Polite and gentle, these were the hallmarks of Li Xiaoru.
A well - rounded young lady, proficient in all the four arts of the Chinese literati, a returnee from overseas, and the founder of her own fashion brand, she was extremely capable, almost flawless.
Compared with Shen Ximan, who came from nothing, Bo Yanhai preferred a match based on equal social status. He also appreciated a refined young lady as his granddaughter - in - law.
The problem was, Bo Jingyu didn't like her.
"Grandpa, we're here for Ming Han's dinner party," he said tactfully, neither directly rejecting nor accepting the idea.
Bo Yanhai snorted, "Networking is essential. The purpose of a dinner party is to meet more people who can bring benefits to us."
"Li Xiaoru is a girl I like very much. Control your temper and seize this opportunity. If you have any bad thoughts, swallow them."
If the world thought Bo Jingyu was cold - blooded, he thought Bo Yanhai was even more so.
He was always thinking about interests and competition, never considering others' feelings. His orders were absolute and no resistance was allowed.
"Who's that woman?" Shen Shiyu sipped her champagne and asked the person beside her.
"The daughter of the Li family. Oh, the old man really knows how to find a partner for him," Bo Siming sneered, looking at the two not far away.
She wrapped her arm around his, showing their status.
"If Shen Ximan saw this, she'd be so jealous that her face would turn green."
He glared at her impatiently, "If you hadn't caused trouble, I'd be in the banquet hall now."
Shen Shiyu hugged his arm tightly with a smile, "Well~ Now you have me. Am I not as charming as that girl? I'm much curvier than her."
Bo Siming drank his wine silently, thinking to himself...
"Her figure is much better than yours, that's for sure."
Recalling the day in the hot spring pool, Shen Ximan's fair and smooth skin was so delicate. The faint scent of her body had driven him wild with desire.
Although she had an ugly face, she had an alluring figure.
Maybe that's what they meant by "no one is perfect."
"Second Young Master, would you like some champagne?" Li Xiaoru asked gently.
"No, thank you."
Bo Jingyu had been in a cold mood since he entered the dinner party.
"You seem to be in a bad mood?"
"No."
She pouted and picked up a cream muffin from the table, "Eating something sweet will cheer you up. Try it?"
"I don't like sweet food," Bo Jingyu just wanted to find an excuse to escape as soon as possible.
"Refusing a girl's request is impolite."
Li Xiaoru chided him, but still wore a big smile.
"I'm here because of my grandpa's arrangement," he simply stated his position and kept a distance, aiming to prevent her from doing anything inappropriate.
"If your relationship with your wife was stable, your grandpa wouldn't have arranged for us to meet," Li Xiaoru analyzed calmly. She raised the muffin a bit higher, "Take a bite, and I'll tell you the result, okay?"
"..." Bo Jingyu was a bit confused about this woman's intentions.
"My arm is getting sore."
To get rid of this trouble quickly, he took a bite. The cream from the muffin stuck to the corner of his mouth, making him look rather cute.
"You have some cream there."
Before Bo Jingyu could react, she kissed the corner of his mouth.
"I like you," Li Xiaoru boldly admitted.
The woman in front of him gradually overlapped with another one. That day, she had also looked at him with such tender eyes, sincere, straightforward, brave, and a bit nervous.
"Miss Li, I don't have feelings for you. Moreover..."
His words were interrupted.
"I know you have a wife, but it doesn't matter," Li Xiaoru said confidently, "I like you, and you like your wife."
Bo Jingyu had never heard such nonsense before. He couldn't help but laugh, "You're ruining your own reputation."
"It's better than never seeing the person I like in my whole life. You seem to have forgotten one thing. Except for college, we've always been classmates."
Bo Jingyu was a bit stunned, "Really?"
Li Xiaoru waved to Su Minghan not far away and said with a big smile, "If you're not sure, just ask your good friend!"
"What are you guys talking about? You seem so happy."
Su Minghan walked over in an orange suit.
"She said we were classmates," Bo Jingyu said, puzzled.
"Yeah, from kindergarten to high school," Su Minghan replied.
He couldn't remember at all.
Li Xiaoru laughed happily, not angry at all.
"Don't be so hard on him. He was a well - known iceberg back then. He probably doesn't even remember what his classmates looked like."
Su Minghan poured some red wine and clinked glasses with her, "There's one thing he must not remember. Your first kiss in kindergarten!"
At the mention of this, Bo Jingyu froze.
"What are you talking nonsense about?"
"No, you've forgotten again? You..."
"Let's talk somewhere else."
Bo Jingyu pulled Su Minghan aside where there were fewer people.
"Don't you see the situation?"
"What's wrong?"
"She's the one my grandpa arranged for me."
Only then did Su Minghan realize, "I thought you just met by chance. Why didn't you tell me earlier! I shouldn't have brought up the old things. I'm such a big mouth!"
He gently patted his lips as self - punishment.
"How's Shen Ximan?"
"Oh, you're worried about your little wife again. Don't worry, she's fine. If you're really that anxious, should I set up a camera for you?"
Bo Jingyu sighed heavily, "No, I'm not anxious."
Su Minghan laughed heartily, "You said you're not anxious. You're ignoring such an excellent beauty beside you. Are you crazy?"
Bo Jingyu gave him a sharp look, and his voice turned cold instantly, "Are you serious?"
Su Minghan's playful smile turned serious, "Of course not. I know Ximan is a good woman. She's suffered a lot."
"You've really fallen for her."
Bo Jingyu didn't immediately deny it.
Su Minghan patted his shoulder, "My advice for you now is to create some gossip with Li Xiaoru to suppress Ximan's previous incident. The entertainment news only cares about hot topics."
"I'll apologize to Ximan in person when she wakes up. There's no better way to boost your reputation for now. Seize this opportunity if you can."
Just as he was about to leave, he was called back.
"You haven't told me what happened to that kindergarten first kiss?"
Bo Jingyu asked curiously.
Su Minghan grinned, "You really believe that? Your first kiss was mine when we shared a bottle of mineral water while playing basketball. An indirect kiss~"
Bo Jingyu kicked him with a dark face, "Get out of here!"
Seeing them finish their chat, Li Xiaoru walked over with pursed lips, "Your relationship is really good. It's quite enviable."