The servant saw her return and quickly put down what they were holding, walking towards her.
"Miss, you're finally back!" the servant said with a hint of excitement in their tone. "The Old Madam and Old Master have been looking for you all day, they've almost searched the entire city."
Shi Xin Xin's eyes flickered, then she responded indifferently, "Oh."
She turned and went upstairs, heading straight for her bedroom.
The servant hurried after her.
"Miss, wait!" the servant called out, stopping her. "Miss, tonight is the Old Madam's eightieth birthday. The Old Madam wants to invite you to the banquet. Could you please accompany me?"
"No," Shi Xin Xin refused without thinking.
Upon hearing this, the servant felt a moment of awkwardness but dared not show it. They simply lowered their gaze and fell silent.
Shi Xin Xin paid no more attention to the servant and went straight back to her bedroom.
Upon returning to her room, Shi Xin Xin directly put down her bag and sat on the sofa, staring blankly ahead.
"Knock, knock--"
A knock sounded at the door.
Shi Xin Xin snapped back to attention, immediately stood up, walked to the door, and peeked through the peephole.
She remembered Sheng Chen Jin wasn't coming back tonight, so she didn't open the door.
"Who is it?" she asked in a deep voice.
"It's me."
Shi Xin Xin frowned. She knew who it was.
This man always caught her off guard whenever he appeared.
She hesitated for a moment, then walked to the door and opened it.
Sheng Chen Jin was wearing a sharp suit, looking very presentable, like a king.
"Didn't I say I wanted to rest? Please don't disturb me," Shi Xin Xin said with a straight face, not giving Sheng Chen Jin any pleasantries.
Sheng Chen Jin smiled, "This is a dress prepared for you. Try it on and see if it fits. If it doesn't, I'll buy you another one, okay?"
Shi Xin Xin pouted, her expression clearly unhappy.
She unhappily took the gift box, turned, and entered the room, closing the door behind her.
Sheng Chen Jin watched the closed door, a playful curve appearing on his lips.
It seemed he was destined to win tonight.
Shi Xin Xin opened the gift box and looked at the dress inside. Her brows furrowed, her expression quite displeased.
"Didn't I tell you I wasn't going? Why did you buy me a dress!" Her tone carried a hint of anger, even a touch of petulance.
"Don't you like it? This is the most popular style this year. I had it specially custom-made for you. It's very beautiful, isn't it?" Sheng Chen Jin said with a smile, his eyes so gentle they could drown someone.
Shi Xin Xin snorted, feigning disdain, "What's so special about it? I used to see this style all the time when I was at school. It's so unoriginal!" xxs壹贰
"Really? You used to see it often at school?"
"Yes! Don't you know? Clothes from this brand aren't sold to the public. I heard my classmates discussing it when I was in school."
"What were you discussing at school?"
Shi Xin Xin glanced at Sheng Chen Jin, then cleared her throat twice. "Nothing much, just chatting about random things."
"Oh, I see! I thought you were dating at school!"
"Bah, bah, bah!" Shi Xin Xin glared at Sheng Chen Jin. "I don't know you well! We're not related at all!"
Sheng Chen Jin smiled. "If we're not related, we're not related. I don't mind. I have some things to attend to, so I'll go to the study to sort out some documents. When you're done changing, come downstairs, and we'll have dinner there."
As Sheng Chen Jin reached the door, he suddenly stopped, turned back to look at Shi Xin Xin, "Are you sure you don't want to change?"
Shi Xin Xin looked at her simple t-shirt and jeans, and with a hint of resignation, nodded, "I will!"
"Then I'll go to the study. You take your time changing."
Shi Xin Xin watched Sheng Chen Jin's retreating back, unable to help but sigh inwardly. How could there be such a shameless man in the world?
She clearly didn't like him, so why was he forcing her to be with him?
Shi Xin Xin changed her clothes and, after showering, came out to see Sheng Chen Jin carrying a tray from the kitchen.
"Here, I made three pizzas, a dessert, and a glass of milk. Eat it while it's hot."
Sheng Chen Jin placed the milk and pizza in front of Shi Xin Xin.
"Thank you," Shi Xin Xin said, picking up a fork from the table and starting to eat.
"Is it tasty?"
Sheng Chen Jin stared at Shi Xin Xin with anticipation, his eyes blinking, as if afraid of missing even the slightest expression from her.
"It's quite delicious," Shi Xin Xin said, swallowing a piece of pizza. "Thank you."
Sheng Chen Jin's smile deepened.
He reached out and ruffled Shi Xin Xin's hair affectionately, saying, "Silly girl, why are you being so polite with me? By the way, what flavor of pizza do you like?"
Shi Xin Xin tilted her head, thinking for a moment, then replied, "Whatever."
Sheng Chen Jin raised his eyebrows slightly, then took out his iPad and showed Shi Xin Xin a picture.
"Look at these pizza recipes. What style do you prefer?"
"Pizza?" Shi Xin Xin was slightly surprised.
She hadn't eaten pizza in over ten years.
She had once thought she would grow tired of it, but she never expected to taste it again.
Sheng Chen Jin smiled without a word and pushed the pizza in front of him towards Shi Xin Xin.
Shi Xin Xin bit her lip, looking at the pizza before her, then after a long pause, slowly said, "Pizza is a traditional Chinese delicacy."
"You know this too?" Sheng Chen Jin was a little surprised.
"Yes." Shi Xin Xin nodded and continued, "When I was little, my parents doted on me, so I basically knew about and could make whatever I liked to eat."
A flicker of sadness crossed Sheng Chen Jin's eyes.
He didn't like the foods she liked.
Sheng Chen Jin suppressed the sadness in his eyes and said with a smile, "Alright, I understand. I'll get you something else another day. What flavor do you want?"
"I want steak."
Sheng Chen Jin: "Okay, then I'll ask Auntie to make steak tomorrow."
Shi Xin Xin: "..."
They were still in a cold war, and he was already planning to make her fat?
Shi Xin Xin's expression turned sour. "Are you trying to fatten me up? Do you dislike how thin I am?"
"No, that's not what I meant. I just want to do my best to satisfy your needs," Sheng Chen Jin said, smiling at her. "Actually, you should be glad you're thin, because I really like the feeling of holding you."
"..." Shi Xin Xin's face turned a little red.
She lowered her head and poked at the pizza on her plate with her fork.
"Pizza is a traditional Chinese delicacy. I think steak is better. Steak is often used to fill you up," Sheng Chen Jin said.
"..." Shi Xin Xin felt a mix of amusement and exasperation.
Sheng Chen Jin was truly not picky. A young master like him could actually cook!
Seeing Shi Xin Xin remain silent, Sheng Chen Jin asked again, "Or, tell me, what do you want to eat?"
Shi Xin Xin gritted her teeth and said, "No matter what I want to eat, I want steak!"