Chapter Eighty-Nine A Humble Plea for Your Subscription!

“What I mean is—” Xiahou Yu suddenly paused, leaving everyone hanging. Seeing the curiosity on their faces, he smiled faintly, looked at Yingyue, lifted the hand he was holding high, and continued, “Lan Yingyue, the president of Blue Tear.”

The sight of everyone looking as if they had seen a ghost pleased Xiahou Yu immensely. In an offhand tone, he said, “I wonder whether this identity is enough to earn Miss Smith an apology?”

Every person present wore the same stunned expression, utterly unable to believe what they had just heard.

This woman—no, this girl, this exquisitely beautiful young girl—was actually the mysterious president of Blue Tear, the prodigy so lavishly praised by the business world in recent years.

And this girl was even bound by countless unseen ties to the Duke, whose fame had lately been at its height.

Heavens! What was to be done now?

Mr. Hisley’s expression at that moment was almost comical. Just now he had been thinking of making this girl, who seemed to have no background or status worth mentioning, apologize to Miss Smith. What a grievous mistake—mistaking a jewel for a pebble.

“Well, President Lan—” Mr. Hisley said awkwardly, but before he could finish, Xiahou Yu raised a hand to cut him off, his sharp gaze turning toward Miss Smith, who was still frozen in shock.

At last Miss Smith could no longer hold back her tears. Looking at the man she had once admired, seeing that he was forcing her to apologize in public for the sake of another woman, while the people around her watched as if enjoying a spectacle, she felt all dignity stripped away and turned to leave.

“You cannot go yet!” Xiahou Yu seized her wrist and stopped her.

Miss Smith turned back to look at the elegant hand gripping her, and sorrow surged in her heart. She looked up at Xiahou Yu.

This man—she had known him for years, and never once had he touched her. He had always avoided women as though they were venomous creatures. Yet now, for the sake of another woman, he had actually—

Seeing the matter grow more and more serious, and seeing how wretched Miss Smith looked now, Yingyue stepped forward, wanting to persuade Xiahou Yu.

“Yu—”

Yuwen Xi caught Yingyue’s hand and shook his head, signaling for her not to interfere.

Xiahou Yu was helping her establish her authority, making others wary of her from now on so they would never again dare insult her so recklessly.

But Yingyue turned back to Yuwen Xi, pleading in her eyes.

She did not want to be remembered in this way.

Seeing this, Yuwen Xi glanced at Xiahou Yu, then turned back and shook his head at Yingyue again, more firmly this time.

Yingyue looked at Yuwen Xi, then at Xiahou Yu. In the end, she said nothing more and lowered her head.

Perhaps Xi and Yu were right. After all, this world had always been one where the strong devoured the weak. Because she was weak, she had just been humiliated. Because she was weak, Maria had kidnapped her a few days ago while she had no chance at all to resist. If Arthur had not come that day... ah...

Thinking this, Yingyue slowly lifted her head and fixed Miss Smith with a steady gaze.

Mr. Hisley could see that unless Miss Smith apologized, this matter would not end well. He sighed inwardly, but in the end did not oppose Xiahou Yu’s actions. Rising, he walked over to Miss Smith and said helplessly, “Miss Smith, you...”

He looked at her face, full of grievance, and his heart tightened. This was his own niece, and yet she had to apologize in public. But after glancing at Xiahou Yu and Yuwen Xi, he turned his gaze away, no longer looking at Miss Smith, and said coldly, “Apologize.”

Apologize to this girl of unfathomable identity.

Otherwise, not only the Smith family, but even the Hisley family...

Miss Smith looked at the uncle who had always doted on her, and now he was standing there telling her to apologize. Her tears instantly spilled over again as she cried out in disbelief, “Uncle—”

But Mr. Hisley did not look at her. He merely repeated, “Apologize.”

This time, his coldness was enough to chill the heart.

Miss Smith looked at the people before her. She had been crying in grievance, but as she looked and looked, she suddenly began to laugh.

“Haha...”

Xiahou Yu frowned, not knowing what she was laughing at.

Yuwen Xi watched her with deep, thoughtful eyes.

Mr. Hisley, meanwhile, closed his eyes in pain. When had this girl ever suffered such humiliation?

Miss Smith stopped laughing and looked coldly at Xiahou Yu’s hand. In an icy tone she said, “Let go.”

Then, without caring about Xiahou Yu’s startled look, she flung off his hand, straightened her back, and walked over to Yingyue. Her gaze was dark and chilly.

“I apologize for my rude behavior just now. Please forgive me.”

Then, ignoring the astonishment of everyone present, she bowed deeply. But at the instant she lowered her head, she whispered in a strange tone, “I will certainly avenge today’s humiliation.”

Then she straightened, ignored everyone’s stares, and walked proudly out of the banquet hall with her back ramrod straight.

Yingyue frowned as she watched Miss Smith’s departing figure, unease stirring in her heart.

She had the distinct feeling that Miss Smith had changed the moment she apologized—and not in a way that boded well for her.

“Yingyue, how are you? Are you all right?” Seeing that Miss Smith had apologized, Xiahou Yu let the matter rest. He had been standing too far away just now and had not heard her final words.

Yuwen Xi stared in the direction Miss Smith had left, lost in thought.

He had heard that sentence too.

“I’m fine, Yu. Let’s go. I’m feeling a little unwell.”

“Mm, all right. Let’s go.” Xiahou Yu turned to bid Mr. Hisley farewell.

Mr. Hisley knew the evening’s banquet had been ruined. Nothing disastrous had happened, but still... ah.

“Very well, President Lan, Vice President Xiahou, take care on your way.”

“Mr. Hisley, I shall take my leave as well.” Yuwen Xi also said his farewell.

Xiahou Yu glanced at Yingyue, then at Yuwen Xi’s cold face, and let out a faint sigh.

“Xi, let’s go together.”

Hearing him, Yuwen Xi did not answer at once. Instead he looked at Yingyue. Seeing that she said nothing, a trace of gloom passed through him, and he replied indifferently, “No. I can manage on my own.”

Yingyue had not known how to speak to Yuwen Xi to begin with. So much had happened these past days. But now, seeing him so distant, her heart gave a painful jolt, and she finally said, “Let’s go together.”

At once Yuwen Xi turned back, his eyes filling with joy as he looked at Yingyue.

But the moment the words left her mouth, Yingyue had already hurried ahead.

“All right,” Yuwen Xi said, gazing at her retreating figure in delight, tenderness in his voice that even he himself did not notice.

Xiahou Yu looked at Yingyue’s quickly moving figure ahead, then at the joy on Yuwen Xi’s face, and could not help smiling too.

But why was it that something in his heart felt so tight, as though he could scarcely breathe?

In the car, after a stretch of silence, Yuwen Xi finally could not help speaking.

“Yingyue, do you have time tomorrow?” he asked nervously, afraid she would refuse, and hurriedly added, “We haven’t seen each other in so long. I... have a great deal I want to say to you.”

Hearing this, Yingyue clasped her fingers tightly together on her knees, trying to steady herself.

“Xi, I’m sorry. I have something to do tomorrow. I’m afraid I won’t have time.” As she spoke, she did not dare look at his expression.

“Oh. Then what about the day after tomorrow?” Yuwen Xi asked, still clinging to hope.

Yingyue’s lashes trembled. She closed her eyes.

“I won’t have time then either.”

Pain stabbed through Yuwen Xi’s heart, yet he still forced a smile and said, “It’s all right. Whenever you’re free, call me. Any time is fine.”

“I... probably won’t have much time lately.”

His smile froze on his face, and bitterness spread through him at once.

No time—or no wish to see me?

Lan Yingyue, when did you become this false as well?

When Yingyue saw that Yuwen Xi had fallen silent, she opened her eyes and looked at him anxiously. His eyes were shut, and a self-mocking expression lay across his face.

At once her heart ached.

I’m sorry. I truly just don’t know how to tell you.

“Xi, in the next few days I’m going to Switzerland with a friend to ski. I really don’t have time. The moment I come back, I’ll call you right away, all right?”

As she spoke, she laid her small hand on the back of his, anxious and earnest.

At her words, Yuwen Xi’s lashes trembled. At last he opened his eyes, looked at her, and smiled.

“It’s all right. I’ll wait for you.”

Yingyue, you are still as cruel as ever—still impossible to let go of.

Yingyue let out a breath of relief, the corners of her lips lifting as she said happily, “Xi, you’re so good to me.”

Yuwen Xi only smiled in return and said nothing.

Listening to the two of them, a trace of bitter laughter touched Xiahou Yu’s lips. Deep in his eyes a flicker of pain passed, though even he did not know for whom.

The car stopped in front of the Blue Tear Hotel. Looking at her own hotel, Yingyue said with a hint of annoyance, “Yu, Xi is staying here? Why didn’t you tell me?”

How was I supposed to? I can barely get to see you once. Even if I wanted to, calling the Duke’s residence is not something just anyone can do.

And besides, that stingy man would probably like nothing better than to hide you eighteen levels underground where no one could so much as glimpse you. When would I ever have had the chance to tell you?

Thinking of a certain someone, Xiahou Yu’s mouth twitched uncontrollably.

Seeing the ever-changing expression on his face, Yuwen Xi smiled and said, “I asked Yu not to tell you. I wanted to give you a surprise.”

“Oh, so that’s it.” Yingyue accepted his explanation without the slightest suspicion and nodded.

Xiahou Yu shot him a grateful glance.

Yuwen Xi answered it with a smile.

“Then I’ll go up first. When you have time, we can have a proper talk.” With that, Yuwen Xi walked into the hotel.

Yingyue watched his retreating figure, a bitter smile rising to her lips.

A proper talk? About what?

Could we still truly talk things over?