White Lotus 10
10 | Ten Roses
Tang You deeply felt the malice of this world.
“Eh?”
“You also ruined his paintings,” said Xiao Zexing slowly. “Threw all his brushes into the fish tank, threw away his homework——”
“Wait, wait,” choked Tang Yu in disbelief. “I did all of that?”
Xiao Zexing smiled kindly.
“……Second Uncle is now in China, right?” Tang Yu faltered, then continued, “Can I trouble you with one thing?”
“Go ahead.”
“In the future, if there are occasions where Second Uncle would be present, can you give please give me a heads up?” Tang Yu looked disconsolate and her eyelashes trembled slightly. “I'm afraid that Second Uncle might kill me.”
Xiao Zexing smiled, “Don’t worry, he has a good temper.”
No, no, no.
Tang You couldn’t believe that.
The fact that “Xiao Weijing” could remember everything so clearly till now, must be because Xiao Zexing had a huge fit of rage back then…
Tang You did not dare to imagine the scene, only felt blackness close in on her.
She was more determined than ever to not marry into the Xiao family.
She lowered her head, and quickly sent a message to the driver, asking him to go back first.
It took less than three minutes to walk out of the compound; Xiao Zexing’s car was parked right outside.
Tang You secretly noticed that this car was a different one from the previous times.
She didn't know that Xiao Weijing had a hobby of collecting luxury cars.
The driver wearing white gloves was still holding an umbrella and standing by the car door. When he saw Tang You and Xiao Zexing walking over slowly, he hastily opened the car door and respectfully indicated for them to get in.
Tang You did not ask why “Xiao Weijing” was not driving today.
When she shared an umbrella with him just now, she had detected the faint smell of alcohol from the man.
It was extremely light.
Mixed with the scent of cedar.
So light, it seemed as if it would be blown away by the wind in an instant.
Tang You's skirt was still wet; she sat down cautiously.
A drop of water slid down her cheek, trailed down along the white neck, then finally falling onto her shirt.
She didn’t notice.
“Some things don't have to be forced,” said Xiao Zexing suddenly. “You should understand this.”
This was the second time he had said such words.
Tang You froze and looked up at him.
Xiao Zexing wore a clean and neat white shirt that bore no logo. People of their status generally don’t purchase ready-made clothes; there would be someone coming to their house regularly to take their measurements and custom-make clothes for them.
The Xiao family had an independent private property company; in addition to personnel that must be hired for food, clothing, household management and transportation, they also employed florists, tea ceremony masters, etc., etc. Elder Xiao loved dogs and had two dozen dogs, large and small, each with their own personal nanny.
It's not that Tang You had never been moved by such extravagance.
She lowered her eyelashes, twisted her clothes with her delicate fingers, and whispered, “……but I like you.”
Xiao Zexing's expression was as usual; his gaze fell upon her face, and it seemed like there might be a smile—or maybe not. “What do you like about me?”
Tang You had long prepared a response to a simple question like this.
Tang You tilted her face upwards; her beautiful eyes looked like they were hiding a clear spring. She bit her lips slightly and said timidly, “You may not know, when Grandpa Tang told us to get engaged, I was very happy.”
This script had been drafted long ago; Tang You had even predicted “Xiao Weijing’s” possible reactions, from mockery, to sneers, to brushing her off and leaving—and had prepared corresponding measures for each of them.
But she had not anticipated the current situation.
Xiao Zexing rubbed the watch on his wrist carelessly, but his dimples deepened. “And then?”
Tang You felt that the rhythm was about to be disrupted by him.
Quickly adjusting her mood, Tang You swiftly recalled the words she had prepared, and forged on determinedly, “Actually, long before the engagement, I already had a crush on you. What you may not know is that I have had a crush on you for four whole years——”
Xiao Zexing interrupted her, “So you've had a crush on me since you were 13?”
Hmm?
Ahhhhhhh, I accidentally said four years instead of one.
Tang You could only put on a bold face and answer, “Yes.”
Xiao Zexing smiled leisurely as he said, “Then I'm really flattered.”
Tang You gritted her teeth; she tilted her face once again and tried to squeeze out a few drops of tears. She switched to a mushier term, “Brother Weijing, since childhood, in Grandpa Tang's house, you were the only one who treated me the best, and would share your candy with me. I was always being bullied at that time, but it was also always you who helped me out. Brother Weijing, you are the beacon in my life, the brightest star in the night sky, I dare not imagine what I will do without Brother Weijing in the future…”
——It was all purely nonsense. Tang You expected that the person in front of her would not be able to remember anything, and so began to make up lies unscrupulously.
After saying so much, Tang You's mouth was getting dry; when she turned to look, Xiao Zexing still had the same calm and composed look.
He had propped his chin with one hand and was listening to her lazily, without the slightest intention to interrupt.
Their eyes met.
Xiao Zexing smiled, “Go on.”
……You still want me to go on?
You really don’t find it mushy and disgusting?
Tang You could only bite the bullet and continue to make up this beautiful love story, “When I knew that my grandfather had engaged us, I was so happy as if I’d had won a billion dollars. I always thought that Brother Weijing was unattainable, and didn't dare to ask for anything. I don’t dare to expect Brother Weijing to love me, and I can look away from your relationship with Sister Wen Ling. As long as I can be your wife, even if you don't like me in your entire life, I will be satisfied.”
As Tang You spoke, she felt like throwing up last night’s dinner.
She could actually bring herself to spout such boot-licking words!
Xiao Zexing was obviously unmoved by the affectionate confession. He asked, “If you like me so much, why haven't you come to see me even once after I went abroad?”
She was completely caught off guard.
Tang You was confused by this question, and she suddenly had the illusion that she had been completely seen through. The discomfort made her grit her teeth and continue to make up her story, “Because Brother Weijing doesn’t seem to like me, and many people said you went abroad to avoid me… I don’t want to be hated by you, so even if I wanted to see you again, I endured it. But I've been silently following you on social media, and have to see your photos every night before I can sleep at ease. In the three years that you’ve been away, I’ve always kept you in my heart…”
She didn’t know if it was her delusion, but Tang You suddenly realised that, after listening to such a long mushy speech, Xiao Zexing was not only not angry, but actually more… cheerful?
Tang You was dumbfounded.
Ah… Xiao Weijing, what’s going on with you?
She felt like she was unable to get a proper grasp on this person.
“Since you like it so much,” Xiao Zexing withdrew his gaze from her lips and smiled, “It seems like I need to discuss with the old man about bringing the marriage forward.”
A sentence that condemned Tang You to a dead-end—she hastily waved her hands, “No, no, no.”
He raised his eyebrows, “Hmm? You don’t want to?”
“Um… It’s not that…”
“Didn't you say you liked me a lot? So much that you have to look at my photos every day to feel at ease?” Xiao Zexing reached out and picked off a leaf that was in Tang You's hair. Smiling, he continued, “Why are you unhappy now the moment I mention marriage?”
Those were words that were meant to nauseate you!
Don't you hate such things the most?!
Tang You resisted the urge to vomit blood, and swallowed her thoughts with difficulty. “It's not that I don’t want to, but I think it’s… umm… a little too sudden, right? After all, I'm still in school, and we're still developing feelings for each oth——”
“It’s not sudden at all,” Xiao Zexing smiled elegantly, “After all, we have been engaged for four years.”
Having said that, he gave a long sigh and gazed tenderly at Tang You. “You're right. All these years, I’ve been unfair to you. You’ve endured a lot.”
Tang You felt like crying, “No, not at all……”
Ahhhhhhhhhh she really wanted to chop up the her who’d just gave that passionate confession into pieces and throw it out.
Seeing her embarrassed and discomforted look, Xiao Zexing's dimples got even deeper.
“Alright, I won't tease you anymore,” Xiao Zexing rubbed her little head with a smile in his eyes. “I was just kidding, don’t be so scared.”
Just kidding?
It wasn’t funny at all!
She was scared to death!
Like a drowning person who’d finally surfaced, Tang You breathed a huge sigh of relief.
When she met Xiao Zexing’s smiling gaze, she immediately realised that she was being very “unusual”; she lowered her head at once and buried her face with her hands, trying to maintain the white lotus image. “…why did you want to tease me like that? It’s too much…”
Her pretentiousness was even making her feel psychologically disturbed, but Xiao Zexing was still unmoved.
Tang You marvelled at his impassiveness.
But for the rest of the ride home, Tong Yu did not dare to perform the lovelorn persona again.
She was really afraid that "Xiao Weijing" would marry her on impulse.
After four years of absence, Tang You felt that “Xiao Weijing” had advanced by leaps and bounds.
Even she was finding it difficult to hold her own against him.
During the weekend, Tang Xiao called unprecedentedly and gaily invited Tang You to the hot springs, emphasising that the whole family had to go together.
Tang You didn't want to go, but Tang Xiao said hesitatingly, “Youyou, Dad wants to talk to you about something related to your mother.”
At this juncture, the only matter that could be related to her mother was Qixing.
She was actually curious about how Tang Xiao was going to have the gall to bring this up with her.
Tang You smiled, “Okay, then I’ll go.”
The hot spring hotel that Tang Xiao picked out was an establishment under Mingjian. Naturally, the Xiao family had a private courtyard with a ginseng pool to themselves. Zhao Manlan had also brought Tang You to enjoy it several times before.
Meant for the Xiao family’s personal use, the facilities were all top-notch.
It was never open to the public.
When Tang Xiao confirmed the reservation with the staff, Tang Nan was a little surprised and covered her mouth, “Dad, didn't we say we were going to the ginseng——a”
Tang Xiao coughed dryly, “The regular ones are the same.”
When he said this, he looked at Tang You, who was next to him.
Of course, Tang You knew what Tang Xiao and Tang Nan had in mind. Their main intention in inviting her might not be just to talk—it was more likely that they wanted to use the Xiao family’s private pools. However, they were not qualified to use them, and would definitely be rejected if they asked.
But Tang You's status was different.
She was Xiao Weijing's fiancée.
They were expecting her to step forward.
Of course, she wasn’t going to grant their wish.
Tang You yawned and stayed silent where she stood, idly studying the leaves on the tree nearby.
Jiang Chenting, who was standing next to her, frowned and couldn't help but speak out; he scolded his sister sternly, “Aren’t all the pools the same? Nannan, why are you being so picky?”
Tang Nan was a bit aggrieved and pouted, “Brother!”
Jiang Tao didn't say a word from the beginning to the end; she was preoccupied and didn't seem to care about this little dispute.
The staff finished confirming the reservation and ushered them in with a smile. Tang Xiao noted Tang You's attitude but didn't say anything; after all, this was a hotel under the Xiao family. Tang You and Xiao Weijing were still not married, and there was a risk that it might not happen. Tang Xiao did not dare to cause any trouble.
Jiang Chenting called Tang Nan aside; with a dark expression, he lectured her away from others.
Tang You couldn't hear what the two were talking about. She stretched lazily, then caught a glimpse of Jiang Tao looking inquiringly at her.
After realising that Tang You had noticed her, Jiang Tao smiled, but her eyes remained cold.
Tang Xiao’s had made the reservation at the last minute, and he didn’t expect that Tang You would not speak up. The small courtyard that he reserved was standalone, and there were no guestrooms attached; to get to their guestroom, they had to walk through a long wooden corridor and bamboo forest.
Tang You soaked in the pool with Jiang Tao and Tang Nan.
Jiang Tao felt dizzy and breathless within two minutes of getting into the water, so she left first, leaving Tang You and Tang Nan, two stepsisters who didn't care for each other.
Tang Nan was lying on the rock wall, playing with her mobile phone and making calls, while Tang You asked for a pot of sake. She took the wooden tray and floated it on the water, drinking leisurely.
When she finished her sake, Tang You took her clothes and went to the shower stall, ready to shower, change, and rest.
She just took off her swimsuit when she heard a rush of footsteps. The curtain flung open; Tang Nan, who had already put on her skirt, quickly snatched the basket with her clothes off the table, and flew out.
By the time Tang You hurriedly put on her swimsuit and chased out after her, Tang Nan had already run out of sight.
“Venomous snake!”
Tang You gritted her teeth and cursed.
Tang You never expected that Tang Nan would play such a nasty trick on her.
It was really too underhanded.
All her clothes and shoes were taken away, and she didn't even have a towel to wrap herself in.
Only a two-piece swimsuit.
No matter how open-minded Tang You was, she couldn’t accept walking out dressed like this.
After all, this was not the beach.
Sitting around passively wasn’t a good idea either.
Tang You forced herself to calm down and searched for something to wrap herself in.
At her wits’ end, Tang You suddenly spotted an unknown plant in the courtyard; its wide, green leaves spread out broadly.
Tang You activated all her DIY abilities; she hurriedly plucked the leaves down, silently apologised to the string curtain, tore down a strand and strung several large leaves together. Then, she wrapped it around her waist.
She checked herself in the mirror. Then, she took the tiny tablecloth off a small square table—it was big enough to wrap around her torso, just that it left a section of her waist exposed.
Forget it, just pretend it’s a crop top.
Tang You soothed herself like this.
After she got out, she was going to teach Tang Nan a lesson.
Fortunately, the skies were getting dark; it was almost time for dinner, and there were not many people outside. Tang You stuck her head out, confirmed that there was no one on the long wooden corridor before walking out calmly.
She was just going to pretend that it’s some new trend.
She’d only taken a few steps when she heard Xiao Zexing's voice. “Youyou?”
Ahhhhhhhhhhh!
The screaming chicken in her heart screamed madly.
Tang You turned back stiffly.
Amidst the shadows of the bamboo, Xiao Zexing stood in the dim light, his figure long, his demeanour refined.
He walked over slowly and studied her with interest. “What are you doing? Cosplaying as the Monkey King?”
His gaze moved downwards, and he fell silent.
Above the messy homemade leaf skirt.
A section of a waist that was left exposed.
Slender as can be, white as snow.
“From the back, the walking posture was quite arrogant,” Xiao Zexing pulled a bamboo branch aside, stepped in the moonlight towards her, and smiled leisurely. “It really is you.”
Tang You was so frightened that she instinctively took two steps backwards, in a posture that even her closest loved ones would not recognise.
