Marry a female star at a bargain price

Chapter 176 175. The human heart is an abyss
Early the next morning.

When the couple got up, Liu Liyun had already prepared breakfast.

Han Xixi was still sleeping in the master bedroom last night, but she got up and came out of her own room. This made her feel inexplicably guilty for abandoning her mother. She didn't even dare to look up while sitting at the dinner table.

Liu Liyun looked indifferent and was too lazy to tease the loving couple.

"Are you going to see Xiaowei today?" Liu Liyun suddenly asked.

"Yeah, I haven't seen her for a long time!"

Han Xixi said.

Liu Liyun nodded and asked in a strange tone: "Does Xiaowei agree to take Xiaolin with you?"

Lin Xiao was confused after hearing this.

I thought to myself that I was not some old pervert or a wanted fugitive, so there was nothing shameful about it.

When Han Xixi heard the question, she nodded calmly and said that she had discussed this matter with Xie Xiaowei.

Liu Liyun didn't say much, just sighed deeply.

"By the way, will Xie Bin go today?"

"Probably not."

Han Xixi said, "I didn't tell Brother Xie Bin!"

Liu Liyun perked up: "I heard from Xiaowei's mother that Xiaowei is more introverted than before and basically doesn't go out. In their family, only Xie Bin can talk to her and visits her often. Xiaowei asked you to meet today, and she might invite Xie Bin as well."

Han Xixi didn't care: "Just go, it just so happens that Brother Xie Bin helped me last time, and I haven't thanked him in person yet. If he goes today, I can thank him face to face."

Liu Liyun was surprised and asked what it was about.

Han Xixi then told Xie Bin about how she had opened a Coolie Coffee Shop in Chaobai Town, and how Xie Bin had helped her with the franchising and related procedures. She told him the whole story.

Liu Liyun was a little surprised.

I didn't expect that my daughter quietly became a big star and a small boss at the same time.

But on second thought, this store was opened in Chaobai Town probably to support Lin Xiao's work.

As a director-level leader, Liu Liyun does not approve of this approach from the perspective of professional sensitivity.

But now she has retired to the second line and is old.

He was ruthless and impartial when he was young, but now he has become soft-hearted.

Anyway, my daughter and son-in-law haven't violated any discipline, so I'm too lazy to interfere. As long as the young couple are happy, that's all that's fine.

She nodded, but didn't ask about it. Instead, she suddenly changed the subject and said, "Xie Bin is a good kid. He has been steady and down-to-earth since he was young, and he also takes good care of you brothers and sisters... I heard that he found a girlfriend, and she's a teacher at the Ninghai Normal School Attached Primary School, right?"

Han Xixi ate her breakfast as usual and said, "I only know that he's a teacher, but I don't know which school he's from!"

Liu Liyun rolled her eyes at her daughter in dissatisfaction: "Don't you know how to ask more questions? Dou Miao will go to primary school in the second half of the year, and the school she attends happens to be the Normal School Attached Primary School. If you have acquaintances, you can take care of her! Besides, the Normal School Attached Primary School is a key school in the city. If you two have children in the future, you can send them there. These relationships must be planned in advance..."

The sudden induction of labor made Han Xixi blush immediately, and she coughed violently while drinking porridge.

"Mom, you...what are you talking about..." Xixi was embarrassed.

"What are you talking about? I'm just talking about the facts!"

Liu Liyun said seriously, "You have been married for more than half a year, don't you consider having children? If you don't consider having children, why are you so affectionate with Xiaolin? You can't even bear to accompany your mother for a whole night, and you crawl into your husband's bed in the middle of the night..."

Han Xixi felt even more embarrassed after hearing these vicious words, and she kept stamping her feet.

"mom!!"

"I didn't say anything..."

Liu Liyun was speechless and explained to Lin Xiao, "I was the director of the Family Planning Office for a few years, and I'm used to seeing this kind of thing. But having children and carrying on the family line are the most normal things. I, an old woman, can discuss it normally, but why are you young people embarrassed... The times are really backwards!"

Lin Xiao: “…”

Xixi: "..."

For some unknown reason, have we become antiques?

The young couple looked at each other and smiled without saying anything.

After breakfast, I left home and drove to Xie Xiaowei's house.

The more Lin Xiao pondered over his mother-in-law's words, the more strange they seemed to him. He couldn't help but ask, "Xixi, what's going on with your best friend? She seems so mysterious!"

Han Xixi looked a little melancholy, and sighed after a long time.

"I didn't tell you before because I didn't know how to start!"

Xixi looked gloomy, and after organizing her words for a long time, she said, "Xiaowei... is indeed different from ordinary people. She is a disabled person!"

Lin Xiao was stunned for a moment.

"Innate?"

"No, it was an accident!"

Xixi said, "When she was eight years old, her home caught fire. When she was rescued, she had burns of varying degrees all over her body, especially her legs, which were the most seriously burned. After being rescued in the hospital, an infection occurred, and in the end, she was unable to save her legs..."

Lin Xiao's face became solemn when he heard this. He couldn't imagine what such pain meant to a girl.

"So, amputation?" he asked.

"……Um!"

Xixi nodded, tears flashing in her eyes.

Lin Xiao touched her hand, and she felt comforted and gave a forced smile in return.

"Was she alone at home at that time? Where were the adults?" Lin Xiao asked again.

"It was afternoon, and her parents were out."

Xixi recalled, "He said he was going to buy groceries, and then locked her in the house. If the door hadn't been locked, she wouldn't have been able to escape. It was only because Brother Xie Bin came looking for her, saw the fire, broke the door open with a brick, and rescued Xiaowei... Otherwise, it wouldn't just be a matter of amputation, but her life might have been in danger!"

Lin Xiao was speechless for a moment.

Although I felt sorry for this girl whom I had never met, I always felt that something was wrong.

"What day of the week was it?" he asked.

"Saturday!"

"Do you remember the exact date?"

"Remember!"

Xixi answered without hesitation, "May 5rd, it's not summer vacation yet. Xiaowei will go to her grandparents' house during summer vacation. They live in the same neighborhood as my grandparents, so this kind of thing won't happen!"

Lin Xiao was even more confused.

Seeing his expression, Xixi felt it was strange and began to feel uneasy.

"Brother, what are you thinking about?"

"..."

When Lin Xiao heard this question, he turned his head to look at Xixi. He saw a bit of uneasiness and deep doubt in her inquiring eyes.

He asked directly: "Do you also think that Xie Xiaowei's case is strange?"

Han Xixi's eyes widened, and she was extremely panicked for a moment. Then, as if she had done something wrong, she quickly retracted her gaze, not daring to look at him again.

When Lin Xiao saw this reaction, he knew that she probably had the same guess as him.

"What do Xie Xiaowei's parents do?"

"They are all cadres. Uncle Xie is a leader, but I don't know his specific level!"

Lin Xiao nodded: "Is she the only one in her family?"

Han Xixi said: "Then she gave birth to a younger brother!"

"She gave birth after Xie Xiaowei's accident, right?"

"Um?!"

Han Xixi's eyes widened in disbelief, "Brother, how did you know?"

Lin Xiao shook his head: "Back then, family planning had not been abolished yet. People outside the system might not be so strict, and they could have children by paying a fine, but people within the system were determined not to cross this red line, unless the first child was disabled. Xie Xiaowei's parents wanted to have a second child, and they met the conditions, but they could only do so after their daughter got into trouble..."

Han Xixi took a breath of cold air.

The couple looked at each other without saying anything, but they both understood each other's guess.

Lin Xiao spoke first: "So, you have always suspected that what happened to Xie Xiaowei was not entirely an accident, right?"

Han Xixi looked panicked, and after hesitating for a long time, she said, "I... I haven't told anyone, but when Xiaowei was young, she did have several accidents. She almost got lost when she went out to play, and she fell down the stairs while climbing. These are what Xiaowei told me, and every accident happened when she was with her parents.

"I was young at the time and didn't understand. I thought Xiaowei was just confused. But after she got into trouble, I wondered why it happened so coincidentally that her parents went out and locked her up at home... Was this really an accident?"

Lin Xiao shook his head and gave his own conclusion: "Although the rainy season is over in May and the south wind is back, the air is humid in early summer, just like now, so it is difficult for a fire to start automatically. For such a big fire to occur, it would only be because of a gas leak at home and an open flame!"

He paused and sneered, "Then the question is, if there was really an open fire at home at the time, how could the two parents go out at the same time without worrying about leaving their 8-year-old child at home?"

Han Xixi recalled: "I remember my parents talked about this before. They said that there was indeed something stewing on the stove. First, my aunt went out to buy vegetables, and then my uncle had to go to the company to work overtime. He didn't know that there was a fire on the stove, so he just locked the door and went out..."

Lin Xiao sneered and shook his head: "I have been working for six years and have met so many leaders and cadres, big and small, but I have never seen such a careless person in the system! So..."

He didn't say anything else, but Han Xixi understood, and her eyes were suddenly filled with fear and despair.

Just look at this expression and this reaction.

Lin Xiao knew that Xixi had actually been having this guess all these years, but her emotion told her that the truth couldn't be like this, and she also tried hard to control herself from thinking in this direction, so she had "escaped" for so many years.

Now that the facts were before her, she had to face them, and her mentality suddenly collapsed.

Lin Xiao was speechless and could only remain silent.

After a while, Xixi calmed down and asked, "Brother, should I tell Xiaowei about this?"

Lin Xiao was silent.

"She lives alone now?"

"Well, she has lived alone since she turned eighteen. Her grandparents bought her a house."

"..."

Lin Xiao sighed, "She should have guessed it a long time ago!"

Han Xixi was stunned and subconsciously wanted to question, but she figured it out in an instant.

At this moment, he could no longer hold back his tears, which burst out, and he cried bitterly with his hands on his face.

……

Arrived at the residential area where Xie Xiaowei lived.

Han Xixi had adjusted her mood and skillfully took Lin Xiao to the door of a house. The door had been modified and had an openable ventilation window in the middle. A 50-centimeter-long and 50-centimeter-wide iron frame was welded on the outside.

Open the small window from the inside and take the take-out, express delivery and other items from the iron shelf directly in without opening the door.

It is convenient, but it makes people feel pity.

Knock on the door.

Lin Xiao then met Xixi's legendary best friend, Xie Xiaowei.

He had made sufficient mental preparation before the meeting, so when he met the real person, he found it was okay.

Xie Xiaowei was sitting in a wheelchair, but her face was actually quite normal, with only shallow burn marks on her forehead and chin, which were invisible unless you looked closely.

She opened the door and let Lin Xiao and Han Xixi in.

"Hello Xiaowei, I'm Xixi's husband, Lin Xiao!"

He reached out his hand.

Xie Xiaowei smiled brightly: "I know, Xixi has mentioned you eight hundred times, saying that you are handsome, talented, and have a strong sense of patriotism... She praised you to the skies. Now I finally see you in person, nice to meet you!"

Lin Xiao laughed out loud.

Xixi was so embarrassed that she wanted to cover Xie Xiaowei's mouth and order her not to talk nonsense.

The two girls were playing together.

Lin Xiao looked at this scene and felt that he was worrying too much. This young lady who had experienced major changes in her life was more open-minded than ordinary people.

If you didn't pay attention to her legs, you would never imagine what kind of abyssal nightmare she had experienced.

"Why are you buying vegetables?" Xie Xiaowei noticed that Lin Xiao was carrying vegetables in his hands and asked curiously.

Han Xixi smiled and said, "My cooking skills have improved rapidly recently, and I want to show you my skills today! But let me make it clear in advance, no matter what I cook, you have to finish it, do you hear me?"

Xie Xiaowei burst into laughter. "Ms. Han, your words are contradictory. You said that you have made rapid progress, so it seems that the dishes you cook must be delicious. Is it necessary to threaten me to finish them?"

Han Xixi smiled timidly: "I'm just in case!"

Xie Xiaowei shook her head and smiled without saying anything.

While the two best friends were arguing, Lin Xiao took the initiative to carry the dishes to the kitchen. Seeing that the table was covered with dust, she suddenly realized that a disabled girl living alone really couldn't use the kitchen and would have to rely on takeout for meals.

Now I understand why Xixi insisted on coming here to buy groceries.

He busied himself in the kitchen.

Han Xixi came over to help, but was directly driven out by Lin Xiao, who told her to just wait and eat the ready-made food.

There was a banging noise in the kitchen.

In the living room, Han Xixi acted like she was at home, eating fruit with her feet up, not treating herself as a outsider at all.

Xie Xiaowei listened to the noise in the kitchen and smiled calmly: "Your husband is a versatile person. Not only can he write songs, he can also cook!"

Han Xixi said proudly: "That's right, don't you even look at who asked for it!"

If she dared to do this in the past, Xie Xiaowei would have to fight with her on the wheelchair to put an end to her arrogance.

But today, she was truly happy for her best friend.

I couldn't help but sigh, "I used to worry that after you entered the entertainment industry, you would be exploited, entangled by those rich second-generations, and then get married and divorced... Now that I see you've found such a down-to-earth partner, I feel relieved!"

Han Xixi was embarrassed in front of others, but she had nothing to be shy about in front of her bestie. She grinned like a moron with her teeth bared, and she was so happy that she almost burst into bubbles.

The two sisters chirped for a while.

At this time, the doorbell rang.

Han Xixi subconsciously asked: "Did you order takeout?"

Xie Xiaowei's eyes flashed with something strange, and she said, "It should be my brother!"

"Brother Xie Bin?"

"Yes, he called me just before you came."

Xie Xiaowei hesitated and said, "I told him about your coming, and he didn't say anything, but I always felt that he would come!"

Han Xixi frowned when she heard this.

But there was no time to ask more questions, so he hurried to open the door, and it was indeed Xie Bin standing at the door.

"Xixi?" Xie Bin looked surprised.

"Brother Xie Bin, long time no see!"

Han Xixi smiled calmly.

She and Xie Bin were not very familiar with each other, after all, he was three years older than her and Xie Xiaowei.

This age difference is not noticeable in adults, but when we were young, even boys and girls could not play together at all.

Han Xixi would occasionally run into Xie Bin when she went to Xie Xiaowei's grandparents' house, and they had never exchanged a few words.

For so many years.

Because of Xie Xiaowei, Han Xixi and he saw each other quite often, but they were just nodding acquaintances. To put it more deeply, he was "best friend's cousin", nothing more.

When Xie Bin saw Han Xixi, he also smiled with surprise.

"Xixi, long time no see."

"Yeah, brother, isn't your store busy? Today is Sunday, how do you still have time to come over?"

Han Xixi asked.

Xie Bin owns a milk tea shop and has some knowledge in this industry, which is why he can help her get the Cooldi franchise store deal.

Xie Bin smiled and said, "I haven't come to see Xiaowei for a while. I was planning to come today, but I heard Xiaowei say you would come today on the way... Are you coming alone?"

"No, there's my husband!"

As he spoke, Lin Xiao came out following the noise.

Han Xixi naturally took his arm and introduced him with a smile, "This is my husband Lin Xiao, and this is Brother Xie Bin whom I mentioned to you. It was Brother Xie Bin who helped me get the franchise agreement for my coffee shop!"

Lin Xiao nodded. He was not surprised at the appearance of this person.

He had no emotions.

Xie Bin was just a stranger to him. If it weren't for Han Xixi, they would probably never have any intersection in this life.

To some extent, he could be considered Xixi's childhood sweetheart, the kind of big brother next door.

From a male perspective.

Lin Xiao could immediately conclude that he liked Xixi.

But Xixi obviously has no interest in him, otherwise there would be nothing for him to do!
Lin Xiao declined to comment on this matter.

On the contrary, because of this buddy's act of saving his sister from the fire, Lin Xiao admired him very much and respected him as a man.

The two shook hands and exchanged brief greetings.

Lin Xiao continued to work in the kitchen, and soon Han Xixi came in.

"Do you need my help?" Xixi asked.

"No need, just stay out, I'll be ready soon!" Lin Xiao said.

Xixi didn't leave: "Then I'll stay with you!"

Lin Xiao took one look at her and knew that Xie Bin's arrival made her feel uncomfortable, so she went to the kitchen to find her husband.

I suddenly felt very good.

Soon, the sumptuous meal of four dishes and one soup was ready, and the four young men sat down on both sides of the dining table.

Of course Lin Xiao and Han Xixi sat on one side, the two girls facing each other, and the two men facing each other.

"Mm, it's delicious. It's a pity that you are not a chef with your cooking skills, Lin Xiao. Xixi is so lucky to marry you!"

Xie Xiaowei praised the food while eating, and her face full of surprise didn't seem fake.

Lin Xiao smiled and said, "Xiaowei, don't praise me. This girl might get upset and think that my cooking skills are better than hers!"

Xie Xiaowei laughed heartily, her disposition was very cheerful.

Han Xixi glared at him angrily, then smiled secretly.

Xie Bin then asked, "Where is Mr. Lin employed?"

Lin Xiao smiled and said, "I can't say I'm high-ranking, I'm just an ordinary worker!"

Xie Bin's expression was half-smile: "In the system?"

Lin Xiao smiled but said nothing. There was no need to lie, so he just agreed.

The smile on Xie Bin's face became even stranger.

"My grandfather told me before that Xixi's husband was chosen by her parents. I didn't believe it at the time. I thought that how could Xixi, who is so independent-minded, accept someone chosen by her parents... Now it seems to be true!" he said indifferently.

As soon as these words came out, Xie Xiaowei bumped into him.

She quickly tried to smooth things over with Lin Xiao: "Our grandparents are neighbors with Xixi's grandparents. As elderly people, their conversations inevitably revolve around children, so we have heard a little about your two of you!"

Lin Xiao smiled and said to Xie Bin, "So fate is predestined and cannot be forced. Eight months ago, I didn't expect that I would marry a singer, and Xixi didn't expect to marry a civil servant. God has written the script, and we can only obey his arrangement!"

As he spoke, he picked up a piece of bamboo shoots that was farthest away from Xixi and put it into her bowl.

Xie Bin was stunned for a moment, laughed dryly with a look of reluctance in his eyes, and drank a drink to cover up his embarrassment.

The atmosphere was a little awkward for a moment.

Xiaowei seemed to be afraid that Lin Xiao would misunderstand, so she quickly changed the subject and asked Xie Bin: "Brother, where is your sister-in-law? Didn't you say before that you would introduce her to me? Why didn't you bring her today?"

Xie Bin subconsciously looked up at Han Xixi.

Then he felt that he had no right to look at it that way, and quickly looked away.

"Xixi is here. She's a big star, so it might not be convenient for her to meet strangers. That's why I didn't bring anyone here casually!" Xie Bin said.

"Brother Xie Bin, don't say that!"

Han Xixi said sincerely, "You are Xiaowei and I's brother, and we grew up together. Don't become estranged because of my current job. Next time if you have a chance, bring your sister-in-law to have dinner with us. I really want to see who could have kidnapped our brother Xie Bin!"

This was said playfully, in the tone of a completely little sister.

Xie Bin also laughed in silence, shook his head helplessly, and nodded in agreement.

The meal ended blandly and Xie Bin left.

Lin Xiao and Han Xixi stayed here until evening.

The two sisters spent most of the time chatting, and Lin Xiao either listened beside them or wandered around the small house, admiring Xie Xiaowei's drawings.

She never went to school properly after her amputation. Later, her grandparents hired a teacher to teach her to paint at home, and she has persisted in doing so for all these years.

Now I am an illustrator and it is not a big problem for me to support myself.

Lin Xiao and Han Xixi stayed until after six o'clock before leaving.

Before walking out of the room, Xixi hugged her best friend again and again with a look of reluctance on her face, but as soon as the door was closed, her smile immediately fell, and her face was uncontrollably gloomy and sad.

Lin Xiao understood her feelings and did not try to persuade her, but accompanied her to the car.

The car drove off into the night.

Lin Xiao then spoke to break the deadlock: "Wife, let me ask you a question!"

"Ah."

"When you were looking for someone to marry, why didn't you consider Xie Bin?"

Lin Xiao asked.

The sudden question startled Han Xixi, and it took her a long time to come back to her senses.

“This… I really haven’t thought about it!”

"What do you mean, never thought about it? Never thought about him at all?"

"Yeah!" Han Xixi nodded seriously.

"What about your mother? Why didn't she think of arranging a blind date between him and you?"

Lin Xiao was indeed curious about this matter. "Your two families know each other well. He is three years older than you, so you two are closer in age. Logically, he is the most suitable candidate for your blind date, right?"

When Han Xixi heard this, she tilted her head and was curious: "Yes, why?"

Lin Xiao was speechless: "Should I ask you, or are you asking me?"

Han Xixi became happy, and her gloomy mood disappeared.

"You shouldn't ask me this, you should ask my mom. She chose the blind date, not me!"

Lin Xiao said "Hey", why did he feel that his wife was acting a bit like a rogue?

"I don't need to ask, the case has been solved!"

"Ok?"

"Your mother chose me to go on a blind date with you for the same reason you chose me to marry her!"

"……what?"

Han Xixi narrowed her eyes, feeling that the answer would be unreliable.

Lin Xiao shook his head proudly, throwing his non-existent bangs aside, with a calm and proud look on his face.

"A graceful gentleman is a good match for a lady! I am still at a disadvantage because of my appearance. You only see my face and ignore my talent!"

"???"

Han Xixi narrowed her eyes.

(End of this chapter)