Atlas Studios

  Atlas Studios

  Ji Zibai looked at Xie Jingqian in an annoyed manner and handed her a napkin.

  “Sorry…” Xie Jingqian wiped her mouth and couldn’t resist a smile. “Idol, you rock! Tang Xi hasn’t lost out to anyone other than Ji Zibai in an argument.”


  Lin Nuan’s lips curled slightly as she picked up her cup to take a sip of water. Out of courtesy, she asked Xie Jingqian about her wedding preparations so she could change the topic. She felt that she was being broad-minded, indifferent, and calm.

  Tang Xi looked at Lin Nuan and broke into a smile.

  The atmosphere at the dining table couldn’t have been better. The unhappiness before seemed to have vanished into thin air.

  Xie Jingqian had already ordered the dishes, and they would be served once everyone was present. Xie Jingqiu and Su Nian were punctual and arrived just after everyone had finished their drinks.

  …


  The last time Fu Huai’an met Xie Jingqiu was at the airport when Xie Jingqiu went to send him off before he boarded the plane for Iraq.

  Lin Nuan had seen many rich businessmen and celebrities, and Fu Huai’an’s aura was the most composed and low-key among them. His manner was respectable and imposing, which made him outstanding and unrivaled, and he was also masculine and sexy. Just like Fu Huai’an, Xie Jingqiu also exuded a sophisticated and reserved masculine charm. His aura was low-key yet strongly oppressive at the same time.

  The difference between the two men was that Xie Jingqiu was precisely and perfectly masculine and refined. His manly disposition and gentlemanly charm were a perfect combination.

  “Su Nian…” Su Nian reached out to hold Lin Nuan’s hand. She had a beautiful smile, and her features were exquisite.

  Lin Nuan shook her hand politely. “Lin Nuan!”


  “Yes, I know!” Su Nian said, smiling with admiration in her eyes.

  “Xie Jingqiu…” Xie Jingqiu stretched out his hand too. He had a deep and sonorous voice that sounded graceful.

  Fu Huai’an slowly began to introduce them and their relationship to Lin Nuan, who became confused after a while.

  Their relationships were so complicated!

  Ji Zibai’s older niece, Su Nian, was married to Xie Jingqian’s third brother; Ji Zibai’s younger niece, You Jiaxin, was married to Tang Xi, and now Xie Jingqian was going to marry Ji Zibai…


  So, should Su Nian address Xie Jingqian as Aunt, or should Xie Jingqian address Su Nian as Sister-in-law?

  Looking at Lin Nuan’s bewildered expression, Xie Jingqian burst out laughing. “Idol, you look so endearingly silly!”


  “Idol?”


  You Jiaxin, who had been busy eating, raised her head with a puzzled look on her face.

  “Xinxin, be good! Eat your food! Tang Xi doesn’t want you to know any scandals or gossip, so I dare not tell you anything!” Xie Jingqian told You Jiaxin earnestly, like how an elder should.

  Except for the initial hiccup, the rest of the meal went smoothly.

  After the gathering ended, Ji Zibai and Xie Jingqian arrived at the hotel shortly after Lin Nuan and Fu Huai’an were back in their room.

  Lin Nuan opened the door. Xie Jingqian’s head popped out from behind Ji Zibai’s back, and she beamed at Lin Nuan. “Idol! To convey our apologies… Zibai and I would like to bring Huai’an and you out for drinks!”


  Lin Nuan turned her head. Fu Huai’an was standing at the balcony, still on the phone. She stood sideways and invited them in. “Please come in…”


  Ji Zibai nodded as he held Xie Jingqian’s hand, and they walked into the presidential suite.

  Lin Nuan closed the door and passed them two bottles of mineral water before walking to the windows and knocking lightly on the glass.

  Fu Huai’an turned his head, and Lin Nuan kept silent, only pointing her finger towards the sofa.

  Fu Huai’an nodded when he spotted Ji Zibai. He said something to someone on the other end of the line, hung up the call, and walked into the room.

  “Let’s go for drinks! There were outsiders today… and we couldn’t have a good talk.”


  Clutching onto his phone, Fu Huai’an closed the sliding doors as he asked Lin Nuan, “Do you want to go?”


  Lin Nuan felt well enough to go, but she thought that it might be inconvenient to have the ladies around while Ji Zibai and Fu Huai’an chatted.

  “I won’t join you guys. If Qianqian is tired, she can rest at the hotel with me.” Lin Nuan smiled as she gazed at Xie Jingqian.

  “Okay!” Xie Jingqian agreed immediately. She knelt and leaned on the sofa. “I’ll chat with my idol. You guys go have your drinks and chat. It’ll be more convenient if we’re not around.”


  Fu Huai’an placed his phone into his pocket and said gently to Lin Nuan, “Okay then, I’ll be back early.”


  “Take your time!”


  Lin Nuan took Fu Huai’an’s suit jacket and walked him to the door. Then, she heard Xie Jingqian call out to her. “Idol! Let’s have some drinks too!”


  Lin Nuan turned around and saw that Xie Jingqian had already removed her heels and was standing barefoot on the carpet. She was beaming as she held a bottle of wine and two wine glasses in her hands.

  …


  That night, Xie Jingqian and Lin Nuan downed two bottles of red wine.

  The two of them sat on the carpet, barefoot, in front of the windows.

  Lin Nuan and Xie Jingqian had hit it off right from the start, and Xie Jingqian’s hand was hooked around Lin Nuan’s neck. She said tipsily, “Idol, you’re so endearing! It’s not just Su Manman, I like you too!”


  Lin Nuan felt faint. She leaned against the windows and smiled in a goofy manner.

  “To be honest, I really really love Ji Zibai. But if he were to disappear one day like Wen-dunno-what’s-his-name, I might not have the courage to go to Iraq to search for him!”


  Xie Jingqian retracted her hand and downed the wine in her glass. Her face was red, and she giggled as she turned her head to ask Lin Nuan, “Idol, you loved Wen Moshen so much then. Now that you are married to Fu Huai’an, do you love Fu Huai’an just as much?”


  This was the second time that someone had asked Lin Nuan this question.

  She was tipsy and couldn’t think clearly. She squinted her eyes in a drunken manner, staring at the chandelier in the room. She felt the chandelier swaying, and one chandelier multiplied to become two… and three…


  She tilted her head, smiling as she recalled what Fu Huai’an had said—that Lin Nuan need only love him one-tenth of how much she had loved Wen Moshen and his life would be hers.

  Lin Nuan’s heart was churning with emotions. Fueled by her intoxication, the words came out of her mouth easily. “I want to love him even more than I loved Wen Moshen!”


  Xie Jingqian chuckled as she stretched out her arm and pointed at Lin Nuan, she was even more adorable when she was drunk. “I will make sure I tell Fu Huai’an this!”


  As her thoughts turned to Fu Huai’an, Lin Nuan began to picture his handsome features. “I have a boring personality. I don’t understand what he sees in me…”


  Xie Jingqian hooked her arm around Lin Nuan’s neck once more. She spoke in a hushed tone, as though she didn’t want anyone else to hear the secret she was about to share with Lin Nuan. “Idol… I can tell from the way you interacted with Fu Huai’an today that you can’t really control the man!”


  “You’re right! You’re so impressive, no matter what you say, Ji Zibai will just go along with it!” Lin Nuan gazed at Xie Jingqian, her eyes twinkling.

  Xie Jingqian then started to impart her tips and tricks as to how she managed her husband to Lin Nuan.

  “Men! They won’t be able to resist girls who act coquettish,” Xie Jingqian said slyly as she grinned at Lin Nuan. “Birds of a feather flock together. Fu Huai’an is just the same as Ji Zibai, both of them look cold but are actually burning with passion inside. With men like these, you can’t be too tough with them, you need to learn how to act coquettish!”