"Enough," Guan Yi waved her hand, a hint of impatience and struggle appearing on her beautiful face. "I will handle my own affairs. My father and I have already reached an agreement that the family will not interfere with my life for the next four years. As for what to do after four years, I know in my heart."
The butler sighed inwardly, then finally nodded and said, "Since you have your plans, Miss, I won't say any more. It's getting late. You should go to sleep early, Miss."
Guan Yi hummed in agreement. After closing the door, he buried his face in the warm blankets. Four years. No, half a year had already passed, leaving three and a half years... Was his freedom only for those three and a half years?
At this moment, she couldn't help but think of Chen Xu, and Dong Qing, the fourth roommate of Chen Xu who had been acting strangely. No, it should be Dong Qing. She thought about how she had warned him just a month ago, but she didn't expect that it would happen to her so soon.
Chen Xu... Guan Yi looked at her phone's home screen, which was a photo of her and Chen Xu taken at the last game expo. She had worn that cool ancient costume cosplay, while Chen Xu was making a cute face next to her.
What kind of feelings does she have for Chen Xu?
Are they good friends? Brothers? Or something else?
Guan Yi has always tried her best to control her emotions, afraid that she might accidentally fall into a trap. As a result, she has been nicknamed "Beautiful Pit" since she first entered the school, because she really wants to make some friends, but very few people can become her true friends.
It wasn't that there were very few, it was just one... Chen Xu. But as the two spent more and more time together, especially with their ambiguous workout routines at the gym... Guan Yi buried his face in the blankets, and oh my god, it was actually a little hot.
"Sir, how about spending Valentine's Day with me tomorrow?" After thinking for a while, Guan Yi finally sent a text message. Chen Xu quickly replied with a row of question marks: "How are we going to spend it?"
Guan Yi chuckled and said it was online. Chen Xu was a little annoyed. He had to go to work tomorrow. His manager, Li Jiannan, had been assigning him delivery jobs lately, and each one was farther and farther away. What was even more infuriating was that he claimed it was in the middle of winter and it was inconvenient for girls to go out. He said that as a man, he should take care of girls.
And there's also Gao Xiaojie here.
Chen Xu hadn't told anyone about living with Gao Xiaojie, because he felt that if word got out, people might think something like that... Chinese people are very good at spreading rumors, and they might think that he and Gao Xiaojie had developed a passionate affair. Chen Xu himself didn't care, but he also had to consider the reputation of the girl he loved.
But he had nothing to hide from Guan Yi. Besides, with a delicate young beauty in bed beside him, Chen Xu was afraid that if he didn't vent his feelings, he would only have two outcomes... either he couldn't help but do something beastly, or he would develop some kind of health problem from holding it in.
Chen Xu timidly revealed that neither he nor Gao Xiaojie had gone home and that they were living together. Guan Yi remained silent for a long while before finally replying, "No wonder you weren't with me; you had a beautiful woman with you, huh?"
Chen Xu broke out in a cold sweat and said, "Sister, please stop teasing me, okay? I'm already really annoyed."
Holding her phone, Guan Yi was unsure of her feelings. Upon learning that Chen Xu and Gao Xiaojie were sleeping in the same room, she felt a pang of jealousy. The thought of Gao Xiaojie made her a little nervous, because she knew Chen Xu and Gao Xiaojie had a good relationship, and Gao Xiaojie was quite pretty. While she didn't think she could lose to her, she also wasn't sure she could gain much of an advantage.
Being in close proximity makes it easier to get closer to someone, and now that they're sharing a room, it's only natural that their friendship could develop into romance.
The thought of this made Guan Yi feel inexplicably depressed.
During this semester of spending time with Chen Xu, it can't be said that Guan Yi already liked Chen Xu very much. But the problem is that many women have a kind of nature in their bones, a nature that is innate and deeply ingrained in their DNA, which is stinginess.
Being stingy isn't entirely a flaw, nor is it a derogatory term. Guan Yi's stinginess manifests in her strong desire to continue her relationship with Chen Xu, even though it doesn't quite qualify as love, only potentially developing into one. However, if Chen Xu were to find another girlfriend, that would be unacceptable.
Guan Yi understood perfectly well that no girl would want her boyfriend to be too close to her, not even a beauty like Gao Xiaojie could be completely confident. And from her own perspective, she didn't want Chen Xu's attention to be overly focused on other girls and neglect her.
As for whether to place Gao Xiaojie in the position of love rival now, Guan Yi felt that it was a bit too early for both of them. However, if they were allowed to continue like this, it would probably be too late by then.
Thinking of this, Guan Yi hesitated again.
Because she knew that she and Chen Xu had no future. There were still three and a half years left, and by July 2010, everything would be over. She would no longer be Guan Yi, but Ellen. Even if feelings developed, they would eventually have to separate, which was her agreement with her father... Unless Chen Xu was qualified enough by then, but given his current family background, he was still far from qualified.
Knowing full well that it's hopeless, why persist? Actually, Gao Xiaojie is quite nice. If it were a typical Korean drama or romance novel, I should stay far away and watch them be a perfect couple, pretending nothing happened...
Bah! That's fiction!
Guan Yi felt that if she had done that, given her personality, she wouldn't have fallen out with her family and ended up finding a stand-in to impersonate the butler's daughter, Ellen Guan, while she herself stayed in China to attend this university.
With three and a half years left, if I can't live according to my own wishes, and if I can't win the love of my dreams, then what's the point of these three and a half years?
The fairy smiled smugly and typed on her phone: "Where do you live now? What's your address? I'll probably go back a few days early, and then I can just stay at your place."
Chapter 105: Guan Yi Arrives!
The next morning around 8 a.m., there was a knock on the door. Chen Xu and Gao Xiaojie had just gotten up. Hearing the knock, Chen Xu ran to open the door, thinking that this was strange. Nobody knew he lived here, so why was someone knocking? Could it be someone coming to collect the water and electricity bills?
But as soon as the door opened, Chen Xu was stunned and stared blankly at the doorway.
Gao Xiaojie asked who it was and walked over, but was stunned when he saw who was outside the door.
Guan Yi stood at the door, looking travel-worn and smiling. She wore a down coat, and her somewhat alluring face was flushed from the cold. A small suitcase sat beside her black leather boots. This vixen smiled smugly when she saw Chen Xu: "How about it? Surprised? Excited?"
Surprise? More like a shock!
Seeing the woman deliberately open her arms as if to hug him, Chen Xu couldn't help but tap her on the head and say, "I'm dizzy! Beautiful lady, don't scare me, okay? You, you, you, why did you come over here?"
Guan Yi tilted his head and sighed, "Alas, there's nothing I can do. My house caught fire. My parents are both away, and I'm all alone. I have no choice but to come and seek refuge with you, sir."
Then, as if she had deliberately spotted Gao Xiaojie, she exclaimed in surprise, "Oh my, Gao Xiaojie, what are you doing here? Could it be that you two...?" She then gave them both a suggestive look.
"Ah, no, no, no!" Gao Xiaojie blushed instantly and said, "No, no, don't misunderstand. I couldn't go back for the New Year, and I was sick. Later, I found out that Chen Xu hadn't gone back either and had rented a place, so I came here. There's nothing between us!" As she said this, Gao Xiaojie couldn't help but think of the romantic night, and her face turned red again.
Guan Yi, a man with keen insight into people's expressions, knew something was wrong the moment he saw Gao Xiaojie's demeanor. He gave Chen Xu a threatening look, then smiled and said, "Oh my, you're so cute. Actually, he told me before I came." Then he leaned close to Gao Xiaojie's ear and whispered, "You weren't taken advantage of by that pervert, were you?"
Hearing this, Gao Xiaojie's face turned even redder. Chen Xu then reacted and said, "Damn, beautiful, your house didn't really burn down, did it?" Seeing Guan Yi chuckle, Chen Xu said, annoyed, "I give up. Why are you out here during the New Year? Did your parents let you come out?"
Upon hearing the word "parents," Guan Yi's eyebrows twitched slightly, but he said calmly, "Sigh, there's nothing I can do. Your parents went to Australia, and my parents are on vacation in Hawaii, leaving me all alone. I'm all alone at home. I wish I hadn't gone back. I was scared sleeping alone in the house the other day."
Upon hearing this, Chen Xu was stunned. This woman actually had moments of fear? She had personally stated that she wasn't afraid of rats, cockroaches, or even watching horror movies. How could she be afraid to sleep alone in her room? Who was she trying to fool?
However, Chen Xu still believed that her parents were abroad. He figured it was probably because the woman was indeed home alone and got bored, so she came back. But how did she get through the night?
Guan Yi said with a smile, "I came by plane. There was a flight here at 11 o'clock with seats available, so I went. But the flight was delayed, and I was stuck at the airport for several hours before I finally arrived."
"Rich people! So extravagant!" Chen Xu said, "I've never been on a plane. The longest I've ever been was a train ride that took seven or eight hours. Sigh, so extravagant."
Guan Yi readily went inside and began his investigation. As he looked, he remarked, "They're living quite well, huh? They have everything they could want. Pretty decadent, huh?"
When she saw that there was only one bedroom and one bed, the woman deliberately raised her eyebrows.
It has to be said that Guan Yi's expressions were incredibly rich and expressive. With just one look, she could clearly convey several layers of meaning, which made Chen Xu sigh that it was such a waste of her talent that she didn't become a movie star!
Guan Yi's purpose in coming here was actually very simple: he wanted to try and win her over.
Regarding her feelings and current relationship with Chen Xu, Guan Yi thought about it rationally yesterday and felt that their relationship was still at the level of friendship, but it was also trending towards developing into a romantic relationship.
Although Guan Yi was certain she hadn't fallen in love with this young man yet, she wasn't opposed to continuing the relationship. However, she didn't want to have a rival in love right now. As for Chen Xu's final choice and how far their relationship could develop, Guan Yi couldn't guarantee anything. But since she had a chance, she wouldn't give up, given her personality…
As for three and a half years from now... it's too early to think about these things now. Besides, even if it ends without a clear reason, many college couples break up in their senior year. It's enough to leave behind a precious memory.
Guan Yi casually placed her suitcase in the bedroom, then turned around and said pitifully, "Sir, I am currently destitute and homeless. Could I stay here for a while?"
Chen Xu rolled his eyes and said, "Then you can sleep in the living room. I'll make a makeshift bed for you on the floor." He wasn't going to be polite to this woman!
Guan Yi chuckled, grabbed Gao Xiaojie, and said, "I'll sleep with you, beautiful lady, okay?"
Gao Xiaojie immediately nodded and said, "Great! This bed is a bit too big for me to sleep alone, hehe. It would be much better with a beautiful woman like you by my side. Oh my, you have such a great figure, it must be so nice to sleep with you tonight."
What a female hooligan!
Chen Xu rolled his eyes and let the two of them go ahead and make a scene. He knew there was no way he could get rid of this woman; this vixen was clearly looking for trouble! But at this moment, he couldn't help but think, "Tsk tsk, Guan Yi and Gao Xiaojie, two stunning beauties... Ah, if only this bed were bigger, they could sleep on either side, and I could sleep in the middle..."
Cough cough, that's really too lewd.
The two girls were already laughing and joking around, filling the room with their silvery laughter. As the fight escalated, the two girls pulled Chen Xu along as a shield, and the three of them joined the fray. Their laughter carried far, far away through the windows...
Meanwhile, in a luxurious, detached oceanfront villa in Hawaii, a middle-aged man in his fifties, who looked well-maintained, waved his hand gently after hearing the butler's report, and the butler respectfully withdrew.
The middle-aged man looked at the stack of files on the table, carefully flipping through them, nodding slightly as he read.
The photo on the file is of Chen Xu, and the middle-aged man who looks somewhat imposing is Guan Yi's father.
“This young man is not bad,” Guan Yi’s father said to a man in his thirties sitting next to him. “Xie Zhan, find an opportunity to cooperate with the manufacturer that developed that rabies cure. Hmm, let’s go find Old Man Liu, be discreet, and give them some technical support. Their family saved Old Man Liu’s son’s life, so it’s only right to repay them with this opportunity.”
Xie Zhan nodded respectfully. The middle-aged man smiled and said, "My daughter was spoiled by her mother since she was a child. It's also my fault for being too busy with business and not giving her enough care, which has led to her developing this personality."
Hearing the middle-aged man speak like this, Xie Zhan knew that this was the time to talk about family matters, so he smiled and said, "Miss is actually very smart and capable, but sometimes she is a little too strong-willed."
The middle-aged man chuckled and said, "It's quite remarkable that she came up with this substitution method. She actually found a girl who looks very similar to her to go to Cambridge to impersonate her, while she herself went back to China to attend university. How are her living expenses?"
Xie Zhan flipped through the information in front of him and said, "Miss doesn't spend much. Apart from some high-end skincare products, her clothes are very simple. It seems she's very happy and often takes on jobs to earn money."
The middle-aged man chuckled, "This girl, after all, still cares a lot about her skin, just like her mother. Sigh, my daughter has finally grown up. But that's good. By the way, I heard that one of the Dong family's heirs is also at that school? In the same class as Yi'er?"
Xie Zhan nodded and said, "Yes, it's Dong Qing, who ranks third. We also did some investigation on him and found that Dong Qing is the most hardworking among the heirs of the Dong family this generation. He didn't use any means to bypass the rules and is much better than his brothers. If he continues like this, I believe he will be able to win the assessment four years later."
Xie Zhan paused here. The middle-aged man's gaze sharpened, and he said, "If you have anything else to say, just say it. There's no need to beat around the bush."
Xie Zhan nodded respectfully and said, "In my humble opinion, the young master and young lady of the Dong family are in similar situations, and they are also classmates. If there is something between them... uh, I'm being presumptuous."
The middle-aged man waved his hand and said, "If what you say is true, it is indeed good for Yi'er to be with the Dong family's child. But take a look at this information. It seems that my precious daughter has someone she likes now. Ha, this girl is afraid of becoming a victim of political marriage between families in the future, so she asked me for four years of freedom. But she doesn't think that if I were really willing to sacrifice her happiness, why would I agree to her condition so readily?"
The middle-aged man casually handed the documents in front of him to Xie Zhan, saying, "No one knows a daughter better than her father. My precious daughter may not even realize it herself, but she's probably already in love. Take a look at this young man's information; I think he's quite good. Book me a plane ticket; I want to go and meet this young man in person."
Chapter 106 The Scumbag
Xie Zhan looked at the contents of the document, which was a private investigation conducted by the staff responsible for protecting Guan Yi. Because Chen Xu was very close to Guan Yi, and this Chen Bansian (a pseudonym) did indeed have a considerable reputation at Hexie University, the investigation was very detailed, including his treatment of patients, his collaboration on game development, and his capture of the throat-slitting man, among other things, over the past six months.
Xie Zhan glanced at the information and said, "Judging from the information, this young man is not bad, but although his family is well-off, they are not a good match for Miss, are they?"
“I don’t care about the poor conditions, but I have high hopes for this young man. Look at what he has done in the past six months of university. He is passionate and impulsive but also rational. Although he has not been trained much, his intelligence is only about 70 or 80% and his ability is also about 70 or 80%.
But judging from his actions, he is not greedy for money and is content with what he has. He is loyal to his friends and will go to great lengths for them. He is resilient and does not easily give up on what he has decided. Although he is a bit too impulsive, youthful exuberance is nothing to worry about. With some tempering, he will be of great use in the future.
Xie Zhan rarely heard his master praise someone like this, so he asked curiously, "Master, aren't you giving this young man too much credit?"
The middle-aged man smiled and said, "My belief is that character determines success or failure. This young man has a good character. He is not arrogant when he wins and can lie low when he loses. What's even more commendable is his sincerity. He treats people with honesty and trustworthiness and is neither humble nor arrogant in his interactions with others. No wonder my proud and arrogant daughter looks at him differently."
Xie Zhan nodded knowingly. He knew his young lady's personality well; she had been strong-willed and competitive since childhood, keeping her distance from most men, especially those from prestigious families. Moreover, Guan Yi was beautiful and elegant, and few men approached her without ulterior motives. However, according to the information, Chen Xu had always treated her as a close friend, never overstepping his bounds. This personality was probably her weakness. The middle-aged man continued, "You know, the third son of the Dong family might become the next head of the Dong family. The information says that Chen Xu and the third son of the Dong family are very close, with Chen Xu always taking care of him in subtle ways. The third son of the Dong family isn't stupid; he can see that. The Dong family's rule is to discern true friends in times of trouble. Therefore, the Dong family will definitely be a strong ally for this young man in the future. With his personality and the support of the Dong family, it won't be difficult for him to achieve great things."
Then the middle-aged man chuckled and said, "I've never been one to meddle too much in my children's affairs, but it's true that she'll be coming back to inherit my family business. As for her love life, I wouldn't mind if she met the right person. But the condition is that I, as her father, will personally investigate..."
Chen Xu was completely unaware that his future father-in-law was coming to "test" him. He and Gao Xiaojie took Guan Yi to the cake shop—because this woman insisted on coming along, unwilling to stay home, claiming she was afraid… This left Chen Xu speechless! However, Chen Xu was rather oblivious, or perhaps he wasn't one to overthink things, especially in front of Guan Yi. Therefore, he never considered the possibility that Guan Yi actually liked him, nor could he possibly imagine that everything this woman did was simply out of jealousy.
Li Jiannan saw a stunningly beautiful and alluring woman accompany Chen Xu and his companion. Her eyes lit up immediately when she mentioned wanting to find a job. Adding to the surprise, Guan Yi casually gave him a flirtatious glance, and he readily agreed to let her be the doorman. Li Jiannan had seen his fair share of women, but someone like Gao Xiaojie seemed rather naive. Moreover, that girl was a troublemaker, not someone to be trifled with, so he had never dared to make a move on her. However, Guan Yi clearly possessed a natural allure. Li Jiannan instinctively felt that this girl would be easy to seduce, so he wanted to seize the opportunity quickly.
So the three of them ended up having a really strange Valentine's Day at the cake shop.
It's Valentine's Day, so there were many couples coming and going, keeping the shop incredibly busy. Chen Xu couldn't slack off now; he was the only guy in the lobby, and with so many cake orders today—some for pickup, others for delivery—he was working himself to the bone. His butt was aching from riding his bicycle so much on the hard seat; he figured if this kept going, he might get hemorrhoids.
After Chen Xu returned to the cake shop after delivering the fifth cake, Li Jiannan suddenly appeared and said, "Why are you taking so long?! Don't you know what time it is? There are customers waiting!"
Hearing this, Chen Xu got a little angry. He had just cycled for half an hour, one way, an hour round trip, and the wind in this freezing weather was making his face almost crack. If he hadn't wanted to get some exercise, why would he have to suffer like this? This Li Jiannan makes it sound so easy; why doesn't he try delivering it himself?
However, considering that Gao Xiaojie still had to infiltrate the area, Chen Xu suppressed his anger and said, "Can I rest for a while? I just rode my bike for over an hour! See if there's any work in the shop that I can stay and do?"
Li Jiannan gave a forced smile: "Ha, well, look at Tang Bixuan, she's already out delivering food, and you, a guy, are sitting here, aren't you ashamed?!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Xu felt both angry and guilty. It was so cold outside; Tang Bixuan must be suffering terribly from the cold. If she caught a cold, the boss would probably chop him to pieces.
Seeing that he didn't speak, Li Jiannan was about to start cursing again when a young couple next to him suddenly shouted, "Where's the boss?"
"Why hasn't our fruit porridge arrived yet?! We're leaving if it doesn't come soon!"