Young Prime Minister, a Hermit

Chapter 3

I nodded thoughtfully, a vague unease creeping into my heart, a feeling that something was about to happen.

Chapter 2 The Bridal Chamber

Seeing Xu Lie's ridiculously large mansion again still startled me. It was only much later that I learned that Xu Tian, the seemingly gentle and refined father, was actually one of the leaders of Flame, the largest underground gang in Shanghuai City (forgive me, I'm too lazy to make up these messy backgrounds, let's just say he was one of Bingyi's father's brothers, amen!).

Later, after handing over the organization to his subordinates, he and his brothers went into business. In just ten years, he spent most of his time at home with his wife, supporting his father, and educating his son, yet he built the Xu Tian Group, the second largest in Shanghuai City after Lingyun and Huangting, with its chain of hypermarkets almost all over the country.

It was already dark when the car pulled into the Xu family home. Grandpa Xu, being pushed in a servant's wheelchair, was anxiously waiting for us at the door. I was deeply moved. Xu Lie helped me out of the car, and when I saw him, I choked out, "Grandpa!"

Xu Lie stiffened as he hugged me, then gave me a complicated look.

Grandpa was in tears, repeatedly saying, "It's good that you're back! It's good that you're back! Let's go inside and eat!"

The meal wasn't at the long table with seating arranged according to rank, as I had imagined. Instead, it was a small, rotating round table that could seat five or six people. The servants brought out the cooked dishes one by one. Each dish was simple, yet the atmosphere was warm and inviting. (Look at them, where did they learn this from...?)

Xu Lie sat next to me, drinking and eating by himself. I curiously glanced at the drink in his hand—good heavens! It was Remy Martin, and he was drinking it like water?!

"Lie, hurry up and serve Lanlan some food!" Xu's mother called out.

"Why?" Xu Lie asked curiously, putting down his wine glass.

"Is that even a question?" Mrs. Xu glared at him reproachfully. "She's your wife, and this is her first time eating at our house."

My face flushed completely red, almost burying itself in the bowl. Actually, did I really agree to come to the Xu family just to see Grandpa?

Xu Lie frowned impatiently, but still gave in under the gaze of three pairs of eyes, and said fiercely, "Girl, what do you want to eat?"

I pursed my lips, glanced at the dishes on the table, and finally settled on the crispy spicy chicken. Then I gave him a pitiful look.

"No way!" Xu Lie seemed to completely ignore my gaze and flatly refused, "You were just discharged from the hospital, how can you eat spicy food?"

Before I could say anything more, he had already picked up the bowl, plate, and spoon, stretched out his long arm, ladled a bowl of Eight Treasure Delight for me, and said fiercely, "Eat this!"

Pshaw! I secretly gave him a look of contempt. Why did you ask me in the first place? You might as well have just decided for yourself!

"Stupid woman! What was that expression you were making just now!" Xu Lie's big hand slapped down on my head. I flinched and dodged, but the force of the hand landing on my head was very light. Then, as if unwilling to give up, he roughly ruffled my hair.

"Ah! What are you doing!" I yelled, clutching my head. First "Hey," then "Girl," then "Stupid Woman," and she hasn't even called me by my name yet! That's too much!

"Haha..." Laughter filled the dinner table. Grandpa, with a smile like that of Maitreya Buddha, stroked his beard and said, "Lie'er! You must know that a wife is someone you marry to cherish."

"Nonsense!" Xu Lie awkwardly withdrew his hand, looking annoyed. "Grandpa, eat your food!"

"Ha ha……"

During dinner, the doorbell suddenly rang.

Mr. Xu looked at me gently and said, "Your two friends went to the hospital and couldn't see you, so they were very worried. That's why Ying Shi sent someone to drive them here, and they've probably arrived by now."

"Ah—" I exclaimed in surprise, overjoyed, "Xiaojie and Yingying are here?"

Mr. Xu nodded with a smile.

I cheered and rushed towards the door, but as soon as I took a step, I suddenly remembered something, turned back to Xu Lie, and stammered, "May I go see them?"

Xu Lie nearly spat out his soup, coughed twice, looked up at me, and glared angrily, "Why are you telling me these things?"

I pursed my lips, intimidated by his anger, and dared not move.

Xu Lie sighed helplessly and waved his hand, saying, "Go."

There was another burst of laughter at the dinner table. My face turned bright red, and I ran away from the hall as fast as I could.

"Lanlan—" A melodious, clear, and slightly trembling female voice entered my ears. I looked up and saw Xiaojie's usually calm and gentle face filled with ecstasy and disbelief.

I could no longer suppress the joy and emotion of our reunion, so I rushed over and hugged her tightly, tears soaking both of our clothes.

"Alright, you two." Yingying's voice, tinged with a mix of helplessness and barely concealed excitement, reached my ears.

We both smiled sheepishly. Xiaojie wiped away her tears, her expression returning to calm and serene, a gentle smile radiating beauty. Xiaojie, Su Yanjie, my college roommate. I was in a coma for two years, and she had already graduated. Surprisingly, she hadn't changed at all.

Fan Yingying, her roommate, has shed her former naivety and innocence, and instead exudes her original charm and beauty, making her irresistible.

Huanjie led us into the guest room. Xiaojie and I chattered away, while Yingying occasionally chimed in. Most of the time, she looked at the luxurious and elegant decorations of the Xu residence and said with no small amount of envy, "Lanlan, you really married a good husband!"

I was taken aback, my face darkened slightly, and I said sullenly, "Yingying, it's one thing if others don't know, but you clearly know the situation between Xu Lie and me, yet you still tease me like this."

Yingying smiled apologetically, her phoenix eyes sparkling with charm, accentuated by her light purple eyeshadow, making her exceptionally beautiful: "I'm just telling you to hold on tight, aren't I? These days, men who are handsome, well-off, and rich are practically extinct."

I frowned slightly and suddenly asked, "Yingying, have you and Xiaodong broken up?"

For some reason, I felt a surge of anxiety and raised my voice slightly: "Xiaojie, what about you? Are you still with Xiang Kun? Have you both found jobs?"

"Don't worry," Xiaojie smiled gently, pulling me to sit down. "I'm still with Xiang Kun, of course. I've found a job as an administrative assistant. Xiang Kun also said..."

Xiao Jie blushed slightly, and a faint but sweet smile appeared on her calm face: "We'll get married next year."

I breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness...

"Is a man who doesn't understand romance really a good thing?" Yingying suddenly blurted out. "You two are just too unrealistic."

I stammered, "Yingying, you and Xiaodong..."

"We didn't break up." Yingying smiled nonchalantly, her delicate fingers, adorned with pink nail polish, lightly tapping the tea table. "Of course, if another long-term meal ticket comes along, I'll immediately switch to him..."

Yingying's voice suddenly stopped, her gaze fixed on the open doorway of the guest room.

Xiao Jie and I looked over and saw Xu Lie standing outside the door, dressed in a tight-fitting casual outfit that accentuated his almost perfect physique. He carried a steaming teacup in his left hand and a medicine box in his right, and walked into the guest room with a blank expression.