When Lin Xi arrived at the lecture hall that afternoon, she was startled to see Bai Tiantian sitting inside.

“Tiantian? Didn’t you say you were going to skip this afternoon’s class?” Lin Xi asked happily as she took her seat next to her friend.

“Ugh, it’s a long story.” Bai Tiantian had changed into a fresh set of clothes. “I ran straight into Song Chen the moment I got back. He completely forced me to come to class and refused to let me take the afternoon off.”

Lin Xi raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing on her lips. “Are you two officially a thing now? Brother Chen is sure keeping a tight leash on you.”

“We aren’t exactly official yet,” Bai Tiantian replied, a delicate blush creeping up her cheeks. “Right now, you could just say we’re in the gray zone.”

Suddenly, Bai Tiantian caught sight of the diamond ring on Lin Xi’s left hand and gasped. “Oh my god! Did Song Xu propose to you? That diamond is massive! It has to be worth at least a few million, right?”

A few million? It’s that expensive? Lin Xi instantly felt as if an unbearable weight had been placed on her hand.

She wanted to pull it off immediately but feared losing it in transit. She ultimately decided to wait until she returned to the apartment tonight to lock it away safely.

—

Meanwhile, Lu Yunqi spent the entire day pacing around her house, nursing a bitter grievance. The more she brooded over it, the more furious she became. How could a woman like Lin Xi ever hope to compete with her?

Even if Song Xu had temporary feelings for her, there was absolutely no way his parents would ever approve of such a match.

It was highly likely the Song family was still completely in the dark about Lin Xi’s existence. Lu Yunqi decided she would play the good Samaritan and personally inform the senior couple.

Before making her move on the Song estate, however, she needed to gather every scrap of intelligence on Lin Xi.

Lu Yunqi dialed a number, her voice cold. “I want everything you can find on Lin Xi. Have it on my desk before the afternoon is out.”

The moment she hung up, she dialed Xu Wantang. The line rang several times before a elegant voice finally answered. “Hello?”

“Auntie Xu, it’s Yunqi,” Lu Yunqi greeted, her tone instantly melting into a sweet, filial cadence.

“Oh, Yunqi!” Xu Wantang’s voice warmed with genuine affection. “Xiao Xu mentioned you had returned to the country. When are you coming over to visit us?”

“Auntie Xu, I was actually hoping to drop by and pay my respects tomorrow. I wanted to check if it would be a convenient time for you?” Lu Yunqi asked smoothly.

“Tomorrow?” Xu Wantang paused for a brief moment to consider her schedule. “Tomorrow works perfectly. Come early, and I’ll have the kitchen prepare a few of your favorite dishes.”

“Thank you, Auntie Xu. See you tomorrow.”

The second the call disconnected, the sweet smile vanished entirely from Lu Yunqi’s face.

Hmph! Xu Wantang was the absolute definition of two-faced. Every single time they met, the woman shower her with praise and warmth.

Yet, the moment her family formally brought up the prospect of a marital alliance between their houses, Xu Wantang had swiftly shut it down, claiming they weren’t a suitable match.

She couldn’t fathom what wasn’t suitable. Aside from her academic grades being slightly lower, where exactly did she fall short?

By late afternoon, the full courier file containing Lin Xi’s background check arrived.

Orphaned. Raised solely by her grandmother. Severe financial hardship, relying entirely on collecting recyclable refuse to survive.

Lu Yunqi completely bypassed Lin Xi’s lifelong record of academic awards and competition merits, focusing her venomous gaze solely on her family background.

No wonder she took a job as a live-in maid, Lu Yunqi thought with a sneer. A background like that is practically scraping the bottom of the barrel.

She slid the documents back into the file folder, preparing to hand them directly to Xu Wantang the next day. She wanted the matriarch to see exactly what kind of trash her precious son was bringing home.

In addition to the standard background check, Lu Yunqi received a detailed log of the recent scandals surrounding Lin Xi at Jiangcheng University. Every single post on the campus forum, along with screenshots of the most vile, degrading comments, had been meticulously compiled.

There were even videos of Li Sheng harassing Lin Xi at the university gates, alongside the documentation regarding the opening ceremony speech incident.

It took Lu Yunqi a full hour to digest all the material.

What a pity, she sighed, a trace of mock regret in her voice. Li Sheng and his parents are dead. If they were still around, this would have been a magnificent show.

Then again, the simultaneous death of all three members of the Li family was highly suspicious. It wouldn’t be surprising if Lin Xi was somehow involved.

And frankly, whether Lin Xi was involved or not didn’t matter. As long as Lu Yunqi claimed she was, the seed of doubt would be planted.

—

Back at the apartment that evening, Lin Xi carefully pulled the diamond ring from her finger and placed it back inside its velvet box. The moment it left her hand, she felt a profound sense of relief.

She had rushed out so quickly this morning that she hadn’t found time to do her usual chores. After dinner, she intended to clean the floors, but as she reached for the floor scrubber, she noticed it had been moved from its usual position.

Looking closer around the space, she realized the entire apartment had already been immaculately cleaned. Not a single speck of dust remained; there was absolutely nothing left for her to do.

Lin Xi’s face instantly tautened. Was her livelihood being stolen from her?

She marched directly over to Song Xu’s bedroom door and knocked firmly.

The door swung open almost immediately. Song Xu reached out, hooking his fingers around her wrist to pull her inside. “Xixi, you have full access to my room whenever you want. You don’t need to knock from now on.”

“Did someone come into the apartment today?” Lin Xi asked, her lips puckered into a distinct pout.

Song Xu blinked, completely thrown off. “Who would come here?”

“Did you hire someone else behind my back?” Lin Xi’s voice carried a distinct note of betrayal and grievance.

“What do you mean, someone else?” Song Xu felt even more bewildered. “I only have eyes for you. There is no one else, past or present.”

“Then explain why the entire place has been scrubbed completely clean!” Lin Xi demanded.

So that’s what this is about. Song Xu pressed a hand to his forehead, letting out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. He had honestly feared it was some unpardonable mistake on his part. “Ah, that. My mom sent someone over today. I couldn’t exactly stop her.”

“Madam Song?” Lin Xi froze. “Why is she interfering with the cleaning? Is she dissatisfied with the way I do my job?”

“Of course not,” Song Xu explained gently. His mother simply didn’t want Lin Xi exhausting herself, which was why she had suggested sending staff over daily. “My mom’s only intention is to make sure you can focus entirely on your studies.”

He rubbed the bridge of his nose lightly. “She has a real soft spot for top-tier students. Just like my brother and me—she always insisted we maintain top marks. She’s worried that doing chores here will consume too much of your study time.”

Lin Xi found herself completely at a loss for words. Song Xu had mentioned previously that his parents were aware of their relationship and hadn’t explicitly opposed it.

But would Madam Song truly accept her simply because of her academic performance?

“Xixi, stop overthinking things,” Song Xu murmured, wrapping his arms around her waist to pull her flush against his chest. “Since you’re already in here, why don’t we just sleep together tonight?”

Sleep together, my foot.

Lin Xi shoved him away firmly. “I’m going back to my room to study. Go to bed early if you have nothing better to do.”

Song Xu hadn’t actually expected her to stay. Once she slipped out the door, he pulled out his laptop and returned to his corporate duties. He had fallen behind on a mountain of paperwork over the past two days and would have to pull an all-nighter to catch up.

Fortunately, it was the weekend, meaning he could sleep in late the next morning.

When Saturday morning arrived, Lin Xi rose precisely on schedule. She prepared breakfast, ate in quiet solitude, and immediately immersed herself in her textbooks.

By the time ten o’clock rolled around, there was still no sign of life from Song Xu’s room.

A faint trace of worry began to flutter in Lin Xi’s chest. The last time he stayed in bed like this, it was because a severe fever had pinned him down. Could he be sick again?

With that thought driving her, she walked over to his bedroom, bypassed knocking, and pushed the door open.

Approaching the bedside, she found him fast asleep. She extended her hand, pressing the back of her fingers against his forehead. It felt completely cool.

He wasn’t sick; he was simply sleeping like a log.

Lin Xi went to pull her hand back, but before she could retreat, Song Xu’s arm shot out. With a gentle tug, he dragged her right onto the mattress beside him.

“Xixi,” Song Xu mumbled sleepily, wrapping his arms tightly around her until she was completely pinned against him. “Let’s sleep together.”

Lin Xi struggled to sit up, but his limbs were locked around her like iron bands, rendering her completely immobile. “Song Xu! Let go of me right now!”

“No,” he muttered, keeping his eyes firmly shut. “I sleep much better when I’m holding you.”

Suddenly, the smartphone gripped in Lin Xi’s hand began to vibrate violently. Song Xu cracked one eye open to glance at the display. The caller ID read: Madam Song.

“My mom?” Song Xu’s brain was still half-fogged with sleep, utterly confused. “Why on earth is she calling your phone?”

Lin Xi used the distraction to break free from his embrace, quickly sitting up to slide the answer bar. “Hello, Madam Song.”