{“Are you sleeping together again?” 2}

Qian Xu smiled faintly, “It’s no big deal. It’s all in the past. Let him love whoever he wants.”

“Xu Xu, you shouldn’t let go so easily,” Li Xiyin said with a furrowed brow, “Now that he’s back in the country, he might not come back again.”

She revealed hesitantly, “You know, Senior Shen Qi and Senior Cheng Shuangyi already had a past relationship. If you don’t intentionally try to prevent it, they might easily…”

“Sleep together again?”

In the past, Qian Xu might have found this notion absurd, but now it seemed even her close acquaintances understood Shen Qi’s nature.

“I know you mean well, but there’s absolutely no chance between Shen Qi and me anymore.”

Li Xiyin stood under the Black Stone fountain, dazed, lingering in place even after Qian Xu had already left. She muttered to herself, “Is it really impossible?”

Yan Li turned back, almost stumbling in her high heels, and harshly added, “Who cares if he comes back or not?”

The three of them eventually set off together. During the walk, Li Xiyin did not mention Shen Qi again, but it was evident that Qian Xu’s mood for enjoyment was not as carefree as before. After leaving a German barbecue restaurant, Qian Xu seemed to want to turn back.

“Sorry, Xu Xu, it’s really my oversight,” Li Xiyin repeatedly apologized. “I’ve made you uncomfortable.”

“It’s okay, we’re friends.”

Li Xiyin stood frozen for a moment, then asked, “Can I ask about the reasons for your breakup? Was it just because he’s going back to his country that you decided to break up?”

Qian Xu had no intention of answering. Perhaps Li Xiyin’s persistence was beyond her expectations, or maybe the delicate face didn’t seem to harbor any ill will. She nodded, tacitly agreeing with Li Xiyin’s assumption.

“But I still feel it’s a bit of a shame. You two were such a well-matched couple, and you’ve taken care of his children for so many years.”

Yan Li gave Li Xiyin a glare, and then the two of them carefully avoided the topic of Shen Qi, though Qian Xu herself did not seem too concerned.

She even generously offered her blessings, “If he really ends up with Cheng Shuangyi after returning to his country, then I wish them a lifetime of happiness.”

If Shen Qi really wanted to demean himself to please Cheng Shuangyi, what could she do to stop him?

Was it to repay the kindness of these three years, or to use her own self, which he had never possessed before?

Qian Xu couldn’t do that; she couldn’t forsake the remaining self-respect she has.

“Cheng Shuangyi isn’t worth it.” Li Xiyin still seemed indignant about the situation.

At that time, Qian Xu hadn’t noticed anything unusual about Li Xiyin. She thought that with so many people surrounding Shen Qi, if she were unwilling, countless young girls would still willingly offer their youth and take care of his children.

Shen Qi didn’t need to do anything, to the point that even a false promise would be be enough.

He only needed to stand there; his looks and wealth were enough to captivate everyone.

The three of them finished their meal and went their separate ways.

Originally, the three of them planned to discuss how to celebrate the New Year in New York’s Chinatown together, but Li Xiyin decided at the last minute to return to her country.

Li Xiyin stated, “My parents were quite old when they had me, and they are now already in their seventies. I haven’t been back for three years, so I want to go see them this year.”

Li Xiyin was generally not very involved in group activities, which both Yan Li and Qian Xu had grown accustomed to.

Qian Xu was worried that Li Xiyin might be avoiding the expenses, so she specifically reminded her before she left, “Alright, if you change your mind halfway or if the weather prevents you from returning, feel free to bother us during the New Year. We can all go out for hot pot together.”

Li Xiyin, however, was unusually determined at that moment, “No, this time I really need to go back.”

_

Christmas Eve had truly arrived.

Fortunately, Santa Claus did not actually crawl down the chimney. Perhaps because of the high calories in American food, considering the size of many Santas today, they might get stuck in the chimney.

In any case, American families gathered together for this special occasion.

Of course, just like every family event on holidays, many children were forced to meet relatives they usually never saw, which left them feeling gloomy. However, the sight of their Christmas gifts under the tree seemed to help them tolerate these unpleasant relatives a bit more.

Qian Xu and Yan Li had spent the entire day wandering around the shopping district.

When they were physically exhausted, they decided to rest comfortably at the hotel and end the night on a pleasant note. However, from the moment they returned to the Blackstone Hot Springs Hotel, Qian Xu had a premonition that something was about to happen.

At that moment, Huang Laoban, holding a few leftover pizza trays, suddenly stood at the hotel entrance like a gatekeeper.

His expression was solemn, a stark contrast to the cheerful demeanor he had shown a few days ago.