Enter openly and grandly

Ling Jiuzhe glanced at her in surprise, looking at her for a couple more seconds.

Just then, Ling Yinuo returned and sat next to Su Xi, laughing brightly, "I ran into a high school classmate and chatted for a bit."

The waiter came to serve the main course, and the three began eating. Occasionally, Ling Yinuo would talk to Su Xi about school events.

After the meal, as the three of them were heading out, they happened to meet Sheng Yangyang and her group. Sheng Yangyang was having a meal with clients, and the two groups met at the entrance. Sheng Yangyang raised an eyebrow at Su Xi, and the two pretended not to know each other, passing by.

However, two company presidents recognized Ling Jiuzhe and greeted him respectfully.

The rain had stopped outside, and the road was clear. Ming Zuo drove the car over, and the three got in.

"Su Xi, where are you headed?" Ling Yinuo, sitting in the front passenger seat, turned to ask.

"If it's on the way, just drop me off at the entrance of Jiangda," Su Xi replied.

"It's on the way, no problem. My second uncle is easy-going," Ling Yinuo said with a meaningful smile.

Su Xi gave a dry laugh and thought, if she hadn't heard how sharp-tongued he could be, she might have believed that.

It was a bit of a distance from the school. As she chatted with Ling Yinuo, Ling Jiuzhe sat quietly on the side, reading a document, silent, but his strong presence made it impossible to ignore.

They were married now, and riding in the same car together, Su Xi felt a peculiar sensation.

The car stopped at the entrance of Jiangda. Before getting out, Su Xi waved to Ling Yinuo, saying, "Thanks, Yinuo."

"No need to thank me, just treat me to bubble tea sometime," Ling Yinuo smiled playfully, her eyes bright.

Su Xi smiled back, nodded, took her umbrella and bag, and then said, "Thank you, Mr. Ling."

Ling Jiuzhe didn't even raise his head, just responding with a faint "Mm."

Su Xi turned, got out of the car, and waved goodbye to Ling Yinuo.

After the car blended into the traffic, Su Xi went to the bus station to wait for her ride.

Inside the car, Ling Yinuo retracted her gaze and suddenly thought of something. She turned and said, "Second Uncle, I want Su Xi to tutor Yi Hang."

Her parents were often away, and recently, they went to London for an economic seminar, taking her grandparents along. Right after they left, Yi Hang's tutor resigned, leaving the task of supervising him to her. She urgently needed to find someone to take over.

Ling Jiuzhe frowned slightly and raised his head, saying, "Why not use a professional tutor? Why hire a student?"

Ling Yinuo huffed, "The professionals can't manage him! Besides, Su Xi is in a tough spot, earning tuition by tutoring. I just want to help her."

Ling Jiuzhe, not trusting a student who hadn't even graduated, said, "You could just give her money."

"She has her pride!" Ling Yinuo laughed playfully, "Second Uncle, just agree, okay? If Yi Hang doesn't like her, she'll quit on her own."

Ling Jiuzhe sneered, "If she can manage Yi Hang, then she has some skills."

"Then you let her try!" Ling Yinuo nodded excitedly.

"Alright, let her try then," Ling Jiuzhe replied indifferently.

Ling Yinuo immediately called Su Xi to tell her, "Tomorrow, on Sunday, come to the house. I'll be waiting for you, don't be late!"

Su Xi stood there, a bit stunned by the situation, before she got a WeChat message from Ling Yinuo, "Where do you live, Su Xi? I'll send a driver to pick you up tomorrow morning."

Su Xi replied, "At 9 AM, I'll wait for you at the entrance of Jiangda."

"Great, it's a deal!" Ling Yinuo responded.

After hanging up, Su Xi stood there for a moment, a little distracted. Just then, Ba Xi, the dog, jumped onto the couch and started biting her pajamas.

Su Xi lay on top of Ba Xi, laughing, "Tomorrow I'm going to meet your master. Do you have any messages for him?"

Ba Xi looked at her with confusion.

Su Xi patted his large head and sneered, "Silly dog!"

...

That evening, while chatting with Sheng Yangyang on the phone, she learned that Su Xi would be tutoring Ling Jiuzhe's nephew, Yi Hang. Sheng Yangyang was so shocked that she didn't speak for a long time, before finally saying excitedly, "Sugar Baby, the opportunity's here! Now you can go in and meet him openly, then try to win him over. Before the agreement ends, sleep with him, and then throw the divorce papers in his face. How cool would that be!"

Su Xi stayed silent for a couple of seconds before hanging up the phone decisively. 

She was afraid that if she kept listening, Sheng Yangyang might really brainwash her.

But she did need to think about how she would interact with Ling Jiuzhe if she kept meeting him frequently at the Ling house in the future.

...

The next day at 8:50 AM, Su Xi arrived at Jiangda's entrance. She waited for five minutes before a Mercedes-Benz stopped in front of her. The driver got out and politely asked, "Are you Miss Su?"

Su Xi nodded. "Yes."

The driver smiled more warmly, "Miss asked me to pick you up."

Su Xi thanked him and got into the car.

The Ling family's old house was in the southern part of the city. The outer wall was made of black perforated iron, with vines covering it. It took about ten minutes driving through the flower-lined walls to reach the gate. After passing through the black iron gate, Su Xi could see the detached villa and garden.

The servant at the gate nodded at her and opened the door to invite her in.

Su Xi changed her shoes and stepped inside, but before she could take in the decor, she caught a glimpse of a dark shadow charging toward her.

Su Xi's face changed instantly, and she ran inside. Seeing someone coming down the stairs, she didn't have time to think. She leapt up and clung to the man, quickly climbing higher and wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.

She was afraid of all dogs in the world—except Ba Xi!

"David!" The man's voice was low and warned.

The dog immediately stopped in front of Ling Jiuzhe, curiously scanning Su Xi from head to toe.

Ling Jiuzhe turned his head to look at the woman hanging off him, his handsome face darkening. "Get down, or I'll report you for harassment!"

Su Xi blinked her eyes and looked at his tense profile, then her gaze fell on the faint scar behind his ear. It had been many years, and the scar was almost gone, but seeing it on a man living in luxury was still a little jarring.

Ling Jiuzhe frowned, and raised his hand to throw Su Xi off.

Su Xi tightened her grip on his shoulder and whispered, "Let the dog go first!"