Ling Shuangjiang was completely bewildered by his actions.
"I'm leaving, Little Frost." Xie Wang looked embarrassed, left these words, and hurried away with his long legs.
In the car, Xie Wang's assistant noticed his strange behavior and the burning sensation on his cheeks and asked worriedly, "Mr. Xie, should we see a doctor?"
Xie Wang: "No need, I'm not sick."
The assistant nodded, still looking at him strangely.
After a while, Xie Wang looked at him seriously: "Hysteria, which doctor is more skilled? Can you help me contact one?"
The assistant looked shocked: "...Okay."
—
Now that she was all alone at home, Ling Shuangjiang took her clothes out of her suitcase and neatly arranged them in the walk-in closet.
Soon after, Aunt Xie arrived to prepare lunch for Ling Shuangjiang. Since Ling Shuangjiang had nothing else to do, she decided to help Aunt Xie. At first, Aunt Xie refused, but seeing that the child genuinely wanted to help and was a kind and gentle child, she finally agreed.
Aunt Wang has worked for the Xie family for fifteen years. Her culinary skills are comparable to those of a five-star chef, and she is loved by the entire Xie family.
While Ling Shuangjiang was picking vegetables, she asked Aunt Wang with a smile, "What was Xie Wang like when he was little?"
Aunt Wang laughed when she mentioned this: "The eldest son was an excellent student when he was young, and his abilities were outstanding. Among all the second-generation children, he was the most outstanding. However, the eldest son had a fiery temper since he was a child and often caused trouble. Once, because another family's son tore up a picture of his good little brother, he beat the other boy so badly that he couldn't get out of bed for two months."
Ling Shuangjiang: "How old was he back then?"
Aunt Wang: "About eleven or twelve years old."
Ling Shuangjiang said helplessly, "I guess he got beaten up too?"
Aunt Wang: "Of course, but the young master was beaten with a cane for half an hour, but he didn't utter a sound. He just wouldn't admit that he did something wrong. He's very stubborn."
Ling Shuangjiang pondered, "He's not as stubborn as he used to be."
"Yes." Aunt Wang steamed the fish and said with a smile, "But our young master is actually a very lovely person, and he has a very kind heart. When he was a child, he would take good care of stray cats and dogs that no one wanted, and even baby sparrows that had lost their mothers in the trees. In fact, he is a very soft-hearted person."
Ling Shuangjiang nodded gently: "I can tell. By the way, Aunt Wang, is Xie Wang's younger brother very well-behaved?"
Aunt Wang immediately shook her head: "He's not exactly well-behaved, he's quite mischievous, but he has a kind heart, just like his brother."
"I see." Ling Shuangjiang smiled. "You just said that someone tore up his little brother's photo. I thought his little brother was very well-behaved and obedient."
"That's not it." After cleaning up everything on the cutting board, Aunt Wang explained to Ling Shuangjiang, "The 'good little brother' I was talking about doesn't refer to the second young master. It's a godbrother that the eldest young master recognized on TV. I don't know if it's to spite the second young master, but the eldest young master praises the children in the movies as well-behaved and cute every day. He collects movie posters from many families and displays them in his bedroom. When the madam sees the eldest young master doing this, she doesn't stop him and even helps him collect them."
"A movie poster?" Ling Shuangjiang murmured, "Do you know what his little brother's name is?"
Aunt Wang recalled, "I think her name was Little Bean."
Xiao Dou Dou is Ling Shuang Jiang's name in the movie.
It seems everything matches up.
He took out two bottles of juice, handed one to the aunt, and smiled gently, "He likes Little Bean so much."
The aunt nodded: "Yes, Xiaodoudou's photos are still displayed in the eldest young master's bedroom. He also took some photos with him when he went abroad to study, which made the second young master very jealous."
Ling Shuangjiang couldn't help but smile, "Looking at it this way, Xiaodoudou is a little sorry for the Second Young Master."
The aunt said in a kind voice, "Actually, the eldest young master loves the second young master very much. It's just that the second young master is a bit playful and mischievous by nature, but both of them are good children."
“Indeed.” Ling Shuangjiang nodded.
—
Meanwhile, during a break in his meeting, Xie Wang quietly opened Ling Shuangjiang's WeChat Moments, hoping to find any updates about himself.
Sure enough, not a single one.
Xie Wang was a little disappointed. You see, after he finished filming the dating reality show, he posted a message on his WeChat Moments that night, expressing his longing for his little Shuangjiang.
He opened his own post on WeChat Moments, and even considered reminding Ling Shuangjiang to take a look.
However, none of this matters.
After a difficult month, Xiaoshuangjiang not only added him on WeChat, but even moved into his home.
Xie Wang couldn't help but smile. When he put down his phone, he realized that all the executives were looking at him in surprise.
He straightened up slightly: "The financial statements for this quarter are good, so we're considering distributing bonuses to everyone."
Upon hearing this, everyone clapped in unison.
After so many days, the boss, who had been gloomy for so long, finally showed a smile. What a joyous and celebratory thing!
Xie Wang remained in a good mood throughout the afternoon. While his secretary was organizing his documents, she tentatively asked, "Mr. Xie, has anything good happened recently?"
Xie Wang looked up: "There's nothing to celebrate."
The secretary understood immediately: "You look very happy today."
"Really?" Xie Wang picked up his phone, opened Ling Shuangjiang's WeChat, and suddenly felt melancholy. "Do you think people get homesick as they get older?"
The secretary hissed, "Why are you suddenly saying this? You're still very young."
Xie Wang stared at him: "No, I'm not young anymore. I want to go home early tonight; I'm a bit homesick."
The secretary nodded with a forced smile.
I just don't want to work overtime.
Tsk tsk tsk.
Just then, there was a knock at the door. Wenxuan, holding a document, said, "Would it be convenient for you to sign this?"
Xie Wang: "Convenient."
Wenxuan handed him the document: "The price of this batch of chips has increased from 25,000 to 28,000 per unit, which is a reasonable change, but the other party is not very willing to accept it."
Xie Wang stamped his name on the seal: "Let's talk about it some more."
Wen Xuan nodded while holding the documents. After his assistant left, he asked Xie Wang, "The guy we ran into at the airport today, was he your on-screen partner in the reality show?"
Xie Wang: "Hmm, what's wrong?"
Wen Xuan smiled and said, "You two seem to have a good relationship. They just arrived here and you've already brought them to your house."
Xie Wang gave an "oh," not wanting to discuss his relationship with Ling Shuangjiang with people he didn't know well.
Wen Xuan had no intention of leaving. He asked in a low voice, "My sister is hosting a salon at the city cultural center this weekend. This is the ticket she asked me to give you. She'd like to invite you to dinner."
"Thank her for me, but I need to check the time."
"Okay." Wenxuan left.
—
At 7 p.m., Ling Shuangjiang was reading a book when she suddenly heard the sound of the door lock being opened.
He looked up at the sound and found Xie Wang standing in front of the door with a cake in his hand, staring intently at him.
Ling Shuangjiang, having just finished showering, leaned against the sofa. Her hair, which hadn't been styled, hung naturally down to her temples. She was still basking in the afternoon's languor, radiating warmth from head to toe.
"So early?" Ling Shuangjiang, wearing a loose white T-shirt, walked over and took the cake. "Didn't you say it would be around ten o'clock?"
Xie Wang stared at his face: "If you finish your work ahead of schedule, you won't need to work overtime."
Ling Shuangjiang, who smelled faintly of shower gel, leaned close to Xie Wang's ear and whispered, "You're really amazing."
In an instant, Xie Wang felt as if an electric current had passed through his back, leaving him feeling tingly and numb.
He stared at his impeccably tailored tie, thinking to himself that if he could, his wife should gently loosen it and give him a hug.
It seems his delusions have flared up again.
Suddenly, two slender hands landed on his chest, gently loosening his tie.
Ling Shuangjiang was very close to him, her eyelashes drooping gently, looking serious. He raised the corner of his eye and smiled, "You've worked hard."
Xie Wang stared at him blankly, feeling that he might have gone mad, because everything in front of him seemed incredibly real.
"What are you thinking about?"
Ling Shuangjiang put her hands behind her back, loosened her tie, and quietly retreated.
Xie Wang snapped out of his daze: "No, I want to... I want to take you out to eat."
Ling Shuangjiang nodded: "Okay, let me change my clothes first."
—
The October night was cool and comfortable. Ling Shuangjiang felt the dry air and said with a smile, "I think the North is nice. At this time of year, it rains every day where we are, and everything is very damp."
Xie Wang strolled with him in front of the restaurant: "Since you like it, let's settle down here."
Ling Shuangjiang smiled thoughtfully: "I do have that idea, but let's see where my future boyfriend is from so we can discuss it together."
The words "future boyfriend" pierced Xie Wang's heart. He said coldly and with dissatisfaction, "Why should I give in to him? You can live wherever you like and make him cater to you."
Ling Shuangjiang teased, "Isn't that a bit too domineering?"
Xie Wang said irritably, "If he's unwilling to live here with you, then I don't think you need to stay with him." He looked at Ling Shuangjiang with conviction, "Be careful he doesn't treat you badly in the future."
Ling Shuangjiang didn't reply, but simply smoothed her hair and squinted her eyes to enjoy the fresh autumn air.
"Many people these days seem respectable on the surface, but they're actually quite cunning. How about we don't rush into finding a partner?"
Xie Wang, receiving no response, sullenly stared at Ling Shuangjiang while carrying the cake.
The restaurant they booked was by the river and was very popular in Bintan.
Xie Wang had booked a window seat, which offered a view of the riverside performance in the evening. He envisioned chatting and drinking with Ling Shuangjiang while enjoying the beautiful riverside scenery.
But now, his good mood has completely vanished.
Because his little Ling Shuangjiang will definitely benefit some scoundrel in the future.
His heart ached.
Ling Shuangjiang liked Sichuan and Cantonese cuisine, Xie Wang remembered.
This restaurant also specializes in Sichuan cuisine.
As Ling Shuangjiang flipped through the recipes, she noticed Xie Wang staring at her intently, his dark eyes filled with inexplicable sorrow, his face sullen and unhappy.
"I've ordered. Now see what you'd like to eat."
Ling Shuangjiang cupped her cheeks in her hands and secretly sized him up.