Lin Zhuonan watched them with amusement, taking a sip of his wine.
Xiao Lan's hostility was practically written on his face. How oblivious could he be to not see it?
Seeing that his attention was solely on Chu Qiao, Lin Youyou's lips pouted.
"Xiao..."
As soon as she spoke, Qi Chi's cold gaze swept over her. Though silent, the chilling aura emanating from him was suffocating.
Lin Youyou stared at him, her eyes filled with fear, before slowly lowering her head and reluctantly closing her mouth.
Chu Qiao, engrossed in her food, didn't notice the situation unfolding beside her.
She even turned to ask the silver fox curled up in its bed, "Want some?"
The silver fox lazily lifted its head, glanced at her, and then closed its eyes, choosing to ignore her. It wasn't that it disdained humans, but rather they were truly unintelligent. It preferred naturally pure food, unlike theirs, which had lost its original taste after being seasoned and fried.
Lin Zhuonan chuckled, "Youyou, you might not know, but Qi Chi is Chu Qiao's assistant now." He said this as a member of the Lin family, implicitly helping her out of a difficult spot.
Lin Youyou understood immediately; he hadn't revealed his true identity to the public, opting instead to use his courtesy name. Xiao Lan, courtesy name Qi Chi, was derived from the line "衡门之下，可以栖迟" (Beneath the humble gate, one can rest and linger) from the *Book of Songs*. This implied he wasn't entirely unguarded around Chu Qiao. In other words, she was just an outsider.
With this thought, Lin Youyou smiled and said to Qi Chi, "Qi Chi, I've just returned too. Can we find time to get together?"
Qi Chi, his attention still fixed on Chu Qiao, responded with a detached tone, "Oh."
"How about tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow Chu Qiao has an interview, a promotional event in the afternoon, and a charity performance in the evening."
"The day after?"
"The day after, there's a movie promotion to attend."
"Then..."
Chu Qiao overheard and felt something was amiss. "Qi Chi, you don't need to follow me for these appointments. I'll be fine on my own. Besides, there are staff members with me, so you don't need to worry."
Qi Chi, however, shook his head firmly. "No. I've handled all the preliminary arrangements. They're not familiar with the process; what if something goes wrong?"
"But I know!" Chu Qiao countered. "It's rare for a friend to return to the country. You should welcome them properly." She said this as a matter of fact, oblivious to Qi Chi's changing expression.
"Alright, I understand," he said, a smile playing on his lips. Turning to face Lin Youyou, he asked, "So, do you need me to welcome you?" His gaze was unnervingly intense, especially when focused on someone, sending a shiver down one's spine.
Lin Youyou's mouth fell open as she stared at him in stunned silence.
He had long been aware of Lin Youyou's existence, knowing she was a descendant of the Xiao family living outside. The Xiao family differed from other affluent families, and certainly not like the Lin family, who were so disdainful of illegitimate children, wishing to sever all ties with them. In fact, upon learning of his existence, the entire Xiao family had mobilized. Without even needing Grandpa Xiao to intervene, his six older brothers were practically pestering Qi Chi's doorstep. Qi Chi, who preferred to remain undisturbed in his peaceful life, had no desire to return. Yet, they refused to back down, giving him the impression of "if you don't come out, we'll come in."
His home was an old two-bedroom apartment where he lived with his grandmother. But then, his Xiao brothers started moving in, one by one. Even Xiao Yi, who had already entered the entertainment industry and begun to make a name for himself, managed to squeeze in time from his busy schedule for this rare family gathering. When Qi Chi saw him quietly unpacking his sleeping bag in their living room, he already foresaw his own fate. These men were all close to 1.9 meters tall, standing like utility poles. What was worse, they made themselves right at home, taking his grandmother out shopping for jewelry and trendy brands daily! The house was so cluttered there was barely space to move. Qi Chi returned from school each day with a dark expression, wanting nothing more than to throw them and their belongings out!
Finally, his grandmother couldn't stand it any longer. She called him over and said, "Grandma doesn't want to spend any more money... Grandma just wants to dance in the square!"
Qi Chi, who was extremely filial to his grandmother, quietly gathered these men and agreed to return to the Xiao family, but only with the condition of absolute autonomy and the freedom to return whenever he wished! The six Xiao brothers readily agreed, as long as he returned to contribute and share the burden!
And so, Qi Chi returned. Because he had promised them he wouldn't reveal his identity or force him to choose sides, few people outside knew of his status. Of course, the existence of a Xiao family "illegitimate son" wasn't exactly big news. Not all of his six older brothers shared the same mother.
Lin Youyou, having the closest contact with the Xiao family, had secretly visited Qi Chi at his school when she was in junior high, shortly after learning of his existence. She remembered that the first sight of him had enchanted her entire youth, and even now, he was the only one in her heart. She understood his emotions, and she knew he wasn't joking. If she didn't cooperate, the consequences wouldn't just be for her, but her father would also be implicated! Qi Chi, or rather Xiao Lan, was a formidable presence. Often, she felt he was even more troublesome and brooding than Xiao Yi. Yet, she couldn't help but fall deeply in love with him. Despite feeling wronged, Lin Youyou would not truly defy his wishes. With red eyes and a pouting mouth, she whispered, "How could I? You're so busy, of course, your work is the priority! I'm back in the country and won't be leaving again, so we can get together anytime. There's no need to... no need to rush."
Lin Zhuonan watched from the side. The little princess from his uncle's family, usually spoiled and unrestrained, became as docile as a sheep only around Xiao family's seventh child. Even the not-so-perceptive Chu Qiao noticed the girl's distress, but Qi Chi acted as if he hadn't seen it, instead looking at Chu Qiao with delight.
"You see, we must prioritize our work."
Chu Qiao: "..."
Well, having such a work-loving assistant was truly a blessing! Yet, for some reason, she felt something was off.
"Nan Ge?"
Someone approached and whispered something in his ear. Lin Zhuonan raised an eyebrow slightly. "She's here too?"
"Yes, she's attending today as the female companion of the Han family's eldest son, Han Jianyue."
"Han Jianyue?"
Upon hearing the name, not only Lin Zhuonan but also Qi Chi glanced over. He said calmly, "Han Jianyue has been doing business with Fourth Brother recently and has been quite frequent in his interactions. However... this kind of trash should have been thrown into the trash can long ago." It was clear that Qi Chi held a strong dislike for this man.