Chapter 5

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With no need to “date” Xie Jinnan, Wen Jingyi had no worries and slept in the next day until she woke up naturally.
But her biological clock stirred her at eight o’clock.
It was a bit chilly in the morning. Wen Jingyi got up, grabbed a shawl to wrap around herself, and sat down on the sofa.
On the coffee table in front of the sofa lay the vibrant roses Xie Jinnan had gifted her last night, arranged in a white porcelain vase, faintly releasing a fresh and elegant floral scent.
Wen Jingyi reached out, lightly touched a petal with her fingertip, then took out her phone to check her messages.
[Wen Shaoyu]: How did it feel yesterday?
Yesterday?
Wen Jingyi quickly realized he meant her date with Xie Jinnan yesterday. After some thought, she replied: [Mr. Xie took good care of me.]
[Wen Shaoyu]: Planning to bring Bai Heng to Jingjiang?
[Wen Jingyi]: Would that be inappropriate?
[Wen Shaoyu]: It’s fine.
Alright then.
Wen Jingyi had always trusted her elder brother deeply. If he said it was okay, she naturally wanted to follow her own wishes.
Otherwise, marrying alone to Jingjiang would indeed feel quite unsafe.
[Wen Jingyi]: Brother, when will you be back?
After the engagement banquet, Wen Shaoyu had gone to the overseas branch, so busy his feet barely touched the ground. She wasn’t even sure if he could return for her coming-out party.
Several minutes passed before Wen Shaoyu replied: [No time to come back.]
[When you marry into the Xie family, don’t endure anything silently. Take Bai Heng with you and don’t let yourself suffer.]
[Got it, brother.]
After sending this message, Wen Jingyi remembered she was supposed to meet friends at the Summer Resort Hotel today. She confirmed the schedule, got up to wash up, changed clothes, and went downstairs for breakfast.
After breakfast, she went to the study to read.
She read all morning, even forgetting to eat lunch.
Seeing it was already two in the afternoon, she finally put down the book and set off for the hotel.
Outside the villa, Bai Heng was already waiting.
When Wen Jingyi came out, he opened the rear car door respectfully and said, “Miss.”
Wen Jingyi got into the car and was about to message Qiao Ran when her peripheral vision caught sight of a beautifully packaged food bag on the other seat.
Bai Heng spoke just in time: “Auntie was worried you might have low blood sugar without lunch, so she asked me to pack this for you to eat on the way.”
Wen Jingyi looked at the bag: inside were fresh fruit juice, sandwiches, fruit salad, and a light nutritious porridge — all flavors she usually liked.
“Thank you,” Wen Jingyi smiled at him.
Bai Heng glanced at the rearview mirror; Wen Jingyi had already taken out the fruit salad container, bowed her head to open the lid, her long hair cascading down before she tucked it behind her ear.
Bai Heng withdrew his gaze and continued driving steadily.
…
Summer Resort Hotel.
Originally, the hotel owner intended to build a factory here, but upon discovering the beautiful scenery and fresh air, he changed plans and turned it into a resort hotel.
At first, there was only a golf course, but later they developed an expansive equestrian club. With entertainment options growing, it gradually became a playground for the wealthy in Southern City.
Wen Jingyi arrived at the hotel and was led straight to the equestrian club. At the gate, Ren Sisi spotted her from afar and waved.
Wen Jingyi approached but didn’t see Qiao Ran.
Ren Sisi noticed her confusion and gestured toward the distant riding field, where Qiao Ran, dressed in riding gear, was galloping fiercely on a magnificent horse.
Indeed, she was eager.
Wen Jingyi asked, “Why aren’t you riding?”
Ren Sisi shrugged helplessly. “I wanted to play golf first, but someone beat us to it and booked the course, so I had to accompany Aran here to ride.”
Wen Jingyi smiled and suggested, “Let’s sit and have tea, wait until they leave, then we can go.”
Ren Sisi chuckled, “Good idea.”
Noticing Bai Heng silently following behind, Ren Sisi asked, “Bodyguard Bai, what tea would you like?”
Bai Heng looked at Wen Jingyi instead.
Wen Jingyi linked arms with Ren Sisi and walked ahead, amused. “He doesn’t drink tea. If he wants something, he’ll ask the waiter himself. He’s a regular.”
“Alright.” Ren Sisi teased, since Bai Heng was always expressionless, like a wooden statue.
The two sat down, and the waiter quickly served tea.
Ren Sisi propped her chin on her hand, watching Wen Jingyi elegantly sip her tea, eyes filled with gossip. “You went on a date with the eldest son of the Xie family yesterday, right? How was it?”
Wen Jingyi was unashamed. “Not bad.”
“What was not bad?”
Without hesitation, Wen Jingyi replied, “His temper, personality, and… he’s quite gentlemanly.”
Ren Sisi looked slightly disappointed. “That’s all?”
“What else?” Wen Jingyi smiled softly.
“Looks like this honorable Mr. Xie is quite to your liking.”
Wen Jingyi just smiled without replying.
“But…” Ren Sisi hesitated, staring into Wen Jingyi’s eyes, “I heard Xie Jinnan used to have a fiancée, but for some unknown reason, the engagement was suddenly called off.”
Wen Jingyi was calm. “I know.”
Ren Sisi was stunned. “You know?”
Wen Jingyi put down her teacup. “That’s all in the past. As long as Mr. Xie sincerely wants to ally with our Wen family, he won’t let me lose face.”
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Ren Sisi smiled. “Alright, I was just worrying needlessly.”
After the news of the alliance between the Xie and Wen families became official, Ren Sisi had made some inquiries.
The Xie family was a prestigious household, and the heir’s fiancée had to be carefully selected—no engagement would be broken without reason. But no matter how hard she searched, she couldn’t uncover the cause. All she knew was that the engagement was made three years ago, then suddenly broken off within six months.
Even Xie Jinnan’s character and virtues were somewhat mysterious.
He was known to be taciturn and cold, seldom involved in family affairs in the past few years, only recently starting to take control of the family business, showing a clear intention to hold the entire family empire.
Wen Jingyi calmly said, “Having met him a few times, I don’t think Xie Jinnan is the type to act without discretion. He won’t let me suffer.”
Her voice was light but carried an unexplainable soothing power. Ren Sisi’s worry eased.
Ren Sisi crossed her hands and rested her chin on them. “True. You were personally chosen by Old Master Xie. If you suffer any injustice in the Xie family, Old Master Xie will stand up for you. At worst, you’re not a pushover—you won’t be shackled by your husband’s past trivial romances and lose your own mind.”
Only someone who truly knew Wen Jingyi, like Ren Sisi, could say that.
Wen Jingyi smiled lightly. “Right.”
She never sought her future husband’s love; she only wanted to fulfill the role of Mrs. Xie.
Everything else was unimportant.
…
At the other side, the golf course.
Xie Jinnan wore a black baseball cap and simple, crisp attire. After playing golf for a while, he handed his club to the caddy, took off his gloves, and looked at the other two. “You guys continue.”
Gao Qi blinked. “Not playing anymore?”
Lu Ming’an raised an eyebrow. “He has a fiancée. He should care about her daily life more than you, a single man.”
Gao Qi instinctively said, “Him? No way.”
Lu Ming’an laughed out loud. “You’re right, you’re right.”
Xie Jinnan: “…”
Gao Qi thought he had misspoken and looked at Xie Jinnan in confusion, but the latter calmly sipped his tea, seemingly unaffected.
Gao Qi couldn’t understand. “Old Xie, your wedding is just days away, right?”
Xie Jinnan nodded.
It was already late July; the wedding was in early August—indeed just days away.
Gao Qi sighed, “Miss Wen is quite good. My mom once thought about setting me up with her. If the Xie family hadn’t moved so fast, maybe Miss Wen wouldn’t have to marry you, the insensitive blockhead.”
Lu Ming’an poked Gao Qi with his club. “Hey, hey! What are you saying? At last, Jinnan has a wife. Don’t try to steal her away.”
Gao Qi: “…”
He didn’t dare.
Shaking off Lu Ming’an’s club in disdain, Gao Qi waved over the hotel manager. “Never mind golf. Let’s go ride horses.”
Lu Ming’an raised an eyebrow, showing no objection.
Xie Jinnan said, “Alright.”
The hotel manager hesitated. “There are a few ladies riding now, but those ladies want to play golf here. I’ll check and coordinate. Please wait a moment.”
Gao Qi was not difficult. “Okay, we’ll wait.”
The manager breathed a sigh of relief and went to coordinate.
After a few minutes, he returned with a smile. “The ladies agreed to swap.”
Gao Qi thought a moment and generously said, “I’ll cover their bill today.”
The manager nodded happily.
Gao Qi nodded to the two sitting nearby and gestured to switch locations. “Let’s go.”
Though the golf course and equestrian club were on the same back hill, a building stood between them, so guests had to pass through a long corridor to get from one to the other.
The view outside the corridor was enchanting and picturesque.
The summer grass grew lush and thick like a vast prairie, refreshing and uplifting.
Lu Ming’an patted Gao Qi’s shoulder and put his arm around him jokingly, “Have you been breathing purified air in Southern City? The scenery is so beautiful.”
Gao Qi pushed his hand away, thoroughly annoyed. “Stop touching me.”
Lu Ming’an: “…”
An outsider might think he was being lecherous.
At the equestrian club entrance, the manager noticed Qiao Ran coming out of the changing room and explained, “The ladies needed time to change, so they came out a bit late. They’ll be ready soon.”
Lu Ming’an kindly said, “We arrived too early.”
There were two changing rooms here. Since the nearer one still had ladies inside, the men politely used the opposite one.
Xie Jinnan, visiting for the first time, couldn’t help but notice the decor.
His gaze swept to the other changing room where two slender girls came out one after another, chatting and laughing closely—clearly good friends.
Nothing unusual, except the second girl looked somewhat familiar.
His pupils flickered. Xie Jinnan stopped where he was.
From half the distance across the riding field, the sunlight was dazzling, so her face wasn’t very clear. She wore a light sleeveless top, revealing slender pale arms, dark trousers, graceful and poised in every gesture.
Even without a clear view of her face, that unique aura—could only be Wen Jingyi.
Perhaps because Xie Jinnan’s gaze lingered too long, Wen Jingyi had just stepped out of the changing room and instinctively looked up, meeting the man’s dark eyes filled with scrutiny from afar. Her heart tightened sharply.
Almost immediately, Wen Jingyi turned away.
“They’re picking up the tab for us, but I don’t know who…” Qiao Ran was speaking when she noticed Wen Jingyi had her back turned. She gently patted her shoulder.
“What’s wrong?” Qiao Ran asked.
Only Ren Sisi noticed Wen Jingyi’s subtle emotional shift and looked puzzled toward the opposite side. The man had just withdrawn his gaze. The glaring sunlight blurred the edges, showing only his vague profile and perfectly sculpted features.
This was…
Ren Sisi glanced back at Wen Jingyi’s rare loss of composure and hesitantly guessed, “Jingyi, could this be your… fiancé?”
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Wen Jingyi covered her eyes with one hand, closing them in frustration. What a coincidence.
Qiao Ran looked at Ren Sisi; their eyes met, they exchanged a glance, then both looked at Wen Jingyi. Seeing her silent acknowledgment, their eyes gleamed with interest.
Qiao Ran pulled her back around. Seeing her still covering her face, she laughed, “They’re gone now. Why hide? If you were meant to see him, you would have seen him long ago.”
Only then did Wen Jingyi lower her hand, realizing those few had not looked her way, and she relaxed a little.
Ren Sisi’s look was meaningful. “That’s odd. If you ran into your fiancé, shouldn’t you have greeted him? Why are you both so silent?”
No wonder they were so generous to pay for them. So that was Jingyi’s fiancé.
But there was no reason for them both to pretend not to know each other. Clearly, there was some hidden story they didn’t know.
Qiao Ran pretended to be serious. “Confess quickly, resist severely.”
Wen Jingyi took a deep breath and strode forward. “Let’s talk as we walk.”
The two hurriedly followed, eyes fixed on her like hawks.
Halfway there, Wen Jingyi couldn’t bear it and reluctantly confessed, “Xie Jinnan invited me out to play golf. I said I had something today, thinking I probably couldn’t refuse him well.”
Qiao Ran exclaimed.
Ren Sisi quickly pieced it together. “So you refused him, came out to play golf with us, and just happened to run into him.”
Though Wen Jingyi wasn’t terrible at golf, she wasn’t very interested either. Often, she just sat aside watching everyone play.
Qiao Ran laughed heartily. “What a fateful entanglement.”
Ren Sisi: “You’re doomed, Jingyi.”
Wen Jingyi: “…”
These two who delighted in her misfortune didn’t even try to help her figure out how to explain.
With Xie Jinnan’s taciturn nature, there was no way he would look at her without reason.
He must have recognized her.
He probably just wanted to spare her some face, so he left without greeting.
She didn’t know if he was angry.
Wen Jingyi lost interest in playing afterward. Qiao Ran and Ren Sisi played enthusiastically while she sat and pondered deeply.
Even though she was sure Xie Jinnan recognized her, she couldn’t confirm if he was upset about her deception, which left her uneasy.
She had hoped for a mutually beneficial and harmonious marriage, but now it made her seem insincere.
If she lacked sincerity, it could be magnified as the Wen family lacking sincerity…
The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. She took out her phone and found Xie Jinnan’s WeChat.
But staring at his contact, she didn’t know how to explain.
Just as she hesitated, editing and deleting messages without sending, a message came from him first, startling the usually calm Wen Jingyi.
[Xie Jinnan]: Shen Baoning always acts without discretion. I’ve sent someone back to Jingjiang to find an opportunity for her to apologize to you in person.
…What?
Shen Baoning?
Wen Jingyi had thought Xie Jinnan was coming to confront her, but it was about this incident.
It was minor; she wasn’t bothered.
[Wen Jingyi]: It’s okay. Miss Shen is just impulsive. I understand.
After thinking, she added: [No need to apologize. I didn’t take it to heart.]
[Xie Jinnan]: I’m returning to Jingjiang tomorrow morning. Some wedding arrangements next month require my confirmation.
That was no problem. Wen Jingyi quickly replied: [Got it.]
[Xie Jinnan]: What time will you finish? I’ll send you back.
Wen Jingyi felt deeply ashamed.
She had deceived him, yet he didn’t mind at all and offered to escort her home.
She had originally intended to let him rest, knowing how tired he was. Who could have foreseen things would develop this way?
If she had known, she might as well have accepted his invitation to play golf with his friends last night, better than being caught in a lie now.
After sending the message, no reply came for a while.
Xie Jinnan stared at the silent screen, wondering if Wen Jingyi was suddenly distancing herself for some reason—not wanting to go on dates with him or even to be sent home.
He thought he had done well yesterday, except for ending the date early due to an emergency.
Could Wen Jingyi be angry about that and thus ignoring him?
Though they had known each other only briefly and not deeply, with Wen Jingyi’s educated, gentle, and poised character, Xie Jinnan felt this was unlikely.
She wasn’t Lin Zhiyu, who needed constant care and love, tolerating no neglect or avoidance.
She wasn’t Lin Zhiyu…
Lin Zhiyu?
Xie Jinnan seemed to suddenly realize something, his brows tightly furrowing.
[Wen Jingyi]: I might be a bit late.
[Xie Jinnan]: Okay.
[Wen Jingyi]: Then eight o’clock. Mr. Xie, is that convenient for you?
Xie Jinnan read her reply, lips lightly pressed, his gaze growing dark and intense. After a moment, he replied: [I’ll wait for you at the hotel entrance at eight.]
Wen Jingyi quickly answered: [Thank you, Mr. Xie.]