Chen Yin arrived to find all the hot pot ingredients already prepared.
The yard gate was left ajar, casting a warm yellow glow from the garden lamp inside, softly illuminating the tree shadows. Light streamed out from the brighter indoor windows, carrying faint voices with it, which suddenly gave Chen Yin a strong sense of home.
He had already taken a good look when he came the day before; the house was carefully arranged, showing a woman’s delicacy and attentiveness at every turn.
He thought of Meng Xinian and secretly felt that this might be just what Meng Xinian needed and longed for.
A young girl came out, and due to the backlighting, he couldn’t see her face clearly for a moment.
Chen Yin pushed the door open, assuming it had been left ajar for him. After entering, he attempted to close the door behind him, only to hear Chiang Xiao say, "Leave it like that, no need to close it."
He paused for a moment.
Chiang Xiao descended the staircase at the entrance and approached. It was then that Chen Yin finally saw her clearly.
Even though he had seen many beauties in his travels everywhere, of all kinds, he couldn’t help but praise inwardly, top-notch.
Bright and beautiful like a rose under the moonlight.
Elegant and poised as a lotus in the rain.
He had always been guessing about Chiang Xiao’s appearance. Based on his understanding of Meng Xinian, that guy was quite superficial; he wouldn’t like eyes that were too small, a nose too flat or a mouth too wide. In short, no matter what, he thought Chiang Xiao certainly wouldn’t be unattractive.
But he hadn’t expected that Chiang Xiao wouldn’t just be not ugly—she was incredibly beautiful, wasn’t she?
It was said that she had just turned fifteen after the New Year, but she already had a slender figure and was tall, appearing like a bright and lovely girl of seventeen or eighteen.
Meng Xinian, that guy, never liked to lose in a fight from childhood, and now, it seemed his taste in choosing a wife wasn’t about to lose either.
He suddenly felt a bit jealous. What to do?
Although he had already recognized her voice and was sure it was Chiang Xiao, Chen Yin still wanted to make sure.
Chiang Xiao nodded, "Hmm, I’m Chiang Xiao."
Chen Yin wore black pants, a beige sweater and a black coat over it. He looked to be about the same age as Meng Xinian...
Yeah, around twenty-three or twenty-four years old.
But compared to the immediate presence of manliness exuding from Meng Xi whenever he appeared, enough to fill ten miles around, Chen Yin seemed much more refined.
With light eyebrows, long eyes, slightly plump lips, and a somewhat slim physique, he really didn’t look much like a businessman.
She hadn’t expected that this would be Meng Xinian’s best friend. He didn’t seem like the same type of person at all.
Chen Yin handed over a gift box, with matte light blue wrapping and a goose-yellow silk ribbon tied on top.
"Sister-in-law, it’s our first meeting. Here’s a little gift."
This might be the first time someone had given her a gift, right?
Chiang Xiao reached out to take it, a smile appearing on the corner of her lips, "Thank you."
Chen Yin suddenly turned his head. The half-open gate led to an empty space outside; it was cold, past dinner time, and there wasn’t a soul to be seen.
But in that instant just before, he inexplicably felt a chill down his spine.
However, he couldn’t deny that he had done it on purpose.
Meng Xinian had asked him to help find something, which Chen Yin guessed was intended as a gift for Chiang Xiao, but now he had taken the initiative to give Chiang Xiao a New Year’s gift first, so Meng Xinian’s present would have to follow his.
Yes, he did it on purpose, because with Meng Xinian’s petty nature, he would certainly be jealous and angry!
A mischievous glint flashed in Chen Yin’s eyes.
"What are you looking at?" Chiang Xiao followed his gaze to the outside.
"Nothing," he said, "just wondering why you’re not closing the door. Aren’t you afraid someone might sneak in?"