Tonight, Claire Xu could sense that something was off with Henry Mills, but with everyone else around, she couldn’t exactly ask him about it.

Henry Mills sat silently in the car, staring straight ahead. Every now and then, he’d rub his forehead wearily.

“Did you have a bit too much to drink?” Henry Mills asked, concern flickering in his eyes.

Claire Xu shook her head with a soft chuckle. “This little bit of alcohol is nothing to me. If I got drunk that easily, what would that say about me?”

Henry Mills gave her a look laced with meaning. Though she smiled, he could see the bitterness underneath.

The more Claire Xu hid herself like this, the more intrigued Henry Mills became. He found himself wanting to understand her all the more.

“Listening to you, it sounds like you can really hold your liquor,” he teased.

“I’m decent, nothing special.”

Henry Mills laughed lightly. He didn’t even know himself when he first started liking Claire Xu. Maybe it was that time they caught a show together, and Claire Xu appeared on stage dressed in a traditional qipao. Just one glance, and she had already settled into his heart.

Later, when Susan Mills mentioned Claire Xu was her idol, Henry Mills finally found an excuse to get closer to her.

At first, the two of them squabbled over everything, but now Henry Mills no longer argued with her. His gaze was filled with only gentle affection.

Feeling a bit uneasy under his gaze, Claire Xu deliberately looked away. “Can you not look at me like that? It’s giving me goosebumps.”

Henry Mills hurriedly pulled back his look, a little flustered. “What look?”

Claire Xu shot him a knowing glance. “You know what I mean.”

“Claire Xu, I…”

She cut him off, “Stop right there. We’re just friends—purely friends. Don’t get any ideas.”

As soon as the thought began to bud, Claire Xu crushed it immediately.

It wasn’t that she felt nothing for Henry Mills—it was just that she didn’t want to drag him down. He deserved someone better, with his circumstances.

Henry Mills’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, but his calm facade didn’t slip. Then he fell back on his usual playful bravado. “Hey, I didn’t even say anything. How do you know what I’m thinking?”

“I don’t need you to say it—I’m not stupid. It’s obvious,” Claire Xu replied.

Even though Henry Mills tried to act unbothered, she could tell he was stung. It was the first time he’d ever tried to confess—to be shut down before he even got the words out hurt more than he’d expected.

Sigh… So heartless. The tragedy of unrequited love.

Suddenly, the car’s ringtone shattered the silence. Claire Xu glanced at the incoming call, and with a flash of irritation, hung up.

“Why don’t you answer?” Henry Mills asked.

“Scam call,” she answered, voice edged with annoyance.

Of course it wasn’t some scam. Who marks a scammer as ‘Cheap Dad’ in their contacts?

Henry Mills didn’t push. Seeing her impatience, he just kept quiet.

The rest of the ride passed in silence.

When they finally pulled up downstairs at her place, Claire Xu opened the car door, turned toward him, and said, “Thank you.” Then she closed the door and marched off without looking back.

Henry Mills’s face crumpled instantly. He was a no-nonsense, straight-shooting guy—summoning up the nerve to confess had taken everything he had, only to have it shot down before he could get the words out.

Claire Xu walked a few more steps before glancing back. She caught a glimpse of Henry Mills driving away. As she watched his car disappear, she couldn’t help but breathe a long sigh of relief.

“Well, still watching, huh? Looks like our big sister has a thing for that man,” a sly, mocking voice floated over.

Claire Xu’s eyes instantly turned cold.

“What’re you doing out here so late—trying to play ghost and scare me?”

She shot a glance at the so-called sweet, well-behaved woman beside her. But Hannah Xu—her half-sister—wore sweetness like a mask; beneath it was pure malice.

Hannah Xu didn’t get upset, but kept up her sly tone. “I heard Dad had someone set you up on a blind date tonight, but you flaked and left the poor guy waiting all night. He’s angry right now, you know. You might want to figure out what you’re going to say to him when you get inside.”

“Why do you care? Whether he’s angry or not has nothing to do with me. Aren’t you the best at buttering him up? Why don’t you go cheer him up yourself?”

Claire Xu made no effort to be polite. There was no way she’d believe Hannah Xu actually cared—she was here to stir things up, nothing more.

Stung by Claire Xu’s words, Hannah Xu’s smile faltered, but she quickly continued, clearly enjoying the show. “Do you even know who the blind date was tonight? He’s one of the richest heirs in Ancheng—a total playboy. But with your temper, you’d probably make a perfect pair.”

She carefully watched Claire Xu’s face, looking for the slightest hint of irritation.

But Claire Xu wasn’t even listening. All she caught was Hannah Xu insulting her temper.

“So you know I’ve got a temper, huh? Well, I’ve been learning some kickboxing lately—want a taste of what I can do?” she grinned, flexing her fist for effect.

Hannah Xu flinched, backing away. “Psycho!” she muttered under her breath.

“Yeah, I’m crazy—wanna see what I’m like when I lose it? I’ll even aim for that pretty face of yours!” Claire Xu made a show of twisting her expression, sending a chill down Hannah Xu’s spine.

“You—” Hannah Xu started, but bit her tongue and just sneered. “Keep running your mouth. I want to see how you’re going to explain yourself to Dad in a minute.”

With that, she tossed her hair and stalked away, head held high.

Claire Xu stared at the door. Even though she hated going inside, she didn’t have a choice. She took a deep breath, pushed the door open, and went in.

George Xu was slumped on the sofa. Hearing the door, he turned and shot Claire Xu a cold glare, snorting angrily.

“You’ve got the nerve to come back?”

Claire Xu met his eyes, spine straight. “This is my home—why wouldn’t I come back?”

With a loud crash, a porcelain cup shattered at her feet. Claire Xu moved instinctively, dodging the splinters just in time.

Hand pressed to her chest, Claire Xu thought, Shit, that was close. If she hadn’t moved, she’d probably be bleeding by now.

“You dare dodge?!” George Xu bellowed, enraged by how calm she was.

“You just threw a cup at my feet—wouldn’t you dodge?” she shot back. “Not dodging would be stupid, and I’m not stupid.”

George Xu gripped his chest, trembling with fury as he pointed at her. “Why didn’t you show up for the blind date I set up tonight?”

“Didn’t have time. Don’t you know how busy I am?” Claire Xu said airily, not the least bit bothered.

Her nonchalance only made George Xu angrier.

Just as father and daughter stared each other down, another voice broke the tension.

“Qingqing, you’re back.” As she spoke, May Lee walked over, putting on a gentle, caring expression for Claire Xu. “Did you have dinner? If not, I can whip you up something.”

Claire Xu saw straight through the hypocrisy. “No need,” she replied coldly.