Chapter 6 The Engagement

• After a one-hour drive, Bai Ruoxi got out of car with her suitcase on a scenic hillside.
• The two villas of Qiao’s Family were situated here.
• As the most luxurious villas in the Qing City, the two modern castles were known for their wonderful view and sumptuous decoration.
• The villas, named the South Manor and North Manor, stood two hundred meters apart, belonging to the two brothers of Qiao’s Family respectively.
• The murder took place in the North Manor, and that was Bai Ruoxi’s destination because she was planning to find out the truth of that incident and proved her mother’s innocence.
• Bai Ruoxi approached that grand bronze gate and rang the bell. Before long, a middle-aged man opened the door respectfully with a mild smile, “Good morning, Miss Bai.”
• “Good morning, Mr. Lin.”
• Mr. Lin took her suitcase over and followed her in. “Are you moving back, Miss Bai?”
• “Yes,” Bai Ruoxi answered softly with a smile. She looked around and found the garden elegant and attractive as always. Beside the path were lovely and fragrant jasmines.
• Suddenly she spotted a familiar SUV with military plate. “Whose is it?”
• “Mr. Xuanshuo is back.” Lin Shu replied delightedly.
• “Back? What do you mean?” Her fingers slightly shivered and she suddenly felt shortness of breath.
• “Haven’t you been informed yet, Miss Bai? He’s going to get married next month.”
• “Get married?” She stopped and turned to Mr. Lin abruptly. All of a sudden, her heart was smashed into pieces. She couldn’t breathe or talk. Her mind was a blank while her eyes watered and throat dried.
• Mr. Lin didn’t notice anything unusual and continued. “I’ve watched them grow up. Now both of his two brothers have families or fiancée. Only Mr. Xuanshuo was still alone because he has been devoting himself to the country. I was so worried about him. Luckily…”
• Bai Ruoxi interrupted him, “Who is the bride?”
• “Miss Yin Rui. Isn’t she your friend, Miss Bai? I thought she had told you.”
• Bai Ruoxi stared at that car and forced a smile. “No, she didn’t.” Tears fell down silently.
• Bathed in warm sunshine though, she felt extremely cold.
• She was such a fool. After loving and waiting for him for twenty years, she was officially a joke. How many times she was mocked for turning down all those outstanding young men. Her secret love was now put to an end.
• “Miss Bai?” Mr. Lin was surprised, “Why are you crying?”
• Bai Ruoxi wiped the tears promptly and smiled brightly, “I’m not. I’ve just got sands in my eyes.”
• She rubbed her eyes and walked into the house.
• The magnificent living room seemed to be so familiar yet so strange to her.
• “Good morning, Miss Bai!” The servant greeted her politely.
• Hearing her name, the two men in the living room turned to door at the same time.
• Bai Ruoxi smiled and nodded at the servant and changed the shoes. When she looked up again, she met a pair of cold and sharp eyes.
• Qiao Xuanshuo was leaning casually against the sofa. The while shirt and grey pants added a hint of danger to his solemn expression, which made Bai Ruoxi very nervous.
• “Ruoxi, are you staying for some time?”
• A deep masculine voice pulled her back to reality. She turned to another man and nodded gently, “Yes. I will be living here for some time.”
• It was her stepfather, Qiao Yichuan. He used to be remarkably poised, but now he looked pale and tired. What happened to her mother had wrinkled his skin as well as his spirit.
• Qiao Yichuan was now in a better mood, “You two haven’t seen each other for a long time, have you?”
• Bai Ruoxi managed to put on an embarrassed and bitter smile, “It has been a while. How are you doing, brother?”
• Instead of responding to Ruoxi, Qiao Xuanshuo fixed his eyes on her with a complicated expression.
• Noticing that Mr. Lin was carrying her suitcase upstairs, Bai Ruoxi avoided his gaze and turned to Qiao Yichuan. “Dad, can I go to my room and unpack first?”
• “Let them take care of that. Come here and talk to me.”
• Bai Ruoxi hesitated for a moment, and moved towards them. However, hardly had she sat down, when Qiao Yichuan stood up and said to his father, “I’m going out. Please don’t wait for me for dinner.”
• Bai Ruoxi froze and felt so down. She didn’t even have the courage to watch him leave.
• “Xuanshuo, you sister is just back home. Do you have to go now?” Qiao Yichuan tried to stop him.
• Nevertheless, Qiao Xuanshuo left without even answering the question.
• “Xuanshuo has always been like that, stubborn and detached. I don’t know what to do with him now…” Qiao Yichuan sighed.
• Bai Ruoxi played her fingers and bit the lower lip, totally lost in thoughts.
• Qiao Xuanshuo stopped outside the house and contemplated the sky in the distance. After a short moment, he raised the wrist and looked at the watch.
• He read the time silently, “One. Two. Three…” When he counted fifteen, he heard an anxious voice. “Brother, wait a minute please. I need to talk to you…”
• Qiao Xuanshuo put down the wrist and smiled. With hands in the pocket, he waited for her leisurely.
• Bai Ruoxi was almost out of breath when she caught up with Qiao Xuanshuo. “Now that you’ve come back, can you please help my mother out? Haven’t you seen how sad father was? If she was indeed the murderer, I would definitely step aside. But if she was set up, you… You are a soldier. You can’t watch innocent people go to jail.”
• There was no expression on Qiao Xuan’s face. He seemed to be so unapproachable, which made Ruoxi feel uneasy.
• He looked at him quietly, and she decided to brave it out and looked straight at him.
• Her eyes were red and watery, like an injured puppy. Who could say no to that pair of eyes?
• But he seemed to be an exception.
• After a long while, Qiao Xuanshuo spoke in his cold and deep voice. “And you are willing to do anything for me if I agree?”
• “Yes, anything if you can help me. I can even go to jail for her.” Bai Ruoxi answered determinedly.
• “You are not going to jail, but remember what you promised me today,” Qiao Xuanshuo said and walked towards his car.
• Surprised and overjoyed, Bai Ruoxi followed him closely like a child. “Brother. Brother, do you agree to help us?”
• “Do I have your words?”
• “What do you want exactly?”
• Qiao Xuanshuo opened the door and ordered, “Get in.”
• “Okay.” No more questions were needed. Apparently, he had agreed to help. No matter what the cost was, she would accept.
• Once she was in the car, he slammed the door and got on the driver’s seat.
• Looking ahead, he ordered again, “Buckle up.”
• Bai Ruoxi did as she was told, nervous and confused, “Where are we going?”