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As soon as Xu Chaomuâs taxi left, Li Beiting drove his Maserati into the villa complex of Jinxiu Tianxia.
Mi Fei was still looking back, asking Li Beiting a few questions from time to time.
âBeiting, that girl just now wasnât Shenâs biological sister, was she?â
âHmm, adopted.â
âIâve heard people mention her before, but there hasnât been much news about Shenâs sister. I guess many people donât even know Shen has a sister.â
âShen Chi has protected her very well.â
âI can tell. How old is she? Is she married?â
âSheâs the same age as you, not married yet.â
Mi Fei asked questions, and Li Beiting answered each one.
Soon, the car entered the Li Family compound, and Li Beiting got out of the car to open the door for her.
âBeiting, are your uncle and aunt at home? Look at me coming here out of nowhere, without even bringing a gift.â Mi Fei said apologetically.
âItâs okay, my parents donât care about that,â Li Beiting said indifferently.
Mi Fei smiled at him, then took his arm, and they walked shoulder to shoulder toward the Li Family villa.
Although Mi Fei wore white high heels, she was still much shorter than Li Beiting. She leaned on him as they walked.
Having been here several times, she was still very nervous.
Unexpectedly, both of Li Beitingâs parents were home, sitting under a sun umbrella, one reading a newspaper and the other making silk flowers.
âUncle, Aunt!â Mi Fei called out happily.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âOh, Feifei is here,â Li Beitingâs mother put aside her work first.
âYes, Aunt, I havenât seen you for so long; Iâve missed you. The silk flowers you made are so beautiful. Are these lilies? Theyâre gorgeous.â
Mi Fei picked up a lily from the table and kept praising it.
âFeifei, you always sweet-talk like this. Aunt missed you too. Come, come, sit next to me,â Li Beitingâs mother said, pulling Mi Feiâs hand to make her sit down, and instructed the servant to make her some flower tea.
Li Beitingâs father also put down his reading glasses. âFeifei, your aunt was just mentioning you, and here you are!â
âI knew it, I sneezed several times this morning; it must have been Aunt thinking about me,â Mi Fei laughed.
âFeifei, has Beiting been treating you well recently?â Li Beitingâs father asked.
âQuite well, actually. He went out of his way to pick me up this morning.â
âIf he doesnât treat you well, just tell me, and Iâll scold him for you,â Li Beitingâs father said.
Li Beiting said, âDad, youâve been scolding me since I was young. Iâve finally escaped your clutches in adulthood, and youâre still thinking about scolding me.â
âIf you donât treat Feifei well, then Feifei you just hit him yourself,â Li Beitingâs mother laughed.
âNo need, Brother Beiting treats me very well. He said he would take me shopping this afternoon.â
âThatâs just perfect. After lunch, you two can go shopping, and Iâll personally cook a few dishes!â Li Beitingâs father was quite happy.
âUncle, youâre too kind. But I often hear Brother Beiting praising you. He says the dishes you cook are delicious, as good as a hotel chefâs,â Mi Fei laughed.
Li Beitingâs father was very pleased. âI just throw something together; this kid sure talks big.â
Li Beiting stood aside and didnât say much. Right when the servant brought the tea, he sat down to drink.
Mi Fei was clever and sensible, making his parents very happy.
Everyone sat under the sun umbrella, laughing and talking, enjoying a harmonious time together.
Li Beiting held a cup of tea, his gaze resting quietly on the distance.
The distance revealed a mountain range within the villa area, lush with summer vegetation, birds flying to and fro, giving the entire range a verdant, vibrant look.
âFeifei, when are your parents free? Iâd like to invite them over,â Li Beitingâs father asked Mi Fei.
Mi Fei laughed. âUncle, youâre too kind. No matter how busy they are, theyâll make time with your invitation.â
âHow about this, when you and Beiting are free, go ahead and take your wedding photos. Itâs summer now; the scenery is nice,â Li Beitingâs mother suggested.
âExactly, this season, Maldives, Phuket Island are also good choices. Feifei, you pick,â Li Beitingâs father said.
âIâll go with whatever Brother Beiting arranges,â Mi Feiâs cheeks flushed as she glanced at Li Beiting.
âBeiting, what do you say?â Li Beitingâs father asked.
Li Beiting set down his teacup and said faintly, âIâm fine with anything.â
âUncle, Aunt, Brother Beiting has been quite busy with work at his company lately. Letâs wait until after heâs not so busy before going to take the wedding photos,â Mi Fei suggested.
âThatâs true, the company has been a bit busy lately. But itâs thoughtful of you, Feifei. I am completely at ease knowing Beiting has you,â Li Beitingâs mother said.
âFeifei is so sensible. Feifeiâs parents deserve much credit for how well they raised her,â Li Beitingâs father praised.
Being praised continuously made Mi Fei even more embarrassed.
âHaving Feifei as a daughter-in-law puts my mind at ease. Not like thatâ¦â
âCough cough.â Li Beitingâs father cleared his throat, interrupting his wifeâs words.
Everyone understood, and Li Beitingâs brow furrowed.
âHere, Feifei, are you thirsty? Have some tea. This is rose tea your aunt just bought; taste it,â Li Beitingâs father said.
Li Beitingâs mother also quickly changed the subject. âThatâs right, I just got it from someone. Itâs great for beauty and health; perfect for a girl to drink.â
âSure, any flower tea picked by Aunt must be great,â Mi Fei said as she lifted the cup, gently blowing the steam away.
The fragrance of roses lingered in the air.
Li Beiting suddenly felt a headache coming on; he closed his eyes, and his right hand formed a fist against his forehead.
The summer heat wasnât so cooling on his skin, and a thin layer of sweat had formed on his back.
A few minutes later, Mi Fei approached him, bending down: âBeiting, are you not feeling well? Should I help you to your bedroom to rest a bit?â
As Li Beiting opened his eyes, he saw Mi Feiâs face close up.
Her face was delicate and beautiful, her enchanting eyes sparkling brightly.
Li Beiting was somewhat dazed; he remembered another girl whose big eyes were also especially beautifulâ¦
Every blink seemed as if they could speak.
A sense of melancholy washed over his heartâ¦
âYou stay with my parents; I can go to the bedroom myself.â
Li Beiting stood up, no longer lingering.
âAll right, you rest more and donât tire yourself out,â Mi Fei said.
She knew he had been busy with a project at the company recently. Often, he, the president, would work overtime until midnight.
âHmm.â
Li Beiting responded and left, heading inside the house.
Mi Fei stayed seated next to Li Beitingâs parents, continuing the conversation.
âBrother Beiting really has been a bit worn out lately; I wonât have him accompany me shopping this afternoon,â Mi Fei said.
âThis kid, always working all hours, Iâve told him, arenât the underlings there to do the work? If the CEO handles everything, whatâs left for them to do?â Li Beitingâs father said with some annoyance.