Chapter 52: We Met Long Ago

The salesperson took the card and swiped it, beaming instantly. "Miss Tang is a VIP member of our store. Of course, we can allow your friends to test drive."

A few girls cheered and immediately went for a test drive.

The butter-yellow sports car roared to life, and the thrilling, wind-in-the-hair feeling of speeding down the road, combined with the envious glances of passersby, immensely satisfied Jiang Zihan's vanity.

"Older sister, can we test drive that one as well?" Jiang Zihan had fallen in love with the feeling of driving a sports car.

Tang Xi smiled gently. "Of course. I think that one has even better exterior styling and performance."

After test-driving three cars in a row, Jiang Zihan became even more excited.

She finally set her eyes on a pink sports car.

However, upon asking for the price, she began to hesitate.

She now had less than a million left on her card, and this sports car completely exceeded her budget.

"Zihan, since you want to buy one, you should buy your absolute favorite."

"That's right, that's right. From now on, we'll also be friends who drive sports cars."

"Zihan, being friends with you is such great luck, and so wonderful."

Faced with the flattery of her classmates, Jiang Zihan was caught in a difficult dilemma.

She genuinely liked this pink sports car, but she didn't have enough money.

Recently, she had been treating her dormitory roommates to lavish meals and outings, and everyone regarded her as a wealthy young lady from a prominent family.

She wasn't, but she hadn't denied it either.

She thoroughly enjoyed this feeling of being the center of attention, something she had never experienced in all her years of life.

"You guys sit for a moment. I'll go and inquire about the car insurance details." Jiang Zihan pulled the salesperson aside alone.

She attempted to bargain with him.

The salesperson smiled and said, "I'm sorry, miss. Our cars are clearly priced and non-negotiable. If you are experiencing financial difficulties, we can provide zero-interest loan services."

While Jiang Zihan was negotiating the price with the salesperson, Tang Xi sat continuously on the single-seat sofa, scrolling through her phone and sipping coffee.

It wasn't until Jiang Zihan decided to buy the sports car.

That she let out a scornful smile.

Every single penny the Jiang family spent had been traded for with her life; how could they be so completely at ease?

"Thank you, older sister." Jiang Zihan ran over to thank Tang Xi. "Older sister, could we add each other on WeChat?"

Tang Xi's demeanor and attire made it obvious at a glance that her family background was extraordinary.

She was a fake young lady of wealth, whereas Tang Xi was the real deal.

Befriending such a wealthy person was definitely a foolproof choice.

Tang Xi accepted her friend request and kindly helped her complete the remaining paperwork.

Jiang Zihan ultimately took out a loan of five hundred thousand, with a repayment period of two years.

Leaving the 4S dealership, Tang Xi glanced through Jiang Zihan's Moments on WeChat, which were filled with nothing but showing off wealth. Anyone unaware would think she was the daughter of some tycoon family.

She made a phone call to a private investigator and gave a few low-voiced instructions.

Upon hearing her plan, the private investigator's eyes lit up and he immediately promised to secure the evidence.

After hanging up, a message from Tang Jili popped up, saying he had cooked her favorite dishes and asking her to come home for dinner that evening.

Tang Xi bought some pastries that Tang Jili and Tang Qiushuang liked and drove back to the Tang family residence.

As soon as she stepped through the door, she caught the long-absent aroma of home-cooked food.

Tang Jili walked over, took the bag from her hand, and said with a smile, "Xi-xi, look who's here."

With those words, someone stepped out from the kitchen—possessing a tall figure and handsome features that were hard to forget even at a fleeting glance.

"Miss Tang." Bo Xuyao still had water on his hands, clearly having assisted Tang Qiushuang in the kitchen.

Tang Xi was slightly startled, immediately understanding the "ulterior motives" of this sibling pair.

Feeling somewhat helpless, she nevertheless offered a polite greeting given that a guest was present: "Hello, Mr. Bo."

"Don't just stand there, come on in. Dinner will be ready in a moment," Tang Jili said. "Little Bo, stop busy yourself. Why don't you let Xi-xi take you around to look at the place?"

"Alright, Uncle Tang."

*Little Bo?*

When did Tang Jili and Bo Xuyao become so familiar with each other?

Since Tang Jili had put it that way, Tang Xi couldn't very well leave the guest isolated on his own.

So, she symbolically took him upstairs for a tour.

The Tang family had bought this villa early on, when this neighborhood was still far beyond the Fourth Ring Road.

Later on, Beijing's economy advanced by leaps and bounds, and this area was incorporated within the Fourth Ring Road. Opposite them, a new villa complex was even built, attracting countless people scrambling to purchase properties.

"Is this your art studio?" Bo Xuyao paused in front of a doorway.

Tang Jili aired out her room every day, and at this moment, the door was wide open, revealing numerous easels set up inside.

"I haven't used it in a long time," Tang Xi said. "It has been left idle ever since I got married."

The painting clipped to the drawing board still only had a rough outline sketched out.

She deliberately uttered the word "married," and after saying it, she looked toward Bo Xuyao.

However, the latter's expression remained completely calm, as if he hadn't caught the deeper meaning in her words. "Miss Tang, can your paintings be reserved in advance?"

"Have you seen my paintings?"

"I have," Bo Xuyao replied with certainty, his eyes seeming to hold a distinct radiance. "It hangs in my study."

Tang Xi was very surprised. "Which one?"

*"Sea and Sun."*

Tang Xi had painted this piece for an art competition during her university years, and it had won an international grand prize at the time.

Sunlight pierced through the clouds over the sea, scattering dazzling, colorful golden light, as if countless elves were dancing upon the water.

The jury's awarded critique at the time was: *Hope!*

Later on, the painting was purchased by someone at a high price.

It turned out the buyer was Bo Xuyao.

"Dinner is ready," Tang Qiushuang's voice drifted up from downstairs.

After the meal, Tang Qiushuang said, "Your dad's blood pressure medication is almost running out. Go to the pharmacy and buy a few boxes to keep on hand."

"I'll go with you," Bo Xuyao volunteered actively. "It's getting dark, and it's unsafe for a young woman alone."

"Little Bo is so thoughtful; I didn't think of that." Tang Qiushuang urged, "You two hurry along."

Having no choice, Tang Xi had to head out with Bo Xuyao.

There were some things she also wanted to take this opportunity to clear up with him.

"Mr. Bo, you should know that I am newly divorced," Tang Xi spoke up proactively under the streetlamp. "I don't want to start a new relationship at the moment. If I misinterpreted your intentions, just consider me as being overly egotistical."

If the previous "blind date" was merely matchmaking orchestrated by Tang Qiushuang.

He wouldn't have agreed to attend this "family banquet" if Bo Xuyao felt nothing for her.

"Does Miss Tang believe in love at first sight, or a slow and steady relationship?" Bo Xuyao answered her question with another question.

The streetlamp outlined his tall and upright figure, along with a profound depth in his eyes.

Under his gaze, Tang Xi smiled. "I've believed in both, but I've lost at both."

The youth of first awakening love, at first sight; the marriage that opened one's defensive walls, slow and steady.

In the end, both proved to be sharp blades that wounded her to the core.

However unwavering her faith had been back then, that was how scornful she felt toward it now.

"You lost because you didn't meet the right person," Bo Xuyao said with deep eyes. "Tang Xi, we've met long ago. Do you really not remember?"

Tang Xi was taken aback, searching her memory hard for anything related to Bo Xuyao.

However, she came up completely empty-handed.

They had met before? When?