Miss Si's feigned innocence went too far, and the aloof Mr. Bo was easily swayed.

The fulfillment and satisfaction of her work brought Si Yuan some comfort.

But what made her happiest was receiving a call from Si Aofu.

Si Aofu arranged to meet Si Yuan at the coffee shop downstairs from the Beijing TV station. This was the first time Si Aofu had taken the initiative to call her since the two had developed a rift.

Si Yuan was very happy. She put aside her work and took leave to see Si Aofu first.

In the coffee shop.

As soon as Si Yuan entered the room, she saw Si Aofu sitting on the small sofa by the window.

She had long, chestnut-brown curly hair and wore a red halter-neck dress, looking radiant and stunning.

Many people praise Si Yuan for her beauty, but Si Yuan thinks her older sister, Si Aofu, is the most beautiful woman in the world.

She stared blankly at the scenery outside the window, lost in thought.

Si Yuan walked towards her, "Sister..."

Upon seeing Si Yuan, Si Aofu snapped out of her daze, gave a dry smile, and said, "Sit down."

Si Yuan took her seat, and Si Aofu asked the waiter to get her a glass of milk.

While waiting for the milk, the atmosphere became noticeably awkward.

They used to be best friends who could talk about anything, but now when they meet, it feels a little awkward.

Si Yuan felt uneasy and broke the silence first, "Sister... is there something you wanted to see me about?"

Si Aofu looked at Si Yuan's formal shirt and smiled enviously. "My aunt's dream used to be to become a host. Now you've fulfilled her wish. She'll be so happy to see how successful you are now, even from beyond the grave."

Si Aofu's tone lacked its usual sarcasm and irony, which made Si Yuan somewhat uncomfortable.

Thinking of Si Zhixia, Si Yuan felt a little sad.

"Alright... I didn't call you here to reminisce about my aunt..."

As she spoke, Si Aofu handed a beautifully crafted gift box to Si Yuan. "This is your onboarding gift. Congratulations on becoming the first person to dare to step out of the Si family and have their own career."

The daughters of the Si family have no choice from the moment they are born.

Everything was arranged by my parents.

What school to attend, what dance to learn, what friends to make...

Of course, the purpose of studying is not to create a great career in the future, but to have a competitive edge when a wealthy family chooses a daughter-in-law.

Despite being described as a wealthy heiress living a life of luxury, she actually has no freedom whatsoever.

Si Yuan stared blankly at the gift box, then looked at Si Aofu in disbelief, "Sister... why...?"

The last time they met, they had a very unpleasant argument.

Today, however, I received a gift from Si Aofu.

Si Yuan was flattered and overwhelmed.

Si Aofu sighed and gazed wistfully out the window. "I ran into Zhizhou a while ago..."

Si Yuan's heart skipped a beat. She remembered her sister's ex-boyfriend, whom she couldn't forget, named Xie Zhizhou.

"He is now a painter. He has realized his dream. Seeing that he is doing well, I suddenly felt at peace."

Si Aofu laughed self-deprecatingly, "Perhaps I'm destined to be apart from him in this life. I hated you for so long back then, and I never gave you a kind look all these years. You must be very sad, right?"

"sister……"

Si Yuan's throat was terribly tight, and she felt fine even when Si Aofu scolded and mocked her.

But after Si Aofu said that, she suddenly felt very wronged.

"I really didn't..."

"alright……"

Si Aofu interrupted Si Yuan, "Do you want this gift? If not, I'll throw it away."

Si Aofu picked up the gift box on the table, pretending to throw it away, but Si Yuan quickly snatched the gift back, "I want it—"

Si Yuan smiled and hugged the gift to her chest. "This is a gift from you, so it's mine now. Thank you, sister..."

Seeing Si Yuan's childish side, Si Aofu clenched her fists, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

Si Aofu gave Si Yuan a pair of diamond earrings.

Si Yuan was very fond of it and couldn't put it down.

Seeing that Si Yuan had looked at the earrings several times that afternoon with a happy expression on her face, Gu Yinhe smiled and moved closer to her, "Who gave them to you? You're so happy!"

Si Yuan smiled, "It was a gift from my sister."

"Si Aofu? Oh, she's changed her mind?"

Gu Yinhe knew that Si Aofu and Si Yuan didn't get along. Even though they grew up together, Si Aofu always acted like she was seeing an enemy whenever she saw Si Yuan.

She knew the reason, of course. It seemed that Si Yuan had complained about her dating, and Si Qingwan forced the two to break up in a fit of anger, and then married Si Aofu off to Fu Qidong.

Not to mention that the Si Yuan she knew wouldn't do such a thing, even if she did, it would definitely be for Si Aofu's own good.

After all, I heard that Si Aofu's first love came from a very poor family, with her father in jail and her mother in the hospital.

If Si Aofu had married him, she wouldn't have the happy life she has now.

Si Yuan was still immersed in her joy, wondering what kind of gift she should give back to Si Aofu after accepting her gift.

Gu Yinhe suggested, "Then let's see what she likes."

Si Yuan thought for a moment, then her eyes lit up. "I understand."

Si Aofu loves all kinds of aromatherapy, so Si Yuan took advantage of her time after get off work to go to the shop and make a lily aromatherapy diffuser that Si Aofu liked by hand.

"Ah Yuan, what a coincidence..."

Si Yuan was diligently making aromatherapy when she heard someone call her name. She looked up and saw an unexpected person.

"Lu Xiao? What are you doing here?"

"Ahem..." Lu Xiao coughed lightly, "I came to buy aromatherapy, but I didn't expect to run into you."

Although Lu Xiao signed an agreement not to date, Si Yuan was too outstanding and beautiful. He was afraid that Si Yuan would be pursued by someone else, so he could only try to appear in front of her and make his presence known.

He knew Si Yuan was here because Gu Yinhe said that as long as Gu Yinhe was on his side, things would be much easier.

Si Yuan didn't think much of it at all, "Oh, that's quite a coincidence..."

Seeing what Si Yuan was holding, Lu Xiao exclaimed in surprise, "You're... making aromatherapy?"

Si Yuan nodded. "Yes, I like to make these things myself."

Seeing the smile on Si Yuan's face, alarm bells went off in Lu Xiao's head.

Generally, things made by hand are given as gifts.

Is A-Yuan going to give it to a man or a woman?

But asking that would be too presumptuous, so Lu Xiao thought for a moment and then smiled, "Is this a gift or for your own use?"

"Give it away?"

really--

Lu Xiao couldn't hold back any longer and asked, "So, are you giving it to a man or a woman?"

Seeing Si Yuan looking at him, Lu Xiao hurriedly explained, "I'm sorry, I was presumptuous."

Si Yuan wouldn't want anyone around her to feel awkward, so she smiled slightly and said, "I want to give this to my sister."

Upon hearing this, Lu Xiao breathed a heavy sigh of relief and felt even more that A Yuan was kind and gentle.

Lu Xiao was very busy, and it was a rare opportunity for him to steal a moment to visit Si Yuan, so he naturally wouldn't let such a good chance pass him by.

"Ah Yuan, can you teach me how to make aromatherapy diffusers?"

Lu Xiao's cheeks flushed slightly. "I know a girl, and I want to give her aromatherapy. If it's handmade, the sentiment will be deeper."

Seeing Lu Xiao's hesitant manner, Si Yuan assumed he wanted to give Gu Yinhe some scented oil but was too embarrassed to say it.

If it were someone else, she would definitely ask the shop assistant to teach her, but Lu Xiao had helped her at the previous music festival.

In addition, he was Gu Yinhe's childhood friend, so Si Yuan couldn't refuse.

Besides, we have plenty of time today, so it wouldn't hurt to teach a little.

"OK……"

Lu Xiao was so happy he almost jumped up on the spot, but afraid of looking like a young boy in front of Si Yuan, he coughed lightly and pretended to be composed.

"Thank you, A-Yuan..."

"You're welcome, please have a seat."

Lu Xiao sat opposite Si Yuan in a great mood.

Si Yuan handed him a notebook. "These are all types of aromatherapy products. Take a look, Yin..."

Thinking that Lu Xiao didn't mention the girl's name, he definitely didn't want her to know that the person he was going to deliver was Gu Yinhe.

Si Yuan changed the subject abruptly, "See what flavor the girl you like likes."

Lu Xiao looked at the various flavors and recipes, his eyes constantly glancing furtively at Si Yuan.

"Actually, I don't know what flavor she likes. Ah Yuan, you're a girl, and girls' favorite flavors are probably all pretty much the same. Can you help me choose one?"

This is the kind of straight man's comment.

You can tell from just one listen that Lu Xiao has never been in a relationship.

Si Yuan recalled that when she went to buy perfume last time, Gu Yinhe liked the floral and fruity scent of freesia, so she said, "Freesia, please."

Lu Xiao thought Si Yuan liked freesias and smiled happily, "Okay, then let's make that flavor."

Although the Lu family did not make it into the top five families, Lu Xiao was still a pampered young master who grew up being cherished.

He was raised with a life of ease, never having to lift a finger.

In the past, when the school assigned crafts, he would simply hand them over to the nanny at home and have her do them for him.

All he needs to do is eat, drink, and have fun.

This was the first time he had ever made a craft by hand in his entire life.

However, making handicrafts was much more difficult than Lu Xiao had imagined.

One minute I need to mix the fragrance, the next I need to use a funnel and a stirring rod...

He was completely at a loss.

Although A-Yuan was very patient in teaching him, it did not showcase his strengths or highlights.

What he wanted was for A-Yuan to like him, not to embarrass himself.

"I'm sorry, I was so stupid..."

Seeing Lu Xiao's downcast mood, Si Yuan smiled at him, "You're not stupid, it's just that boys aren't as skillful as girls. Let me help you..."

Lu Xiao stared at Si Yuan with fascination. Si Yuan was so wonderful; he really wanted to marry her right away.

The scent of freesias filled the air instantly, and soothing, romantic French music played throughout the aromatherapy shop.

Lu Xiao sniffed the scent, then looked at Si Yuan, and felt that they were on a date at that moment.

just perfect.

If only time could stand still at this moment.

soon--

Lu Xiao realized what was happening.

No, no, time can't stand still here.

He hasn't confessed to A Yuan yet, and A Yuan isn't his girlfriend, so he can't stop here.

To attract customers from outside, the aromatherapy shop installed a large floor-to-ceiling window.

A car was parked on the street outside the window. Compared to the cozy atmosphere of the aromatherapy shop, the atmosphere inside the car was terribly cold.

Lan Hai cautiously glanced at his CEO in the rearview mirror—

His jawline was taut, and his face was expressionless.

Those eyes, usually covered with a thin layer of ice, were now like a frosty, deep pool, their unfathomable darkness churning with an almost overflowing ferocity.

The gaze was so deep and ruthless, like a poisoned blade, that it seemed to freeze the two people in the aromatherapy shop, its chill almost shattering the entire car window.