While Xie Feng was worried and wondered what was going to happen next, Yin Yue surprised everyone when she stood up and moved to the seat next to her. Shen Xinya took the opportunity and with a swift and graceful movement sat down where Yin Yue was previously sitting.
Xie Feng was about to say something but did not know what to say about it so he kept quiet. Now, he was sitting between Xie Yao and Shen Xinya…. He could only pray that the uneasiness he felt was just a groundless feeling.
“Xiao… No, I guess it would be better to call you by your current name….. Xie Feng. I didn’t know you guys had already arrived.” Shen Xinya nodded with a polite smile to Xie Yao and Gu Qianxue before looking at Xie Feng and engaging in conversation.
Xie Feng also smiled and greeted, “Well, we just arrived a few minutes ago. But, Xinya… Your popularity sure is something. As soon as we entered the hall, what we noticed first was a mass of people gathered around you.”
Xie Yao nodded and remarked, “That’s true. Although I guess as to the most popular star in recent years, it’s only natural.”
Shen Xinya sighed and put on a somewhat sad and somewhat tired look as she said, “Don’t even mention it…. Just arrive and I was immediately surrounded. So far I haven’t even been able to drink a simple glass of water.” As she explained, she took a glass of fruit juice that had been previously prepared and drank it gracefully.
Suddenly, she let out a sigh of sadness and continued, “It’s a pity that no one has helped me escape from my troubles…. Oh, I wonder where my prince charming is.”
While Xie Yao’s eyes narrowed slightly as if she had thought of something, Gu Qianxue smiled and remarked, “Oh, come on…. With your popularity, status, and appearance, there’s no way you can’t find your prince charming. I’m sure that prominent young masters from all over the world, coming from great families, would be willing to line up to meet you if you wanted a prince charming.”
When Shen Xinya heard Gu Qianxue’s words, her eyes lit up intensely and she couldn’t help but look at her gratefully. Just when Xie Feng felt that trouble was about to start, Shen Xinya said softly, “Well…. Indeed. The eldest son of House Rothschild, Avan Rothschild, together with his father visited Hong Kong a few years ago and during that time they stayed at my adoptive father’s house. Although Avan Rothschild expressed his desire to become engaged to me and my adoptive father did not disagree, I declined at that time as I had made a promise when I was a little girl.”
Rothschild House!
Xie Feng, Xie Yao, and Gu Qianxue were noticeably surprised to hear that name! The Rothschild Family was a very mysterious family. Although it was said to be a family, many people also knew the Rothschilds as a dynasty that dated back to the present day for several centuries. It was known that the Mansion of the House of Rothschild was actually located in the United Kingdom and that they were owners and founders of many banks and financial institutions.
The Rothschilds were a very powerful family. So much so that it was even said that they possessed a hidden military power comparable to that of a world power such as the United States, Russia, China, etc.
“Why did you do that? I’m sure that with the help of the Rothschild House your entertainment career would have expanded all over Europe and even America!” Gu Qianxue exclaimed in surprise. “With the Rothschilds’ financial support, your Shen family could also have grown another notch. I don’t understand what childhood promise that was probably already forgotten could be so important that you would reject such a proposal even without even thinking about it.”
In fact, Gu Qianxue’s words were very logical. Considering that the Shen Family was the richest family in the entire Asian Continent, “grown another notch” was much more than it seemed. She simply didn’t understand what kind of promise would be worth more. Of course, this did not mean that Gu Qianxue was a girl who was attracted to material things; otherwise, she would not have chosen Xie Feng, who although rich, could not compare with the Nangong Family. It was just that as far as she knew, Shen Xinya had never been in love with anyone nor was she interested in any man…. Wouldn’t it be better for her to at least meet the other side before rejecting him outright?
Shen Xinya looked at Xie Yao first and then at Xie Feng before explaining: “Well. When I was little, a certain someone promised to marry me when we become adults. Unfortunately, due to certain events that were then unavoidable for two young kids, I and that boy were separated.”
Xie Yao’s eyes looked complicated. Xie Feng had already told her a bit about his past while they were looking at the stars last night, so she already knew about Shen Xinya…. Therefore, even without Shen Xinya naming names, Xie Yao knew that the person she was talking about was Xie Feng.
Shen Xinya smiled faintly and continued, “Even so. After two years passed and I finally felt comfortable with my new family, I begged to my adoptive father to visit Wuhan City where the orphanage that boy was in was located…” Here, Shen Xinya looked at Xie Yao with complex feelings and continued, “Unfortunately, that boy had already been adopted by another family. During that time I was very, very sad…. I thought I would never see that annoying boy who kept saying bad words all the time. Even so, I didn’t give up… I was sure that destiny would bring us together again, my heart was telling me so… Too bad, it looks like that boy has already found someone to love.”
A silence that was quite uncomfortable surrounded the table where they were sitting.
Yin Yue raised an eyebrow and looked at Xie Feng as she gently sipped a glass of wine, waiting for what his response would be.
As silence weighed on everyone’s head and struck their hearts like a hammer, Gu Qianxue finally understood Shen Xinya’s motives and could not help but admire her even more. If in the past Gu Qianxue admired her for her beautiful voice, now, she admired her even more as a woman; for being able to resist so many temptations and be true to her heart for so many years. After all, the real world was not a fairy tale…. How many people could really be true to their heart without seeing or hearing their beloved for ten years?
Xie Yao understood this too. That was why she felt even more guilty. Although Xie Yao did not believe that her love for Xie Feng was inferior, she still admired the purity of Shen Xinya’s feelings. The reason Xie Yao felt guilty was because if she hadn’t meddled, it would be most normal for Xie Feng and Shen Xinya to have already become a couple.
“I…” Xie Yao opened her mouth softly and tried to say something. But Xie Feng grabbed her hand under the table and stopped her.
Xie Feng forced a bitter smile inwardly. In fact, he had never forgotten Shen Xinya…. After all, she was his first love and, for better or worse, first love tends to be unforgettable for many and the memory of that person usually lives within us for most of our lives.
Xie Feng was no exception.
However, as strong as he currently was, time was even stronger than he was…. Xie Feng had no way to go against the threads of destiny with his current power, let alone his past weak self.
Xie Feng looked at Shen Xinya with a serious expression and, for the first time in a long time, he ignored Xie Yao’s opinion and said seriously, “Xinya. I won’t make any excuses, nor will I try to avoid the topic….. Although I am young and have a thousand flaws, I still consider myself a man who takes responsibility for his own actions and words.”
Shen Xinya seemed surprised by the sudden turn of events. She stared at Xie Feng in amazement.
He continued talking seriously, “To be honest, there are many things I would like to talk to you about. Over the years many things have happened to me, as you might guess after seeing what happened on the plane. I am sure also that a lot of things happened in your life during all this time as well…. But…”
Xie Feng paused for a moment before raising his hand, holding Xie Yao’s. But that wasn’t all, he leaned over slightly and also took Gu Qianxue’s hand before looking at a surprised Shen Xinya and pointing:
“As you see, I currently have responsibilities as well. They both entrusted me with their hearts and believe in me with all their souls…. Wouldn’t I be a failure as a man if I failed them? But, I also owe you, so if you are willing to start a family with the three of us, together, I will make you fall in love with me again…. No… Even more!” Xie Feng smiled bitterly and remarked: “I know this may seem crazy to you…. After all, with your position in society and appearance, why would you be willing to share your man? But… I’m sure if you live with them for a while, you will definitely become good sisters. Believe me, they are both amazing girls.”
