Chapter 81: A Married Woman
Just as he was about to step out, Gu Hanling felt a pair of eyes full of silent complaints watching him.
Turning around, their gazes met, and for a brief moment, both of them were caught off guard.
Standing in front of him was Shen Xi, wearing a silk suspender nightgown with an apron tied around her waist. There was something about her appearance that gave off the vibe of a seductive housewife.
If she had whispered in a sultry tone, ‘Do you want to eat your noodles first... or eat me first?’
Hmm, no man would be able to resist that, right?
Of course, Shen Xi wasn’t intentionally dressing this way.
She had just been worried that changing into regular clothes might wake up her big boss.
And since there were no outsiders in the house, she figured it wouldn’t matter if she stayed in her nightwear.
"You’re not eating breakfast?"
Shen Xi frowned slightly. She felt like she had been played.
She had actually gotten up early to cook, something completely out of character for her. As someone who struggled to wake up in the mornings, this was a miracle.
And it was precisely because of this that Gu Hanling had never expected her to be up early, let alone make breakfast.
When he woke up and didn’t see her, he had just assumed she was in the bathroom.
"I was just heading to the garage to grab something."
Gu Hanling’s voice was calm, as if he were telling the absolute truth.
Shen Xi rolled her eyes internally, ‘Yeah, sure. Keep making things up, big brother. I totally believe you.’
But on the surface, she kept smiling and set the bowl of noodles on the table. It was his birthday, after all, so she wasn’t going to argue with him.
"Then hurry back, or the noodles will get soggy."
"No rush. I’ll eat first."
With that, Gu Hanling walked straight to the dining table and sat down.
He glanced at the two bowls of noodles in front of him. Simple homemade noodles with shredded meat and vegetables.
And, of course, a heart-shaped sunny-side-up egg on top.
Lifting his gaze slightly, his eyes lingered on Shen Xi, who was watching him expectantly.
Then, he picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of the noodles, and slowly brought them to his mouth.
To be honest, Shen Xi knew her cooking skills were just average. But even for this simple bowl of noodles, she had put in a lot of effort.
“It’s alright.”
Gu Hanling gave a casual remark before continuing to eat.
Although his tone was indifferent, hearing the words “it’s alright” from him was already a rare compliment.
Shen Xi’s eyes curved into a smile, feeling relieved. She then casually added, as if just making small talk.
“I specially picked organic noodles for this. Healthy and nutritious, good for longevity.”
After saying that, she sat down and started eating her own portion. Her words were subtle, but it was actually a birthday blessing for the birthday man sitting across from her.
As for saying "Happy Birthday" outright? No way.
She had no way to explain how she even knew his birthday.
And what if birthday was another one of Gu Hanling’s forbidden topics? She didn’t want to annoy him and ruin the mood.
Hearing her words, the man’s chopsticks paused slightly. He looked up at Shen Xi with a complex expression in his eyes.
The two of them ate in rare harmony, with no arguments or sarcasm.
What surprised Shen Xi was that Gu Hanling actually finished the entire bowl of noodles, including the soup.
She found it odd but figured that since he was used to high-end gourmet meals, maybe this simple homemade longevity noodle was refreshing for him.
After Gu Hanling left for work, Shen Xi also got dressed and headed out.
The noodles were done, but something was still missing. A proper birthday wouldn’t be complete without a cake.
She searched online for a high-end cake shop with top reviews and premium quality.
Since the nearby ones were too ordinary and didn’t match the refined tastes of her big boss, she booked a taxi and endured an hour-long ride, arriving with a sore back.
Stepping out of the car, she looked up and confirmed the shop’s name.
The store was luxuriously decorated, and two female staff members in professional outfit stood at the entrance.
At first, when they saw Shen Xi getting out of a taxi, they assumed she was just a curious passerby.
But these receptionists were sharp-eyed. Though Shen Xi’s short-sleeved top looked simple, anyone who knew luxury brands would recognize it as European designer wear.
The original owner of this body had always spent lavishly and never skimped on herself.
Realizing this, the staff immediately put on their warmest smiles and enthusiastically welcomed Shen Xi into the store.
As soon as Shen Xi stepped into the store, her eyelid twitched.
Damn.
She should’ve just stayed home. She definitely shouldn’t be here.
Right in front of her stood the one person she wanted to avoid the most, the original male lead.
Shi Jingyan was here to check on the progress of Lin Yueyue’s birthday cake for the party that night.
The moment he saw Shen Xi, his eyes lit up, and a smug, relieved smile appeared on his lips.
"Xixi, how did you know I was here?"
Shen Xi couldn’t help but roll her eyes, her tone cold.
"I didn’t. I’m just here to buy a cake."
She had no patience for small talk. Without sparing him another glance, she walked past him.
As she brushed by, the faint scent of gardenias on her lingered in the air, reaching Shi Jingyan’s nose, making his heart stir uncontrollably.
Instinctively, he reached out, trying to grab her hand. But Shen Xi swiftly dodged him. She frowned and looked at him, clearly displeased.
"Mr. Shi, we’re in public. Are you trying to flirt with a married woman?"
Shi Jingyan’s hand froze midair. After a brief pause, he withdrew it and shrugged nonchalantly.
"Don’t misunderstand. I just wanted to talk to you."
"It’s Yueyue’s birthday party tonight. You should come."
In his eyes, the seductive little vixen in front of him was just acting out, throwing a jealous tantrum because he was arranging a grand celebration for Lin Yueyue.
Shen Xi was speechless.
What kind of male lead invites his ex to his current girlfriend’s birthday party? If the original owner were still here, she’d be devastated!
With a deep breath, she forced herself to stay calm.
"There’s really nothing for us to talk about. And I have no interest in the party."
She was running out of patience.
"Also, I’m married now, Mr. Shi. Can you please keep your distance?"
Without waiting for a response, Shen Xi turned around and walked straight to the counter, ignoring him completely as she started picking out a small cake.
A standard birthday cake needed to be pre-ordered at least half a day in advance, but that felt too deliberate. So, the delicate and delicious small cakes in the display case became her top choice.
Shen Xi’s words immediately drew whispers from other customers in the store. Some were even quietly snickering at Shi Jingyan’s awkward situation.
Shi Jingyan glanced around, his face darkening in an instant. He couldn’t stand the embarrassment. With a final glance at Shen Xi, who was now completely ignoring him, he turned and quickly walked out of the cake shop.
"Please pack this one… and this one too."
She pointed at two exquisite-looking desserts in the display case. A blueberry mousse and a hazelnut brownie mini cake.
Originally, she only wanted to buy one to share with the man, but the more she looked at them, the more her mouth watered. Sharing one might not be enough… Hehe.
A soft "beep" sounded as she completed the payment.
Shen Xi hadn’t paid attention to the price before, but when she checked, she nearly choked. Two small cakes cost nearly four figures!
"Are these made of gold?" she thought, feeling a slight twinge of heartache.
Once she got into her ride-share car and leaned back to rest, she didn’t notice the flashy gold Lamborghini trailing behind her.
Inside the sports car, Shi Jingyan was driving while smoking a cigarette, feeling inexplicably irritable.
Thinking about it, he had been with the original Shen Xi much longer than Lin Yueyue. Their relationship wasn’t shallow by any means.
But it wasn’t like he wanted to get back together or anything. He just wanted her to get divorced, so she could chase after him again.
After all, being pursued by a recognized campus goddess like her was an irreplaceable thrill, something even money couldn’t buy.
Lin Yueyue, on the other hand, was much more obedient. She did whatever he told her to, always coaxing him and providing emotional support, a more suitable long-term partner.
When Shen Xi got out of the car and walked toward the villa entrance, Shi Jingyan silently stopped at a distance, smoking as he watched her graceful figure.
He wanted to go up to her, but he couldn’t find a reason.
Meanwhile, up on the villa’s balcony, Gu Hanling narrowed his eyes coldly, staring at the flashy sports car and the man standing outside, just as Shen Xi happened to be walking towards the villa gate.