At this moment, the three stood in the middle of the stairs, locked in a tug-of-war.
Bai Xi was in the middle, her left hand held by Tong Yao, and her right arm was being pulled by Han Mo.
Tong Yao’s body immediately stiffened, her face filled with embarrassment. She realized she couldn’t pull Bai Xi away not because Bai Xi didn’t want to go with her, but because Han Mo had reached out and grabbed Bai Xi.
Moreover, Han Mo had likely heard everything she had just said. What’s more, she still had a more troublesome plan in mind, and she felt incredibly guilty. To be caught red-handed by the very person involved, how could she not be embarrassed?
“Han, Han… Hello, Dr. Han.”
Tong Yao immediately let go of her hand, flashed an extremely awkward smile at Han Mo, and after a long pause, managed to utter these words.
The moment Tong Yao released her grip, Han Mo subtly tightened his hold, pulling Bai Xi directly into his embrace, as if he had finally reclaimed his treasure.
Their eyes met, and Bai Xi’s gaze softened at that instant. “A Mo.”
Han Mo smiled, as clear and handsome as when they first met, like a young man. A moment later, he turned his head to look at Tong Yao, his gaze slightly deepened, not as gentle as when he looked at Bai Xi, but with a calm expression. “Miss Tong is mistaken.”
Tong Yao looked at the two of them, beautiful as if they were on a magazine cover, and was momentarily stunned. It wasn’t until she heard Han Mo speak that she snapped back to reality. “Yes, yes, yes, I was wrong. How could I possibly try to snatch someone from Dr. Han? I overestimated my abilities.”
Sigh. Honestly, she had always thought that while Han Mo was good-looking, he wore glasses and seemed a bit oblivious, and she had worried he wouldn’t understand romance or be able to make Xi’er happy.
But now, seeing them smile at each other with such understanding… she felt like a giant light bulb.
Han Mo smiled. “Miss Tong misunderstands. That’s not what I meant.”
Tong Yao looked at Han Mo, confused.
Han Mo turned to Bai Xi and said softly, “What I mean is… what Miss Tong said earlier was mistaken. It’s not that my Xi’er lacks backbone, but rather it’s me. I’m completely infatuated. To me, a day without seeing Xi’er feels like three years!”
Bai Xi froze for a moment. Looking into Han Mo’s eyes, a blush bloomed on her face.
Although she and Han Mo were now together, legally and logically, putting on such a grand display of affection in front of Tong Yao made her feel a little unable to maintain her composure.
To save face and appear composed and stable, Bai Xi lightly coughed, easing the ambiguous atmosphere. “Ahem, since you’re out too, why don’t we go try on the dresses together?”
Seeing her avert her gaze and her slightly flushed cheeks, Han Mo smiled and said, “Okay.”
M City, Hua Man Wedding Dress Customization Boutique.
A building resembling a palace came into view. Its pure white walls were elegant and pristine, and large floor-to-ceiling windows made the entire structure appear bright and dazzling.
Tong Yao, with great enthusiasm, linked her arm with Bai Xi’s and said, “This is considered the best wedding dress customization boutique in M City. The founder of this boutique, Hua Man, is incredibly talented. She gained fame thirty years ago and is an absolute master in the fashion design world. Whether it’s design, sewing, or even embroidery, everything is incredibly exquisite and beautiful, like a work of art.
Although she is from abroad, both in China and abroad, people are proud to wear clothes personally designed by her. Her chain stores are not franchised; all of them are opened by her direct disciples.
It’s rare that one has opened directly in our M City, only in the last few months. Actually, an appointment is required a month in advance here, but coincidentally, my mother booked a fitting when it first opened, so I directly took over this appointment, hehe…”
After speaking, she tilted her head up, looking at Bai Xi as if expecting praise.
Bai Xi raised an eyebrow slightly. “Is this really fair to your aunt?”
As a friend, she felt touched. But from Tong Yao’s mother’s perspective, this daughter was practically a troublemaker.
Tong Yao raised her eyebrows, looking indifferent. “It’s fine, it’s fine. My mother has so many beautiful clothes, she won’t mind missing this customization opportunity. Your wedding is clearly more important.”
Tong family villa, Madam Tong sneezed in her room.
Tong Hua, seeing this, closed the wide-open window. “Mom, what’s wrong? Are you catching a cold? Didn’t you say you were going to get a dress today? Why are you still at home?”
Madam Tong gently pinched her high, straight nose with her fingers. “Sigh, they say daughters are a mother’s little cotton-padded jackets, but this cotton-padded jacket of ours is being worn by someone else. My jewelry, and those dresses, sigh…”
As soon as she said this, Tong Hua understood, a flicker of dimness in his eyes. “Mom, Bai Xi is sister’s best friend, didn’t you always know that? You were worried she wouldn’t be able to get over things because of Bai Xi. Now that Bai Xi is back, and sister has become lively again, aren’t you happy too?”
After she spoke, Madam Tong looked at Tong Hua, examined him for a while, and then said, “You say, if Bai Xi were my future daughter-in-law, I would have poured my heart into it. But you, you useless one, you couldn’t even win her over!”
She only found out later that Tong Hua had pursued Bai Xi.
The Bai family now could truly be considered as flourishing as the sun. If it had worked out, it would have been considered them marrying up. Now that it didn’t, it was a pity, such a pity…
Tong Hua, hearing his mother’s teasing, showed a hint of embarrassment on his face. “Mom, are you even my real mother?”
Madam Tong directly extended a well-maintained finger and poked her son’s forehead. “Of course, I am. Otherwise, why would I tease you like this? Son, we shouldn’t lose face. Your sister chose an exquisite ruby necklace as a wedding gift, so you should also think of a proper gift. Don’t let them think our Tong family is cheap!”
“Guan guan ju jiu, by the river’s bend; a graceful lady, for a gentleman to befriend.”
This was a beautiful thing in itself, but to fall out with someone just because you couldn’t pursue them, to hold grudges, to slander, or even insult them, that was a sign of poor character, what’s the difference from trash?
Those of the Tong family, even if not chosen, are definitely decent and generous ex-lovers. It’s her loss for not knowing how to appreciate them!
After speaking, she stepped forward and gently adjusted Tong Hua’s suit collar, straightening the slightly asymmetrical lapel.
“Failure is the mother of success, and in matters of love, it’s never about who is better, but the feeling between two people. So, don’t feel too burdened. Being rejected is normal. Next time you meet someone you like, continue to pursue them bravely. You are my son, and you deserve a girl who has eyes only for you!”
Tong Hua’s dejected eyes brightened slightly. “Mom, I understand.”
Madam Tong released her hand from adjusting Tong Hua’s collar, a smile appearing on her face. “Pick a good gift, don’t disgrace our Tong family!”
Tong Hua smiled and nodded. “Of course!”
Inside the Hua Man Wedding Dress Customization Boutique, as Bai Xi and the others entered, two impeccably dressed service staff approached them. “Ms. and Sir, do you have an appointment?”
Tong Yao released Bai Xi’s hand and stood up, smiling, instantly transforming from an adoring fan into the dignified and elegant eldest daughter of the Tong family. “My surname is Tong. I made an appointment for nine o’clock this morning last night.”
The attendant immediately understood, her smile polite. She gestured and said, “Oh, you must be Miss Tong. Miss Tong, please come this way. Your exclusive designer has been waiting for you for a long time.”
They walked down a long corridor and entered another room where a woman was seated. The woman appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, wearing a white casual dress, with long black hair falling gently on either side.
She sensed their arrival but did not rise to greet them. Instead, she casually brushed her long hair to the right, letting it fall behind her right shoulder, her eyes filled with arrogance. “You are Miss Tong? Please, have a seat.”
She slightly moved her head, as if indicating for them to sit.
Tong Yao was stunned for a moment, and after a while, she reacted and sat on the sofa opposite the woman, also gesturing for Bai Xi to sit down.
Bai Xi sat down, her gaze towards the woman opposite her slightly chilling.
She could understand a fashion designer being proud of their talent, or having their own pride. However, the condescending attitude of the woman before her, the subtle scrutiny and disdain… why did it give her a sense of nameless hostility?