"A date, huh?" The woman who was accompanying Mr. Fang gave Xi Qian a head to toe look. "Well, this is indeed new. When did this happen?"
Xi Qian wanted to sneer and tell the other woman that it wasn't any of her business, but she was forced to bite her inner cheek in an attempt to stop her remark. She didn't fail to see the flash of arrogance and mockery in the other woman's eyes.
"Just recently." Li Xiran answered, sensing Xi Qian's uneasiness with the other woman's question.
He was also irritated by the other woman's high pitched voice with a hint of ridicule, plus the way she was looking down on Xi Qian. It made sense to him why Xi Qian disliked attending occasions like this and he couldn't blame her for it.
"Now, now. You don't have to pressure the poor girl, Mari." Mr. Fang gently chastised his partner, his head turning to his right when he recognized someone.
"Anyway, we must be off. We should talk later, Mr. Li. I would like to get more acquainted with you and your beautiful partner."
Li Xiran released Xi Qian and gave Mr. Fang a quick hand shake, hoping inwardly that they would leave him and Xi Qian alone. It was obvious that Xi Qian wasn't comfortable with their presence, and he would rather not make it harder for her than it already was.
"You handled it well. I'm surprised you didn't snap at her earlier." He told Xi Qian, once the two were out of their earshot.
"Hmm… I was close to snapping back. Thank goodness you are here with me."
"But he was right, you know. Not many women could handle themselves in public like you. You have the attitude and an elegance of a lady. You have a grace that not many women have."
"Not until I open my mouth." Xi Qian finished for him, which was followed with Li Xiran's lips curling up. They both knew that she didn't mince her words at all.
"You'll most likely be bombarded with questions regarding why you are with me tonight."
"That's fine. I already expected that it would happen the moment I agreed to accompany you when your father asked."
Li Xiran sighed at that. "He shouldn't have asked you though. I hope he will stop treating me like a boy already."
"Then you better stop acting like one." Xi Qian shrugged. "The only reason why your father hasn't handed you the company yet is because you aren't ready and you keep acting like a spoiled brat, throwing tantrums, especially when your brother is involved."
Li Xiran couldn't retort at all. He always found that Xi Qian would always have the last word between them. Usually, he would fight until the end to prove his point, but with Xi Qian, he found himself considering her words rather than retorting to defend himself.
Li Xiran had to admit that he was impressed with Xi Qian from the very moment he'd met her. Initially, he thought that Xi Qian would feel lost in a party like this, but she was only nervous at first, but grew confident quickly. From the looks of it, although Xi Qian was a commoner and had no money to her family name, she knew how to behave like a lady on such occasions.
"So the rumors are true it seems."
Li Xiran turned to the sound of an elderly voice and found an old man with thick white hair, dressed in a suit approaching them.
"Uncle Mao, happy birthday." He immediately greeted the elderly and bowed his head politely, surprising his partner. His manner changed immediately to a polite one, facing this man in front of them.
"Thank you, Xiran. It's good to have you back after so many years." Uncle Mao nodded, his eyes turning from Li Xiran to Xi Qian. "I don't normally believe in rumors, but the more I look around, the more I hear about you bringing a lady tonight. I couldn't believe it at first, you see. The Li Xiran that everyone knows has never been spotted with a woman, and yet here you are, with a beautiful one next to you."
Xi Qian's face turned red, but she willed herself to calm down. She couldn't believe that Li Xiran had never bought a woman with him before. So why did he agree to attend with her tonight? What changed?
"Ah, forgive my rudeness, my dear." Uncle Mao told Xi Qian. "You see, this boy here is a son of a dear friend of mine. I have known Xiran since he was much younger and I assure you that he wasn't involved with another woman before."
"Uncle Mao shouldn't say such words. Miss Xi and I are very good friends." Li Xiran interjected, but the older man only gave him and Xi Qian an amused look and shook his head as if he knew something that they didn't.
Xi Qian chose to hold her tongue, not knowing if she should say something in return to address the old man's comment.
"Happy birthday, Sir. Thank you for having us here."
Suddenly, a woman in her late fifties approached Uncle Mao. Despite her age, she looked expensive and refined. She cast Li Xiran and Xi Qian a smile before touching Uncle Mao's arm to get his attention.
"Dear, the meeting is about to start. You can't leave others waiting for too long." She told the man.
"Ah, Xiran. You should join us!" Uncle Mao lifted a hand and gestured for Li Xiran to join them. "I knew that you didn't come here just to celebrate with me. Allow this old man to extend an olive branch to you."
Li Xiran glanced at Xi Qian worriedly. If he leaves now, he wasn't sure how long it would take for him to return to her side.
As if sensing his hesitation, Xi Qian nodded her head and smiled at him.
"Go. I'll be here when you're done."
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