I See Roses

I See Roses – Chapter 6

After blocking Liang Xian, Ming Si immediately called Lin Xijia.

As soon as she picked up, Liang Xian said, “Do you think he’s crazy? He sent me a video of the bird in the middle of the night.”

Lin Xijia was startled, thinking Liang Xian had daringly sent a lewd picture to Ming Si.

“Why would he send you the video of the parrot?” After realizing that the bird she meant was the parrot and not something inappropriate, Lin Xijia felt relieved.

In the afternoon, she also saw the parrot. However, as she wasn’t fond of small animals, she didn’t pay much attention.

Ming Si was convinced, “It must be because I like it.”

“You think he sent it to show off… that logic seems a bit too far-fetched?” Lin Xijia carefully offered her opinion.

Ming Si immediately sat up from the bed and tapped the covers, raising her tone, “No, it’s definitely to show off, you know? Just listen to his tone!”

“He’s too childish!” Lin Xijia immediately took Ming Si’s side, “Is he an elementary school student? How can he behave so childishly!”

Her tone was emphatic and filled with indignation.

Ming Si sensed the teasing in her words and said with an expressionless face, “Lin Xijia, it’s a pity you’re not an actress.”

Lin Xijia burst into laughter and then said seriously, “Actually, I think both of you are quite childish, but there’s a mysterious charm about it, you know?”

Ming Si almost doubted her ears, “Mysterious charm?”

“The same thing, if someone else did it, you probably wouldn’t care. But when it’s Liang Xian, you react strongly. And don’t you find it intriguing that he sent you a parrot in the middle of the night? Men don’t bother talking to women they have no interest in.”

“Perhaps, after all these years of bickering, you two unintentionally became the most special person in each other’s lives…” Lin Xijia’s tone suddenly became a bit excited, “Wait a minute, I think I’ve got an idea to write a love-hate relationship!”

There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by the sound of rapidly typing on a keyboard.

Ming Si: “…”

I can’t be friends with this person anymore.

She hung up the phone and lay back on the bed.

The few words from Lin Xijia’s long speech remained in her mind.

You two unintentionally became the most special person in each other’s lives.

Upon careful consideration, there was nothing wrong with this statement—after all, they were married, so naturally, the two of them were the most special to each other.

However, when applied to the two of them, special should be a negative prefix, and various words like annoying, hard to deal with, don’t want to see, could be added after it.

Especially now, with this awkward layer added to their relationship, she had no idea how to interact with him anymore.

“Really? It would be great if you could come too,” a soft and cheerful voice came from the phone, “Shall we meet in a couple of days?”

At the end of July, a luxury brand was going to hold a fashion show and a private dinner in the city.

Ming Si received an invitation from the brand manager early on, and over the next few days, she received a series of WeChat invitations. Some even directly called her after getting her number.

These enthusiastic invitations from her group of plastic girlfriends didn’t surprise Ming Si as she was used to it even before going abroad. Handling them now was just as effortless.

After hanging up the phone, she concealed the smile at the corner of her lips and raised her eyes.

Sitting on the opposite wicker chair, Cen Xinyan stirred her coffee, smiling casually, “Once the engagement news is out, you might have to change your phone number.”

Now, there were already so many girls trying to please her. If they found out she was marrying the sole heir of Jinghong Group, it would be even more overwhelming.

Ming Si propped her cheek and smiled, “Is that why you called me?”

Half an hour ago, she received a call from Cen Xinyan, inviting her for a coffee.

They chose a quiet member-exclusive coffee shop in the city center, with a large blue jacaranda tree in the courtyard and bamboo chairs, creating a picturesque setting.

However, with Cen Xinyan here, she had no interest in enjoying the scenery.

Ming Si just wanted to know what plans she had for her.

“I just wanted to have coffee with you and chat,” Cen Xinyan put down the silver spoon and looked at her, “Ming Si, do you still have any opinions about me?”

They were biological mother and daughter, so discussing such a topic was actually awkward and strange.

Ming Si didn’t want to engage in this conversation, “No, I don’t.”

“Then why did you reject the introduction to the Design Director of SR Jewelry I made for you before?” Cen Xinyan asked.

Ming Si poked at the delicate cake with her fork and said insincerely, “I just didn’t want to go.”

Cen Xinyan was true to her word; SR was a top international jewelry brand on Hong Kong Island. The day after Ming Si registered her marriage, she handed her the Design Director’s business card.

What Ming Si wanted to trade her marriage for was precisely this kind of opportunity, but when her finger rested on the card, she just couldn’t bring herself to take that step.

Perhaps that’s just who she was – capricious and pretentious. Even though she had compromised and bowed down to reality, she still couldn’t help trying to resist.

So she got rid of the business card and immediately signed up for a design competition hosted by the famous luxury jewelry brand, Merald.

Cen Xinyan’s gaze lingered on her expressionless face for a moment before sighing, “And what about the clothes I sent you? Why don’t you wear them?”

Ming Si perfunctorily replied, “There are too many; I can’t wear them all.”

Cen Xinyan, an internationally renowned fashion designer, had established her own brand over a decade ago. As soon as her brand was launched, it frequently appeared in major fashion shows and became a favorite of many celebrities.

Every time a new collection was released, Cen Xinyan would have carefully selected ready-to-wear garments sent to Ming Si, filling her wardrobe.

Cen Xinyan’s tone was no longer as gentle as before; she looked fixedly at Ming Si, “You’ve never worn any of them.”

“I don’t like them, they don’t suit me,” Ming Si finally became impatient. She raised her arms and leaned back against the chair, “When did you ever ask me if I needed them?”

Actually, when she was a child, Cen Xinyan wasn’t like this.

Back then, she was busy with her career, leaving Ming Si to be taken care of by nannies and housekeepers. She would come back once or twice a month, leaving little impression in Ming Si’s mind.

Later, after achieving success in her career, she remembered that she had a daughter and started trying to control her daughter’s life.

Ming Si remembered that this probably started when she was in high school.

Cen Xinyan always found good reasons to do things that offended her.

She would invite classmates that Ming Si didn’t like to her birthday party without her permission. She read her personal diary without consent. She even asked one of her friends, who used to play with her, to monitor her and report back on her every move; like whom she had meals with, talked to, and what activities she attended.

When Ming Si discovered this, she had a big fight with Cen Xinyan and didn’t speak to her for nearly half a year.

In the end, neither of them relented. Ming Si knew that Cen Xinyan had always been very stubborn and self-centered.

“Are you blaming me for pressuring you to get married?” Cen Xinyan frowned.

She didn’t think she did anything wrong except for pressuring her daughter into a marriage alliance. But in Pingcheng, which family wasn’t like that?

Ming Si was almost amused by her.

The arranged marriage was her stepfather, Ming Zhengyuan’s idea, so what say did Cen Xinyan have in it?

She didn’t want to talk about all the disrespectful things Cen Xinyan did; instead, she chose to pick up on a trivial matter.

“No, I just remembered something,” Ming Si felt the conversation wasn’t going anywhere. She picked up her bag, took a couple of steps, then turned around and suddenly smiled, “Back then, didn’t my good friend tell you that I was dating Liang Xian? Looking back, she could be considered half a prophet. It’s quite amusing.”

The words good friend were deliberately emphasized, her tone full of sarcasm.

Cen Xinyan stood up, “Ming Si!”

She softened her tone, “Don’t say angry words. I know you feel wronged, but being stubborn won’t benefit anyone. I came to you today because I want you to get along well with Liang Xian. I also want you to go back to the marital home—he will treat you well.”

“Oh,” Ming Si flashed a beautiful smile at her, “We get along just fine.”

She had already blocked him on WeChat.

The conversation between the mother and daughter ended on a sour note.

Ming Si, walking on her high heels, pushed open the door of the coffee shop and walked out on her own. Just over half an hour ago, the sun was shining brightly, but now a sudden gust of wind blew, and the sky darkened.

For the past ten years or so, this had been their usual way of getting along. Cen Xinyan was a strong-willed person, and her temper was not gentle. It was nearly impossible to have a calm conversation with her.

Fortunately, Ming Si had gotten used to it.

She hadn’t walked far when she received a phone call.

“Ming Si, where are you? Let’s go for a joyride! We’re at the supercar club in the western suburbs,” Cheng Yu’s voice was filled with excitement; there was a noisy background with the wind whistling, “Come and have some fun!”

He even sang those last few words with a coquettish tone, which made Ming Si’s scalp tingle, and her finger accidentally touched the hang-up button.

After a moment, Cheng Yu called again, sounding displeased, “You actually hung up on me!”

Ming Si didn’t feel guilty at all and told him plainly, “I can hang up again.”

“…”

The third time, a milder voice came from the other end, seemingly exasperated with the childishness of these two people, “Ming Si, it’s Yu Chuan. If you’re coming over, we’ll send a car to pick you up.”

After Cheng Yu’s meddling, Ming Si’s annoyance had diminished somewhat. She nodded and provided her location.

The club’s car picked her up and arrived at the destination. From a distance, Ming Si could see Cheng Yu and his group of friends.

They were sitting on the black sofa in the lounge area, chatting away. The club’s manager accompanied them as well as a few eye-catching girls with striking appearances.

Behind them was a huge transparent glass wall, and in the distance, there were supercars, appearing as tiny points, roaring on the track.

Ming Si walked closer and stopped in her tracks.

Liang Xian was also there.

He was leaning against the black sofa, playing a game with his head slightly lowered, exuding a lazy and casual demeanor. With his well-defined features and naturally good looks, the floral shirt he wore didn’t look exaggerated on him. Instead, it had a touch of effortless elegance and charm.

The girls from the club couldn’t help but glance at him from time to time.

“Let’s go, let’s go! Change clothes! Brother Xian, Lijie, stop playing,” when he saw Ming Si, Cheng Yu suddenly bounced up from the sofa, “Ming Si, you can pick any of our cars later!”

Although he said she could pick, his eyes were filled with anticipation and invitation.

Ming Si recalled Cheng Yu’s crash into the guardrail during the race, her eyelid twitched, and without hesitation, she said, “I’ll ride with Yu Chuan.”

Ming Si recalled Cheng Yu’s crash into the guardrail during the race, her eyelid twitched, and without hesitation, she said, “I’ll ride with Yu Chuan.”

Ke Lijie, who was waiting for the respawn, clapped his hands when he heard her choice, “Smart move! You’ve perfectly avoided the death option!”

“You’ll regret it!” Cheng Yu stood up and pointed at each of them one by one before leaving in a huff.

After finishing the game, Liang Xian put away his phone and stood up, stretching his long legs to walk inside.

As he stood up, his gaze swept in their direction. Ming Si’s eyes unexpectedly met his in mid-air. She saw him nod slightly, still using that nonchalant way of greeting.

Casual and composed.

It was as if he wasn’t the same childish person who, to provoke her, sent her the video of the parrot late at night.

In the changing room, Ming Si overheard the chattering of those girls from the club.

“Did you see him? That guy is really handsome! I hope I can ride in his car later. His name is Liang Xian, right?”

“Yeah, yeah, I noticed him the moment he came in. That face, that physique, he looks like a big celebrity! Later, when the boss asked me to come over and entertain them, I was so excited.”

“Wuwuwu, he must have a girlfriend, right? And it seems like he had quite a few of them.”

“What’s there to be afraid of? If he has a girlfriend, we can still try to get him—”

The conversation then shifted to a series of tactics on how to approach Liang Xian and become a candidate for his girlfriend, including, but not limited to, accidentally splashing water on him or pretending to twist an ankle.

Ming Si zipped up her protective suit, locked her locker, and walked out of the VIP compartment.

The girls’ conversation came to an abrupt halt, and they exchanged glances.

Oh no, they were too carried away with their chat and didn’t notice there was someone else inside. Moreover, it seemed to be one of Liang Xian’s companions.

Meanwhile, Ming Si found it a bit intriguing—

It was the first time in her life that she had heard a group of club girls chattering about how to outsmart her.