The Counterattack of a Wealthy Family's Substitute

Yao Yingxi placed the food on the table and then used the chopsticks and bowls she had brought from home to distribute them: "Mr. Xi, let's eat."

Bringing these things wasn't being fussy; it's just that there are many people coming and going at the guesthouse, and the tableware isn't disposable. She was worried about hygiene, and since it was a road trip, bringing some things wouldn't be a hassle.

Xi Yuanchen sat down, and Yao Yingxi put the tripe in, stirred it, scooped it out, put it in her own bowl, and ate it by herself.

Xi Yuanchen was taken aback.

Seeing that Xi Yuanchen didn't move, Yao Yingxi assumed he wouldn't, so she picked up two more pieces and put them in the pot. After a while, she scooped them out and put them in Xi Yuanchen's bowl: "Mr. Xi, try this."

Every meal, Yao Yingxi would put a portion of whatever she cooked in the hot pot into Xi Yuanchen's bowl, and he ate it with great relish.

Since they were all served on disposable plates, Yao Yingxi put everything into a garbage bag, washed the pot, and went back to her room.

It's only 9:30 now, and considering that Xi Yuanchen has been driving all day, she doesn't plan to go out.

"Packed up?"

As soon as Yao Yingxi entered the bedroom, Xi Yuanchen asked.

The bedrooms are similar to those cozy Japanese-style rooms found online, with tatami mats, a scented candle and a warm lamp on the bedside table.

Yao Yingxi nodded, there was nothing to clean.

"Let's change our clothes and go out for a walk."

Yao Yingxi paused for a few seconds, but without thinking much, she took her clothes and changed out.

She wore a midi skirt with high boots and a short trench coat.

Xi Yuanchen was wearing jeans with a white t-shirt and a black jacket.

The two walked down the street, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, attracting the attention of many tourists.

Xi Yuanchen suddenly reached out and grabbed Yao Yingxi's hand, and Yao Yingxi's mind went blank.

Because she has always been prone to feeling cold, Yao Yingxi's hands are always cold.

Xi Yuanchen took her hand and led her into a folk music bar. He pulled back the cloth covering the entrance, revealing a bar with many people inside and a singer performing on stage.

This folk music bar is different from ordinary bars; there are no loud speakers playing DJ music, and no one is performing hot dances on stage.

When Yao Yingxi walked in, her eyes lit up. She had come here to experience these places, but she didn't expect Xi Yuanchen to bring her here first.

The two sat at a small table, and a waiter came over and asked, "What would you like to drink?"

Because of the vivid memory of yesterday's drunkenness, Yao Yingxi said somewhat timidly, "Give me a glass of orange juice."

Just as the waiter was about to ask Xi Yuanchen a question, Xi Yuanchen continued from Yao Yingxi's words and said, "Two glasses of orange juice."

The waiter nodded.

On stage, the singer sang Tan Weiwei's song "If There Is a Next Life".

The melodious sound of a piano began, followed by a deep, resonant male voice.

Yao Yingxi closed her eyes. She had heard this song when she was with Liang Yu, but she didn't have any expectations.

That atmosphere wasn't as intense as it is now.

A thought clouded her mind: how wonderful it would be if she and Xi Yuanchen could grow up together like in the lyrics, childhood sweethearts.

We can go together to the vast grasslands or the countryside full of rice paddies, or live in a small town with few people.

When we grow up, we'll have a baby that belongs to both of us, and live a life of two people, one child, three meals a day, four seasons, five pets, six flowers, seven trees, and eight fruits.

There is no urban hustle and bustle.

As the singer on stage finished singing, Yao Yingxi came back to her senses and found that a waiter had brought two glasses of orange juice and placed them in front of her and Xi Yuanchen.

Xi Yuanchen's deep, mesmerizing gaze remained fixed on her, like a whirlpool that drew one in, making it impossible to look away.

Yao Yingxi knew this, so she didn't dare to meet Xi Yuanchen's gaze, keeping her secret hidden deep in her heart.

She glanced at the stage, then a female singer and a male singer came on stage, one holding a guitar and the other playing drums.

As the song "Desert Camel" began to play, everyone in the bar stood up and swayed happily.

Yao Yingxi looked at them and stood up from her chair: "Mr. Xi, would you like to play?"

Xi Yuanchen's face was cold and hard. He wanted to refuse, but when he saw Yao Yingxi's smiling face, the words stuck in his throat.

He stood up, but his hand hadn't yet touched Yao Yingxi.

Yao Yingxi held hands with the girl at the next table, which made him inexplicably unhappy, but seeing how happy Yao Yingxi was, he didn't want to spoil her fun.

Yao Yingxi knew he had agreed, and she was overjoyed. Holding hands with the girl at the next table, she swayed and sang the lyrics: "What ghost stories, what demons and monsters, only the egret sings its mournful song..."

She jumped around, tossed her hair, swayed her body, and burst into laughter—a side of her that Xi Yuanchen had never seen before.

He had seen Yao Yingxi in every state: angry, crying, emotional, happy, and so on.

But it was precisely this appearance that made him see more deeply and clearly that Yao Yingxi and Ye An'an were two different people.

Because Ye An'an never makes such unrestrained movements; she only speaks quietly, looks at him gently, and sits with him.

The atmosphere at the scene was very intense and joyful, and everyone in the audience was caught up in the excitement.

Yao Yingxi noticed Xi Yuanchen standing there, extended her hand, and said to him with a smile, "Mr. Xi, come and play with me."

Xi Yuanchen shook his head.

Yao Yingxi thought about it and agreed. Xi Yuanchen had a powerful aura and was someone strangers should keep away. If he were to act crazy like her, it would rain blood.

She ignored Xi Yuanchen and continued to shake her head and twist her waist.

The atmosphere grew increasingly lively, and even after the song ended, no one seemed to have shaken off the joy. It wasn't until the next song, Zhao Lei's "Chengdu," began that everyone returned to their seats.

Yao Yingxi's emotions remained unsettled for a long time. This was the first time since she had broken ties with Yueyue, or rather, since Yueyue and Liang Yu betrayed her, and after a series of events.

This was the happiest time of her life, a genuine joy.

Several men at the neighboring tables glanced at Yao Yingxi, but stopped in their tracks, too intimidated by Xi Yuanchen's cold and aloof demeanor to approach her.

Xi Yuanchen also noticed those people looking at Yao Yingxi, and felt inexplicably displeased.

Yao Yingxi was drinking her juice when Xi Yuanchen suddenly pulled her up.

She was startled and quickly stood up to ask, "Mr. Xi, what's wrong?"

On stage, the singer performed a sentimental folk song, a stark contrast to the quiet atmosphere in the audience.

Afraid of disturbing others, Yao Yingxi lowered her voice and asked, "Shall we go back now?"

Xi Yuanchen hadn't moved at all, probably because he was tired from driving all day.

Xi Yuanchen remained silent, holding Yao Yingxi's hand.

Yao Yingxi wasn't angry. She was very happy that Xi Yuanchen had come here despite his exhaustion.

As they stepped out of the bar, Xi Yuanchen suddenly stopped. Yao Yingxi was caught off guard and looked up to stop, but it was too late; she bumped into Xi Yuanchen's hard back.

The impact made her nose sting, and she clutched her forehead, wincing in pain. Was Mr. Xi's back made of adhesive tape? It hurts so much.

Xi Yuanchen suddenly turned around, grabbed her body, and pushed her against the wall at the entrance of the bar.

Before Yao Yingxi could react, her back slammed against the hard wall, the pain making her eyes red. She was about to look up and ask Xi Yuanchen what was going on.