Lu Xi furrowed her brows, looking slightly dazed.
Was he calling her?
“Who is this?” Xie Heng looked at Lu Xi with dissatisfaction, his blue hair standing up like a bristling hedgehog.
Lu Xi remained silent for a moment. Who was this? She wanted to ask the same question.
The secretary behind her hadn’t expected this situation. She quickly spoke up, offering an explanation: “Miss Lu, this is our President Ye.” Then, turning to Ye Sisheng, she added, “President Ye, this is Miss Lu, a guest of Mr. Louis.”
Ye Sisheng paused, then looked at Lu Xi. The admiration in his eyes deepened even further. “So, my uncle’s guest is you.”
Xie Heng grew even more confused.
Did this person know Lu Xi or not? He had just addressed her so familiarly. Surely he hadn’t mistaken her for someone else?
But Lu Xi had absolutely no idea who he was.
By all logic, this President Ye was strikingly handsome, with deep-set features and a touch of mixed-race charm. A man this remarkable—if she had met him before, she wouldn’t have forgotten so easily.
Seeing her remain silent, Xie Heng grew anxious. He was at the age where curiosity burned the brightest. And right now, he couldn’t make sense of the situation at all.
“You—”
He had just opened his mouth when Lu Xi gave him a cool glance, effectively shutting him up.
Xie Heng held back.
Before they came in, she had warned him: he could tag along, but he’d better not say anything unnecessary.
He understood what that meant—in simpler terms, don’t embarrass her.
Lu Xi had seen plenty of high-profile occasions. Even in the presence of the CEO of a world-renowned luxury brand, she remained completely at ease. She simply nodded slightly at Ye Sisheng. “Mr. Ye, hello.”
The woman’s features were exquisite, and her presence carried a quiet elegance, as if everything around her was of little consequence.
Ye Sisheng had briefly lost his composure, but only for an instant. He quickly regained his usual poised demeanor. He nodded back. “Hello.”
Then he instructed his secretary, “Please take care of Miss Lu for now. I’ll be done in ten minutes.”
Since he was busy, Lu Xi naturally didn’t mind waiting. She was already here, after all.
The secretary led her and Xie Heng to a lounge adjacent to the CEO’s office, serving them coffee and refreshments.
However, the secretary couldn’t help but feel puzzled.
Wasn’t Miss Lu just a guest of Mr. Louis, here for a temporary meeting with President Ye? Why did he seem to value her so much? He had an important meeting in the afternoon, yet he said he’d be done in just ten minutes?
Could it be that President Ye…
The secretary steadied herself, choosing not to speculate further. Regardless of the reason, one thing was clear—Miss Lu was an important guest. She had to treat her well and avoid offending her.
Lu Xi said, “Thank you, no need to fuss over us. We’ll just sit for a while.”
Once the secretary left and they were alone, Xie Heng could no longer hold back.
He tilted his head slightly, trying not to appear too curious, but he couldn’t help stealing glances at Lu Xi every now and then.
And his movements were anything but subtle.
He was doing it on purpose, waiting for her to lose patience. If she got annoyed and snapped at him, he’d finally have a reason to ask his questions.
But Lu Xi remained perfectly composed. She sipped her coffee, sampled the refreshments, and lounged comfortably as if she were relaxing in her own greenhouse, completely at ease.
Once she had almost finished eating, she finally looked over at him, stretched out her hand, and said succinctly, “Tissue.”
There was a box of tissues on the table—but it was on Xie Heng’s side.
“……”
Why did this feel like she was some kind of empress dowager, holding out her hand and expecting him to wait on her?
Apart from her, no one else would order him around like this.
Xie Heng grumbled inwardly, but his hands moved faster than his brain. Not only did he hand her a tissue, but he also wiped her fingertips for her.
“Alright, you’ve bossed me around too. Now, can you talk?” Xie Heng couldn’t hide his curiosity. He turned to face her and immediately ‘revealed his true colors,’ his handsome yet youthful face full of intrigue, as if he were interrogating a suspect.
Lu Xi slowly shifted her gaze to him and chuckled softly. “Thank you?”
The young man was briefly stunned before furrowing his brows. “That’s not what I was asking. That guy just now, do you know him? What’s your relationship?”
Lu Xi : “No relationship. I don’t know him.”
“How is that possible? You’re lying.” The boy lifted his chin arrogantly, looking every bit like someone who wouldn’t be easy to deal with.
But to Lu Xi, he just looked like a young wolf pup baring its teeth at her before it had fully grown up.
She smiled. “You’re pretty nosy. Why don’t you have this level of curiosity when it comes to studying?”
“…” Xie Heng was momentarily speechless, shutting his mouth guiltily.
One of the ultimate weapons of parents : no matter the topic, they could always twist it back to studying, leaving their child at a complete loss for words.
—Playing basketball? If you put this much effort into studying, you’d already be at Tsinghua or Peking University!
—Playing video games? You could use that time to finish a couple more practice exams!
…and so on.
Xie Heng had often heard his classmates complain about this.
Parents who did this all the time were the worst. Just thinking about it was annoying.
But Lu Xi’s calm demeanor made it clear that she wasn’t actually criticizing his academics. She was just brushing him off, deliberately changing the subject!
Something was up.
Xie Heng pressed his lips together, suspicion growing in his heart. He became even more certain that he needed to stick close to her today.
That so-called ‘Mr. Ye’ had called her ‘Xixi’ the moment they met. Even his own Dad had never addressed her that affectionately.
He was wearing a suit, and carrying that particular air about him… one word came to Xie Heng’s mind : ‘a gentleman scum.’
Xie Heng can tell at first glance that he was definitely not a good person.
Whether Ye Sisheng was a ‘good person’ or not, Lu Xi wasn’t sure. She truly didn’t know him.
As for what he was thinking, or why he called her that, she had no idea.
Unless he brought it up himself, Lu Xi wouldn’t ask.
What for?
She had no intention of getting acquainted with Ye Sisheng anyway. If she didn’t remember him, it meant that—even if they had met before—he wasn’t important. If he didn’t mention it, she would simply pretend not to have heard, avoiding any awkwardness for both of them.
That was the kind of unspoken understanding that adults had—something Xie Heng wouldn’t grasp just yet.
Fortunately, Ye Sisheng was punctual. He had said ten minutes, and it was exactly ten minutes.
This time, he behaved normally, addressing her politely as ‘Miss Lu.’
Shouldn’t it be ‘Mrs. Xie’…? Xie Heng had the urge to correct him but feared Lu Xi’s piercing gaze, so he held back reluctantly.
Originally, they had arranged to meet Louis, but since he couldn’t make it, Lu Xi simply asked if she could tour the company instead.
“No need to trouble you, Mr. Ye. If it’s convenient, one of your subordinates could show me around instead.”
Lu Xi wasn’t so full of herself—she wasn’t even Louis’s student yet, so how could she have the nerve to trouble his nephew?
Xie Heng, on the other hand, couldn’t be more eager for that outcome.
Ye Sisheng simply smiled. “It’s no trouble. I happen to be free, and of course, I should take good care of my uncle’s guest.”
His secretary quietly twitched the corners of her mouth.
He clearly had things to do, but now that he’d brushed them off, wouldn’t she have to reschedule everything and coordinate with people all over again? This boss of hers could really be a headache sometimes—so capricious!
But there was nothing she could do about it. He had the privilege of being born into the right family. As the Ye family’s youngest son, he had the resources at his disposal. Even if he didn’t actively fight for anything, the company was still handed to him as a training ground.
Lu Xi nodded, showing little emotion.
Ye Sisheng, Ye family’s youngest son. At the Ye family banquet that day, she had only seen the eldest son who was nearly forty, looking steady and composed. Rumor had it that he was the future head of the family.
At the banquet, Lu Xi had overheard a few comments about the youngest Ye.
To put it simply : a playboy with no sense of direction. He had spent the past few years abroad, only returning when Old Master Ye’s health declined. Forced to come back, he was assigned a portion of the business to gain experience, supposedly to assist his older brother in the future.
Lu Xi had listened and assumed he was just another rich wastrel—just like Xie Heng, only grown up.
She had even felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
But seeing him in person proved otherwise. Rumors were always a mix of truth and falsehood. After exchanging a few casual words with Ye Sisheng, she found him far more capable than his reputation suggested.
Perhaps he did enjoy playing around, but he wasn’t careless when it came to business.
At the very least, he immediately recognized that the outfit Xie Heng was wearing was from his own brand’s latest autumn-winter menswear collection.
Ye Sisheng was also quite the smooth talker. He said to Xie Heng, “This outfit looks great on you. The styling is impeccable.”
Lu Xi raised an eyebrow.
A compliment to the other person while subtly promoting his own brand—at the very least, he had high emotional intelligence and knew the art of conversation.
Lu Xi wasn’t modest either. “I picked it for him.”
Throughout the tour, Xie Heng remained silent, following beside Lu Xi without sparing Ye Sisheng a glance.
When suddenly praised, he merely twitched his lips, feigning indifference.
Ye Sisheng paused for a moment, then asked, “By the way, is this kid your younger brother?”
At first, his eyes had been focused solely on Lu Xi. But now, he noticed the tall, straight-backed teenager beside her, sticking close like a bodyguard. His gaze radiated a clear sense of vigilance and protectiveness.
Despite his height, there was an unmistakable difference between a teenager and a grown man. The look in his eyes, his temperament, and the unguarded emotions that hinted at his youth.
Xie Heng was immediately annoyed : …Kid? You’re the kid! Your whole family are kids!
He straightened his posture, lips pressed into a firm line, making his displeasure obvious.
Despite his irritation, he still remembered Lu Xi’s instructions. Though he fumed in silence, he held back from making a scene, pretending not to have heard the remark.
Lu Xi’s lips curved slightly. She was quite satisfied with his reaction.
Xie Heng could be a bit unruly at times, but he listened. No matter how reckless he was, he wasn’t completely insensible. He knew when to hold back. Watching him swallow his temper, his face tinged with frustration yet unable to lash out—he almost looked a little pitiful.
Lu Xi knew that Xie Heng didn’t want her to mention their relationship, so she smoothly changed the subject without leaving a trace.
Ye Sisheng was still unaware of Lu Xi’s identity. Thinking he had guessed correctly, he didn’t press further and instead focused on giving her a proper tour.
With the CEO leading the way, access was almost unrestricted except for a few areas limited to internal employees. Not that Lu Xi minded—she was only interested in the design department.
After all, this was a brand she had always admired. Now, seeing it up close, watching the stylish and modern assistant designers busily at work, and models moving seamlessly among them in a fast-paced yet orderly rhythm, she felt a slight itch in her fingers.
Such a work environment must be intense, but perhaps, it could also spark even greater creativity.
On the walls, original design sketches were framed—each one from the master designer, Louis.
Designers were the true soul of a brand.
If she could learn from him, immerse herself in his design philosophy and style, it would be an opportunity too precious to pass up.
Lu Xi was tempted. She was already leaning toward saying yes.
Noticing the excitement in her eyes, Ye Sisheng smiled slightly and said, “Next week, we have an internal fitting and runway session to prepare for the new collection’s launch. If you’re interested, you can come and observe.”
Lu Xi was a little surprised. “Is an outsider allowed at such an event?”
Ye Sisheng’s gaze flickered. “If she’s the design director’s disciple, of course.”
Lu Xi glanced at him, the corners of her lips curving into a subtle, meaningful smile.
The young master of the Ye family sure had a way with words.
She liked talking to smart people, as less effort was required.
That smile of hers carried an effortless charm, and Ye Sisheng was momentarily stirred. He suddenly hesitated and then added, “Or, as my personal friend, that works too.”
“……”
Xie Heng really couldn’t stand this guy.
A CEO, yet this was how he flirted? Could he not show a little restraint?
Lu Xi, however, remained indifferent.
From childhood, she had grown used to preferential treatment from men. Even if she noticed something, she remained unfazed, simply responding with a polite smile. “I’ll think about it.”
Ye Sisheng had just the right level of tact. Even if he had an agenda, he never overstepped, making his gestures neither greasy nor off-putting.
An internal runway show…
Wouldn’t that mean getting a first look at the new collection? Seeing the models up close?
Lu Xi appeared composed, but deep down, she was intrigued.
It was hard to say no…
After the design department tour, Ye Sisheng took them to a private archive of ready-to-wear pieces—early works of the master designer. The space was curated like a private museum, exuding a special kind of allure. If it weren’t inconvenient, she would have loved to examine each piece carefully.
Lu Xi was captivated, feeling almost lightheaded.
If she had a collection like this, what a sense of accomplishment that would be…
By the end of the tour, she still hadn’t had enough, but it was sufficient.
She took the initiative to bid farewell.
“Thank you, Mr. Ye, for taking the time and for passing my greetings to Master Louis,” Lu Xi said with a polite smile.
Ye Sisheng : “I should be the one thanking you. Without you, I wouldn’t have been able to take a break.”
The secretary was appointed by his father, serving both as an assistant and a watcher.
Very humorous.
It was clear that this man was very capable. Lu Xi, with an appreciative mindset, boldly looked at him a few more times before politely saying goodbye.
Xie Heng remained silent the entire time.
He had never felt so humiliated in his life.
At the elevator, Lu Xi was about to say goodbye to Ye Sisheng. He wanted to escort them downstairs but thought better of it and decided against it.
No need to rush…
“See you next time,” Ye Sisheng said with a light smile, about to ask for her contact details. Just then, the elevator arrived, and Lu Xi walked in without looking back.
The quiet young man who had been following him, with his handsome side profile and aloof expression, walked in right after her.
However, just as he brushed past Ye Sisheng, he softly said, “She’s not my sister, she’s my mother.”
He calmly walked to Lu Xi’s side, and before the elevator doors closed, he caught the man’s shocked expression.
Although it lasted only a moment, it was incredibly satisfying!
Yes!!!
He had successfully leveled up!
Feeling much more relaxed, Xie Heng slouched in his seat on the way back, playing games.
In a good mood, with great reflexes, the gaming experience was perfect. He was definitely in the zone.
After finishing a match with a pentakill, his teammates teased him by calling him ‘Dad.’ Xie Heng smiled contentedly, but then glanced at Lu Xi and froze.
She was leaning against the car door, one hand supporting her head, her eyes lowered as if lost in thought.
She seemed troubled.
The young man bit his lip, thinking for a moment.
He hadn’t forgotten his original purpose for today.
Clearing his throat, he awkwardly stretched his long leg, gently nudging her boots with his basketball shoes before quickly pulling his foot back and said, “Well… I don’t feel like eating at home today. How about hot pot? I’ll treat.”
Lu Xi frowned and asked, “Do you think it’s a good idea for me to go to that company and learn from Master Louis?”
Xie Heng was a little surprised. He didn’t expect her to ask for his opinion.
So, was she really hesitating because of him?
To be honest, he didn’t want Lu Xi to go. He always felt that the man had ulterior motives. If she got closer to him, he might start pestering her.
But she seemed to really love that field. Her eyes had sparkled when they were in the design department earlier.
Xie Heng was conflicted.
But he wasn’t selfish like that. He wasn’t a toddler crying for his mommy’s attention.
Furrowing his brow, the boy deliberately looked cold, turning his head away to look out the window: “If you want to go, then go. You don’t need to ask for my opinion or worry about me. I can take care of myself.”
“Actually…” Lu Xi slowly said, “Rather than working for someone else, I want to design independently and create my own brand.”
Xie Heng paused for a moment, blinked, then turned to her excitedly: “That’s awesome! I support it! I can be your model!”
Lu Xi : ?
What was he so excited about?
Xie Heng suddenly realized he had overdone it and felt embarrassed.
He coughed awkwardly and added, “But I’ll have to charge for it… I’m not doing it for free.”