Xu Tingyu sat down opposite Xie Yu. For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Aunt Zhang poured a cup of tea for each of them. While pouring tea for Xu Tingyu, she lowered her voice and asked, "Shall I call Mr. Qi?"
Aunt Zhang also knew Xie Yu and was aware that she was the woman Qi Shifeng had on the side.
She had worked for the Qi family all her life and naturally had heard many stories about bosses keeping mistresses outside.
She had also heard that many mistresses, after being overly doted on, would have unrealistic delusions and come to provoke the legitimate wives.
Almost without exception, their endings were not good.
However, Xu Tingyu was gentle in nature and had just come back from the brink of death. Aunt Zhang felt sorry for her and was afraid that she would suffer at Xie Yu's hands.
Xu Tingyu shook her head and even smiled at her. "No need."
Although Aunt Zhang was still worried, she didn't dare to go against Xu Tingyu's wishes. She turned around and went back to the kitchen.
Xu Tingyu took a sip of tea and finally spoke first.
"Miss Xie, I wonder what brings you here today?"
Since she learned that Xie Yu's elder brother, Xie Zhen, had died because of her father, her feelings towards Xie Yu had become complicated.
Now, Xie Yu was sitting opposite her, looking elegant, intellectual, and beautiful.
Qi Shifeng did seem to like such gentle and obedient women.
Her eyes scanned Xie Yu's face several times.
She couldn't help but think that if there hadn't been the arranged marriage between her and Qi Shifeng, these two might have become a beautiful story in the circle.
After all, Qi Shifeng had endured for three years, taken over the Xu family's property, and helped Cai Lan become a new noble in Kyoto.
If they hadn't gotten married back then, Qi Shifeng could have directly helped Xie Zhen become a new noble.
At that time, he and Xie Yu would have been well - matched.
...
She was lost in thought and didn't even notice that Xie Yu didn't reply for a long time after she spoke.
Xie Yu's gaze also fell on her face without any hesitation, filled with jealousy, unwillingness, and madness.
"Xu Tingyu, you must be very proud now, right?"
She didn't answer why she was here but just asked her faintly.
Xu Tingyu came back to her senses and suddenly laughed. "You really seem to like asking me this question, Xie Yu. Where on earth do you see that I'm proud?"
Without waiting for Xie Yu to answer, she leaned back leisurely. "Haven't you really seen me at my most successful?"
Xie Yu was stunned by the rhetorical question and subconsciously recalled the first time she saw Xu Tingyu.
At that time, she didn't know the relationship between Xu Tingyu and Qi Shifeng.
To be precise, there was no relationship between them at that time.
She had come alone from her hometown to Kyoto to participate in a competition. The registration fee and travel expenses were secretly sent to her by her elder brother from the army.
She had practiced hard for half a year without telling her family, just to shine in this competition.
Her dance teacher said that she was very talented and would surely go far on the dance path.
She also firmly believed in it.
But on the day of the competition, she learned what it meant to feel inferior and that there was always someone better.
Xu Tingyu was the first to perform that day, and she was the eighth.
Xu Tingyu was wearing a white dress. She was confident and calm. Every movement was natural, and even her emotions were in place.
Peeping from backstage, she suddenly felt uncomfortable.
She suddenly understood why her teacher never said she was talented but only praised her for her hard work.
In a small county like her hometown, she might be considered good.
But in the bustling and extravagant Kyoto, her skills were nothing.
The truly talented and powerful one was someone like Xu Tingyu.
Sure enough, in that competition, Xu Tingyu won the first place.
And she, because of a poor performance, even fell before she could finish her carefully prepared dance.
Not to mention winning a prize, she didn't even get a ranking.
She sat in the auditorium watching Xu Tingyu receive the award, and the jealousy in her heart almost consumed her.
After that, every time she practiced, she couldn't help but think of Xu Tingyu.
She practiced like crazy, hoping that one day she could surpass her.
About a year later, one day, Xie Zhen came to see her and said that he was going for a drive with Qi Shifeng that night.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she pestered Xie Zhen to take her along.
Xie Zhen always doted on his younger sister and agreed.
They drove to the outskirts. She sat in the back row and watched Qi Shifeng driving in front. Her heart was pounding.
She knew that this man was the second young master of the Qi family in Kyoto. He had a bad temper and rarely spoke.
They had met a few times, and he had never said a word to her.
But she fell in love with him at first sight. Just a distant look at him would make her blush and her heart race.
Xie Zhen saw her little thoughts and half - jokingly and half - seriously said, "A Yu, don't let yourself get hurt. He and we are not from the same world."
She didn't say a word. In her heart, she thought that in so many novels, the prince would fall in love with the Cinderella.
She was good - looking and hard - working. Why couldn't she be a Cinderella?
But during that drive, someone joked and asked Qi Shifeng, "Young Master Qi, why are you in such a bad mood today? Who upset you?"
Before Qi Shifeng could answer, someone chimed in, "Don't you know? Today is his little fiancée's coming - of - age ceremony. There will be a grand banquet tonight, and the arranged marriage might be announced."
Xie Yu was struck like by lightning.
She hadn't heard Xie Zhen mention that he had a fiancée.
How old was he? Why was the arranged marriage going to be announced?
Her face turned pale, and she continued to listen. She heard someone tease, "I think, Young Master Qi, you should just accept it. The eldest daughter of the Xu family is so beautiful."
At that time, Qi Shifeng was not as high - and - mighty as he was now.
Hearing this, he sneered. "Why do you guys talk so much?"
Everyone burst into laughter, but Xie Yu's heart was desolate.
He didn't refute that the girl was beautiful. Instead, he seemed to be annoyed by others joking about her.
But no one noticed her distress. They were excitedly discussing the coming - of - age ceremony of Miss Xu and begged Qi Shifeng to take them there.
They said that Miss Xu was the secret crush of many second - and third - generation youths in Kyoto.
Now that the arranged marriage was going to be announced, they didn't know how many young hearts would be broken.
They wanted to witness history with their own eyes.
At first, Qi Shifeng refused, but later, after receiving a call from the old man, his rebellious spirit was aroused, and he agreed to take everyone there.
Xie Yu went with them and then learned that Miss Xu was Xu Tingyu, the one who had won the first place.
She was standing in the center of the crowd, being adored like a proud princess and enjoying the admiration of those around her.
Xie Yu noticed that when their group came in, Xu Tingyu happened to look up and met Qi Shifeng's eyes.
Xu Tingyu was startled for a moment and then nodded slightly to their group as a greeting, but she didn't intend to come over.
It was Qi Shifeng who exuded a restless and irritable aura and stared at her for a long time.