After the White Lotus Drops the Act

When her waist was grabbed, Tang You finally lost her patience.

Gathering all her strength, she forcefully pushed the man’s hand away and bolted like a startled rabbit.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Tang You felt like she had never run this hard, not even during her 800-meter fitness test!

Rushing back to her room, she slammed the door shut, locked it from the inside, and still felt uneasy. She dragged a small cushioned stool against the door as an extra barrier, just in case.

After all that, her legs trembling, Tang You climbed onto the bed, wrapped herself tightly in the blanket, and curled into a ball, shivering.

Her phone rang cheerfully beside her pillow. Still kneeling on the bed with her head buried in the blanket, she shakily reached out a hand, grabbed the phone, and cautiously answered, “Hello?”

Miao Jiaxi was instantly alarmed by her voice. “What happened, girl? Who bullied you?”

“No one,” Tang You’s heart was still pounding wildly, as if the lingering scent of tobacco from that brief contact had trapped her, refusing to fade. She was flustered, her voice filled with grievance. “Jiajia, I’m not clean anymore.”

Miao Jiaxi was so shocked she nearly went to join her long-deceased ancestors.

Tang You clutched the edge of her blanket, recalling the scene just moments ago, and gasped, “Xiao Weijing just grabbed my waist!”

“Ahhhhhhh just thinking about how many women those hands have touched makes me feel so disgusted!”

“My heart rate is about to hit 500!”

Miao Jiaxi finally understood what had shaken her best friend so badly.

Because of that damn engagement, Tang You had rejected countless suitors. It was precisely for this reason that she had remained steadfastly single in their highly competitive electrical engineering department, where the number of men far exceeded the number of women.

In short, Tang You was still a completely blank slate when it came to romance—her only knowledge coming from books and dramas.

Miao Jiaxi had to remind her, “Calm down, girl. If your heart rate really hit 500, you’d already be peacefully on your way to cremation.”

Tang You was nowhere near calming down. Clutching the bedsheet, she gritted her teeth and made a decision. “Jiajia, I’ve decided to step it up.”

“Huh?”

“No more hesitation,” Tang You declared. “I’m going to take the initiative. I swear I won’t rest until I disgust that bastard Xiao to death.”

Miao Jiaxi was deeply moved. “Wishing you success in your villainous endeavors.”

Tang You huddled under her blanket, opened Bilibili, and started earnestly studying evil female antagonist highlight reels for inspiration.

Meanwhile, Xiao Zexing had just stepped out of the kitchen.

That little girl had fled like a frightened deer. He was still tipsy from the alcohol and had been caught off guard when she shoved him away. By the time he came out, she was long gone.

Xiao Weijing, with his suit jacket slung over his arm, saw him and chuckled. “What’s wrong, Second Uncle? Did my dad force more drinks on you again?”

He could already smell the strong scent of alcohol clinging to Xiao Zexing.

The Xiao family was known for their impressive alcohol tolerance, and the best drinker among them was Xiao Weijing’s father, Xiao Zehua.

Xiao Zehua was practically useless at everything else, but he prided himself on two things—one, fathering Xiao Weijing, and two, his legendary drinking capacity.

Xiao Zexing had already attended a drinking session that afternoon, downing quite a bit. Then, in the evening, Xiao Zehua had drowned him in more liquor. By the end of it, even Xiao Zehua himself had to be carried out.

Xiao Weijing seriously doubted that his Second Uncle wasn’t drunk.

Xiao Weijing knew that his Second Uncle handled alcohol well. No matter how much he drank, he had never lost control.

However, Xiao Zexing never remembered what he did after getting drunk.

For example, right now—his movements and speech showed no trace of intoxication, yet by tomorrow, he wouldn’t recall anything.

As for the idea that drunkenness brings out the truth? Completely impossible. If anything, Xiao Zexing became even more tight-lipped when drunk.

His self-control was terrifyingly strong.

Xiao Zexing responded indifferently. Yet, a delicate, lingering sensation still remained on his hand.

And there was also that faint scent of vanilla and milk.

It wasn’t until the next morning that Xiao Weijing learned Zhao Manlan had let Tang You stay overnight.

According to Xiao family tradition, everyone had breakfast together.

Xiao Weijing had stayed up late the night before, so by the time he came downstairs, he hadn’t even reached the dining room yet when he spotted Tang You’s back.

She was especially slender, her skin pale, her long hair soft and flowing. She liked to wear light-colored dresses.

Easily recognizable.

Xiao Weijing frowned, changed his mind, and turned around to leave.

To avoid another round of matchmaking pressure from his mother and grandfather—and **to stay away from his fiancée—**he grabbed his coat and headed straight out.

As he stepped outside, he happened to see Xiao Zexing standing in the garden, talking to Xiao Zeyan.

Xiao Weijing smiled and greeted him.

Then, he casually asked, “Second Uncle, did you go to the kitchen last night because you were thirsty?”

By now, Xiao Zexing had completely shed the laziness of the previous night.

Dressed in a light gray suit, his legs long and straight, his posture precise and composed—he turned slightly and smiled. “Maybe. I don’t really remember.”

Xiao Weijing said, “I’ll let my dad know not to drown you in alcohol again.”

“It’s fine,” Xiao Zexing didn’t seem to care. “After all, drinking is the only hobby my brother has left.”

In terms of height and features, Xiao Zexing and Xiao Weijing were very similar—they had the same sharp nose and deep-set eyes, both inherited from the old master of the Xiao family.

But their personalities and life experiences were completely different, making their temperaments worlds apart.

Xiao Zexing patted his nephew’s shoulder and asked, “Did the old man scold you again last night? Now that you’re engaged, treat her well.”

He paused for two seconds, failing to recall the girl’s name, before continuing, “Try to build some feelings. And stop causing any more embarrassing scandals.”

By “embarrassing scandals,” he was referring to Wen Ling.

Xiao Weijing had just returned to the country when he happened to encounter Wen Ling’s birthday.

She persistently invited him to her party.

He attended as a friend and ended up drinking too much.

When he was leaving, Wen Ling helped him steady himself.

Unfortunately, the moment was caught by nosy reporters, who then published an absurd and exaggerated article about it.

Xiao Weijing frowned. “I’ll think about it.”

Xiao Zexing then turned to Xiao Zeyan and asked, “That adopted daughter of yours—did she stay over last night?”

Xiao Zeyan was startled. “No. I only brought her over to meet the old master. After that, I took her home.”

The old master had little interest in the two adopted children.

After exchanging a few words, he had sent them off.