“Xiao Heng,” Lu Xi leaned lazily against the back of the chair, her expression calm. Her long hair covered her flushed earlobes, and she waved her hand at Xie Heng, her smile warm and kind. “Come over here.”
Xie Heng was puzzled.
But since Lu Xi had called him, there must have been a reason. Without thinking, he walked over to her.
Lu Xi stretched out her hand, quick and decisive, and flicked him on the forehead.
She put away her smile, her expression changing in an instant, and scolded him with a serious face: “Did you not see that I was on a date with your Dad? Do you want to sit down and eat with us?”
Xie Heng rubbed his forehead.
Even his messy blue hair seemed to droop a little.
So they were on a date, but why hit him?
Xie Heng now felt completely frustrated. Earlier, when he was arguing with his dad, it hadn’t bothered him. But now, being flicked on the forehead by Lu Xi, although it didn’t hurt, he just felt especially wronged.
He stood there without moving or saying a word, almost like he was stubbornly sulking.
Lu Xi knew her flick hadn’t hurt him. After thinking for a moment, she took a few pieces of chocolate from her pocket, grabbed his hand, and placed them in his palm. “Alright, eat some candy and stop being angry.”
Xie Heng didn’t even see what it was, and out of reflex, he grabbed what she gave him.
When he looked at it more closely under the light…
???
Wasn’t this chocolate, the same chocolate he had been eating yesterday, which Lu Xi had seen and taken?
She was using his chocolate to coax him? Was she seriously hitting him with a stick then giving him a carrot? Was she using his own chocolate to pacify him?
Xie Heng’s face grew even darker.
He glared at Lu Xi.
Was she treating him like a child?
For some reason, perhaps due to the dim light, Xie Heng felt that Lu Xi’s face appeared even more flushed than usual, and there was a soft glow in her eyes.
She sat elegantly against the back of the chair, her hand lazily resting on her lap, while his Dad stood beside her, tall and silent. His Dad’s gaze wasn’t as stern as usual, and the two of them looked quite fitting together…
The swimming pool in the night, the candlelight and flowers…
Xie Heng suddenly realized, his expression turning strange as he shrank back.
Oh no, it seemed like he really had interrupted his Dad and Ms. Lu’s date!
He gripped the chocolate tighter and was momentarily speechless.
After a few seconds, he awkwardly spoke, “Is this just for me?”
Lu Xi looked at him in confusion, then nodded.
“Yes, yes, hurry up and go, you little troublemaker.”
Satisfied, Xie Heng tucked the chocolate into his pocket without even glancing at his Dad. He turned and left with his friends.
His friends were a bit speechless.
It was just a few pieces of chocolate, what was the big deal? Was someone going to fight him for it?
Once they were out of Xie Yizhao and Lu Xi’s sight, Song Siyang immediately relaxed, returning to his usual carefree demeanor. He put an arm around Xie Heng’s shoulder and teasingly said, “You’re really something. My Dad’s afraid of your Dad, but you still argue with him. Your Dad was having a sweet date, but you had to go interrupt!”
Song Siyang genuinely admired Xie Heng.
Even his own Dad was nervous around Xie Heng’s Dad, but Xie Heng was fearless.
Xie Heng sneered and furrowed his brows. “I didn’t know.”
Song Siyang was speechless. “Didn’t you see the candles and flowers, the western food? It’s romantic, like what my parents do. When I see that, I usually hide far away.”
Xie Heng was stunned.
Well… he hadn’t seen that before.
When he was younger, Lu Xi wasn’t around, and it was hard for him to even have a meal with his Dad.
He pulled a piece of chocolate from his pocket, squeezed it a little, then silently unwrapped the foil, not sure what he was thinking, and popped it in his mouth.
At that moment, Xu Jiaming lightly coughed and suddenly said, “I’ve never seen it either, but I can tell right away.”
His parents divorced when he was very young, so he naturally hadn’t experienced this kind of scene before.
But… it didn’t seem that hard to figure out?
Xie Heng pressed his lips together and shot him an annoyed glance.
Why did he feel like Xu Jiaming, who used to be a polite and studious kid, was becoming more and more calculating?
Song Siyang suddenly remembered something and sighed. “Your stepmom’s really nice, she’s protective of you.”
Xie Heng liked hearing that.
He raised an eyebrow, “What do you mean?”
Song Siyang analyzed, “Just now, your Dad almost got mad, but your stepmom flicked you on the forehead, and your Dad was stunned. He didn’t dare yell at you anymore. Got it?”
Xie Heng froze for a moment.
Was that how it was?
He blinked slowly, his long legs moving more slowly as he absentmindedly rubbed the spot where she had flicked him.
No wonder she didn’t use much force; it didn’t hurt at all, the boy thought.
The boy smiled faintly, then casually cleared his throat. The chocolate in his mouth melted softly, and the bitterness was perfectly balanced by the sweetness, creating a smooth and delightful taste.
He had never realized before—this chocolate tasted so good?
Xie Heng glanced at Song Siyang sideways. Seeing Song Siyang’s cheeky grin, Xie Heng’s face darkened, and he shrugged off the arm that was casually draped over his shoulder. He said sternly, “Stop calling her my ‘stepmom,’ it’s disrespectful.”
Song Siyang froze. “Then what should I call her?”
Calling her ‘Aunt’ would be awkward.
Calling her ‘Pretty Sister’ wouldn’t work either, Xie Heng wouldn’t like it.
Xu Jiaming also looked at Xie Heng, his gaze long and thoughtful.
Xie Heng snorted softly. “Call her Ms. Lu. Got it?”
“…”
Xie Heng’s interruption completely wiped out the light, subtle atmosphere that had been lingering earlier.
Lu Xi glanced at Xie Yizhao, and he was looking at her as well. They both saw a trace of helplessness in each other’s eyes.
What could they do?
It was their own son; they had to bear with it.
Xie Yizhao stayed silent, returning to his seat. He seemed about to say something, but when he looked at Lu Xi, he hesitated. His usually emotionless face showed an unusual layer of gloom, his eyes carrying a hint of melancholy.
He picked up his wine glass and casually swirled it, finishing the remaining half glass in one go.
“You sure are protective of him.” The man couldn’t hold back anymore, his tone tinged with some resentment.
For some reason, Lu Xi found Xie Yizhao’s sudden mood shift a bit amusing. She couldn’t help but chuckle and blink innocently at him. “What? I don’t understand.”
Xie Yizhao said nothing, then let out a light laugh after a while.
What could he do?
She was his wife, so he could only go along with her.
Lu Xi had eaten most of her meal. After Xie Heng arrived, she remembered the more important matters of the evening. Even the half-glass of wine she’d ‘begged’ for didn’t seem worth finishing. She told the servant to store the bottle, planning to savor it later when she had the time, and then went outside with Xie Yizhao to greet the group of kids.
Xie Yizhao had no objections. Once she mentioned it, he stood and followed her.
Lu Xi hadn’t been out all afternoon. She understood that, at this age, peers didn’t like having parents around at gatherings.
Even though she, as a parent, didn’t look much older than them, the generational difference would still make things awkward.
But Lu Xi didn’t mind.
After all, she was hosting the gathering at home, and she had other purposes for it.
Xie Yizhao wasn’t interested in such kid-friendly events, but he still accompanied Lu Xi as they moved from the living room to the outdoor courtyard.
The living room had a buffet set up, two long banquet tables arranged like in a banquet hall, filled with a lavish spread of food.
But most of the kids had gathered outside in the courtyard for the barbecue.
There was a rule in the villa against having open flames in the courtyard, so everything was pre-grilled in the kitchen and brought outside by the servants for everyone to eat.
The air was filled with the smell of barbecue.
Lu Xi took a gentle sniff and thought it smelled delicious. She looked up, only to meet Xie Yizhao’s gaze on her face, suddenly feeling a little embarrassed.
Tonight was… first she craved wine, and now she was yearning for barbecue, both times happened in front of Xie Yizhao.
Lu Xi couldn’t help but straighten up, acting as if nothing had happened.
“Do you want some?” Xie Yizhao suddenly asked in a low voice.
Lu Xi paused for a moment, then licked her lips awkwardly. “I do,” she said, then paused, laughing slightly, “But I can’t be the one to fight these kids for food.”
It would make her seem like an adult snatching food from kids.
Xie Yizhao pressed his lips together lightly and spoke softly, “If you want anything, just tell the kitchen, and they’ll bring it to our room.”
Lu Xi’s eyes lit up. That was a good idea!
Soon, their appearance caught the attention of the kids in the courtyard. What had been lively chatter and laughter slowly quieted down as if they had seen their homeroom teacher enter during break time.
Lu Xi : “…”
She knew it would have this effect.
Although she had expected a lot of people would be here today, seeing it firsthand was another matter. The courtyard was full of chairs and tables, and groups of people were scattered in small clusters.
There were indeed a lot of people.
In the afternoon, a nearby neighbor saw the scene and, confused about what was going on, wondered to herself, What’s the Xie family up to? Running a daycare for teenagers?
However, even though there were many people, Lu Xi’s gaze was fixed on the girls among the crowd.
I have to say, today’s kids are well-nourished, well-developed, and not short. Their complexions are healthy, and with their good family backgrounds, their clothing and style are top-notch. Some of the girls even dyed their hair and wore light makeup, looking very pleasing to the eye.
Lu Xi couldn’t help but squint her eyes.
Girls are really nice. If only she had a daughter, they could go shopping together, do their hair, get their nails done, pick out beautiful clothes, and change up their looks in all sorts of ways.
But instead, she had a son.
A rebellious one, at that.
Also stubborn.
When she tried to get him to try on nice clothes, he turned around and asked her for money instead, breaking her heart.
Just as she thought about her rebellious son, Xie Heng came over with a plate of grilled meat, striding forward while casting a sharp glance at Lu Xi and Xie Yizhao. He quietly asked, “Aren’t you two having a candlelit dinner? Why are you out here?”
Xie Yizhao gave his son a glance, raising an eyebrow.
—How dare you ask that?
Xie Yizhao didn’t say a word, but somehow it felt like he said a thousand words.
Xie Heng realized he had said the wrong thing. He averted his gaze, cleared his throat, and changed the topic by asking Lu Xi, “Do you want to eat barbecue?”
Lu Xi looked at him with a forced smile and said, “Thanks, but just seeing you is enough to fill me up.”
She was filled with frustration.
“…”
Alright then.
The boy pulled his lips in a nonchalant way.
What’s the big deal about being a third wheel? Why did it have to turn into a personal attack against him…?
Xie Heng fell into a sulk.
Meanwhile, the other students in the yard noticed Lu Xi and Xie Yizhao’s appearance, and their eyes lit up.
They had seen Xie Heng’s Dad before, at the school building’s inauguration ceremony. Xie Heng looked a lot like his Dad, inheriting his good looks but lacking his father’s commanding presence. His Dad was the kind of person who exuded power, confidence, and a sense of distance—someone others admired yet feared.
As for Xie Heng’s stepmother, they had seen her from a distance at school before, but up close now, she was stunning!
A beautiful woman is just that—beautiful, no matter if you see her from afar or up close. She had such a natural, captivating elegance that all attention was drawn to her with just a glance.
Some of them even noticed that she seemed to look a bit like Xie Heng!
Not as strongly as he resembled his father, but in her eyebrows, eyes, and features, there was an unexplainable resemblance. Especially when they stood together, they really looked like a family!
A girl beside Huang Ying whispered, “Oh my god, she’s so pretty! I don’t even want the barbecue now, I just want to be close to the Pretty Sister!”
Huang Ying nodded vigorously.
She was very into looks, to the point of obsession, and had been secretly watching Xu Jiaming all night. But when Lu Xi appeared, her gaze unconsciously shifted toward the beautiful woman.
Suddenly, the beautiful woman smiled at her.
Before Huang Ying could react, Lu Xi slowly walked up to her, smiling as she gently asked, “Little classmate, I need your help with something, can we go inside and talk?”
Huang Ying was struck by the beauty at such close range, and her head felt dizzy. Not fully processing the question, she nodded blankly.
She couldn’t say no to the beautiful sister!
When Lu Xi came closer, Huang Ying got a better look at her face, which was flawless and smooth, with no visible pores. Her makeup was so natural it was almost invisible, and she smelled so nice…
Huang Ying pinched the space between her thumb and index finger and obediently followed Lu Xi inside.
Lu Xi turned and asked another girl with the same polite request, and that girl, equally stunned and mesmerized, didn’t question anything and followed along obediently.
Xie Heng watched the scene unfold and had a strange feeling.
Why did it seem like Lu Xi was the kind of sorceress from a fairy tale who uses magic to lure little girls away?
He thought about it and, seeing that his dad was following Lu Xi into the house, he followed suit.
He didn’t need to ask; he knew Lu Xi had chosen them as models.
He didn’t care about that, she could pick whoever she wanted.
But what if they didn’t agree? After all, he was their classmate. With his school tyrant status, maybe he could help Lu Xi convince them.
Xie Heng confidently walked in after them.
Just then, Lu Xi remembered something and turned to Huang Ying, asking, “I remember, you’re Xie Heng’s deskmate, right?”
Huang Ying froze and nodded.
Lu Xi paused for a moment, then smiled and said, “Yes, last time when Ruan Tian and he had that misunderstanding, you were accidentally involved as well. Are you okay?”
Xie Heng’s heart sank heavily.
!!
Wasn’t this already settled? How did she know about it?
And… she can’t possibly think that he’s in a relationship with his deskmate, right? He already said he wouldn’t date early.
Xie Heng suddenly felt a little anxious. Impulsively, he quickly walked up to Lu Xi and with a stern face, emphasized, “Don’t make wild guesses, I’m not dating her, and don’t misunderstand me liking her. We’re just deskmates!”
Lu Xi : “…”
Before she could respond, Huang Ying also became anxious. Normally gentle and quiet, she rarely showed such boldness.
“Who said I’m dating you? I don’t like you! I like Xu Jiaming!”
Xie Heng furrowed his brow, feeling confused and suddenly awkward as a twinge of embarrassment spread across his back.
The air became silent for a few seconds.
Huang Ying had blurted it out impulsively and immediately regretted it, afraid someone might have overheard.
And… would the school tyrant be angry? Would he hit her?
Lu Xi couldn’t help but laugh, raising a finger and angrily tapping Xie Heng’s forehead.
“I say, you’re a Puxin man1, aren’t you embarassed?” Lu Xi took the chance to give her son a lesson in manners. “Even if a girl likes you, it means she respects you. If you act so dismissive, how do you expect to pursue a girlfriend in the future?”
- “普信男” (pǔxìnnán) is a Chinese internet slang term that stands for “普通却自信的男人” (pǔtōng què zìxìn de nánrén), which translates to “ordinary (they are not particularly attractive, wealthy, or talented) but confident (they possess an inflated sense of self-worth and believe they are more desirable than they actually are) man.” This is a derogatory term often used to describe men who have an overly high opinion of themselves, especially in their interactions with women. They usually exhibit behaviors such as: making unsolicited advances, belittling women’s achievements, or having unrealistic expectations of potential partners. ↩︎