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nThe banquet was held in Bai Weiwei’s house.

nXu Menggui carried Bai Weiwei to the second floor. She was unexpectedly obedient, just laying there without speaking any further.

nXu Menggui noticed the difference, and he couldn’t help turning back to take a look.

nHe found that she had already fallen asleep. Her face that held baby fat seemed to be full of collagen1, and her lips were red like cherries. She even pouted lightly in her sleep.

nShe seemed like an innocent little girl.

nLike she was eighteen years old.

nXu Menggui recalled that when he was eighteen, he had already begun to retaliate against the Xu family.

nAt that time he’d been like a demon hiding in the darkness, his heart full of terrifying tricks.

nXu Menggui indifferently looked ahead. Because all the decorations in the Bai family’s home were ones that Bai Weiwei liked.

nEverything was extravagant and dreamlike.

nLike a princess castle.

nIf the Bai family collapsed someday, this little princess would live no better than he did in his childhood.

nAt that time, the thought of her pure eyes becoming pained and twisted with hatred.

nXu Menggui felt his heart stir restlessly, and he was soothed.

nXu Menggui saw the butler arrive, and he immediately showed a gentle smile.

nThe butler asked him to carry Bai Weiwei to her room.

nThe room also clearly reflected a maiden’s heart, warm and comfortable.

nXu Menggui placed Bai Weiwei on the bed.

nBai Weiwei wasn’t on guard. She reached out to hug the quilt and continued sleeping.

nXu Menggui watched her coldly. She was truly defenseless.

nHe expressionlessly pulled out a pen from his pocket and wrote on a note.

nA few sentences of the relatively unpopular love letter.

nHe placed a rose beside it.

nThen he sat on the side for a while, calculating the time.

nAfter all, he was acting as a clumsy and honest youth who was secretly in love with the princess. After bringing her back to her room, he would sit there nervously for a while and look at her to his heart’s desire before leaving.

nThat was what would be logical.

nXu Menggui calmly calculated the time. No more and no less.

nThen he stood up and went out.

nAs soon as he went out, he saw the butler waiting for him.

nHe followed the butler to a small parlor.

nBai Qingshui sized him up, the expression in his eyes growing frostier.

n“A member of the Xu family?”

nThe Xu family was about to fall apart.

nBai Qingshui was also aware of this.

nXu Menggui faced Bai Qingshui in a suitable manner, neither servile nor fearful.

n“Yes, Mr. Bai.”

nBai Qingshui: “You know what it means for you to come today?”

nXu Menggui paused before saying: “I know.”

n“You intend to marry into the Bai family?”

nA bit of anguish flashed across Xu Menggui’s eyes, and his face revealed a bit of conflict, but he still said, “Yes, if I have the honor.”

nBai Qingshui sneered. “I just want to know your true purpose.”

nXu Menggui’s expression was calm. “After my father passed away, the Xu family is in a huge crisis. I marry in to let at least the young and old live on. They are family, after all.”

nBai Qingshui said in a level tone, “Just this?”

nXu Menggui hesitated, then said somewhat awkwardly, “Actually, I like…”

nHe swallowed the latter half of the words and did not continue.

nBut Bai Qingshui was clear that he was talking about liking his daughter.

nBai Qingshui smiled. Suddenly, he took out his gun and pointed it at Xu Menggui’s head. “Han Ling’s son. At that time, your mother nearly killed our family ne.”

nXu Menggui’s pupils constricted. All the muscles in his body tensed, and an agonizing struggle flashed in his eyes.

n“I know. This is something that causes me guilt and suffering. I didn’t know about it when I was young. I only found out when I grew up.”

n1: I feel like this sounds super odd in English but it’s supposed to be a compliment on the youthfulness and springiness(? elasticity?) of her skin. Declining levels of collagen are linked to aging, reduced skin elasticity, wrinkle formation, etc. I never really hear people talk about collagen like this irl tho.↩

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