The atmosphere in the pavilion was tense.
"I didn't run into you on purpose. I didn't know you were here."
Xi Yan seemed to be reminded of someone. The chill on his face faded somewhat, and his lips curved. "Someone else said that to me too."
Ye Feifei stared at him, unsure what he meant.
"But I believe him, not you." He was still capable of telling who was telling the truth and who was lying.
Ye Feifei bit her lip without answering. Xi Yan curled his fingers slightly and unconsciously tapped the armrest of his wheelchair. "What did Xi Defeng offer you? Money? Or something else?"
She seemed deeply insulted. "Mr. Xi, what do you mean by that?" she demanded angrily.
Xi Yan continued unhurriedly, "Do you know that I could have played along with your scheme? But using a woman is nothing to boast about, especially a woman like you."
The first time they met, she had drenched him with water. Thinking back on it, he figured it had probably been an instinctive reaction to wanting to see his legs. Xi Defeng must have told him to do that too.
Xi Defeng was clever in some ways but muddleheaded in others. Trying to get close to him with this trick was downright stupid.
He had even come over just now to ask, probably to create the impression that they didn't know each other. Unfortunately, he had been too clever for his own good.
Meanwhile, Bai Le had just reached the main entrance when he suddenly frowned, as if remembering something, and hurriedly searched his clothes pockets.
"Damn it, I forgot my phone." No wonder his hand had felt uncomfortably empty.
Bai Huizhang immediately scolded him. "When are you going to stop being so forgetful?"
"I'll go back and get it. I probably left it in the private room."
With that, Bai Le ran off, leaving Bai Huizhang stamping his feet in anger.
His phone had indeed been left in the private room. When Bai Le arrived, someone was clearing the table.
Bai Le took his phone and headed out. The courtyard was quiet as he walked along the stone path.
Curious whether the two were still there, he looked toward the pavilion, but saw only Xi Yan.
He sat in his wheelchair, the moonlight falling on his face and making him look somewhat pale.
Bai Le saw that he wasn't moving at all, his eyes tightly shut. Remembering his earlier attack, he found himself unable to leave.
In the end, he gritted his teeth and walked over, thinking he was still a little too kind.
Unexpectedly, just as he approached, before he could make a sound, Xi Yan suddenly opened his eyes. "Are you working with Xi Defeng?" he asked in a low voice.
Bai Le was badly startled by the sudden question, but he knew to give him a serious answer.
"Is there a problem? There's a talent show that one of our company's artists is going to participate in."
Xi Yan's brows drew together at his answer. "Don't work with him," he said coldly.
Bai Le looked at him in bewilderment. He knew Xi Yan was at odds with Xi Defeng, but that was no reason to make him stop working with Xi Defeng.
"Why? You have to give me a reason."
Xi Yan pondered for a moment, an uncharacteristically complicated expression appearing on his face. In the end, though, he only shook his head and said nothing about his reasons.
"In any case, you'd better not work with him."
Of course Bai Le disagreed. Everything had already been settled, so how could he give it up just because Xi Yan said so? Even if he lost his mind and agreed, his father wouldn't.
"What if I say no?"
Bai Le's tone turned unfriendly as well, and he glared at him without backing down.
Xi Yan watched him in silence, his pale face revealing little emotion.
The atmosphere was tense. Bai Le glared at him, but as he did, his stomach suddenly churned and a wave of nausea rose in his throat.
He quickly bent over. Fortunately, he only retched and didn't throw anything up.
Xi Yan frowned slightly as he watched. His hand moved, but finally dropped back down.
Bai Le raised his head and glared fiercely at him. "Look, you made me throw up, you know that?"
Xi Yan: "..."
After the nausea finally passed, Bai Le straightened up and casually wiped his mouth.
He didn't think much of it, much less think of it in that way.
He saw Xi Yan staring at him without blinking, so he grinned. "You actually believed me?"
Xi Yan pressed his thin lips together and said nothing.
Thinking he had fooled Xi Yan, Bai Le laughed a few times, delighted.
"Just kidding, hehe. I ate too much braised pork knuckle."
The temperature around Xi Yan plummeted.
"Bye-bye, I'm leaving. Unless you give me a reason, we're still going to work with Xi Defeng."
With that, Bai Le gave a carefree wave and turned to leave without looking at his expression.
When he reached the main entrance, he saw a black sedan parked there. Sure enough, the old man was still waiting for him.
As soon as he got into the car, Bai Huizhang peppered him with questions.
"Tell me the truth. What exactly happened between you and that Fourth Master of the Xi Family before?"
Bai Le blinked and said innocently, "Nothing, of course."
"You two seemed strange with each other earlier. You really didn't offend him, did you?"
"Absolutely not," Bai Le said firmly.
Only then did Bai Huizhang relax a little. "I've heard plenty of rumors about Fourth Master Xi. The way his mind works is frightening. He can scheme against someone without them ever noticing. Someone like you wouldn't even know it if he swallowed you whole."
"If he's so frightening, why are you letting Bai Yin go to that inexplicable matchmaking banquet at the Xi Family?"
"That's different. I'm talking about what happens when you're his enemy. If she marries him, she'll be his wife, not his enemy. Why worry about that?"
"How do you know his wife isn't his enemy?"
Bai Huizhang's eyebrows shot up, and anger flared within him. "Are you calling me names, brat?"
"Hehe, you said it yourself."
It was already past eleven at night when they returned to the Bai family home. As soon as Bai Le got out of the car, he saw a familiar white sports car parked outside the villa.