Free Web NovelChapter 424: Chapter 424: Yanxi 32
Zhao Yuchen felt like he was being slighted, but across from him, Xu Yanxi had already begun to explain.
"I don’t have a problem with you. I just can’t accept being entangled with Song Mei again. Any connection between us ended completely when I was five years old. We haven’t spoken in all these years, and there was a tacit agreement that we would leave each other alone. It’s a shame she couldn’t honor that."
Xu Yanxi was direct, and Zhao Yuchen didn’t beat around the bush either. "That puts my mind at ease. I don’t have a problem with Teacher Xu, either."
"I understand," Xu Yanxi said, picking up her coffee cup. "We simply want nothing to do with Song Mei. I’m living a good life now and have long since stopped needing her to worry about it. After all, she wasn’t there for me when I needed her most."
Shaking off the awkwardness, Zhao Yuchen found it much easier to talk to Xu Yanxi. "If you weren’t her daughter, I would change my mind."
"I wouldn’t," Xu Yanxi said with a small smile. "I prefer people who are more forthright, and you hide yourself too well. For instance, even though you’re smiling right now, it doesn’t reach your eyes. It’s a very obvious, professional fake smile."
The smile on Zhao Yuchen’s face slowly vanished. "Teacher Xu, are you always this direct?"
"More or less," Xu Yanxi said, raising an eyebrow. "It might be because I’ve spent all my time in schools, so I’ve had less exposure to the wider world. If I’ve said anything offensive, please don’t take it to heart."
"Not at all," Zhao Yuchen said, shaking his head. "It’s strange, but I feel very relaxed with you. I don’t have to worry about anything else."
"Perhaps because I want nothing from you?" Xu Yanxi said, spearing a piece of cake with her fork. "There aren’t many places in this world where one can truly be oneself, and even fewer people who can make you feel at ease."
"Yes, you’re right," Zhao Yuchen said with a sigh. "Teacher Xu, you’re really something else."
"You’re the impressive one," Xu Yanxi said with a shrug. "Becoming a Secretary-General at your age—that’s what’s truly impressive. Even with your family’s connections, you wouldn’t have reached this position if you didn’t have the ability yourself."
Zhao Yuchen wasn’t surprised that Xu Yanxi knew all this. "Yes, my family background played a part."
Xu Yanxi finished off a small piece of cake. "I’m very curious. Song Mei did something so immoral, so why was your father able to accept her?"
"Perhaps it’s because they’re ’true loves’?" Zhao Yuchen said sarcastically. "Or maybe seeing her abandon her husband and daughter for him gave his ego a bigger boost?"
Xu Yanxi raised an eyebrow. "From the sound of it, you’re not too happy with your old man?"
"Of course," Zhao Yuchen nodded. "But it doesn’t matter whether I’m happy about it or not. In any case, she’s the one living with the old man. If I treat him not as a father but as a superior, I find it’s much easier to get along with him. At least I get whatever I want."
Xu Yanxi rested her chin on her hand. "That’s not a bad way to think about it. In any case, I have nothing to do with Song Mei, and I don’t care how her life turns out. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going. We most likely won’t be seeing each other again."
"Secretary Zhao, I wish you a prosperous career and swift promotions."
Zhao Yuchen clinked his cup against hers. "I appreciate the kind words. It’s just a shame you’re her daughter."
"There’s nothing to be ashamed of," Xu Yanxi said, understanding his unspoken meaning. "You’ll meet someone even better. I’ll be on my way."
Watching Xu Yanxi walk out of the coffee shop, Zhao Yuchen took another sip of coffee. He now truly felt it was a shame. A woman like Xu Yanxi would be an ideal life partner.
’But fate has a cruel sense of humor; she just had to be Song Mei’s daughter. Besides, she isn’t interested, and I can’t get over that mental block either. Especially for someone like me in politics, I can’t afford any moral or ethical scandals.’
With a sigh, Zhao Yuchen went to the counter to pay the bill.
Not long after leaving the coffee shop, Xu Yanxi ran into Sheng Zhou. She was shopping at the supermarket, and as it happened, Sheng Zhou was also there to pick up some things. And so, they met.
Looking at the half-rimmed glasses perched on Sheng Zhou’s nose, Xu Yanxi couldn’t help but stare for a moment. "This look is much better on you."
Sheng Zhou was a little confused. "What do you mean?"
Xu Yanxi said, "I just met someone who was flawless in everything he said and did, but he was just so fake. His smile was like a mask welded to his face. It must be exhausting to live like that."
Sheng Zhou caught her meaning. "A blind date?"
"Not exactly," Xu Yanxi said, not shying away from her past. "He’s my biological mother’s stepson. I don’t know if my mother—the one who abandoned her husband and daughter—had a sudden crisis of conscience or what, but she’s started trying to meddle in my personal life."
"Her stepson is quite a catch, and I’m not doing too poorly myself these days, so she got it into her head that... well, you know."
Sheng Zhou’s expression turned serious. "I don’t want to know. So, was this why you were angry when we had dinner at your place last time?"
"More or less. That part is a minor issue. What really makes me angry is, what right did she have to go to my dad?" Xu Yanxi picked up a container of tomatoes. "We don’t owe her a thing. Why should we have to listen to her?"
"So neither you nor he was willing?" Sheng Zhou was a sharp man; putting together what Xu Yanxi had said, he quickly deduced the outcome.
"Of course. Even if he weren’t Song Mei’s stepson, I wouldn’t have pursued anything with him. He hides too much of himself; he’s not open enough. Perhaps other people would see that as mature and stable, but that’s not what I like."
Xu Yanxi said softly, "Of course, I don’t deny that he’s an outstanding man. But there are so many outstanding people in the world; there’s no need to throw yourself at every single one you meet."
Sheng Zhou smiled. "So you admire straightforward people?"
"More or less. Everyone prefers to deal with straightforward people," Xu Yanxi said, deflecting. "Speaking of which, I seem to be running into you all the time lately. It feels like I see you every time I leave the house."
Sheng Zhou chuckled. "Purely a coincidence. I assure you, I’m not intentionally engineering these encounters."
Xu Yanxi laughed. "It could also be because this place is so small that you run into people everywhere you go."
Sheng Zhou thought about the size of Hua Country, then about the size of Country H, and paused for a moment. "Perhaps. But when a place is small, it can sometimes be awkward. It feels like you run into someone you know everywhere you go."
Xu Yanxi shivered just thinking about it. "You’re right. Imagine running into an ex... how utterly..."
"What is it?" Sheng Zhou asked, confused when Xu Yanxi trailed off mid-sentence.
Xu Yanxi forced a smile. "Like I was saying, it’s awkward to run into people you know in a small place."
Sheng Zhou followed her gaze. A man who looked to be in his mid-thirties was standing about three steps away. The way he was looking at Xu Yanxi was far from ordinary—it was a mixture of excitement and sorrow. And when the man’s eyes fell on Sheng Zhou standing beside her, Sheng Zhou could even see a flash of jealousy on his face.
