Xia Liuyue wasn't just late.
She was a full hour late.
By the time she sauntered into the revolving restaurant, her crocodile skin handbag in tow, Du Jiashu's expression was already dark.
It was Tang Yinyao, sitting opposite him in a crisp denim jacket, who greeted her with a smiling face.
She gently urged:
"Alright, Brother Jiashu, don't be angry."
"Sister-in-law wasn't deliberately late because she dislikes me; the traffic was probably just bad."
"I know she's still upset about that typhoon day incident. I'll definitely apologize properly today and make sure she's satisfied."
Hearing this, Du Jiashu's visible anger intensified.
How could Xia Liuyue not be doing this on purpose?
He had even reminded her not to be late.
"Yaoyao, that typhoon day matter... wasn't your fault either."
"Oh? So it was my fault then."
Xia Liuyue spoke as she removed her black sunglasses, revealing a pair of beautiful, captivating almond-shaped eyes.
She glanced at the seating arrangement for four.
Tang Yinyao and Du Jiashu were sitting on the same side.
They looked more like the couple.
The corner of Xia Liuyue's lips twitched slightly as she unhurriedly took her seat opposite them.
"Sister-in-law, I'm just glad you're here."
Tang Yinyao's face lit up with apparent delight, saying:
"I truly didn't mean for my good intentions to backfire. That specialist appointment was really hard to get."
"If only I had known, I would have told Brother Jiashu to take a different route when he was driving, then maybe..."
"And you two even had a fight because of me."
"So, let me... let me propose a toast first."
With that, Tang Yinyao picked up a small glass filled with baijiu from the table, tilted her head back, and downed it in one go.
Du Jiashu looked at her with concern,
"Yaoyao, don't drink so much."
Tang Yinyao smiled nonchalantly, even patting Du Jiashu's shoulder familiarly.
Her tone was breezy:
"Brother Jiashu, have you forgotten? I can hold my liquor better than you."
"A few years ago at the New Year's party, I drank all those guys under the table."
"Those brats originally wanted to get you drunk. Did they forget who your buddy is? As if I'd let them bully you!"
Du Jiashu, hearing the protectiveness in her words, was even more pleased.
A smile touched the corners of his eyes and brows.
The dynamic between them seemed to form its own little world, one that others couldn't penetrate.
Including Xia Liuyue.
"A child, and you think a single glass of wine is enough for an apology? How trivial."
She slapped her sunglasses down on the table with a sharp clack, the crisp sound breaking the harmonious atmosphere opposite her.
"Xia Liuyue, don't go too far..."
Du Jiashu opened his mouth to say something but was cut off.
Tang Yinyao nodded repeatedly, saying, "Right, one glass isn't enough. It should be at least three."
After speaking, she picked up the baijiu and drank two more small glasses.
A drunken flush began to color her cheeks.
Xia Liuyue's expression remained cool and detached as she glanced at her, saying:
"Let's get to the point. You called me here for more than just an apology, I presume."
Tang Yinyao had thought the other woman would be harder to deal with.
She hadn't expected her to just drop the matter like this in front of Du Jiashu.
The smile on her lips became a touch more genuine.
"Sister-in-law, it's like this. Our lab had a batch of equipment originally supplied by the University of Science and Technology, but they've run into some issues and can't deliver on time."
"Xia Corporation's medical equipment is renowned in the industry. I was wondering if you could..."
So that's why she persuaded Du Jiashu to reconcile with me, to avoid divorce.
There was a benefit to be gained.
Xia Liuyue let out a cold laugh and replied, "No!"
Seeing this, Du Jiashu couldn't help but interject:
"Liuyue, Yaoyao came today to apologize sincerely. Why won't you even help with such a simple little favor?"
"Then you help her."
Xia Liuyue raised her hand, put her sunglasses back on, her red lips vivid against her cold expression.
Du Jiashu fell silent.
The Du family's business was in smart technology; they didn't have resources in this field.
"Is there any more baijiu?" She lowered her gaze, her voice cold.
Du Jiashu, thinking she was finally relenting, quickly handed over a glass and the baijiu bottle.
Unexpectedly, Xia Liuyue disdainfully pushed the small baijiu glass aside, picked up the bottle, and poured a full wine glass of the clear liquor.
Du Jiashu looked at her, stunned:
"Are you crazy?! The alcohol content is so high. If Yaoyao drinks that, she'll probably end up in the hospital tonight."
Tang Yinyao stared at the wine glass filled with the transparent white liquid and also fell silent.
This woman was truly ruthless.
Xia Liuyue lazily raised an eyebrow and asked, "Did I say this was for Tang Yinyao to drink?"
"If it's not for drinking, then what..." Du Jiashu's words were left unfinished.
Xia Liuyue had already lifted the glass and flung its contents directly into Tang Yinyao's face.
The pungent smell of baijiu instantly filled the air. Tang Yinyao, her short hair now wet and plastered to her face, blinked slowly, as if not yet processing what had just happened.
Xia Liuyue set the glass down and stood up.
Curving her red lips into a smile, she asked:
"Well? Is that enough for you to drink now?"
Du Jiashu, snapping out of his shock, stood up agitatedly.
Xia Liuyue showed no panic, even taking half a step forward as she said leisurely:
"What? Planning to hit your wife? Domestic violence can lead to criminal charges these days."
"Du Jiashu, my legal team has been rather idle lately. Care to test that theory?"
With that, without a glance at Tang Yinyao's reaction, she picked up her bag, clicked her high heels, and walked straight out of the restaurant.
...
It was almost dark by the time she returned to the Golden Junwan hillside villa.
Finding the main gate locked, Xia Liuyue called Meng Xiang.
Her first words upon connection were: "Open the gate."
"It's so late, aren't you going home, sis?" His voice sounded hesitant.
"This is my fiancé's home," she stated matter-of-factly. "What? You're not going to deny it after taking the money? Junior."
She emphasized the last two words.
Meng Xiang immediately grew guilty.
"Coming right away."
A moment later, the villa gate opened.
Xia Liuyue was wearing a champagne-colored silk slip dress, the hem falling to mid-calf.
She was leaning forward slightly, revealing half of a gleaming white shoulder.
The strong scent of baijiu clung to her.
Meng Xiang took half a step back, waving a hand as if to disperse the smell.
"Sis, have you been drinking?"
"No, I treated someone else to a drink."
She didn't look up, her voice slightly hoarse.
She stood in the entryway, her right hand braced against the shoe cabinet as she bent over slightly. A waterfall of jet-black hair cascaded over her chest, making her skin appear even more luminous.
Her left high heel was hooked backward. She tugged at it with her hand but couldn't pull it free.
She gave it an impatient yank.
Still no use.
Meng Xiang helpfully reminded her, "Sis, maybe you should undo the buckle first."
He pointed to the shoe's clasp.
Xia Liuyue suddenly looked up, gazing at him with a hint of a teasing smile.
Her red lips curved as she crooked a finger.
"Junior, come help me."
