Gold Medal Sweetheart

Jin Taize gradually slowed his pace and paused. The palatial Chinese-style villa before Tang Xin was magnificent yet reserved. Though the interior couldn't be seen, the exterior, with its carved beams and painted rafters, and elegant pavilions, gave it a glimpse of its splendor. The main structure was a three-story Chinese-style building, its soaring green-tiled roof a simple and beautiful aesthetic. The spacious floor-to-ceiling windows, paired with light gray curtains, gave the villa a modern and stylish feel. A winding corridor running down one side of the second floor, extending beyond the secondary buildings, accentuated the villa's splendor, creating a unique and charming atmosphere. In the endless courtyards, towering Chinese-style street lamps stood in neat, orderly, and graceful lines, emitting a faint, warm glow in the still night.

The sight of these cascading buildings was the most breathtakingly magnificent sight Tang Xin had ever encountered. Stunned by this unusual living quarters, Yushan's initial words about her mother's efforts to arrange this marriage seemed understandable. Glancing at the majestic Jin Taize beside her, she thought, no wonder ancient emperors harbored the aloof, patronizing sentiment that "the whole world is the king's domain, and the four seas are the king's subjects." Living in such a high-roofed, spacious house, with no one to be seen or heard, naturally led to a cold and aloof character. Judging by his demeanor today, if he were born in an ancient palace, he might have been a cold, arrogant, and ruthless tyrant. Finally, there was a more plausible explanation for this child's erratic and eccentric temperament. The more Tang Xin thought about it, the more it made sense.

Tang Xin was silent in his eyes, but after looking at him, she shook her head slightly and curled her lips. Jin Taize knew that she might have some strange thoughts in her mind again, and couldn't help asking, "What are you thinking about?"

"No," Tang Xin blinked, revealing a little mischievousness, "The feng shui here suits you quite well."

I expected her to speak without coherence, but I had no idea of her analytical and inductive process. Her ability to generalize was truly extraordinary. Little did he know that in Tang Xin's mind, he had already equated her with an ancient tyrant.

As they were talking, a short burst of car horns pierced the night. The two looked in the direction of the sound and saw a Bentley approaching, stopping at the villa's entrance. The driver, Old Zheng, got out and, upon seeing Jin Taize, bowed respectfully. "Young Master Jin," Jin Taize nodded politely. The driver turned to open the back door, and a woman in her sixties slowly emerged. Her hair was tied up in a bun, and she wore a sophisticated Chinese evening gown. Her detached demeanor, illuminated by the bright headlights, made her look like a star under the spotlight. As she approached, Tang Xin noticed a resemblance between Jin Taize's features and the noble woman's.

"Mom." Jin Taize raised the corners of his lips, his attitude very respectful.

"Huh? You're back today? I just got back from a party with friends." The woman asked with a gentle smile, "Why aren't you driving? Did you drink?"

"No, I just suddenly wanted to go for a walk." Jin Taize said without any concealment.

Tang Xin, who had originally shown little interest in their conversation, suddenly looked up at Jin Taize in disbelief. Hadn't he told her he'd been drinking, and that's why he invited her over? Such a lame excuse had wasted her precious time making money. She suddenly felt suffocated, her fists clenched tightly.

At the same time, a look of disbelief crossed the woman's face. But as her peripheral vision caught sight of Tang Xin, that expression gave way to a sudden realization. "Then I wonder if I'd be honored to meet the girl you're walking with?" That gentle smile seemed to emanate the fragrance of jasmine, refreshing the heart.

After being asked this question, Tang Xin came to her senses. This noble-looking aunt was Jin Taize's mother. She had never planned to meet his mother.

Tang Xin wasn't sure whether she should be so presumptuous as to greet him. She tried to ask Jin Taize's opinion with a tentative look, but he refused to respond. Facing the expectant gaze of an elder, it would seem rude not to respond. So, she just had to bite the bullet and smile, "Hello, Auntie!"

"Hello!" The woman smiled and nodded in response. "You must be Director Guan's daughter—Miss Guan Yushan, right?"

At this question, Tang Xin's heart was in turmoil again. They had originally agreed to put on a show in front of Mr. Jin. Now, even his family would be deceived by Guan Yushan, the imposter. Wasn't this too unethical? A wave of guilt washed over her. So, she could only give a dry laugh in response. Her noncommittal attitude was a small measure of self-relief.

"She's truly a lady from a noble family. Miss Guan is not only beautiful but also gentle and refined. I'm sure she's an easygoing person," she said, glancing at Jin Taize beside her. "And my Taize is tough and decisive."

Hearing his mother's comments, Tang Xin suppressed the urge to laugh. Was the implication that they were a good match? She felt that her smile was so artificial that she would never be able to become a lady from a wealthy family in her lifetime.

As a stand-in, she couldn't help but glance at the real male lead, Kim Tae-jae, who was smiling as usual, as if he didn't care about anything, as if he had everything under control, as if there was always a mystery that people couldn't see through.

"It's getting late, shouldn't you go home?" Jin Taize raised his eyebrows and said.

For the first time, Tang Xin felt that this guy's words suddenly became more pleasant to the ear, which gave her a suitable excuse to slip away.

"Why don't you invite Miss Guan in to sit down?" Perhaps Mother Jin felt it was a bit rude not to invite her in at her doorstep, and there was some resentment in her tone.

Jin Taize said calmly, "It's too late to go back. I'm worried."

Tang Xin stared at Jin Taize for two seconds, a bit disbelieving. She could sense Jin's mother's gaze from the corner of her eye, so she could only force an awkward smile. "How well do we know each other?" How could he say such words so freely? It seemed this guy wasn't having a mate selection issue, as Yu Shan had said, but rather a playboy type.

"Having a girlfriend is different now. You know how to care for others," Jin's mother teased her son with a smile. But Jin Taize's calm expression made Tang Xin marvel at his shamelessness. She was looking at Jin Taize, and when she turned her head, she happened to meet Jin Taize's mother's eyes. She was staring at her precious son intently, and Jin's mother took it all in. Her pleased smile was probably a misunderstanding that she was overly affectionate. Tang Xin suddenly felt a pang of embarrassment.

"Should Mr. Zheng take Miss Guan home or should you do it yourself?" Mother Jin asked Jin Taize for his opinion.

"I can walk by myself." Before Jin Taize could answer, Tang Xin spoke first.

Jin's mother waved her hand in denial, "That's not good. It's dangerous for a girl to be alone so late at night."

Tang Xin uttered a "oh," but it was difficult to insist in front of her elders. Then, with a wry smile, she said, "Could you trouble Master Zheng to give me a ride?"

Jin Taize looked down with a lingering gaze, then turned back with a cold face without saying a word.

Mother Jin looked up at her son's iron-black face and twitched the corners of her mouth slightly. No one knows a son better than his mother. She might not be able to see through Tai Ze's deceitful business tactics in his career, but in life, how could she not understand the flesh that fell from her own body?

Mother Jin raised her eyelids, smiled and sighed, "Alright. Since someone is reluctant to let you go, I won't force you."

Tang Xin hadn't expected her simple attempt to minimize her time with Jin Taize to be interpreted by Jin's mother as a sign of consideration for him. She was stunned for a moment, but then, feeling that this expression didn't quite fit the current atmosphere, she quickly lowered her head and smiled shyly.

Jin Taize's gaze rested on the little head hanging in front of him, and the expression on his face relaxed a lot.

"Then I won't be an eyesore here anymore." He said this while looking meaningfully at Jin Taize and Tang Xin. This look made Tang Xin even more uncomfortable, as if they were doing something sneaky behind the organization's back. But Jin Taize's next words made this possibility a reality.

"You are so considerate." Jin Taize smiled.

What? This person could actually say such ambiguous words in a serious manner. Tang Xin could only hold her forehead in her hand.

"Please come to our house and visit if you have the chance." Mother Jin's eyes were full of kindness.

Tang Xin nodded vigorously and agreed with a smile: "Okay, Auntie." But her heart was filled with guilt. There was no future, but Jin's mother's friendly and casual attitude made her feel that her behavior was really sinful.