Shen Qi finally snapped back to reality.
Xu Yunxi had always been a highly renowned dancer and artist in China, and she also served as a judge on a wildly popular variety show. Her sharp critiques and ageless beauty were the show's trademarks. Despite being in her forties, she looked barely older than Shen Qi and Liu Yi.
The moment she took off her sunglasses, she was quickly recognized. Crowds swarmed around her, asking for photos and autographs.
Liu Yi wore an exhausted expression as he looked at Shen Qi. "You know how miserable and helpless I've been all these years, right?"
Shen Qi stood still obediently and said, "No wonder you took up boxing. I bet every time you go out with Auntie, you feel like punching someone."
Liu Yi raised a hand and patted Shen Qi on the shoulder. "You really get me."
After saying that, Liu Yi added, "But that's not the most important part. You're about to get a firsthand taste of my mom's style."
Shen Qi and Liu Yi waited on the spot for nearly half an hour until the wave of fans finished taking photos and getting autographs. Finally, Xu Yunxi sauntered over gracefully, complaining as she walked, "The weather's getting colder, and my skin feels so tight. Xiao Qi, tell me, am I not beautiful anymore?"
Shen Qi replied awkwardly, "How could that be? Auntie, you're always so elegant and gorgeous no matter what."
Hearing this, Xu Yunxi beamed and grabbed Shen Qi's hand. "Then Xiao Qi, what skincare products have you been using lately?"
Shen Qi answered with slight embarrassment, "I don't really do anything special. I just use some..."
Before Shen Qi could finish, Xu Yunxi opened her bag and shoved a hand cream into Shen Qi's hand without argument, saying flirtatiously, "Girls should smell nice. Don't follow Xiao Yi's example."
"Ah..." Shen Qi hurriedly tried to refuse.
But before she could finish, Xu Yunxi had already turned and hugged Liu Yi. "Don't be jealous! I still love you the most!"
With that, Xu Yunxi planted a kiss on Liu Yi's cheek.
Liu Yi stood there helplessly, like a wooden post, and said, "Mom, could you at least watch out for the paparazzi before hugging me?"
"Don't care," Xu Yunxi said smugly. "I'm officially single now!"
"Then could you at least clarify my identity to the media?" Liu Yi felt hopeless. "Don't just dodge the question every time the paparazzi catch our intimate photos, making the media even more curious about your love life!"
Xu Yunxi leaned against Liu Yi's shoulder and kept acting coy. "No way..."
Shen Qi shot Liu Yi a sympathetic look.
From the looks of it, this was really messing with her daughter.
The three of them dawdled at the airport for a while before leaving. On the way, Shen Qi scrolled through Weibo and sure enough, the top headline was about Xu Yunxi again!
The accompanying photo was of her hugging Liu Yi and planting a passionate kiss, but the entertainment reporter's caption read: "Famous dancer and artist Xu Yunxi bags another young hottie, publicly kisses him at the airport pickup—wedding bells expected soon!"
Shen Qi covered her face deeply.
No comparison, no harm.
Shen Qi suddenly felt so sorry for Xiao Yi. She'd been the professional scapegoat for years!
And the scapegoat for her own mom!
Xu Yunxi drove while saying to Shen Qi in the back, "Xiao Qi, you look a lot like a friend of mine."
Shen Qi smiled warmly. "Really? What a coincidence!"
Xu Yunxi said, "Maybe I'll introduce you sometime. She just came back to the country too."
Shen Qi replied with a smile, "Sure. I'll be in your care these next few days, Auntie!"
Just as Xu Yunxi was about to continue, Liu Yi's phone rang. She answered, "Dad, we've arrived. Yeah, heading back now."
Whatever was said on the other end, Liu Yi mumbled a few replies and hung up.
Xu Yunxi snorted coldly. "Hmph, daughter comes home and he doesn't even pick her up. Playing the devoted dad act?"
Liu Yi sighed. "Mom, Dad was working, not playing around."
"Working, my foot. What kind of work is that? He's just a country bumpkin." Xu Yunxi said disdainfully.
"Not really? Dad's gotten a lot better now." Liu Yi defended her father. "Oh, Mom, Dad said he's hosting a banquet for Xiao Qi tonight at the villa and even hired your favorite Shanghai chef. You love Shanghai cuisine, don't you?"
Xu Yunxi finally showed a satisfied smile.
Liu Yi turned to Shen Qi and said, "Xiao Qi, my dad might look tough and rough, but don't be scared of him. In front of my mom, he's like a kitten."
Shen Qi couldn't help but laugh and nodded. "Okay, I'll remember that."
Xu Yunxi shot Liu Yi a playful glare. "What nonsense are you spouting? Your dad's in high demand now. I hear lots of women at his company are dying to become Mrs. Liu!"
"Mom, are you jealous?" Liu Yi leaned back, swinging her legs casually. "Relax, I'm here! Without my approval, if any of them try to climb into Dad's bed, I'll beat them senseless."
Xu Yunxi rolled her eyes at Liu Yi. "What rubbish! I couldn't care less about that brute! He knows nothing and pretends to be cultured!"
"Mom, who was it that was blind enough to marry him back then? And who gave that brute a daughter?" Liu Yi unceremoniously threw her under the bus.
"Hey! You little brat!" Xu Yunxi raised her hand to hit Liu Yi.
Liu Yi quickly grabbed her wrist. "Mom, Mom, dear Mom! We're driving! Watch the road! I don't matter, but don't scare Xiao Qi! This is her first time in your car! You don't want to give her a lasting trauma, do you?"
"Oh, right, Xiao Qi's here. I'll let you off today." Xu Yunxi turned with a grin and said to Shen Qi, "Don't worry, Xiao Qi, my driving's great!"
The moment she said that, Liu Yi suddenly screamed in terror, "Mom, Mom! Look ahead!"
Xu Yunxi turned back, slammed on the brakes, and nearly drove the car into a tree!
Shen Qi covered her face and said softly, "Maybe, Auntie, I should drive?"
"No, no, trust me, it was just an accident." Xu Yunxi started backing up seriously, taking over a dozen tries to get back on the road.
Liu Yi covered her face. "Mom, if you didn't brag, we'd still be friends."
"Brat, sit still! If you question my driving again, you're done with boxing!" Xu Yunxi roared back. "Try me!"
"Mom, drive slowly. I believe with your skilled and masterful technique, you could handle an F1 car!" Liu Yi declared with righteous conviction.
Shen Qi finally grasped the true meaning of Liu Yi's words: no comparison, no harm.
Comparing this... well, she really felt for Xiao Yi!
After a nerve-wracking ride, they finally made it safely to the entrance of Liu Yi's father's villa.
Liu Yi's father was named Liu Yun. He used to be a gang boss but started going legit after having a daughter and was now a proper entrepreneur. Of course, that underlying ruthlessness and dominance probably never washed off.
Just looking at the imposing gate gave a pretty good idea.
As soon as Shen Qi got out of the car, she couldn't help but gasp. "Wow, Uncle lives here?"
"Yeah." Liu Yi came up beside Shen Qi and pointed at the distant houses. "This whole hillside is villas. Each one is a few hundred meters apart for privacy and security. My dad's not super rich around here, so he could only afford a mid-hill spot. The really wealthy ones buy the hilltop villas. Those are the ones with stunning views."
Xu Yunxi also got out and said, "The hilltop villas are so expensive because they have three floors above ground and two below. The mid-hill and bottom ones only have above-ground structures."
Shen Qi nodded. It seemed most villas had sky-high prices at the top.
Better views, quieter, and more private for whatever you were doing.
Just then, a hearty voice came from the gate. "Xiao Yun, why didn't you tell me you were coming back? I'd have sent someone to pick you up!"
"Hmph, save it." Xu Yunxi wasn't buying it. "If I'd told you, I'd have ruined your date with some lady. That'd be a huge sin on my part!"
Liu Yi cleared her throat. "Dad, let me introduce you. This is Shen Qi. We call her Xiao Qi."
After that, Liu Yi said to Shen Qi, "Xiao Qi, this is my dad, Liu Yun. Don't let his looks scare you—he's not as intimidating as he seems."
Shen Qi took a closer look and was indeed startled.
Liu Yun was built like a bear—tall, broad, and muscular.
He Yi Ning's henchman, Hei Zi, was also a burly type, but he didn't carry an aura of menace.
Liu Yun, despite years of going straight, still exuded a fierce vibe that made people uneasy.
No wonder Liu Yi had been mentally preparing her the whole way.
Otherwise, seeing him out of the blue might have made her face go pale.
"Hello, Uncle. I'm Xiao Qi." Shen Qi gave a sweet smile.
"Good, good, good. Good kid. I heard you've been taking care of our Xiao Yi all this time. Much appreciated." Liu Yun's name sounded ordinary, and he was a rough, burly man, but he seemed awkward around delicate girls, so he kept rubbing his hands together. "Don't just stand there. Come on, let's talk inside."
Xu Yunxi walked ahead, and Liu Yun immediately abandoned his daughter to win over his ex-wife.
"Xiao Yun, are you really settling in P City? Why not move back here? I'm hardly ever home anyway. It's quiet and suits you." Liu Yun spoke to Xu Yunxi humbly. "Don't go crowding someone else. She's a writer and needs to work at night. You're dancing every day—it'll disrupt her creativity."
"I'm not living with her, just nearby." Xu Yunxi wasn't impressed. "Liu Yun, we've been divorced for years. It's not appropriate for me to stay in your house."