After seeing Chen Xiao off on the tour bus back to the enclosure, Officer Xu returned to his office. After a moment's thought, he told his subordinates, "Okay, ask for leave for me tomorrow night. I won't be coming in for duty." Chen Xiao returned to the animal enclosure and found three girls sitting in a nearby ice cream shop. Ya Ya seemed fine, holding a milkshake with a straw between her lips. Ye Xiaonuo, sitting next to her, looked at Ya Ya with curiosity, her expression shifting between surprise and a hint of helplessness and sadness.
When Chen Xiao returned, Ya Ya immediately jumped up and grabbed his hand—this action made Ye Xiaonuo and Bai Cai's expressions stiffen slightly at the same time.
"This is very sweet, you drink it." Ya Ya held the milkshake cup in front of Chen Xiao, looking into her innocent eyes. Chen Xiao couldn't bear to refuse, so he took a small sip.
"Chen Xiao." Ye Xiaonuo stood up, a half-smile on her face: "I never expected this... I've always been curious. So many girls at the fast food restaurant liked you, and you weren't interested at all. Turns out you have such a super cute girlfriend."
Chen Xiao thought for a moment. He originally wanted to explain that "she is not my girlfriend," but then he thought that it was better not to explain, so as to avoid wasting words. He simply tacitly agreed.
Bai Cai, who knew more, vaguely sensed that Chen Xiao and Ya Ya's relationship wasn't truly romantic. She felt slightly more at ease, but seeing Chen Xiao holding Ya Ya's hand, his other hand naturally resting on Ya Ya's shoulder, and Ya Ya immediately nestling into Chen Xiao's arms like a little bird… Bai Cai gently bit her lip: "Hey, Chen Xiao, tonight you…"
"We're going to celebrate Old Man Xu's birthday tonight." Chen Xiao looked at the cabbage: "Hmm, I heard from Little Xu that he invited you too, right?"
"Hmph! I never said I would definitely go." Bai Cai pouted.
In truth, Chen Xiao always felt a little uneasy around Bai Cai. He knew perfectly well what Bai Cai was thinking. However, firstly, strictly speaking, his relationship with Bai Cai wasn't particularly close. Secondly, his feelings for Bai Cai were purely platonic. Xu Ershao's affection for Bai Cai, on the other hand, was undeniably evident—for a playboy like Xu Ershao to genuinely like a girl was truly a rare occurrence.
As for Bai Cai's thoughts... Chen Xiao could only sigh and politely decline.
Although he wouldn't intentionally try to matchmake or push Bai Cai towards Xu Ershao... in fact, Chen Xiao had initially tried to stop Xu Ershao from pursuing this beautiful Bai.
It's really not very manly to deliberately push a girl who likes you towards another man, so Chen Xiao wouldn't do that.
However, he had to reject Bai Cai's affections.
This wasn't because of Ya Ya, but because of that girl who called herself "Sa Jia".
In short, Chen Xiao is actually a very simple-minded boy. He will clearly reject Bai Cai's affections, and as for Bai Cai and Xu Ershao's relationship, he will let nature take its course and will not interfere.
Let nature take its course.
So when Bai Cai said she hadn't promised Xu Ershao she would definitely attend that evening, Chen Xiao didn't say anything, just smiled.
Bai Cai felt a little helpless and secretly resented: Couldn't you just ask me to be your date?
Unfortunately, Chen Xiao didn't say anything, and... looking at Ya Ya dressed up like a doll, Bai Cai knew in her heart that Chen Xiao obviously had someone in mind for the evening.
"You... Xiao Nuo's father just now, that's Officer Xu. What did he say to you?" Bai Cai immediately changed the subject—it must be said, Bai Cai is a smart girl. A smart woman won't put a man in a difficult position.
"Well, let's just chat." Chen Xiao didn't want to say much, especially with outsiders present. Although he was already willing to help Officer Xu, it was best not to mention the coffee shop commission to Ye Xiaonuo.
Bai Cai and Chen Xiao exchanged a glance; she knew what was going on at the coffee shop. Seeing that Chen Xiao seemed to be hiding something, she couldn't help but feel a little pleased: after all, these were things that Chen Xiao and she knew, but outsiders didn't.
Thinking about it that way, my mood immediately improved.
Chen Xiao originally wanted to take Ya Ya straight home, but since they had run into Ye Xiaonuo and Bai Cai, it wouldn't be appropriate to leave immediately, otherwise it would seem too formal. Besides, Ya Ya seemed quite happy to be with the two girls—after all, she was usually very lonely and rarely had female companions her own age.
Several girls were chatting and drinking cold drinks together, the atmosphere quite harmonious. Although Ya Ya was still somewhat naive, she wasn't as obviously naive as when she first arrived, and under Chen Xiao's tutelage, she had at least learned one thing: if she didn't know something, she wouldn't ask; keeping quiet was best.
So the four young people simply sat in the cold drink shop for an afternoon, and the atmosphere was quite nice. Ye Xiaonuo didn't notice anything unusual about Ya Ya, and any minor accidents were covered up by Bai Cai and Chen Xiao together.
Although she felt a little jealous of Ya Ya, this girl seemed very innocent and without any guile, so Ye Xiaonuo couldn't muster any hostility towards her.
In the evening, the four of them left the ice cream shop at the zoo. Chen Xiao, Ya Ya, and Bai Cai went to the Xu family's birthday banquet. Watching Chen Xiao take Ya Ya's hand and get into a taxi, Ye Xiaonuo sighed as she watched the car drive away.
The Xu family mansion was almost completely demolished during the Tyrannosaurus Rex attack. However, Old Man Xu was a real estate tycoon with numerous businesses, so he naturally owned many luxury homes.
The birthday banquet that evening was held in another mansion.
Although it was a private banquet, Mr. Xu was a big shot in the industry, so naturally many business people were among the guests. What was originally a private banquet couldn't be controlled and turned into a lavish banquet.
Before six o'clock, the entrance to the Xu family mansion was already filled with luxury cars, and dignitaries from all walks of life arrived in an endless stream. Chen Xiao and his group arrived in an ordinary taxi, which naturally made them look extremely shabby among the surrounding luxury cars.
After getting off the car, even his attire seemed completely out of place with his surroundings. His casual clothes contrasted sharply with the impeccably dressed guests around him.
Fortunately, Chen Xiao was a regular at the Xu family's home, so there wouldn't be any ridiculous scene where he was turned away because of his shabby appearance. The Xu family recognized him as a friend of their young master and immediately welcomed everyone inside.
Xu Ershao quickly ran out, his face beaming with a smile—clearly, not at Chen Xiao, but with his gaze fixed on the pretty girl behind Chen Xiao.
"You finally came." Young Master Xu smiled happily.
Bai Cai glanced at him sideways and said calmly, "I was worried that Ya Ya would be too lonely by herself. In this kind of situation, I was concerned that Chen Xiao wouldn't have time to take care of Ya Ya, so I came along to keep her company! Don't get the wrong idea!"
Young Master Xu didn't seem to mind at all, his smile remaining unchanged: "It's good that you came."
The lawn outside the Xu family mansion had already been set up as an open-air venue, where a band hired at great expense was playing music, and polite waiters were naturally on the side providing attentive service.
Xu Ershao plus Chen Xiao, plus Ya Ya and Bai Cai.
As the heir to the Xu family, Xu Ershao was already the focus of everyone's attention. Now, with Chen Xiao and others by his side, the group of four young and handsome men and beautiful women immediately attracted a lot of attention.
Chen Xiao was already used to this kind of occasion, and followed Xu Ershao to sit down in a corner.
As for Young Master Xu, he didn't know what sweet words he used, but he tricked Bai Cai into running away with him. She accompanied him as they moved among the guests, seemingly like a perfect couple. Chen Xiao saw through Young Master Xu's intentions; this was exactly the effect he wanted.
To put it in terms of his dating techniques: women are naturally easily influenced by their surroundings and atmosphere.
When everyone around them looked at the two of them as a "young couple," even though that wasn't Bai Cai's initial intention, she couldn't openly object due to the situation. Over time, subtle psychological changes naturally occurred.
Chen Xiao sat down next to Ya Ya. If he were alone, no one would have paid any attention to him, a boy dressed in ordinary clothes. Even though he was handsome, his clothes were not as nice as those of a waiter in this kind of situation. Don't underestimate those uniforms, they were all carefully made!
Among a room full of wealthy and powerful guests, who would bother with such a person?
But today was different, simply because a little boy was sitting next to him.
A stunningly beautiful girl like Ya Ya is naturally the center of attention for men. In less than five minutes after sitting down, Chen Xiao had already sent away three groups of rich young men who came to try to chat her up... Ironically, two of these three rich young men were students at Kidd Academy.
Chen Xiao readily took on the role of protector of the flower, not caring whether he had inadvertently angered others.