"Oh, you can read lips." Facing such a girl, Xia Xue felt pressured. "Can you give me some time to have a cup of coffee?"

The girl didn't refuse; she simply gazed at Xia Xue with her clear eyes. For some reason, Xia Xue suddenly regretted her impulsiveness. Although the eyes were filled with rare purity, they also carried a cold, suffocating feeling.

"Sorry, I was a bit presumptuous." Xia Xue apologized to the girl, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Lead the way." The girl left a message on the tablet accepting the invitation, which surprised Xia Xue. "Aren't we leaving?" Another question, her gaze making Xia Xue feel like the pressured party.

On the same level was a coffee shop Xia Xue frequented. Sitting inside, one could see the coffee beans being roasted through the window, and the fresh aroma was comforting.

Both seemed reluctant to speak. Xia Xue felt her rashness was slightly impolite, so she expressed her intentions more clearly. Yet the girl sitting opposite stared at her motionlessly, causing Xia Xue to feel a chill.

"Is there something wrong with me?" The girl just shook her head, the smile on her lips tinged with mockery.

"Nice to meet you; you're the first person here to take the initiative to approach me." Xia Xue wasn't sure if this could be considered a compliment. She initially thought the girl had accepted her invitation, but in reality, the opposite didn't hold this intention, leaving Xia Xue feeling a bit awkward.

"I accept it as your compliment." The girl smirked indifferently, looking at her with a mocking smile. The atmosphere in the coffee shop was warm, but the pressure above their heads was low. Xia Xue tried to find topics to dispel the pressure, but it seemed communicating with a beautiful stranger was quite difficult.

"You don't need to try talking to me; I'm just here to have a look at you." The topic on the tablet was suspicious.

"Do you know me?"

"No, I don't." The girl denied it crisply, yet her meaning was clear. Again, that mocking smile made Xia Xue feel her scalp tingle.

"You're here; I've been looking everywhere for you." A figure passing outside the window stepped back and knocked hard on the glass. Xia Xue looked up to see Hua Qingyi talking to her, and she waved to him like seeing a savior.

Hua Qingyi froze upon entering the door, knowing more than anyone who this person was. "There's news about Xiao Lin." The girl sitting there had no intention of backing down. She stirred the milk in front of her, as if Hua Qingyi was unseen.

"Where is he? Is everything okay?"

"Let's talk back at the office." Hua Qingyi said, pulling Xia Xue's hand without asking who the person across from her was.

"But..."

Only after entering the room for the second time did Hua Qingyi give the girl a proper look. "She can find her own way home."

"Wouldn't that be impolite? I invited her here."

"What?" Hua Qingyi raised his voice unintentionally. The girl sitting there nodded in acknowledgment. "I'll escort her out for you."

"Alright!" Xia Xue was immensely grateful for someone doing this for her. "I'll wait for you at the office." The one with the bill left first, realizing when turning back that Hua Qingyi was already seated where she was, glaring at the girl as if they were acquainted.

"Fourth Master, long time no see." Confirming that Xia Xue couldn't hear their conversation, Hua Qingyi leaned aside, recognizing the face instantly.

"Just came by to say hello, no need to be so tense." A low voice emanated from beneath the beautiful face.

"Appearing here in the open, what's your purpose?" Hua Qingyi's mind was somewhat complicated.

"Purpose? To finish what wasn't done."

"I must remind you, this is Yanjing, not the Middle East."

"Are you concerned about me?" The flickering in her eyes caused Hua Qingyi to avert his gaze, provoking a girlish laugh from the girl. "Since you're here, it saves me a visit. Tell Xiao Lin to take care of his woman."

"What do you intend to do?" Grabbing the girl's collar, her beautiful face immediately showed an aggrieved expression, her eyes filling with tears.

"Just came to have a look; if you're afraid, you can tell that woman who I am, doesn't matter." The girl exhibited scornful laughter at Hua Qingyi's actions.

"What are you doing?" Forgetting her bag, Xia Xue re-entered to see Hua Qingyi being rough with the girl, immediately stepping forward to separate them. The girl took the opportunity to lean on Xia Xue, giving Hua Qingyi a triumphant smile, tears flowing from her eyes. "How can you hit a girl!"

"He..." Hua Qingyi was about to say she wasn't a woman when he suddenly realized he was unclear about this person's gender—it should be a woman!

"Are you okay?" Ignoring Hua Qingyi, Xia Xue asked the girl, using a tissue to wipe her tears. "I'll see you out."

Hua Qingyi's mouth remained tightly closed even though he wanted to speak. If asked what kind of woman he'd find repulsive, the girl in front of him would be the one. The victorious smile she threw his way as she turned dazzled Hua Qingyi, she leaned close to Xia Xue, looking like long-time girlfriends.

Just as Xiao Lin parked in the underground garage, he received a call from Hua Qingyi. When he emerged from QQ, he was too distracted to listen. "I've already seen her." Xia Xue walked past, arm in arm with someone. Xiao Lin ducked behind a pillar, noting the girl's lowered head and smiling face, and suddenly felt a murderous intent. Unlike Hua Qingyi, he didn't impulsively confront them but headed for the elevator, entering 'Rhine' directly. Xiao Lin intended to surprise Xia Xue, but it seemed someone planned an even bigger surprise for him.

The bouquet in his hand was thrown onto the table, and Xiao Lin squinted as he lost himself in thought, hearing slight noises from behind. A pair of hands covered his eyes from behind, and he pulled her into his embrace. "Where did you go?"

"Not telling you." Having already seen his figure sitting inside when she entered, Xia Xue's planned conversations vanished in the ordinary greeting.

Xiao Lin pinched her nose and gazed into her eyes, unable to resist leaving a lingering kiss on her lips. "I missed you."

Her eyes reddened with tears of their own accord. Straddling his lap, Xia Xue wanted to feign anger but could only feel heartache instead.

"I hate you." The insincere words drew a laugh from Xiao Lin, who scooped her up, clutching her small bag as he walked out of the studio. Behind them were envious men, admiring women, and Xia Xue's bashful face in his arms.

"Brother!"

"Wait for my call." Hua Qingyi pouted, just about to inform Xiao Lin that he had prepared a room for him, but he ended up using it himself. Clearly, Xiao Lin had other plans, rendering Hua Qingyi's actions redundant.

Xia Xue buried her face in Xiao Lin's shoulder, unwilling to see Hua Qingyi's indecent smile, as if it said, "I know what you're up to," along with the 'Rhine' key card in his hand. "Put me down!"

"No!" Xiao Lin refused Xia Xue's request resolutely, feeling the person in his arms had become much lighter, probably not eating well! "I want to carry you home like this."

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