"What about your family? Parents, do you have any siblings? You must have a place to get a meal, otherwise, eating instant noodles all the time isn't good for your health."
Ai Yifeng said with a somber expression, "No, I am truly alone."
Although he had a half-brother, Gu Susu, he didn't want people to know about his relationship with Gu Susu and Qin Tianyi.
After all, he had wronged Susu in many ways before, and there was always a barrier between them, making it impossible to be that close.
Xi Xianya didn't ask further and pulled him along, "Forget it, let's go to the supermarket. I've decided to fill your refrigerator."
In the following days, Zhao Jianhua didn't bother her anymore. Moreover, she and Ai Yifeng dated privately like a couple, almost forgetting that her approach to Ai Yifeng had a purpose.
She and Ai Yifeng reached a consensus: they would not announce their relationship within the group and would pretend to be strangers.
But after work, they went shopping, dining, and watching movies together. Ai Yifeng would also take her to experience new and exciting things.
She was completely immersed in the happiness of a normal romance, and her mood improved significantly.
Every time she visited her mother in the hospital, even her mother asked if she was dating.
But she always denied it, yet she couldn't help but smile whenever she thought of Ai Yifeng.
This weekend, Ai Yifeng invited her to a seaside resort, and she readily agreed.
It was a newly developed seaside resort with very few people.
Ai Yifeng taught her to drive a jet ski, ride a parachute, and go snorkeling. She was surprised to discover how many things Ai Yifeng knew.
Before, she thought he was just a typical straight guy who only knew how to fiddle with code and programs on his computer.
After interacting with him more, she realized his interests and hobbies were very broad, and he was proficient in everything he did, which made her admire and look up to him even more.
After a day of activities, they were both very happy.
Until the sun began to set, dyeing the horizon with fiery clouds.
They walked barefoot, hand in hand, on the soft sand, strolling aimlessly along the beach.
Xi Xianya wished time could freeze at this moment. She suddenly stopped and said to Ai Yifeng, "Yifeng, I'm tired. Carry me."
Ai Yifeng picked her up without a word.
She buried her head in his shoulder and said, "Yifeng, if one day you find out, find out that I..."
She couldn't continue.
"Find out what?" Ai Yifeng didn't understand what she wanted to say.
Xi Xianya changed her words, "Find out that I'm not good at all, and there's nothing worth liking about me, would you leave me?"
Upon hearing this, Ai Yifeng put her down from his back and said with mock seriousness, "Then I can only consider myself unlucky, who told me I've already fallen for you."
With that, he scooped her up into his arms.
Xi Xianya was initially terrified by his expression, thinking he would abandon her then and there. But hearing his words, she was so touched she didn't know what to do.
"Put me down."
"No," Ai Yifeng said, spinning her around in his arms.
Frightened, she quickly hugged his neck and shouted his name, "Yifeng, Yifeng!"
They returned to the nearby resort as night fell.
He pressed her against the door and kissed her passionately.
The room was dark, and only their panting could be heard.
Ai Yifeng looked at her in the dim light filtering through the window and said gently, "Ya Ya, let's get married, and have a child for me."
Xi Xianya hugged him and remained silent, then proactively kissed him.
In the middle of the night, she was woken by the vibration of her phone on the bedside table. She quietly got out of bed, picked up her phone, and went into the bathroom.
It was Zhao Jianhua calling so late.
She answered and asked in a low voice, "What is it?"
"Is there anyone around you?" Zhao Jianhua asked. "Who are you with?"
"It's none of your business. You only need me to get the lowest bid, right?"
Zhao Jianhua reminded her, "There's still a week until the formal bidding. When can you get the lowest bid? If you can't, don't blame me for being impolite!"
"There's still a week, why are you rushing!" Xi Xianya said impatiently. "It's not too late for you to say harsh words when I can't get it!"
Zhao Jianhua was extremely dissatisfied with her attitude and was about to curse again, saying, "You slut..."
Before he could finish, Xi Xianya, annoyed, hung up.
Zhao Jianhua's call pulled her back to reality. She stayed alone in the bathroom for a while before coming out.
She saw Ai Yifeng still sleeping soundly and gently kissed his forehead, but thought to herself, "Yifeng, I'm sorry, I'm not worthy of marrying you. We can't be together."
The next day, they happily played at the seaside resort for another day before reluctantly leaving.
On Monday, they went to work as usual, pretending not to know each other in the group.
While cleaning, Xi Xianya noticed that Ai Yifeng had been visiting Qin Tianyi's top-floor office frequently these past few days, likely discussing bidding projects.
She also noticed that Ai Yifeng had become very busy, even working overtime.
One day, she waited until everyone else had left work, changed her clothes, and appeared to be leaving as well.
However, she didn't leave the group. Instead, she went near the network department's office area and waited until all the network department staff had left.
She watched Ai Yifeng's office from the shadows, thinking that Ai Yifeng must have the lowest bid.
But she still couldn't bring herself to knock on his office door. She had overestimated herself; being a commercial spy wasn't that easy.
However, Zhao Jianhua's threat was like a sword hanging over her head. She still walked towards Ai Yifeng's office step by step and gently knocked on the door.
Ai Yifeng opened the door from the inside, looking at her with surprise.
"I'm working overtime, why are you here? Did anyone see you?"
Xi Xianya gave him a charming smile and said, "I saw you've been working overtime a lot lately, and I was worried you wouldn't be able to handle it. So I haven't left yet, and I came to see you when no one was around."
Ai Yifeng smiled, "It seems you miss me, didn't we just see each other last weekend?"
"A day apart feels like three years," Xi Xianya said with a smile as she walked into his office, looking around curiously.
Ai Yifeng continued with his work, "Wait for me for a moment, I'm almost done. We'll go have dinner together later."
Xi Xianya smiled and said, "Dinner? By the time you're done, it'll be time for supper."
Ai Yifeng sighed helplessly, "I don't want to either, but there's a big project to bid on the day after tomorrow. There are many competing companies, and the opponents are not weak. I've been responsible for this project, so I have to personally work overtime."
"I understand, you focus on your work. I won't disturb you, I'll just sit here and play with my phone," Xi Xianya said obediently.
Ai Yifeng smiled at her and buried his head back in his work.
Xi Xianya sat on the sofa a distance from his desk, occasionally glancing at the documents on his desk, wondering if they were the final bid proposal.
However, she couldn't see clearly from this distance, and there was no reason for her to suddenly go next to him; watching him work would seem too abrupt.