In the quiet banquet hall corridor, Su Anning carried her skirt and angrily found Bai Yin.
She was so angry that her whole body was trembling, and she could barely restrain her emotions. She questioned loudly, "Bai Yin, today's trending search keyword - was it premeditated by you to undermine me?"
"Those who live by the knife die by the knife. Sister, how could you not understand even such a simple principle?"
Bai Yin looked at her calmly and said, "You invited me to the celebration banquet of The Assassin to show me the difference between you and me. I came, so why are you impatient now, sister?"
Su Anning was spoiled like a little princess by her parents. She had never suffered such humiliation before. Her expression was fierce due to extreme anger. She raised her hand to hit Bai Yin.
Bai Yin was quick-eyed and seized her wrist.
Su Anning struggled, but unexpectedly, Bai Yin's grip was astonishingly strong. Not only could she not break free, but her wrist was also squeezed painfully by Bai Yin.
"Bai Yin, let go. You're hurting me!"
"Remember the pain. All of this is your own doing." Bai Yin stared into her eyes, speaking with great deterrence, "Su Anning, we have a long way to go."
After saying that, she flung away Su Anning's hand and left.
Su Anning staggered a few steps. Unresigned, she shouted at Bai Yin's back, "Do you think you'll get your way just because you married Chen Huaixiao? Do you know why he married you? It's because you look like..."
Before she could finish, Bai Yin glanced back sharply and smiled, "His first love, right?"
Su Anning was stunned for a moment.
This was the best card in her hand that she wanted to play at the most critical moment.
At this moment, Su Anning had lost her senses due to anger. The only thought in her mind was to make Bai Yin suffer beyond endurance.
But she didn't expect that Bai Yin had already known about it!
"That's right! He doesn't love you at all! If he's good to you, it's only because you look like the one in his heart! You're just her substitute!"
Su Anning viciously threw out these words, then tried her best to find even a trace of pain on Bai Yin's face.
However, disappointingly, she didn't find even a tiny bit.
Bai Yin stood elegantly in front of her with a gentle temperament. Her eyes were as clear as black jade. She looked as if she was watching a joke, staring at Su Anning.
After a while, she raised her eyebrows lightly, "That's all?"
Seeing her killer card had no effect at all, Su Anning's expression became even more hideous, "You...you don't care at all! Chen Huaixiao doesn't love you at all!"
"Why would I care if I don't love him?" The corners of Bai Yin's bright eyes curved up, "Sister, don't be silly."
"Then you..."
"The benefits of marrying Chen Huaixiao are probably something you won't experience in your lifetime."
Bai Yin didn't want to waste time with Su Anning anymore. As she turned around, the smile on her face vanished instantly.
...
She walked out of the banquet hall building and went down the steps. But at the corner, she saw a lonely figure.
In the dim light, the man leaned against the railing of the steps. His handsome profile was buried in the shadows.
He lowered his head to light a cigarette. The corner of his mouth flashed orange for an instant, then vanished again.
He bit the cigarette lightly with his lips. His left hand casually fiddled with an exquisite silver lighter.
Chen Huaixiao glanced at Bai Yin, like a gust of cold and murderous wind sweeping in from the endless dark night.
Then he pressed the cap of the lighter which made a crisp click in the darkness.
He turned and left.
Bai Yin watched Chen Huaixiao's figure and knew he must have heard everything.
She casually shrugged.
Let him hear it then. After all, they were just fake husband and wife. Whoever falls in love first loses.
...
Chen Huaixiao returned to the Maybach sedan. Shen Bin asked doubtfully, "Master Chen, where is Madam?"
"Drive the car," the man said in a low voice.
Shen Bin glanced at Chen Huaixiao through the rearview mirror.
He was always calm and composed. It was rare to see him looking so gloomy. Even the dark clouds in his eyes seemed to spill out.
An hour ago, when President Chen heard that Madam was invited to the celebration banquet of The Assassin, he couldn't even wait for the meeting to end and rushed over, worried that Madam would suffer the slightest grievance.
How could he come out alone now with such an unpleasant expression?
"Master Chen, Madam is not wronged, is she?"
"Who dares wrong her."
Although Chen Huaixiao spoke calmly, it somehow sounded...resentful.
Shen Bin could only start the sedan and leave the banquet hall.
...
The sunshine today was great, warming people pleasantly.
Bai Yin was tending the flowers and plants in the garden. Her phone on the iron garden table vibrated. Bai Yin picked it up. It was Sun Lili calling -
"Darling, did you and Chen Huaixiao have a tiff?"
"Hmm?"
"All your engagements have been canceled, including the NIO skincare endorsement you got before." Sun Lili said anxiously, "This must be deliberate, right?"
Bai Yin was mentally prepared, so she didn't feel particularly surprised.
"He hasn't been home for a week."
Bai Yin knew Chen Huaixiao was upset. He hated being used the most. Not only did Bai Yin use him, but she also slept with him without an ounce of sincerity, only calculations and benefits. No wonder he was unhappy.
"What should we do about it?" Sun Lili was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, "Riding on the momentum of The Splendid Robe, we should strike while the iron is hot. Now the engagements are canceled without any jobs. Baby, why don't you go apologize and soften up to him?"
Bai Yin rejected Sun Lili's proposal.
He regarded her as a substitute, but didn't allow her to take advantage of this marriage?
"Lili, I remember the new artists signed to Brilliant Star Media have a 3-month intensive training camp for trainees, right?"
"Yes."
Although Sun Lili had just joined Brilliant Star Media, she had done her homework thoroughly and grasped all kinds of information, "This trainee training camp is known as the devil's training camp. Everything will be trained and enhanced comprehensively, from posture, vocals, dance, acting skills to handling reporters' questions, variety show sensibility, etc. But darling, this is mainly for newcomers who have just entered the entertainment industry."
"Put my name in this batch of trainees too."
"Are you sure? Entering the training camp means no engagements for a full 3 months. The heat of The Splendid Robe's serialization will be over too..."
"It's okay."
Bai Yin took the long-term route and did not contend over instant gains and losses.
She needed professional training in this area and now was the opportunity.
Soon, Sun Lili applied for Bai Yin's quota to the company. Since Bai Yin was an artist newly signed this season, her name did not need Chen Huaixiao's approval. Only the supervisor's approval was required to attend.
The intensive 3-month training camp, although in the mountains, was said to be in a resort with excellent accommodation and surrounding environment. Nestled against the mountains and next to water, the air quality was also very good.
Brilliant Star Media would never shortchange its own artists.
Bai Yin was actually looking forward to it.
...
In the office, Shen Bin walked softly to Chen Huaixiao and sized up his expression. Hesitantly, he said, "Master Chen, Madam, she..."
Without raising his head, Chen Huaixiao held a pen in his slender yet powerful fingers, signing his vigorous name at the bottom right corner of the document. His expression was calm as water, "Her agent came to beg you?"
"Uh...no, not really." Shen Bin swallowed and said with difficulty, "Madam has signed up for the training camp and will be away for over 3 months. She sets off tomorrow morning."
Chen Huaixiao's pen tip pressed hard on the document. A hint of undercurrent flashed in his dark eyes.
After a long while, he said in a low voice, "If she wants to leave, let her. Do you have to report every artist's schedule to me? Are you very free or do you think I'm very free?"
Shen Bin was so frightened he almost knelt down to admit his mistake, "Your subordinate knows his mistake!"
He really met his match this time.
Chen Huaixiao was always calm and composed. It was rare for him to lose control over Madam's matters.
After work, Shen Bin guessed that with such an unpleasant mood, Chen Huaixiao would probably spend the night in the penthouse residence again.
As the diligent personal assistant, he still asked, "Master Chen, do you need the car today?"
"No need."
"Okay!"
Shen Bin respectfully exited the office.
However, as soon as he opened the door, he heard the man's low voice -
"Bring the car out."
"Okay...Huh?"
He looked back, puzzled at Chen Huaixiao.
Chen Huaixiao impatiently loosened his tie, "Going home tonight."
*
Shen Bin really didn't understand his boss more and more.
Previously, he felt he was quite good at guessing his mindset. Chen Huaixiao was arrogant with an impetuous working style. He would not hesitate repeatedly over a determined matter or ponder it over and over.
But after getting married, he realized he understood less and less.
A series of the President's recent actions were a bit...anxious?
Not only anxious, but also quite fickle.
Shen Bin didn't know if this term was accurate, but wasn't this state like falling in love?
Could it be the President was no longer pretending but had really fallen for Madam?
He thought thrillingly, glancing at the handsome yet aloof Chen Huaixiao in the rearview mirror.
Chen Huaixiao gazed out the window expressionlessly, seeming not to look at him but deterred strongly, "If you keep staring randomly, I'll deduct this month's performance bonus completely."
Shen Bin quickly retracted his gaze in fright, and parked the car at the convenience store entrance. He said to Chen Huaixiao, "Master Chen, I'll go in and buy a bottle of icy water to calm down..."
Chen Huaixiao did not respond. Shen Bin got out of the car and went into the convenience store.
When he came out, he happily held an ice cream cone in his mouth.
"Finish eating before getting in the car."
"Yes, Master Chen."
Chen Huaixiao looked at the ice cream in his mouth and said after thinking, "Go buy another one."
"Ah, Master Chen wants to eat ice cream!" Shen Bin exclaimed in shock.
"It's not for me, it's for the housekeeper."
"Okay! I'll go right away. What flavor does Madam want? No, I mean what flavor does the housekeeper want?"
After pondering for a moment, Chen Huaixiao said, "Never mind."
It would have melted on the way back anyway.
Chen Huaixiao's gaze lowered. He recalled a weekend in a small town in southern Yangtze River years ago.
Bai Yin eyed the yogurt ice cream cones in the tourists' hands longingly as they walked on the ancient town's stone-paved scenic streets along the river.
Chen Huaixiao was not a very attentive person but he could tell the young mistress was coveting them. He took out his wallet.
She blocked him and said it was expensive in the scenic area. After walking out of the scenic area for a while, it would be much cheaper at the snack shop.
Chen Huaixiao didn't think the 20-30 yuan ice cream was expensive so he bought one and handed it to her.
Bai Yin felt it was expensive so she clutched it tightly, unwilling to eat it until the ice cream started melting. Only then did she regretfully open the package.
The first lick, she raised to Chen Huaixiao's lips, "Brother, you eat first."
"Afraid I might have eaten from it?"
"I'm not afraid. It's nothing."
Chen Huaixiao was originally not fond of sweets but took a bite and felt the taste was not bad.
The young mistress harmlessly licked the spot he had bitten and also said with a smile, "It's delicious."
...
What feelings Chen Huaixiao had for Bai Yin, even he himself could not articulate clearly.
At first, he really did feel that she bore some resemblance to Qin Yao, and didn’t find her unpleasant to interact with.
Qin Yao came from a wealthy family, a true little princess untouched by the dirt of the world.
Bai Yin was a bit like her, but also very unlike her.
One was a plump white peony nourished by rich soil, the other a stubborn blade of grass tenaciously growing in barren earth.
Chen Huaixiao really disliked Bai Yin.
He disliked her tenacious vitality, able to take root and draw nourishment anywhere.
And every interaction and companionship with her, even their later intimacy... made Chen Huaixiao feel her roots in his heart growing deeper.
He really disliked this feeling, yet was unable to pluck out this annoying weed.
She was burrowing into his heart.
......
Shen Bin looked at Chen Huaixiao's confused expression, and suddenly asked: "Master Chen, do you believe in love at first sight?"
Chen Huaixiao glanced back at him and said indifferently: "No."
"Then do you believe feelings can develop over time?"
"I believe in... feelings developing over time."
Shen Bin: ???
