Chapter 11 When are you planning to have the wedding?

"Sister Yan!"

Chu Yan greeted her warmly, "Sister Yan, long time no see, you've become even more beautiful."

Yuan Xi looked at the young woman dressed in a cheongsam, accentuating her delicate figure, and judging by Chu Yan's form of address, she must be Bo Fan's sister, Bao Yan.

In fact, Chu Yan and Yu Xiaoxiao were wary that she might try to seduce Gu Hanchen, partly because of Bao Yan, or more precisely, because of Bao Yan's ex-fiancé, the president of Youzi Film and Television.

Youzi Film and Television is one of the largest video platforms in the country, and its president, Si Chen, made it into the Forbes rankings at just thirty years old.

The Bo Family, having shifted to the entertainment industry in recent years, naturally wanted to forge a marriage alliance with a film and television company like the Si Family, and the Si elders were inclined to arrange a marriage between Bao Yan and Si Chen.

However, just before the engagement could be announced, Si Chen suddenly declared he would marry his secretary, who had been by his side for three years.

Ignoring his family's objections, Si Chen resolutely registered his marriage with his secretary, and the wedding invitation for Si Chen and his secretary still lay in Gu Hanchen's office.

It appeared the wedding was scheduled for May 20th.

Looking at Yuan Xi with disdain, Bao Yan warmly linked arms with Chu Yan: "Yanyan, you are so sweet with your words. Rest assured, the Bo family recognizes only you as our daughter-in-law, and I only see you as my sister-in-law. Some people should not harbor the illusion that they can enter our Bo family's doors."

Mrs. Bo also chuckled, as if Yuan Xi's status as the true daughter of the Chu Family didn't matter – after all, years of upbringing could not be hidden.

Everyone knew Yuan Xi was Gu Hanchen's secretary, and even if she transformed into the daughter of the Chu Family, it would not change the fact that she came from the countryside and used to be someone's secretary.

Chu Yan, with her arm around Mrs. Bo's, said, "Auntie, let's go take a look at the jewelry. I want to buy a No Matter Plate made of jade for my mother to wear at my sister's homecoming banquet."

Mrs. Bo chuckled lightly, "We just got a few pieces of Emperor green No Matter Plates in recently."

Yuan Xi followed them into a guest room, filled with antique furniture and burning incense, which she could not bear to smell due to her pregnancy and covered her nose with her hand.

"Auntie, Bo Fan thought of having my sister work as his secretary... It seems that Bo Fan is very satisfied with my sister. If not for me, my sister would be the Bo family's daughter-in-law…"

Mrs. Bo chuckled lightly, "I'm in the business of jade. The Myanmar Jade and the Guatemala Jade are both types of jade, but there is a world of difference in their price. Where the jade is sourced from greatly differs in value, and the Bo family doesn't just take any jade – we don't want Guatemala Jade."

Several attendants dressed in traditional Chinese dresses came in and served tea.

Yuan Xi pretended not to understand the hidden meanings behind Mrs. Bo's words.

Mrs. Bo said to Yuan Xi, "Secretary Yuan, this must be your first time tasting this type of tea, why don't you have a try?"

Yuan Xi smiled faintly, "I'm sorry, but I have a stomach ailment and can't drink tea."

Bao Yan sneered from the side, "Is it really a stomach ailment, or are you just afraid of embarrassing yourself because you don't know how to appreciate fine tea? Don't worry, we know you grew up in a village and we won't laugh at you for not understanding tea."

Yuan Xi felt extremely bored in her heart but still maintained the professional smile of the workplace. Just as she was looking for an excuse to leave, Huo Shiyan's call came through at the perfect moment.

Yuan Xi answered, "Off work now, yes, okay…"

Standing up, she addressed Mrs. Bo, "Mrs. Bo, I have other things to attend to and must leave now."

Chu Yan said, "Sister, why are you leaving so soon? What about the jewelry for Mom?"

Yuan Xi replied, "I have some things to take care of, and I will choose the jewelry for Mom from somewhere else."

Chu Yan had clearly set a trap for her; Yuan Xi had no interest in participating in their mockery of herself, nor did she want to give them any money.

Yuan Xi went outside and called a car to meet Huo Shiyan at the agreed-upon location. After getting into Huo Shiyan's passenger seat, she sighed softly.

Huo Shiyan looked at Yuan Xi, "Why not at Mi Chen Game?"

Yuan Xi replied, "Don't mention it. Chu Yan insisted on thinking I wanted to marry Bo Fan. Today she took me to Mrs. Bo's to intimidate me; she really is... way too idle."

Huo Shiyan said, "Why didn't you tell her you're already married? Letting her know would save a lot of trouble."

"I was afraid she'd pry into who my husband is,"

said Yuan Xi, "which would eventually reveal to Gu Hanchen that we're married."

Huo Shiyan responded, "Even if Gu Hanchen finds out we're married, it wouldn't matter. If he really wants to play the hands-off boss, should I find a new CEO for Mi Chen?"

"Okay," Yuan Xi agreed.

Huo Shiyan said to Yuan Xi, "I'm taking you to dinner with a friend tonight."

"Now?" Yuan Xi opened the mirror on the passenger side and glanced at her tired makeup after a day's work.

Huo Shiyan said, "Yes, you might have met him before."

Yuan Xi took out the air-cushion lipstick from her bag to touch up her makeup, glancing sideways at Huo Shiyuan, "Who?"

"Si Chen."

Yuan Xi said, "I just met Bao Yan."

Huo Shiyuan asked, "Who is Bao Yan?"

Yuan Xi raised her eyebrows and said, "Isn't Si Chen your friend?"

"Yeah, when I was studying in the United States, he was my neighbor, and he's three years older than me. He helped me a lot when I was there."

Yuan Xi said, "Since Si Chen is your friend, how could you not know that he almost got engaged to Bao Yan half a year ago?"

Huo Shiyuan said, "Was it something the elders decided on their own? Si Chen has never mentioned it, he and Qin Yue have been dating for three years, how could he possibly get engaged to someone else?

Qin Yue is Qin Lang's twin sister, and she used to be one of my assistants. Si Chen took a fancy to her and lured her away from me. Technically, I'm the matchmaker for them."

Yuan Xi said, "So you'll be attending their wedding in a couple of days?"

Huo Shiyuan nodded and said, "I will be going. What about you?"

Yuan Xi said softly, "Gu Hanchen asked me to be his date for the wedding. We had already agreed upon receiving the invitation a week ago..."

Not accompanying her husband but instead going with her boss, Yuan Xi felt somewhat guilty.

Huo Shiyuan didn't say much else and took Yuan Xi to a private restaurant by the side of Ruohu.

Upon entering the private room, what came into view was a huge floor-to-ceiling window. Yuan Xi had thought that the view of Ruohu from the Ruohu Mansion was the best, but she hadn't expected the view from this restaurant, looking out at Ruohu in the sunset, to be even more breathtaking.

Yuan Xi took out her phone and snapped a photo, "I grew up by Ruohu, but I've never seen such a beautiful Ruohu."

Huo Shiyuan said, "The view of Ruohu from here is indeed magnificent."

"Shiyan, are you really not going to be my best man?"

Yuan Xi turned her head to the voice at the door, it was Si Chen and Qin Yue.

Qin Yue was quite surprised to see Yuan Xi.

Si Chen said, "This lady looks familiar, I think I've seen her somewhere before."

Yuan Xi extended her hand generously and said, "President Si, I'm Yuan Xi, Secretary to Gu Hanchen of Mi Chen Game. We've met a few times at internet conferences and Jiang City comic conventions."

Si Chen shook hands with Yuan Xi, "So it's Secretary Yuan."

Huo Shiyuan put his hand on Yuan Xi's shoulder, "My wife, Yuan Xi."

Si Chen was surprised, "You're married? Why didn't you announce such big news earlier?"

Huo Shiyuan said, "We just got married a few days ago, and Yuan Xi doesn't want Gu Hanchen to know about her marriage to me, so don't mention it in front of Gu Hanchen."

Si Chen said, "I'm not close with Gu Hanchen, don't worry, I won't spill the beans. No wonder you didn't want to be the best man, it turns out you've already tied the knot."

Huo Shiyuan said, "Also, don't let anyone know I'm in Jiang City."

"I got it, I got it," Si Chen said, "Don't worry, we'll tell others you are Qin Yue's cousin; we won't say you are Huo Shiyuan."

Qin Yue commented, looking at the blue diamond ring on Yuan Xi's hand, "That blue diamond suits Mrs. Huo well."

On hearing the title of Mrs. Huo, Yuan Xi smiled and said, "Just call me Yuan Xi."

Qin Yue also smiled, "What would you like to drink?"

Huo Shiyuan put his hand on Yuan Xi's waist, "She's pregnant, so let's have coconut juice."

Si Chen looked at Huo Shiyuan with surprise, "You sure moved quickly. When do you plan to hold the wedding?"

Huo Shiyuan looked at Yuan Xi, and Yuan Xi looked back at him. She actually had no plans to have a wedding...

Yuan Xi didn't want to wear a wedding dress with a big belly, moreover, she and Huo Shiyuan weren't truly in love when they got married. It was just an accident in one night that led to marriage for the sake of the child.

Yuan Xi felt nauseous, "Excuse me, I need to go to the bathroom."

Yuan Xi spent quite some time vomiting in the bathroom. After rinsing her mouth with water, she saw Qin Yue handing her a soft towel, "Thank you."

Qin Yue watched Yuan Xi and said, "I used to see your photos in President Huo's office all the time, and finally, today I see you in person. You've grown up to be prettier than the little girl in those photos."

Using the soft towel to wipe her face, Yuan Xi said apologetically, "I'm sorry, you've mistaken me for someone else. I am not his childhood sweetheart. I just happen to look similar to her."