Guan Yue was envious of those who were more brilliant and gifted than her but never bore any grudge against them.
Shen Xi was wordless. Judging by the way Shu Baiyu and Guan Yue got along, the teacher and student were very close, and some may say they were more like mother and daughter.
Ms. Shu Baiyu was a sophisticated fairy who did not marry nor have any children.
Guan Yue was twenty-five years old. She had the bearing of a dancer, and her cool-tone fair skin, in particular, gave out an illusion of detached ethereality about her.
It was a pure delight to watch the pair sitting together, having this divine energy to them as they shared a cheerful conversation.
Guan Yue half-jokingly asked Shen Xi, “Are you really not interested to be my junior? I will take care of you, give you all the good food and fun in the world. I’ll give you anything and everything you want. Think about it.”
She knew that Ms. Shu had not given up. Although Shu Baiyu did not bring it up, the thought was stuck with her.
The girl showed great promise. Not just her teacher, but Guan Yue would regret it for the rest of her life if they let her slip by.
Shen Xi replied, “I’m a student and my education comes first right now.”
Guan Yue teased her. “You seem quite hung up on design though!”
Shen Xi cleared her throat. There were things best left unsaid. She calmly answered, “Isn’t it the holidays now? My teacher and I were planning to have my mom over but she fell sick. So, I came alone.”
Guan Yue chuckled, “Got it. What are you nervous about?”
It was not that the girl disliked dancing. It was plain to see by her commitment to dance that Shen Xi loved dancing.
Moreover, for someone who had been dancing since a young age and obtained many awards, it was not easy to give up just like that.
She must be worried and afraid of something.
“Enough. Why are you scaring her?” Shu Baiyu realized that Shen Xi would become skittish at the mention of an apprenticeship and was horrible at regaining her composure.
Was being her student a bad thing? Why was she so rattled?
Shu Baiyu reflected on it and believed that she had been kind and hospitable to Shen Xi. Maybe she should try Jiang Yin’s harassing and sulking tactics. Perhaps then Shen Xi would give in and agree to be her student.
Since Shu Baiyu and Guan Yue seemed to have a matter to discuss, Shen Xi did not linger and gave them space.
She could not make heads or tails about Guan Yue’s earlier words, but it seemed to be about the performance and Ms. Shu’s health. However, it was best for an outsider to stay out of it.
Su Yi and Su Muxuan were dismissed by Old Master Huo. They were still fuming when they walked out of the Huo residence.
There was a fiery look in Su Muxuan’s eyes. “Dad, what is Old Master Huo thinking? We gave him enough respect by asking him to name a price, seeing that he’s a venerable man, yet his greed knows no end.”
Su Yi glared at him. “It’s about time you take care of that temper of yours. Is this something you can talk about here? It’s all about composure when it comes to business. There are a lot of ways to go about this if you put your mind to it. Just think about it.”
The Huo family was no ordinary people who would sell a skill inherited in the family. They were not short of cash and unpersuaded by money. Su Yi had to figure out a way around it.
Once the father and son got into the car, Su Yi began to talk about what he had done when he first decided to buy out the art of Kesi. Since Su Muxuan was young and had a lot to learn, Su Yi was going to teach him how business works.
Su Yi had secretly targeted the Huo Enterprise early on, slowly chipping away their assets. The effect finally manifested as Huo Enterprise’s operation hit a stumbling block. He then planned to corner the Huo family the moment their supply of funds ran out.
Surely, Old Master Huo was not going to sit by and watch. Su Yi would have the art of Kesi in the bag then.
Su Muxuan was schooled. “Got it, Dad. I will continue to pay Old Master Huo a visit. With us working in parallel, I trust Kesi will fall on our laps.”
Dad would be exerting pressure on Old Master Huo while he would be asking nicely. Once the Huo family was close to bankruptcy, the Su family would swoop in with the carrot and stick approach to help them in exchange for Kesi. The Huo family would be at the Su family’s disposal. Dad played his cards well indeed.
Su Yi intended to wait at the gate for Shen Xi to demonstrate his caring fatherly side to her. However, he had to leave because Li Jingran called and requested him to accompany her and Su Ruowan for a stroll.
Rome was not built in a day anyway.
“Where is Shen Xi staying? Did you find out?” Su Yi asked Su Muxuan.
Su Muxuan scoffed. “I don’t know how she befriended a pretty face and now she’s living with him. Dad, you and mom bestowed her with such a beautiful face.”
A woman’s greatest weapon was her looks.
Shen Xi should be thanking her parents for being born beautiful as that allowed her to hook up with so many men.
Enraged, Su Yi hit the brakes and his eyes were infuriated. “Living together with who? She’s underaged. I need to head back and have a talk with her.”
Would Young Master Fu still want her if she lost her innocence? How was he supposed to carry out his subsequent plans?
Su Muxuan was startled by his sudden anger. Why was Dad suddenly concerned about Shen Xi, the d*mn brat? He snapped back in disdain. “Dad, it’s not just one or two guys she has hit on. Why bother yourself with her? She’s a natural sl*t. Why do I have such a sis…”
Smack.
Blue in the face, Su Yi slapped Su Muxuan.
Su Muxuan was taken aback by the slap. Feeling the scorching pain on one cheek, Su Muxuan stared at his father in disbelief. “Dad!”
How dare Dad hit him because of Shen Xi, that b*tch!
Dad never laid a finger on him since he was born!
Was he wrong? Owing to that face of hers, Shen Xi hopped from one man to another. What was she if not a sl*t?
With a sullen look, Su Yi sternly warned him. “Outsiders are allowed to say so, but you can’t. She’s your sister. Watch your language, especially in front of her. I’ll have to deal with you if I ever hear this again.”
Shen Xi resented them and refused to come home. Not only was Su Muxuan in his worst behavior, but he also was not helping by saying such a thing. Why did he have to make it harder for Su Yi to bring her home?
Although Su Muxuan was fuming, he dared not rebuke in the face of his furious father. With much reluctance to back down, yet he answered obligingly, “Got it.”
“Did you say that to her when you met her yesterday?” Su Yi was boiling and tempted to knock Su Muxuan out. Why did he have a brainless son?
“No.” Su Muxuan lied.
With his mind at ease, Su Yi gazed at him and said, “Get down. Call a cab and find your mom and sister to take them shopping. It’s been a while since you’ve spent some time with them. Go and keep them company.”
Su Muxuan obediently got out of the car. Resentment was brewing in his eyes as he watched the car retraced its route.
