CEO's Encroachment

Chapter4

Huai Nian stood by the hillside, surrounded by lush greenery, with the distant glow of lights from the town below.

She took a deep breath, inhaling the refreshing scent of grass and trees, her gaze wandering far away, calming the chaos in her mind.

Xi Ziyue stood beneath the trees, a hundred meters away from her, took out a cigarette and a lighter, and lit it. Amidst the swirls of smoke, his deep gaze locked onto her figure, his eyes suppressing flickers of hidden fire.

Huai Nian walked up the slope, oppressed by anxiety, self-blame, insomnia, and nightmares, almost struggling to breathe. She couldn't cry out, couldn't complain, couldn't explain. Every day she concealed her exhausted appearance with heavy makeup, shuttling back and forth.

The cold mountain air filled her lungs as Huai Nian breathed deeply. She didn't know how far she had walked, the scenery before her gradually becoming blurred, her mind growing heavy and hazy.

"Nian Nian, marry me..."

"Nian Nian, if the rest of my life is with you, I hope it starts soon."

"Huai Nian, I'm willing to wait for you! But why can you be with others and not with me!"

"Who is that bastard, you tell me!... I want to see, where am I inferior to him!"

"I gave my first time to him..."

"He said you don't love him, let him go..."

Many chaotic voices bombarded her mind, the images before her becoming blurry. Huai Nian felt something was wrong, she stopped and tried to take out her phone from her bag to call a friend to pick her up. Stumbling, feeling dizzy, her mind blank, her body uncontrollably falling—

An arm caught her just in time, in a daze, she felt herself being lifted up, her body pressed against a solid, warm wall...

The world spun around her, she struggled to see who was holding her, but she sank into endless darkness.

When Huai Nian opened her eyes again, it was quiet all around. The air carried a faint scent of lavender, and a soft orange sleep light draped the room. The bed beneath her was large and soft, a water bed.

This wasn't her room, nor was it her friend Shen Menglan's room.

Huai Nian got off the bed, found the power switch, and gradually the crystal chandelier lit up.

The spacious room, with its grand layout and smooth design, combined white, deep blue, and light blue colors, the walls flowing like water, creating a comfortable and refreshing atmosphere.

She liked blue, she liked this feeling.

But what she was most curious about was, where was she exactly?

Huai Nian opened the door and walked out.

"Is anyone here?" she cautiously asked, going downstairs. It was a modernly decorated villa, simple yet sophisticated, exuding understated luxury.

"Sister, you're awake!" a clear and young voice sounded, and Huai Nian looked over to see a little boy sitting on the sofa.

The boy threw away his iPad and ran over to her.

He looked about four or five years old, with a cute round face, wearing a white cartoon T-shirt and denim overalls. His dark hair, fair skin, and big bright eyes gleamed, his grin revealing a set of small white teeth.

Huai Nian stood still, watching him run towards her happily, feeling a melting sensation in her heart.

"Sister!" the little boy ran up to her, holding her hands, her heart skipped a beat.

"Sister, do you still have a headache?" the boy blinked his eyes, his big black eyes full of concern.

"My head doesn't hurt anymore," Huai Nian's voice softened, as if she had returned to his age, full of innocence.

"Little friend, is this your home? Where are your parents?"

"Dad is in the study, I'll take you there." The boy took her hand and led her to the other side.

The boy led her to the door of a room, pushed it open, and called out, "Dad, sister is awake."

A tall man with his back to them stood by the window.

"Hello," Huai Nian spoke, hesitating to greet, "May I ask..."

The man turned around.

Huai Nian's eyes widened suddenly, her lips moved for a moment, stuttering, "Uncle..."

Xi Ziyue frowned slightly, silently looking at her.

His sharp contours, cold features, and inherent dignity overwhelmed Huai Nian, making her unsure how to proceed. She struggled to find words, "Is this... your home..."

The interior was spacious, with soft and bright lighting.

But because of the man in front of her, Huai Nian felt uncomfortable all over.

"How did I end up here?" Huai Nian asked, her doubts pouring out.

"You fainted on Nan Hengshan, and I happened to pass by," Xi Ziyue said, his voice low and emotionless.

Huai Nian didn't doubt Xi Ziyue's words. His businesslike tone made her feel even more embarrassed about causing trouble for her elders. She immediately bowed and thanked, "Thank you, Uncle, for the trouble."

Huai Nian bowed twice in a row, and when she looked up, she found the man had turned and walked towards the desk.

Alright... a little less nervous, a little more awkward.

Huai Nian cleared her throat, tucked her hair behind her ear, and smiled, "Well, Uncle, you're busy, should I go back now?"

Xi Ziyue sat at the desk, opening a file and picking up a pen. As he unscrewed the cap of the pen, Huai Nian couldn't help but notice his hand—long, with distinct joints, perfectly trimmed nails gleaming with a soft sheen under the light.

These were healthy, clean, and powerful hands, exuding a masculine charm.

He skillfully signed the documents, without looking up, calmly saying, "Eat before you go."

"Oh..." Huai Nian responded after a three-second pause.

Even with his casual words, there was a commanding force behind them.

"Sister, come play with me!" the little boy happily grabbed her hand.

Huai Nian didn't forget to be polite to Xi Ziyue, "Thank you for your trouble, Uncle!"

Xi Ziyue didn't respond.

Huai Nian smiled and went with the little boy to the living room. He was after all an elder, so she wasn't bothered by his coldness. Him inviting her to have a meal was already a face-saving gesture for his nephew.

Fortunately, there was a cute little one to relax with.

"What's your name?"

"Xi Siyuan."

"In studying, meditate on wisdom; in action, harmonize with righteousness. A very good name."

Xi Siyuan let Huai Nian play games on the iPad with him. Huai Nian felt that staring at the screen for a long time was bad for her eyes, so she played patty-cake with him instead. One hand palm down, the other hand palm up, the fingertips of the two hands gently touched. The one below tries to withdraw before the one on top hits. It tests who has faster reflexes.

This interactive game was highly engaging, and the

little one was thrilled to play.

When Xi Ziyue came to the living room, he saw the two sitting face to face on the sofa, occasionally shouting in surprise or laughter. The profiles of the two, facing each other, were like a mold. Even their crossed legs were remarkably similar.

Xi Ziyue stood behind them, watching the side profiles of the two, his firm facial lines inadvertently softened, extremely complex and heavy emotions settled in his eyes, deep enough to be impenetrable.

He remained silent for a long time, Huai Nian happened to raise her eyes and caught sight of his towering figure like a wall. Her heart skipped, and she suddenly withdrew from the cheerful atmosphere.

This was someone else's home after all. Huai Nian quickly put her legs down, assuming a more elegant posture, turned her head, faced Xi Ziyue, revealing her snow-white teeth, and smiled, "Uncle."

She really resembled a well-behaved and likable junior.

Xi Ziyue's gaze shifted to Xi Siyuan, calmly saying, "Let's eat."

Xi Siyuan buried himself in Huai Nian's arms, his little arms wrapped around her neck, his crisp voice full of coquetry, "Sister, hug me."

The little one exuded a faint fragrance of milk, Huai Nian reached out and hugged him, a genuine sense of satisfaction overflowing from her heart... as if she remembered something, her eyes suddenly moistened.

Huai Nian took a deep breath, suppressing the sudden surge of emotions, and lifted Xi Siyuan up.

Seeing the two approaching, Xi Ziyue said to Xi Siyuan, "Get down, you're heavy."

"I'm not heavy, I can be carried." Huai Nian hurriedly said.

Xi Siyuan grinned, tilted his head towards his father, winked, looking very pleased with himself.

The three sat down at the dining table. Dinner was simple, with baguette sandwiches, tuna salad, foie gras caviar, thick soup, the food presented on exquisite painted porcelain plates, looking extremely appetizing.

Huai Nian picked up a piece of sandwich and put it in her mouth, chewing it bite by bite, her eyes gradually lighting up. The baguette's crust was incredibly fragrant and resilient, the airy pores inside filled with refreshing garlic aroma, sandwiching the firm ham, crisp lettuce, and the lingering fragrance of cheese, unbelievably delicious.

Just as she was marveling inwardly, she heard Xi Siyuan next to her saying sternly, "Dad, Sister is a guest, we should treat guests well, you can't let Sister eat a working meal."

Huai Nian almost choked.

She glanced at Xi Ziyue sneakily, he rolled up his shirt sleeves in a leisurely manner, scornfully looking at Xi Siyuan, "Call her Aunt."

Xi Siyuan refused, "Sister is so pretty, she's Sister, not an old aunt."

Huai Nian laughed, this little darling, absolutely lovable!

She took the initiative to back up Xi Siyuan, "Siyuan and Xi Ye are cousins, calling me sister is right."

Although she was at the age to be a mother, being called sister by peers made her feel happy.

Xi Ziyue remained expressionless, looking at Huai Nian.

Huai Nian couldn't laugh anymore, her body growing stiffer, not knowing where to put her hands and feet. Feeling the oppressive atmosphere from Xi Ziyue, Xi Siyuan, sensible, didn't speak up anymore.