Chen Xu withdrew his gaze calmly and asked Wang Jian, “Did Sister Shuang find out that girl’s name?”
“Of course she did. Her name is Jiang Tingxue. She just finished the college entrance exam and is working a summer job,” Wang Jian replied.
He firmly believed that gossip was the best way to break the ice, and although Chen Xu seemed aloof and distant, he was unexpectedly interested in the conversation.
“Is that so?” Chen Xu responded casually, but his mind was elsewhere.
The name was the same—it must be her.
But Jiang Tingxue was supposed to be abroad right now. Why had she suddenly returned to the country and even taken a job in such a small place?
Jiang Tingxue came from the Jiang family, the family of Jiang Mei, Si Ye’s grandfather’s first wife. Back then, Si Ye’s grandfather had relied on the Jiang family to build up the Si family, and it could be said that half of the Si family’s current success was thanks to them.
However, after Jiang Mei passed away, the Jiang family moved abroad and never returned.
Chen Xu remembered that in his previous life, Jiang Tingxue had only returned to the country for her graduation project. She studied jewelry design and came back to find inspiration, which was when she met Si Yichen.
Si Yichen’s original surname was Tao. Though he was adopted by Si Jinwen and his wife, and later recognized as Si Ye’s godson after their passing, he had no actual blood relation to the Si family.
To make his claim to the family inheritance more legitimate, Madam Tao devised a plan—she had him get close to Jiang Tingxue.
Since Jiang Tingxue was from the Jiang family, if Si Yichen could marry her and have children, no one would question his identity as the Si family heir.
In his previous life, before Chen Xu died, Jiang Tingxue was already engaged to Si Yichen. As for whether they eventually got married, he wasn’t sure.
But if nothing unexpected happened, they probably did.
Chen Xu studied the girl who was chatting and laughing with Guan Shuang. She was about the same age as him, had a bright and beautiful smile, and looked innocent—completely unaware of the dangerous path ahead of her.
This time, no matter what, he wouldn’t let this innocent girl get hurt.
—
Guan Shuang returned with three cups of milk tea. Wang Jian gave her a knowing look, to which she responded by slapping him on the arm.
“Aren’t you supposed to be discussing business with Chen Xu?”
“Oh, right! How could I forget?” Wang Jian dug into his pocket and handed Chen Xu a business card.
“Let me introduce myself properly. My name is Wang Jian, and I’m a product manager for YC. I think your lips are perfect for our brand.”
Chen Xu had heard of YC before—it was a rising domestic cosmetics brand that had gained massive popularity in recent years.
He recalled that Ni Shanshan and her friends all used YC products.
“I thought YC mainly focused on makeup,” Chen Xu said, confused.
He couldn’t see how a guy like him would be a good fit for YC.
Wouldn’t a makeup brand be better off hiring female models?
Wang Jian excitedly scooted his chair forward, leaning close to Chen Xu. “That’s right! We have a new lipstick line launching, and I think you’d be a perfect model for it.”
“You want me to model for a lipstick campaign? Why not hire a girl instead?” Chen Xu wasn’t opposed to the idea, but he was worried this decision would hurt their sales.
“No, no, no! I can’t believe such a cool guy like you has such outdated thinking!” Wang Jian exaggeratedly waved a finger in disapproval.
“Same-sex marriage has been legal for years now. Who says only girls can model for lipsticks? Guys can be just as fabulous!” Wang Jian even winked at him and struck a flamboyant pose.
Chen Xu: “…”
If he didn’t know that Wang Jian had a daughter, he might have suspected his sexuality just now.
“You mean a photoshoot?”
Wang Jian shook his finger. “No, an advertisement.”
Chen Xu frowned slightly. He didn’t like showing his face in public and was on the verge of rejecting the offer.
Sensing this, Wang Jian quickly added, “If you don’t want to show your face, we can focus just on your lips. It’s a lip product campaign, after all.”
“What about the pay?”
Chen Xu rested his chin on his hand and glanced at Wang Jian.
“That’s negotiable. Since you were introduced by Shuang Shuang, I wouldn’t rip you off,” Wang Jian assured him eagerly.
“Alright then,” Chen Xu wasn’t the type to drag things out—he agreed readily.
Wang Jian immediately pulled a contract from his bag. Chen Xu carefully read through it before signing.
—
After Wang Jian left, Chen Xu turned to Guan Shuang.
“Thanks, Sister Shuang.”
Guan Shuang chewed on her candy, hands in her pockets, and smirked.
“No need to be so polite. Honestly, I thought you wouldn’t come back. Qingqing said your family is ridiculously rich.”
“It’s not mine,” Chen Xu replied flatly.
He had long accepted that in the Si family, he was just an outsider living under their roof. In the Chen family, he felt even more out of place.
Neither place was his home.
He could only rely on himself.
The complicated entanglements of wealthy families were truly endless. Guan Shuang sensed the weight behind his words and tactfully dropped the subject.
—
Then, she grinned and changed the topic.
“Did you see that girl just now? Isn’t she adorable? Her name is Jiang Tingxue—such a beautiful name.”
She nudged Chen Xu with her elbow, making him instinctively dodge.
“She’s probably straight,” he said bluntly.
It wasn’t that he wanted to discourage Guan Shuang, but in his previous life, Jiang Tingxue had fallen for Si Yichen.
That alone was proof that she had no romantic interest in women.
Guan Shuang wasn’t bothered. “So what? Even spaghetti is straight before you cook it.”
Chen Xu: “…”
“Speeding a little too fast there, sis.”
Guan Shuang patted his shoulder and said casually, “Relax. I’ll give it a shot. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll move on—I don’t get stuck on just one tree.”
Chen Xu nodded absentmindedly, already lost in thought about how to prevent Si Yichen from getting close to Jiang Tingxue.
Should he tell Si Ye?
But how would he explain how he even knew Jiang Tingxue?
On the bright side, in his past life, Jiang Tingxue only met Si Yichen three years after returning to China.
If everything still followed the same timeline, then by that time, he should have already defeated Si Yichen.
That way, he wouldn’t have to worry about Si Yichen dragging her into his mess.
—
Chen Xu hadn’t expected to see Si Ye that day, but when he returned home that evening, Uncle Zhong informed him that Si Ye was back.
He glanced at the third floor, debating whether to go find him, but then remembered Si Ye’s “ban” and hesitated.
Sensing his reluctance, Uncle Zhong reassured him.
“Sir said that if you came back, you should go upstairs to find him.”
“Thank you, Uncle Zhong.”
Chen Xu immediately walked briskly toward the third floor.
Watching his retreating figure, Uncle Zhong sighed with emotion.
It seemed the Si family was truly about to gain a ‘Madam.’
—
Just then, Si Yichen returned from work.
After a long and exhausting day at the company, he barely stepped inside when he caught a glimpse of Chen Xu disappearing into the third-floor hallway.
His expression instantly darkened.
“Uncle Zhong, was that Chen Xu just now?”
“Yes, Young Master Yichen. Sir asked to see Young Master Xu for something.”
Si Yichen clenched his teeth in anger.
While he was out there working himself to the bone, Chen Xu was at home ingratiating himself with his father.
Right now, he was probably in Si Ye’s room, doing everything he could to win his favor.
And the worst part? His father actually fell for it.
Si Yichen was so furious that his chest hurt, the veins on his temples throbbing.
Just wait.
Just wait a little longer.
One day, he would make Chen Xu fall into disgrace, unable to ever rise again.
Meanwhile, upstairs, Chen Xu had no idea how enraged Si Yichen was.
At that moment, he was a little dazed.
“This is the marriage agreement. Take a look and see if there’s anything you’d like to add or remove,” Si Ye said, placing a contract in front of him.
Chen Xu stared at the document for a long while before snapping out of his thoughts.
Si Ye wasn’t joking.
“Mutual non-interference in personal lives, but we have to maintain an affectionate image in front of others?”
Si Ye nodded and explained, “Yes. We can’t let the people in the company or the Si family suspect anything. I won’t interfere in your personal life, but if you do fall for someone, I hope you’ll tell me first. That way, if necessary, I can help you handle the situation.”
“Alright.”
After listening to Si Ye’s explanation, Chen Xu thought it over briefly and agreed.
He read through the contract carefully.
Most of the terms favored him.
At the very end, it even stated that after everything was settled, he would receive three hundred million as compensation.
Chen Xu nearly dropped the contract.
“Uncle Si, this part must be a mistake, right?”
He had never been short of money, but three hundred million still left him a little stunned.
Si Ye leaned over to glance at the contract and said indifferently, “No mistake. Three hundred million is actually a bit low. I don’t have much liquid cash at the moment, so I’ll also give you some properties and cars.”
“No need, Uncle Si. You really don’t have to pay me,” Chen Xu said quickly, afraid that if Si Ye kept going, he might throw in a private jet and a yacht too.
“No, that won’t do. You’re only eighteen—I can’t let you suffer too much in this deal. This is the only way I can think of to make it up to you,” Si Ye said seriously, looking at him intently.
Chen Xu’s heart stirred slightly, and he didn’t argue any further.
Fine. Three hundred million it is.
Not like I’m actually going to accept it anyway.
He picked up the pen and signed his name without hesitation.
Si Ye, watching his fluffy-haired head from above, felt the amusement in his gaze deepen.
“Actually, there’s another way,” Si Ye suddenly leaned in and murmured in Chen Xu’s ear.
“As long as we never get divorced, I won’t have to worry about people thinking you’re too young to be a divorcé, and you won’t have to feel guilty about taking three hundred million. A perfect solution, don’t you think?”
Chen Xu’s ears instantly turned red.
He struggled to find a response and stammered, “Uncle Si… you’re teasing me again.”
Si Ye had intended to say that he was serious, but when he saw the way the boy’s ears flushed a deep shade of red, he decided against pushing him too hard.
So, he kept his mouth shut.
After signing the contract, Chen Xu asked Si Ye when they would go register their marriage.
Since Si Ye was in urgent need of money, the sooner, the better.
“Oh? You’re in such a hurry to marry me?”
Si Ye’s eyes glinted with a teasing smile.
Even though he knew Si Ye was joking, Chen Xu’s ears still heated up again.
“If you still have time to joke around, it seems like the company’s situation isn’t that urgent after all.”
Seeing that he had successfully annoyed the boy, Si Ye took his hand, bent slightly, and leaned in close.
With a coaxing tone, he apologized, “I was wrong. Don’t be mad.”
“Thank you for being so thoughtful, Xiao Xu.”
He pulled Chen Xu into his arms and placed a light kiss on his forehead.
Chen Xu remained expressionless and muttered in a slightly threatening tone, “Be careful, or I might take over your position.”
Si Ye found his little one unbearably adorable.
Unable to resist, he pressed several kisses onto his face.
“You don’t need to seize power. If you want, I’ll pluck the stars from the sky and give them to you.”
“Uncle Si, you’re quite the smooth talker,” Chen Xu said, unimpressed.
He even suspected that Si Ye was an experienced playboy.
Si Ye didn’t quite understand the slang but sensed there was some generational gap between them.
Before he could ask, his little one dropped a bombshell.
“Uncle Si, does this make us… an old husband and young wife situation?”
Si Ye: “…”
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