Xu Yan remained silent, unsure of Scarlett's purpose in saying that.
Scarlett glanced at her and said, "She seems to look at you every now and then. Generally speaking, when people are happiest and most joyful, they will unconsciously look at the person they like and care about the most. Miss Zhou must like you very much."
Xu Yan coughed lightly, "Chairman Xu also likes you very much. He just played a good game and is watching you now."
Scarlett waved happily to Xu Lang, who was looking over.
Xu Yan added, "Xu Yi has also been watching you. According to your theory, he probably likes you too?"
Xu Yi's gaze was indeed fixed on Scarlett.
Scarlett said awkwardly, "Miss Xu is eloquent, and I can't argue with you. We both know that Xu Yi is hostile towards me, so besides liking someone, hating someone can also make him pay attention to them."
She looked towards Zhou Luming and Xu Lang, who were taking their final shot near the hole. As Xu Lang sank the hole, Scarlett smiled and said, "They've almost finished their game. Miss Zhou knows how to play her game carefully. She deliberately let Master Xu win this round, but Master Xu isn't the kind of person who can be easily satisfied with a small advantage. Miss Zhou will probably have a long way to go to gain his approval."
Xu Yan walked over with Scarlett and grabbed a bottle of water.
Xu Yi and Lin Shuwan also went along.
“Scarlett is your stage name, right? You do resemble the actress who played Black Widow in some ways,” Xu Yan said casually. She knew very little about Xu Yi’s future stepmother, only that she was a magazine model who was somewhat famous, but not particularly well-known.
Scarlett smiled faintly and replied, "Many photographers have said that I look like her, but I don't have her good fortune. She is one of the most valuable actresses in the world, and her style is unique among many Marvel heroes. In private, she is also a confident, beautiful, and hardworking person, so I like her very much."
Xu Yan: "Why did you give up being a model?"
Scarlett smiled. "As I get older, I just want to find a good husband and be a wealthy wife who doesn't have to worry about food or clothing." She observed Xu Yan's reaction, expecting her to scoff at her like the others, but Xu Yan's face remained expressionless. Slightly surprised, she couldn't help but ask Xu Yan, "Miss Xu, don't you have anything to say to me?"
She thought Xu Yan would say something, but she didn't at all.
Xu Yan: "Your life is of course your own to decide, and I have neither the right nor the intention to interfere."
Scarlett felt a mix of emotions after hearing this. Ever since the news of her impending marriage to Xu Lang broke, everyone from her own circle of friends to the gossip media had been trying to interview her or dig up details and secrets, but Xu Lang's intimidating presence made them hesitate.
She thought that young Xu Yan would be just as curious and gossipy as the other people outside, but Xu Yan seemed to be completely uninterested in the little things between her and Xu Lang.
Scarlett glanced at Xu Yan and thought he was quite special.
Before Xu Yan could even get close, Zhou Luming abandoned Xu Lang and excitedly ran towards Xu Yan. Xu Yan unscrewed the bottle of water and handed it to Zhou Luming, who tilted his head back and gulped it down.
Scarlett stared blankly at the bottle of water in Zhou Luming's hand, her expression one of surprise.
After Zhou Luming finished drinking, Xu Yan took the water bottle from her and took out a tissue to wipe her sweat.
Xu Lang chuckled and said, "It seems Miss Zhou hasn't been idle abroad. Your ball skills are the best I've ever seen."
Zhou Luming stuck out his tongue: "It's been a long time since I played, so I'm a bit rusty. Uncle Xu is the real expert; I still lost to you."
The two chatted amicably. Xu Yi and Lin Shuwan came over and stood to the side, waiting a while before finally managing to join the conversation. Xu Yi said, "Dad, this is Lin Shuwan, my girlfriend. I brought her to meet you today..."
Xu Lang continued chatting with Zhou Luming and Xu Yan without pausing, "Xiao Xu, regarding the Lu Group's stock, do you think there's still room for shorting?"
Xu Yan said, "The Lu Group's stock price has almost stabilized, but its counterparty still has some room for maneuver..."
Xu Yi was extremely embarrassed and stood frozen, at a loss for what to do.
Lin Shuwan's face also froze.
Scarlett shielded her eyes from the sunlight and said, "It's too sunny outside. Look, Miss Zhou's face is all red. Let's go inside the club and find a place to sit and chat."
Xu Lang agreed.
Xu Yan quietly looked at Scarlett, then turned to look at Xu Yi, who seemed a little happier. "Shall we find a place to sit down and chat?" This was clearly a golden opportunity for Xu Yi.
The sightseeing bus could only seat four people. Xu Lang and Scarlett got on first, and Xu Lang then asked Xu Yan and Zhou Luming to accompany them. As a result, Xu Yi and Lin Shuwan were left behind. The two dared not say anything, and could only walk to the restaurant, hoping that they could sit down and have a serious talk.
Xu Yan and Zhou Luming showed no courtesy and sat down opposite Xu Lang without any hesitation. Scarlett wiped Xu Lang's sweat and asked him gently and considerately if he was tired and if he wanted to change his clothes later to avoid catching a cold.
Zhou Luming and Xu Yan exchanged a glance. She felt that Scarlett's concern for Xu Lang seemed genuine. The atmosphere between the two was also very harmonious.
They were sitting in the car with their backs to each other, so they could see Xu Yi and Lin Shuwan walking behind them. Their faces were a little red in the sunlight. Xu Yi seemed a little anxious, while Lin Shuwan walked quickly but was still trying her best to comfort him.
That was her only chance to change her fate.
Chapter 59
===================
The golf club boasts a wealth of facilities, including a restaurant in the southwest corner for guests to relax. The restaurant spans three floors: the first floor offers a buffet-style Western meal, the second floor features private Chinese dining rooms, and the third floor houses exclusive private lounges accessible only to VIPs.
Zhou Luming followed Xu Lang and his group to a Western restaurant.
Scarlett accompanied Xu Lang, chatting and laughing all the way. Zhou Luming and Xu Yan lagged behind, intentionally or unintentionally keeping a distance from the two of them, secretly observing the dynamics between Scarlett and Xu Lang.
Zhou Luming lowered his voice and said to Xu Yan, "Scarlett and Xu Lang have a lot to talk about. They chatted non-stop as they walked. I didn't expect that Xu Lang, a middle-aged man in his fifties, could chat so well with Scarlett, a woman who is not even thirty. They don't seem to be people who are purely interested in money and beauty. On the contrary, they seem to be a couple who are in love."
Xu Yan said, "S just sent me Lin Shuwan's background information, you should take a look too."
Zhou Luming glanced at the phone Xu Yan handed him and quickly browsed Lin Shuwan's information.
Lin Shuwan comes from a small town called Bianzhen near Haishi. She attended elementary and junior high school in a natural village under Bianzhen, but went to an expensive private high school, where Xu Yi also happened to be studying.
She went to a mediocre university with an average major, and after graduation joined her current company as an ordinary white-collar worker. Her resume is unremarkable; the only slightly unusual thing is the private high school she attended.
"Why would an ordinary small-town girl suddenly attend an outrageously expensive private high school?" Zhou Luming asked.
Xu Yan said, "Her middle school entrance exam results were not very good at the time, and she could only attend an ordinary high school, not a key one. So many parents who hoped their daughters would succeed would send their children to some private high schools that were famous for their high college entrance rates, hoping to change their fate through the college entrance exam. Lin Shuwan's parents were probably such parents."
Zhou Luming shrugged. "But Lin Shuwan ended up getting into a very ordinary university; she didn't become a phoenix."
“So Xu Yi, the rich second-generation, is her chance to rise from the ashes and become a true phoenix.” Xu Yan looked through the transparent floor-to-ceiling window at Xu Yi and Lin Shuwan, who were coming along the path outside. “It’s not by chance that she entered Xu Yi’s company. She must have followed Xu Yi into the company to get close to him on purpose.”
"A scheming woman with an empty head," Zhou Luming concluded.
Lin Shuwan, a girl from a small town, failed in her attempt to change her fate through education. She then pinned her hopes on Xu Yi, a rich second-generation heir she met in high school, hoping to enter the upper class of Hai City by becoming Xu Yi's girlfriend. However, after finally getting close to Xu Yi and becoming his girlfriend, she discovered that her boyfriend had no status in the Xu family and that his inheritance might even be taken away by a stepmother of similar age. Naturally, she harbored resentment towards her young stepmother, Scarlett.
When they returned to the table with the tray and some food, they found that the seats opposite Xu Lang and Scarlett had been taken by Xu Yi and Lin Shuwan.
"I'm sorry, Miss Zhou and Miss Xu, we have something we'd like to discuss with Uncle Xu." Lin Shuwan smiled apologetically. Her plate was almost empty, as she was worried that taking too much food would make her look bad. Seeing Zhou Luming's plate piled high with food, Lin Shuwan was surprised, then her eyes flashed with disdain. She feigned surprise and asked, "Didn't Miss Zhou eat anything this morning? Or was it because it was the first time she'd seen so much beautiful food that she couldn't resist taking a little more?"
Zhou Luming replied with a smile, "I have a big appetite, and the food here is so beautifully presented, it must taste delicious. Since I'm here, I'm going to eat my fill. Uncle Xu, you won't mind, will you?"
Xu Lang smiled and said, "Eat as much as you like." He gestured for the lobby manager to come over and instructed, "Miss Zhou likes your lobsters, so please pack some for her to take home later."
The lobby manager quickly nodded in agreement.
Lin Shuwan's face stiffened; she hadn't expected Xu Lang to react this way.
Zhou Luming said sweetly, "Thank you, Uncle Xu. Xu Yan and I will eat over there. You two can chat as you please, don't worry about us." After saying that, she really pulled Xu Yan to a table around the corner and began to enjoy the food to her heart's content.
Xu Yan looked at the small mountain of food piled up in front of Zhou Luming and asked, "Can you really eat all of this?"
Zhou Luming said, "If you can't finish your food, pack it up and take it with you. Wasting food is shameful."
Xu Yan frowned, "But eating too much can also make you feel very uncomfortable—"
"I have a special skill - like a cow, I have multiple stomachs, which can store food in my stomachs and digest it when I'm hungry. This way, I can last longer than ordinary people when there is no food."
"I don't believe that humans could evolve such an ability." Xu Yan looked up at Zhou Luming across from her, thinking about how Zhou Luming had been imprisoned and abused by her adoptive parents. After finally escaping, she was forced to work in all sorts of terrible places to survive because she was young and had no identity documents. She might have even rummaged through garbage cans and begged on the streets to make a living. Therefore, she would not waste food, but would cherish it even more.
Thinking of this, Xu Yan silently pushed her plate in front of Zhou Luming, then tilted her head and pretended to look at the scenery.
Zhou Luming glanced at Xu Yan's plate, then at Xu Yan's seemingly unintentional profile, and smiled. "You should eat some too. I can get more when I'm done. Don't forget this is a buffet."
Xu Yan was about to say that she wasn't hungry when she heard her stomach rumble clearly, contradicting her earlier statement.
Zhou Luming laughed even more happily, but she continued to enjoy the food.
Xu Yan didn't stand on ceremony and slowly ate his food.
The quiet and harmonious atmosphere between the two did not last long. Scarlett walked over, stood to Zhou Luming's side, and asked with a smile, "Excuse me, may I sit here?"
Zhou Luming said, "Of course."
Xu Yan glanced at Xu Lang, whose back was to her, but she could sense his anger from his posture and the few words he uttered. Across from her, Xu Yi's expression had clearly lost control; his hand on the table was clenched into a fist. Lin Shuwan looked startled, covering her mouth but remaining silent.
Xu Yan knew that Lin Shuwan was deliberately showing weakness in front of Xu Yi. She felt that Lin Shuwan had a talent for studying men. Someone like Xu Yi, who came from a family that lacked maternal love and was neglected by his father, needed someone who could demonstrate his masculinity most—and Lin Shuwan played that role perfectly.
Scarlett looked at Zhou Luming, who had a good appetite, and smiled, saying, "It's very appetizing to watch Miss Zhou eat."
Zhou Luming paused, turned his head slightly, and said, "Now that you're no longer a model, you shouldn't need to diet or control your food intake anymore, right? The lobster and tomato beef brisket are delicious. I feel like my stomach is already full to the brim, but I still can't help but keep eating—"
Scarlett laughed and replied, "Although I'm no longer a model, I still need to control my diet because I'm going to be Xu Lang's wife, and I can't be disrespectful in front of the media."
Zhou Luming sighed, "That's such a pity."
Scarlett maintained a polite smile and posture. Although she had come over, her mind was still on Xu Lang's table.
Xu Yan interjected, "I heard you opened a clothing design studio?"
Scarlett nodded. "It was Mr. Xu who helped me open the studio. It hasn't been long since it started, but business has been booming. I guess it's because Mr. Xu's influence brought me high-quality clients."
Xu Yan pondered for a moment, "Although you got started with Chairman Xu's help, whether you can continue to operate ultimately depends on the design of your studio. Chairman Xu is very supportive of you. He was just talking to me about this. He seized every opportunity to recommend your designs to us potential clients."
Scarlett wasn't too surprised and said with a smile, "Mr. Tsui respects me a lot and is very supportive of my career."
Xu Yan changed the subject, "But in his son Xu Yi's eyes, your studio is just a way to swindle money from Chairman Xu. The so-called sense of design is an ethereal thing. The designed works can be worth a fortune or be worthless. You are using Chairman Xu's connections and financial support to transfer the Xu family's assets in various ways. Even if Chairman Xu and you signed a prenuptial agreement, you can still make a quick buck and then make a graceful exit..."
Scarlett crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair, quietly watching Xu Yan. A faint smile curved her lips as she asked, "So, in Miss Xu's eyes, I'm just a Black Widow who gains benefits by draining men?"
Although she maintained her composure, Xu Yan could vaguely sense the anger emanating from her. Xu Yan suppressed his earlier sharpness; he had already used the tactic of deliberately provoking her, but Scarlett maintained her composure well, demonstrating her excellent mental fortitude.
Xu Yan conceded, "I'm sorry, it was my presumptuous judgment."
"Don't take Xu Yan's words to heart. She's the kind of person who always says what she thinks and doesn't know how to be tactful," Zhou Luming said, trying to smooth things over. "I need to go to the restroom."
“It’s alright, I really like Miss Xu’s frankness.” Scarlett stepped aside.
Zhou Luming turned to Xu Yan and said, "Come with me."
Xu Yan: ...
Scarlett remained alone in her original spot, looking down at the table, her fingers gently twirling a glass on it, her brown eyes reflecting varying shades of light and shadow.
Xu Yan was taken to the restroom by Zhou Luming. Before Zhou Luming could speak, they heard hurried footsteps approaching from outside.
Zhou Luming immediately pulled Xu Yan into one of the storage cubicles and closed the door. Xu Yan, bewildered, followed Zhou Luming into hiding.
This storage room contained brooms, buckets, and rags. Only the cleaning staff usually came in. The space was small, damp, and had a musty smell. The door to the storage room was quite hidden because it was covered in wallpaper, almost blending into the wall.
Soon, someone pushed the door open and came in. Judging from the footsteps, there were two people. The person who came in first stood at the door of the cubicle where Xu Yan and the others were hiding, leaving a back view blocking the door.
Another person came in and checked each cubicle to make sure no one was inside before speaking up, "Lin Fang, why didn't you speak up for us just now? Didn't we agree that as long as I didn't expose your past, you would put in a good word for us with Xu Lang so he would agree to let me be with Xu Yi? Now you've gone back on your word and are avoiding me. I'm going to go out and tell Xu Lang that you're not some magazine model, but a dirty woman from a broken rural family."
It's Lin Shuwan's voice. Who is Lin Fang that she's talking about?