Mr. Xiao, can I borrow your wedding invitation?

Chapter 226 This marriage cannot fall through

Ultimately, no matter how many times Xiao Shen slept with her, it was just a casual relationship, a fleeting encounter. In his eyes, she was nothing more than a bed warmer, someone to satisfy his physical needs. He could have had any other woman in that position. But Qian Ke'er was different. She had a noble status and would become his wife in the future. The Qian family would ally with the Xiao family and become the dominant force in the domestic business world.

Xiao Shen was a smart man and already knew what was more important. He wouldn't be foolish enough to protect an outsider.

Just as Su Ying was mentally preparing herself to be questioned by Xiao Shen, she suddenly heard him sneer.

Su Ying: "?"

"You've been busy all day, haven't you eaten yet? Come here!"

Su Ying: "??"

Several beautifully presented stir-fried dishes were laid out on the table, along with takeout packaging boxes from the hotel. Just by looking at the boxes, you could tell the dishes weren't cheap.

Su Ying was still in a daze when she was forced to sit down.

"What are you standing there for? Eat! Do you want me to feed you?" Xiao Shen shoved a pair of chopsticks into her hand.

Su Ying was a little confused. She glanced at the dishes on the table, then her gaze returned to Xiao Shen's face. "Fourth Master, what... what do you mean by this? Aren't you Qian Ke'er's fiancé? You should be upholding justice for her, why are you..."

Xiao Shen wiped his hands with a disinfectant wipe, his movements elegant, clearly showing that he had received a good education since childhood. Although he was a bit of a rascal and wild, he had the demeanor of a rich young master that was no less than anyone else's.

"We're not even engaged yet, what's the rush?"

"Not engaged?" Su Wen's eyes widened.

It turns out I had misunderstood.

For some reason, hearing this news brought her a small sense of relief.

"What's wrong? Don't want me to marry Qian Ke'er? Are you jealous?" He pinched Su Ying's ear with his fingertip, a gesture that seemed both indulgent and punishing.

A tingling, numb sensation spread through Su Ying's tailbone, making her feel like it was melting. She turned slightly to avoid it and offered a reluctant explanation, "How could that be? Fourth Master is the pride of the Xiao family, a dragon among men. Although Qian Ke'er is vicious and arrogant, she is of noble birth, a princess of the Qian family. You two are a perfect match no matter how you look at it!"

Xiao Shen froze, then withdrew his hand, grinding his fingers together, and grinned mischievously, "What's the use of status? I much prefer harmony in bed!"

In a flash, Su Ying's face turned bright red again.

The next second, she stopped talking and just buried her head in her food.

Xiao Shen rested his chin on his hand, looking at her with satisfaction...

Ningcheng.

Xiao Ruonan went to the Yan family as a guest on the orders of the old man.

Firstly, it would allow her to get to know her future in-laws and living environment in advance; secondly, it would enhance her relationship with Mr. Yan.

Xiao Ruonan has been very obedient lately, doing whatever the old man says. At the Yan family's dining table, she also shows her sensible and well-behaved nature as a future daughter-in-law.

Only Yan Shao's younger sister always targeted Xiao Ruonan, saying sarcastic things to her, saying that she had stayed abroad for so many years and that her personality was not as quiet and traditional as that of girls in China, and that she should learn more about manners from the Yan family in the future.

Seeing Xiao Ruonan's submissive attitude, Ah Lie couldn't help but stand up for his master, "Although my fifth young lady has been abroad all these years, she has always been of good character. Why judge a person's character based on this? Besides, before criticizing others, you should at least look at yourself!"

Miss Yan has a very bad reputation in the industry and often bullies young ladies and gentlemen from families less powerful than her own.

This remark enraged the Yan siblings, who urged Xiao Ruonan to deal with the bodyguard.

"You're right, I've spoiled my bodyguard. I'll teach him a lesson when we get back!"

"But..." "I've finished eating, I'll go first, you can do as you please!" Xiao Ruonan wiped her mouth, got up and left, with A Lie following behind.

"No, what kind of attitude is this? It's completely disrespectful!" Miss Yan exclaimed with disdain. "Mom and Dad, look at this! Just because the Xiao family is backing them up, they're completely disregarding the Yan family. What will happen if they actually enter our family in the future?"

Mother Yan glared at her, "Alright, shut up! Wasn't it because you didn't give her any face just now? You really are something. It's one thing to bully others, but she's the fifth young lady of the Xiao family, the most beloved younger sister of Fourth Master Xiao. Find an opportunity to go to the Xiao family and apologize to her. If this marriage falls through, I won't let you off the hook!"

Miss Yan stamped her foot in dissatisfaction, "Mom, how can you protect an outsider? I'm your daughter! What is she anyway?"

Yan Shao shook his head helplessly, "You know nothing, and you ruined my plans!"

"Miss, they've gone too far! I'll go back and tell Master!" Ah Lie said indignantly.

Xiao Ruonan, however, leaned on the car window with her elbow, no longer as aggressive as before, and looked exhausted. "Why talk about this? I'm going to marry her anyway, so it's better to avoid trouble. Besides, I have plenty of ways to deal with that brat, so what's the harm in a little while?"

"What Fifth Miss says is true!" Despite this, Ah Lie was still worried.

Judging from what I saw at the Yan family's dinner table today, it's clear that this family is no good. If Xiao Ruonan really marries into them, she will definitely suffer.

The shadows of the trees on both sides of the road rushed past, and the interior of the carriage was sometimes bright and sometimes dark. Xiao Ruonan silently stared out the window, her face full of thoughts.

While waiting at the traffic light, Ning Zhiyuan's eyes unconsciously glanced at her in the rearview mirror.

He seemed to think of something, opened his mouth, but then stopped himself from speaking.

Xiao Ruonan suddenly turned around and looked at him. He was caught off guard and avoided her gaze, his panic mixed with composure.

"What do you see me doing?"

"No, I didn't look at Miss Fifth!"

Xiao Ruonan curled her lip smugly, "Fine, still won't admit it!"

Back at the building, Xiao Ruonan called out to him, "Bring me my red wine!"

"Yes!"

Xiao Ruonan kicked off her high heels, acting as if Ning Zhiyuan didn't exist, and took off her clothes as she walked towards the bedroom.

Ning Zhiyuan immediately turned his back.

A short while later, Xiao Ruonan came out wearing a silk slip dress.

She wasn't tall, but her skin was very fair, and under the light, it looked like she had no pores at all. Although she wasn't exactly curvy, her collarbones were beautiful, and the thin straps hung on her slender shoulders, looking like they were about to fall off, which was really hard for men to resist.

She leaned back on the sofa, raised her legs, and lay lazily on her side.

Ning Zhiyuan watched this scene, his expression unchanged, but the color in his eyes changed.

"Pour it up!" Xiao Ruonan lazily ordered.

She took the wine glass, gently swirling it in her hand; the dark liquid was as hazy as her eyes.

The old man spoke to her and said that if there were no problems, her wedding with Young Master Yan would be held next month. Originally, he didn't want to marry off his daughter so soon, but the Yan family was urging him to. Seeing that Xiao Ruonan had no objections, he agreed.

Yes, Xiao Ruonan really had no objections. She was going to get married sooner or later anyway, so instead of dragging it out, she might as well go for it in one go, so she wouldn't regret it later and would avoid being disappointed when her expectations were too high.

Thinking of this, Xiao Ruonan slowly turned her gaze to Ning Zhiyuan, her eyes filled with indescribable sadness, as if she could already see the future she did not expect. She tilted her head back and downed a glass of wine.