Xu Xiaoya wasn’t joking; her tone was one of sincere envy. Yan Xixi simply smiled as she watched her depart.
At the door, Yan Xixi called out to her, "Xiaoya, pick out a gift."
Xiaoya’s eyes widened as she gazed at the room full of luxury items, her own eyes shining. "Really? For me?"
"Next month is your birthday. I’ve never given you a proper gift."
Xu Xiaoya didn’t hold back. Beaming, she walked over to a large pile of bags and began to choose. "This one is nice... no, never mind, I want this one..."
She picked one up. Yan Xixi glanced at it, then selected another from beside her and handed it over. "Take this one."
"Why? I think this one is pretty good."
"This one, then. This one’s the best."
"Alright, this one it is."
Xu Xiaoya readily accepted it.
Yan Xixi asked her to pick out some clothes as well, but she refused. Smiling playfully, she said, "Xixi, you know, even though I used to be decked out in designer brands and often carried expensive-looking handbags, most of them were actually high-quality fakes. Getting one genuine item today is more than enough. I wouldn’t dare ask for more."
Reaching the doorway, Xu Xiaoya turned back, hesitating. Finally, unable to hold it in any longer, she lowered her voice. "Xixi, did you change your phone number too? Huang Xiaojue is looking for you like a madman. He’s asked me countless times. He’s been hounding me so relentlessly, I’m at my wit’s end! I’m terrified I’ll accidentally let something slip..."
Her phone! Her old, broken cell phone was long gone, who knew where. The old number had also been canceled a long time ago.
"Did Wan Donglin cancel your phone service too?"
Yan Xixi remained silent.
A sudden chill ran down Xu Xiaoya’s spine. It seemed this life of comfort wasn’t so easily obtained.
Yan Xixi casually glanced at the latest model phone beside her, picked it up, and dialed Xu Xiaoya’s number. Xu Xiaoya looked at her own phone; it was a completely new, unfamiliar number.
Indeed, Wan Donglin had severed all her connections completely.
Yan Xixi said softly, "Don’t tell Xiaojue anything about me."
Xu Xiaoya started to say something more, but a cough from the doorway made her quickly say, "Goodbye," and leave.
Only then did Wan Donglin slowly walk in.
The sun had just set. The purple-red glow of the sunset reflected off the antique red wall tiles, bathing Yan Xixi’s face completely, as if anointing her with a golden halo.
It was early summer. She wore a sleeveless blouse, sitting by the window with her knees hugged to her chest. Her entire being resembled a piece of crystal-clear jade, with smooth, graceful lines that were pleasing to the eye.
Although Wan Donglin had ’played the field’ for many years, he had never encountered such a captivating woman. She wore no makeup, no adornments, and seemingly followed no special beauty regimen. Yet, from head to toe, her snow-white arms were as smooth and radiant as jade. Gazing at one of her arms for too long could make one feel breathless.
He had been with countless women, many of them acknowledged as first-class beauties. Yet, he had never seen the true faces beneath their meticulously applied makeup. Even late at night, they remained perfectly coiffed and flawlessly made up, many retouching their makeup every half hour. Only Yan Xixi was different; he had never even seen her with makeup on. She was naturally .
As the saying goes, ’natural assets are three parts, grooming seven parts.’ Yet, a truly beautiful woman needed no such embellishments. She herself was a breathtaking sight.
A full twelve points of perfection! She didn’t need the slightest touch of artifice.