Chapter 46: Dinner, Dinner

At 7:30 in the evening, Fan Xia brought Rong Xiu home.

Wen Ming Yue and Xie Cen welcomed them enthusiastically, their smiling faces so warm it was as if they were about to unfurl a banner.

“Mr. Rong has arrived, come in quickly, come in. The house has been in a bit of disarray lately with all the organizing, no need to change your shoes, no need to change your shoes,” Xie Cen said, bowing slightly.

This wasn’t just Xie Cen being polite. The last time Rong Xiu came to Fan Xia’s house, he had seen what it used to look like. Though small, it was very cozy, with paintings hanging on the walls, a carpet in the living room, and small decorations on the coffee table that all exuded a certain charm.

But now the living room was occupied by a pile of miscellaneous items. These old objects emanated a strong smell of aged things, with an unmistakable rustic air that no amount of concealment could hide. One look and it was clear they didn’t belong to Fan Xia.

These miscellaneous items occupied nearly half the space in the living room, leaving hardly any room to step. Boxes and bundles were stacked one on top of another in the corner of the living room. The small decorations that used to be on the coffee table were gone, replaced by ceramic tea mugs commonly used by the elderly, with gaudy red flowers painted on them. The coffee table was covered with a very dated white tablecloth.

Rong Xiu’s eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly, exuding an overwhelming pressure. His polished, shiny Chelsea boots stepped onto the wooden floor as he walked in. Just as he passed the entrance, his gaze sharply swept towards the balcony.

On the outer balcony was a temporary small bed, covered with thick bedding. Beside it was a small stool with women’s clothes folded on top.

He knew that Wen’s parents and sister were all living in Fan Xia’s home, so these garbage-like objects must all belong to the Wen family. But Rong Xiu hadn’t expected that the Wen family would so brazenly pile this garbage in the living room, leaving barely any space to walk.

Cold anger flickered in Rong Xiu’s clear eyes. All this junk wouldn’t fetch even a hundred or so yuan if sold as scrap, yet the Wen family had let it occupy Fan Xia’s living space. Was Wen Lan Sheng dead? Didn’t he know to manage his own parents?

Meanwhile, Wen Lan Sheng was still busy in the kitchen. He knew Rong Xiu had arrived but deliberately didn’t go out, simply because he didn’t want to see Rong Xiu’s detestable face.

“H-Hello.” Wen Jing, seeing Rong Xiu’s face so beautiful it seemed almost inhuman, was visibly stunned for a moment. Remembering how her mother and father had repeatedly emphasized this man’s status and the importance of getting on his good side, she took the initiative to stand up from the sofa.

“Wen Jing?” Rong Xiu stood before Wen Jing. They were about the same height, their gazes almost level, but Rong Xiu’s eyes, sharpened by battles in the cutthroat business world, were keen and gloomy, with an extremely strong invasiveness that made Wen Jing’s gaze falter, unable to meet his eyes.

“Yes, this is my daughter. You know her?” Wen Ming Yue stepped forward warmly, somewhat delighted that Rong Xiu knew Wen Jing’s name.

“I don’t know her, but Fan Xia told me that Lan Sheng has a sister who just returned from Europe,” Rong Xiu said, his shrewd, appraising gaze moving away from Wen Jing’s face.

Wen Jing felt nearly faint. Damn, how could this man’s aura be so fierce? Was this even a man?

“Yes, my daughter just returned from Europe and hasn’t found a job yet,” Xie Cen immediately said, his eyes eager.

Rong Xiu directly ignored him, his expression indifferent, not even deigning to pretend interest.

“Well, Lan Sheng has already prepared the dishes. Shall we sit down?” Xie Cen looked towards Fan Xia.

Fan Xia nodded and said softly behind Rong Xiu, “Let’s eat.”

Rong Xiu nodded.

Just then, Wen Lan Sheng came out carrying a plate of West Lake vinegar fish. Seeing Rong Xiu dressed impeccably and elegantly, while he himself had been busy cooking all afternoon with no time to tidy up, still wearing a greasy apron, he looked every bit the lowly house-husband.

“Senior Rong Xiu is here, please sit,” Wen Lan Sheng said with a forced smile, trying to ignore the pain in his eyes.

Rong Xiu nodded slightly, the curve of his lips casual: “Alright.”

Wen Lan Sheng hurriedly took off his apron and sat down next to Fan Xia. Xie Cen and Wen Ming Yue sat on one side, while Rong Xiu sat directly across from Fan Xia. Watching Wen Lan Sheng hurriedly take his seat next to Fan Xia, as if afraid of losing his place if he was a second late, Rong Xiu wore an ambiguous smile.

“Mr. Rong, we didn’t expect you to grace us with your presence today. Lan Sheng and his father have been preparing dishes all afternoon. I don’t know if they’ll suit your taste, please try them,” Wen Ming Yue said with a somewhat stiff smile, her face dry and yellow with age, looking like the rough surface of a walnut as she forced out a smile.

“Our Lan Sheng said you like West Lake vinegar fish, so he specially went to the supermarket to choose a fresh grass carp to make it,” Xie Cen added enthusiastically.

But Wen Lan Sheng only felt embarrassed and mortified.

Seeing his own parents treat Rong Xiu, an outsider who had stolen his wife-master, better than they treated him, their own son, Wen Lan Sheng felt his heart breaking with anger. If he wasn’t sitting next to Fan Xia while Rong Xiu sat across from her, he would have thought Rong Xiu was the true master of this house, and he was just a servant who could cook.

“Since Lan Sheng personally made it for me, I must certainly give it a proper taste,” Rong Xiu said unhurriedly as he picked up his chopsticks. His long, cold eyes flashed with a hint of interest as he picked up a tender piece of fish and placed it in his mouth, chewing slowly. His gestures were so elegant it was as if he wasn’t eating a common fish, but rather enjoying top-tier French cuisine.

“…Not bad,” Rong Xiu put down his chopsticks and praised lightly, but his beautifully curved chin lifted arrogantly, showing no trace of sincerity in his compliment.

“However, if the grass carp could be starved for two days before making West Lake vinegar fish, to reduce the fishy smell and earthy taste, it would be better. Otherwise, the vinegar fish ends up tasting only of vinegar besides the fishy smell,” Rong Xiu said lazily, casting a sharp glance at Wen Lan Sheng across the table.

Xie Cen swallowed and said, “This is the first time our Lan Sheng has made West Lake vinegar fish. He followed a recipe, so he doesn’t have much experience. Mr. Rong, next time you come, our Lan Sheng will definitely follow your method. Right, Lan Sheng?”

Fan Xia also turned her head to see Wen Lan Sheng’s reaction.

Wen Lan Sheng clenched his fists tightly, nearly biting through his tongue: “Yes, Senior Rong Xiu. Next time I’ll definitely improve.”

“Good,” Rong Xiu’s laugh was low and cultured, the arrogance and complacency barely concealed beneath his refined gold-rimmed glasses. “Let’s eat.”

Wen Lan Sheng was furious but didn’t dare speak, only gripping his chopsticks in anger, not daring to say a word of retaliation. He was afraid that if he said one wrong word, Fan Xia would truly be disappointed in him.

He would rather endure all of Rong Xiu’s insults than watch Fan Xia slowly grow cold and disappointed towards him, eventually leaving him completely.

At the dinner table, Wen Lan Sheng listened silently as they chatted about the real estate market and the stock market.

Although Rong Xiu’s face remained aloof and cold, every word he said to Wen Ming Yue at the dinner table was carefully considered.

Thinking about how the Wen family had ruined Fan Xia’s life, the contempt and malice in his bones couldn’t help but creep onto his face, but now was not the time. He couldn’t express his disgust too obviously.

Wen Ming Yue said, “Mr. Rong, I don’t know if you’ve heard about Gu Cheng Group. There were quite a few negative reports before, but now their stock price has actually gone up.”

Fan Xia’s hand holding the chopsticks paused as she looked at Wen Ming Yue.

Today, Gu Cheng Group’s stock had risen, so Wen Ming Yue must have made money. But she deliberately asked Rong Xiu about it, indicating that she wanted to extract more insider information from Rong Xiu’s mouth, and also to confirm whether the stock information Fan Xia had given her was true and effective.

Rong Xiu, who had been navigating the business world for so many years, could easily discern this intention.

But this also suited his purpose. He knew that Wen Ming Yue had listened to Fan Xia and invested several hundred thousand in the stock market. He knew what Fan Xia wanted to do, so he decided to add fuel to the fire, to make it burn even more fiercely.

He deliberately smiled casually and said nonchalantly, “Our group has a cooperation with Gu Cheng Group. Some people who knew this information in advance bought a large amount of stock, naturally raising the price. But don’t worry, the news of the cooperation will be announced soon. Once everyone knows, the stock price will rise again.”

Hearing this, Wen Ming Yue’s cloudy eyes immediately lit up with excitement.

She might half-believe what Fan Xia said, but she couldn’t possibly disbelieve Rong Xiu’s words. He was the chairman of Shanhai Group, a billionaire worth tens of billions. For ordinary people, even a casual remark from such a person was like glimpsing heaven’s secrets, and Wen Ming Yue felt she had caught a glimpse of those secrets.

Fan Xia lowered her head and smiled, knowing that with Rong Xiu’s credibility as a guarantee, Wen Ming Yue had completely taken the bait.

Suddenly, she felt something cool touch her ankle. At first, she thought someone had accidentally brushed against her and paid it no mind, but that cool sensation clung to her ankle and slowly moved up her calf, the movement soft and ambiguous.

Fan Xia realized what was happening and looked up to see Rong Xiu. He hooked his lips in a smile, his expression wanton and alluring.

Fan Xia glanced at Wen Lan Sheng, who hadn’t noticed anything, and shifted her position, crossing her legs.

The skirt gathered in cloud-like folds at her knees, revealing her white, jade-like calves with their elegant curves. Her raised toes lightly tapped his knee, like a silent enticement.

Rong Xiu became even more unrestrained. The clean, shiny tip of his shoe lifted her light skirt, caressing and teasing the white, delicate flesh of her calf like a lover.

Fan Xia leisurely picked at her food, nonchalantly enjoying the meal and the under-table service.

Meanwhile, Rong Xiu’s forehead was already beaded with fine sweat, as if he had entered a steaming hot sauna, his breathing heated.

Wen Lan Sheng felt bored, listlessly listening. Thankfully, Fan Xia was still sitting beside him, otherwise he truly couldn’t have endured.

Thinking of Fan Xia, Wen Lan Sheng felt at ease and turned his head to look at her.

Fan Xia sat beside him, chatting casually with others, her lips always curled in a faint, almost imperceptible smile. Occasionally, she would pick up some small dishes in front of her with her chopsticks, resting her chin on her hand as she listened attentively to others speak. Those gazed upon by her gentle eyes would always feel as if they were deeply loved by her.

He wondered if she was like this at business dinners too? Would those seasoned businesspeople also have the same illusion? As women themselves, would they also blush and have their hearts race under Fan Xia’s gaze?

As he thought about this, Wen Lan Sheng couldn’t help but chuckle, leaning closer to her.

But before the smile could fade from the corners of his eyes, an unprecedented anger and shock crawled over his entire body!