Miranda clenched her fists, her knuckles cracking.
Du Ruoxin: "..."
She felt an inexplicable chill.
What had they talked about in the few minutes she was gone? It felt so terrifying!
It had been so long since she'd done something mischievous with her girlfriends, played a trick on someone. Why was that familiar excitement etched in her memory?
Caroline beckoned, and the women huddled together, plotting how to help Grace escape Qin Yunxi's entanglement.
"...blah blah blah..."
After listening, Du Ruoxin felt completely uneasy. Her intuition told her – no, they couldn't do this!
But she couldn't resist as all her good sisters excitedly brainstormed.
At this moment, she could only sigh – one against many.
Just as she was considering whether to secretly inform Big Brother Qin, Caroline seemed to sense her hesitation and preemptively warned her, "Sister Xin, I know you're friends with Qin Yunxi."
"But friends are friends, aren't Grace's feelings the most important thing?"
Grace seized the opportunity to hold Du Ruoxin's hand and said, "Sister Xin, I really don't like him. A man who's so glib and full of nonsense is truly not suitable for me."
"I know you care about me and don't want me to be too lonely."
"I promise you, I'll get married before I turn thirty-five."
Alright then?
Grace's pleading gaze finally moved Du Ruoxin. She stopped forcing the issue.
If Grace truly didn't like Qin Yunxi's type, it could only mean they were fated to be apart.
Alas—
She truly couldn't force it.
"Alright," Du Ruoxin conceded. "If, and I mean if, Big Brother Qin passes the test, what then?"
Grace: "..."
This was a riddle for the ages, and she couldn't answer it immediately.
Caroline winked at Grace. Because she was sitting opposite Du Ruoxin, Du Ruoxin didn't see this small gesture.
Reaching out to pat the hesitant Grace, Caroline said, "Speak up."
Hurry and agree, hurry and agree.
Grace: "..."
As if sensing Caroline's "unspoken meaning," she cleared her throat, as if facing death and then finding life, a decisive moment. "I... I'll give him a chance."
Du Ruoxin smiled faintly, "Then it's settled?"
Big Brother Qin, I can only help you this much. You must control your impulses!
Don't disappoint Grace!
—
The laughter of the women upstairs echoed through the entire villa like a beautiful melody.
In the living room downstairs, the two men sitting opposite each other naturally heard it.
"What's so funny?"
Cristiano pricked up his ears, listening to the activity upstairs—it had been a long, long time since he'd heard Xin'er laugh so heartily.
Qin Yunxi also pricked up his ears, but amidst all the laughter, he couldn't discern Grace's voice.
Although he couldn't hear, he knew that at this moment, she must be happy.
He couldn't help but curve his lips slightly.
The laughter soon ceased, and everything returned to peace. It seemed the women had regained their composure.
Cristiano could no longer hear any sounds from upstairs. He took a shallow sip of tea and glanced at the man opposite him, "Let's talk. What project do you have for me to cooperate on?"
This was one of the reasons Qin Yunxi could appear at his home.
Firstly, he couldn't imprison Du Ruoxin, nor could he restrict her freedom. She would always meet the people she was meant to meet, and he couldn't stop it.
Rather than letting Qin Yunxi try every means possible, it was better to let him be active under his watchful eye.
At least everything would be controllable.
So when Qin Yunxi called this afternoon saying he had a project to cooperate on, Cristiano agreed to let him enter the estate.
"Global warming, the accelerated melting of Arctic ice. Are you interested in developing it together?"
Cristiano raised an eyebrow. "...Hmm?"
Why did he feel like Qin Yunxi was digging a pit for him, just as he dug pits for Rong Jingyang?