OH... Good heavens! Xing Xiaojiu could never have imagined that his older brother would be embracing a woman? And such a petite girl at that?
Lian Qiao was also stunned, her gaze falling upon the two people behind her. Her grip on Xing Liehuo's hand involuntarily tightened, then relaxed again. She looked up at him, her smile radiant, "Huoguo, we've run into acquaintances."
"Not familiar," a large hand firmly supported her waist, Xing Liehuo's eyes were cold and sharp.
"Indeed!" She smiled in agreement.
As it turned out, life was nothing more than a dreadfully cliché romance novel. Right behind Xing Xiaojiu were Xing Wan, with her smile suddenly changing, and Yi Shaotian, whose expression was clouded over.
Adversaries on a narrow road, memory rewinding—
Back when Xing Wan was not yet a Xing, she was an illegitimate daughter living solely with her mother, as frail as Lin Daiyu, only knowing how to wipe away tears when bullied. And she was always there to draw her sword and come to the rescue, feeling rather heroic amidst Xing Wan's grateful smiles. But now, Xing Wan had a stronger support to rely on, a family background that matched her status, and they would never be friends again.
A year ago, her love was trampled into fragments, her friendship trodden beyond redemption...
At this moment, her heart was drowning, but her face bore the proudness of a peacock, her smile sinister as she clutched the man by her side.
Honestly speaking, her 'husband' was indeed an outstanding man. Without any deliberate dressing up, the military officer's uniform of a colonel fit snugly on his straight back, exuding an aura of kingship, his deep black eyes fierce without anger.
Intimidating, compelling!
Xing Wan's smile froze on her face, looking fragile as if she might be blown away by the wind any moment, leaning on Yi Shaotian. However, when she saw Xing Liehuo embracing her completely, the dissatisfaction in her eyes, aside from the surprise, was too obvious.
Yi Shaotian slightly frowned, the corners of his lips bearing a hint of unexplained scorn.
For a time, silence ensued, the atmosphere heavy.
With a light cough, Xing Xiaojiu, who was clueless about the situation, was the first to break the silence, her clear voice carrying a friendly tease, "Ahem, beauty, come with me!"
Lian Qiao wore her usual brilliant smile, looking up at Xing Liehuo, her eyes full of questions.
Rubbing her head, Xing Liehuo's voice was magnetic and slightly indulgent, with his usual air of command, "Go on, pick out a few pretty dresses."
"Okay." Without any affectation, Lian Qiao smiled and casually followed Xing Xiaojiu.
The appearance of the pair as a lovely couple was an eyesore to some people.
A light-colored, flowing, low-cut dress with a white diamond-studded belt cinching the waist, a tiered magnolia blooming at the plunging neckline, her lightly curled long hair cascading like seaweed, exquisite collarbones, and a pair of suggestive fullness barely concealed.
Cinched waist, ample bust, a charming and unique little vixen was born.
This studio was Xing Xiaojiu's hobby during her leisure time. This was the first time she was so pleased with her own work since starting the business.
So dazzling even without makeup.
"Wow... no wonder my brother..." Clapping her hands, Xing Xiaojiu's eyes sparkled, extremely HAPPY, "Today the missy has finally understood what a nation-toppling beauty looks like..."
"Thank you!" Her little face blushed, Lian Qiao tidied up her long curls and nodded at her before stepping out of the changing room.
At the entrance.
Xing Wan caught a glimpse of her radiant appearance through the floor-to-ceiling dressing mirror, felt a stifling sensation in her heart, and said with a choking tone, "Lian Qiao, you're really something, hooking up with my eldest brother as a stepping stone... Ha, don't tell me you think that will make Shaotian take notice of you?"
Bitterly clenching her teeth, Lian Qiao really wanted to spit on her.
After thinking for a moment, she instead laughed, "Clever! Haven't you noticed he's been looking at me all along... Hey, let me remind you, those who love climbing walls always fancy the red apricots across the wall, just as a dog cannot change its habit of eating shit. You two are a match made in heaven, the turtle and green bean, a natural pair!"
Her face turning pale, Xing Wan sneered coarsely, "You...have no shame! A year ago, Shaotian didn't even want to sleep with you, let alone now? Hmph! He told me, even if you stripped naked and seduced him, he wouldn't get hard! Got it? So give up on that fantasy already!"
Gripping her fingertips tightly, Lian Qiao gave a cold laugh, "Pah! Please... do you think I'm interested in Yi Shaotian, that little twig? If you say that again, watch out or I'll beat you to a pulp!"
Having said that, she gave Xing Wan, who looked as shocked as a scared rabbit, a cold glance, waved her fist, and turned to leave.
From a distance, she heard Yi Shaotian's voice, "Xing Liehuo, do you enjoy playing the game of turning sparrows into phoenixes?"
"My woman, naturally, is a phoenix."
"What about Anran then?"
"That's my business." His tone suddenly chilled, and rage flashed across Xing Liehuo's face.
Startled, Lian Qiao coughed lightly.
Then she walked straight over to Xing Liehuo, who sat on the sofa with drooping eyes, smoking, without giving so much as a glance to Yi Shaotian by the floor-to-ceiling window.
Pure and stunningly gorgeous, she offered a shallow smile.
Snuffing out his cigarette, Xing Liehuo's brows lifted slightly, his cold black eyes flashed with admiration, revealing deep, unfathomable emotions. Yi Shaotian steadied himself, his gaze darkening, feeling a lump in his throat.
With flushed cheeks, Lian Qiao sat next to Xing Liehuo, birdlike, her soft, boneless hand hooking his arm, half-smiling with her eyes narrowed, she said in a voice small yet loud enough for all three to hear, "Husband, I've thought about it, let's do it..."
His eyes darkening, the expression on the Crown Prince's face was something to behold, startled, twitched, blackened, turned cold...
To be honest, he really felt like slapping her across the face.
Coldly scanning over her face, with a bewitching smile blooming like flowers, a storm was brewing in his dark eyes. Was this damned girl using him as a pawn in front of her old lover?
With an evil smile, Lian Qiao, out of the corner of her eye, caught sight of Yi Shaotian's face, clouded with anger. Curving her lips slightly, her hands quickly wrapped around his stiff neck.
"Husband!"
This one word was more unsettling to a man than any other language!
Damn! What kind of clothes had Xiaojiu put her in? With his height advantage, Xing Liehuo couldn't miss the cleavage of the woman crouching in front of him.
Tender and delicate, her allure was like the peony, seducing souls.
Sparks flew, his Adam's apple bobbed, a fire kindled within him, and he couldn't help himself—
His large hand wrapped around her waist, lifted her soft body onto his lap, and he fiercely ravaged her plump lips, her slender waist slipping through his grasp, hair entwining tenderly... His heartbeat was ferocious, and in his loss of control, he forgot that Yi Shaotian was still standing there.