an advantage in leadership that his peers couldn’t match.

    While Wen Le appeared to be working on her laptop, her ears were actually perked up, listening to Zhou Kao’s conversations with the employees. 

    Maybe Wen Le didn’t realise it herself, but she thought she was doing a good job of pretending to work on her computer. In reality, the upward curve of her lips and the stars in her crescent-shaped eyes had already given her away.

    Even though Zhou Kao was talking to the employee, his gaze occasionally couldn’t help but drift towards Wen Le. Seeing Wen Le’s expression made his heart feel sweet and tender.

    After chatting with Zhou Kao, the employee quickly left Zhou Kao’s office. It was truly heartbreaking for the unattached employee to witness the lovey-dovey interactions between these two. These tyrannical dogs, who thought they were doing a good job at hiding it with their ambiguous glances, were really too much for the single dogs. 

    After leaving Zhou Kao’s office, the employee stood at the door and shivered, rubbing the goosebumps on his arms.

    At that moment, the girl with shoulder-length hair who had delivered water to Wen Le happened to pass by and saw him shivering. She narrowed her eyes playfully, smiled, and walked away. Judging by his expression, it seemed she understood something.

    After sending the employee away, Zhou Kao approached Wen Le and said, “Feeling bored? How about I give you a tour of the company?”

    Wen Le was actually quite curious, but after some thought, she shook her head. This was her first time here, and everyone was busy working. If she, as an outsider, followed Zhou Kao for a tour, it might not be appropriate.

    Zhou Kao probably sensed Wen Le’s hesitation and didn’t insist. He glanced at the time and said, “Is your assignment almost done?”

    Wen Le replied, “Almost. It isn’t urgent, the assignment isn’t due until next week.”

    Zhou Kao suggested, “How about we go watch a movie?”

    Wen Le was a bit surprised and glanced at the stack of documents on Zhou Kao’s desk. “Aren’t you going to continue working?”

    Zhou Kao replied, “I’ve almost finished. It’s rare for both of us to have free time, so we shouldn’t waste it.”

    With that, Zhou Kao reached out to hold Wen Le’s hand, pulling her up from her seat with a smile. He said, “Let’s go.”

    Wen Le smiled and closed her laptop, standing up with the help of Zhou Kao’s pull.

    After tidying up her belongings, Wen Le followed Zhou Kao out of the office.

    Zhou Kao’s secretary, seeing him leave, stood up and glanced at the bag Wen Le was carrying. “President Zhou, are you going out?”

    Zhou Kao nodded. “I’ve finished reviewing and signing the documents. They’re in the office. You can take them later.”

    The secretary asked, “Are you leaving work now?”

    Zhou Kao nodded again. “If there’s anything urgent, call me.”

    In reality, both of them knew that there was hardly ever anything urgent in the company that required Zhou Kao, who didn’t involve himself much in daily affairs, to be called.

    The two of them left the office and waited for the elevator in the elevator lobby.

    Both elevators, left and right, arrived on the 17th floor almost simultaneously, but one was going up while the other was going down. Zhou Kao put his arm around Wen Le and walked into the right elevator.

    At this moment, the left elevator’s doors also opened, and a few people stepped out. Among them, a man in his thirties dressed in a suit suddenly stopped and turned around. He caught a glimpse of something through the closing doors of the right elevator, and his handsome eyebrows raised slightly. However, the couple inside the elevator, engrossed in their conversation, didn’t notice the gaze.

    The elevator doors closed, completely blocking the man’s line of sight.

    “President Lu.”

    The man snapped out of his thoughts and nodded.

    This man was currently the main manager of the company and the confidant that Li Hua had assigned to Zhou Kao, Lu Bohan.

    Lu Bohan took a step towards the company entrance but ran into the secretary, who was coming out of Zhou Kao’s office with some documents. “President Lu.”

    Lu Bohan nodded then paused for a moment, asking, “Did President Zhou just leave?”

    The secretary hesitated but then nodded. “He just left.”

    Lu Bohan remembered the scene he had seen through the elevator doors—Zhou Kao and the girl behaving intimately. He couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow and smile. “Did he bring someone with him?”

    The secretary nodded and, thinking that almost the entire company knew about it, didn’t see the need to hide anything. “President Zhou said she’s his girlfriend.”

    Lu Bohan and Zhou Kao had a good and close relationship, so when he heard this, Lu Bohan chuckled. The kid sure is quick on the uptake. He already has a girlfriend now and even brought her to the office so openly.

    Lu Bohan checked the time on his wristwatch and guessed since he was knocking off at this time, it had to be for a date. 

    At 6:00 PM, after dinner, Zhou Kao promptly dropped Wen Le off at her dormitory. Just before getting out of the car, Zhou Kao pulled Wen Le in for a kiss once again.

    Couples in the honeymoon phase were always stuck together, reluctant to part.

    Zhou Kao released Wen Le, pushed a stray strand of hair away from her forehead, and then kissed her forehead gently. He said, “You have a competition tomorrow, so get some rest early tonight.”

    Wen Le nodded.

    Zhou Kao continued, “I’ll come to watch your competition tomorrow. Don’t be nervous.”

    Wen Le smiled and replied, “Why would I be nervous? I used to win awards every year at the high school sports meet.”

    Zhou Kao teased, “It seems like your hobby of collecting certificates and medals extends to all areas.”

    Wen Le retorted playfully, “Why, is that a problem?”

    Zhou Kao smiled warmly. “I just love your enthusiasm.”

    Wen Le playfully tapped Zhou Kao’s chest and said, “You smooth talker.”

    Zhou Kao held Wen Le’s hand, kissed it again, then finally let her get out of the car.

    As Wen Le stepped out of the car, she encountered Cheng Hui, who was on her way downstairs to buy dinner. Cheng Hui looked puzzled and asked, “Why are you back so early?”

    Wen Le replied, “Early?”

    Cheng Hui remarked, “Isn’t it early? Last time, when you said you were going to visit your dad, you came back really late.”

    That night was when Zhou Kao had fallen ill, and Wen Le had taken care of him at his place. Remembering this, Wen Le blushed and stammered, “I really did go to see my dad that day!”

    Cheng Hui gave Wen Le a strange look. “Who said you didn’t go see your dad? Why are you acting so guilty? Wait… Oh, so the night you came back late was actually because you were seeing Zhou Kao, right? I wouldn’t have known if you hadn’t said it.”

    Wen Le regretted giving herself away and felt like slapping herself.

    To divert Cheng Hui’s attention and prevent further questions, Wen Le quickly changed the subject. “Why didn’t you guys go out for fun?”

    Cheng Hui replied, “Couldn’t get out of bed, just lazed around all day.”

    Wen Le asked, “Who’s in the dorm?”

    Cheng Hui answered, “It’s just me and Man Qingxuan. Bao Xiaofan went home for a meal. And those other two you know.”

    As they continued chatting, the two of them entered the dormitory.

    Man Qingxuan was sprawled on her bed, engrossed in her phone. Wen Le asked, “Have you eaten?”

    Man Qingxuan turned around and continued staring at her phone. “On a diet.”

    Cheng Hui put down her meal box, opened a video to watch while eating, and glanced at Bao Xiaofan, who was lying on her bed giggling. “Are you still browsing the internet forums?”

    Man Qingxuan grinned and said, “This batch of male juniors is quite something.”

    Cheng Hui remarked, “Why didn’t I see any handsome guys?”

    Man Qingxuan replied, “Don’t set your standards too high. If you’re looking for someone like Zhou Kao, there won’t be any. But the overall quality is slightly better than previous years.”

    Man Qingxuan swiped her phone screen a couple of times and said, “Le Le, your photos from last year, holding up the sign, have resurfaced.”

    “Tsk tsk tsk tsk, if they’re not comparable then there’s nothing great about them.”

    “People online are saying that after seeing your grace and charm holding up that sign back then, they have no desire to look at the girls who came after.”

    Hearing this, Wen Le said, “So I’ve gradually become the enemy of girls.”

    Cheng Hui pretended to say, “Oh my, I also want to be the enemy of girls~”

    Wen Le tossed a pillow at Cheng Hui and said, “Please take that title away quickly.”

    At this point, Cheng Hui suddenly remembered something and exclaimed, “Quick, show me your uniform for tomorrow’s competition. Let Daddy enjoy it in advance.”

    TN: LOLLLL hahahaha I love Cheng Hui!

    Wen Le glared at her. “Friend, can’t you speak properly?”

    Cheng Hui laughed, “Haha, when you step onto the field tomorrow in those shorts, and your beautiful legs appear on the BBS, you’ll become the enemy of girls again.”

    Because of this comment, Wen Le felt a bit uneasy when she called Zhou Kao that night.

    Unfortunately, Zhou Kao couldn’t predict what he was about to face.

    Although it was Wen Le’s competition, the entire dormitory was already awake early the next morning.

    There were currently five people in the dormitory. Ai Fei was going to the library for self-study, and the rest were going to the sports field to cheer for Wen Le.

    Everyone was excited, but before leaving, Wen Le insisted on wearing a sun-protective jacket that covered her knees. Cheng Hui couldn’t persuade her to take it off.

    Cheng Hui was puzzled, “Aren’t you feeling hot?”

    Wen Le gripped the collar of her sun-protective jacket. “I’m cold.”

    Cheng Hui sighed, “Cold my foot!”

    Wen Le whispered in Cheng Hui’s ear, “Zhou Kao is coming to watch my competition.”

    Cheng Hui responded, “So what? Let him watch.”

    Wen Le said, “What if he gets jealous? I think if he comes to watch my competition with excitement but ends up feeling jealous, it won’t be good.”

    Cheng Hui said, “What’s the big deal? If he gets jealous, just kiss him. Kiss him again if he’s still jealous. Just kiss him until he surrenders.”

    Cheng Hui shivered at her own words, unable to control herself. “I can’t stand you lovey-dovey couples.”

    She spoke with a tone of disdain and disgust.

    Wen Le: ……

    Wen Le: Wait, how is this relationship-virgin even better at flirting than couples …

    TN: Hope you guys enjoyed the double chapters during this festive season~ Wishing everyone a happy new year!

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  • You’re So Arrogant Chapter 76

    Epilogue 6: Xin Li & Xie Yuran

    “What do you like about me?”

    Xin Li was caught off guard by this sudden question, momentarily choking on her words.

    Noticing her reaction, Xie Yuran smiled again, dismissing it as a fleeting attraction for her and not taking it to heart.

    He took off his suit jacket, tossing it onto the nearby sofa. A white button-up was neatly tucked into his tailored pants, buckled by a belt, showcasing his slender waist and long legs.

    Xin Li glanced at him from head to toe, admiring his physique while saying, “I like your…”

    Before she could finish her sentence, there was a sudden knock on the door.

    Both of them paused.

    “Yuran.”

    It was the voice of a middle-aged woman, probably one of his elders.

    Xie Yuran turned and looked toward the door, answering loudly, “I’ll be right there.”

    He looked back at Xin Li. “Would you like to rest here for a while, or come out with me?”

    “I…”

    Xin Li was about to say she would go out with him when she suddenly remembered her mom was still inside the venue. She immediately cooled her head, shaking her head, “You go first; I’ll go out in a bit.”

    Xie Yuran’s smile faded, and his expression changed slightly. He didn’t say anything and didn’t grab his suit jacket, just adjusted the collar of his button-up before opening the door and walking out. 

    After he had left for a while, Xin Li cautiously opened the door, peeking outside to make sure no one was looking before exiting and returning to the soiree.

    Mrs. Xu Wanqin just so happened to be looking for her, and upon seeing her, she started nagging again.

    Xin Li absentmindedly listened to her while scanning the surroundings, but she didn’t spot Xie Yuran.

    They didn’t cross paths again throughout the rest of the soiree.

    ……

    The next day, Xin Li woke up vexed, remembering their conversation from last night.

    What did he even mean?

    Did he think that her feelings were too shallow?

    Although she was initially attracted to his looks, she had met Xie Shuo afterward and wasn’t swayed.

    With their limited interaction and Xie Yuran’s consistently indifferent attitude, Xin Li gradually lost patience and stopped sending him messages. 

    To her delight, after hitting a few walls, Mrs. Xu Wanqin finally realized that Xie Shuo was not interested in her daughter, so she gave up on the idea of matchmaking.

    Enjoying her newfound freedom, Xin Li refused to move back home, citing the need to manage her clothing brand. Xu Wanqin nagged, but there was nothing she could do, so she let her do as she pleased.

    Shortly after, a girlfriend invited her to go vacay abroad. She just so happened to be bored to death, so she eagerly agreed and packed to go abroad for ten or so days.

    Amid her trip, she couldn’t resist and sent Xie Yuran a few photos of her adventures abroad.

    In the first couple of days, Xie Yuran courteously responded, but as time went on, it seemed like he grew annoyed, taking longer to respond perfunctorily. 

    Xin Li’s initial enthusiasm was extinguished to the point where there was almost nothing left, ending her trip with a sense of frustration. 

    Upon her return home, only then did she learn that something disastrous had happened in the Xie family—Xie Shuo had been in a car accident.

    The news was tightly controlled by the Xie family, and the exact details were unknown. It was reported that he was seriously injured and remained unconscious.

    Due to the accident, Xie Yuran, as his younger brother, must’ve been busy. No wonder why he had no time to respond to her messages.

    The lump in Xin Li’s heart lightened a bit, realizing that he didn’t ignore her on purpose.

    She picked up her phone, intending to inquire about Xie Shuo’s condition. However, after a moment of thought, she realized that the Xie family was preventing any leaks of information to the public. It might not be appropriate for her to inquire directly. 

    After hesitating for a while, she decided to put her phone down.

    For the following few months, Xin Li refrained from contacting Xie Yuran.

    Around two months later, there was some news from the Xie family. It was reported that Xie Shuo had regained consciousness, but unfortunately, he had lost his vision.

    Although unrelated to her, Xin Li couldn’t help but feel a tinge of regret since Xie Shuo had it all since he was born. It was unfortunate that he had such an outcome. 

    The next day, Xin Li learned from Xin Yu that Xie Yuran had been assigned back to the Junming Group headquarters, temporarily taking over Xie Shuo’s position.

    With the heir to the Xie family having an accident, there would undoubtedly be internal turmoil within the company. Having grown up in an affluent family, Xin Li was well aware of the dangers that came with such situations. Therefore, she refrained from bothering him too much, only occasionally sending a message to express her concern.

    Xie Yuran’s response remained insipid. He wouldn’t ignore her, but he was also far from being proactive or warm.

    His attitude left Xin Li feeling somewhat in despair, and on several occasions, she contemplated giving up.

    ……

    In the blink of an eye, it was already October.

    One day, Xin Li was dragged to the airport by her girlfriend to see her off.

    “Why have you been so down lately, like you’ve just experienced a breakup?”

    Her friend asked, noticing Xin Li’s lackluster mood.

    Xin Li glanced at her and thought: Not a breakup, but it feels almost the same.

    The person I’m interested in is out of reach—isn’t that akin to a breakup?

    Her friend linked arms with her and said with a smile, “Come on, don’t be so gloomy. I’ll bring you a gift when I come back.”

    Inside the airport, people were coming and going, with the sweet sounds of the announcer making announcements echoing continuously. 

    As they walked further into the terminal, her friend suddenly looked toward the right and exclaimed, “Hey, isn’t that Xie Yuran?”

    Xin Li was momentarily surprised. Following her friend’s gaze, she indeed spotted a familiar figure…

    It had been almost half a year since they last met.

    He seemed to have lost some weight, and his shadow on the gleaming floor appeared particularly slender.

    In front of him stood a young woman wearing a long dress. Her side profile was elegant as she smiled while chatting with him.

    Xin Li inexplicably had an inkling that the relationship between him and the woman was not simple.

    Her friend glanced at her and, noticing her expression, tentatively asked, “Xiao Li, I remember you used to have a bit of interest in Xie Yuran. Are you still pursuing him?”

    Xin Li said nothing, but her facial expression had already provided an answer.

    Her friend leaned in close and whispered to her, “If that’s the case, I advise you to cut your losses now. The woman in front of him is Zhang Muqing, the adopted daughter of the Zhang family. I recently heard that Xie Yuran likes her. However, the Zhang family favors Xie Shuo, so Zhang Muqing hadn’t agreed to his advances. Now that Xie Shuo has had an accident, Xie Yuran is likely to take over his brother’s position, and there’s a chance Zhang Muqing might change her target…”

    As she said, her friend suddenly remembered the rumor going around and lowered her voice, “I also heard that Xie Shuo’s accident might be related to his younger brother. I don’t know if it’s true or not… but you should keep your eyes wide open. Don’t pick a scumbag and get yourself pulled in…”

    Regarding the rumor about the car accident, Xin Li had also heard about it. But, she still believed in Xie Yuran.

    Although they didn’t spend much time together, her intuition told her that he wasn’t that kind of person.

    Seeing her silent, her friend didn’t dare to tease her anymore. She patted her shoulder and comforted her, “There are plenty of good men in the world. There’s no need to put all your eggs in one basket. I’ll introduce you to a few good-looking guys another day…”

    Before she could finish her sentence, Xin Li interrupted her, “Okay, I got it.” 

    After seeing off her friend, Xin Li glanced once more at Xie Yuran, who was still talking to Zhang Muqing. Her heart felt void, and an indescribable pain overwhelmed her. 

    No wonder he rejected her. It wasn’t because their statuses were incompatible; it was because he already had someone he liked.

    He had no girlfriend, but he had someone in his heart.

    Amidst the hustle and bustle of the airport, she stood still for a moment. She didn’t go up to him, just turned around and left.

    ……

    Since the day Xin Li saw Xie Yuran and Zhang Muqing at the airport, her feelings toward Xie Yuran have died down considerably. She rarely sent messages to him now. 

    She had her own pride. She didn’t know he had someone in his heart before, so she pursued him persistently. Now that she knew, it was time to cut her losses.

    However, it didn’t stop the pain in her heart. Every time the thought crossed her mind, it felt like a cotton ball was lodged in her chest.

    On Xie Yuran’s side, after not receiving messages from her for a long time, he just assumed that this heiress had finally grown tired of him. A strange and unexplainable feeling flickered in his heart.

    After Xie Shuo’s accident, he took on more responsibilities, becoming extremely busy and occupied. He also had to deal with various suspicions, so he had little energy to think about other matters, quickly pushing this matter to the back of his mind.

    ……

    They met again in the spring of the following year at a certain bar.

    This bar was owned by Xin Yu’s friend. Feeling down, Xin Li went over to sit for a while.

    The dazzling colored lights kept flashing. Leaning against the bar, she was chatting with a friend’s younger brother when she looked up and saw Xie Yuran entering through the door.

    Xin Li’s smile froze slightly.

    Xie Yuran also noticed her amidst the chatting and laughter of the patrons in the bar.

    After so long, her smile was still as brilliant. She was holding a glass of wine in her hand; the liquid in the glass rippled like the light in her eyes.

    The young man by her side had attractive features—probably her new love interest.

    As he expected, she was just momentarily attracted to him. The infatuation faded, and she withdrew quickly.

    A strange feeling surfaced in his heart, slowly spreading.

    Xie Yuran was in a daze for quite a bit, only retracting his gaze when someone beside him called him. He then sat down with his companion at a nearby booth.

    Seeing him turn away so indifferently, the smile on Xin Li’s face completely faded.

    After a while, she mustered to put on a smile and continued chatting with her friend’s younger brother.

    The wine in her glass gradually diminished, and Xin Li’s head became a bit cloudy, with the light and shadows before her eyes blurring.

    Leaning on the bar, she got up and smiled at her friend’s younger brother. “It’s getting late. I should head back. I’ll treat you to drinks next time.”

    “I’ll send you…” The other party also got up.

    “You’re also drunk; can you even send me back?

    Xin Li laughed, evading his attempt to help her, and swayed as she walked out of the bar. However, just a short distance beyond the entrance, she almost bumped into someone.

    Xie Yuran had also come out. He reached out to steady her as the light reflected off his watch flickered.

    Xin Li managed to steady herself before looking up and meeting his gaze as he looked her way.

    This situation somewhat resembled their first meeting.

    Their eyes met, and neither of them spoke a word. 

    Her friend’s younger brother also came outside, and seeing this situation, asked puzzledly, “Xiao Li jie?”

    Xin Li snapped out of her thoughts and looked at the person in front of her. That painful feeling resurfaced.

    Forcing down the discomfort in her heart, she greeted with a smile, “Long time no see.”

    Xie Yuran glanced at her and then at the young man behind her. His expression slightly changed as he replied, “Long time no see.”

    His chauffeur just so happened to pull up the car, parking by the road.

    Xin Li thought he would be like before, getting into the car and leaving without hesitation. However, he unexpectedly asked her, “Do you need a ride?”

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  • You’re So Arrogant Chapter 75

    Epilogue 5: Xin Li & Xie Yuran

    The shadows of the trees cast upon them, and an ambiguous atmosphere quietly emerged in the night breeze.

    Xie Yuran felt the softness of her waist in his palm, and the faint fragrance on the girl subtly stirred something.

    Xin Li looked up and smiled at him. Before Xie Yuran could respond, a familiar voice suddenly sounded from behind…

    “Xiao Li!”

    Xin Li turned around at the sound of the voice. Her brother, who knew when, had also come out and was standing nearby, looking displeased with a slight frown.

    Xin Li had no choice but to let go, freeing herself from Xie Yuran’s embrace. Before letting go, she winked at him and whispered, “Whether we’re suitable or not, you’ll only know after trying.”

    After saying that, she quickly turned around and walked toward Xin Yu, leaving behind a slender figure.

    “Ge.”

    Approaching Xin Yu’s side, she smiled cajolingly. 

    Xin Yu glanced at Xie Yuran before shifting his gaze back to her. “Didn’t I tell you? Mom and Dad won’t approve.”

    Xin Li raised her chin, looking nonchalant. “Won’t it be fine if you just don’t tell them?”

    Xin Yu neither agreed nor disagreed.

    Xin Li blinked her eyes. “Ge, you won’t sell me out, right?”

    She clung to his arm and said, using a soft and sweet tone, “Ge… is the best brother in the world…”

    Unable to resist her, Xin Yu sighed before saying, “Fine, fine. Just have a boundary.”

    Xin Li immediately beamed, “Got it!”

    Xin Yu ruffled her hair with a smile.

    After watching the two of them walk away, Xie Yuran emerged from the shadows after a long while.

    ……

    That night, when she returned to her place, Xin Li held her phone, contemplating whether to send a message to Xie Yuran.

    After typing and deleting for a while, she decided not to be too enthusiastic at this stage to maintain the upper hand. 

    She closed her phone and lay back on her bed, smiling while clutching onto her blanket as she recalled Xie Yuran’s expression at the end.

    It wasn’t until the next evening that Xin Li finally sent a message to Xie Yuran. The content was pretty casual, just a snapshot of the sunset outside her window.

    Xin Li: “……..”

    Xin Li: “Did you have dinner yet?”

    Xie Yuran didn’t ignore her, and after a moment, he replied succinctly, “Just ate.”

    Short and to the point.

    Xin Li, originally intending to trick him into suggesting to have dinner together, felt a bit disappointed upon seeing his response, so she just asked, “Alone?”

    Xie Yuran: “No.”

    Xin Li continued to ask, “With whom?”

    Xie Yuran: “My brother.”

    Xin Li: “…….”

    Can’t he type a few more words?

    Xin Li rolled her eyes and sent over a pitiful emoji.

    Xin Li: “I still haven’t eaten.”

    Xie Yuran: “Why haven’t you eaten?”

    Xin Li: “My foot hurts, so I don’t have an appetite.”

    Without waiting for his response, she quickly added another message.

    Xin Li: “If you bring food over, maybe I’ll have an appetite then.”

    Meanwhile, Xie Yuran was in the midst of discussing matters with Xie Baiyan and Xie Shuo. Xie Baiyan said something and noticed that Xie Yuran seemed absent-minded. He couldn’t help but ask, “Xiao Ran?”

    Xie Yuran placed his phone aside and looked up.

    Xie Baiyan said a few more things before ending the conversation. As he was about to leave, he thought of something and suddenly asked Xie Shuo, “A’Shuo, are you still in contact with the lady from the Xin family?”

    Xie Yuran’s expression froze slightly.

    Xie Shuo replied indifferently, “No.”

    Seeing his expression, Xie Baiyan knew that he couldn’t say anything to him, so he just turned and walked away.

    Xie Yuran glanced at Xie Shuo before picking up his phone again.

    ……

    Lying on the sofa, Xin Li eagerly held her phone, waiting for a response. After waiting for a while without a reply from him, she felt a bit frustrated. What’s wrong with him?

    He just vanished as we were chatting!

    Even if he doesn’t wanna bring food over, did he have to ignore my message?

    She sat up and tossed her phone aside, irked. Then, she got up and went to the fridge to grab a bowl of pre-cut fruit. She stuffed the fruit into her mouth unhappily as she played a drama. 

    Tonight, she indeed wasn’t hungry, and she had no intention of eating dinner.

    As dusk descended and the light dimmed outside the window, the doorbell suddenly rang half an hour later.

    Hearing the sound, Xin Li was puzzled before her heart skipped a beat. Could it be that he really came over?

    She put down what she was holding and hurriedly put on her slippers.

    As soon as she opened the door, her smile faded slightly—it wasn’t Xie Yuran, but a delivery person.

    “Hello, your dinner order.”

    “…….”

    Alright, he didn’t come, but ordering dinner for her could still be considered passable.

    Xin Li consoled herself silently before cheering up again. She took the takeout back inside.

    Before picking up her chopsticks, she arranged the food on the table and took a picture to send to Xie Yuran, expressing her thanks.

    After a long while, Xie Yuran replied with, “Enjoy your meal.”

    Xin Li responded with a smiling emoji.

    It seemed that he did have some feelings toward her.

    In the following days, Xin Li occasionally sent messages to Xie Yuran, flirting with him. Her days passed by leisurely and carefree.

    ……

    However, these leisurely days didn’t last long. A few days later, her brother visited again, conveying Mrs. Xu Wanqin’s order for her to return home and prepare for a soiree.

    “Mom and Dad said if you don’t come back, they’ll freeze your card.”

    Upon hearing this, Xin Li’s rebellious side emerged, and she retorted, “Let them freeze it! Even if I don’t have their money, I won’t starve to death!”

    She had opened a clothing brand with a classmate at the end of last year. Though she didn’t pay much attention to it, she could still support herself.

    Xin Yu glanced at her and said calmly, “The soiree is hosted by the Xie family. Are you sure you won’t go?”

    The Xie family?

    Wouldn’t that mean Xie Yuran would also be there?

    Xin Li immediately changed her mind and cleared her throat, saying, “Well, since you came all the way to invite me, I’ll give you face and reluctantly attend.”

    “……..”

    Xin Yu naturally knew what she was thinking and reminded her, “Mom will be there too. Be careful.”

    Xin Li winked at him and smiled mischievously. “Got it.”

    Xin Li quickly packed her things to go home. Most of her clothes and purses were at home. If she didn’t go back, attending the soiree would only lead to embarrassment. 

    No matter what, the prestige of Miss Xin must not be compromised.

    As soon as she arrived home, Xu Wanqin started lecturing her.

    This time, Xin Li didn’t argue with her. She listened to the nagging as if it were a passing breeze, smiling throughout.

    The reason Xu Wanqin was so anxious to force her to attend the Xie family’s soiree was undoubtedly because of Xie Shuo.

    Unfortunately, on the night of the soiree, Xie Shuo didn’t even show up. No one knew where he went.

    On the other hand, Xin Li was delighted. She comforted the disappointed Xu Wanqin with a few words and discreetly slipped away.

    Inside the venue, amidst the myriad of perfumes and conversations, Xin Li searched for a while before finally spotting Xie Yuran in the crowd. He was beside Xie Baiyan, engaging in conversation with others.

    Xin Li made her way through the crowd, slowly moving toward them. While walking, she glanced back at Xu Wanqin. Seeing that she hadn’t noticed her, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

    Approaching Xie Baiyan, she politely greeted him before turning her gaze to Xie Yuran. She gave him a meaningful look while smiling.

    Xie Yuran glanced at her but remained indifferent.

    Xin Li didn’t linger. As she walked past him, she gently tugged at his sleeve.

    Xie Yuran turned his head and caught a glimpse of her subtle eye smile, dazzling under the lights.

    Xin Li walked away on her high heels and found a seat in the closest spot to him. She sat down, observing him through the crowd. Her foot injury had just healed, so it wasn’t good for her to walk too much.

    While glancing at him occasionally, she listened to her girlfriends gossiping, occasionally adding a comment or two. 

    After some time passed, Xie Yuran suddenly turned around and walked toward the outside of the venue.

    Seeing this, Xin Li hesitated for a moment before setting down the plate of fruit she was holding and quietly followed him.

    ……

    The corridor outside the soiree was carpeted thickly, muffling the footsteps, and the lighting was dimmer than inside the venue. 

    On both sides of the corridor were lounges designated for rest. Xie Yuran opened the door to one of these lounges, entered, and turned on the lights.

    As he was about to close the door behind him, Xin Li hurriedly approached and squeezed in.

    Due to her hurry, she bumped into his back, and her foot twisted, almost causing another sprain.

    Instinctively, she hugged onto his waist, her face pressed against his back through the fabric of his suit.

    Xie Yuran paused before turning around and meeting a pretty face with a hint of drunken blush.

    After steadying herself using him, Xin Li let go of his waist. She smiled brightly, her eyes glittering like stars.

    Xie Yuran closed the door with his hand and asked, “Why did you follow me?”

    Taking a few steps back, Xin Li leaned against a nearby cabinet. Lifting the foot she had injured before, she tilted her head to look at him. “I came to get your answer from last time.” 

    The light illuminated the girl’s beauty, making her bright eyes sparkle with a captivating charm.

    Xie Yuran looked at her silently. 

    Perhaps only a pampered and loved heiress like her could have such an unrestrained and willful character.

    He chuckled, turning around and loosening his tie.

    Catching a glimpse of his enigmatic smile, Xin Li felt inexplicably annoyed. She raised her chin and asked, “What are you laughing about?”

    Loosening his tie, Xie Yuran turned to her and counter-questioned, “What do you like about me?”

    Previous | Index | Next

  • I’m Actually Really Rich Chapter 46

    Edited by Elv

    My Girlfriend

    Wen Le looked at the address on the takeout receipt and found it somewhat familiar but didn’t dwell on it. She proceeded to open the packaging.

    It was once again the dessert and milk tea from the same brand that Zhou Kao had bought for her last time. Wen Le glanced at the selection and saw several dimsums*, but there was only one cup of milk tea. She couldn’t help but give Zhou Kao a questioning look.

    *dimsums = large range of small Cantonese dishes that are traditionally enjoyed in restaurants for brunch

    Zhou Kao understood and said, “These are snacks for you. When everyone is here, I’ll have to go for a meeting. Will you wait here for me?”

    Wen Le chuckled and said, “Are you trying to pamper me like a child?”

    Zhou Kao gently patted Wen Le’s head.

    Wen Le moved away from his touch, gave Zhou Kao an annoyed look, and warned, “Don’t mess up my hair.”

    Zhou Kao chuckled softly and moved closer to Wen Le, his gaze filled with affection. It made her blush and her heart race as if even the air around them had become sticky with sweetness.

    Wen Le felt embarrassed being in Zhou Kao’s office under these circumstances. She was afraid that at any moment, Zhou Kao might try to kiss her. She quickly diverted her attention to the dimsums to avoid his gaze.

    She found a strawberry daifuku that she liked among them. Wen Le immediately disregarded Zhou Kao’s sticky gaze, picked up an individually wrapped daifuku from the beautifully packaged box, and took a bite.

    It was sweet but not cloying, and its rich and dense texture made Wen Le close her eyes in happiness.

    Zhou Kao, seeing Wen Le’s adorable expression, couldn’t help but feel a surge of affection. His eyes darkened slightly, and he leaned in as if he was going to kiss her.

    Wen Le got a shock – they were in the office!

    Feeling flustered, she took the half-eaten strawberry daifuku in her hand and directly stuffed it into Zhou Kao’s mouth.

    Zhou Kao was momentarily stunned, then a smile crossed his lips. His gaze remained on Wen Le as he slowly swallowed the half-eaten strawberry daifuku.

    Wen Le recalled that it was a daifuku she had half-eaten. Her ears turned red, and she cleared her throat, pretending to be calm. Without looking at Zhou Kao, she reached for the nearby milk tea and took a few sips.

    Zhou Kao knew that Wen Le was feeling embarrassed in his office and didn’t want to push further. He sat with her for a while, engaging in a conversation.

    Wen Le noticed an economics book on Zhou Kao’s office desk. She picked it up, flipped through a few pages, and then placed it back.

    “I noticed you were borrowing books related to economics from the library last time. Are you pursuing a second major?” Wen Le asked.

    Zhou Kao replied, “I did consider it initially, but studying for a second major would increase my academic workload. I don’t have that much time. It’s better to learn from the company’s seniors while gaining practical experience. In practice, I find that this approach is more effective.”

    Wen Le nodded and said, “That makes sense.”

    They continued chatting for a while. Someone knocked on the door from outside, and a man in a white shirt entered the room.

    “President Zhou…” The man paused when he saw the girl in Zhou Kao’s office, and his gaze showed a hint of amazement as he glanced at Wen Le’s face. However, he quickly regained his composure and said, “President Zhou, the meeting is in ten minutes.”

    Zhou Kao nodded and said, “Got it.”

    The man closed the door and left, but not before stealing another discreet glance at Wen Le. It wasn’t just curiosity about Wen Le’s identity; it was also because Wen Le was a rare beauty.

    Wen Le sat on the sofa, and the sunlight behind her cast a golden hue on her hair, turning her light brown hair almost into a golden sheen. Her porcelain-like fair skin was adorned with distinct eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes that were both large and narrow, an elegant nose, and lips that were soft and rosy from the milk tea she had just sipped.

    The extraordinary fusion of these perfect features and her charm created a stunning beauty. In her outfit – a white round-neck blouse paired with a vibrant red skirt – she appeared radiant and innocent, yet subtly alluring.

    This sight was simply captivating, leaving people mesmerised.

    The secretary, still dazed, walked out of the office, and a colleague from the marketing department, seeing the secretary’s absent-minded demeanour, gave him a friendly pat and asked, “What are you thinking?”

    The secretary blinked and subconsciously looked back but only saw the closed office door.

    He shook his head and replied, “Nothing, I’m going to prepare for the meeting.”

    With that, he left, leaving his colleague somewhat puzzled. He looked at the secretary then took another look at Zhou Kao’s office. Did he get scolded by the boss?

    He couldn’t figure out what was going on and scratched his head before taking the elevator to the sixteenth floor.

    Zhou Kao pulled out a chair for Wen Le and asked her to sit down. He said, “I see you brought your laptop. If you’re more comfortable using a computer, you can sit here. I’ll be going for a meeting, and will be back soon.”

    He added: “Usually they won’t come in when they know I’m in a meeting. But if someone does come in, you can just ignore them too.”

    Wen Le nodded and said, “Okay, I got it. You can go.”

    Zhou Kao leaned down and planted a kiss on Wen Le’s cheek.

    Wen Le quickly pushed Zhou Kao away, covering her face, and scolded him, “Heyy, I have foundation on. Why are you so sticky!”

    Zhou Kao laughed heartily at her reaction.

    Wen Le grabbed Zhou Kao’s face and examined it closely, saying, “Let me check if there’s any foundation on your lips.”

    While getting closer to Zhou Kao, she muttered under her breath, “I can’t afford to let this guy be humiliated…”

    Zhou Kao’s heart was melting as he gazed at Wen Le with stars in his eyes.

    He was about to indulge in another kiss when Wen Le pushed him away with a smack and said, “Hurry up and go, you’re annoying.”

    Zhou Kao: …

    This heartrending feeling is real.

    About an hour later, the door to Zhou Kao’s office was forcefully pushed open, and a young man in a white t-shirt with a baby face peeked inside, his face beaming with a bright smile. “President Zhou…”

    Then his gaze landed on Wen Le, who was sitting at the desk. The young man’s round bright eyes widened instantly, and a series of emotions, including astonishment, shock, and suspicion, flashed in his eyes. When Wen Le looked back at him, he apologised and then retreated from the room. He glanced at the door plate to confirm he was in the right place, and a look of self-doubt briefly crossed his face.

    He hadn’t entered the wrong room.

    Curiosity got the best of him, and he cautiously poked his head back inside.

    Wen Le found the young man with a baby face amusing and was about to remind him that Zhou Kao was in a meeting when they heard a familiar voice from outside.

    “I’m here.”

    It was Zhou Kao’s voice.

    The baby face quickly withdrew his head, but due to the initial shock, he didn’t close the door. Wen Le could vaguely hear their conversation from outside the office.

    The young man’s voice was filled with astonishment.

    “Wow! Boss, you have a beautiful lady in your office?”

    Zhou Kao replied casually, “She’s my girlfriend.”

    Wen Le blushed upon hearing Zhou Kao’s words and quickly shook her head, refocusing her attention on the laptop screen.

    Shortly after, Zhou Kao returned to the office and told Wen Le that he had some business to attend to and would be back in about twenty minutes.

    Wen Le nodded. She didn’t mind being alone in the office, as it provided a quiet environment for her to work on her assignments, similar to studying in a library or a self-study room.

    After Zhou Kao left again, not long passed before there was another knock on the door. Wen Le paused her typing and said, “Come in.”

    A young woman with shoulder-length hair entered. She appeared just slightly older than Wen Le, probably a recent graduate, and an employee at the company.

    The woman carried a tray with disposable cups filled with various beverages such as fruit juice, water, and coffee. She smiled and said, “Would you like something to drink? How about coffee?”

    Wen Le smiled and stood up, replying, “Thank you, just water is fine.”

    The woman placed the water on the desk, sneaking several glances at Wen Le during the process. Without saying much, she smiled and left the room.

    At first, Wen Le thought Zhou Kao had arranged for someone to provide her with drinks, thinking she might find the milk tea and dimsum too sweet. However, as more snacks and fruits arrived later on, Wen Le realised that the baby-faced man had probably said something.

    It seemed like the entire company now knew that Zhou Kao had brought his girlfriend along.

    Wen Le couldn’t help but bury her face in her hands, her face turning bright red. Even though… she felt quite embarrassed…

    Twenty minutes later, Zhou Kao returned and saw the pile of snacks, fruits, and bottled drinks on Wen Le’s desk. He sighed and rubbed his forehead, saying, “I’m sorry, I forgot that Yufang has a big mouth.”

    Wen Le guessed that Yufang was probably the young man with the baby face.

    Wen Le was about to say, “It’s okay; they’re all very friendly,” but then Zhou Kao spoke up, “But you should just consider it an early adaptation. Once our schoolmates find out that we’re together, I bet we’ll be the centre of attention whenever we meet on campus.”

    Wen Le’s words got stuck in her mouth, leaving her feeling frustrated, and she shot Zhou Kao an annoyed glance.

    Zhou Kao chuckled softly, walked behind Wen Le, and leaned over, resting his chin on the tall backrest of the office chair. He softly reassured her, “Actually, they’re just a bit too curious. Everyone in the company now knows that I have a very good-natured beauty as my girlfriend, and they couldn’t resist coming to take a look.”

    Wen Le blushed a little at Zhou Kao’s compliment and stopped glaring at him. Instead, she turned her attention back to the computer screen and waved her hand as if saying, “Go on, you can retreat. I’m busy.”

    Zhou Kao chuckled and refused to leave. He continued teasing her, “What are you working on?”

    Wen Le replied, “Microeconomics homework.”

    Realising that she might be occupying his workspace, Wen Le asked, “Do you need the desk? I can make some space for you.”

    Zhou Kao put his hand on Wen Le’s shoulder and said, “No need. You can sit here. I want you to keep me company.”

    Wen Le smiled and said, “Okay.”

    Zhou Kao brought over a chair and sat beside Wen Le. He used the desktop computer, while Wen Le sat in his office chair with her own laptop, focusing on her research.

    –

    Xun Fei, on the nineteenth floor of the gaming company, was a female programmer with a penchant for staying indoors. She wasn’t much into sports, but she loved watching TV dramas, handsome men, and chasing celebrities. 

    Xun Fei had a habit of quickly gathering information about all the handsome guys around her whenever she entered a new environment.

    Several months ago, she had noticed that there was an exceptionally handsome guy on the seventeenth floor of the tech company downstairs. 

    However, this handsome guy was hard to come across in the elevator, and she didn’t know his exact working hours. Xun Fei had only managed to run into him twice in the elevator.

    Xun Fei was incredibly curious about this handsome guy.

    Coincidentally, she had recently become acquainted with Qian Sijia, a girl from the seventeenth floor, in the second-floor cafeteria. They had struck up a conversation because both of them had the same screensaver on their phones – Su Tianyu, a second-tier idol. Both of them were Su Tianyu fans, and this common interest led to their growing friendship.

    As they got to know each other better, it became easier for them to discuss topics that might have been awkward initially.

    Today, Xun Fei noticed a message in her group chat about the handsome guy from the seventeenth floor bringing a beauty over, and it seemed like they were dating. 

    While chatting in the break room, a colleague who was particularly close to her poked fun and nudged at her saying: “Didn’t you get to know a buddy from the seventeenth floor? You could ask around during lunch.”

    Xun Fei nodded in agreement, as she had been thinking along those lines as well.

    So, at lunchtime, Xun Fei made plans to eat with Qian Sijia and casually brought up the topic during their conversation.

    Xun Fei said, “Is there a handsome guy in your company? He looks quite young, my God, he’s super handsome, and his physique is just…damn! The first time I saw him in the elevator, I thought he must be a male model your company hired. I’ve been following him for a while!”

    Qian Sijia, upon hearing this, choked on her water and began coughing vigorously.

    Xun Fei quickly patted her back and asked, “What’s wrong?”

    Qian Sijia wiped her mouth with a tissue, took a moment to compose herself, waved her hand, and after taking a sip of water, she finally said, “The handsome guy you’re talking about, is he particularly young and tall?”

    Xun Fei’s eyes sparkled with anticipation as she looked at Qian Sijia. She nodded repeatedly and then whispered, “To be honest, I think he’s even more handsome than Ah Yu… but I still love Ah Yu the most.”

    Qian Sijia shook her head, showing a tinge of regret, and said, “Don’t think about it anymore; that’s our boss.”

    Xun Fei was shocked, “What?*“

    *Xun Fei said this in English.

    “WTF…WTF…WTF”, Xun Fei’s jaw was about to drop in astonishment.

    “He isn’t just an ordinary salary worker? But he is obviously still so young…”

    Qian Sijia chuckled lightly and said, “He’s probably a second-generation heir, or should I say, maybe even an nth-generation heir.”

    Xun Fei still couldn’t believe it and said, “But my colleague clearly saw him. He came out of the garage and drove a car worth around RMB 300,000…”

    Qian Sijia rolled her eyes, “Naive.”

    “This is probably the low-key lifestyle of old money. Even though he appears to drive a 300,000 RMB car on the surface, there’s a garage full of supercars gathering dust.”

    Xun Fei was left dumbfounded, her mouth wide open, and it seemed like her jaw was about to hit the floor.

    Qian Sijia sighed in exclamation, “There is no end to the envy for our boss. He’s 20 this year, a sophomore at A University, and the biggest stakeholder in the company. Rumour has it that his grandfather gave him the company as a gift when he got into A University.”

    Xun Fei was stunned, “What! He’s still a sophomore at A University?”

    She couldn’t believe it, “OMG, he looks so handsome, comes from such a wealthy family, and he’s excelling academically. My gosh! It turns out that the male lead from idol dramas actually exists in real life…”

    “I genuinely thought that the handsome guy was just an intern at your company…”

    Qian Sijia clicked her tongue twice, “That’s definitely our big boss. Their family background is remarkable, tsk tsk.”

    Xun Fei asked in shock, “So, what about that little girlfriend? I heard she’s incredibly good-looking.”

    Qian Sijia sighed even more deeply, shook her head, and said, “I’ve never seen someone as good-looking in my entire life. She looks like a work of art, probably even more beautiful than the actresses in the entertainment industry. I have no idea how she managed to look like that. It’s infuriating.”

    Xun Fei said, “Who asked you about that? I was talking about her family background. Are they in a business alliance marriage?”

    Qian Sijia replied, “I don’t know. How would you be able to tell? Maybe she’s from the film school just next to A University since she’s so beautiful.”

    Xun Fei let out a sigh, “Ah, with a face like that, she’s definitely going to marry into a wealthy family. I envy her so much.”

    After finishing her meal, Xun Fei hurried back to the company. She excitedly pulled out her phone, trembling as she sent several messages.

    Xun Fei: I’ve got the information about the little handsome guy you asked about! It’s super juicy!

    Marketing Department, Jiang Yumeng: Quick, spill it!

    Planning Department, Lou Xiaoxiao: Hurry!

    Sales Department, Gao Mengyu: We’re craving the details!

    Marketing Department, Wu Jiejing: Could it be that the handsome guy is involved in some scandalous affair with a rich older woman?

    Front Desk, Tong Zhuyue: Hurry, hurry!

    Xun Fei: You’ll never guess.

    Xun Fei: That handsome guy who drives a Passat is actually the big boss of the tech company on the sixteenth and seventeenth floors!

    Marketing Department, Jiang Yumeng: What!

    Secretary, Xu Baiman: !! He’s actually not an intern??

    Finance Department, Zhuang Xiuni: Is it too late to have a cross-age relationship? Auntie also wants to marry into a wealthy family…

    TN: hahahaha, I have a feeling we will be seeing more of such reactions as our lead’s relationship blossoms for everyone to see!!

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  • I Am A Matchmaker On Taobao Chapter 74

    Hey readers! Long time no see, my deepest apologies for the radio silence – life, of course, threw work and personal curve-balls my way. But first things first – Happy holidays and cheers to a healthy new year!

    Actually, I had a few translated chapters prepped and ready to share with you for Christmas and New Year’s, but wouldn’t you know it – another amazing translator group picked up the same project! Rather than seeing all that fantastic editing work go to waste, we’ve decided to drop those chapters for you all as originally planned. Stock up on cozy feels and enjoy! ✨

    The next time Shen Chuchu saw Cai-jie again was half a month later. This time, Cai-jie‘s expression upon seeing Shen Chuchu was not dismissive, but rather one of enthusiasm.

    “Chuchu, thank you.” Cai-jie said to Shen Chuchu.

    Shen Chuchu glanced at Chen Shenggang, who was standing aside with a puzzled expression on his face and replied to Sister Cai, “You’re welcome. As long as it helped.”

    “What are you two whispering about?” Chen Shenggang asked out of curiosity. He remembered how hostile Cai-jie had been to Shen Chuchu in the past. Particularly later on when the hostility was even directed to her face. However, after a long time apart, these two appear to have some sort of unspoken understanding.

     Cai-jie remained silent, but a helpless smile appeared on her face.

    Shen Chuchu saw the expression on her face and said to Chen Shenggang, “I previously helped Cai-jie on a small matter.”

    Chen Shenggang looked at Shen Chuchu and Cai-jie but said no more. Exactly then, a worker reminded him it was time to film and they walked away.

    “Thank you for your warning last time or else I would have lost money and myself. This is the first time I’ve discovered there are such despicable men in this world. To call him a scumbag is an insult to the word scumbag.” Cai-jie quietly expressed her gratitude. 

    Although Shen Chuchu’s words caused a slither of doubt, she did not believe it at the start nor did any investigation. What really alarmed her was a remark made by her best friend.

    Her best friend said something suspiciously after she had given Wang-ge 200,000 in cash, “Xiao Jie, do you really know Wang-ge that well? I can’t help but think that there is something wrong. He is not trying to scam you out of money right?”

    Cai-jie‘s face flushed with unnaturalness as she heard this, but she still responded, “That’s not possible. You just haven’t seen him yet because you’ve been abroad. Wait till you see him then you will understand. He’s not like us. He is very down to earth.”

    Her best friend replied, “Really? Why do I feel he has some problems? It is precisely because I have not seen him that I have my doubts. You see him often so you are easily fooled by his appearance. Nonetheless, you should still do some investigation. After all, you are getting married. It is not an overreaction to do some investigation. It’s better than waiting until you get married to find out he’s a scumbag.”

    At this moment, the smile on Cai-jie’s face faded. What Shen Chuchu had said before instantly jumped into her mind.

    “Actually, someone warned me before,” Cai Jie said after some thought.

    Her best friend frowned and replied, “So it’s not just me that had doubts. You must investigate. If you can’t do it then I will investigate for you.”

    Cai Jie frowned and slowly shook her head, “No need, I will do it myself.”

    Her best friend replied, “Okay, that’s good you considered it.”

    Three days later, Cai-jie was taken aback when she saw the findings of the investigation. She had been in the entertainment industry for more than ten years and had seen countless people, but she had been misled by such a simple man. This is such a simple deception that she would never have suspected it if she had not been warned by others.

    What nonsense about not getting along with his wife or having no kid. This was a lie! Even the debt was an elaborate story he made up with the debtor. He was actually using her money to support his wife and kid! Such a man was truly repulsive. And she had become the world’s stupidest woman!

    Cai-jie, after all, had been in the entertainment industry for a long time and knew a lot of people. She wanted her money back and to teach Brother Wang a lesson.

    Shen Chuchu said softly to Cai-jie, who was lost in thought, “I actually hesitated for quite some time at the time; after all, Brother Wang did not appear to be that type of person, and I was afraid that I would get it wrong. I was afraid that my words would cause your relationship to fall apart.”

    Upon hearing this, Cai-jie grasped Shen Chuchu’s hand and said, “Chuchu, I apologise for my behaviour previously. There aren’t many girls who think of others the way you do. Most people would have stood by and watched or spread rumours. I was able to avoid this because of you. If you need any help in the future, just come to me. “

    Shen Chuchu smiled and shook her head, “That’s not necessary. I’m not expecting anything in return. I’m glad I can help you.”

    Cai-jie smiled, then thought about her current situation and expressed her feelings, “There are really not many good men in this world. It is better to live comfortably alone than to meet someone who defrauds you and your money.”

    Shen Chuchu understood Sister Cai’s thoughts quite well but as a qualified matchmaker, she replied, “Living alone is good, but who will look after you when you get old?”

    Cai-jie thought a bit and replied, “When I am old, I will go into a care home. If that won’t do, I will adopt a child in a few years. I will still live my life.”

    Shen Chuchu remembered Sister Cai’s second marriage, which she had witnessed previously. Although it was not a fierce love, it still resulted in a lovely relationship. This time, she looked at it again and said, “Cai-jie, don’t be sad. Your happiness will appear very soon. You won’t need to go to a care home or adopt a child. You will have your own.”

    When Sister Cai heard what Shen Chuchu said with such a serious tone, she laughed and said, “It is as if you can read people’s faces!”

    Shen Chuchu seriously nodded, “Yes that’s right. I know a little.” Shen Chuchu had considered it for a long time and decided that rather than being discovered unexpectedly one day or arousing suspicion, it would be better to tell others about it in a plausible manner. If she was exposed one day, it would save her a lot of trouble.

    Cai-jie looked at Shen Chuchu seriously for a few seconds and replied, “Then thank you for your good wishes.”

    Shen Chuchu was filming in full swing half a month later when she inadvertently looked to the side and saw a familiar figure, causing her movements to pause.

    “Cut! Chuchu, you walked too slowly. From the start, do it again.”

    Shen Chuchu felt terrible and apologised profusely to the director and Chen Shenggang. Chen Shenggang laughed and joked, “No worries as long as you don’t hate me when I have NGs later.”

    Shen Chuchu smiled, “Don’t worry, I won’t because I will tell you.”

    When they heard it, the crew laughed as well, and they continued to film this scene. The simple walking scene was shot five minutes later then the director called Shen Chuchu and Chen Shenggang over.

    Shen Chuchu could only pretend not to recognise the familiar man standing beside the director.

    “Chuchu, Shenggang, this is Mr. Han, our investor. Let’s get to know each other.”

    Chen Shenggang, “Hello, Mr. Han.”

    Shen Chuchu raised her eyebrows, she had been thinking about what excuse this man had used to come to their set. When she heard the director’s words, she thought to herself, “I never heard he invested in their film.” Furthermore, he told her in the morning that he was going on a business trip to inspect other places, but he was now suddenly airborne here.

    “Hello, Mr Han.” Whatever she was thinking inside, Shen Chuchu did not show it on her face.

    Han Xingyan’s arrival put Shen Chuchu under some pressure. Although it was less obvious in most scenes, she had a kissing scene coming up. She would be less stressed if Han Xingyan was not present. However, Han Xingyan’s presence put an undeniable strain on her.

    Shen Chuchu struggled for a long time after filming the second scene in the afternoon, but she eventually walked to the director’s side.

    “Director, I think we should use a replacement for the kissing scene later.” In fact, Shen Chuchu told the director of the matter yesterday, and the director said he would think about it, but this morning he rejected her proposal. Because the director believed that being more realistic was better.

    When the director heard Shen Chuchu’s words, he frowned. He did not expect Shen Chuchu to bring this up again.

    “Chuchu, is this your first kissing scene? Every little girl can relate. But, as an actor, you have to go through these things, and you don’t have to feel any psychological pressure. Simply treat Shenggang as someone you like. Besides, Shenggang is not bad looking so don’t stress over it…” The director told Shen Chuhcu but failed to notice Investor Han’s complexion was now as dark as the bottom of a pot.

    What do you mean pretend he is someone I like? Should I pretend he doesn’t exist or he is dead? The person I like is right in front of me!

    Shen Chuchu awkwardly glanced at the director and then at Han Xingyan.

    Han Xingyan coughed lightly, interrupted the director’s lecture, and said, “Director, What Miss Shen said makes sense to me. This is also an actor’s right. If Miss Shen wants a replacement then so be it. We must respect the thoughts of our actors.”

    When the director heard this, he looked at Han Xingyan with surprise. He had no idea why the young CEO, who had been silent since his arrival, had suddenly taken interest in this matter. However, because the investor had already spoken, and this was not a matter of principle, he nodded and agreed to the situation.

    Shen Chuchu and Han Xingyan arrived at the hotel one after the other after leaving work. Three minutes after Shen Chuchu entered the room, Han Xingyan knocked on the door.

    After closing the door, the two engaged in a lengthy and silent conversation. They were both out of breath when we parted. Shen Chuchu’s mouth was slightly swollen as if she had eaten something spicy.

    Shen Chuchu expressed her displeasure and said, “Why did you use so much force? Can I still shoot tomorrow?”

    Han Xingyan replied, “I’ve been wanting to kiss you since this afternoon.”

    Shen Chuchu pretended to complain about what happened in the afternoon and said, “It’s all because of you that the director believes I’m unprofessional.”

    When Han Xingyan heard this, his face darkened. He lowered his head and bit Shen Chuchu’s lips as punishment, saying in a slightly risky voice, “Oh? Do you want to be kissed by another man? Then kiss him while thinking of me?”

    “You are unreasonable, we are all actors. This is my responsibility.”

    Han Xingyan replied, “I’m not talking about reasonableness, I’m talking about the law. There is no law in the country that requires actors to take kissing scenes.”

    When Shen Chuchu saw Han Xingyan’s unreasonable jealousy, she kissed him hard and said, “Yes I also dislike using such plots to entice viewers.”

    Han Xingyan stroked Shen Chuchu’s hair lovingly upon seeing her well-behaved appearance.

    When everyone noticed Shen Chuchu’s slightly red and swollen lips on set, she simply blamed the non-existent mosquitoes.

    The director took a few seconds to consider Shen Chuchu’s appearance and was about to say something when Han Xingyan changed the subject.

    “It’s true that there are a lot of mosquitos in the hotel, and it’s difficult for the actors.”

    The director wondered where the mosquitoes had come from on such a cold day. Regardless of what he was thinking in his heart, he still said, “Yes, you are right Mr Han.”

  • I Am A Matchmaker On Taobao Chapter 76

    Hey readers! Long time no see, my deepest apologies for the radio silence – life, of course, threw work and personal curve-balls my way. But first things first – Happy holidays and cheers to a healthy new year!

    Actually, I had a few translated chapters prepped and ready to share with you for Christmas and New Year’s, but wouldn’t you know it – another amazing translator group picked up the same project! Rather than seeing all that fantastic editing work go to waste, we’ve decided to drop those chapters for you all as originally planned. Stock up on cozy feels and enjoy! ✨

    Shen Chuchu and the others have been in the private room for some time, but the male co-star has yet to come. After a long wait, he finally arrived in front of everyone’s eyes.

    The door opened and Shen Chuchu saw a young guy with pale skin, red lips, and large sunglasses on his face. But, if you had not known the other party was male, Shen Chuchu would have believed he was a woman dressed as a guy.

    “Sorry, but the airport fans were so excited that we had to sit in traffic for an hour before we could leave.” Qi Yufei removed the sunglasses from his face.

    The director smiled and replied, “No worries. The fans these days are very enthusiastic, we understand. Everyone, let’s welcome him.”

    “Hello Seniors, I am Qi Yufei. I am very happy to meet everyone and appreciate your guidance in the future.”

    Afterwards, Qi Yufei shook everybody’s hand. Shen Chuchu did not understand if her perspective was wrong but she had the feeling that Qi Yufei paid special attention to her. For example, he swiftly sat exactly next to her in the empty seat.

    Shen Chuchu was about to remind him that there was someone in this seat when the assistant director returned from the lavatory and said, “It makes no difference, you young folks sit together, and I’ll take the empty seat next to you.”

    Qi Yufei apologetically said, “Sorry, I didn’t notice just now. It’s all my fault.” Shen Chuchu, on the other hand, saw that, while he apologised, he didn’t intend to shift at all.

    Now everyone had arrived, the waiter began to serve dinner. Qi Yufei grinned and said to Shen Chuchu during the meal, “Chuchu, I’ve seen your films before. They are so enjoyable to watch.”

    Shen Chuchu replied, “Thanks, your dramas are very good too.”

    Qi Yufei replied, “My acting cannot compare. Even Director Chang praised your acting skills. I can only do idol dramas.”

    Shen Chuchu was already feeling uncomfortable. Hearing these words and thinking about Qi Yufei’s acting abilities, she answered without hesitation, “You are too humble. Your acting abilities are also impressive.”

    Qi Yufei said with surprise, “Really? Are you not lying to me? I’ve always wanted to make a film. I admire Director Chang in particular. It would be fantastic if I could work with Director Chang on a project one day.”

    Shen Chuchu sensed something in Qi Yufei’s remarks, but she didn’t know how to respond to such a question, so she responded vaguely, “Yes, you will have the opportunity too.”

    During the meal, Qi Yufei handed her food and the assistant director next to him tea and water. He was quite attentive therefore everyone formed a favourable view of him after witnessing his diligence. Shen Chuchu thought to herself that everyone else in the room must like him except her. No wonder he was a traffic star. Even his good-looking face can make everyone adore him.

    However Shen Chuchu disliked such people because she thought they were excessively greasy.

    Qi Yufei offered to drive Shen Chuchu back to the hotel after they finished. Shen Chuchu glanced at the nanny car stopped next to her, smiled, and said nicely, “My car is here. See you tomorrow at the site.”

    Qi Yufei shrugged, “That’s a shame. Goodnight and sweet dreams.”

    Shen Chuchu felt goosebumps rising and gave him a smile.

    Once the car started, Shen Chuchu’s face finally relaxed after a tiring day of smiling.

    After arriving at the set the next day, the morning scene was meant to be between Shen Chuchu and Qi Yufei, but the time ran out and Qi Yufei did not show up. The director instructed the set manager to hurry up, but after a half-hour wait, Qi Yufei finally arrived with two assistants.

    When the director saw this, he had a frown on his face.

    “Sorry director, sorry Chuchu. I stayed up late last night because I was reading the script. I sincerely apologise. I’ll get you all some coffee in a minute.”

    Shen Chuchu did not express an opinion however when she remembered what he wrote on Weibo early in the morning, her heart stopped. She wondered if he actually stayed up or was it all just an act.

    Shen Chuchu, on the other hand, quickly discovered the truth.

    The director thought Qi Yufei was a first-time offender with a nice attitude so he sighed and continued, “Just remember it from now on.”

    “Okay, Director. I promise I won’t be late tomorrow.”

    Everything had been completed, and everyone was waiting for Qi Yufei’s arrival, so filming started as soon as he came.

    “Chuchu, please forgive me.” Qi Yufei smiled very handsomely. The employees on the side even showed their affection for him in hushed tones. There are fans all around the entertainment sector, it might be argued.

    Shen Chuchu was unaffected by this appearance, so she grinned and stated, “No worries, let’s start.”

    As a result, Shen Chuchu was quite disappointed as soon as filming began. She was aware of Qi Yufei’s poor acting abilities. She had seen the idol dramas starring him before, but she had not expected that his acting talents had not improved after a few years. It was obvious as soon as they started as if she was plainly viewing it on television.

    “Please be cautious, Princess. You should not travel outside the palace alone because it is very risky.”

    Shen Chuchu thought to herself as she stared at Qi Yufei’s exaggerated expression, You’re playing the role of a young marquis, not a eunuch. Can you be less flattering and animated?”

    “Cut!”

    For the first time, Shen Chuchu felt how pleasant the director’s “cut” was.

    The director stared at Qi Yufei, remembered his status and the people who supported him, and endured it again and again, said tactfully, “Yufei, use fewer body movements and avoid excessive movement. Also, while you must be courteous to the princess, you must also remember your identity as a young marquis.”

    Qi Yufei obediently nodded, “Okay, director. Sorry for the hassle. I will pay more attention next time.”

    After speaking with the director, he turned to face Shen Chuchu and said, “Chuchu, I’m sorry that you’ll have to do it again with me. I didn’t expect the film’s acting standards would be so stringent, so I took it for granted. I’ll pay close attention to it next time.”

    Shen Chuchu replied, “No worries.”

    After ten minutes, they reshoot the scene.

    It was better this time, but the director couldn’t bring himself to smile as he stared at the camera. Such acting abilities do not appear to be those of someone who has been filming in the entertainment industry for three or four years. Even kids who have recently graduated from film school can outperform this.

    However, for the sake of the film’s quality, the director continued to yell “Cut”.

    This time, the director appeared on stage and demonstrated how to act and convey himself through words and body language. Qi Yufei felt a little embarrassed at this point. He had no idea it would take so long to film such a basic scene.He also had a number of NGs* in idol dramas, but it was because he mumbled the wrong lines, stood in the wrong spot, or blocked the camera. It was odd to get into such details like this.

    *TL-note: NG means No Good.

    Despite his feelings, Qi Yufei accepted the director’s instructions and acted. As a result, the third time was far superior to the first. However, it still did not receive the desired result so they shot it again.

    Qi Yufei actually forgot his lines when the fourth take was finally completed and the next scene was shot.

    Shen Chuchu pondered, what script did you read last night? They’ve just started recording and he was already forgetting the lines.

    Shen Chuchu was surprised that Qi Yufei’s acting abilities were poor but his learning capacity was also poor. If the circumstances remained the same, this drama would not be completed in two years. Although Qi Yufei has few scenes, they all involve her. While her life was already extremely difficult this will surely kill her.

    Shen Chuchu’s intuition was spot on. Even in the afternoon, Qi Yufei failed numerous times.

    Despite the fact that Shen Chuchu didn’t have many scenes today, she was exhausted. The filmmakers were equally exhausted. Today’s tasks had not even been completed!

    Even a small girl like Wang Qian, who didn’t like to talk, couldn’t help but complain to Shen Chuchu when they returned to the nanny car on the second day, “His acting skills really suck.”

    “You used the wrong word,” Shen Chuchu replied flatly. “How can only one word “really” represent his acting abilities? A minimum of three should be added. I’m not sure where he got the confidence to keep filming.”

    “Probably because the fans like him,” Wang Qian replied. “I see that many of the young girls in the crew like him, and there are a lot of fans outside.”

    Shen Chuchu nodded, “That makes sense.”

    Because the director most likely already had a very clear idea of Qi Yufei’s acting abilities, the number of NGs was actually lower on the third day, and the filming progressed slightly faster.

    However, Shen Chuchu felt that cutting scenes would have a negative impact on the entire scene. She genuinely wanted to talk to the director, but considering Qi Yufei’s acting abilities, she believed it would be pointless, and the director might not understand. Qi Yufei, on the other hand, represents traffic, which will be the ‘potential box office’ in the future, and she has also heard that he was brought in by investors so she’ll just have to put up with it.

    Surprisingly, the director’s approach instilled confidence in Qi Yufei.

    Following the scene, Qi Yufei proposed a private conversation with Shen Chuchu.

    Shen Chuchu replied with a half-smile to Qi Yufei, who looked charming but haughty. “I don’t think that’s appropriate? If there is anything wrong with our teamwork, you can speak to my manager.”

    Qi Yufei had not expected Shen Chuchu to reject him. With his current status, he was nearly unstoppable in front of the industry’s female co-stars. Numerous female celebrities seek to capitalise on his popularity and almost anybody associated with him will appear in trending searches.

    “It’s not related to work. I only feel sorry for the past few days so I want to invite you for dinner. Thank you for your understanding.”

    Shen Chuchu smiled, “There’s no need. It’s pretty normal, I was also the same before and I owed it to my seniors. If you don’t take it to heart then I won’t either.”

    Qi Yufei couldn’t help but smile when he saw Shen Chuchu’s resolute expression and said, “Nevertheless, I only wanted to express my gratitude. If you are not free today then next time.”

    Shen Chuchu lowered her gaze and considered for a moment before asking, “Did you have another reason for speaking with me?”

    Qi Yufei mumbled at the corner of his mouth before smiling and said, “It’s not a big deal. I just wanted to ask if Director Chang is well.”

    “Oh, he is great.”

    “Okay Chuchu, you’ve seen my improvements recently. Can you talk to Director Chang on my behalf?” Qi Yufei confidently asked.

    Shen Chuchu looked at Qi Yufei in shock. She had no idea Qi Yufei would have such an idea. Furthermore, who gave him the confidence?

    Before she could recover from her shock, Qi Yufei’s assistant added, “”In fact, there’s no need to say anything else. We will undoubtedly have the opportunity to participate in Director Chang’s film due to Fei-ge’s reputation and acting abilities.”

    Shen Chuchu cast a glance at Qi Yufei’s assistant and thought, well, the assistant is quite confident as well.

  • I Am A Matchmaker On Taobao Chapter 75

    Hey readers! Long time no see, my deepest apologies for the radio silence – life, of course, threw work and personal curve-balls my way. But first things first – Happy holidays and cheers to a healthy new year!

    Actually, I had a few translated chapters prepped and ready to share with you for Christmas and New Year’s, but wouldn’t you know it – another amazing translator group picked up the same project! Rather than seeing all that fantastic editing work go to waste, we’ve decided to drop those chapters for you all as originally planned. Stock up on cozy feels and enjoy! ✨

    This time Han Xingyan left after only one day. A few days after his departure, Shen Chuchu also left. The reason being the film [Xiao Yi] had been nominated.

    [Xiao Yi] had been in theaters for two months with a box office of over 1.5 billion and the reputation was very good. At the same time, it had also received many nominations.

    This time, Shen Chuchu was also lucky to be nominated.

    This was Shen Chuchu’s first nomination so everything was new to her. Chen Xili had called to stress that she had to come regardless of the nomination. This was a very good opportunity to be in the public’s view. Every year, there were numerous films and newbies, but only a handful got recognised. As a result, being nominated was a joyous occasion for Shen Chuchu.

    Despite [Xiao Yi]’s crew having earned many nominations, and the director and creator would also be in attendance, DiDi Media did not allow Shen Chuchu to accompany them. Instead, in order to give Shen Chuchu adequate exposure, she was arranged to accompany the host, Zhou Xuan, and walk the red carpet alone.

    Today, Shen Chuchu wore a long, pale yellow dress which made her skin seem even paler. However, due to her nervousness, it was as if she was completely dyed in pink. While waiting, she continuously asked the assistant beside her, “Qianqian, is my dress okay? Is the back zip fine? Is there anything on my face? Is my hair okay?”

    Wang Qian repeated encouragingly, “No, Boss. You are very beautiful today. This dress suits you.”

    Shen Chuchu sighed a breath of relief, “Then I have to be careful. If this expensive dress gets damaged, I will be heartbroken.”

    Finally, it was time for Shen Chuchu to walk the red carpet. She breathed deeply and carefully stepped out of the car.

    Looking at the countless fans on both sides of the red carpet, Shen Chuchu wondered if there were any of her fans among them. Although she knew her company must have arranged some fans to keep her from being embarrassed, she was still concerned that she would not be popular enough and that few people would recognise her.

    Fortunately, she heard a fan’s voice as soon as she stepped onto the red carpet.

    “Wow, Shen Chuchu, you are so pretty today!”

    Shen Chuchu looked over and saw a familiar face. She was certain that there was at least one person who was not organised by the firm to make up numbers, but who genuinely liked her. Shen Chuchu smiled at her then continued to walk forward.

    An Haizhen saw the smile and got excited, “Chuchu smiled at me! Chuchu smiled at me!” This was her second meeting with Shen Chuchu. The first time it was at the airport. She was not a star-chasing fan, but she has met Shen Chuchu twice already.

    The last time she was at the Imperial Capital Airport and happened to see Shen Chuchu as soon as she got off the plane. This time around she saw that a movie awards ceremony was going to be held here, so she squeezed in with her classmates. Unexpectedly, she saw Shen Chuchu as soon as she arrived.

    Nevertheless, she quite liked Shen Chuchu.

    After walking a little further, Shen Chuchu heard the voice of the announcer.

    “Walking towards us is Shen Chuchu, who plays Xiao Yi’s sister in the movie [Xiao Yi]. She has made two movies since her debut, each of which had a box office of over 1 billion. She is a very lucky girl indeed…”

    Shen Chuchu realised for the first time, when she heard people yelling her name and saw the cameras pointed at her, that she was a celebrity, and a star living in the spotlight.

    Shen Chuchu stepped backstage after taking photos and interviews. When it came time for the awards presentation, she sat alongside the [Xiao Yi] crew.

    Director Chang looked at the nervous Shen Chuchu and smiled, “Nervous?”

    Shen Chuchu nodded heavily, “Yes. It’s my first time attending this sort of event so I kind of feel overwhelmed.”

    Zhou Feng replied, “I had the same feeling when I first came here. I felt like Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Gardens*. However, once you’re on stage, you can glance down as much as you want. You will see that everyone who wishes you well has kind eyes.”

    *TL-note: Grandma Liu is a character in the 18th century Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber. The expression is used in modern Chinese to describe someone, usually simple and unsophisticated, who is overwhelmed by new experiences and luxurious

    Director Chang nodded, “ Xiao Feng is right. Don’t be too nervous, and try to relax. Whether or not you win an award, being nominated shows that you have been noticed.”

    Shen Chuchu nodded, “Okay.”

    Shen Chuchu’s anxiousness was caused not by her expectation of winning the award, but by the fact that she had moved from a sparsely populated filming region to a bustling metropolis. This feeling is more unsettling when there are multiple cameras pointing at you and countless individuals staring at you. Afraid to make a single mistake.

    As for gaining an award, Shen Chuchu did not mind. Because she never expected to win this award. After all, when she first started filming this movie, her acting points in the system was less than 60, barely passing. The only thing she has to be concerned about is her ability to laugh gently when the camera pans towards her.

    Shen Chuchu began to practise smiling as the Best Newcomer Award approached. Her smile had hardened by the time the camera panned towards her, and she wondered if the smile on her cheeks would fade after a while.

    She wasn’t sure why, but the camera seemed to stay on her face for a little longer this time. Perhaps she was overly frightened and thought time moved too slowly.

    “Chuchu, Chuchu, the host is asking you to get your award.” Director Chang noticed Shen Chuchu dazed and couldn’t help but remind her.

    Shen Chuchu stared in disbelief for a while, then raised her head and looked at the stills of herself on the podium, realising that the camera had been on her for quite some time. She finally understood. At this time, her heart was crumbling apart as the thing she had been worrying about all day finally happened. She was really embarrassed this time. This time she really made a fool of herself.

    Everyone smiled kindly as she stepped up. Shen Chuchu slowed down her excitement as she walked the long path from her seat to the podium.

    After taking the stage and hearing the host’s ridicule, Shen Chuchu laughed and remarked, “Sorry, this is my first award. I was so nervous and made everyone laugh.” Regarding newcomers, everyone had always been welcoming, especially when this person had a background too. So, after hearing what she said, the audience erupted in cheers of encouragement.

    Shen Chuchu felt like she was floating after she finished her acceptance speech and went backstage.

    Shen Chuchu didn’t stop smiling till she came home and saw Han Xingyan. She rested in Han Xingyan’s arms, not daring to lift her head. She asked in a muffled voice, “Was I truly embarrassing today?”

    He already knew about Shen Chuchu’s performance on stage because the short video was posted online. He smiled and stroked her hair, “No, it was very cute. Today, you were also very… pretty.”

    Even though Shen Chuchu was aware that Han Xingyan was coaxing her, she couldn’t help feeling a twinge of sweetness in her heart, “Really? You didn’t lie to me with your sweet words?”

    Han Xingyan kissed her and replied, “No.”

    “Ugh, I don’t even know what people online are saying. So embarrassing!” Shen Chuchu covered her face in defeat. She wondered what the media would write about her.

    Han Xingyan raised an eye to look at his girlfriend then took out his phone, “No, everyone thinks you are very cute.”

    Shen Chuchu stared at the phone but did not dare to look at its contents. She  asked in disbelief, “Really?”

    Shen Chuchu took the phone and looked at the content inside.

    “Tears of joy, this is too cute! [Tears of Joy]”

    “Her face is calm but she must have been so nervous inside. I can’t, I laugh everytime I watch it. [Haha]”

    “Everyone claims that celebrities already know whether they will win or not for numerous awards, and the surprise they portray is all an act. But… I believe Shen Chuchu is not acting, because no one would pretend to be so clueless. [Tears of Joy]”

    …

    Shen Chuchu rewatched her video after reading the comments. She felt okay at first, but when the presenter called out her name and she still looked the same, she appeared… very stupid.

    “Very cute right?” Han Xingyan said gently with a warm smile.

    Shen Chuchu nodded, “Yes, so cute and stupid.”

    CEO Han, who wished to do something that night, failed to do so. Firstly, Shen Chuchu had to get up early the next morning to catch a flight. Secondly, Shen Chuchu’s big aunt* came.

    TL-note: Her period/menstruation started. 

    Han Xingyan thought with a grim expression that creatures like the big aunt were indeed the nemesis of men.

    Shen Chuchu, on the other hand, suppressed her laughter and fell asleep with her back to Han Xingyan.

    The next morning, Shen Chuchu caught the earliest flight back to the crew. Shen Chuchu wanted to go back and recover after a day of filming and big aunt in tow, but the director said that the male co-star would be here and wanted to invite everyone to have dinner together.

    Shen Chuchu frowned after hearing this, thinking that this male co-star must be quite impressive. She had never seen her male co-star after filming for so long, and she had no idea who he was. She really wanted to ask for leave from the director, but she was uncomfortable at the sight of everyone leaving so she simply followed.

    When they arrived at the restaurant, Shen Chuchu lifted her eyebrows inquisitively when she saw the late arriving male co-star. No wonder, he was a popular traffic star.* 

    *TL-note: A celebrity that is characterised by huge and dedicated fan bases and online traffic data.

    Naturally what aroused her interest was not his face, but the marriage system of the other party.

  • You’re So Arrogant Chapter 74

    Epilogue 4: Xin Li & Xie Yuran

    “We’re not suitable.”

    Upon hearing those words, Xin Li’s expression froze. She thought she had misheard. 

    She was rejected?

    He actually rejected her?

    Xin Li stared at the person in front of her, her face filled with disbelief.

    After the shock, a wave of embarrassment and humiliation overwhelmed her. She had been pursued by many boys throughout her life and never had been rejected like this before.

    “Take good care of your injury.”

    After saying that, Xie Yuran stood there for a moment before turning around and leaving. 

    Watching his figure disappear behind the door, Xin Li felt a mix of embarrassment and anger. It was as if her chest had been blocked by a sponge soaked in water, making it difficult to breathe. 

    She grabbed the box of medicine from the coffee table and angrily threw it.

    “Not suitable, then forget it! Who cares!”

    Even after throwing the box, she was still angry. She bent down to pick up something else, but in her haste, her injured foot touched the floor, almost making things worse.

    The pain made her frown deeply, and she collapsed onto the sofa, carefully lifting her foot.

    The room quieted down, and after a while of sulking, she hobbled and went to take a shower.

    That night, Xin Li tossed and turned for a long time; she couldn’t fall asleep. Later, she had even dreamt about Xie Yuran, leaving her in a foul mood throughout the following day.

    With her foot injured, it was inconvenient for her to go out. She could only stay inside her condo, ordering food delivery when hungry.

    In the afternoon, her girlfriend sent a message asking about the aftermath of last night, “How did it go? Did you succeed?”

    Just mentioning it made Xin Li angry. She nearly smashed the screen with her fingers.

    She had initially wanted to vent about last night’s events with her friend, but she felt it was too embarrassing. Afraid of being teased, she took a photo of her sprained ankle and sent it over.

    Xin Li: “Sprained my foot.”

    Friend: “Shook.”

    Friend: “Was it that intense?”

    Xin Li: “…….”

    Her friend immediately unsent her previous message before sending, “My bad, my bad,” then asked with concern, “Did you go to the hospital yet? Is it serious?”

    Xin Li: “I did, it’s not too serious. Just can’t go out for a while.”

    Friend: “What about the guy from last night? Make him deliver heartwarming meals to you every day.”

    Friend: “Hehe.”

    Remembering Xie Yuran’s words, “We’re not suitable,” Xin Li felt a lump in her chest. She didn’t want to continue this topic, and her expression turned cold. 

    Xin Li: “I suddenly lost interest in him.”

    Friend: “…….”

    Your interest disappeared so quickly.

    Friend: “Why?”

    Xin Li: “No reason, I’m just not interested anymore.”

    Friend: “Okay.”

    After chatting with her girlfriend for a while, Xin Li hugged a cushion and leaned back on the sofa, still feeling unhappy.

    Suddenly, she remembered something and opened Xie Yuran’s WeChat that she had added last night. After editing her message several times, she finally sent him a message asking, “How much for the repair of the car?”

    After a while, a reply popped up, “No need.”

    No need?

    Did he think rejecting her could be compensated with money? 

    Who does he think he is?

    Xin Li snorted coldly, fiercely tapping on the screen, and sent him a sum of money.

    Xie Yuran neither accepted nor replied.

    After a while, Xin Li sent an identical amount of money over again. If he didn’t accept, she would just keep sending it again and again until he accepted.

    Perhaps sensing her anger, Xie Yuran finally replied, “The bill hasn’t been issued yet. I’ll let you know once it’s ready.”

    His response was equally cold and formal.

    Xin Li suddenly felt the urge to block him, her finger hovering over the “Block” button. After a pause, she ultimately gave up.

    Forget it. There’s no need to stoop to his level. It would only make me look petty.

    Due to her foot injury, Xin Li stayed inside her condo for over a week. During this time, her older brother, Xin Yu, came to see her once and urged her to go home, which she refused.

    She even threatened Xin Yu, forbidding him from telling their parents about her sprained foot.

    If their parents found out that she had wrecked herself as soon as she moved out, she could forget about having any freedom in the future. 

    After half a month, Xin Li’s foot somewhat improved, and she could finally walk again. She eagerly sent a message to Xin Yu to have him take her out for a big, nice meal. 

    After days of eating takeout, she was fed up with it.

    Xin Yu’s friend had just opened a new restaurant, and they were having a celebratory feast. He couldn’t resist her persistence and reluctantly agreed to take her along.

    Upon arriving, the private room was already filled with people, bustling and clamorous.

    Many of Xin Yu’s friends knew about his precious younger sister, so when Xin Li entered the room, she was greeted with heaps of compliments.

    “Wow, it hasn’t been long, and Xiao Li has gotten even more beautiful!”

    “Got a boyfriend yet?”

    Xin Li greeted everyone with a smile, and as she walked further into the room, she spotted a familiar figure sitting in the corner.

    Xin Li: “…….”

    To even meet him here, she couldn’t help but wonder if it was a twist of fate.

    She subconsciously paused, feeling a twinge in her ankle. 

    Xie Yuran looked up at her, and with the dim lighting in the room, his expression was indistinct as if shrouded in a mist.

    After locking eyes for a couple of seconds, Xin Li nonchalantly shifted her gaze away and sat down next to Xin Yu.

    Despite the liveliness in the room, with people drinking and chatting, Xin Li felt somewhat absent-minded, occasionally glancing toward the corner of the room.

    Separated by several people, Xin Li could only catch a glimpse of a blurry profile of Xie Yuran.

    He was engaged in conversation with someone next to him, and snippets of their dialogue reached her ears.

    Hearing his voice, Xin Li inexplicably recalled his words, “We’re not suitable,” as if it were a curse.

    She poured herself a glass of wine, intending to alleviate the lump in her chest. However, after just a couple of sips, Xin Yu took it away, saying, “Don’t drink so much.”

    With her brother around, she shouldn’t even think about touching alcohol tonight. Xin Li pouted and glared at him unhappily before standing up to sit on the sofa against the wall.

    Here, she was even further away from Xie Yuran, allowing her to openly look at him without fear of being caught.

    He had stopped chatting to the others and was just holding his wine glass. His sleeves were rolled up a bit, and his expression seemed somewhat lonely.

    Just as Xin Li was lost in thought, Xin Yu suddenly approached, handing her a glass of juice and sitting down beside her.

    “Xie Yuran? When did you start liking him?” Xin Yu suddenly said.

    Startled, Xin Li quickly averted her gaze, her eyes flickering. “Ge, what are you talking about?”

    Xin Yu looked at her with an expression as if he saw through everything.

    Before she could explain, he added, “Mom and Dad won’t approve.”

    Xin Li was going to find a way to explain herself but was taken aback upon hearing his words. “Why?”

    Following her gaze toward Xie Yuran, Xin Yu calmly stated, “The heir to the Xie family is his brother, not him.”

    In a simple sentence, he explained everything.

    Although Xin Li understood that what he said was true, she couldn’t help but quietly retort, “So what?”

    She liked whoever she liked, regardless of their status or background.

    Her words sounded a bit childish, and Xin Yu just smiled, choosing not to further dampen her spirits.

    Just as the two of them were chatting, Xie Yuran suddenly placed his wine glass down and walked out of the private room.

    As he passed by their area, he glanced at Xin Li for a brief moment—a moment that Xin Li happened to catch.

    For some reason, a thought flashed through Xin Li’s mind…

    Could it be that when he said, “We’re not suitable,” it was because of the reason her brother mentioned?

    Otherwise, why didn’t he just reject her outright? Why did he say not suitable?

    After several interactions, he showed no signs of aversion toward her. He even escorted her home, and upon seeing her twist her ankle, carried her to the hospital.

    She was this charming and likable; there’s no reason her charm didn’t work on him!

    With these thoughts, a flicker of hope reignited in Xin Li’s heart. She turned to Xin Yu and said, “Ge, I’m gonna go to the restroom.”

    Pretending to be composed, she got up and opened the door before leaving the private room.

    The corridor was carpeted, extending all the way to the end.

    After searching for a while, Xin Li finally found Xie Yuran near the outdoor lounge area. 

    He stood there with one hand in his pocket, the upper part of his body immersed in shadows, and his long legs accentuated by the light.

    He seemed to have drunk quite a lot, and as Xin Li neared, she could smell the clear scent of alcohol.

    “Is your car fixed?”

    Hearing her words, Xie Yuran turned around, his gaze slightly halting. 

    Unlike the previous encounters, Xin Li wore flats today and tied her hair into a bun. Her makeup was light, making her look like an undergrad student. There was a sparkle in her eyes.

    Xie Yuran’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before replying, “It’s fixed.”

    Xin Li tilted her head slightly. “Why haven’t you asked me for the compensation then?”

    Xie Yuran smiled slightly. “I forgot.”

    He must’ve intentionally forgotten, no?

    Xin Li muttered to herself before raising her chin and eyebrow, “So I guess I don’t need to pay then?”

    She knew she shouldn’t bother with him after what happened last time, but she just couldn’t accept it.

    Seeing the lively look on her face, Xie Yuran’s expression faltered.

    Seeing him silent, Xin Li took half a step forward, but she suddenly stumbled and fell forward. 

    Xin Li accurately fell into his arms. Leaning against his shoulder, she smiled cunningly. 

    She neared his ear, her breath gently brushing against him. “You really think that we’re not suitable?”

    Xie Yuran looked down and happened to see the playful smile in her eyes akin to a cunning fox. 

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  • I’m Actually Really Rich Chapter 45

    Hope you guys have been enjoying the double weekly updates! Wishing you guys a lovely Merry Christmas ~

    Edited by Elv

    The ‘Wen’ of Wen Corporation 

    At around eight o’clock, Cheng Hui went to the washroom to freshen up. She didn’t stay in there for long and came out looking a bit excited, pulling Wen Le to the washroom with her.

    Wen Le was puzzled and asked her quietly, “What’s going on?”

    Cheng Hui pulled Wen Le to the window and pointed outside, saying, “Who is that?”

    Wen Le took a quick look and recognized the figure of Zhou Kao immediately, mainly because of Zhou Kao’s outstanding physique. 

    Wen Le blushed slightly and cleared her throat, saying, “I’m leaving.”

    Cheng Hui teased, “Oh, wasn’t it scheduled for 8:30? You can’t wait, huh?”

    Wen Le gave Cheng Hui a sideways glance and said, “No more talking. He’s already here. I’m leaving.”

    Wen Le grabbed her bag and quietly left the dormitory.

    When Wen Le came downstairs, Zhou Kao was leaning against the car door, looking at his phone.

    Wen Le walked over, tapped Zhou Kao on the shoulder, and only then did Zhou Kao react. 

    He looked up and saw a hint of admiration in Wen Le’s eyes. His gaze intentionally slid over Wen Le’s red skirt, and he smiled, saying, “It suits you well.”

    Wen Le smiled, a bit playful and proud.

    As Zhou Kao looked at Wen Le’s smile, his eyes deepened, and his throat moved up and down. 

    He couldn’t help but want to kiss her immediately.

    Zhou Kao quickly averted his gaze, walked to the passenger side, and opened the car door for Wen Le, gesturing, “This way, miss.”

    Wen Le smiled and sat in the passenger seat. When she looked up at Zhou Kao, her gaze casually swept over the window of room 307 on the third floor, where she saw Cheng Hui peeking out of the window. 

    She seemed almost ready to jump out.

    Wen Le’s mouth twitched, and she took out her phone to send Cheng Hui a message.

    wl: Had fun watching?

    wl: Take it easy, don’t fall over.

    As soon as Zhou Kao got in the car and closed the door, he hugged Wen Le and kissed her passionately.

    Zhou Kao’s breathing became heavy, and his voice was a bit hoarse as he said, “I’ve missed you so much.”

    Saying that, he leaned in to capture Wen Le’s lower lip.

    Wen Le felt weak in the knees from Zhou Kao’s kiss and pushed him away with a smile.

    Zhou Kao tried to move closer, but Wen Le covered his mouth with her hand.

    Zhou Kao looked at Wen Le with desire in his eyes.

    Wen Le pushed Zhou Kao away and said, “You’re so annoying. You’ve smudged my lipstick again.”

    Upon hearing those words, Zhou Kao chuckled, took Wen Le’s hand, and kissed it. He leaned in close to Wen Le and said, “Do I have lipstick on my lips? If the people at the company see it…”

    Wen Le blushed at his words, pushed Zhou Kao’s face away, and took out a tissue to wipe his lips. Fortunately, she had applied a moisturizing pink lipstick today, which was light in color and easy to remove.

    Wen Le took out her lipstick from her bag to touch up her makeup and then looked over Zhou Kao’s face again to make sure there were no traces of lipstick on him.

    Zhou Kao kept his eyes glued to Wen Le throughout as if there were stars in his eyes.

    Wen Le blushed under Zhou Kao’s gaze but felt sweet inside. She lowered her head shyly, and suddenly her phone vibrated with a message from Cheng Hui.

    Human Microscope: Hehe, you’ve been caught.

    Human Microscope: Why haven’t you left yet?

    Human Microscope: Are you two kissing?

    Wen Le felt a bit embarrassed and sent an emoji in response.

    Zhou Kao raised an eyebrow when he saw Wen Le texting and asked, “Is there something going on today?”

    Wen Le replied, “No, it’s just that my roommate is spying on us.”

    Zhou Kao glanced toward the women’s dormitory and indeed saw a girl on the third floor leaning against the window.

    Zhou Kao chuckled and started the car, saying, “Should I invite your roommates for dinner next time? It’s a customary rule, I hear.”

    Wen Le replied, “Let’s wait a bit; I haven’t told them everything yet.”

    Just as Zhou Kao was about to say something, Wen Le preempted him, asking, “Did you tell them?”

    Zhou Kao sighed and said, “I haven’t been back to the dorm lately, but I’ll have to tell them sooner or later.”

    Zhou Kao drove to the underground parking lot of a CBD building and asked, “Are you hungry? Did you have breakfast this morning?”

    Wen Le replied, “Not hungry. I woke up early and had something to eat.”

    Zhou Kao inquired, “Oh?”

    Wen Le explained, “There’s a sports event today, and it’s noisy outside.”

    Zhou Kao thought of something and said, “I’d like to see pictures of you holding up signs.”

    Wen Le responded, “I don’t have any. You can check the forum.”

    Zhou Kao remarked, “Then I’ll have to thoroughly search the forum.”

    As they spoke, Zhou Kao had already parked the car, and they both got out. It was during working hours, and Wen Le noticed that the people getting out of their cars were all dressed in suits or white shirts and high heels, looking like elite professionals.

    Wen Le said, “I made a mistake.”

    Zhou Kao asked, “What’s wrong?”

    “If I had known we were coming to the CBD, I would have worn high heels. This outfit looks out of place among all these office workers in heels and dress pants.”

    Zhou Kao stepped closer and put his arm around Wen Le’s shoulder, saying, “They are here for work, but you’re here for a date. How can they be the same?”

    Zhou Kao’s company occupied the 16th and 17th floors of this building. His team consisted mainly of young professionals. 

    Originally, the company was a tech firm given to Zhou Kao by his grandfather. Later, they acquired a small online shopping platform specializing in beauty and fashion, and the two companies merged to create a note-sharing platform with a focus on the original market.

    Recently, the company had reached a plateau in its growth. Although they still had some momentum due to their innovative model, they knew that if they continued along their current path after the initial buzz faded, they would lose a significant number of users and eventually be overtaken by increasingly diversified competitors and markets.

    During the ride to the company, Zhou Kao and Wen Le discussed the development issues facing the company. Wen Le was from the School of Economics, so she had some knowledge of marketing and management, which allowed her to engage in a conversation with Zhou Kao. Honestly, Wen Le found these topics quite interesting.

    On the other hand, although Zhou Kao was the one who initiated the project, the actual operation was carried out by the company’s talented professionals. Zhou Kao mentioned, “I may say that I’m leading them on the project, but in reality, I’m learning through this project.”

    The company had hired various high-caliber talents who were more than capable of running the project. Zhou Kao, as the largest shareholder of the company, mainly played the role of initiating the project, while the rest was a learning process alongside the company’s more experienced colleagues.

    Most of the company’s staff were young, and many of them had been recruited personally by Zhou Kao’s mother, Li Hua, who was a trusted figure. Bringing together a group of talented individuals with competitive salaries and shared visions, working hard for a project—it was a unique and somewhat magical process. The youthful energy within the company was palpable.

    As Wen Le listened to Zhou Kao, she found herself somewhat envious and excited to meet them.

    While they were talking, the lift arrived and Zhou Kao shielded Wen Le as they moved inwards of the carriage. 

    More people started entering the lift as it began its ascend. Upon entering, it was hard not to notice Zhou Kao and Wen Le in the corner of the elevator.

    Zhou Kao had been here many times before, and most people in the building were already aware of the tech company on the 17th floor with a handsome young man who looked exceptionally youthful and had a physique akin to an international male model.

    Whether married or single, the women in the building had been secretly paying attention to Zhou Kao for a long time. A handsome young man like him was a scarce resource and scarce resources naturally drew attention.

    When they saw Zhou Kao with a beautiful young woman by his side, their eyes initially brightened. 

    Isn’t she too beautiful? Is she a new celebrity or a pre-debut artist from the art school?

    They couldn’t help but wonder.

    Then came the realization, followed by sighs: So, the handsome young man already has a girlfriend.

    So, within less than two hours, all the women in the entire building regretfully learned that the handsome young man was already in a relationship with a very beautiful girlfriend.

    The two of them exited the elevator on the 17th floor, and as they walked towards the front desk, the receptionist stood up and greeted, “Good morning, President Zhou.”

    Zhou Kao held Wen Le’s hand and approached the front desk, nodding in response.

    Wen Le, being led by Zhou Kao in front of everyone, had a slightly red face.

    The receptionist, upon seeing Wen Le, opened her eyes wide.

    Her gaze was fixed firmly on Wen Le as she stammered, “President Zhou, here’s your takeout.”

    Zhou Kao then noticed the bag placed on the front desk, nodded, and picked it up, still holding Wen Le’s hand as he led her into his private office.

    It was not yet nine o’clock, and not many people had arrived, so only a few had seen Wen Le.

    Zhou Kao asked Wen Le to sit on the sofa and handed her the takeout.

    Wen Le took the takeout but didn’t open it immediately. The address on the food receipt had caught her eye.

    Looking at the address of this building, Wen Le found it somewhat familiar.

    “This building…”

    Zhou Kao asked, “What’s wrong?”

    Wen Le said, “I just feel like this address is somewhat familiar.”

    Zhou Kao responded, “It’s said to be owned by the Wen family.”

    As Zhou Kao spoke, he suddenly turned to look at Wen Le, and his eyes widened slightly.

    Suddenly, several images flashed through Zhou Kao’s mind, and he remembered where he had seen Wen Le’s bangle before.

    Her mother seemed to be quite disappointed because she didn’t win the bid for a particular bangle during the last auction event in Hong Kong that his mother attended. Zhou Kao remembered it because she had mentioned it several times. And now, that very bangle was on Wen Le’s wrist…

    Furthermore, after Zhou Kao left his place a few days ago, Li Hua, his mother, had been calling him incessantly, talking about how he was their only son and needed to make his parents proud – so if he were to bring home a girl and marry into their family, she and his father would definitely not allow for such matters.

    At the time, Zhou Kao found her words a bit strange. Why would she mention the words “marry into the other family” or talk about bringing someone home as if he were from a different social background? After all, he was from the prestigious Zhou family, and his future was bright. Why would he have anything to do with the term “marry into their family”?

    Now, Zhou Kao suddenly thought of a possible explanation. If Wen Le’s “Wen” was the same as the “Wen” in “Wen Corporation”…

    In cases where top-tier old-money families having only one sole heir were involved, the request for the male party to marry into the female family was not entirely impossible…

    Thinking of his parents’ concerns, Zhou Kao couldn’t help but look at Wen Le with a complex expression.

    Wen Le asked, “What’s wrong?”

    Zhou Kao said, “May I ask for your father’s name?”

    Wen Le was a bit puzzled but had nothing to hide, so she answered, “Wen Tianqi.”

    Zhou Kao’s mouth twitched.

    Well, it seemed that his mother’s concerns were not entirely unfounded.

    So, the question remained, if the Wen family were to make such a request and insist on it…

    It seemed he wouldn’t be able to refuse, after all.

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  • You’re So Arrogant Chapter 73

    Epilogue 3: Xin Li & Xie Yuran

    “Do you have a girlfriend?”

    At that, Xie Yuran’s gaze faltered before looking up at her.

    Unfazed, Xin Li met his gaze with confidence as her long, curly lashes blinked.

    Xie Yuran stared at her for a moment as his index finger tapped against the steering wheel before smiling. “No.”

    It seemed like he was waiting for her reply, but Xin Li simply uttered an “Oh,” before saying with a smile, “Thanks for sending me back.”

    Then, she opened the door and got out of the car.

    Before entering the mansion, she turned back and looked through the car window at him before smiling again—lively and charming like a sunlit flower.

    Resting his hands on the steering wheel and watching her walk away, he smiled as he thought of something.

    After a long while, he finally started the car and drove away.

    After entering the house, Xu Wanqin saw her return so early and eagerly asked about her conversation with Grandfather Xie and whether she met Xie Shuo.

    Xin Li’s cheerful mood instantly dampened. Irked, she said, “Didn’t see him.”

    Covered in a shawl, Xu Wanqin frowned and was about to ask more questions, but Xin Li had already briskly walked upstairs and locked her room, shutting her out completely. 

    “This kid…”  Xu Wanqin sighed with helplessness.

    Xin Li enjoyed a brief moment of peace before Xin Yuanhong and Mrs. Xu took turns urging her again at dinner to visit the Xie family more and maintain contact with Xie Shuo.

    Frustrated, Xin Li couldn’t endure it any longer and argued with them. The next day, she moved out.

    She had a condo outside; she just rarely stayed there.

    On the night she regained her freedom, Xin Li invited her girlfriends to celebrate at a bar.

    Inside the bar, the lights were colorful, bustling with noise, and hot. Xin Li was in the midst of chatting and joking with her girlfriends when a young man with a drink in hand approached them to strike up a conversation.

    Perhaps due to the tipsiness from drinking, Xin Li glanced at him and thought of Xie Yuran despite the lack of resemblance between the two and a significant difference in their attractiveness. 

    She declined the man’s invitation, holding her wine glass in her hand and gently swirling it. Her gaze swept over her phone, and she realized she didn’t even have Xie Yuran’s contact information.

    As she was contemplating, one of her girlfriends beside her said, “Darling, why do you look upset again?”

    Xin Li didn’t respond. She took a sip of her drink and suddenly felt a bit disinterested. Putting down her glass, she stood up and said, “I’m leaving. Are y’all still gonna have fun?

    A girlfriend checked the time and waved her hand before standing up, too. “Nah, the one at home has been strict lately.”

    The two of them left the bar. Her friend had a chauffeur waiting, while Xin Li, in a fit of anger, left home alone. With no one micromanaging her, she could only tag along her friend’s ride home.

    The nightscape was bustling with vibrant city lights, their reflections dancing across the car roof. Leaning against her seat, Xin Li was sleepy.

    Suddenly, the chauffeur slammed on the brakes, causing her to lurch forward, narrowly avoiding a bump to her head. Her stomach also churned.

    “What’s going on?”

    Her friend grabbed onto the armrest and looked up.

    The chauffeur explained, “Looks like we rear-ended.”

    Xin Li and her friend could only help each other out of the car. Fortunately, the situation wasn’t too serious—just a couple of scratches on the other party’s car.

    Xin Li didn’t care much initially but suddenly realized that the car in front looked familiar. Soon, the driver’s door opened, and a familiar figure stepped out…

    It was Xie Yuran.

    Xin Li’s heart fluttered. It seemed they were running into each other quite often lately.

    The chauffeur approached and spoke with him. Xie Yuran looked up, glanced past him, and saw Xin Li.

    Their eyes met in midair. Xin Li smiled and said, “What a coincidence.”

    Xie Yuran returned a smile, “Truly.”

    Xin Li’s irritation from before immediately went away. She turned to the chauffeur and her friend, saying, “You both go ahead. I’ll handle things here.”

    After saying that, she subtly winked at her friend. Her friend glanced at her, then at Xie Yuran, quickly understanding the situation before casting a meaningful glance at Xin Li. She then left with her chauffeur.

    Once her friend left, Xin Li pretended to examine the scratches on the rear of the car earnestly. Taking out her phone, she said, “Let’s exchange contact information. Let me know the cost of repairs, and I’ll send you the money.”

    Xie Yuran looked at her meaningfully. Being so close, he could smell the distinct scent of alcohol on her, and her usually fair cheeks had a rosy tint.

    It seemed that every time he saw her, she was in this tipsy state.

    After a moment’s pause, Xie Yuran shared his phone number with her. 

    After saving his number, Xin Li glanced around and smiled with a blink. “Sorry, it seems I’ll have to trouble you to take me home again.”

    Xie Yuran looked at her, half-smiling, “Your brother isn’t picking you up?”

    Xin Li frowned, displeased. “My brother has been busy lately, no time to take care of me.”

    Traffic was congested, and vehicles couldn’t linger for long. Xie Yuran said nothing further and just opened the car door.

    Xin Li smiled again, swaying a bit as she approached and climbed into the car.

    Xie Yuran settled back into the driver’s seat, started the car, and set the GPS for the Xin family estate.

    Xin Li corrected him promptly, “I’ve moved out, not going back to my parents’.”

    As she said that, she provided her current condo address. Holding the steering wheel, Xie Yuran glanced at her and smoothly updated the GPS.

    When they reached the condominium where Xin Li lived, it was already late at night. The stars scattered across the inky sky, overshadowed by the bright moon.

    Xin Li unfastened her seatbelt and thanked him before asking casually, “Wanna come up and sit for a bit?”

    The interior of the car was dimly lit. She had drank, and a rosy flush was still on her cheeks. Her eyes sparkled with an enchanting glimmer, oblivious to her own allure.

    Xie Yuran’s gaze lingered on her face for a moment before saying insipidly, “It’s too late; I won’t disturb you.”

    Xin Li had anticipated this outcome and didn’t insist. She bid him “bye” and happily pushed open the car door before getting out.

    Too casual a man, not worth the effort to seduce. 

    As she got out of the car, the night breeze hit her face. Still under the influence of alcohol, the breeze made her feel dizzy. After taking only a couple of steps, her high heel caught on something. She stumbled to the side, and a sharp pain shot up from her ankle.

    She shouldn’t have celebrated so fast… 

    She swayed for a moment, barely managing to stand firm. She held onto her sprained left leg, avoiding putting too much weight on it. 

    Xie Yuran had initially intended to drive away, but as he glanced and saw her condition, he couldn’t help but get out of the car. 

    He strode over with long steps and asked, “What happened?”

    Xin Li looked up, feeling wronged. “I think I’ve twisted my ankle.”

    Xie Yuran looked down; his gaze followed her fair, slender legs to her ankle. He frowned and reached out to support her, “Get in the car.”

    Confused, Xin Li asked, “Where are we going?”

    Xie Yuran glanced at her and said, “Didn’t you twist your ankle? I’ll take you to the hospital.”

    Xin Li originally wanted to decline, but after a moment of thought, she changed her mind and allowed him to help her into the car.

    Xie Yuran drove her to the nearest hospital from her condo. At this hour, the hospital was quiet, with the sound of leaves rustling outside.

    Sitting in the passenger seat, Xin Li glanced out of the window.

    Xie Yuran parked the car and came over to open her door to help her get out, asking, “Can you walk?”

    Standing on one foot and tiptoes on the other, Xin Li shook her head. “No.”

    Xie Yuran draped her arm over his shoulder, his hand around her lower back, guiding her slowly into the hospital.

    The moonlight hung like mist, enveloping them.

    Xin Li leaned on him, limping with each step. With every step, she would grimace, and she would glance up at him each time as if intentionally.

    They moved like a snail for a few steps. Perhaps finding the pace too slow, Xie Yuran suddenly stopped. He reached across her knee, bent down, and lifted her up into his arms.

    Xin Li held onto his neck and smiled mischievously, hidden from his view. 

    It wasn’t until they were inside the examination room that Xie Yuran finally set her down. The attending doctor examined her ankle before taking an X-ray.

    “There’s no fracture. Go home and rest for a while. Remember to avoid strenuous activities…”

    The attending doctor prescribed medication while giving instructions. After finishing the prescription, the doctor handed it directly to Xie Yuran, treating them as if they were a couple.

    Sitting on the side, Xin Li watched with a smile, waiting for him to come and carry her.

    After getting the medication, Xie Yuran drove her back to her condo again.

    After all the commotion and back and forth, it was already almost dawn, and the night was dark. Almost no figure could be seen in the gated community area.  

    Inside the elevator, Xie Yuran set Xin Li down, helping her stand steady.

    Looking at his handsome side profile, Xin Li thought of something and said, “Last time, you said you don’t have a girlfriend. How about I introduce one to you?”

    Xie Yuran turned around, meeting her gaze.

    Blinking, Xin Li smiled. “Consider it as thanks for taking me to the hospital and bringing me back.”

    Xie Yuran smiled slightly, following her lead, “Who are you planning to introduce to me?”

    “Well, you’ll have to tell me first what kind of girl you like…”

    As they spoke, the elevator doors opened, reaching the floor where Xin Li lived. She fished out her key from her purse and handed it to Xie Yuran.

    Taking the key, Xie Yuran supported her with one hand and unlocked the door with the other.

    The condo was a bit deserted since Xin Li had only recently moved in, and many things were not settled yet.

    After entering, she sat back on the sofa and stretched her injured leg before finding a comfortable position and saying while looking up, “My leg’s injured. If you want tea, you’ll have to pour it yourself.”

    Xie Yuran didn’t go pour tea; instead, he placed the prescribed medication on the coffee table. Checking his watch, he said, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave. Take care and rest well.”

    Xin Li hadn’t expected him to leave so quickly. She hurriedly stopped him, “Hey, you still haven’t told me what kind of girl you like!”

    Xie Yuran’s steps paused, and he looked down at her from a higher vantage point. His jet-black eyes seemed to have seen through her scheme.

    Leaning against the sofa, Xin Li unabashedly met his gaze. Her gaze was bold and open, her fox-like eyes transparent and revealing.

    As a pampered and wanton heiress since childhood, she had never been afraid of anything.

    Meeting her gaze, Xie Yuran’s expression slightly changed. He looked at her silently.

    Xin Li grew somewhat impatient. Suddenly, she didn’t want to continue with this ambiguous probing.

    She raised an eyebrow and said half-jokingly, “What do you think of me?”

    Under the white light, her eyes sparkled mischievously. Xie Yuran’s gaze gradually deepened. Just as Xin Li was about to confront him directly, he finally spoke…

    “We’re not suitable.”

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