Chapter 107: The Husband-and-Wife Look

The other elders quickly moved past the topic of Qin Yu and began asking about Lin Xi’s work.

The old men were especially interested in artificial intelligence, but age made it genuinely difficult for them to grasp such things.

Lin Xi was endlessly patient, explaining everything to them with earnest care.

Around ten o’clock, everyone set out for the hotel.

Lin Xi rode with Bai Xu, and Bai Xu’s mother was also in the car.

After getting in, Second Aunt looked at Lin Xi with a face full of apology and gave her a smile. “Xi Xi…”

It seemed she wanted to say something.

Bai Xu glanced back through the rearview mirror and coughed, cutting his mother off.

At that, Second Aunt obediently closed her mouth and did not bring up the matter from last time again.

In truth, she had wanted to apologize to Lin Xi.

Lin Xi smiled faintly and patted Second Aunt’s hand, changing the subject. “Second Aunt, you look much better than you did the last time I saw you.”

There was no need to mention what had happened before, but Second Aunt clearly did not understand that. Fortunately, Bai Xu understood her.

Whether Bai Xu was driving too slowly or there was traffic, they failed to keep up with the cars ahead, and by the time they arrived, the others had already gone inside.

After getting out of the car, Second Aunt went in first.

Lin Xi was just about to follow when Bai Xu called out to her. She turned back and waited for him to catch up.

A waiter helped them press the elevator button.

“Did Song Ning contact you?” Bai Xu asked.

Lin Xi frowned. “Did you tamper with my phone?”

“Do you think that’s possible?”

Bai Xu was not foolish enough to go that far. “Wouldn’t that be like showing off a butcher’s knife before Guan Yu?”

He was very honest. “Of course, I did think about doing it.”

Soon after, Lin Xi pinched his arm.

The smile in Bai Xu’s eyes deepened. “Don’t worry, I won’t do that. If I did, you’d know right away.”

“Then how did you know? I only got a missed call this morning.”

Bai Xu said, “Intuition.”

At that answer, Lin Xi rolled her eyes at him without mercy, speechless.

“Maybe it was her. You could call back and ask.”

“Am I insane?” Lin Xi was not so idle as to make trouble for herself.

“If you want, give me the number and I’ll call back for you.”

Lin Xi waved him away, telling him to get lost as far as possible.

The two of them came out of the elevator together and entered the banquet hall together. The moment they stepped inside, they drew quite a few looks.

Especially Old Master Bai, whose eyes were full of approval as he looked at the two of them.

Lin Xi pretended not to understand and walked up to the elders, naturally separating from Bai Xu.

Auntie Bai looked around and saw that everyone had arrived except Qin Yu.

She looked at Qin Yu’s father and asked, “Xiao Qin still isn’t here?”

“He’s probably on the way.” Only Old Master Qin and Qin Yu’s father had come from the Qin family.

Old Master Qin explained, “I called him yesterday. The boy was on a business trip yesterday and only took a morning flight back today.”

“Fine, then let’s start eating. No need to wait for him.”

“No, no, let’s wait a little longer.”

As Auntie Bai spoke, she nudged Lin Xi beside her. Coming to herself, Lin Xi nodded in agreement. “Yes, let’s wait a bit. It’s only a few minutes.”

Old Master Qin smiled at her. “Call your third brother and ask where he is.”

“...Okay.” Lin Xi exhaled quietly and, right in front of the elders, took out her phone and called Qin Yu.

The phone rang again and again, but no one answered.

“Let me try.” Bai Xu took over.

Whether by chance or not, this time the call was answered after only a few rings.

Lin Xi stood to the side. Seeing this, she lowered her head without a word and adjusted her cuffs.

Very soon, Bai Xu hung up. “Third Brother says he’s almost here, probably just one more traffic light.”

“Then go downstairs and pick up your brother quickly.” Old Master Bai tapped his leg with his cane, urging him to move faster.

Bai Xu glanced at Lin Xi, who was standing opposite as though she were merely part of the scenery, and called out, “I suddenly have a stomachache and need to use the restroom. Lin Xi can go.”

...

At the hotel entrance.

Lin Xi stood in front of the waiter, her gaze drifting now and then toward the road across from her.

Soon, a familiar Rolls-Royce turned in and pulled to a steady stop at the entrance. The waiter immediately stepped forward.

Lin Xi moved ahead a little. “Third Brother.”

Qin Yu had seen her before he even got out of the car.

Today she was wearing a dress that reached to her calves. Beijing had already entered autumn, and she was dressed lightly. Standing at the entrance for ten minutes in the wind, her legs were trembling.

Qin Yu frowned as he looked at her. “You’re wearing so little. Aren’t you cold?”

Lin Xi stepped aside to make room for him. “My coat is upstairs. I forgot to bring it down.”

Qin Yu said nothing more and went in first. Lin Xi hurried after him.

Only after they entered the elevator did Lin Xi gradually start to feel warm again.

The atmosphere was stifling, and for some reason the elevator was moving up slowly. Lin Xi had no choice but to find a topic to enliven things a little. “Third Brother was on a business trip?”

“Mm.” Qin Yu did not even look at her. His hands were in his pockets, his gaze fixed ahead.

Lin Xi was the same.

The assistant on the side kept his head lowered, not daring to make a sound.

Seeing that he did not want to say more, Lin Xi swallowed the rest of her words and did not ask further.

She had never liked flattery, and if the other side would not engage, she would not press.

The two of them came out of the elevator one after the other. Lin Xi followed beside him, and they exchanged no words the entire way, looking like complete strangers.

Bai Xu was waiting at the entrance to the banquet hall and took in the scene. He raised a brow, not the least bit surprised.

It seemed Third Brother was serious this time.

His eyes slid toward Lin Xi, lingering for a few seconds on her face.

It had to be said, these two were equally aloof, their icy expressions seeming as though they had been carved from the same mold.

At first glance, they really did have a certain husband-and-wife resemblance.

Tsk.

If he said that out loud, Lin Xi would probably slap him.

The two of them were already walking over. Bai Xu straightened up. “Third Brother.”

Qin Yu brushed past him and went inside.

Bai Xu smiled and followed with Lin Xi.

“Third Brother doesn’t look to be in a very good mood,” Bai Xu whispered to her.

At that, Lin Xi gave him a cool glance and said, either in earnest or in jest, “When has he ever been in a good mood?”

Bai Xu was genuinely startled by that.

“Not bad, you.”

Now that everyone had arrived, they took their seats and the waiters began serving the dishes.

The elders sat at the main table, while Lin Xi and the younger generation sat separately.

During the meal, Lin Xi used a tissue to wipe the cream from her sleeve. Bai Xu glanced at the phone lying on the table and called out, “Lin Xi, your phone.”

“Again with this unknown number? Who keeps calling you?”

Lin Xi stopped what she was doing and, frowning, ended the call.

After that, she turned her head and gave Bai Xu a warning look.

Bai Xu lifted an eyebrow, resting one hand against the side of his face, smiling pleasantly.

Whenever he smiled like that, it was never a good sign. Lin Xi’s heart gave a little jolt, and sure enough she then heard him say, “It’s Song Ning, isn’t it?”