Chapter 4: Why Are You Standing? Sit Down.

Xu Tanxi completed all the necessary formalities, and Shang Hejing’s mother smiled warmly, gesturing to her, “Tanxi, your seat is right next to Hejing.”

Ge Huaichu wore a lotus-colored suit, exuding grace and gentleness.

“All right, mother.”

Just as Xu Tanxi was about to move over, Ge Huaichu took her hand and leaned in to whisper.

“When you go over, pull the clothes off his face. This is your first meeting, so you need to make an impression, so he won’t dare bully you later.”

There was an unmistakable tenderness and playful smile in Ge Huaichu’s tone. Xu Tanxi was momentarily stunned, a bit surprised inwardly.

She had never imagined the atmosphere at the Shang family banquet would be like this—so different from the solemn, stiff, and silent scene she had expected.

After all, the Xu family lacked such wealth, and their own family banquets always felt as serious and pressuring as a state-level conference.

The head of the Shang family, Shang Zhaoshan, who had once held a key position in the National Military Commission, was the first to greet her with a smiling face.

And now, her mother-in-law, Mrs. Ge Huaichu, was actually advising her to tease her own son?

The Shang family truly was full of surprises; she had definitely come to the right place.

When elders give orders, how could she not obey? Xu Tanxi smiled and agreed.

Today she wore a pale moon-white qipao, the finely tailored fabric hugging her slender figure perfectly. With each step toward the man who was dozing, she moved with a captivating grace.

Stopping beside the round-backed chair where Shang Hejing sat, the man wore black trousers and a white shirt, his elbows casually resting on the armrests, slender fingers hanging loosely, their joints well-defined and skin pale and cool.

Xu Tanxi looked at the face hidden beneath the clothing and silently reminded herself, *Your mother told me to do this; it has nothing to do with me.*

She reached out, her nails painted in a delicate smoky nude shade just about to grasp the fabric, when suddenly, a hand yanked the clothes away.

The moment his face was revealed in her sight, Xu Tanxi’s mind buzzed loudly, her poised fingertips frozen mid-air.

*Her aunt, her grandmother, her padded trousers, her jacket—her brain turned to jujube!*

...A Parisian gigolo?!

How was he here???

Xu Tanxi was completely dumbfounded, instinctively blurting out the question in her mind: “Why are you here?”

Shang Hejing propped one arm on the chair’s armrest, his gaze playful, his lazy voice laced with a hint of amusement—

“Because I am Shang Hejing. If I’m not here, then where do you think I should be?”

Except for Xu Tanxi, no one else understood his words, “Because I am Shang Hejing,” but fortunately, everyone else was busy chatting amongst themselves and paid no attention to them.

Except for Ge Huaichu.

She noticed the change in Xu Tanxi’s expression and frowned slightly in puzzlement, but she already had her own answer.

Leaning toward the person next to her, she said with a teasing tone, “Look at your good son—he scared Tanxi on their first meeting. How childish to suddenly pull off someone’s clothes like that.”

Shang Zongnian glanced over and laughed, “Why do you care? This is just a bit of fun between the young couple.”

Xu Tanxi’s gaze was glued to the man’s face, unable to look away for a moment. He was Shang Hejing, he was Shang Hejing...

So, the little gigolo she had been with in Paris was actually her betrothed husband, Shang Hejing???

Had she unknowingly cheated on herself???

Her mind reeled in shock.

Oh no!!!

Xu Tanxi wailed silently inside, her thoughts exploding into a thousand pieces, all tangled with her shattered pride.

Shang Hejing curled his lips and tapped the nearby chair with his chin.

“Why are you just standing there? Sit down.”

And of course, he deliberately played the rogue, inviting her with that mischievous charm.

Xu Tanxi closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and sat down, her expression perfectly composed. After all, as a dancer, she was a master of controlling her expressions.

But honestly, inside she was far from calm. This event was important, and she had to control herself to the point of pain.

Impossible, absolutely impossible.

The moment she sat, another thought popped into her head: Could there really be two people in the world who looked exactly alike and had the same name?

Xu Tanxi spun around abruptly, unwilling to give up, and rolled up the cuff of Shang Hejing’s left sleeve. About two inches above his wrist, she saw a faint circle of reddish bite marks.

That was her bite.

Her heart utterly collapsed. She recalled what Meng Qianyi had said: *No records, absolutely no records.*

No wonder.

The Parisian gigolo was Shang Hejing. If it could be traced, something would be amiss.

Although the news of the new head of the Shang family returning to the country was no longer a secret in recent days, there were no further reports online.

After all, the press conference had yet to be held, and the media understood not to act rashly before the Shang family made any official moves.

Xu Tanxi felt the man’s gaze fixed unwaveringly on her, making her extremely uneasy.

But he probably wouldn’t be bold enough to bring up the details, she thought, relaxing a bit.

The next moment, a whiff of papyrus mixed with cool pine invaded her nostrils, and the man’s deep, mellow voice sounded in her ear—

“You still haven’t answered my question. If I’m not here, then where do you think I should be? Paris? Hmm? Babe?”

“...”

Xu Tanxi’s smile cracked.

“Babe”—those two cursed words again.

Her mind was a chaotic mess, her head spinning slightly.

Taking another deep breath, Xu Tanxi thought this was deadly enough, but soon realized it wasn’t the worst, because Shang Hejing—the scoundrel—continued to tease her.

“Miss Xu, when’s your next home visit? Let me know in advance so I can prepare myself mentally.”

Xu Tanxi almost covered his mouth, lowering her voice and grinding her teeth.

“Keep your voice down, will you?”

The man maintained his rogue persona, his dark eyes locked on her face, leisurely enjoying her every reaction.

“What home visit? Brother, sister-in-law, what secret conversation are you two having?”

A young woman’s voice came from the right side of Xu Tanxi—the voice of Shang Hejing’s younger sister, Shang Yuqing.

The girl was twenty-one, six years younger than Shang Hejing, freshly graduated from university, radiating the vibrant energy untouched by the harshness of the world.

Youth’s curiosity outweighed ambition, and catching some keywords, she made no effort to suppress her curiosity.

Shang Yuqing looked at Xu Tanxi expectantly, then at Shang Hejing. The latter smirked and effortlessly tossed the difficult question to Xu Tanxi.

“Ask your sister-in-law. She’s the expert.”

His emphasis fell on the last two words.

Xu Tanxi was speechless.

If only there weren’t so many elders around, she thought, she would have thrown the cup of lychee black tea in her hand straight at his face.