Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Xia Yinxi: "..."

Can't you take a hint?

If Meng Shuxue comes back, we might be talking funeral arrangements.

The three of them sat in the living room staring at each other, with Xia Yucheng watching them like a hawk. Xia Yinxi couldn't find a chance to pull Ji Yunzhuo aside to coordinate their story, so he pulled out his phone and typed in his notes: *Quick, make an excuse to bail. My mom does kickboxing.*

Then he subtly scooted over and elbowed Ji Yunzhuo, signaling him to check it out.

"What can't you say out loud?" Xia Yucheng had already started his second pot of tea, his eyes sharp as daggers. "Whispering? Scheming how to handle your parents?"

Xia Yinxi: "I wasn't, I didn't..."

Ji Yunzhuo glanced over but didn't catch what it said. Xia Yinxi jabbed him in the ribs, and while Xia Yucheng was pouring tea, he quickly leaned in and whispered, "Let's add each other on WeChat!"

"..."

They'd just claimed to be head over heels at first sight, with a bond stronger than steel, yet they didn't even have each other's contact info.

Wait, did Xia Yinxi even know his name?

"Ji Shaoshao" was still ringing in his ears, refusing to fade.

They added each other on WeChat without batting an eye. Xia Yinxi quickly changed the nickname to: *Baby*.

Ji Yunzhuo: "..."

How was he so smooth at this?

"Xiao Xiliu ya Xiao Xiliu": *CEO Ji, you really not leaving?*

"Xiao Xiliu ya Xiao Xiliu": *Do you get into fights often?*

"Baby": *I doubt your mom would go that far.*

"Xiao Xiliu ya Xiao Xiliu": *Did you see that bruise on my dad's face?*

"Baby": "..."

Ji Yunzhuo suddenly remembered that night at the bar when Xia Yinxi took on five guys by himself, and a small smile tugged at his lips.

So his fighting skills came from his mom?

Both of them were glued to their phones. Xia Yucheng could clearly tell what they were up to, and a wave of melancholy hit him—his son was slipping away.

When his wife got back, he'd definitely push her to give the kid a beating.

The third pot of tea was also empty. Xia Yinxi looked up and asked quietly, "Dad, don't you gotta use the bathroom?"

Xia Yucheng: "..."

So he got up and headed to the bathroom.

Alone in the living room, Ji Yunzhuo broke the silence first, asking, "What does Master Xia mean by that?"

Xia Yinxi: "?"

Still calling him "Master Xia"—so formal.

"What do you mean, 'what does that mean'?" Xia Yinxi played his role diligently. "I fell for CEO Ji at first sight."

"..."

Ji Yunzhuo didn't move, and asked, "'First sight'—which first sight?"

Xia Yinxi also remembered their weird first meeting, lowering his head awkwardly but stubbornly insisting, "Exactly. CEO Ji is so elegant and extraordinary, with a presence like a god. I..."

"That's enough." Ji Yunzhuo cut off his string of compliments. "Give me some honest words."

"..."

Stubborn jerk.

"I seriously fell for you at first sight." Xia Yinxi kept up the act. "CEO Ji came today to propose, so aren't you 'head over heels' and 'can't live without me'?"

He scooted closer, leaning in. "Right?"

Ji Yunzhuo: "..."

He couldn't exactly say he'd come today expecting to be kicked out and never talked to again—that would cause another uproar if it got back to the old man.

But Xia Yinxi's behavior was too unusual. A flicker of suspicion crossed Ji Yunzhuo's mind. Twenty-something years ago, the alliance between the Xia and Meng families had completely reshaped the business scene in the capital. Was Xia Yinxi thinking of...?

Yet for some reason, perhaps because Xia Yucheng and Meng Shuxue had genuinely been loving for decades, Ji Yunzhuo felt Xia Yinxi wasn't the type to use marriage for gain.

Though he didn't know what his real goal was, they could cooperate for mutual benefit.

It should be a win-win... Ji Yunzhuo remembered the flash delivery that was an hour late and his dad's urn flying through the air, and suddenly he wasn't so sure.

"Of course, I too have fallen for Master Xia, at first sight."

The last four words were spoken slowly, with a hint of gritted-teeth sarcasm. Xia Yinxi pretended not to notice. "What a coincidence."

At the same time, he complained to the system: "He's the one who wants the alliance. I agree, and now he's unhappy. Hah, men."

The system: "Exactly, exactly!"

"Xiao Xi?" As soon as Meng Shuxue walked in the door, she saw her son pressed up against a man, both with smiles full of unspoken warmth, and her heart raced.

What was this? Who was this person?

"Mom! You're back!"

Thanks to Xia Yucheng's earlier attitude, Xia Yinxi had a renewed sense of how much his original parents doted on him, so he said without hesitation, "This is Ji Yunzhuo. Ah Zhuo, this is my mom."

Ji Yunzhuo stood up politely. "Hello, Auntie."

"Hello." Meng Shuxue was wary. "Is that car outside yours?"

"Yes, I came today to propose to Xiao Xi."

Meng Shuxue: "?"

She forced a standard but stiff smile, slowly turned to look at Xia Yinxi, and asked in a tone that was eerily calm: "Xiao Xi, is Mommy hallucinating?"

Xia Yinxi pressed his two index fingers together and poked them repeatedly: "Mom, we’re truly in love. Dad already agreed."

Meng Shuxue: "..."

"Where’s your father?" Meng Shuxue smiled faintly. "Xiao Zhuo, have a seat first."

"Probably in the bathroom?"

Meng Shuxue nodded, set her handbag on the table, and went upstairs.

A minute later, the two downstairs heard Meng Shuxue’s voice from upstairs: "What the hell, Xia Yucheng?!"

"Ow! Babe, I didn’t... Ah!!"

Xia Yinxi: "..."

Ji Yunzhuo: "..."

"You can still leave now." Xia Yinxi’s tone was sincere, worried Ji Yunzhuo might get beaten to death and mess up his plan to split the family assets.

"No need." Ji Yunzhuo glanced at him. "If I’m gonna marry you, shouldn’t I show some sincerity?"

"..."

You’re really getting into it.

Whatever, it’s not me who’s getting hit.

The noise upstairs continued, sounding like Xia Yucheng was the one getting his ass kicked. Xia Yinxi clasped his hands together: "Sorry, Dad, ahhh!"

Five or six minutes later, Meng Shuxue came downstairs with a smile, looking graceful and elegant: "Come, Xiao Zhuo, right? Auntie wants to talk to you."

"Xiaoxi, go hang out in your room for a bit."

Xia Yinxi walked off without looking back.

Ji Yunzhuo had just stood up when his phone buzzed with a message from Xia Yinxi: You got bodyguards? Want me to call them in?

Ji Yunzhuo: "..."

Xia Yinxi had no clue what Ji Yunzhuo and Meng Shuxue talked about. When he came out, he made a point of checking Ji Yunzhuo’s face to make sure he hadn’t been hit, then sighed in relief.

Can’t let my cash cow get killed!

Seeing Xia Yinxi’s reaction, Meng Shuxue was ninety percent sure of what Ji Yunzhuo had just said.

Coming down and checking on Ji Yunzhuo first—her son was really in love.

"Xiaoxi, have you really thought this through?" Meng Shuxue asked softly. "Marriage is a huge life decision. Are you sure he’s the one?"

Xia Yinxi got choked up. Meng Shuxue’s tone was so serious that he couldn’t bring himself to lie to her. Fortunately, Ji Yunzhuo quickly took over: "Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Xiaoxi."

"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm..." Xia Yinxi nodded vaguely. "Don’t worry, Mom."

Meng Shuxue sighed: "Xiao Zhuo, will you stay for dinner?"

"No, I’ve got stuff at the company." Ji Yunzhuo stood up, glanced at Xia Yinxi, who immediately got it: "Mom, I’ll walk him out."

The two left the villa together. Ji Yunzhuo had people bring the "betrothal gifts" inside, and Xia Yinxi blinked: "There’s actually stuff in there?"

"Of course." Ji Yunzhuo said. "If I’m gonna marry you, how can I not show sincerity?"

Xia Yinxi held back a laugh.

Another payday, hehe.

After seeing Ji Yunzhuo off, Xia Yinxi couldn’t suppress his grin, biting his tongue as he headed back inside.

"We’re rich, Sys!"

"We’re rich, Host!"

"Hiahiahiahia~!"