Chapter 578: Chapter 578: Golden House Conceals the Beauty

Mrs. Xie, the eldest of the Xie family, spoke with great dissatisfaction, “My girl, don’t be afraid! If you feel wronged, tell me about it, and I’ll go home and take care of him. Men always want an inch more once you give them one, and our Xie family will stand up for you.”

She then looked at Xie Xubai with some impatience, “Move the camera over! Let me have a look at the young miss.”

Xie Xubai compliantly adjusted the phone camera to include Huo Sijiao in the frame.

Seeing the handsome man and beautiful woman together in the same screen, the old lady nearly let out a laugh.

What a charming young lady – a perfect match!

She quickly restrained the corners of her lips from turning up and said seriously, “Xie Xubai, the men of our Xie family are responsible. Bring the girl home tomorrow to meet the family, otherwise kneel in the ancestral hall.”

Xie Xubai looked at Huo Sijiao somewhat helplessly.

Huo Sijiao was feeling extremely unsettled and explained, “Mrs. Xie, please don’t misunderstand President Xie; he and I really aren’t boyfriend and girlfriend.”

“Oh my.”

Mrs. Xie held her head, “My migraine is acting up! What did you say just now, girl, I didn’t hear it! I’ll wait for you at home tomorrow; at my old age, no one cares for me… Butler, my head hurts so much! You must come to the house tomorrow… I’ll decide for you; let that little rascal kneel in the ancestral hall tonight.”

The video call was disconnected.

Mrs. Xie had hung up.

Huo Sijiao opened her mouth in shock – had the old lady not heard her words just now?

She frowned slightly, looking at Xie Xubai, “I’m sorry, it was my impulsive idea for you to play along with me, which led to the misunderstanding. Now…”

Assistant Ning, trying to contain his laughter, continued, “Now, probably the whole Imperial Capital knows that President Xie is pursuing you. It’s no wonder Mrs. Xie misunderstood. This is the Xie family’s celebration banquet, where news spreads quickly. Miss Huo, why don’t you come home with President Xie tomorrow to explain? Otherwise, according to the Xie family’s rules, President Xie is really going to have a tough time.”

Huo Sijiao was feeling uncomfortably constrained after listening to Ning Yuan, as if ants were crawling all over her skin, “Will Mrs. Xie really make you kneel in the ancestral hall?”

Xie Xubai’s eyes were filled with a hint of amusement, “Depends on the old lady’s mood; she might or might not.”

Huo Sijiao heaved a deep sigh, the situation had blown up!

Alcohol is certainly no good thing, no wonder my brother always manages his wife’s drinking.

Drink leads to trouble, the alcohol makes one ignore consequences, caring only to act on impulse and vent anger.

“Then…”

Huo Sijiao considered her words carefully, “Then I shall accompany you home tomorrow to clear things up properly. We can’t leave such a big misunderstanding unresolved.”

Xie Xubai’s voice was gentle, “Wouldn’t that trouble you?”

“I’m quite free recently, it’s no trouble.”

Huo Sijiao’s heart felt tight, not knowing where Shen Xuanzhi had run off to.

She wanted to find something else to do to fill the boredom, “President Xie, thank you for letting me stay in the Presidential Suite for a while. I will check out tomorrow and go stay with my brother and sister-in-law. As long as we maintain a distance, the rumors outside should dissipate soon.”

Xie Xubai’s eyes flickered subtly, “Alright.”

Huo Sijiao hesitated, then said, “Then I’ll go back to my room first.”

“Rest early.”

Xie Xubai’s handsome and clear-cut face showed nothing but composure and acquiescence.

Assistant Ning stood to the side, pulled out a business card, and coughed softly, “Miss Huo, this is President Xie’s card. If you have any questions later on, remember to contact him.”

“Oh, okay.”

Huo Sijiao took the card, which was clean with no job title, just a mobile number and the name Xie Xubai.

The black and white ink style card looked refined.

Just like him, there’s always an air of a composed and prestigious young master about him.

“Then I’ll be going now, goodbye.”

Huo Sijiao waved her hand and quickly walked out along the corridor.

Ning Yuan shook his head as he watched her go: “President Xie, did I cooperate well with the old madam? Did I add the finishing touch as intended?”

Xie Xubai glanced at him: “You overdid it and scared her off.”

Ning Yuan clicked his tongue twice: “Xie Xubai, I’m really starting to lose track of what you’re thinking. If you say you like her, you show no sign of it. If you say you don’t like her, yet you let her use you to annoy Pei Chun. You’re already hiding her away like a concubine; what are you really thinking?”

“I don’t have any particular thoughts.”

Xie Xubai asked, “Have all the guests in the banquet hall been taken care of?”

“The important guests have all been seen off properly, the rest will be taken care of by Manager Pan. What’s the hurry, you need to go home and kneel at the ancestral hall?”

“Mhm.”

Xie Xubai responded with a sound.

Ning Yuan gave him another look, something was off.

Really off.

Ning Yuan walked to the elevator at the end of the corridor, pressing the button for the underground parking lot.

Xie Xubai followed him closely, getting straight into the car without doing anything else.

Ning Yuan looked back from the driver’s seat: “Are we really leaving just like this?”

“What else? Do you want to stay behind and wash dishes in the hotel’s kitchen?” Xie Xubai retorted.

Ning Yuan touched his nose and stepped on the gas pedal, driving towards the Xie Mansion in the center of Imperial Capital. The Xie Family’s old residence was quite simple and unpretentious, with decorations that didn’t show off wealth but rather had a scholarly feel to it, clearly indicating a strong cultural heritage.

The sky had already turned completely dark.

Lights inside the Xie Mansion were brightly lit.

Before they could walk into the hallway, they heard a hearty voice inside.

“He’s out there taking advantage of that young lady; I’m definitely going to sort him out!” The speaker even knocked over a teacup in their agitation.

A gentle female voice was trying to calm things down: “Mom, Xubai isn’t that kind of person. Listen to his explanation; look, he’s back!”

The old lady looked towards the hallway, and seeing a tall figure, spoke irritably: “Get in here, now!”

“Grandma, mother.”

“Old madam, madam, good day.”

Xie Xubai and Ning Yuan entered one after the other.

“Sit down, all of you. You probably didn’t eat much coming back from the victory banquet, right? I’ll go to the kitchen and prepare something for you.” Xie Xubai’s mother was a gentle and wise woman from Jiangnan, with a good temper and great culinary skills.

“Thank you, madam, I love the dishes you make the most,” Ning Yuan said, smiling and making himself at home.

The old madam of the Xie family gave a cold snort and peered from the bright, warm sofa trying to see behind Xie Xubai, “Where is she? You didn’t bring the girl home?”

“It’s late; she’s gone to rest.”

Xie Xubai sat next to her, pouring her a cup of tea meant to clear heat and detoxify, “Does your head still hurt?”

“It’s killing me. How am I supposed to face your grandfather down below if I don’t see you married?”

The old lady said peevishly.

“If you haven’t found a girlfriend by the end of the year, I’ll decide to let Pei Chun marry you. Once the two families’ elders agree, you’ll have to marry, even if you don’t want to! Once the men of the Xie family marry, they can’t just divorce at will; your life will be tied to Pei Chun!”

She looked at Xie Xubai accusatively, “Tell me, what are your actual feelings towards that girl?”

Ning Yuan also held his teacup, hiding the amused expression on his face, waiting for Xie Xubai’s answer.