During the meal, multiple phone calls from He Yanxi kept coming in. His phone was on silent, lying on the table, yet it still drew Wen Ruan's attention. He Yanxi dismissed each call, one after another, none of them answered.
Wen Ruan's gaze lingered on He Yanxi's phone for a moment. Could it be a girlfriend, perhaps? She wondered if the woman was aware that he had come tonight to placate his family with this tacit 'arranged marriage.'
Wen Ruan, always considerate, thought she should at least allow him the opportunity to explain himself. After all, she had to acknowledge his gentlemanly behavior during their meeting tonight. She decided to gracefully excuse herself and made up an excuse to visit the restroom.
He Yanxi nodded slightly, waiting until Wen Ruan had elegantly left the private room before his warm expression faded, and the phone call from his assistant came through.
Wen Ruan left the room, and her phone screen lit up with a string of messages.
"Photos, photos, where are they?" Tang Suiyi's demanding message came first.
"Softie, you can't be like this! We agreed to share beautiful things together!"
"Don't worry, darling, I still have my principles. I'm not interested in your man's body—just his face. Come on, he's adorable, I must have a little peek!"
"..."
Wen Ruan could only roll her eyes at Tang Suiyi's relentless messages. Deciding to indulge her friend's small request, Wen Ruan found a quiet corner to hide and aimed her phone just right to capture He Yanxi's face.
He was on the phone, unaware, making it the perfect opportunity for a photo.
Click.
The picture turned out beautifully, capturing He Yanxi's striking features in sharp detail. The only flaw was his furrowed brow—had his girlfriend been arguing with him?
She sent the photo to Tang Suiyi, imagining her friend's reaction.
"Oh my god!!! Softie, you hit the jackpot! How can your brother-in-law be this handsome? I can't get enough of this!"
Wen Ruan responded, "It's all about portrait rights, understand? Just a peek is enough, don't ask for too much."
Tang Suiyi replied, "You're so stingy. What's the big deal, let me look at him! It won't cost you anything. Wait until I get a man, I'll let you see him every day!"
Wen Ruan sighed inwardly. "I'm not interested in your man, alright? This Mr. He belongs to someone else, and he has nothing to do with either of us. Don't overthink it."
Tang Suiyi's response came in a flood: "A mistress? A love triangle? What's going on? Is he a scumbag, leading you on while still keeping a girlfriend? What's his game? Trying to juggle both sides? Is he planning on ruining everything? If that's the case, you mustn't let him get away with it! Expose him, let him ruin himself!"
Wen Ruan, reading through the flood of increasingly dramatic messages, couldn't help but laugh. She knew her friend was just being overly dramatic, but she didn't want to take it too seriously.
Eventually, Tang Suiyi calmed down, and after a long discussion, she reluctantly ended the conversation, but not before sending more messages:
"Softie, don't forget the script! And don't let that boss of ours drive you crazy. He's been acting like a cranky old man these days. If I had known, I'd have gone to your team instead. You've got my back, right?"
Wen Ruan grinned. "Of course, you're in my thoughts, as always. Take care of yourself."
Tang Suiyi responded with more playful banter, encouraging Wen Ruan to keep up her "fierce" attitude when dealing with He Yanxi.
Wen Ruan smiled and sighed. As for whether He Yanxi had a girlfriend, it didn't really bother her. Even if he did, their relationship had been such a farce that there was no drama of "the mistress versus the wife." It was just about satisfying family expectations.
After spending some time outside, Wen Ruan returned to the private room after He Yanxi had finished his call.
He Yanxi, now having finished his conversation, was more relaxed, his shirt slightly unbuttoned at the collar, revealing the sleek curve of his collarbone. A truly captivating man.
He was absentmindedly playing with a set of aged sandalwood prayer beads—she had noticed them earlier, the same ones he always wore on his wrist.
Wen Ruan sat down and asked casually, "Mr. He, are you a Buddhist?"
He Yanxi glanced at her and answered coolly, "Just playing with them."
Wen Ruan nodded. "Ah, I see."
He Yanxi raised an eyebrow. "Ready to head back? Or would you like to do something else?"
Wen Ruan, back in Kyoto for over three months, had finally had a chance to step out. Naturally, she was keen for more activities, but for now, she preferred to enjoy them alone.
He Yanxi was, overall, an impressive man—practical and attentive—but he was also a bit too much at times.
Wen Ruan smiled professionally. "Well, I think it's best we head home. It's getting late, and it's quite chilly."
"Chilly?" He Yanxi raised an eyebrow.
It wasn't cold, not by his standards, but his subtle teasing didn't escape her notice.
He Yanxi flagged down a waiter, took out his black card, and handed it to him. The transaction was quick. Wen Ruan saw the move coming and, holding up her phone, said, "Mr. He's place is not on my way. My driver is already downstairs. You needn't go out of your way."
He Yanxi watched her with a glint of mischief in his eyes. "It's no trouble. We just finished eating, it's good to walk a bit. Come on, let's go."
"No need! Mr. He, you must have a girlfriend waiting for you at home, don't you?" she replied, her smile nearly cracking from maintaining the act for hours. "Please, no need to trouble yourself. I'll manage."
"Girlfriend?" He Yanxi smiled, his eyes a little too sharp. "Currently, I don't have one."
No girlfriend? Interesting.
Wen Ruan didn't dwell on it. Instead, she seized the moment to inject a bit of humor, closing the conversation with, "Well then, I wish you the best in finding one soon."
She hoped he would take the hint and respond, but he didn't.
He Yanxi seemed to ignore her remark, which only added to her irritation. She quickly tried to exit the situation. She insisted on going home alone, and after a brief exchange, he agreed.
He Yanxi accompanied her out of the restaurant, holding the door open for her and shielding her from the cold. He advised, "Be careful on your way back, and let me know when you get home."
"Okay, I will," Wen Ruan said with a polite smile, knowing full well this would be the last time they saw each other.
As the door of the car closed, Wen Ruan finally allowed herself to relax, shedding the fake smile she had worn for the entire evening.
The car sped away from the restaurant. Wen Ruan, eager for some privacy, instructed the driver to stop at a nearby shopping mall.
She purchased a ticket to the highly anticipated film Dawn, grabbed a bucket of popcorn, and ordered an iced drink. The perfect way to unwind after a long night.