After Breaking Up With the Scheming Bad Woman 53p1

Chapter 53: Don’t Call Me That. p1

The brilliant sunset poured straight into the sea, melting the surface into a honey color. The impatient waves crashed against the reefs, and the sound gently seeped into the secluded restaurant by the sea through the entire floor-to-ceiling window.

In the open kitchen, the chefs, wearing hats with the restaurant’s logo, were immersed in their culinary art. A “ding” sounded, and a waiter in uniform came over with a tray and walked slowly, his footsteps in sync with the soothing music played by the violinist in the restaurant.

Huai Xing sat by the window, eating the exquisite dishes in front of her and listening to Lu Xianyue talk about what had happened at the exhibition today.

After talking about the main points, Lu Xianyue forked a piece of tender shrimp meat. “Manager Chang came to say hello and asked me why you weren’t there today.” She snorted coldly. “As if he could. Can our President Huai be seen just because he wants to?”

Huai Xing half-lifted her eyelids. “You’re saying such nice things. Is it because you still haven’t made up with Sister Shiwei?”

Lu Xianyue was silent for about ten seconds, pressed her lips together, and said with a rare hint of embarrassment, “No, it’s because I made her angry again.”

“…” Huai Xing almost choked. She opened her mouth to ask for some details, but then she thought better of it. “I’m not going to help you. After this business trip, you can go and apologize yourself.”

“I don’t want to,” Lu Xianyue said, but her hand was poking at the food on her plate, betraying her inner unease.

Huai Xing picked up her glass and drank some juice. She turned her head slightly to look at the sea view outside the floor-to-ceiling window. The fiery red clouds were reflected in her black pupils, forming a beautiful halo.

When she looked back, Lu Xianyue was replying to a WeChat message. She asked, “Have you figured it out? Are you going to find Sister Shiwei again?”

“No, someone in the seminar group asked me where I was eating,” Lu Xianyue said, putting her phone aside after replying to the message and looking at Huai Xing. “How about it? I didn’t step on a landmine this time, right? You can trust Xiaohongshu sometimes.”

She had been spoiled since she was a child and was very picky about food. Over time, she preferred to go out and explore restaurants on her own. Sometimes, when she saw recommendations for some restaurants online, she would drag Huai Xing along to try them. The results were predictable. Most of the restaurants’ promotions were greatly exaggerated.

Huai Xing commented, “It’s okay.”

“What do you mean ‘it’s okay’? It’s very good, okay? These seafood dishes are very well-prepared.”

“I don’t really like seafood,” Huai Xing said after thinking for a moment. “When I was working in Jingcheng before, I came here on a business trip. The boss of the partner company took me to a local seafood stall, but I only ate some crab and shrimp. The others were a bit too fishy for me.”

“Then didn’t you wake up hungry at night, eating so little?”

Huai Xing’s long lashes fluttered. She picked up her utensils again and answered very naturally, “…No.”

She had been busy having sex back at the hotel and had fallen asleep quickly after she was tired.

But she wouldn’t tell Lu Xianyue this. There was no need. It was all in the past.

The two of them chatted idly, enjoying the moment without any social obligations. Until the sun set and only a sliver of pale white was left on the horizon. There were custom-made candlesticks on each table, and the flickering candlelight cast the silhouettes of the guests on the windowpanes.

At this moment, the restaurant door was opened by a waiter, and the seashell wind chime swayed gently, making a crisp and pleasant sound.

Lu Xianyue had been editing her food account, preparing to post a recommendation for this restaurant.

She heard the sound of the seashell wind chime, lifted her eyelids nonchalantly, and then met the gaze of a beautiful woman holding a little girl. The other party nodded to her politely, and she returned the nod, then looked at her friend opposite her and said softly, “Do you know ‘Lan Ling,’ Huai Xing?”

Huai Xing was puzzled. “In your eyes, do I not go online or do I not go shopping, Lu Xianyue?”

The name “Lan Ling” womenswear had become more and more famous in recent years, and many offline stores had opened across the country. Even if she didn’t want to mention to Lu Xianyue that she had once worked at “Lan Ling,” she couldn’t say she didn’t know.

“At the opening ceremony today, I saw a glowing beauty.”

Huai Xing was unfazed, drinking her juice. “Mm.”

“I asked a peer next to me who that person was, and they told me that she was the vice president of ‘Lan Ling,’ Chu Wantang.”

Huai Xing’s expression did not change, and she ate her dessert. “Mm.”

“Your reaction is so calm.”

“You’re the one who’s overreacting, right?” Huai Xing was a little puzzled. “You’re bringing this up for no reason.”

“How is it for no reason? I’m setting the stage.”

Lu Xianyue tilted her chin towards a table not far away. “Look, that President Chu just came in. I guess she was the one who asked me where I was eating? She just greeted me. Should I go and say hello to her?” She was a little troubled. “Our company has no business with them.”

Huai Xing lowered her eyes and asked, “Are you almost done eating? Shall we go?”

“Let’s wait until it’s a little darker. The moonlight is not strong enough yet.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Lu Xianyue saw Chu Wantang stand up and come over with the cute little girl. She quickly sat up straight and gave Huai Xing a look.

But Huai Xing turned her face away, not receiving the signal, and looked at the floor-to-ceiling window.

She watched as Chu Wantang’s figure got closer and closer. In just two breaths, Chu Wantang’s gentle female voice sounded by the table. “I heard that Little President Lu loves to explore food, so I troubled a friend to ask you in the group.” She gently shook Su Qiao’s arm. “Qiaoqiao, this is a big sister.”

Su Qiao was small but sweet-mouthed. She immediately curved her eyes and called out crisply, “Big sister.”

“Oh my god… so cute…” Lu Xianyue said. “I haven’t seen such a cute human cub in a long time.”

Chu Wantang’s peripheral vision noticed Huai Xing’s movements, and she shook Su Qiao’s hand again. “Qiaoqiao, the big sister said you’re cute. What should you say?”

“I am very cute…”

Lu Xianyue laughed.

Chu Wantang’s dimples were on her lips. “I wonder if Little President Lu has time tomorrow. May I have the honor? Our ‘Lan Ling’ has plans to cooperate with a silk fabric company. If it’s convenient, we can discuss it further.”

“I’m sorry, President Chu. It seems we’ll have to leave it for next time. I already have plans for tomorrow,” Lu Xianyue said with an apologetic expression. She had other collaborations to discuss on this trip to Nancheng. She suddenly remembered that she still had a partner sitting opposite her. “Xiao Xing, what about you tomorrow night?”

Huai Xing seemed to have just heard their conversation. She shook her head and said very calmly, “I’m not free either.” She thought for a moment and still turned her head to the side, looked at the woman she hadn’t seen in five years, and said very politely, “If your company has any intention of cooperating with ‘Silk Season,’ it’s not too late to discuss it then. Why the rush?”

Chu Wantang looked at the face she had been thinking of day and night, her breathing lightening. On the surface, she was calm and nodded. “President Huai is right.”

She then gently shook Su Qiao’s arm. “Qiaoqiao, this is…” She paused, a smile in her eyes. “Auntie.”

Su Qiao immediately called out obediently, “Auntie.”

“…” Lu Xianyue was stunned. How had she dropped a generation?

Huai Xing looked at Chu Wantang, who was a meter away, then at the little girl’s face, and then smiled faintly. She asked the little girl, “Hello, may I ask how old you are?”

“Three and a half,” Su Qiao answered childishly, her small fingers switching between three and two, not very accurately.

Chu Wantang lifted her up a little. “Then I won’t disturb you, Little President Lu. I’ll take her to eat first.”

“Okay.”

After Chu Wantang left, Lu Xianyue propped her chin on her hand and asked in a low voice, “Why are you ‘Auntie’ and I’m ‘Big Sister’?”

“You look younger than me. Are you satisfied with that answer?”

Lu Xianyue touched her face and grinned. “Now that you put it that way, I can’t refute it.”

“Let’s go. It’s dark enough.”

Just as she stood up, Lu Xianyue remembered another question. “How did she know your surname is Huai? Did I say your name in front of her?”

“We’re all in the same industry.”

“That’s true.”

As they walked and talked, the waiter opened the door for them.

The sound of the seashell wind chime sounded again and entered Chu Wantang’s ears. Su Qiao was eating her children’s meal with a spoon in the high chair at the side.

Su Cheng looked at Huai Xing and the others’ retreating figures, then at her friend, and asked, “Is that it?”

After looking for so many years, she had finally seen her.

Wasn’t she going to stop her?

A smile appeared on Chu Wantang’s lips. “I can’t be too pushy right away, Su Cheng.” She sighed lightly. “Now that I know so much information, we’ll meet again.”

“Like ‘the closer you are to home, the more timid you become’?”

“Mm.”

Most importantly, she needed to digest the fact that she had finally reunited with Huai Xing.

She had imagined many scenes, including tonight’s. Now that she had finally seen her, she was a little afraid that all of this was a false dream and didn’t dare to be too eager. Huai Xing had left so resolutely back then, and her intention of not wanting to see her was so obvious.

What she had to do now was to first let Huai Xing lower her guard against her. At least for now, in Huai Xing’s eyes, she had also let go of the past.

Tonight’s contact was just an ordinary business exchange.

“Then did Xingxing misunderstand that Qiaoqiao is your daughter?” Su Cheng became concerned again. “Don’t let her misunderstand.”

Chu Wantang thought for a moment. “If she misunderstands, I’ll explain it to her clearly later. It’s not the right time yet.”

She couldn’t deny that she had selfish motives. She didn’t want Huai Xing to know the truth so soon. She couldn’t help but wonder if Huai Xing would care that she had a child.

If she did, then did that mean… she still cared about her?

Also, she needed more time to understand the relationship between Huai Xing and Lu Xianyue. Why would Huai Xing get out of the car to open the passenger door for Lu Xianyue? Just the thought of this made the jealousy in her heart churn, making her feel as if she had been dragged into a bottomless sea, unable to breathe.

…