Edge of A Burning Kiss - Chapter 11

Qin Yu was somewhat surprised. “This is what your designer came up with?”

Xia Jin raised an eyebrow, looking rather smug. “What do you think? I told you he had talent.”

“Not bad!”

Qin Yu had seen plenty of exclusive designs from famous brand designers, but none were as vivid as this one, instantly drawing admiration at first glance.

What surprised Qin Yu even more wasn’t just that, when this outfit was presented, it immediately made people think of Xia Jin.

It was as if this piece had been tailor-made just for her.

By the time Xia Jin finished getting ready, it was already seven o’clock, and she suddenly remembered something.

Her car was still parked at the Li Pan Hotel, she hadn’t driven it back and had asked Song Qianrou to return it to the company for her.

The only remaining car had been taken by Xia Ziling that morning, leaving her without a single vehicle at her disposal.

Spotting Qin Yu idling nearby, Xia Jin quickly hatched a plan.

She grinned at him. “President Qin, it’s getting dark, I bet you haven’t eaten yet, right? How about this: you drive me to Tiansong Hotel, and I’ll treat you to dinner. What do you say?”

“What do I say?” Qin Yu gave her a half-smile. “But since I happen to be heading to Tiansong as well, I can give you a ride, Little President Xia. However, that means you’ll have to treat me to dinner at Wangjiang Pavilion this Saturday.”

“Sure, sure! Let’s go quickly, or we’ll hit traffic and be late!”

Xia Jin was so preoccupied with the thought of being late that she didn’t even process Qin Yu’s remark about also going to Tiansong.

Right now, she was the one asking for a favor. If Qin Yu had demanded she cook for him for a month, she would’ve agreed, let alone just treating him to a meal on Saturday.

Fortunately, Xia Jin arrived safely at Tiansong Hotel by 7:20.

Qin Yu dropped her off at the entrance first. “You go ahead inside. I’ll handle something and join you shortly.”

“Why are you coming in?” Xia Jin finally asked, not understanding his meaning.

Qin Yu pulled out his phone and waved it at her. “Sorry, but I also received an invitation from Anli.”

Xia Jin frowned suspiciously. “You and Anli have no business together, why would she invite you?”

Qin Yu chuckled softly. “Go ask around, who wouldn’t want the president of Qin Corporation at their event?”

“Hmph! Stop showing off!” Xia Jin retorted indignantly. “Go ask around, what celebrity wouldn’t want to be ‘discovered’ by the president of Stellar Cube?”

Qin Yu lifted his gaze to meet hers, smirking lazily. “Oh? Then I beg President Xia to ‘discover’ me.”

“Get lost! Stop talking nonsense.” Flustered by his stare, Xia Jin hurriedly unbuckled her seatbelt and made her escape.

Qin Yu rolled down the passenger window and watched her retreating figure for a long moment before reluctantly driving away.

As soon as Xia Jin reached the entrance, a formally dressed security guard bowed slightly and asked, “Good evening, miss. May I see your invitation, please?”

Xia Jin froze. Anli had told her to call upon arrival, she hadn’t given her an invitation.

“Sorry, I don’t have one. Just a moment, I’ll call the host.” Xia Jin didn’t want to cause trouble for the staff.

“Of course, miss.”

Xia Jin took out her phone and dialed Anli, but after several rings, no one picked up. Assuming Anli was busy, she hung up and sent her a message instead.

[Xia Jin: Anli, I’ve already arrived at the entrance of Tiansong, but I forgot to ask you for the invitation. Could you please send me one when you see this message?]

Just as Xia Jin was waiting by the entrance, she heard a woman’s voice calling out behind her, “Sister! Sister, why are you here too?”

Xia Jin’s expression darkened, what a familiar scene.

She turned around and found that this time, Xia Zhixue wasn’t clinging to Ye Tiyan’s arm but to their biological father, Xia Hongchang.

Xia Zhixue’s act was as predictable as ever, using innocent words to drive a wedge between Xia Jin and everyone else: “Dad, look, Sister is here for Anli’s welcome banquet too! But why is she just standing outside instead of going in?”

Xia Hongchang cared more about his reputation than anything else in life. Hearing Xia Zhixue’s words, he immediately flew into a rage: “I always said Xia Jin was nothing but trash! Standing here without an invitation, embarrassing herself in public!”

Xia Zhixue tugged at his arm. “Dad, don’t say that. Maybe Sister is just waiting for a friend!”

Her words only poured oil on the fire. Xia Hongchang’s voice grew even louder: “Just as shameless as her mother, always waiting around to see if some rich, powerful man will take a liking to her!”

The argument had already drawn the attention of several people nearby.

Xia Jin had initially planned to ignore them, but hearing Xia Hongchang’s words, her chest tightened. She turned her head and fixed her father with an icy stare:

“Sorry, President Xia, I am like my mother. But don’t flatter yourself, back then, you were hardly what anyone would call rich or powerful. Actually, let me correct that, even now, the Xia family is nothing more than a small-time operation. And please, rein in that belly of yours before your belt gives out. An Li invited people to this event, not a pig. Wouldn’t want the kitchen staff to mistake you for the main course and toss you in the pot.”

The security guard strained every ounce of his professionalism to keep from laughing, but others nearby weren’t so restrained. Covering their mouths in a poor attempt to hide their amusement, they quickly walked away, leaving Xia Hongchang’s face twisted in fury.

Seeing her father humiliated, the ever-gentle and considerate Miss Xia couldn’t hold back her tears: “Sister! How could you say such things to Dad? He only said those words because he’s worried you’ll go down the wrong path! Even if you don’t appreciate it, how could you slander him like this in front of so many people?”

Xia Jin crossed her arms and let out a cold laugh.

Undeterred, Xia Zhixue wiped her tears and continued, “Is Sister still holding a grudge because Dad didn’t adopt you? He tried so hard to overlook your background and take you in as his foster daughter, but in the end, you were the one who refused!”

Xia Jin had to admit, that one did manage to disgust her.

Back then, Xia Hongchang had tried to use Xia Jin’s early stake in Stellar Cube as leverage, offering to adopt her as his foster daughter, only to then try to marry her off to an abusive old man.

In a way, Xia Hongchang and Ji Zhenli were quite alike both eager to sell their daughter for personal gain. The only difference was, the one they kept selling was Xia Jin.

Xia Hongchang patted Xia Zhixue’s hand resting on his arm in reassurance: “Xia Jin, let me make it crystal clear, Xia Hongchang has only one daughter in this lifetime, and that is Zhixue. Keep your filthy ambitions to yourself. There’s no way I would ever adopt you as my goddaughter. Don’t think you can follow Zhixue into the entertainment industry just because she’s entering it. Take a good look at yourself, who do you think you are?”