Chapter 55:

How is she here?

Qin Chaoyu and Lian Huijie were leisurely chatting in a corner, clearly enjoying their conversation, both wearing smiles on their faces.

The protagonists were a handsome man and a beautiful woman, presenting a harmonious and heartwarming scene that many would find delightful to witness.

But Bai Jixi was not among those admirers. Watching the scene, an indescribable emotion surged within him—an urge to disrupt it immediately. The feeling came so fiercely and abruptly that he didn’t even have time to think before he started moving in their direction.

“Ah, Chairman Bai! Your presence truly brings glory to my humble gathering!” Coincidentally, a hearty voice successfully halted Bai Jixi’s steps just as he was about to walk over.

Bai Jixi was forced to stop and turned to the speaker.

The previous Mr. Pang, who had been chattering incessantly in Bai Jixi’s ear, had already left.

The speaker was none other than the host of the banquet, Xiao Yuchong, the newly appointed mayor of Yuzhou City.

Xiao Yuchong was unremarkable in appearance, with his only notable feature being an air of honest simplicity. His sturdy frame was clad in an obviously expensive black suit, and his square-framed glasses added a touch of shrewdness. However, anyone who mistook him for a fool would soon find themselves utterly outmaneuvered. He was a notorious “smiling tiger” in political circles—beneath his guileless exterior lay a cunning and calculating mind, coupled with a petty and vindictive nature. Those who offended him would inevitably face retaliation. Such a man was undoubtedly a formidable adversary.

At the moment, Xiao Yuchong’s eyes were narrowed in a smile, the reflection on his glasses lending an inexplicably sly edge to his expression.

For now, Bai Jixi had no reason to antagonize Xiao Yuchong. Suppressing his temper, he reluctantly abandoned his plan to approach Qin Chaoyu and instead stayed to engage with Xiao Yuchong. “Mayor Xiao, you flatter me. My presence isn’t that significant.”

“Ah, don’t say that,” Xiao Yuchong shook his head in disagreement. “You’re young and accomplished, having expanded the Bai family’s business to such heights in such a short time. Even when I was in Shaanzhou, I heard about those brilliant business maneuvers of yours. Back then, I decided I must get to know you properly if the opportunity arose.”

Truly a politician—his skin was thick enough to lavish sincere praise on a man twenty years his junior without the slightest hesitation.

Bai Jixi was long accustomed to such flattery, having heard far more exaggerated and embarrassing compliments before. His expression remained unchanged as he replied calmly, “Mayor Xiao, you overpraise me.”

Xiao Yuchong knew the principle of moderation and stopped his effusive praise, shifting the topic instead. “Ah, by the way, Chairman Bai, I heard your company recently acquired a prime piece of land. If successfully developed, it would be a great boon for Yuzhou City!”

Bai Jixi vaguely recalled the land in question—located in the western suburbs of Yuzhou. Rumor had it that the city’s upper echelons intended to develop it into a commercial district, as the current downtown area was overcrowded, making outward expansion inevitable. Of course, no official announcement had been made yet, but the Bai family’s extensive business network ensured their intelligence was highly reliable—about 80% accurate. Even if the plan fell through, the Bai family wouldn’t lose out. The area had a pleasant environment, with a mountain nearby that attracted weekend hikers, and no factories in the vicinity. With minimal adjustments, it could be transformed into a high-end residential district, becoming the next enclave for the wealthy.

But why was Xiao Yuchong bringing this up now?

Bai Jixi was puzzled but didn’t respond, merely watching Xiao Yuchong to see what else he would say.

When Bai Jixi didn’t take the bait, Xiao Yuchong laughed and waved his hand. “Don’t misunderstand—I was just making casual conversation.”

Whether it was truly casual or calculated, only Xiao Yuchong himself knew.

Suddenly, a young woman standing quietly beside Xiao Yuchong spoke up with a smile. “Chairman Bai, hello!”

She extended her hand, waiting for Bai Jixi to shake it.

Her smile was sweet, reminiscent of soft, sugary cotton candy—a carefully practiced expression she had honed in front of a mirror. She had found that few could resist this smile, and she remained confident that Bai Jixi wouldn’t refuse her handshake.

This woman was Xiao Yuchong’s second daughter, Xiao Lingqian. As lovely as her name suggested, she was delicate and beautiful, with large, captivating eyes that could easily stir a man’s protective instincts. Though the second child—often the most overlooked in a family—she was anything but neglected. In fact, she was Xiao Yuchong’s favorite among all his children, evidenced by his decision to bring her to this banquet. The primary reason was her intelligence. She excelled at leveraging her strengths to achieve her goals by any means necessary. In her eyes, there were no permanent enemies or friends—only opportunities. She had even played a role in several of Xiao Yuchong’s promotions.

But this time, Xiao Lingqian was in for disappointment.

Bai Jixi ignored her outstretched hand. It was widely known that he disliked physical contact. If unavoidable, he would thoroughly wash the affected area afterward. At his status, however, few could compel him to endure such discomfort. Thus, most people knew better than to touch him during interactions, avoiding gestures like handshakes whenever possible.

Xiao Yuchong had previously served in remote provinces, far removed from Yuzhou. No matter how sharp Xiao Lingqian was, she couldn’t have known about Bai Jixi’s idiosyncrasies from such a distance. Since arriving in Yuzhou, she had been busy acquainting herself with the city’s elite circles, but time was short, and she hadn’t yet learned all the finer details.

Seeing the awkwardness, Xiao Yuchong slapped his forehead and laughed it off. “Chairman Bai, look at my memory—I forgot to introduce you! This is my second daughter, Xiao Lingqian. She’s heard me speak of your achievements and, like many young women, admires capable men like you. She pestered me to introduce you two at this celebration. Ah, children—what can you do? So here we are.”

He sighed and shook his head, perfectly playing the role of a doting father.

Xiao Lingqian tactfully withdrew her hand, tilting her head slightly to display just the right amount of shyness.

Under the bright lights, her delicate features were accentuated by a faint blush, lending her the allure of a freshly bloomed camellia—enchanting and beautiful.

An inexperienced young man might have been utterly captivated by her display, but to Bai Jixi, such tactics were child’s play. At his level, countless women sought to climb the social ladder by attaching themselves to him. Despite his restraint, he had encountered every form of seduction imaginable.

Since Xiao Yuchong had explained, Bai Jixi couldn’t outright snub them. “So this is your daughter. I don’t like physical contact,” he said casually, offering a brief explanation for his earlier refusal to shake hands.

Xiao Yuchong and Xiao Lingqian accepted this graciously—at least superficially.

But once the topic shifted, Xiao Yuchong seemed unable to stop, praising his daughter incessantly and emphasizing her admiration for Bai Jixi.

Xiao Lingqian stood by, gazing at Bai Jixi with a mix of bashfulness and expectation.

Bai Jixi’s patience wore thin. Deciding he had no reason to endure this any longer, he cut in bluntly, “Mayor Xiao, I have some matters to attend to, so I must excuse myself.”

“Oh, I see,” Xiao Yuchong replied, disappointment lacing his tone. “If it’s important, we won’t keep you. I should mingle with the other guests as well.”

After bidding farewell, Bai Jixi turned to search for Qin Chaoyu and Lian Huijie.

They were no longer in their previous spot. Scanning the room, he finally spotted them by the buffet table.

Without hesitation, he strode toward them.

Xiao Yuchong watched Bai Jixi’s retreating figure, his smile vanishing to reveal a colder expression. In a low voice, he asked, “Lingqian, do you think you can handle this man?”

Xiao Lingqian smiled sweetly, her voice firm. “Father, you should trust in your daughter’s charm! There isn’t a man I can’t conquer!”

Xiao Yuchong whirled around, his sharp, icy gaze scrutinizing her face for any flicker of doubt. But Xiao Lingqian’s smile never wavered. Suddenly, he burst into laughter and patted her shoulder approvingly. “Good! That’s my daughter!”

Then, leading her toward another group of guests, he embarked on a new round of socializing.

Behind him, Xiao Lingqian’s smile remained unchanged.

Yes, only she deserved to be called his “good daughter.” Fools like her eldest sister and youngest sister were destined to be cast aside.

To gain respect and control her own fate, she had to be useful. Bai Jixi was her opportunity—failure was not an option.

As he neared Qin Chaoyu and Lian Huijie, Bai Jixi slowed his pace and feigned coincidence. “What a surprise.”

He wasn’t sure why he chose this approach—it was purely instinctive.

Qin Chaoyu and Lian Huijie turned, equally surprised to see him.

Lian Huijie was thrilled. He stepped forward, careful to remember Bai Jixi’s aversion to physical contact, and said excitedly, “Brother Bai, my recovery is all thanks to you introducing Dr. Qin to me.”

He glanced back at Qin Chaoyu, but she was setting down her plate—she had been hungry and had come to select some food. Now that Bai Jixi was here, she couldn’t very well eat in front of him.

Thus, she missed Lian Huijie’s glance.

Bai Jixi pressed his lips together, sensing Lian Huijie’s affection for Qin Chaoyu.

A surge of irritation rose within him, as if something of his was being coveted.

“It was just coincidence. You were lucky to learn of Dr. Qin’s exceptional skills. I believed she could cure you, so I referred you to her.”

The implication was clear: *I knew her before you did.*

The moment the words left his mouth, Bai Jixi regretted them. He couldn’t believe he’d said something so petty.

Whether Lian Huijie understood the subtext or not, he simply nodded.

Just as he was about to say more, his phone rang. Apologizing, he stepped aside to take the call.

Bai Jixi moved closer to Qin Chaoyu and said coolly, “Why come to a place like this? It’s not suitable for you. Too complicated.”

Qin Chaoyu blinked, confused by his remark, but she recognized the concern in his tone. She had little defense against genuine care, so she explained, “Lian Huijie said he needed a companion for tonight’s banquet and begged me to accompany him. So here I am.”

She tugged at the hem of her dress. “Honestly, I’m not fond of dressing like this.”

Bai Jixi looked her over, his eyes lighting up.

Qin Chaoyu wore a simple yet elegant black evening gown, adorned sparingly with diamonds that sparkled under the lights. Her hair was braided and draped over one shoulder, and for once, she wore light makeup—so subtle it was barely noticeable, likely because her natural beauty needed little enhancement. She paired the dress with black high heels.

Bai Jixi had always known Qin Chaoyu was beautiful—his eyes worked fine, after all—but she usually dressed plainly. In all their meetings, he had never seen her wear makeup. Yet even without it, she was stunning. Now, dressed up, she was utterly mesmerizing.

His heartbeat grew irregular. Something beyond his control was happening.

But he also noticed Qin Chaoyu leaning against the table. Glancing down, he deduced she was unused to high heels and uncomfortable.

Lian Huijie returned from his call, apologetic. “Sorry, something urgent came up at the company. I need to leave early.”

He turned to Qin Chaoyu. “Chaoyu, let me take you home.”

“Sure,” Qin Chaoyu, ever understanding, sensed his hidden urgency. “If it’s pressing, go ahead. I can manage on my own.”

“No—” Lian Huijie began to refuse.

“I’ll take her,” Bai Jixi interjected firmly. Both Qin Chaoyu and Lian Huijie looked at him. He repeated, “I’ll take her. I was about to leave anyway.”

Lian Huijie had no time to ponder Bai Jixi’s sudden helpfulness. Reluctantly, he agreed.

And so, Bai Jixi was tasked with seeing Qin Chaoyu home.