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Chapter 19 – Wives need to be coaxed (Part 3)
Lu Xi was momentarily stunned.
She hadn’t expected that attending a banquet would lead to such an unexpected gain.
Although she didn’t think as deeply as Louis’ assistant, she understood how rare an invitation from a master like him was.
Lu Xi was usually very easy to satisfy. She liked design and enjoyed her own work, but liking it herself was different from receiving recognition from a master.
She almost blurted out that she would accept.
After thinking for a moment, Lu Xi said, “I want to think it over.”
This wasn’t a small matter, and she didn’t want to make a decision too quickly.
Assistant : “…” She actually turned it down? Well, even if she’s Mrs. Xie, publicly rejecting the master like this and embarrassing him—he must be angry.
However, Louis was only momentarily taken aback, then laughed heartily, stroked his slightly short beard, and said, “Of course, take your time, Little Lady. I’ll be waiting for your good news.”
Not only did he not get upset, but he also gave her face by personally handing her a business card.
The people around them were stunned.
Was this really the same proud old man who would poke someone’s lungs if they disagreed, and wouldn’t give even beautiful women any face?
After Lu Xi left, the assistant whispered, “Don’t you think she’s too ungrateful? She actually turned you down twice.”
Louis was originally smiling, but suddenly his face darkened. He impatiently said, “People with talent all have pride, like me. You wouldn’t understand that!”
“…”
Half an hour later, Lu Xi sat in the car on her way home.
Tonight’s banquet had been successful. She reconnected with many old acquaintances and unexpectedly collected two useful business cards. It could be said that she had gained a lot.
Throughout the journey, she felt quite cheerful.
Xie Yizhao, however, remained as silent as ever.
Lu Xi took out the two business cards and saved the contact information in her phone.
Currently, there were only four people in her phone’s contact list.
Xie Yizhao, Xie Heng, and these two new numbers.
After she had fallen into the river, her original phone was lost, and Xie Yizhao had only kept her phone number. When he gave it back to her, it was completely empty.
However, when she met those people tonight—whether family or former friends—she felt a little sentimental. It increasingly seemed as though she had been in a dream.
The world and people had moved forward along the trajectory of time, but it felt like she was still stuck at the starting point.
Only the presence of Xie Yizhao and Xie Heng made her feel like she wasn’t quite the same person as before.
Unknowingly, she had achieved the fate of becoming a young mother.
Thinking of that blue-haired silly goose, Lu Xi couldn’t help but laugh.
“What are you laughing at?” Xie Yizhao suddenly spoke.
He noticed her saving the business cards and thought she was considering Louis’ invitation.
It was obvious that she was in a good mood and probably wanted to agree.
Lu Xi smiled softly and shook her head. “It’s nothing.”
Her gaze passed over Xie Yizhao’s shoulder, and she spotted the trendy milk tea shop across the street that she had visited a few days ago.
“Driver, stop here,” she immediately said.
When it comes to food and drinks, she’s never one to hesitate.
It was almost 9 o’clock, and the street was still bustling—it was a Friday night, after all. There were fewer people in line at the milk tea shop than in the first few days of its opening, but there were still many.
Sigh, if only Xie Heng were here, he would have bought her some milk tea.
Thinking of this, Lu Xi couldn’t help but self-reflect for three seconds.
Other mothers usually think about enrolling their kids in tutoring classes and making delicious meals and drinks for their kids. But she’s a mother too, so why does she only think about getting her son to buy her milk tea?
Xie Yizhao followed her gaze and understood what she meant. Raising an eyebrow, he asked, “Do you want milk tea?”
Lu Xi nodded eagerly. “Yes.”
After a pause, she added, “But I don’t want to queue.”
Lu Xi cupped her face with one hand, blinking her eyes, and her long, curled lashes fluttered, looking especially delicate.
Xie Yizhao immediately instructed his assistant, “Li Xiao, go buy two cups.”
Last time, there wasn’t enough for him, but this time, he’d buy it himself—he’d get to try it at least.
When Lu Xi heard this, she was delighted. She’d get to have milk tea, and since Xie Yizhao doesn’t drink sweet drinks, the second cup must be for their son.
Her heart warmed a little.
Although Xie Yizhao usually appeared indifferent and distant towards Xie Heng, it was clear that he cared about him!
Lu Xi quickly named the two signature drinks from the milk tea shop and waited eagerly.
It wasn’t long before the assistant returned.
Lu Xi took the milk tea and asked in surprise, “So fast?”
Li Xiao replied, “No queue. I paid someone to buy it from the front of the line.”
Lu Xi immediately understood.
Right, one person can buy up to four cups, and they wouldn’t turn down the money if someone was willing to pay for the privilege of buying from the front.
What a good idea—why didn’t Xie Heng think of this that day? He waited obediently in line for hours…
No wonder he was the ‘silly goose’.
Lu Xi set the second cup aside and started drinking hers, enjoying the sweet milk flavor. Then she remembered something and said to Xie Yizhao, “The timing is perfect. Let’s go to the school and pick up Xiao Heng.”
“Sure.”
Xie Yizhao glanced at the milk tea and was about to reach for it when he heard Lu Xi say, “If Xiao Heng knew you remembered to buy him milk tea, he’d be really happy.”
“…”
The man’s expression froze, and his hand stopped mid-air.
He simply couldn’t bring himself to reach for the cup.
Lu Xi thought the other cup was for Xie Heng…
But Xie Heng doesn’t like sweet drinks… Although Xoe Yizhao himself also doesn’t like them, he suddenly had the urge to try one. However, now, he couldn’t possibly embarrass himself by saying that he never planned to buy one for his son; he just wanted one for himself.
He couldn’t bring himself to say it.
Xie Yizhao pressed his lips together and instructed the driver to head towards Mingli High School. Seeing the milk tea, he felt a slight regret in his heart.
He’d learned his lesson this time; next time, he would definitely say to buy three cups.
Lu Xi drank hers with relish.
This milk tea tastes great, but the portion isn’t much. Even the large cup is about the size of a medium cup from other milk tea shops. By the time she reached the school gate, she’d already drunk half of it without realizing it.
The timing was just right.
At 9:20, the school gate opened, and students started trickling out in groups.
Xie Yizhao : “Call him.”
Lu Xi glanced at the gate, then smiled slightly : “No need, he’s already out.”
Their Young Master was quite the attention-grabber.
With his blue hair, he was bound to stand out in the crowd. The tall boy had long legs, a shoulder bag casually hanging off one shoulder, one hand in his pocket, and the other holding a pair of headphones, looking like a cool, aloof handsome boy straight out of a manga.
Wherever he went, he was the type that made girls’ hearts flutter.
Too bad the handsome boy was a troublemaker.
He wasn’t always enthusiastic about school, and when it was time to leave, he’d be the first to rush out, always part of the first batch to exit the campus.
Usually, the butler would arrange for a car to pick him up, always parking in one of the spots by the school gate. Xie Heng walked toward the familiar spot, glanced at the car, and suddenly froze.
It was his Dad’s car.
Xie Heng hesitated as he approached the vehicle.
He had made up his mind—if his Dad was in there, he definitely wouldn’t get in. He would rather take a taxi.
The window slowly rolled down.
Lu Xi’s face appeared, and she waved the cup of milk tea at the boy, “Get in. I bought you one too.”
Xie Heng’s anxious heart suddenly settled, and his mood lightened.
But his face remained aloof, suppressing a smile as he muttered, “Who told you to come pick me up…”
His steps were light, and he quickly circled around to the front passenger seat, opened the door, and sat in. He grabbed the milk tea and started drinking.
It seemed like he was getting more accustomed to the taste of milk tea.
At that moment, Lu Xi playfully tapped his seat, teasing him: “Your Dad bought it for you. Is it good?”
Xie Heng : “…”
Fortunately, he had already swallowed the sip of milk tea, otherwise, he would have choked.
His Dad, buying him milk tea?
He involuntarily imagined his Dad, dressed in a suit, standing in line at the shop…
Sorry, he just couldn’t picture it!
“Is it true?” Xie Heng glanced at the rearview mirror, and just happened to meet his father’s eyes.
His Dad remained as calm and sharp as usual, but there seemed to be a hint of… dissatisfaction?
Xie Heng was somewhat confused.
He had been very well-behaved today—he didn’t skip class, didn’t get into trouble, didn’t fight. He’d just gone to warn a few boys from the class who had talked to Lu Xi the other day.
His Dad wouldn’t even control this, would he?
Lu Xi : “Of course it’s true.”
Xie Heng lowered his eyelids and said vaguely, “Thanks.”
Xie Yizhao placed his hand on his knee, his long fingers lightly tapping as he looked at his son’s brightly colored scalp, giving a faint “hmm.”
Xie Heng rarely said thank you to his Dad.
They both rarely spoke.
Although he still hadn’t gotten his milk tea, Xie Yizhao strangely felt much more at ease.
When they got home, the butler had indeed prepared a midnight snack for Xie Heng. Lu Xi had already drunk her milk tea and was full. Yawning, she went upstairs with Xie Yizhao.
The man followed behind her.
He remained silent, and Lu Xi had grown accustomed to his few words. But as she opened the door, she suddenly heard him ask from behind, “Was the milk tea good?”
Lu Xi : “It was good.”
“Mm, next time, let me try it.” Xie Yizhao’s voice was low, almost as if it was brushing against her back, making her ears tingle with an inexplicable sensation.
Lu Xi found it a bit strange.
She suddenly thought of something. Could it be… Xie Yizhao actually planned to buy the milk tea for himself?
—Pfft…
Lu Xi turned around and faced him. She was not short by women’s standards, but she only reached Xie Yizhao’s collarbone, just enough to see his sharp jawline.
She couldn’t help but laugh.
A man nearly forty years old, having his milk tea stolen by his son and getting upset—wasn’t that just too cute?
Lu Xi handed him the small half-cup of tea she hadn’t finished, purposely saying, “Do you want to try this?”
Xie Yizhao was a bit of a clean freak.
She thought he wouldn’t drink it.
Unexpectedly, Xie Yizhao only glanced at her briefly, then took it from her hand and drank a large gulp.
“……”
He wasn’t shy at all.
Lu Xi suddenly felt a bit relieved. Luckily, she had wiped off her lipstick before drinking it, or it would have been embarrassing with the lipstick marks on the straw.
Xie Yizhao commented, “It’s a bit sweet.”
Lu Xi almost wanted to retort—well, of course it’s sweet. Is milk tea supposed to be spicy?
And if he disliked it, why was he still holding onto it? He should just give it back to her!
But then again…
She drank it, gave it to him, and he drank it and then gave it back to her—wasn’t that like an indirect kiss?
Lu Xi: …Never mind.
That was the problem. Since they had done everything already, one wrong move could lead to things becoming too ambiguous, which might cause trouble.
She decided to give up on the milk tea and planned to take a shower.
“By the way.” Xie Yizhao suddenly spoke again, “You look beautiful tonight, and the dress is lovely.”
Lu Xi was momentarily stunned.
It’s said that belated affection is cheaper than grass, but belated compliments… are still very pleasant to hear!
She smiled and pressed her lips together. “I thought you hadn’t noticed.”
Xie Yizhao lowered his gaze, his eyes deep, and raised an eyebrow in surprise. “How could I not?”
“We met at six-thirty, and now it’s almost ten. Don’t you think it’s a little late?” Lu Xi said playfully.
Xie Yizhao frowned and thought for a moment.
He wouldn’t say nice things just to placate her. He only spoke the truth.
“Sorry,” he said sincerely, “I think it’s because you’re always like this, so I don’t express it deliberately. That’s my fault.”
He suddenly realized that maybe this was what the assistant had meant when he said that wives need to be coaxed.
rokumi’s note : I’m back! Really sorry for the ko-fi donator that the update was delayed for so long. Something happened irl that I really couldn’t translate. But now, everything’s fine, so I’m getting back to translating. For now, I’ll be updating this series on the original schedule (every Tuesday and Sunday). Chapter 20 will be updated this Sunday.