Lin Qinglang immediately said, "Oh, really, there's no need."
"I won't treat you to dinner. Thank you so much for today." Ni Jingxi always knew what she was doing. Lin Qinglang had indeed helped her today, and it wouldn't be right for her to leave him here.
Tang Mian stood not far away and shook hands with the police, indicating that everything had been taken care of.
When he returned, he looked at Lin Qinglang and said with a light smile, "Mr. Lin, you can leave now."
"Thanks." Lin Qinglang scratched the back of his head, feeling quite embarrassed. In his heart, he was cursing his best friend for letting him down at the crucial moment.
After they went outside, the driver had just parked the car here when Ni Jingxi turned around and said, "Lin Qinglang, goodbye."
Huo Shenyan had already opened the car door and helped her into the car, then walked around to the other side from the back and got into the car himself.
Lin Qinglang stood there, watching the exhaust fumes left by the car, and sighed deeply.
If the happiest thing in the world is to unexpectedly run into your first love.
The most painful thing was hearing the news of her marriage with his own ears.
*
It was rush hour, and cars were lined up one after another, forming a long queue that was so slow it was frustrating.
But what's most unbearable is the atmosphere inside the car.
Driver Lao Xu was always quiet and just drove in peace.
As for Tang Mian, he was terrified.
The way that young man at the police station looked at Ni Jingxi just now was really strange. Even he could tell, so there's no reason why his boss wouldn't have noticed.
Moreover, the atmosphere right now is just too strange.
Ni Jingxi sat quietly, her eyes slightly lowered as she looked at her palms, seemingly with nothing to say.
Finally, it was Huo Shenyan who spoke up and asked, "What happened today?"
Hearing him speak, Ni Jingxi slowly raised her head and looked over carefully, then whispered, "Are you angry?"
"You still care?" Huo Shenyan was amused by her words.
If she really cared, she should have comforted him as soon as they got in the car.
Ni Jingxi nodded seriously, looked at him and said softly, "I care about it a lot."
Huo Shenyan chuckled, clearly still dissatisfied, but her words had soothed most of his previously cold expression. It's often said that there are natural opposites in this world, perhaps Ni Jingxi was born to be his nemesis.
After briefly recounting what happened at the health product company today, Ni Jingxi paused for a few seconds before saying, "Actually, I didn't expect to cause trouble. I just can't bear to see the elderly being wronged."
The old lady in particular reminded her of her grandmother.
Huo Shenyan reached out and took her hand, gently patted the back of her hand twice, and said in a low voice, "You did nothing wrong, and this is not meddling in other people's business."
Ni Jingxi looked up at him, her smile gentle.
He always indulged her like that.
However, changing the subject, Huo Shenyan asked, "Who was that person just now...?"
Ni Jingxi suppressed a slight smile; she knew he wouldn't be indifferent. However, she and Lin Qinglang really had nothing going on, and there was nothing to hide, so she readily admitted, "I was his tutor when I was in college."
Huo Shenyan raised an eyebrow slightly and said softly, "A private tutor?"
“Yes.” Ni Jingxi seemed to recall the situation back then and said with a smile, “Speaking of which, tutoring is the easiest and most lucrative job I’ve ever done.”
Huo Shenyan seemed to have been successfully diverted by her question, "What other jobs have you done?"
Ni Jingxi chuckled and thought about it seriously for a moment: "There are many. At first, I found a work-study job at school, and later I found part-time jobs in coffee shops and tutoring jobs..."
"Oh, right, I also sold beer."
Huo Shenyan was clearly taken aback, but Ni Jingxi spoke in a relaxed tone, laughing as she said, "I'm the best beer seller of all, do you know why?"
Huo Shenyan shook his head politely, indicating that he did not know.
Ni Jingxi: "Because I'm pretty."
She said this with a smile on her face, her eyes crinkling, her dark eyes shining brightly, like starlight falling into them; she was truly beautiful.
Huo Shenyan looked at her with a mixture of surprise and amusement. His previously cold expression melted away completely, and he finally showed a slight smile.
Seeing that he finally smiled, Ni Jingxi pressed on, saying, "Don't you believe me? Although I'm not good at sweet talk or acting cute, I'm really good at selling alcohol."
She wasn't exaggerating when she said that; the place she was in was a quiet bar, but the people who came and went were all quite sophisticated, mostly rich kids.
She wasn't originally working there; she was filling in for a friend at the bar for a day. Unexpectedly, several people ordered drinks from her that day.
So the boss asked her if she was willing to work for him. Ni Jingxi desperately needed money. Every day when she opened her eyes, the more than 4,000 yuan a month for her grandmother's nursing home, her own living expenses, and her annual tuition fees weighed on her like a mountain.
Ni Jingxi worked there for a few days.
"You only worked there for a few days?" Huo Shenyan asked, following her words.
Ni Jingxi blinked and sighed, "I didn't want to quit either, but every time they came to sell alcohol, they asked for my contact information, so I gave them the phone number of one of our bartenders. I gave that bartender five hundred yuan to be in charge of chatting with them."
She paused slightly, then chuckled and said, "I'm afraid that if this goes on for too long, I'll be exposed and get beaten up."
Huo Shenyan was so angry he laughed.
This girl's daring is nothing new; she's incredibly adventurous.
After laughing, Huo Shenyan turned his head to look at her and asked casually, "Is working tiring?"
Ni Jingxi blinked. Are you tired?
Finally, she leaned gently on his shoulder and whispered, "Huo Shenyan, you have no idea how many kinds of jobs there are in this world."
So many that every day felt so long and unbearable to her.
These words stirred a pang of sadness in Huo Shenyan's heart. He reached out and took her hand, holding it tightly in his palm. He had come too late, so late that she had already endured life's setbacks and hardships.
Some things didn't need to be said aloud, because from the moment he decided to marry her...
He will protect her for the rest of his life.
*
When they arrived at their destination and got out of the car, Ni Jingxi had just turned around to walk into the club when Huo Shenyan suddenly grabbed her wrist and asked, "Did you exchange contact information with that kid earlier?"
Ni Jingxi looked up at him in surprise, noticing his serious expression.
She was stunned; this person must have been holding it in all the way.
Finally, she couldn't help but say, "Mr. Huo, are you a spirit of vinegar?"
Huo Shenyan: "..."
Author's Note: After a tender and affectionate journey, Brother Shenyan finally asked the question he most wanted to ask.
Vinegar essence, if I call your name, will you dare to answer?
Chapter 17
They arrived at a private club, in the style of a Suzhou garden. Along the way, there were corridors and artificial hills, and the silvery sunlight from the sky cast a hazy, dreamlike beauty.
Today is Xiao Yichen's birthday. This group of people has a fixed place and rarely goes out to attract attention.
After all, they've all passed those carefree and reckless years; now they're all in their thirties, either already taken over the family business or waiting to do so. Even without their elders' explicit admonitions, they'll behave themselves.
As for Huo Shenyan, he has always been the most mysterious one in this circle.
He also has close friends, but they are all people he has known since childhood. His business partners are kept in a separate circle and cannot easily enter his private circle.
Ni Jingxi was led by the hand as they walked forward, glancing left and right every now and then.
She had been here a few times before, but each time she felt it was quite new because the owner often changed the decorations and murals, and even the styles of the palace lanterns under the corridor had been changed again.
Upon reaching the end of the corridor, a waiter respectfully opened the door for them. This private room was the largest in the entire club, and upon entering, it was surprisingly lively, with about ten people, both men and women.
Upon entering the living room, there is a very large round table. The tableware on the table has already been neatly arranged, including exquisite white bone china plates and bowls, as well as crystal-clear glassware.
However, before everyone sat down at the table, they started playing cards at the square table next door.
Xiao Yichen had just won a game and was smiling happily when he looked up and saw the door open. Huo Shenyan walked in with Ni Jingxi beside him. He was taken aback at first, then immediately stood up from his chair and walked straight over.
"I am truly honored today, that even Jingxi from our village has come." Although Xiao Yichen felt a slight jolt in his heart, he remained extremely enthusiastic on the surface.
He grew up with Huo Shenyan, and Ni Jingxi is Huo Shenyan's lawfully wedded wife. Given this status, he would not neglect her in the slightest.
Ni Jingxi glanced at him and smiled, "You're so surprised that I'm here. Did you never intend to invite me?"
Xiao Yichen was stunned, not expecting that he had fallen into Ni Jingxi's trap. He immediately shook his head and sighed, "Alright, alright, I can't even handle Shen Yan by myself normally, so please spare me."
"Happy birthday, Yichen-ge," Ni Jingxi said with a smile.
Xiao Yichen is the same age as Huo Shenyan, but is a few months younger than Huo Shenyan, so Ni Jingxi's "brother" was not wrong.
Upon hearing her blessing, Xiao Yichen immediately opened his arms and deliberately said, "There should be a hug here."
His personality is the complete opposite of Huo Shenyan's. He is easygoing and approachable, always smiling, the kind of person who makes people feel comfortable around him. Moreover, he is handsome and loves to socialize. While he may not be partying every night, he does organize gatherings frequently.
In Shanghai's elite circles, he was considered one of the most prominent figures.
Ni Jingxi glanced at him, but didn't go forward; she just stood there with a smile.
Huo Shenyan glanced at him, his eyes devoid of emotion, but he let out a cold snort, making it clear that if he dared to hug Ni Jingxi, Huo Shenyan would probably break his hand.
Xiao Yichen helplessly raised his hands: "Fine, I'm still waiting to cut the cake later."
Huo Shenyan said calmly, "It's good that you know."
He never hid his possessiveness towards Ni Jingxi in front of his childhood friends, Xiao Yichen and the others; after all, no one else could touch his wife.
Ni Jingxi pursed her lips and looked over. Huo Shenyan's gaze happened to turn in their direction, his dark eyes deep and unreadable.
But Ni Jingxi burst out laughing.
Because she remembered the question she had asked at the door earlier, and now it seemed she hadn't been wrong.
Her husband, Mr. Huo, is probably a real connoisseur of vinegar.
Looking at the girl whose eyebrows were raised in obvious happiness, Huo Shenyan immediately guessed what she was thinking. He didn't show his emotions on his face, but instead took her hand and tickled her palm.
Ni Jingxi laughed even harder; her palms were a little sensitive.