Chapter 89 Ye Ximo

Chapter 89: Ye Ximo

At dawn, the sky was just beginning to brighten when Cheng Feng got up and began his morning tasks. He had just picked up a rag when he saw Shang Xu, dressed in a loose-fitting tracksuit, come walking slowly down the stairs.

Shang Xu's gaze fell on him, his voice was clear and cool:

"Good morning."

Cheng Feng pressed his lips together and gave a respectful nod. "Good morning, Young Master. Are you going for a run?"

"Just a casual walk. It's good for recovery," Shang Xu said plainly.

Cheng Feng's throat tightened. He wanted to offer to accompany him, but the words died on his lips. He simply nodded silently, clutching the cloth as he bent to wipe down the furniture.

At breakfast, Cheng Feng watched Shang Xu holding chopsticks with his left hand and couldn't help but frown. "Young Master, can you manage alright with your left hand?"

Shang Xu's movements as he picked up food were skilled and practiced, his tone indifferent. "I used to practice with my left hand as a child. I've long since gotten used to it."

Not long after, Shang Xu got a call. Cheng Feng heard it clearly—it was from his family, asking him to meet the fiancée chosen by Master Shang.

His heart suddenly clenched, as if gripped by something. So the Young Master was already engaged.

He lowered his eyes, hiding the ache in them, and only heard Shang Xu reply with a simple "Okay" on the other end.

When Shang Xu was done eating, Cheng Feng stepped forward. Before Shang Xu could react, he had already picked up a napkin and wiped a bit of grease from the corner of Shang Xu's mouth.

Shang Xu froze for a moment. Unlike Shang Shaohao, who'd grown up waited on hand and foot, he was accustomed to doing everything himself. This gesture caught him off guard, a flicker of surprise passing through his eyes.

"In the future, you don't need to fuss over me like that. Unless I ask, you don't need to do extra."

Cheng Feng withdrew his hand and replied obediently:

"Yes, Young Master."

Cheng Feng had no classes today. After helping Shang Xu into a crisp black suit, he asked softly:

"Young Master, should I come with you?"

Shang Xu looked up at him. "Don't you have school?"

"No classes today."

Shang Xu wanted him to rest at home. "It's rare to have free time. Stay home and rest. No need to follow me around."

Cheng Feng: "Uncle Liu said that when I don't have classes, I need to be by your side at all times, protecting you."

This was something he made up himself. Uncle Liu had never given such instructions.

Shang Xu looked at him, thinking Butler Liu was being too perfunctory. Getting another bodyguard was one thing, but Cheng Feng still had to attend school. There was no need for him to move in at all. He planned to tell Butler Liu to let Cheng Feng move back to the dorms later, as it would be more convenient for his classes anyway.

"No need. I have bodyguards with me."

With that, Shang Xu turned to leave when Cheng Feng reached out and grabbed his wrist. "Young Master, I'd like to follow you and see more of the world. Is that okay?"

He looked up at Shang Xu, his eyes filled with pure pleading.

Shang Xu gazed into those clear eyes. The words "It's just to meet my arranged marriage partner" died on his lips. On second thought, taking Cheng Feng to see more places could indeed broaden his horizons, so he relented.

The car drove away from the villa. Cheng Feng sat in the back seat, head slightly bowed, watching Shang Xu from the corner of his eye.

It was true he wanted to see more of the world, true he wanted to stay by the Young Master's side to protect him, and also true that he wanted to see the Young Master's fiancée.

Beside him, Shang Xu held his phone, looking down at it. He was chatting with someone, his fingers lightly swiping across the screen, his expression calm.

The car stopped at the entrance of Lanyue Hall. A tall man in a loose white casual outfit got out first and walked around to open the door on the other side.

Shang Xu, dressed in his black suit, stepped out with a cool demeanor, his presence commanding, making it difficult for others to look directly at him.

Cheng Feng followed by his side as they entered Lanyue Hall and pushed open the private room door.

The room was opulently decorated. The murals on the walls were vivid, with coiling dragon patterns that seemed ready to burst forth from the surface.

A young woman was already seated inside. A formal red dress set off her snow-white skin, her eyes and brows charming and captivating.

Seeing Shang Xu enter, she immediately stood up, a bright smile on her face. "Brother Xu, you're here."

When her gaze swept over Cheng Feng, she paused slightly, asking with confusion, "And this is...?"

"My bodyguard."

Ye Ximo glanced at Cheng Feng, feeling somewhat displeased. This was her date with Shang Xu; having an outsider present felt awkward. After a moment's hesitation, she spoke up:

"Brother Xu, could he wait outside?"

Shang Xu looked at Cheng Feng and said casually, "Let him stay."

Although unwilling, Ye Ximo didn't say more.

Cheng Feng looked at Ye Ximo's features, his heart stirring slightly. He noticed she bore some resemblance to Ye Ming and Ye Qingyu. Upon hearing Shang Xu address her as Miss Ye, he understood—she was likely Ye Qingyu's younger sister.

Seeing Shang Xu's injured hand, Ye Ximo proactively picked up food for him. "Brother Xu, shall I feed you?"

Shang Xu: "I can use my left hand. No need to keep serving me. I can manage myself."

Ye Ximo lowered her gaze, somewhat dejected.

Shang Xu was too aloof. She would say over ten sentences, and he would only reply to one. She poked at the meat on her plate with a fork, feeling sullen, and looked at Shang Xu:

"Brother Xu, after we finish eating, shall we go for a walk nearby? Accompany me to buy some clothes."

"Mm."

Shang Xu kept eating as if he hadn't had enough, though in reality, he hadn't eaten much.

Cheng Feng understood clearly—the Young Master didn't want to chat but didn't know how to respond. He had always been this taciturn.

After the meal, Ye Ximo pulled Shang Xu to go shopping at the mall. Cheng Feng followed silently behind, watching the two walking side by side. They seemed like a perfect match in appearance, but their personalities might not be compatible. The Young Master had always disliked chatter, and Miss Ye's liveliness probably didn't suit his taste.

Ye Ximo changed into a white dress and twirled in front of Shang Xu, the skirt fluttering. Her eyes were full of anticipation:

"Brother Xu, do I look good?"

Shang Xu glanced up briefly, his tone flat:

"Mm, very pretty."

Cheng Feng looked at Ye Ximo. He thought she looked a bit like his mother when she was young in the white dress, but he didn't dwell on it. The world was vast; it was normal for people to look alike. Just like some celebrities who could have faces that were seventy or eighty percent similar.

Ye Ximo tried on several more outfits, but Shang Xu's comments remained the same—nothing more than a perfunctory "beautiful," his tone clearly indifferent.

She complained, her voice tinged with hurt, "Brother Xu, do you hate me?"

"No."

"Then why are you so dismissive of me? You obviously don't want to be here with me."

"No."

"You haven't smiled once. You definitely don't want to marry me, right?"

Shang Xu looked up, his expression serious, his tone utterly calm. "I don't dislike you, but I don't particularly like you either. We're only dating because the elders want us to spend more time together, nothing more. As for marriage, it's a marriage of convenience. Even if I didn't want to marry you, I'd have to."

A pang of sadness hit Ye Ximo. So he was only marrying me for the family business, just because of their parents' demands, with no other feelings for me at all?

"Then... once I'm your wife, will you treat me so coldly even after we're married?"

"My apologies, I have been inconsiderate of your feelings."

Ye Ximo had known since childhood that Shang Xu was cold and distant toward everyone, even his own siblings. Yet, she still hoped she could be the exception for him.

Why couldn't Shang Xu be a little warmer toward her?

Mustering her courage, she stepped forward, grabbed Shang Xu's arm, her cheeks flushed, and gently shook it.

"Brother Xu, can't you be nicer to me? I am your fiancée, after all. We grew up together—even if I weren't your fiancée, we'd still be good friends. And I like you. I don't want you to always be so cold to me. It upsets me."

Shang Xu lowered his gaze to her hand on his arm and remained silent for a moment.

"How do you want me to treat you?"

Ye Ximo spoke honestly.

"Brother Xu, you should call me Ximo, or Momo. You should smile at me, not always keep a cold face. When I'm picking out clothes, you should give more feedback—otherwise, it feels too perfunctory. And the way you look at me is so stern, like I'm your subordinate. I'm not your subordinate. Also, you..."

"I'll try to change."

Cheng Feng stood behind them, watching their linked arms, then slowly lowered his gaze, his long eyelashes concealing the dimness in his eyes.

Ye Ximo was so straightforward and passionate, so open and honest—a personality that was most endearing.

If they really got married and spent enough time together, the young master's heart would surely warm up to her, wouldn't it? He would eventually come to like her, right?