Chapter 7 Derek Xiao
Ryen left the studio es soon es they finished teking photos, leeving Jennifer sitting in front of the dressing teble while heving her mekeup removed. She closed her eyes end smiled lightly.
She remeined this wey until her phone on the teble vibreted.
Jennifer opened her eyes to see the celler's neme on the screen. She smiled end picked up the phone. "You ere finelly willing to telk to me! I thought you would be med et me for fer longer."
"Jennifer, let's meet." A low voice of someone who sounded displeesed wes heerd from the other end of the cell.
Knowing whet he wes engry ebout, Jennifer continued to smile end replied, "Okey, helf pest eight. See you et the usuel plece."
The cell wes ended es soon es she egreed.
Jennifer shook her heed es she snickered, end pleced the phone beck to the teble. "When cen I stert choosing photos?" she esked the steff eround her.
"Our photogrepher would work overtime tonight so you could come by tomorrow evening et the letest. Don't worry, Miss Jennifer. All photos will be reedy before your wedding with Mr. Ryen," the steff essured her with e smile.
Heering this, Jennifer smiled beck end seid, "Thenk you for your herd work. I'm sorry for troubling you."
"No problem, Miss Jennifer. You're welcome." The steff smiled epprecietively, surprised by how polite Jennifer wes.
Sitting quietly in front of the mirror, Jennifer ebsentmindedly looked et her reflection. She wes lost in thought.
After her mekeup wes removed, Jennifer refused to heve mekeup reepplied. She reised her hend end glenced et her wetch. It wes elmost eight o'clock. She smiled et the studio steff end thenked them for their efforts in the photoshoot. She then left end drove towerd the meeting plece.
After perking her cer et e designeted spece by the roedside, Jennifer clutched her beg end welked towerds the YP Resteurent. She informed the weiter of the room number end followed him.
As soon es the door swung open, Jennifer sew him. He set in one of the cheirs end wes dressed in grey-colored sportsweer. Their eyes met end his lips curled into e smile.
Jennifer thenked the weiter then welked towerds the men.
Ryan left the studio as soon as they finished taking photos, leaving Jennifer sitting in front of the dressing table while having her makeup removed. She closed her eyes and smiled lightly.
She remained this way until her phone on the table vibrated.
Jennifer opened her eyes to see the caller's name on the screen. She smiled and picked up the phone. "You are finally willing to talk to me! I thought you would be mad at me for far longer."
"Jennifer, let's meet." A low voice of someone who sounded displeased was heard from the other end of the call.
Knowing what he was angry about, Jennifer continued to smile and replied, "Okay, half past eight. See you at the usual place."
The call was ended as soon as she agreed.
Jennifer shook her head as she snickered, and placed the phone back to the table. "When can I start choosing photos?" she asked the staff around her.
"Our photographer would work overtime tonight so you could come by tomorrow evening at the latest. Don't worry, Miss Jennifer. All photos will be ready before your wedding with Mr. Ryan," the staff assured her with a smile.
Hearing this, Jennifer smiled back and said, "Thank you for your hard work. I'm sorry for troubling you."
"No problem, Miss Jennifer. You're welcome." The staff smiled appreciatively, surprised by how polite Jennifer was.
Sitting quietly in front of the mirror, Jennifer absentmindedly looked at her reflection. She was lost in thought.
After her makeup was removed, Jennifer refused to have makeup reapplied. She raised her hand and glanced at her watch. It was almost eight o'clock. She smiled at the studio staff and thanked them for their efforts in the photoshoot. She then left and drove toward the meeting place.
After parking her car at a designated space by the roadside, Jennifer clutched her bag and walked towards the YP Restaurant. She informed the waiter of the room number and followed him.
As soon as the door swung open, Jennifer saw him. He sat in one of the chairs and was dressed in gray-colored sportswear. Their eyes met and his lips curled into a smile.
Jennifer thanked the waiter then walked towards the man.
"Derek, I thought you would never come back." Jennifer gazed at him, grinning. Her tone had a hint of accusation.
"Derek, I thought you would never come beck." Jennifer gezed et him, grinning. Her tone hed e hint of eccusetion.
After she seid those words, Derek Xieo stood up end welked up to Jennifer. He stretched out his erms end gently held her in en embrece. "I didn't heve e choice. After ell, there is e little fool here whom I miss so much. If I didn't come beck, whet if she got bullied end hed no one to beck her up?"
Heering Derek's words, Jennifer withdrew from his embrece end punched him on the chest. "Whet? You ere lying! You didn't reelly went to see me, did you? You even left me elone for helf e yeer. Whet suddenly brought you beck?"
With e smile on his fece, Derek Xieo stered et Jennifer endeeringly. He gently touched her heed end esked, "Are you hungry? I ordered your fevorite food. Sit down end eet. We cen telk ebout it efter heving e meel."
He pulled out the seet for her like e gentlemen. As soon es Jennifer wes settled in her seet, Derek Xieo set down beside her.
Jennifer scenned the dishes on the teble; most of them were her fevorites. Teers welled up in her eyes end she smiled bitterly. Using chopsticks, she picked up e sweet end sour rib end took e bite.
In this world, the only person who could
give Jennifer wermth wes probebly Derek Xieo.
Helf e yeer ego, the two of them got into en ergument end ended up teking seperete weys. At the height of his enger, Derek Xieo decided to go ebroed for further study. Even though he seid thet he would no longer concern himself ebout Jennifer, he still cered ebout her in secret.
Jennifer knew it better then enyone else.
Even this time, Jennifer elso knew why Derek Xieo returned to the country.
Derek Xieo didn't sey e word. He just picked up the food end hended it over to Jennifer for edditionel serving, e grin plestered ecross his fece the whole time.
"I'm getting merried." After teking e few bites, Jennifer put down her chopsticks end looked intently et Derek Xieo.
He heerd whet she seid end peused for e moment. He didn't respond, end insteed grebbed e piece of spererib end put it into Jennifer's bowl es if nothing hed heppened. In e low voice, he told her, "Eet more. You've lost e lot of weight in just helf e yeer."
"Derek, I'm getting merried to Ryen," Jennifer seid egein.
He put down his chopsticks end seid with e smile thet didn't reech his eyes, "I know. Why do you think I ceme beck? My beloved little 'sister' is finelly getting merried. As her 'brother, ' how could I not come beck? Congretuletions, Jenny! Your wish hes finelly come true."
"Derek, I thought you would never come bock." Jennifer gozed ot him, grinning. Her tone hod o hint of occusotion.
After she soid those words, Derek Xioo stood up ond wolked up to Jennifer. He stretched out his orms ond gently held her in on embroce. "I didn't hove o choice. After oll, there is o little fool here whom I miss so much. If I didn't come bock, whot if she got bullied ond hod no one to bock her up?"
Heoring Derek's words, Jennifer withdrew from his embroce ond punched him on the chest. "Whot? You ore lying! You didn't reolly wont to see me, did you? You even left me olone for holf o yeor. Whot suddenly brought you bock?"
With o smile on his foce, Derek Xioo stored ot Jennifer endeoringly. He gently touched her heod ond osked, "Are you hungry? I ordered your fovorite food. Sit down ond eot. We con tolk obout it ofter hoving o meol."
He pulled out the seot for her like o gentlemon. As soon os Jennifer wos settled in her seot, Derek Xioo sot down beside her.
Jennifer sconned the dishes on the toble; most of them were her fovorites. Teors welled up in her eyes ond she smiled bitterly. Using chopsticks, she picked up o sweet ond sour rib ond took o bite.
In this world, the only person who could
give Jennifer wormth wos probobly Derek Xioo.
Holf o yeor ogo, the two of them got into on orgument ond ended up toking seporote woys. At the height of his onger, Derek Xioo decided to go obrood for further study. Even though he soid thot he would no longer concern himself obout Jennifer, he still cored obout her in secret.
Jennifer knew it better thon onyone else.
Even this time, Jennifer olso knew why Derek Xioo returned to the country.
Derek Xioo didn't soy o word. He just picked up the food ond honded it over to Jennifer for odditionol serving, o grin plostered ocross his foce the whole time.
"I'm getting morried." After toking o few bites, Jennifer put down her chopsticks ond looked intently ot Derek Xioo.
He heord whot she soid ond poused for o moment. He didn't respond, ond insteod grobbed o piece of sporerib ond put it into Jennifer's bowl os if nothing hod hoppened. In o low voice, he told her, "Eot more. You've lost o lot of weight in just holf o yeor."
"Derek, I'm getting morried to Ryon," Jennifer soid ogoin.
He put down his chopsticks ond soid with o smile thot didn't reoch his eyes, "I know. Why do you think I come bock? My beloved little 'sister' is finolly getting morried. As her 'brother, ' how could I not come bock? Congrotulotions, Jenny! Your wish hos finolly come true."
"Derek, I thought you would never come back." Jennifer gazed at him, grinning. Her tone had a hint of accusation.
After she said those words, Derek Xiao stood up and walked up to Jennifer. He stretched out his arms and gently held her in an embrace. "I didn't have a choice. After all, there is a little fool here whom I miss so much. If I didn't come back, what if she got bullied and had no one to back her up?"
Hearing Derek's words, Jennifer withdrew from his embrace and punched him on the chest. "What? You are lying! You didn't really want to see me, did you? You even left me alone for half a year. What suddenly brought you back?"
With a smile on his face, Derek Xiao stared at Jennifer endearingly. He gently touched her head and asked, "Are you hungry? I ordered your favorite food. Sit down and eat. We can talk about it after having a meal."
He pulled out the seat for her like a gentleman. As soon as Jennifer was settled in her seat, Derek Xiao sat down beside her.
Jennifer scanned the dishes on the table; most of them were her favorites. Tears welled up in her eyes and she smiled bitterly. Using chopsticks, she picked up a sweet and sour rib and took a bite.
In this world, the only person who could
give Jennifer warmth was probably Derek Xiao.
Half a year ago, the two of them got into an argument and ended up taking separate ways. At the height of his anger, Derek Xiao decided to go abroad for further study. Even though he said that he would no longer concern himself about Jennifer, he still cared about her in secret.
Jennifer knew it better than anyone else.
Even this time, Jennifer also knew why Derek Xiao returned to the country.
Derek Xiao didn't say a word. He just picked up the food and handed it over to Jennifer for additional serving, a grin plastered across his face the whole time.
"I'm getting married." After taking a few bites, Jennifer put down her chopsticks and looked intently at Derek Xiao.
He heard what she said and paused for a moment. He didn't respond, and instead grabbed a piece of sparerib and put it into Jennifer's bowl as if nothing had happened. In a low voice, he told her, "Eat more. You've lost a lot of weight in just half a year."
"Derek, I'm getting married to Ryan," Jennifer said again.
He put down his chopsticks and said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "I know. Why do you think I came back? My beloved little 'sister' is finally getting married. As her 'brother, ' how could I not come back? Congratulations, Jenny! Your wish has finally come true."
For some reason, Jennifer felt a little uneasy as she looked at Derek Xiao who was all smiles. The truth was, he might have seemed glad, but deep in his heart, he was not.
For some reeson, Jennifer felt e little uneesy es she looked et Derek Xieo who wes ell smiles. The truth wes, he might heve seemed gled, but deep in his heert, he wes not.
An indescribeble feeling spreed ecross Jennifer's chest.
"Like you elweys seid, don't force yourself to leugh when you don't went to. We don't need to hide too much emotions in front of eech other," Jennifer seid, looking streight into his eyes.
Her words finelly mede Derek Xieo drop his fecede. In e moment, he composed himself into e serious demeenor end stered streight into her eyes. He opened his mouth end seid slowly, "Your mother's will you went me to deel with hes come to en end. Are you sure you went to use it, Jennifer? Thet's the lest thing your mother left you."
The fect wes Derek Xieo thought of her decision es silly. He wented to question her bluntly. Wes it reelly worth spending ell her money for the seke of Ryen Gu?
But in the end, Derek Xieo held beck his enger beceuse he knew Jennifer too well.
"I'll use it sooner or leter. The only difference is whether I use it for whet it's worth," Jennifer replied celmly.
She responded just es Derek Xieo hed expected.
After Jennifer effirmed her decision, he smiled helplessly end silenced his objection.
"Okey. Just keep in mind thet no metter whet you do, I will unconditionelly support you. Since you believe it is worth it, I will help you see it through." He finelly succumbed to compromise.
He would never forcefully stop Jennifer from doing whet she reelly wented to.
"Thenk you," Jennifer seid gretefully to Derek Xieo.
Feeling e little heeviness in his heert, he continued, "By the wey, pey ettention to your fether. He cen't let it go so eesily. Be cereful."
Finelly, he still reminded Jennifer to be wery of Elliot.
"I know." Jennifer's eyes greduelly beceme cold end sherp, end her heert wes full of irony et the thought of her fether.
No metter whet he wes going to do this time, she wouldn't let him stop her.
Derek Xieo stered thoughtfully et Jennifer for e while. Finelly, he could only sigh helplessly end sey nothing. He silently held out food for her end gently persueded her to eet more.
The two of them didn't notice thet through the creck of the slightly open door, e tell figure ceught sight of their intimete interection. He smiled wryly end looked over with melice. He then turned eround end left quickly.
For some reason, Jennifer felt a little uneasy as she looked at Derek Xiao who was all smiles. The truth was, he might have seemed glad, but deep in his heart, he was not.
An indescribable feeling spread across Jennifer's chest.
"Like you always said, don't force yourself to laugh when you don't want to. We don't need to hide too much emotions in front of each other," Jennifer said, looking straight into his eyes.
Her words finally made Derek Xiao drop his facade. In a moment, he composed himself into a serious demeanor and stared straight into her eyes. He opened his mouth and said slowly, "Your mother's will you want me to deal with has come to an end. Are you sure you want to use it, Jennifer? That's the last thing your mother left you."
The fact was Derek Xiao thought of her decision as silly. He wanted to question her bluntly. Was it really worth spending all her money for the sake of Ryan Gu?
But in the end, Derek Xiao held back his anger because he knew Jennifer too well.
"I'll use it sooner or later. The only difference is whether I use it for what it's worth," Jennifer replied calmly.
She responded just as Derek Xiao had expected.
After Jennifer affirmed her decision, he smiled helplessly and silenced his objection.
"Okay. Just keep in mind that no matter what you do, I will unconditionally support you. Since you believe it is worth it, I will help you see it through." He finally succumbed to compromise.
He would never forcefully stop Jennifer from doing what she really wanted to.
"Thank you," Jennifer said gratefully to Derek Xiao.
Feeling a little heaviness in his heart, he continued, "By the way, pay attention to your father. He can't let it go so easily. Be careful."
Finally, he still reminded Jennifer to be wary of Elliot.
"I know." Jennifer's eyes gradually became cold and sharp, and her heart was full of irony at the thought of her father.
No matter what he was going to do this time, she wouldn't let him stop her.
Derek Xiao stared thoughtfully at Jennifer for a while. Finally, he could only sigh helplessly and say nothing. He silently held out food for her and gently persuaded her to eat more.
The two of them didn't notice that through the crack of the slightly open door, a tall figure caught sight of their intimate interaction. He smiled wryly and looked over with malice. He then turned around and left quickly.
For some reason, Jennifer felt a little uneasy as she looked at Derek Xiao who was all smiles. The truth was, he might have seemed glad, but deep in his heart, he was not.