Chapter 6

Around 7:50 in the evening, Wen Jingyi stepped out of the hotel. Qiao Ran and Ren Sisi, knowing that Xie Jinnan was going to escort Wen Jingyi home, purposely followed along just to catch a glimpse of the heir of the Xie family.

The sky had just darkened, and the dusk mingled with the dim streetlights around, creating a quiet and peaceful atmosphere.

A white Bentley was parked by the roadside. Under the streetlight’s glow stood a tall, elegant man, holding a phone to his ear with a cold and indifferent expression. Sensing movement, he turned his head and saw the three who had come out together. After saying something into the phone, he decisively ended the call.

Finally meeting the man himself, Qiao Ran suppressed her excitement and discreetly tapped Wen Jingyi’s arm. “Does Young Master Xie have any brothers? Such a handsome man makes me willing to marry far away.”

No wonder the marriage was arranged so quickly—it was as if she was already part of the Xie family.

All this restraint was nonsense.

Wen Jingyi was speechless.

Ren Sisi teased her, “That’s all you’ve got?”

Qiao Ran proudly replied, “Knowing how to appreciate is a good thing.”

Wen Jingyi felt a flush rise to her cheeks, grateful they were standing apart, or she might have had to shut Qiao Ran’s mouth.

After composing herself, she raised her usual gentle smile and stepped forward, politely greeting Xie Jinnan first. “Mr. Xie, have you been waiting long?”

“Just arrived,” he answered.

His gaze shifted to the two beside her.

Noticing his look, Wen Jingyi courteously introduced them briefly.

After the introduction, Xie Jinnan nodded and greeted them with a faint detachment in his eyes. “Xie Jinnan.”

Ren Sisi smiled, “Young Master Xie, long have we heard of your name.”

Qiao Ran also became somewhat formal in front of strangers. “We just came out with Jingyi and thought we’d meet the lucky man who will soon marry her. Seeing you now, it’s truly better than hearing about you.”

Xie Jinnan smiled faintly.

As the clock neared eight, Wen Jingyi considered Xie Jinnan’s early flight the next morning and, not wanting to keep him too long, cut short their small talk. “Mr. Xie, shall we go now?”

“Either way is fine,” he replied.

Ren Sisi smiled, “Take care on the road.”

Qiao Ran waved cheerfully.

Xie Jinnan opened the front passenger door. Wen Jingyi said goodbye and bent to get in.

After closing the door behind her, Xie Jinnan turned to nod politely to Ren Sisi and Qiao Ran, then circled the front of the car to the driver’s seat.

Wen Jingyi didn’t want to let their seemingly perfect marriage have any cracks. She thought she should apologize, so she mentally prepared her words on the way, but her mind was elsewhere the entire journey.

Whether it was because of what was on her mind or not, the trip, which wasn’t short, ended quickly.

Wen Jingyi had to get out first.

She then looked at the man.

At the moment she glanced at him, the man who had just stepped out raised his eyes, meeting her gaze in the air. The depth in his eyes was an emotion she couldn’t comprehend.

She instinctively looked away and, summoning courage, said, “Mr. Xie—”

Before she could finish, Xie Jinnan’s phone rang.

Her words abruptly stopped.

---

Xie Jinnan glanced at his phone, frowning.

Seeing his hesitation, Wen Jingyi knew there’d be no chance to apologize tonight and sighed inwardly. She kindly said, “I’ll go in first then. Mr. Xie, please take care on the road.”

“Alright.”

Watching her figure fade into the night, Xie Jinnan answered the call as he got into the car.

“Grandfather.”

The elderly Xie, over seventy, still held a commanding voice, strong and resolute. “Where are you?”

His tone was accusatory, waiting for an answer to scold him further.

Xie Jinnan sat in the car but didn’t start the engine immediately. “At the Wen family’s entrance.”

Upon hearing this, the elder’s tone softened slightly. “Are you sending Xiaoyi home?”

“Yes.”

“Why return to the country early and go to Nancheng ahead of schedule?”

“Work finished earlier.”

The elder’s voice was thick with displeasure. “Going to Nancheng early, so you can get back to Jingjiang sooner and spend less time with Xiaoyi, huh?”

The original plan was to return to the old residence first to handle matters related to the wedding next month, then go to Nancheng afterward to spend more time with Xiaoyi. But this brat came back two days early and went straight to Nancheng, meaning he’d have to rush back to Jingjiang soon for the wedding preparations — all carefully calculated.

With the wedding imminent and no delay allowed for confirming details, this brat still acted like this.

If it wasn’t intentional, then what was it?

He was given such a fine bride, yet he didn’t cherish her and treated it all so carelessly.

A bride like Wen Jingyi, with a good family background, beauty, and refinement—if he hadn’t acted so quickly, another family would have claimed her long ago.

The elder was nearly furious. “Xie Jinnan, if you lose your fiancée again this time, go back to your hospital and never come back! There are plenty of outstanding descendants in the Xie family’s branches. Someone else can inherit the family business. It doesn’t have to be you.”

Though he said this, the elder wouldn’t truly do it.

Besides, Xie Jinnan was indeed more capable in business and finance.

Taking the harsh scolding without defending himself, Xie Jinnan quietly listened as the old man vented his anger.

After several minutes, the elder’s tirade finally ended. “Come back early tomorrow,” he said before hanging up without hesitation.

Xie Jinnan put down his phone, placed his hands on the steering wheel, and stared at the Wen family villa ahead. His eyes darkened.

Forcing themselves to be together every day now, nothing much would change after marriage.

What was the point?

Was he supposed to wait for one of them to develop feelings while the other remained stone-hearted, ending up as neither husband and wife nor partners, but a pair of resentful strangers?

…

Wen Jingyi returned to her room and drew back the curtains, noticing Xie Jinnan’s car still parked at the villa entrance. As she considered sending a message to check in, the car slowly started and disappeared into the Qing Shui Bay villa district.

Watching him leave, she wanted to send a message to apologize but felt it was too late.

Just as she hesitated, a message popped up in their WeChat group.

[Ren Sisi]: Are you home yet?

[Qiao Ran]: Staying out tonight then?

Wen Jingyi wanted to kick Qiao Ran out of the group but replied casually, [I’m already home.]

[Qiao Ran]: Hahaha.

[Ren Sisi]: How did the apology go? Did Young Master Xie really not care about your little mishap, like I said?

Wen Jingyi felt deflated. [I didn’t apologize.]

[Ren Sisi]: No worries, judging by his attitude, he clearly didn’t mind a bit.

Leaning by the window, Wen Jingyi recalled Xie Jinnan’s demeanor from their meeting to his departure. There was no sign of anger; he obviously didn’t care.

But that wasn’t a reason for her to just move on.

[Qiao Ran]: If all else fails, I suggest you prepare a gift for him as an apology.

A gift?

Wen Jingyi lowered her gaze to think. This might work.

Actions speak louder than words.

But what to buy?

She couldn’t just pick any gift and brush it off.

Without delay, Wen Jingyi exited WeChat and dialed Bai Heng’s number.

“Miss?” Bai Heng was taken aback briefly upon receiving the call just as he arrived home.

Wen Jingyi hesitated before speaking, “Bai Heng, I want to give Mr. Xie a gift to present on the wedding day. Can you help me think of something suitable?”

It could serve as a wedding gift, making it less awkward and soothing her guilt.

Bai Heng agreed.

Though the wedding was just days away, preparing a gift for a man was still manageable.

“Oh, by the way,” Wen Jingyi suddenly remembered something and politely asked, “I’ve been meaning to ask, would you be willing to accompany me to Jingjiang for the wedding?”

Although Bai Heng was a bodyguard her father hired, she still needed to respect his wishes.

Not everyone was willing to leave their hometown just for money.

“The pay will definitely increase.”

After a moment of silence, he said, “Alright.”

Wen Jingyi smiled brightly. “Thank you.”

Used to having Bai Heng by her side, she hoped he could stay for a few more years.

If he could wait until she adapted to life there before leaving, that would be even better.