Chapter 105: Not My Business

Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Not My Business

The private room was becoming increasingly suffocating for Xi Yunxui.

Although Huo Yuning had successfully calmed her down, the five people seated around the table showed no intention of changing their behavior. Their conversation continued, accompanied by occasional laughter and remarks that seemed harmless on the surface but carried enough hidden meaning to make Xi Yunxui’s temper flare all over again.

She had never considered herself a particularly short-tempered person. After all, having spent years dealing with troublesome people, she had learned that not every unpleasant remark deserved a response. However, there was something especially irritating about watching people pretend to be friendly while making every effort to undermine someone sitting right in front of them.

And Huo Yuning seemed perfectly accustomed to it.

That was perhaps what bothered Xi Yunxui the most.

The actress continued to smile, occasionally responding to a question or joining the conversation, as though the pointed remarks didn’t affect her in the slightest. Yet Xi Yunxui had noticed the subtle changes in her expression whenever another sarcastic comment was made, the brief pauses before she answered, and the way her fingers occasionally tightened around her glass.

She was enduring it.

For what reason, Xi Yunxui couldn’t say, but she had no intention of letting her own temper make things more difficult for Huo Yuning.

After another round of conversation, Xi Yunxui leaned toward her and whispered, "Miss Yuning, I’m going to use the restroom."

Huo Yuning glanced at her before nodding. "Go ahead. The restroom is at the end of the corridor. Turn left when you get there."

"All right."

Xi Yunxui straightened and left the private room, closing the door behind her.

The moment she stepped into the corridor, the noise from the nightclub became more noticeable. Music pulsed through the walls, mingling with the distant laughter of guests and the occasional clink of glasses. Colored lights swept across the polished floor, casting shifting reflections along the corridor as staff members moved between the private rooms.

Xi Yunxui followed the directions Huo Yuning had given her, keeping an eye out for the restroom signs.

She had nearly reached the corner when a door opened farther down the corridor.

A man stepped out.

He was dressed in a dark suit, his tall figure and composed bearing making him stand out even in the dim lighting. One hand rested at his side while the other adjusted the cuff of his sleeve, his expression as cool and unreadable as ever.

Xi Yunxui stopped.

For a moment, she wondered whether her eyes were playing tricks on her.

But no matter how unfamiliar the surroundings were, she would recognize that face.

Huo Jingchen.

The eldest young master of the Huo family was standing only a short distance away.

Xi Yunxui hadn’t expected to encounter him here. She knew he was a busy man, and while she had not seen him around the Huo residence, she certainly hadn’t imagined that their next meeting would take place in a nightclub corridor late at night.

Her heart gave an unexpected little jolt.

It wasn’t an especially dramatic reaction, nor did she suddenly forget how to breathe or speak. It was simply a brief, unmistakable disturbance beneath her ribs, accompanied by an awareness of him that she found rather inconvenient.

Perhaps it was because she hadn’t seen him for some time.

Perhaps it was the unfamiliar setting.

Whatever the reason, Xi Yunxui quickly gathered herself.

Huo Jingchen had also noticed her.

His gaze settled on her face, and a faint trace of surprise crossed his usually impassive features before disappearing.

Neither of them spoke immediately.

Xi Yunxui had no idea what he was doing at the nightclub, and she wasn’t particularly interested in asking. For all she knew, he had come here for a business meeting. A man like him probably had more important things to do than explain his movements to a maid.

Besides, she had no intention of turning an ordinary encounter into an awkward conversation.

She inclined her head respectfully.

"Young Master."

Her greeting was calm and proper, no different from the way she would have addressed him at the Huo residence.

Huo Jingchen looked at her for another moment.

"Xi Yunxui."

Hearing him say her name sent another small ripple through her chest, but she kept it from showing on her face.

"Please excuse me, Young Master. I need to use the restroom."

Having said that, she stepped aside to give him room before continuing down the corridor.

She didn’t linger, nor did she look back to see whether he was watching her.

As far as Xi Yunxui was concerned, she had greeted him, maintained the appropriate respect, and carried on with what she had been doing. There was no reason to make the encounter more complicated than it needed to be.

Yet Huo Jingchen remained where he was for a moment after she passed him.

He had recognized her the instant he saw her, and his first instinct had been to call her back.

The impulse had come so naturally that he had almost acted on it before he had time to consider what he was doing.

"Xi—"

The first syllable nearly escaped his lips.

Then he remembered their last conversation.

More specifically, he remembered the things she had said to him, the distance she had deliberately placed between them, and the clear indication that she didn’t want him interfering in her affairs.

His lips parted slightly before closing again.

The rest of her name died on his tongue.

Huo Jingchen watched her retreating figure for another second, his expression difficult to read. He could have called her back if he wished. There was nothing preventing him from asking why she was here or whether she had come with someone.

But what right did he have to question her?

He was the eldest young master of the Huo family, and she was a maid working in their household.

He had no reason to make an ordinary encounter uncomfortable.

With that thought, Huo Jingchen withdrew his gaze and let out a faint breath as he turned toward the private room he had just left.

Whatever had prompted him to call her could wait. The phenomenon from the day had yet to be solved.

He pushed the door open and returned inside, where one of his companions immediately glanced up from his drink.

"What took you so long?"

"Nothing."

Huo Jingchen walked over to the sofa and took his seat.

His companion looked as though he wanted to ask another question, but after studying Huo Jingchen’s expression, he decided against it and returned to his drink.

A glass was placed in front of Huo Jingchen shortly afterward.

He picked it up, took a sip, and leaned back against the sofa, allowing the familiar atmosphere of the private room to settle around him.

Still, his thoughts strayed to the woman he had encountered in the corridor.

What was Xi Yunxui doing here?

Had she come with someone?

The question lingered longer than he expected.

Huo Jingchen turned the glass between his fingers, his gaze resting on the amber liquid inside.

It was none of his business.

He had reminded himself of that already.

Yet, for some reason, he found himself wondering whether she had come alone and whether she would be returning to the Huo residence tonight.

After a moment, he raised the glass to his lips again, deciding that the drink in his hand deserved more attention than a maid who had greeted him and walked away without so much as a backward glance.

Unfortunately, the decision did little to stop his thoughts from wandering back to her.

---

By the time Xi Yunxui returned to Huo Yuning’s private room, the actress had already moved on to another topic of conversation.

The atmosphere hadn’t improved much.

One of the men was recounting a story that seemed to amuse the others, while Lin Qiaoqiao leaned against the sofa with a glass in her hand. Huo Yuning glanced up as Xi Yunxui entered, and the moment their eyes met, she gave her a small smile.

"You’re back."

"Yes, Miss Yuning."

Xi Yunxui resumed her place beside her.

Huo Yuning leaned closer and asked in a low voice, "Everything all right?"

"Of course."

"Good. I was beginning to think you had escaped."

Xi Yunxui gave her a bewildered look. "Why would I escape?"

"Because you’re stuck with me for the entire night."

"I’m perfectly aware of that."

Huo Yuning laughed under her breath, apparently satisfied with the answer, and turned back to the others.

Xi Yunxui, however, found herself thinking about Huo Jingchen again.

She wasn’t sure why the encounter had affected her at all. It wasn’t as though they had exchanged anything more than a greeting, and she had certainly behaved as she should have. Nevertheless, the brief moment in the corridor had left her with a peculiar feeling she couldn’t quite explain.

She pressed the thought aside.

Whatever was happening between her and Huo Jingchen was not the concern she needed to focus on tonight.

Her mission was to ensure Huo Yuning returned home safely.

That was all.

And, considering the way the evening was going, Xi Yunxui had a feeling she would have more than enough to worry about before the night was over.