A flicker of emotion crossed Yin Xi's heart as she heard him. She raised the glass of juice in her hand and smiled at him.
"Do you want a glass?"
"Sure," the man replied without ceremony.
Yin Xi went into the kitchen and soon returned with another glass of juice for him. After drinking half of it, Qin Si Ye said,
"You went to the old house today and I heard you gave my father acupuncture too?"
"Mhm," Yin Xi replied calmly.
She hadn't expected the news to reach him so quickly. It must have been Grandma who told him.
Qin Si Ye frowned slightly. "He said so many unpleasant things about you, don't you resent him at all?"
"A clear conscience fears no slander. Uncle saying that only shows he doesn't know me."
Yin Xi met his probing gaze and continued at a steady pace,
"Moreover, he is ill, and he is your father, the children's biological grandfather. How could I possibly argue with him?"
"You are quite magnanimous." Qin Si Ye's lips curved upwards slightly as he raised his cup and downed its contents.
He then turned and walked upstairs.
When Yin Xi came up to the third floor after washing the lunchboxes, she saw Qin Si Ye leaning against the west-facing windowsill, smoking.
"Come here." The man glanced at her halted steps, suddenly extinguished his cigarette, and beckoned her over.
Yin Xi slowly walked over and stood beside him by the windowsill, looking out. It was late August, and early autumn had arrived. Standing by the window in the evening, a gentle breeze blew, making one feel refreshed and comfortable all over.
"Standing here, how does it feel?" the man beside her asked abruptly.
Yin Xi's heart skipped a beat. She looked at the distant myriad of lights and the dark mountains and then said, "Very beautiful."
After a moment, the man turned his head, cast a melancholy glance at her, and then asked, "Was Su Chengyu your first love? Those three years must have been wonderful, right?"
Hearing this, Yin Xi trembled slightly. She turned and looked at him seriously, "No. It wasn't good at all.
I was too young then and thought that was love, but it was nothing.
We rarely met, and we didn't have any deep feelings.
When I learned he and Lu Yushan betrayed me, I was furious at first, but then I let it go.
It wasn't worth it for a man like that."
Qin Si Ye gazed at her without blinking, and after a long pause, he said,
"You've collected five stars now, haven't you?"
His thoughts were jumping too much. They had just been discussing the events of five years ago, and in the blink of an eye, they were back to the matter of collecting stars.
"Mhm," Yin Xi replied softly, unsure why he was asking.
The man watched her with a deep gaze. "If we add another one today, that makes six. Isn't your star-collecting speed a bit too fast?"
What did he mean by this? Did he want to give it but was hesitant?
Yin Xi's beautiful peach blossom eyes blinked rapidly. She smiled at him.
"If you feel it's too fast, you don't have to give it. The decision is yours, and I won't force you."
Unexpectedly, the man said, "I won't be like you. If it's supposed to be given, it should be given.
Let's add another one today."
"That would be great. As long as you're willing," Yin Xi's lips curved wider.
She found that using the strategy of advancing by retreating was very effective with this man.
"You don't need to send lunch tomorrow. I'm accompanying me to a banquet tonight. I'll be back for lunch at eleven-thirty, and we'll leave together then.
It's getting late, go back to your room to rest."
After speaking, Qin Si Ye led the way to his bedroom.
*
Haicheng is A Country's largest international metropolis, especially at night when it is bustling with singing and dancing, filled with joy.
This made the city even more charming and vibrant.
Meng Qi, wearing a shimmering golden evening gown and escorted by a handsome young man, appeared on the red carpet of the banquet hall, instantly causing a stir.
"Wow, isn't that international star, Miss Meng Qi? She's even more beautiful in person than in photos."
"It's true! This is my first time seeing her in person. Not only is she beautiful, but her aura is also otherworldly."
"Who is that man beside her? Could he be her boyfriend?"
"Possibly. Look how intimately they're linked."
"I don't think so. She's an international star. Why would she find a young domestic hunk? She should be looking for a tycoon."
...