“Sister Pingxi, I’ll help you pick the most beautiful dress!” Huo Yawu was enthusiastic, opening the wardrobe, revealing dresses of different colors, materials, and styles.
“Okay.” Seeing her so happy, Shao Pingxi smiled and let her choose.
“Hmm, let me see which one I should pick!” Huo Yawu quickly browsed through the wardrobe. Each dress had its own unique characteristics, and for a moment, she couldn’t make up her mind.
While Huo Yawu was selecting a dress for her, Shao Pingxi’s gaze swept around the room.
On the way to the banquet hall earlier, Shao Pingxi had noticed that the Huo residence had been renovated.
Everything was different now. Her romantic relationship with Huo Juren was no more, and this mansion that had witnessed their sweet and warm moments had also changed. Involuntarily, Shao Pingxi revealed a smile tinged with a hint of bitterness.
“Sister Pingxi, how about this one?” Huo Yawu handed her a elegant pale yellow dress.
“Okay.” As long as it wasn’t too revealing, she thought it was fine.
“Then quickly change and let me see!” Huo Yawu said with a laugh.
“Mm.”
Soon, Shao Pingxi changed out of her suit and into the feminine dress.
“Sister Pingxi, you look so beautiful!” Huo Yawu clapped.
“It’s because your dress is beautiful,” Shao Pingxi said, looking at herself in the mirror.
She had never been particularly aware of her own extraordinary beauty.
“Sister Pingxi, you’re too modest!”
At this moment, a deep, magnetic voice came from outside the door—
“Yawu, the party is about to start. What are you doing in there? Your friends and classmates are waiting for you.”
It was Huo Juren!
Her beautiful face remained unchanged, but her heart involuntarily tightened.
“It’s brother,” Huo Yawu ran to open the door.
“Yawu, go down quickly! Don’t keep your guests waiting,” Huo Juren said to his sister as the door opened.
“Before going down, brother, come here first!” She pulled her brother’s hand and drew him into the room.
“What—” Before he could finish, he caught sight of the stunning woman standing before the full-length mirror.
“Brother, isn’t Sister Pingxi beautiful?” Huo Yawu asked.
Huo Juren remained silent, only staring at her with a gaze as hot as molten lava.
He had seen her countless times, but each time, she could still shock him like never before…
“Brother?” Huo Yawu tugged at his sleeve.
“Let’s go down.” Removing his burning gaze, Huo Juren turned and walked towards the exit.
After everyone sang the birthday song, Huo Yawu blew out the candles on the luxurious cake with her sweetest, happiest smile.
The birthday party was in full swing, with a very lively atmosphere. Joyful laughter could be heard throughout the spacious banquet hall.
“Sister Pingxi, why are you alone here?” Huo Yawu temporarily left her group of friends and walked to the balcony.
“Nothing, I just wanted to get some fresh air,” Shao Pingxi smiled faintly. “I can’t stand being in the air-conditioned room all day.”
She was lying. The real reason she came to the balcony was that she didn’t want to stay inside and watch Huo Juren chatting and laughing with other women.
Huo Juren’s extraordinary status and outstanding looks had instantly captured the hearts of many women. They surrounded him, and even just exchanging a word or two with him made them satisfied.
Usually cold, he had softened his demeanor tonight because the women were his sister’s friends and classmates, occasionally showing a smile.
Watching him smile at other women made Shao Pingxi’s heart ache.
Because she didn’t want to watch anymore, she came to the balcony.
“Sister Pingxi, we’re taking photos. Come join us!” Huo Yawu said excitedly.
“Okay.” Unable to think of a reason to refuse and not wanting to disappoint her, Shao Pingxi nodded and returned to the bustling banquet hall.
“Take a photo of me and Sister Pingxi,” Huo Yawu took the Polaroid from the butler’s hand and handed it to a friend.
“No problem!”
Huo Yawu put her arm around Shao Pingxi’s shoulder, standing close together in a photo pose.
“One, two, three!” the photographer called out.
Shortly after pressing the shutter, the camera spit out a photo.
“Take another one!” Huo Yawu said.
“Okay!” Her friend complied and took another, then handed both photos to Huo Yawu.
“Sister Pingxi, this one is for you. Don’t lose it,” she handed over the photo.
“I won’t,” Shao Pingxi smiled and accepted it. “By the way, Yawu, it’s getting late—” she should be leaving.
“Brother, come here for a moment, okay?” Huo Yawu waved to Huo Juren nearby.
“What now, you little brat?” Huo Juren strode over.
“This little brat wants to help you and Sister Pingxi take a photo together!”
At these words, both of them were stunned.
“Come, come!” Huo Yawu pulled them together. “You need to stand closer for a beautiful photo!”
Not wanting to disappoint her, Huo Juren and Shao Pingxi had no choice but to stand together.
“Both of you need to smile!” Huo Yawu said, holding the camera.
Shao Pinxi also wanted to smile, but as soon as she thought about her frozen relationship with Huo Juren, she couldn’t manage a smile.
In the past, Huo Yawu had also taken photos of them, but the feeling was now entirely different.
Shao Pinxi forced a smile, and with a click, the photo was taken.
“Sister Pinxi, one more!” Huo Yawu said.
Unable to refuse, Shao Pinxi could only continue standing next to Huo Juren.
Another click, and the photo session was finally over.
“Here, one for each of you!” Huo Yawu handed the two freshly printed photos to Huo Juren and Shao Pinxi.
The still-warm photos revealed Huo Juren’s handsome and imposing face, lacking a smile. However, she wasn’t much better; although there was a smile on her face, anyone with eyes could see how forced it was.
“Yawu, it’s getting late, I should head home,” Shao Pinxi put away the photos and said to Huo Yawu.
“Right, Sister Pinxi, you have work tomorrow,” reluctant to part with Shao Pinxi, Huo Yawu pouted her red lips, but she understood the hardships of working professionals, “Okay! I’ll find time to play with you another day.”
“Okay,” Shao Pinxi responded, “I’ll go change out of this dress.”
“No need to change back and forth, Sister Pinxi, just wear it and I’ll have the butler bring down your original outfit.”
“But this dress is yours…”
“I’m giving it to you.”
“But…” Wearing this to take the bus or metro would look out of place!
“Bro, the duty of a flower protector is now yours!” Huo Yawu winked at Huo Juren.
Shao Pinxi immediately waved her hand, “No need, Yawu, I can go back by myself.”
Huo Juren looked at Huo Yawu, then at Shao Pinxi, and said, “Let’s go.”
She looked back in surprise, having thought Huo Juren would definitely refuse.
That day in the CEO’s office, after receiving the harsh dismissal, Huo Juren had never summoned her again, issuing orders through third parties, as if he never wanted to see her again, or even hear her voice.
But now, he actually…
Huo Juren had already agreed to take her home in public, and if she insisted on refusing, it would only make things awkward for Huo Yawu.
With no choice, Shao Pinxi said, “Thank you, President Huo.”
After saying goodbye to Huo Yawu, Shao Pinxi and Huo Juren walked silently to the door, where the car was already waiting.
Just as they were about to get in, a furry object from a distance charged directly towards Shao Pinxi.
“Ah!” Caught off guard, she was knocked down by the large creature.
Huo Juren, quick and alert, immediately stretched out his arms to catch Shao Pinxi as she fell back, preventing her from colliding with the marble floor.
“Kl… Klaus?” Before she could realize she was now in Huo Juren’s embrace, Shao Pinxi’s attention was completely drawn to the object that had knocked her down.
