The Billionaire's Hidden Affection-Chapter 544 - 541: Wretched Maid, Give Up Hope 5_1

Yan Xixi broke into a sweat. No wonder the Empress Dowager used so many internet slang phrases, like "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but you look like a loser to me." She had always found it odd; how could an old lady be so fashionable? So that was the reason.

Before she knew it, it was already past five in the afternoon.

Yan Xixi glanced at the time and nearly jumped. She had been listening to the "boorish man" spout nonsense and brag about all sorts of economic trends. She was so engrossed that she had completely forgotten the time.

"No, I have to go back! I’d originally scheduled three hours for studying this afternoon, and you’ve made me waste all of them! Now I’ll definitely have to work overtime until two in the morning... My schedule is ruined!"

He grabbed her hand, grinning. "Since it’s already so late, why don’t we have dinner first?"

"I haven’t finished my planned studies for today yet."

"Just take half a day off. You can make it up tomorrow."

"Absolutely not! ’Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow’—so many people dream up a thousand plans at night, only to walk the same old road the next morning. That’s how people become lazy."

"Studying is important, but so is romance."

Her face flushed. "Who said anything about being in a romance with you? Honestly!"

He feigned nonchalance. "If we weren’t pursuing a romance, do you think I’d waste most of the day chatting idly with you? Am I that free? Miss, don’t be unappreciative."

"What if I don’t pass the exam?"

"Haha, don’t worry. I guarantee you’ll pass. Besides, you’re so smart, how could you possibly not pass? Xixi, I have confidence in you."

She eyed him suspiciously. "Why have you been so free lately?"

"Well... isn’t it all for you?"

That’s just how men are. Whether they have time or not depends entirely on their mood. When they want to make time for you, it’s like squeezing water from a sponge—they can always find some. But if they’re not interested, they’ll suddenly be in meetings for weeks on end. You won’t catch so much as a shadow of them.

As he spoke, he tugged her along. "Let’s go out for a stroll. We can eat dinner when we get hungry."

Just then, his phone rang.

"Third Brother, where are you now?"

He was quite surprised. "Big Sister, you’re back? So quietly too! You didn’t even give me a heads-up."

"Are you free? Come to X Place for dinner right away."

"Well... I already have plans for tonight."

His sister said, a teasing smile playing on her lips, "What plans? Could they involve that ’invincible great beauty’ you’ve mentioned, the one who supposedly outshines Xishi by a country mile?"

Wan Donglin was dumbfounded.

"Stop dawdling! Get here within an hour. If you’re late, we won’t wait."

Before Wan Donglin could say anything more, his sister had already hung up.

When Yan Xixi heard he had an appointment, she immediately said, "If you have something to do, go ahead. I’ll head back first. Oh, and no need to see me off; I can just take a taxi."

He grabbed her hand again. "My big sister is inviting us to dinner."

Yan Xixi paused, then immediately declined, "There’s no need. You should go by yourself."

"Hey, what’s the big deal about one meal? You’ll have to meet my family sooner or later anyway. You’ve already met the Empress Dowager; are you really afraid of a few ’princesses’? Come on, there’s nothing to be afraid of."

Yan Xixi, dragged along by him and unable to refuse, felt a pang of unease.

The Empress Dowager yesterday, ’princesses’ tomorrow... what about the day after, and the day after that? People from A Country are just like this; dating isn’t just about a man and a woman, it’s an affair involving all their relatives.

It was peak rush hour, and traffic was at a standstill.

Wan Dongmei rolled down the car window, looking out at the bumper-to-bumper gridlock. The beautiful woman beside her frowned slightly. "I grew so accustomed to the good air in Europe while filming. The moment I come back here, the smog is overwhelming. If I stay in the country for just a couple of days, my laryngitis acts up. Sigh... thank goodness my immigration procedures are all finalized."