I See Roses

I See Roses – Chapter 36

Ming Si was stunned for a moment, then gently sniffed and blinked, a tear slid down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away and said, “I didn’t cry.”

She raised her head, seemingly wanting to prove something to him. Her long hair slipped about half an inch from his hand, delicate and soft like silk.

Liang Xian’s hand naturally fell down as he softly said, “Good girl.”

If she cried again, he really wouldn’t know what to do.

His low and gentle voice, along with the night breeze, reached Ming Si’s ears. She wanted to say something but didn’t know what to say, so she lowered her head and waited for her emotions to calm down.

Before she could regain her composure, Ke Lijie’s voice sounded not far away, “Hey, I’ve been looking for you two for a long time. What are you doing here?”

Ming Si subconsciously looked up and found Ke Lijie, Cheng Yu, and Yu Chuan behind him, all looking over with curious gazes.

“Appreciating flowers? These roses do smell nice,” Ke Lijie didn’t notice anything unusual at first. He walked over, still talking, until he sensed that something was off between the two, and then carefully looked at Ming Si… Why did she seem like she had just been crying?

He paused in his footsteps, looked back and forth between the two of them several times, and asked with suspicion, “Did you two… have another argument?”

It was embarrassing to be found crying by so many people.

Ming Si wanted to explain, but she couldn’t, knowing that her voice would surely be hoarse if she spoke now, and that would be even more embarrassing. So she quickly averted her gaze and remained silent for a while.

Liang Xian simply said, “No.”

Ke Lijie waited for him to continue, but he didn’t say anything else.

There was no credibility at all.

The two parties involved seemed calm, but it was weird. Cheng Yu couldn’t stand it any longer, “Hey, how come you two are more childish than me? It’s your engagement day, can’t you solve whatever issue you have properly through communication? Look, look, one of you even cried!”

He sighed for a moment and then, with an imposing manner, hands on his hips, he looked like he was going to stand up for Ming Si and asked, “Brother Xian, did you bully Ming Si again?!”

Every time Cheng Yu appeared, the scene would become chaotic. He always had this magical ability to turn peacemaking into a quarrel.

In fact, from childhood to adulthood, nine out of the ten times Ming Si and Liang Xian argued, it was she who started it, but every time Cheng Yu would force Liang Xian to apologize.

Ming Si couldn’t keep a straight face and wasn’t sure why she found this amusing.

Liang Xian was about to speak, but then he saw her trying to suppress a laugh. He held back his words and instead responded casually, “So what if I did?”

Cheng Yu didn’t actually think Liang Xian had bullied Ming Si. He just wanted to clarify things, but he didn’t expect Liang Xian to admit it and act as if he didn’t care.

“Scumbag!” Cheng Yu got really angry this time, like a lit firecracker, he scolded angrily, “You better apologize to Ming Si!”

“Alright, alright,” Ke Lijie was afraid that things would get more chaotic, so he quickly held Cheng Yu back, “Brother Xian was just speaking out of anger. You should calm down first!”

“Why should I calm down?!” Cheng Yu became stubborn, not listening to anyone, “Don’t you know that when Ming Si got drunk last time, Liang Xian threw her into flower bushes at the doorstep and left her there freezing all night! Although he said it was because of company matters, he still can’t do that, right?”

Ke Lijie widened his eyes, feeling like he was listening to a radio drama, “That’s impossible. Who told you that?”

Cheng Yu pointed firmly, “Ming Si said it herself!”

Ming Si, who was enjoying the spectacle, was unexpectedly named. For a rare moment, she felt guilty and shifted her gaze away from them for a moment.

Ke Lijie immediately understood that the incident with the flower bushes was probably fake, but the argument they had that day was likely real.

After all, Ming Si was a girl. Even though she appeared tough most of the time, she would still be somewhat emotional and could cry.

On the other hand, Liang Xian really didn’t show any mercy or pity.

Ke Lijie had a headache for a moment and got back to the main topic, “So, what were you two arguing about?”

Although they had been sworn enemies since childhood, Liang Xian had never made anyone cry before.

“We didn’t argue about anything,” Liang Xian paused for a moment and glanced at Ming Si, “It’s all resolved, and it was my fault.”

Ming Si pursed her lips and nodded along with his words. “Yes, it’s resolved.”

Ke Lijie breathed a sigh of relief, “Good that it’s resolved. Let’s go then; people are still waiting for you two to start the party.”

Since both parties had expressed their stance, there was no need for adults to pry into the details. See how calm Yu Chuan was; he stood by the side without even furrowing his brows.

One should learn from him.

Thinking this way, Ke Lijie turned his head to look at Yu Chuan but found that had also Yu Chuan let out a relieved sigh.

Ke Lijie: “…”

The three of them were really worn out dealing with this bickering couple.

“No way! I didn’t hear the apology!” Cheng Yu couldn’t take it anymore. He stood like a wooden stake in place, in a stance that said, No one can move me. He spoke one word at a time, “Brother Xian, you have to apologize to Si Si in front of us.”

Ming Si felt that Liang Xian was somewhat unfairly blamed for this today, “There’s no need…”

Before she could say more, Cheng Yu interrupted her, “You hush! Today, I must demand justice for you!”

Ming Si: “…”

“Alright,” surprisingly, Liang Xian didn’t resist at all. He took a step forward, bent down, and leveled his eyes with hers.

Ming Si saw the tender smile in his peach blossom eyes as he cooperatively used a soft and cajoling tone, “It’s my fault, don’t get angry anymore, alright?”

As they walked towards the banquet hall, they ran into Lin Xijia.

Ming Si’s emotions had been fluctuating all night. Only now she felt that something was not right. She glanced at Lin Xijia and questioned, “Didn’t I ask you all to take care of Xijia? Why is she alone?”

Cheng Yu pretended to sound pitiful, dragging out his words melodramatically, as if he were about to sing The Unfortunate Tale of Dou E, “We… We were wrongly accused! We…”

Even Lin Xijia, the screenwriter of this exaggerated play, couldn’t bear to watch and quickly explained, “We split up to look for you both. Originally, Yu Chuan and I were supposed to look for you together, but I told him it was fine.”

Since they weren’t that familiar, they could chat and laugh when sitting together as a group, but when left alone, it was inevitable to feel awkward.

“I understand, I understand. He’s too dull. Next time, I’ll accompany you,” Ke Lijie always wanted to impress a pretty girl whenever he saw one. He smiled at Lin Xijia and then turned to pat Yu Chuan’s shoulder, “You should reflect on yourself. Why doesn’t the girl want to be with you? Look at your face. If you weren’t mute…”

Yu Chuan had no expression on his face as he removed Ke Lijie’s hand from his shoulder.

“Get lost,” Cheng Yu provided a timely voice-over for Yu Chuan.

Then he hooked his arm around Ke Lijie’s neck and pretended to explain, “Yu Chuan is dumb; he can’t talk. I’m helping him curse you.”

Ke Lijie burst into laughter, “Hahahaha!”

Yu Chuan: “…”

When these two teamed up to bully the always good-tempered Yu Chuan, Lin Xijia couldn’t stand it and joined Yu Chuan’s side to defend him.

It was strange that whenever this group of people gathered together, it seemed like they would never grow up.

Ming Si laughed on the side for a while, “They seem especially childish today.”

Even Yu Chuan, who was usually serious, couldn’t help but join their antics.

“Yeah,” Liang Xian had one hand in his pocket of his suit trousers and glanced over in their direction, curling the corner of his lips, “They’re just trying to make you happy.”

Ming Si was momentarily stunned and indeed saw Cheng Yu stealing glances at their side. Realizing that he was caught, he quickly turned away and continued with the banter.

So they were all just fooling around just to entertain her.

Ming Si’s lips curved slightly, “They’re really good.”

“What about me?” Liang Xian seemed dissatisfied, glancing at her.

Ming Si deliberately remained silent.

As they reached the end of the corridor, the magnificent and luxurious lights of the banquet hall came into view. Just then, Liang Xian heard her voice with a hint of a little pride in her attempt to make amends, “You’re barely acceptable… I guess.”

After the engagement ceremony, the guests dispersed, and the extravagant revelry receded like a tide.

Cheng Yu had drunk a bit too much and insisted on seeing Liang Xian and Ming Si’s future wedding room.

“I’ve grown up all these years and haven’t… hiccup… had a wedding night,” Cheng Yu clung to Liang Xian’s arm, refusing to let go, “Today, Yu Yu just wants to fulfill this small wish…”

“Today is the engagement, where would there be a wedding room,” Ke Lijie tried to pull Cheng Yu away, but this guy was like an octopus, extremely sticky, and couldn’t be pulled away.

“Wuwuwuwu…”

Cheng Yu’s response was completely unreasonable sobbing.

Ke Lijie: “…”

Liang Xian’s eyelids drooped slightly, his voice calm, “I’ll count to three. If you don’t let go, I won’t let you take a look.”

Before he even started counting, Cheng Yu quickly let go of his hand.

Ming Si: “…”

Right now, she really wanted to know if she acted like Cheng Yu when she got drunk that day.

Did she also cling to Liang Xian and… rumple his clothes?

The thought was so embarrassing that she couldn’t bear to think about it.

But about the wedding room…

She looked up at Liang Xian, “Do you know where it is?”

Liang Xian seemed a little caught off guard, paused for a moment, and then took out his phone to call the housekeeper.

Ke Lijie, who was standing next to them, saw everything and gained a new understanding of this plastic couple.

The Guanlan Mansion was located by the river. It was a high-end residential area in Pingcheng known for being unattainable even with money.

Ming Si and Liang Xian’s wedding room was location in the Villa no. 17, their marital home, nestled against the mountains and near the water. The front yard was filled with blooming tulips and roses, while the backyard featured a spacious lawn, hot springs, and a swimming pool.

“Wow, Yu Yu likes it!” As soon as they entered, Cheng Yu hugged the antique vase in the hallway, and suddenly knelt down, “Brother Xian, today Yu Yu wants to stay here, is that okay?”

Liang Xian walked past him without even glancing, “No.”

“Why not!” Cheng Yu clung to the vase, though he appeared completely drunk, his mind was surprisingly clear, “Anyway, you two won’t be staying here.”

“Who says we won’t stay?” Ming Si also passed by him and deliberately said, “We will be staying here tonight.”

Her villa in Shuiyun Bay was owned by the Ming family, it also happened not to be her preferred style. However, this villa perfectly matched her aesthetics in both exterior and interior design. Thinking of this, Ming Si felt a little smug and childishly showed off to Cheng Yu, “We’ll also be enjoying the flowers, soaking in the hot springs, and having some wine here.”

“Si Si!” Cheng Yu was both sad and indignant.

Later, the group gathered in the villa for a small gathering. Cheng Yu and Ke Lijie were busy competing for the microphone to sing songs, Ming Si and Lin Xijia were focused on experimenting with cocktails at the bar, while Liang Xian and Yu Chuan sat on the sofa watching the fun.

After midnight, everyone gradually got up to leave.

“Yu Yu, do you want to stay here with us tonight?” Ming Si sat on the sofa, swaying the wine glass in her hand, inviting Cheng Yu.

She was just teasing him when she refused him before.

Cheng Yu’s eyes sparkled, “Really!”

“Mhmm.”

What’s the big deal? She planned to soak in the hot springs and spend the night here.

She also invited Lin Xijia, but Lin Xijia had to work the next day, and the villa was too far from the company, so she said she’d come another time.

“Then I’ll stay, I’ll stay!”

Cheng Yu happily agreed, but before he could fully rejoice, he heard Liang Xian’s indifferent refusal, “You go home.”

Cheng Yu blinked in a daze, “Why?”

Even Ming Si was puzzled, “Why?”

Both of their voices almost overlapped. Liang Xian inexplicably felt displeased, he leaned back on the sofa.

“Why,” he repeated the word, glanced over, and raised his eyebrows, “Are you two the ones who got engaged?”