Fatal Desire

Chapter 141 The Calm Before the Storm (2)

“There’s not much progress,” Song Xi pondered. “If I had to say, it would be considered stagnation.”

"How do I restore the original stepping pattern?" Qin Fanghao asked, puzzled. "Aren't they all asleep?"

Song Xi and Zhao Yansen were not ordinary friends. Once they slept together, they would either be bound in a romantic relationship or their relationship would be completely over.

“I have to consider my aunt,” Song Xi said after a moment of silence.

Qin Fanghao suddenly realized and leaned back in his chair: "Your aunt and the Zhao family are indeed a problem, and then there's the Xiao family... It's not easy to explain to the Xiao family either."

"Yes." Song Xi sighed softly, took out her phone, and sent a message to Song Yunyu, informing her that she would be going home tonight.

After editing the message, she casually browsed through her Moments and saw a new post from Meng Weixian a few minutes earlier.

Arranged in a nine-square grid, her photo with Shang Shixu is placed at the top of the third row.

Meng Weixian's shooting angles are extremely tricky, even more so than the forced camera angles used in TV dramas, creating a confusing effect.

Although they weren't sitting close together, they looked as if they were leaning against each other, whispering to each other.

Song Xi casually clicked "like" and discovered that Meng Weixian's ex-girlfriend and current sister-in-law, Jiang Shangxue, was among the latest likes.

The three of them made no attempt to conceal their complex relationship.

Song Xi occasionally envied Meng Weixian and Jiang Shangxue. After so many years of being lovers, they agreed to be the younger brother and sister-in-law, and they behaved themselves as relatives.

A new notification popped up in her WeChat Moments. Song Xi snapped out of her reverie, clicked on it, and saw that it was a like from a mutual friend.

Chi Wang liked Meng Weixian's post on WeChat Moments.

Chi Wang sat down next to Zhou Ji'an, opened the photo, and moved the phone screen: "Hey, look what I found."

Zhou Ji'an, a cigar between his fingers, glanced at it but couldn't see clearly: "Who is this?"

“Song Xi and her boyfriend seem to be a good age match,” Chi Wang said.

They are having dinner at a renowned private banquet restaurant on the East Third Ring Road.

This private kitchen is located near a park in a quiet and elegant location, a prime spot amidst the hustle and bustle.

Zhao Yansen came over after the meeting. Huasong is basically managed by Jiang Liangqun, and Jiang Liangqun will ask for his opinion on things he is unsure about.

He left Huasong Building intending to go directly to his sister, but Luo Xiao said that Song Xi was meeting with friends and wouldn't be able to finish for a while.

Just then, Chi Wang called, saying that the brothers were all at a private banquet and invited him to come over.

When he arrived, it was basically the same few people in the circle, no beautiful women around.

Zhao Yansen never participated in the kind of playboy entertainment, firstly because he thought it was dirty, and secondly because he had a pampered princess at home who would make a scene with him all night at the slightest provocation.

As Chi Wang held the photo of Song Xi and sighed with emotion, he was casually smoking and listening to Meng Boyu speak.

Upon hearing the name, Zhao Yansen took the cigarette from his lips and flicked off the ash.

He only glanced up briefly before Chi Wang immediately handed him the phone, excitedly saying, "Brother Sen, our sister is really photogenic!"

Zhou Ji'an: "When did Song Xi become your sister?"

"So, you're not very good at walking, and you're hard of hearing too?" Chi Wang said casually, not caring that Zhou Ji'an was still in a wheelchair. "Song Xi, my angel sister, is the girl I'm protecting."

"Young Master Chi, his own brother is right here, does he need your protection?" a young master sneered.

In the photo on the screen, Song Xi sat in a chair, tilting her head as if talking to Shang Shixu, a joyful smile playing on her lips. Shang Shixu leaned closer to Song Xi, listening intently to her words.

Anyone who saw them would think they were a perfect match, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, of similar age, who started their business together, supported each other, weathered storms together, and finally met at the top.

Zhao Yansen remained expressionless, tossed his phone back to Chi Wang, and exhaled a thin puff of smoke.

Chi Wang looked at the photo again and asked, "Brother Sen, is this really our brother-in-law? What's his background?"

“That man’s name is Shang Shixu, a partner in Songxi Company.” Zhou Ji’an forcefully pulled Chi Wang back from his rambling thoughts, lest he cause trouble for the young master. “Shang Shixu? The Qiao family’s illegitimate son?”

Chi Wang didn't know what Shang Shixu looked like, but he knew the anecdotes about the Qiao family, so he immediately changed his mind, "That won't do. An illegitimate child is not good enough for our sister! He can only be an ordinary partner."

The young men watching the spectacle scoffed at Chi Wang's complete change of attitude.

Why do you need to worry about the marriage of the Zhao family's young master's sister?

Worrying unnecessarily.

*
Outside the gauze windows of the private rooms in the courtyard, bamboo shadows meet the waterside pavilion, outlining a freehand ink painting in the night.

The manager came over with the bill for Song Xi to sign, respectfully handing her a pen: "Ms. Song, this is tonight's bill, please take a look."

Song Xi glanced at the general contents and signed it readily and decisively.

After paying the bill, the four of them walked out of the private room and along the winding corridor toward the courtyard.

As we passed the hanging flower gate, a dispute suddenly broke out from the pavilion next to the pond.

Meng Weixian peeked around and asked, "Which family is having a fight this time?"

In the world of fame and fortune, those who prioritize profit are the most powerful. Even those from the same family, bound by blood, might fight tooth and nail for fame and power. But such struggles are rarely brought to the forefront.

Song Xi wasn't interested in other people's business, and casually remarked, "Maybe they are two families."

She was about to leave.

Suddenly, Qin Fanghao said, "It seems to be someone from the Gu family."

Song Xi then turned to look over.

On the pavilion, the guards restrained the two angry young men, preventing them from fighting.

And standing directly opposite them was a man.

Gu Beixiao stood with his hands behind his back under the corridor and said loudly, "Let go, let them fight!"

"If we're going to fight, let's fight until blood is drawn. Tonight, we must settle this with a fight to the death. Don't worry, I'll personally explain things to your father."

Seeing the two freeze in place, Gu Beixiao raised his voice slightly: "If you think your punches and kicks aren't strong enough, there are two cleavers in the kitchen. Do you want someone to get them for you?"

These thunderous words silenced the courtyard completely. The two young troublemakers were struck dumb, and shuddered for a moment.

“They are cousins ​​from the Gu family,” Qin Fanghao explained. “They were both pursuing a female student from Peking University, and they got into a fight because of jealousy.”

Shang Shixu's comment: "Love is like a battlefield; it all comes down to skill."

Meng Weixian leaned closer and whispered, "President Shang is just feeling sorry for his own kind, like the fox mourning the death of its kin."

Moonlight spilled over the eaves, and Shang Shixu stole a glance at Song Xi, whose beauty was even more radiant and captivating than the moonlight, but remained silent.

Noticing their presence, Gu Beixiao finished reprimanding the younger generation and glanced over, just in time to see Song Xi standing beside the brightly colored flower branches.

He waved his hand vigorously, signaling the guards to step back. He then strode over.

"Sorry, we were just passing by," Song Xi apologized calmly, indicating that she had no intention of eavesdropping.

"It's alright." Gu Beixiao was gentle and refined, displaying the demeanor of a true gentleman, as if he wasn't the one who had just reprimanded him so sternly.

Qin Fang was unusually obedient: "Uncle."

"Mm." Gu Beixiao looked at her and nodded slightly.

Song Xi wasn't familiar with the Gu family, so she gave a polite smile and was about to leave.

Gu Beixiao suddenly called out to her, "Little Song Xi."

(End of this chapter)