Chapter 29: Two People, One Sings Red…

Cui Zhe wasn’t actually very close or familiar with Xia Mi La.

Of course, they had known each other since they were very young and were aware of each other’s existence, but Xia Mi La was much closer to Jin He. Then they got engaged, and Xia Mi La became his best friend’s fiance.

They met often and hung out together, but they couldn’t be considered particularly good friends.

Although they were friends on social media, they might not exchange a single word all year. Even when they did talk, the topic was invariably about Jin He.

They rarely spent time alone or communicated privately.

Opportunities like this had only become more frequent after she and Jin He decided to separate.

Thinking of this, he felt another surge of sympathy for Xia Mi La.

Although Jin He didn’t acknowledge his relationship with Xia Mi La, the way the two had interacted over so many years was difficult to describe with any word other than “dating.”

Of course, the Xia Mi La sitting there didn’t look like she needed any sympathy at all.

She was in high spirits, half of her body bathed in sunlight, exuding a bright and carefree aura.

She took off her glasses, gently rubbed the bridge of her nose, and was the first to greet him.

“Did A He send you to scout things out?” she asked with a light smile.

“Ah,” Cui Zhe was caught off guard. Seeing the smile on Xia Mi La’s face, he couldn’t help but curve his lips as well. “It’s concern. A He is actually very concerned about how you’re doing.”

“I’m doing pretty well,” Xia Mi La said, then asked him in return, “What about you?”

“Me?”

“Yes,” Xia Mi La’s eyes curved as she repeated in a soft tone, “How have you been lately?”

Cui Zhe never expected the question to ultimately land on him.

“I…” He subconsciously raised a hand to rub his face. “I’m doing great.”

Xia Mi La smiled but said no more.

Cui Zhe glanced around. “Is Acan not here?”

“Mhm,” Xia Mi La replied. “He went to play ball.”

Cui Zhe couldn’t help but remark, “Acan is fitting in very well.”

“He is.” Thinking of Jin Can, Xia Mi La smiled faintly. “He’s fitting in very well indeed.”

She had originally thought Jin Can would have no problems, but he had integrated even faster and better than she had imagined.

Cui Zhe then continued to make small talk with Xia Mi La.

They chatted about the decorations in the Lounge. It was a conversation of questions and answers.

Cui Zhe could tell that the decorative style of the Vermilion Bird Hall was still being directed by Xia Mi La.

Finally, before he took his leave, Xu Lian Yi presented him with an invitation to the Vermilion Bird Hall’s weekend party.

The cover of the invitation was also printed with a gold-stamped Vermilion Bird, in the same pose as the one on the badge—a divine bird soaring with its wings spread.

Cui Zhe walked back while looking at the invitation, his mind replaying Xia Mi La’s earlier question… He figured she probably didn’t know about his relationship with Pei Duo Xing; she had likely asked that only because she’d seen him shuttling between her and Jin He recently.

When he returned to the Azure Dragon Hall’s Lounge, Jin He also saw the invitation in his hand.

He took it and glanced at it, asking, “Why is there only one? Where’s mine?”

“Mira will probably give you yours personally later,” Cui Zhe replied.

Jin He snorted and said nothing more.

But when he returned to the classroom, Xia Mi La didn’t spare him a single glance all the way until school let out, let alone give him an invitation.

So, after the final bell rang, he stepped forward and blocked her path before she could leave.

“Did you forget something?” Jin He asked Xia Mi La. “Where’s my invitation?”

“Huh,” Xia Mi La showed a slightly surprised expression. “You didn’t even reply when I spoke to you the other day. I thought you didn’t want to go.”

Jin He’s face darkened instantly. “Don’t tell me you didn’t prepare an invitation for me?”

Xia Mi La smiled. “I’ll have them prepare another one.”

Jin He had never been given the cold shoulder like this before, especially not from Xia Mi La.

Frustration welled up in his heart, and he immediately retorted petulantly, “No need. It’s not like I care about it anyway.”

Having said that, he turned and walked out of the classroom.

Xia Mi La watched his retreating back and shrugged nonchalantly.

What a coincidence. She didn’t care whether he came or not either.

It was another day where Jin He was in a bad mood, but when he got home, he was met by Jin Wan Yi, who was in an even worse mood.

It couldn’t even be said that Jin Wan Yi was in a bad mood; he was in a state of explosive rage.

The moment he saw Jin He return, he immediately strode forward and, with all his might, slapped him across the face.

Jin He was stunned by the blow. His cheek was numb at first, then a fiery pain spread across it. He twisted his neck, taking a long moment to process what had happened before turning his head back.

Of course, no one would be in a good mood after being hit upon returning home, but Jin He didn’t dare utter a single word of complaint.

He was mentally prepared for why he would be hit today. He had indeed done something recently that warranted a beating.

Sure enough, Jin Wan Yi’s furious question followed, “What have you been doing at school?! Why would Chairman Xia come to me to call off the engagement?!”

Chairman Xia, Mira’s grandmother. Jin He immediately grasped this key point.

The fact that she was the one to bring it up proved that Mira’s side was quite resolute.

A very unfamiliar emotion surfaced in Jin He’s heart—it was as if she couldn’t wait to break off the engagement with him.

Jin Wan Yi was seething. A second slap followed swiftly. “What on earth are you not satisfied with, having Mira as your fiance?”

The commotion also drew Jin He’s mother out.

“What are you two arguing about?” Lin Cheng Hui hurried down from upstairs.

As she got closer, she saw the red palm print on Jin He’s face and jumped in shock, scolding Jin Wan Yi, “Why would you hit our child for no reason!”

“Why did I hit him? You should ask your precious son what he’s done!” Jin Wan Yi pointed at Jin He, his finger trembling slightly with anger. “Ask him what he did to make Mira so determined to call off the engagement!”

“What?” Lin Cheng Hui held her son’s arm. “Why? What happened between you and Mira? Haven’t you two always been fine?”

“Mom,” Jin He finally spoke. “To me, Mira is just a close younger sister. I only have familial affection for her, not romantic love. Continuing on as an engaged couple is unfair to both of us.”

Lin Cheng Hui’s face was a picture of utter incomprehension and astonishment. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Then, something immediately occurred to her. “Have you fallen for someone else?”

“No.” Jin He glanced at Jin Wan Yi and denied it with considerable speed. “Nothing like that.”

He couldn’t mention Pei Duo Xing in a situation like this.

If his parents knew he was giving Mira the cold shoulder because of Pei Duo Xing, they would definitely not let her off.

So he simply insisted that he didn’t like Xia Mi La. “I have no feelings for her at all. I’m not even twenty yet. Do I have to follow your arrangements and spend the rest of my life with someone I don’t like at all?”

“Yes, that’s right!” Jin Wan Yi’s reply was blunt. “This is the life we’ve arranged for you, a life others wouldn’t even dare to dream of. It’s precisely because everything has been arranged for you, because everything seems so easily attainable, that you’ve developed such an arrogant idea!”

Jin He hung his head and remained silent. His defiant expression made it clear he was unimpressed by his father’s words—a life others wouldn’t dare to dream of wasn’t necessarily the life he wanted.

Jin Wan Yi’s anger flared up again. “You…”

He desperately wanted to slap him again.

“That’s enough.” Lin Cheng Hui stopped him just in time. “You go rest for a bit. I’ll talk to A He.”

The two of them were playing good cop, bad cop.

Of course, Lin Cheng Hui didn’t want this engagement to fall through either.

“It’s no wonder Mira is heartbroken when you describe all of this as your parents’ arrangement.” Lin Cheng Hui had a servant bring some ice and carefully applied it to her son’s face. “You and Mira grew up together. No one knows each other better than you two. Mira’s personality, looks, and family background… Mom really can’t think of another girl in this world who would be better or more suitable for you.”

“Yes, she’s great.” Jin He’s face was cold, completely unmoved. “But even if she were the most perfect person in the world, it doesn’t mean I would necessarily fall for her.”

Lin Cheng Hui pressed the ice pack a little harder, and Jin He hissed in pain.

“Is this your rebellious phase?” Lin Cheng Hui said, displeased. “You don’t have to take out your dissatisfaction with your father and me on Mira.”

“I…” Jin He did feel he was in the wrong regarding his recent attitude toward Xia Mi La. “I didn’t.”

“If you didn’t, then go apologize to Mira,” Lin Cheng Hui’s touch softened again. “It’s normal for young couples to have emotional spats occasionally, but don’t just casually bring up breaking the engagement… You should know, your engagement is an alliance between several families. It’s not some casual child’s play.”

Jin He was silent, stubbornly refusing to speak.

Lin Cheng Hui looked at him and sighed. “Hanlin is currently competing with JK for a joint project with Xia Hong. At a time like this, for you to break the engagement with Mira…”

Jin He was not entirely ignorant of this project.

A conglomerate like Hanlin, with its deep foundations, shouldn’t be afraid of JK under normal circumstances. But this time, the project they were competing for was in the automotive industry.

Automobiles were an emerging sector for Hanlin, but JK was an established automotive brand that had built its fortune on cars and possessed a brand advantage.

Jin He knew that, considering the bigger picture, he really shouldn’t break off the engagement with Xia Mi La at this time.

But he truly hated this “bigger picture.”

“Mom, do you genuinely like Mira?” he asked. “Do you like her as a person, or do you like the Xia Hong behind her? If Mira knew you were calculating gains and losses like this, she would probably be very disappointed in you.”

Lin Cheng Hui looked at him, her expression one of genuine disappointment. “What do you mean, calculating gains and losses? This is called a win-win partnership. Of course I genuinely dote on Mira. What conflict does that have with the partnership between our two families? Mira is far more understanding and sensible than you are. If it were her, she would never do something so tactless at a time like this.”

*Perhaps*, Jin He thought to himself, *Xia Mi La is deliberately proposing to call off the engagement at this time to use her family’s power to force me to bow my head.*

But there was nothing he could do. For now, he could only agree with his mother.