Heart-Warming Youth - Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Because She’s Xu Ai

Translator: Noodletown Translations Editor: Noodletown Translations
Su Xuan had estimated that he could finish the talk in one hour, but his business partners didn’t want to leave after two hours passed.
Xu Ai guessed they’d not leave until nightfall. People who didn’t know the situation would think these guys were his long-time friends.
Despite her displeasure, she felt a bit better at the thought that she didn’t need to bring Su Xuan to meet Autumn and Violet.
As she was nursing this thought, Su Xuan said, “I’m sorry but I have an appointment at 5 o’clock. Let’s talk about the details another day.”
The guy who had lost temper with Su Xuan was reluctant to leave. “Mr. Su, is your appointment very important? If not, can you postpone it to another day? We can settle the details of our cooperation today.”
Su Xuan turned to look at Xu Ai and said with a smile, “We are to attend a dinner held by my girlfriend’s roommate. I returned from overseas two months ago and haven’t met her roommates yet. If I stood them up, I’m afraid they’d have a bad opinion of me.”
Hearing his words, the guy said instantly. “I see. Then we can’t keep you, Mr. Su.” Then he added, “Girlfriend is more important than business.” After a pause, he added again, “Girlfriend’s roommates are important, too.”
Xu Ai’s face reddened in vexation.
She berated Su Xuan for his good memory. As he talked so animatedly with his partners, he still remembered the dinner held by Autumn’s boyfriend.
Su Xuan stood up and shook hands with the other guys and scheduled their next meeting.
That foreign guy shook hands with Xu Ai and said warmly, “Miss Xu, you must come with Mr. Su to our next meeting.”
After the misunderstanding was cleared, the foreign guys were very nice to her. In the past two hours, they tried hard to get her into their conversation. They were so kind that she didn’t have the heart to refuse their request.
She forced herself to say, “I’d love to if I have time.”
After saying farewell, she left the teahouse with Su Xuan and got into the car.
Driving away from the teahouse, Su Xuan turned on the stereo and glanced at Xu Ai with a smile. “I’ve never heard the old saying ‘Close friends don’t stand on ceremony’.”
Vexed, Xu Ai said stubbornly, “It’s because you know little about Chinese literature.”
Su Xuan chuckled.
She demanded him in a huff, “Why didn’t you tell me that you needed to change into a suit to meet people from Billions Sun?”
“If I did, you wouldn’t have come with me to meet them and I wouldn’t have the unexpected and delightful experience of being defended by you as your boyfriend.” Su Xuan said in a great mood.
Xu Ai glared at him. “Su Xuan, you went too far.”
Su Xuan nodded and admitted, “Yeah, I went too far.”
As she glared at him, he turned his attention to driving and said with a smile, “After we arrive at our destination, I’m at your disposal.”
Xu Ai looked away and didn’t speak.
What could she do with him?
Kill him? It’s against the law! Destroy him? It’s a crime! Beat him? She was not his match.
Su Xuan didn’t speak but his lips curved up slightly when he saw her sulky face from the corner of his eye.
As light music played in the car, the warm light from the setting sun shone through the window.
Half an hour later, he stopped the car before a restaurant.
Su Xuan got out of the car. He was walking to the passenger side to open the door for Xu Ai when two girls dashed out of the restaurant and stared at him in excitement. “Are you Su Xuan?”
Surprised, he looked them up and down and smiled slowly. “Are you Ai-Ai’s roommates?”
Autumn and Violet exchanged a look and said together cheerfully, “Right, right. We’re Ai’s roommates.”
“Hi, I’m Su Xuan!” He extended out his hand.
Violet caught his hand immediately with stars in her eyes. “You have good taste and like our Ai. My name’s Wei Lan. Call me Violet.”
Su Xuan nodded with a smile.
Autumn came up and brushed Violet’s hand from Su Xuan’s. She extended out her hand and said, “My name’s Wang Qiujing. I called you today and we’re friends already, right? Just call me Autumn.”
Su Xuan nodded with a smile and reached out to shake hands with her.
Before his hand touched Autumn’s, a guy ran up and pulled her to one side, shaking hands with Su Xuan. He said with a grin, “Hello. I’m Wu Xiting, her boyfriend. I’m the host today.”
Su Xuan raised his brows and said with a smile, “Nice to meet you. I’ll invite you guys to dinner soon and I hope you’re still her boyfriend by then.”
Violet laughed out loud.
So did Autumn.
Wu Xiting withdrew his hand, scratched his head and said abashedly, “I’ll try my best to retain the position as her boyfriend. But I hope you can keep your promise.”
“Good. I knew you’re a good young man.” Violet patted Wu Xiting’s shoulder.
Autumn said curiously, “I didn’t know you are so funny.”
Wu Xiting’s face reddened as he said in a small voice, “He’s Su Xuan of the Empyrean. I don’t want to be overshadowed by him and must work hard.”
Amused, Autumn didn’t know what to say.
“Where’s Ai?” Violet noticed Xu Ai was still in the car and ran over to pull open the door.
Sitting in the car, Xu Ai felt her head ached as she watched the happy introductions outside. She wondered if she did the right thing to bring Su Xuan to meet them. Was it too late to take him away? After the dinner, could their relationship return to their previous state?
Violet opened the door and saw Xu Ai sat in there sulkily. She pulled her out and said, “You look like a shy bride hiding in the car.”
Xu Ai rolled her eyes. She wasn’t shy, okay?
“That guy is Wu Xiting, Autumn’s boyfriend. What do you think of him?” Violet pointed at Wu Xiting.
Xu Ai had seen him. He was a tall and thin boy with a scholar-like pretty face. It’s hard to imagine how he carried Autumn from the mountain. No wonder Violet said that he had collapsed right after they got to the foot of the mountain. She nodded and said with a smile, “He looks nice.”
“He’s nice if not compared with your Su Xuan,” Violet whispered to her and then yelled, “Wu Xiting, this is Ai. Do you know her?”
“Xu Ai is famous. Of course, I know her.” Wu Xiting walked over to shake hands with her.
Su Xuan took Xu Ai’s hand and said with a smile, “Since you know each other and come from the same school, there’s no need for introduction.”
Wu Xiting withdrew his hand and nodded with a grin.
“You guys are all paired up, and I’m the only single one! How sad!” She looked at Su Xuan and asked with stars in her eyes, “Do you have classmates or friends who are single?”
Su Xuan smiled and nodded. “Yes.”
“Really? Introduce one to me. Like Ai, I have many good qualities.” Violet stood taller.
Before Su Xuan could reply, Autumn nudged Violet. “Cut it out. We just met him, and you asked him to introduce boyfriend to you. You’ll bring shame to us, especially Ai. Young Master Su would think we have no pursuers.”
“You have pursuers, but I don’t.” Violet nudged Autumn back.
“That’s ridiculous. You have many pursuers, but your standards are too high,” Autumn said.
Violet was sulky. “Those guys are too ordinary to touch my heart. It’s why I asked Young Master Su to introduce guys to me.”
“Forget it. You might be overwhelmed if you’re given a great figure,” Autumn said with a grin.
Violet coughed. “Give me a great figure and test me.”
Autumn was speechless.
Su Xuan chuckled. “I do have some single friends. If you like, I’ll introduce one to you.”
“Really?” Violet brightened.
Su Xuan nodded with a smile.
Violet turned to Xu Ai and vowed, “Don’t worry. I won’t bring shame to you.”
Xu Ai was speechless. What’s it to do with her anyway?
The five of them walked into the restaurant, talking and laughing.
The restaurant was a midscale restaurant with delicacies from all styles.
Sitting down, Wu Xiting handed the menu to Autumn who then handed it to Su Xuan; Su Xuan handed it to Xu Ai; when Xu Ai was about to hand it to Violet, Autumn stopped her and said, “Don’t pass it down, or it would make a full circle. Place your order.”
Xu Ai had no choice but to open the menu and choose one dish; she handed it to Su Xuan.
Su Xuan said, “Choose one for me. The dishes you chose for the lunch were delicious. You know what I like.”
Giving him a dirty look, Xu Ai pushed the menu into his head and said in a huff, “I don’t know what you like.” Remembering what had happened before lunch, she got angry. She pulled Autumn up and said to her in a harsh tone, “Let’s go to the washing room.”
Autumn had a bad feeling. “I don’t want to go.”
“You must come.” Xu Ai dragged her out of the room.
“Violet, come with us.” Autumn looked toward Violet for help.
Violet shook her head gloatingly, “No. With you two absent, I must keep the guys company.”
Autumn cursed her silent as Xu Ai dragged her out of the room.
Watching them walk out in a tangle, Violet said to Su Xuan and Wu Xiting, “Do you guys want to know their little secrets and shortcomings? If you do, ask me now. I’ll tell you everything I know.”
Su Xuan chuckled.
Wu Xiting said to her, “Xu Ai took Autumn away. Do you want them to take you away?”
Violet rolled her eyes. “I’m trying to help you guys. Will you betray me?”
Su Xuan poured a cup of tea, opened the menu and said with a chuckle, “I betrayed Autumn.”
Violet choked.
Wu Xiting laughed.
After a long while, Violet said to Su Xuan, “How could you betray Autumn? That’s not nice of you! She tried to help you.”
Su Xuan looked helpless. “If I didn’t betray her, I’d not sit here. I couldn’t help it because Ai doesn’t bring me to meet her friends.”
“I’ve been curious why you like our Ai. Young Master Su, can you do an interview?” Violet rolled the napkin into the shape of a microphone and aimed it at Su Xuan.
Su Xuan glanced at her and said with a smile, “I knew her roommates would be as interesting as her since they are her close friends. But the reality exceeds my expectations.” He shook his head and said, “But I don’t do interviews except when I get drunk. Since I drive today, I won’t have any alcoholic drinks.”
Violet put down the napkin in disappointment. “You don’t want to answer even one question? You know bedlam broke out in our school when people knew that you’re Ai’s boyfriend. As her roommates, we have the honor to have dinner and chat with Young Master Su of Empyrean. If the news got out, people would get green with envy.”
Su Xuan was amused. “She must be frustrated.”
“Right. She’s truly frustrated. She goes to the classroom at the last minute and runs out of it the moment the class is over. She doesn’t dare to enter the cafeteria and asks me and Autumn to get meals and water for her. What a sad life she has.” Violet told him Xu Ai’s current life. “All this happened in the last week after the news of about the billion-yuan contract came out.”
Su Xuan nodded with a smile. “It seems the news is quite effective.”
Violet looked at him with stars in her eyes. “You must answer one question, okay? As her roommates, we’re close to her like sisters. We’ll watch her for you in the school and she won’t have the chance to cheat on you. In exchange for this…”
“You asked me why l like her. I can answer this question.” Su Xuan smiled. “In fact, there’s no reason. If you must name one, I can only say that I like her because she’s Xu Ai.”
Violet said, “Wow.”
Su Xuan added with a smile, “You mentioned about her cheating on me. So long as she’s my girlfriend, it won’t happen.”
子.”
“Why not? Don’t tell me you’re confident of it just because you’re Empyrean’s Su Yuan. Even though you’re attractive to many girls, our Ai is different.” Violet looked at him. “Whenever we asked her about you, she’d have the kill-me-now look on her face.”
Su Yu chuckled.
Violet blinked her eyes. “So, your prospect isn’t so optimistic. You need our help.”
Su Xuan nodded. “You’re right.”
Violet got smug again. “Tell me more.”
“If she can’t live without me each day, she’ll have no time to cheat on me.” Su Xuan chose one dish and handed the menu to Violet.
Taking the menu, she looked at him in admiration. “I have to hand it to you, Young Master Su of Empyrean. If I can’t get a job after graduation, I’ll ask you to help me.”
Su Xuan thought for a moment. “When you graduate, she’ll graduate, too. After graduation, if…” He paused.
“What?” Violet asked curiously.
Su Xuan smiled and shook his head. Picking up his teacup, he sipped the tea and had no intention to continue.
Violet had no choice but suppressed her curiosity. Turning to Wu Xiting who had been silent, she said, “Hey, aren’t you worried about your girlfriend? They are absent for a long time now. I’m afraid Ai is giving her a hard time.”
“Do you want me to rescue her from the women’s washroom?” Wu Xiting shook his head in trepidation. “I don’t want to be arrested.”
Violet clucked her tongue. “Be careful. Autumn might take it out on you after she comes back. After all, women sometimes lose temper for no reason.”
“I’d better go and check it out.” Wu Xiting stood up and walked to the door; then he paused and said to Su Xuan, “Young Master Su, let’s go together.”
Su Xuan stood up. “I need to wash hands before eating.”
Watching then walk out of the room, Violet murmured to herself in resignation, “Why are you guys so concerned about them? You’d spoil them. It seems I must get a boyfriend as soon as possible.”