Han Xianyun truly had no interest in flirting with her.
But she deliberately sat on his lap and swayed.
Her pure yet alluring face, her flawless figure, no one could resist.
Especially since she was so good at grinding.
Han Xianyun couldn't help but roll his sharp Adam's apple.
"Be good, go out first."
His warm hand wrapped around her slender waist, his deep, husky voice full of coaxing.
Xie Jin’s pretty eyes narrowed, her sparkling eyeshadow particularly seductive at this moment.
"It's an internal Han family matter, isn't it?"
Her soft, white index finger, adorned with pale pink nail polish, traced circles on his chest, her tone obedient and playful, with certainty.
Han Xianyun raised an eyebrow, "Quite clever."
Xie Jin smiled proudly, "So, are you going to tell me, or not tell me?"
Perhaps it was due to their compatibility in bed.
Han Xianyun had always treated her well.
Sometimes, he didn't hide work matters from her.
Even multi-million dollar deals.
In Xiao Ya's words, they were like a couple in love.
But Xie Jin knew very well that Han Xianyun's kindness towards her was, nine times out of ten, not out of affection.
It was because he found her completely non-threatening.
Not worth his guard.
And then there was the matter between men and women.
Otherwise, if he truly liked her, how could he avoid her during family calls every single time?
Like guarding against a thief.
"Xie Jin."
He called her name, his dark pupils sinking, a clear warning in his tone.
Xie Jin shrugged, "If you're not telling me, then don't. I don't really want to know that badly."
She paused, then got off him, feigning disinterest, "I have no intention of overstepping. I just want to help you with your troubles."
This was the truth.
She never cared about the position of Mrs. Han.
She deliberately provoked him, not to please him, nor with any hidden agenda.
It was purely to repay him for leading her out of the police station last time.
She didn't like owing others.
Especially not in matters of the heart.
Han Xianyun leaned his back completely against the executive chair, his expression unreadable as he scrutinized her.
As if contemplating the truth of her words.
Xie Jin had always hated the condescending gaze of these rich people.
Her expression darkened, "Fine, if you don't believe me."
She turned to leave.
The scent she naturally carried instantly wafted into Han Xianyun's nostrils.
The fingertips that had just touched her waist seemed to still retain a smooth sensation.
Han Xianyun's heart stirred, and he reached out a long arm, pulling her into his embrace.
"I do believe you," he said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pressing a hand on her lower abdomen.
His voice was ambiguous as he explained, "I'm just genuinely troubled."
Xie Jin let out a faint "Oh," "Then you take your time to be troubled. I won't bother you."
She made a move to get up, but her waist was firmly held by Han Xianyun, as if to nail her into his embrace.
Xie Jin glared at him, feeling a sting of pain.
Her appearance and voice were both rather cold.
Once she let down her guard, she became incomparably aloof.
Han Xianyun disliked this about her, feeling a sense of being unable to grasp her, unable to get close.
"Be good, stop making trouble. I was wrong, okay?"
His rough thumb rubbed her lips, trying to coax her back into her enchanting demeanor.
Xie Jin wasn't swayed by this, instead smiling even more coldly, like a goddess who loved all beings but not individuals.
Han Xianyun held her, patiently coaxing her again, "I was really wrong. How about I tell you some Han family secrets?"
"I didn't want to hear them," Xie Jin, maintaining her composure, her tone now carrying a hint of childish petulance.
Han Xianyun chuckled softly and continued to coax her, "It was I who insisted on telling you."
Xie Jin's expression slowly returned to normal, and she said coyly, "Go on."
...
The elite circles of the capital all knew that Fourth Master Han was afraid of the cold.
But few knew the reason behind it.
It was a past event.
Compared to the Fu family, the Han family didn't have many descendants, only two sons.
Both Han Xianyun and Han Yan were descendants of the elder son.
Yet, the old matriarch of the Han family didn't like the elder son; she preferred the younger son.
The position of the Han family patriarch was originally intended for the eldest grandson.
But the eldest young master of the Han family died young, not even living past three years old.
The second young master didn't even make it out of the womb.
As for the third young master, he was luckier, living to the age of ten.
At that time, Han Xianyun was only five years old, and with a simple mind, he loved playing with his third brother.
In the depths of winter, he also followed his third brother's heels.
Whether it was instigated by the adults or his third brother genuinely disliked him.
When no one was around, his third brother pushed him into the frozen lake.
If the butler hadn't happened to pass by and pull him out.
He would have died long ago.
But even though his life was saved, his constitution became much weaker than others.
The relationship between the two families also began to deteriorate because of this.
Not long after, the third young master caught a cold and passed away.
The old matriarch of the Han family was the first to suspect the elder son.
She even wanted to send her elder son to prison.
It was an extremely ugly scene at the time.
Han Xianyun's own mother lost her life during this turmoil.
After that, the two families didn't interact for a long time.
It wasn't until a certain crisis in the Han family that the two families joined forces to overcome it that relations slightly eased.
At that time, Han Xianyun was nineteen.
The sixth young master of the Han family was twelve.
Both had aspirations for the position of family head.
But the old matriarch of the Han family favored her younger grandson more, and fearing Han Xianyun would be an obstacle, she colluded with her second son to orchestrate an assassination.
It was also winter then, with snow falling all over.
Han Xianyun and Han Yan, having received an urgent mission, changed course to go to Nanwu Mountain for inspection.
Due to the haste, neither of them brought anyone with them.
So the assassination was quite smooth.
Just when Han Xianyun felt he was doomed, his confidant arrived with reinforcements.
Perhaps it was fate that he should not die.
Shortly after Han Xianyun boarded, his confidant felt uneasy and, on his own initiative, followed them with his men.
Although they arrived a moment late, they still managed to save the lives of the Han brothers.
Especially Han Yan, who protected his brother at the risk of his own life, and was left with only a breath.
During his recovery period in Jiangcheng, Han Xianyun prayed almost every day.
Fortunately, heaven was merciful, and Han Yan finally woke up.
However, Han Yan, having faced death once, was no longer willing to return to the Han family.
Han Xianyun didn't force him either, letting him stay in Jiangcheng while he went back to deal with the troublesome affairs.
Han Xianyun paused for a long time at this point.
Xie Jin couldn't fathom the emotions in his dark eyes, but she intuitively felt a pang of sadness.
They should have been the closest, most beloved family.
But because of personal gain, because of their grandmother's favoritism, they became enemies turning blades against each other.
No wonder he was so distrustful of people.
If even his own family tried to take his life, then who else was worth his sincere trust?
"You're troubled by Han Yan, aren't you?"
Xie Jin gently smoothed the creases on his brow.
"Mm."
Han Xianyun responded dully.
Han Yan had not shown up at the old Mrs. Han's birthday banquet for a long time.
Even when he did, he wore a sullen face.
As if afraid others wouldn't know about the Han family's disgusting affairs.
In wealthy noble families, which one didn't have secrets?
But for the sake of outward prosperity, no one would reveal them.
Firstly, for the sake of face.
Secondly, to avoid being targeted by rivals and having it exploited.
Take him, for instance. No matter how much he disliked the old lady, he still had to feign filial piety in front of others.
Han Yan was different.
He had been willful since childhood.
Having roamed around in Jiangcheng for a long time, his mind was unruly, and his temper was fiery.
He couldn't put on such pretense.
Han Xianyun was truly helpless with him.
Xie Jin's eyes rolled, and she volunteered, "Leave this to me. I guarantee he'll happily appear at the banquet."
"?"
Han Xianyun's thick brows shot up, and he eyed her suspiciously, "What method do you have?"
Xie Jin tilted her chin enigmatically, "A secret."
Han Xianyun continued to stare at her.
Impatient, Xie Jin blurted out, "When it comes to dealing with men, I have plenty of tricks."
Han Xianyun chuckled, teasingly, "What? Are you tired of me and planning to find a new sugar daddy?"
Xie Jin stroked his face and said, "Switching is impossible, unless the Han family patriarch is replaced."
This statement was indeed quite bold.
Anyone else would not have dared to say it.
But Xie Jin was unconcerned.
Because this was precisely what Han Xianyun liked most about her.
Her undisguised ambition, her clearly defined position.
Clever enough without being overly so, not requiring him to exert too much effort.
"Alright," he patted her perky buttocks, a rich smile on his face, "If you handle this well, there will be a reward."
Xie Jin didn't care about rewards.
She was helping him to repay a debt.
Besides that, there was also a little bit of selfish motivation.
It was pity for him.
Having also grown up in a wealthy family, she knew too well that for an heir, without a strong physique, to ascend to the position of family patriarch would inevitably require a price unimaginable to ordinary people.
Especially in such a biased family.
Han Xianyun might appear noble and unparalleled, but internally, he was no better off than ordinary people.
"Then you continue to be busy. I'm going out to make a call."
Xie Jin tried to get up from him.
Han Xianyun refused to let go, pressing down on her waist, "What call? Can't I listen?"
His lips roamed her ear.
For some reason, at this moment, he felt a sense of dependence on her.
Xie Jin said helplessly, "It's a work call. If you want to listen, that's fine."
Saying so, she dialed her agent's number and finalized arrangements in a few brief sentences.
Han Xianyun, however, seemed a bit stunned.
He remembered that the fiercest argument they had was because of filming.
She could yield to him in everything else, but when it came to her work, what she wanted to achieve, no one could stop her.
From then on, he never interfered with her schedule.
But just now, for his sake, she had postponed her work arrangements for two days.
Simply because he was in a bad mood.
"Yiyi."
He called her in a low, husky voice, very seductive.
Xie Jin raised an eyebrow, not understanding, "What?"
He usually called her by her name, and very rarely called her this.
Unless they were in bed, or doing something intimate.
So, instinctively, Xie Jin felt a desire to escape.
They had just finished being intimate not long ago, right on this desk, and she didn't want to do it again.
It was too hard, and it hurt her back.
While lost in thought, the man's hoarse, alluring voice entered her ears, "On the day of the banquet, will you come home with me?"
Xie Jin's mind was filled with embarrassing thoughts, and she instinctively wanted to refuse.
As the words reached her lips, she realized, and looked at him blankly.
She had been to the Han family once.
But that was due to circumstances.
After that, she never set foot in the Han family again.
An event as grand as a banquet, with celebrities from all walks of life gathered, and Han Xianyun bringing her along would be tantamount to announcing to the entire upper-class society—
That they were dating.
From now on, to him, Xie Jin would no longer be just a bed partner or a lover.
But the only girlfriend he, Han Xianyun, had ever publicly acknowledged.
She didn't believe he didn't understand.
Remembering his earlier words, 'If you handle this well, there will be a reward.'
Xie Jin's eyes flickered, and she asked, "Is it a reward?"
"No."
Han Xianyun kissed her red lips and whispered his explanation, "I want to give you a title."
Before his official engagement.