Bai Yin and Bai Le were half siblings with the same father. After Bai Le's parents
divorced,
Bai Huizhang was awarded custody of him. Two years later, Bai Huizhang married a woman more than ten years younger than him, and she gave birth to Bai Yin.
Although their family situation was complicated, and they belonged to a wealthy family like this one, the siblings were very close.
Bai Huizhang wasn't the sort to play favorites, either. Although their stepmother was a little petty and got on people's nerves from time to time, on the whole, the family was harmonious.
Of course, that didn't include the present moment.
Bai Huizhang's lips trembled with anger. He pointed at the two of them, raised his eyebrows, and roared, "Get out! Both of you, get out!"
The two had just finished being scolded and opened the door to leave when the man behind them suddenly called them back.
"Come back."
Bai Le said, "What else is it?"
Bai Huizhang cleared his throat, seemingly finding it a little difficult to say. "Next month, the Xi Family is holding a seventieth birthday celebration for Old Master Xi. You two will come with me."
It was called a banquet, but it was actually a matchmaking event Old Master Xi had arranged specifically for Fourth Master Xi.
Although Fourth Master Xi was already thirty, he had no one by his side. In their circle, he had never even kept a lover, so it was easy to imagine how unusual that was.
Some said Fourth Master Xi had a strange temperament and unpredictable moods, and that, combined with his having been in a place like that, made people keep their distance.
Others said it was because he was a sickly invalid. Who would be willing to entrust the rest of their life to a cripple?
But anyone in their circle who knew even a little about the situation knew that wasn't the reason. If Fourth Master Xi wanted to find someone, he would only have to stand there, and plenty of people would probably throw themselves at him.
As for why he didn't want to get married, the reasons involved far too much.
"The Xi Family? I'm not going." Bai Le immediately shook his head in resistance.
Bai Huizhang was just about to start cursing him out, but he remembered something and held back. "Forget it. You wouldn't accomplish anything anyway."
Bai Yin shrugged indifferently. Either way was fine with her.
After they walked out of the office, Bai Le hesitated for a while before finally calling Bai Yin to a stop.
"Hey, is there a girl named Ye Feifei at your school?"
Bai Yin paused the video on her phone and turned to look at him. "Ye Feifei? She's in our department, and we're even in the same class, but we're not in the same dorm."
When he had read it, Ye Feifei had even been his favorite goddess for a time. She was pretty, got excellent grades, and had no faults he could find.
"What kind of person is she?"
"She's not much like us, I guess. Anyway, I don't like her. She's pretty, but she's really prim, and..." Bai Yin scratched her head in frustration. "Forget it. I won't talk behind her back. Anyway, straight guys like you wouldn't understand."
"Does she have a part-time job?"
"How did you know? Her family doesn't seem to be very well-off, but her grades are good. She got into our university as the top scorer in the liberal arts."
After saying that, Bai Yin looked him over suspiciously. "Bro, you don't like her, do you? Let me make this clear: I won't accept her as my sister-in-law."
Bai Le choked. "What nonsense are you spouting? I was just asking."
He didn't have the guts to poach Xi Yan's woman. It wasn't as if he had a death wish. To avoid a cannon fodder ending, what he needed to do now was help the male and female leads get together as soon as possible, so they could hurry up and be sweet and happy together and never notice the existence of cannon fodder like him again. Then he could retire after his success and live his lovely little life.
That weekend, Bai Le got a call from Wu Hua. As one of the original owner's disreputable friends, Wu Hua had played an irreplaceable role in leading him further and further astray.
"A party?"
"Yeah, Xiaozhouzi's throwing it. He's planning to do it on the sly while his brother's away. You coming? A few of the guys will be there too."
"Of course." Now that he had the identity of a rich second-generation heir, he had to make the most of it.
He had thought the pool party wouldn't be a big affair, but when he arrived, he discovered what a life of decadent, extravagant luxury the rich led.
The pool was built in the villa's front yard. On the lawn beside it, some people were grilling meat, while others were playing cards.
Quite a few people were laughing and playing in the pool. Not far away, several rich kids tossed bikini-clad young models into the water, while a few people nearby whistled and egged them on. Although it was night, the atmosphere was still lively.
"Lele, why didn't you come out when I asked you to hang out a few days ago?" The speaker was Wu Hua, a tall man over 1.8 meters in height, with neat, short hair. He looked somewhat fierce, but he was very loyal to his friends.
Bai Le had a standard answer to that question. "I fell. I've been recovering at home."
"Where did you hurt yourself?"
Bai Le brushed him off irritably. "Where do you think I'd have to hurt myself to need to lie face down in bed?"
Wu Hua froze, his gaze drifting there involuntarily. Noticing Bai Le glaring fiercely at him, he quickly gave an embarrassed laugh. "Heh, I'm just worried about you."
Bai Le casually picked up a glass of wine from the table, took a sip, then frowned and set it down in distaste.
"Get me another glass."
A waitress happened to be passing in front of him. After he stopped her and got a clear look at her face, he couldn't help whistling inwardly. She was his type.
"Here you are, sir."
The girl lowered her eyes slightly, avoiding his gaze. Her manner was courteous and polite.
As Bai Le took the glass, he happened to notice the name tag she wore. His whole body jolted, and he looked up at her face in disbelief.
Ye Feifei?! What was she doing here!
By the time he came back to his senses, she had already left. Just then, Wu Hua nudged his arm and raised his eyebrows at him. "Your turn."
"Ah?" Bai Le said, clearly still not quite back to his senses.
"Draw one. Don't tell me you're chickening out." Wu Hua stared at him seriously.
Only then did Bai Le realize they were playing a game. He casually picked a slip of paper, read what was written on it, and unfolded it to show everyone.
"Haha! I wonder who sitting here today will be lucky enough to receive President Bai's confession." One of his disreputable friends saw the punishment and burst out laughing, egging him on.