Chapter 132: Chapter 30: Xia Xiqing’s Changes

Under Sister Mei’s meticulous care, Zhang Yan enjoyed the meal quite a bit. Whether the other two were happy or not, however, was hard to say.

After they had their fill of food and drink, Huo Shaoqi checked the time. "Sister Mei, Miss Xia, Zhang Yan and I are going to have a smoke. Why don’t you two go out for a walk?"

Xia Xiqing and Li Huamei looked at Zhang Yan almost simultaneously. Upon receiving a slight nod from him, they left together. Seeing the two women in such "harmony," Huo Shaoqi couldn’t help clicking his tongue in marvel. He definitely had to consult Zhang Yan and learn a trick or two when he had the time.

Huo Shaoqi opened a pack of soft Chunghwa cigarettes and offered one to Zhang Yan. Zhang Yan didn’t have the habit of smoking, nor did he want to inhale Huo Shaoqi’s secondhand smoke right now. "Eldest Young Master Huo, you sent my two women away, so you must have something to discuss in private. Let’s not waste time. I have plans for later tonight."

"What do you mean ’your two women’? You haven’t even won Sister Mei over yet. In the competition between us, the outcome is still unknown." Seeing that he didn’t take the cigarette, Huo Shaoqi seamlessly put the pack away while joking.

In response to Huo Shaoqi’s teasing, Zhang Yan really wanted to say that neither of them was actually his, but he naturally wouldn’t say that out loud. "As for Sister Mei, we’ll just have to rely on our own abilities. Let me guess the real reason you’re looking for me. I assume it’s about the battle for the Ouya Group’s heir, right?"

"Haha, you’re a straightforward guy, Zhang Yan, so I won’t beat around the bush. That’s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about in private.

"I wonder who you favor more in this succession battle—Si Mingxin or Si Mingzhan?"

This was not hard to guess. Si Mingcheng had once confided in Zhang Yan that Huo Shaoqi, Hua Wenbin, and Ren Junfei could only be considered ordinary friends. They had originally belonged to the neutral faction. It was only recently, as the political winds became clearer, that they each jumped out to place their bets. There could only be one purpose for these people seeking Zhang Yan out in private—to sound him out.

Of course, theoretically, there was still a chance for Si Mingcheng to turn the tables, but it was purely theoretical. Aside from Zhang Yan, absolutely no one believed Si Mingcheng still had a chance to reclaim the heir’s throne. Even Si Mingcheng himself didn’t believe it.

Naturally, Zhang Yan didn’t answer Huo Shaoqi’s question directly. "It’s not really about who I favor. Honestly, I don’t care about any of this. Brother Cheng just brought me along to broaden my horizons."

"Oh? So you intend to remain neutral, Zhang Yan?"

Zhang Yan had been observing Huo Shaoqi’s expression, but the man didn’t reveal any flaws. Zhang Yan couldn’t figure out whose side he was really on. Although he had mingled on the periphery of Si Mingzhan’s circle at the banquet, things like this were hard to say for sure.

"I wouldn’t call it being neutral. Personally, I don’t feel any differently about the two of them. If I had to say, I’ll probably just follow Brother Cheng’s lead.

"Whoever Brother Cheng ends up helping, I might lend a hand as well. But after all, we’re just casual acquaintances, so it’s not like I’d go all out."

Zhang Yan acted like a naive, newly graduated college student, honestly laying all his cards on the table with an earnest look on his face. Whether Huo Shaoqi believed him or not was unknown, but he replied without offering any valuable information himself.

"You really are an honest guy. But let me give you a piece of advice. It’s fine for us to speak so openly between friends, but in front of outsiders in the future, you should hold back a bit. Don’t speak with such absolute certainty."

"I’ve learned my lesson, I’ll definitely pay attention in the future! By the way, who do you favor?"

"Of course, I favor Si Mingzhan. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have publicly stood in her circle at the banquet. Didn’t you notice that at the party?"

"Sigh, why would I pay attention to that? It’s not something I cared about in the first place."

"Haha, true. That’s just the kind of personality you have!"

The laughter and cheerful banter continued, but out of every ten sentences they exchanged, probably not a single one was the truth.

A gentle breeze blew, and insects chirped. Along a path by the woods, two beauties strolled together.

"Sister Xia, Yan and I were just acting earlier. You should know that."

"Yes."

"Then why are you still so sulky?"

"Am I?"

"Of course you are! You almost poked a hole through the bottom of your bowl earlier. Those were fine porcelain bowls I handpicked one by one. It broke my heart!"

"...Sorry. I’ll compensate you for it later."

Li Huamei suddenly stopped walking and pressed her hands onto Xia Xiqing’s shoulders, startling her.

"Sister Xia, you don’t mind me calling you that, do you?"

"I don’t mind."

"What I just said was a joke! A joke, understand? You can’t take it seriously!"

"Oh, I see."

Faced with this aloof little beauty from whom getting a single word was like pulling teeth, Li Huamei felt a headache coming on. "I could actually tell earlier—you don’t seem very good at interacting with people, do you?"

"Mhm."

"Do you usually only communicate more with Yan?"

"Mhm."

"Aside from him, do you have any other friends?"

"A few, but... we don’t talk much either."

Li Huamei pondered. Looking at Xia Xiqing, it didn’t seem like she had social anxiety. She wondered what had caused her current personality. With Li Huamei’s sharp eyes, she could naturally tell that Zhang Yan hadn’t succeeded in winning her over yet. Right now, she wanted to lend a hand and return a bit of the favor.

"Yan calls me Sister Mei. If you don’t mind, you can call me Sister Mei too."

"Sister Mei."

"Aw, good girl. Let’s add each other on WeChat. From now on, whenever you don’t have anyone to talk to or feel too shy to look for someone to chat with, I’ll keep you company. I have too much free time on my hands every day anyway."

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