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nThe banquet hall downstairs was noisy.

nThe people upstairs were very quiet.

nQin Shuang asked in confusion, “Did I hear wrongly just now? Why was there a sound in this room? What is this room?”

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nGao Yanchen: “The storeroom.”

nQin Shuang shouted, “Sister Xi, are you inside?”

nXue Xi: “…”

nShe had been hiding here for 20 minutes and had been taken advantage of by this man. Yet, in the end, she was still going to be discovered?

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nShe looked at the man in front of her. She really wanted him to disappear on the spot!

nThis was the first time Xiang Huai had seen the little kid so restless. He could not help but chuckle. “Tsk.”

nXue Xi glared at him and lowered her voice. “Aren’t you afraid of being discovered?”

nXiang Huai chuckled again. “No.”

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nSeeing the girl’s wide-eyed and furious expression, as if she was an angry cat, made him feel inexplicably happy.

nXiang Huai patted her head comfortingly and suppressed his evil thoughts. “I’ll distract them.”

nWith that, he pushed the door open and walked out without giving Xue Xi any time to stop him.

nIs this person reliable?!

nAs she thought this, she heard Qin Shuang’s exclamation from outside. “Eh, Sister Xi’s boyfriend? What are you doing in the storeroom?”

nXiang Huai casually replied, “Oh, playing with a cat.”

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nQin Shuang: “Cat? Where? Let me see.”

nXiang Huai stopped her from entering. “It went out through the window.”

nXue Xi: “…”

nWho would believe such a stupid story? And why did it feel like he was talking about her as a kitten?

nHowever, Qin Shuang believed him. “What a pity. But Brother Chen, did you have a cat?”

nXue Xi’s heart skipped a beat. Could she have exposed herself?

nOutside the door, Gao Yanchen’s almond-shaped eyes stared at the storeroom in deep thought. He then turned to look at Xiang Huai. The man looked like a satiated wild beast as his slender fingers gently wiped the corners of his mouth. The hint was too obvious.

nGao Yanchen tightened his grip on the phone and pulled his face taut.

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nAfter five seconds, he finally said, “I wish, but the cat’s not mine.”

nQin Shuang understood immediately. “A wild cat?”

nGao Yanchen did not speak further and turned to leave. “Let’s just go back.”

nQin Shuang: “Are you not waiting for Sister Xi?”

nGao Yanchen sounded impatient. “She will come when it is time.”

nDeep down, Qin Shuang was afraid of Gao Yanchen. Although she was reluctant, she could only follow behind him. When the two of them entered Gao Yanchen’s room, Gao Yanchen paused in his steps. Suddenly, he turned around and his gaze collided with Xiang Huai’s in the air.

nXiang Huai raised an eyebrow. His sharp eyes were cold, but the corners of his lips were curled up in the smile of a victor.

nGao Yanchen’s eyes darkened and he pursed his lips even tighter.

nAfter he and Qin Shuang entered the room, Xiang Huai retracted his gaze.

nHe recalled the youth’s words earlier: “I think she just went to look for a place to do her questions.” His eyes turned colder.

nTsk, you know her very well.

nAnd since that was the case, he had to declare his sovereignty.

nAt this moment, the door to the storeroom opened and Xue Xi walked out. She glared at Xiang Huai and heaved a sigh of relief. “Thankfully, there are wild cats nearby. Otherwise, we’d have been exposed.”

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nA smile flashed across Xiang Huai’s dark brown eyes. Kids are so easy to fool!

nIt was very late and the banquet was about to end. Xue Xi did not go to Gao Yanchen’s room and just replied to Qin Shuang before heading downstairs.

nAfter she left, Xiang Huai went into the study.

nElder Gao had been waiting inside for a long time. When he saw him, he immediately stood up and shouted respectfully, “General Xiang!”

nXiang Huai nodded and sat down on the sofa. He casually said, “I met Gao Yanchen.”

nElder Gao’s body swayed and he hurriedly said, “He’s just an ignorant child. He can’t do anything. He’s poor in his studies and has a bad temper. He lives his life every day…”

nXiang Huai’s eyes darkened, making Elder Gao’s voice softer and softer. In the end, he spoke as though he was begging. “General Xiang, the Gao family has only one grandson left now. I only want him to live. I don’t want him to do much. This was also his parents’ greatest wish!”

nHearing Gao Yanchen’s parents mentioned, Xiang Huai clenched his jaw.

nAfter a moment, he said, “I’ll pretend that I didn’t see him.”

nElder Gao heaved a sigh of relief. With a face full of gratitude, he choked, “Thank you.”

nThe room fell into silence.

nAfter a moment, Xiang Huai spoke again, his voice cold and serious. “If you’re having any difficulties, you can report them.”

nElder Gao smiled. “No! You’ve already given Bin City’s assets to the Gao family. I’m getting on in years, but that money is enough for the rascal to spend with his eyes closed.”

nThe atmosphere instantly relaxed.

nAfter saying that, Elder Gao asked, “Do you have any mission in Bin City this time? If you need the Gao family, I will do anything.”

nXiang Huai waved it off. “No need.”

nAfter saying that, the usually aloof person added, “I’m only here to woo my girlfriend while taking a break.”

nElder Gao: “…” Why am I being fed dog food?

nMoreover, it’s not that you “might as well woo her” while you’re taking a break. You’re “specifically” taking a break in order to woo your girlfriend, right? Wait, wooing your girlfriend… Does this mean that you haven’t caught her yet?

n…

nAfter the long-awaited banquet ended, the wealthy families of Bin City seemed to have regained their composure.

nIt was Sunday the next day, but unfortunately, Bin City International High School was not on vacation. Xue Xi woke up early to study early and went downstairs when it was time. She planned to bring breakfast to the provision store as usual.

nHowever, when she reached the dining room, she saw Ye Li sitting there in a daze.

nShe was wearing an elegant cheongsam and looked a little lonely. She stared at the dining table and only reacted when Xue Xi approached. “Xixi? Is it time? I’ll prepare breakfast for you.”

nShe entered the kitchen and packed Xue Xi’s breakfast before passing it to her.

nXue Xi did not leave immediately. Instead, she stood beside Ye Li and asked calmly, “Mom, is there something on your mind?”

nYe Li sighed. She did not intend to speak, but since she could not find anyone to talk to, she could not help but ask, “Xixi, do you think that Mom is very useless?”

nXue Xi shook her head and replied seriously, “Everyone has value.”

nYe Li lowered her eyes. “But I refuse to help your father socialize. I don’t know how to act as a wife. Other than drawing, I’m useless, right? And painting…”

nShe pursed her lips.

nWhen she was young, she was once world famous, and her drawings were in demand. Later, because Xixi went missing, she’d put down her drawing brush.

nRecently, she had finished two paintings and was displaying them for sale in her friend’s studio, but she still could not sell them.

nCould it really be like what Old Lady Xue had said, that she could not make it?

nAfter comforting her, Xue Xi carried her breakfast and got into the car.

nAt this moment, her phone rang. She picked it up and took a look. She realized that someone that she had not seen in a long time had said something in the chat group:

nPainter: “Does anyone know the painter, Ye Li?”

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