Lin Wanwan was blissfully happy, smiling and saying, "Aren't you surprised? Delighted? I didn't expect Ruyi to come either."
Xie Sui greeted her, "Miss Sheng, hello. What brings you here for a surprise visit?"
"It's not a surprise visit, just wanted to give you both a pleasant surprise. I have some business to discuss with Sister Wanwan. I hope I'm not disturbing you, Mr. Xie."
Xie Sui chuckled, "Not at all. Though it's less of a surprise and more of a fright, really. People like us aren't accustomed to sudden intrusions."
"It's my fault. I'll be more mindful next time."
Lin Wanwan chided him playfully, "What are you talking about? I'm thrilled Ruyi is here. What fright? How could Ruyi possibly scare you? Doudou and Dingding like her very much. Ruyi must have missed the children and decided to visit."
Sheng Ruyi had stayed at their place for two months before and was quite familiar with Doudou and Dingding. Being a scholar, her vast knowledge had endeared her to the children.
Xie Sui sighed inwardly. This naive woman, so easily taken advantage of, was counting the money for the person who just bought her. She had no idea of the depths of human deceit. In his past life, Xie Sui had encountered countless women who threw themselves at him and was well aware of the tactics of "green tea" and "white lotus" types. Sheng Ruyi was exhibiting some of those traits now.
"Alright then, you two chat. I'll go check on the children. Oh, Wanwan, when did you name the children? I didn't even know."
He was bothered that he, as their father, was so out of the loop regarding their names. Xie Sui felt he was a negligent father.
"I named them not long after they were born. You wouldn't have paid attention even if I told you, so I decided on my own. It's not too late for you to know now."
Xie Sui felt guilty. He had been a scoundrel back then, neglecting her and the children. It was a dark stain on his past. He plastered on a smile and said, "I was wrong, but I'm making amends now. Let me name the little ones."
"No need, they've already been named. Their names are even on the household registration. You weren't home then, so I took the initiative. Our third child is named Xie Jinshan, and our fourth is Xie Jinsi. The names follow the birth order and have auspicious connotations, signifying 'three' and 'four' respectively. They sound good and are easy to remember. Are you satisfied?"
How could Xie Sui possibly say he wasn't satisfied?
"They're wonderful. You're more educated than I am, and the names are lovely. My child's mother is truly remarkable. Alright, you two continue chatting. I'll go check on the kitchen."
A flicker of jealousy crossed Sheng Ruyi's eyes. "Mr. Xie, you cook too?"
Lin Wanwan replied, "His cooking is decent. He didn't used to cook at home, but he suddenly discovered a knack for it. His dishes are quite delicious; even the chefs at the state-run restaurants come to him for tips. Those pickled vegetables were his creation. My husband is sharp-minded and intelligent, just not very settled. Even as a father, he's like a child, always wanting to play and joke around."
Sheng Ruyi felt she was boasting and gave a dry laugh, "Mr. Xie's temperament is also very good. It's certainly better than being cold and unsmiling. Haven't you seen the bosses in Hong Kong? They're either workaholics who don't understand romance or greasy, flippant individuals. None of them are like Mr. Xie."
Lin Wanwan thought about it and agreed, "You're right. I'll reward him with a chicken drumstick."
Sheng Ruyi was speechless. She was still treating him like a child.
Dinner was a lavish spread. Xie Lan and the nanny ate in the kitchen. Xie Sui entertained Sheng Ruyi and opened a bottle of red wine. It was late, so he didn't call Du Feiyang over.
"Miss Sheng, welcome. Let's have a toast."
Doudou drank milk, while Dingding had juice. He didn't like milk and wasn't as robust as Doudou. Both children raised their glasses, "Welcome, Auntie Sheng."
"Thank you. Doudou and Dingding have grown taller. Auntie has brought you lots of toys. We'll play later."
"Thank you, Auntie."
The two thanked her and ate their meals diligently. Having experienced hunger in their childhood, they now cherished food, never wasted it, and didn't need to be coaxed to eat. They were children who evoked both heartache and tenderness.
Xie Sui ate a few mouthfuls and asked her, "Miss Sheng, you didn't just come here to surprise us, did you?"
"Of course not. I'm here to survey the mainland. I want to open a cosmetics factory there. The taxes and labor are cheaper on the mainland, and the market is vast. I've investigated, and many Hong Kong cosmetics are already sold on the mainland."
"It's been a tough endeavor for your factory. You make the decisions. If you need help, find Xie Sui to assist you. I'm mainly looking after the children now and can't help you much."
"Then I won't be polite. Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Xie."
"It's nothing. It's our family's business too. Has the lipstick that Miss Sheng independently developed started production?"
"Yes, we're currently developing the packaging and the name. We're in the later stages. Wanwan, what do you think would be a good name?"
Lin Wanwan replied, "I don't know about these things. You decide."
"Mr. Xie, do you have any suggestions?"
Xie Sui recalled the names of many cosmetic brands from his past life. Lipstick was a popular product. He casually suggested, "A stylish name, perhaps? How about 'Mei Ke'? Or if it's geared towards the mainland market, 'Luolan' sounds nice and is easy to remember."
"Then we'll go with Mr. Xie's suggestion. Mr. Xie is truly multi-talented."
"You flatter me. It was just a casual thought. Has the company name been registered?"
Lin Wanwan said, "It has. We used Ruyi's name. It's quite auspicious, isn't it? 'Wan Shi Ru Yi' (May all wishes come true). It's wonderful."
Sheng Ruyi blushed slightly, "It's nothing. My parents just picked it casually."
Xie Sui glanced at his naive wife and said, "It's indeed good. Miss Sheng, please eat more."
"Thank you. Sister Wanwan said she'd reward you with a chicken drumstick."
"Really? A reward from my wife, I must have it. Where's my chicken drumstick?"
Lin Wanwan pointed at their son's bowl, "I forgot. I gave it to the children. Why don't you ask one of them to share theirs with you?"
Xie Sui looked disappointed. "You care more about the children than me. I'm heartbroken."
Doudou offered him a chicken wing, "Daddy, stop acting. Have a chicken wing."
Dingding said, "I've only had one bite. I'll give it to you."
"Good sons, you eat it. Your thought makes Daddy happy. You care more about Daddy than your mother does."
"Mommy cares for us, so we care for Daddy. Daddy, don't be angry."
The family laughed and chatted happily, while Sheng Ruyi felt like an outsider. The smile on her face began to fade.
Xie Sui observed her expression. This woman was difficult to handle. He couldn't exactly tell Wanwan that she was trying to steal her man. Whether Wanwan would believe him or not was one thing, but making her upset and sad was something Xie Sui didn't want. She cherished her friendship with Sheng Ruyi. However, Sheng Ruyi still needed to be dealt with; he couldn't let Wanwan get too entangled with her.
Xie Sui pondered his plan. In his past life, Sheng Ruyi's cosmetics company had been very successful, capturing a third of the market, which was remarkable. In this life, Xie Sui wouldn't let her grow so big. The cosmetics market would belong to his Wanwan. The most crucial factor in cosmetics was research and development. Xie Sui planned to invest in a new company in Shenzhen to compete with Sheng Ruyi.