2 Pickup Artists

"Yanyan!" Upon recognizing Qiao Yuyan’s face, Jiang Yunxi trotted over and pulled her into a hug, chiding, "You silly girl, why didn’t you tell your sister you were coming back to the country?"

Although they were cousins, they had grown up together and were no different from blood sisters.

Having finished reading the latest chapter, Yuyan was not surprised to run into her sister outside the airport. She composed her emotions and leaned into Yunxi’s embrace, acting like a cat that had tucked away its claws and fangs, coquettishly saying, "I wanted to give you a surprise. Are you happy, sister?"

"Of course I am!" Yunxi released her and peered behind her. "Are you waiting for friends, Yanyan?"

"No friends, I was waiting for a ride-hailing service," Yuyan said, standing up from her suitcase.

"What kind of ride-hailing service? Come with me." Without a word of protest, Yunxi grabbed the suitcase and tugged Yuyan toward the parking lot. "How long can you stay this time?"

The last time Yuyan had returned to the Xia Kingdom was right after passing the GSC tests. Before officially taking on missions as a "Gold Hunter," she had been granted five days of leave, which she had spent visiting her aunt and sister.

In the blink of an eye, five years had passed.

"I’m not sure. Ten days for now," Yuyan replied softly, staring at her sister's profile.

Her sister looked exhausted... She could sense the weariness beneath the exquisite makeup. Moreover, the pale pink, fine-gauze dress her sister wore—soft and gentle—seemed completely at odds with her vibrant and poised appearance.

"That’s wonderful! Then you’ll stay at my place these days," Yunxi beamed.

Just as Yuyan was about to speak, a low, magnetic voice came from the nearby VIP entrance: "Yunxi."

Both turned to look. Yuyan recognized the man instantly: he was her sister’s husband, the protagonist of this world, Huo Lingchen. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored dark suit, his features deep and his appearance handsome—he was every bit the male lead the original author had painstakingly crafted.

"Lingchen." Yunxi hurried to meet him, linking her arm with his, her face glowing with a sweet smile.

Huo Lingchen did not immediately respond to his wife. He furrowed his brows, scrutinizing the stranger who had been chatting so intimately with her. The woman wore a white dress, the hem fluttering slightly, her waist-length hair falling softly over her shoulders. Her complexion was fair and her eyes were round, but the slight droop at the corners added an air of innocence that made people want to protect her. Perhaps due to nerves, she was gently biting her pale pink lips.

If Jiang Yunxi was a dazzling red rose, then she was a pure white snow lotus, pristine and unstained by dust.

After a long moment, Huo Lingchen withdrew his gaze and asked unhurriedly, "Yunxi, who is this?"

"I’ve told you about her before—my sister, Qiao Yuyan. She returned to the country today." Yunxi smiled brightly, pulling Lingchen toward Yuyan. "Yanyan, this is your brother-in-law."

Yuyan looked up and greeted him obediently: "Brother-in-law."

Huo Lingchen gave a faint acknowledgement. He turned to Yunxi, his expression softening instantly. "I only mentioned it in passing; I didn't expect you to actually come. In the future, just wait for me at home. Don't go through all this trouble."

"I was just idle at home, and I was thinking of you, so I wanted to see you as soon as possible," Yunxi said with a gentle smile, swaying his arm slightly. "Lingchen, it’s rare for Yanyan to be back. I want her to stay with us for a few days, is that alright?"

"Fine, you arrange it as you wish." Huo Lingchen wore a doting smile, seemingly very indulgent toward his wife, and agreed without hesitation.

Yuyan observed the pair calmly. They truly were a perfect, loving couple. Yet, she caught a subtle, almost imperceptible hint of sycophancy in her sister’s words, hidden beneath her seemingly relaxed demeanor. Their dynamic felt off somehow. She lowered her eyes, masking her thoughts.

***

With the situation unclear, she could not rashly intervene; she had to wait and see.

"Let’s head home," Yunxi said, pushing Huo Lingchen toward the passenger seat. She winked at him playfully. "Pardon me, Mr. Huo, for making you sit in the passenger seat today."

Huo Lingchen complied and gently pinched his wife’s cheek. The driver stepped forward to put their luggage into the trunk.

Yunxi sat in the back with Yuyan, picking up their interrupted conversation. "Yanyan, you are absolutely not allowed to stay in a hotel this time. Last time you came back, the house was too small, but now there are plenty of guest rooms. There’s no reason for you to stay outside."

"Alright," Yuyan agreed immediately. As she spoke, she caught a glimpse of the rearview mirror and saw a flash of impatience in Huo Lingchen’s eyes. She arched an eyebrow inwardly; it seemed this brother-in-law did not welcome her. If so, why had he agreed to her sister so readily?

"Boss, we’re out," a voice in her earpiece interrupted her thoughts. Her three team members had heard the situation through the comms and had remained silent until now. Having finished their procedures, they were waiting outside the airport for her next order. Yuyan took out her phone, issued commands to the team group chat, and watched as they received the messages, dispersed into the crowd, and vanished.

The Huo family car left the airport road and entered the city, where traffic slowed. It was already five o’clock in the afternoon when they landed, and after the delay at the airport, they hit the evening rush hour. The road was gridlocked.

Yuyan looked at the towering skyscrapers outside the window.

"Has Chenxing City changed a lot?" Yunxi asked, holding her hand and smiling softly.

"Yes," Yuyan replied, snapping out of her thoughts and pointing at a complex of office buildings. "Didn't there used to be an abandoned factory over there?"

Yunxi followed her gaze, nodded, and said, "I’m surprised you remember. Chenxing City has expanded rapidly these past few years. The city center is saturated, and large companies have been moving to the suburbs. That area was bought by the Gu Group to build their headquarters."

The Gu Group? Yuyan leaned against the window, watching the complex. Her mission was linked to the Gu Group; she hadn't expected to find their headquarters as soon as she landed. But with such a massive complex, finding the archives would likely take some effort.

As she pondered, the car exited the overpass, turned a few corners, and entered a high-end residential area, finally stopping before the courtyard gate of a three-story villa. A servant, who had been waiting, opened the door. After they stepped out, the servant said softly, "Sir, dinner is ready."

Huo Lingchen nodded. "Let’s eat."

Hearing her husband, Yunxi turned to Yuyan with a smile. "Yanyan, let’s have dinner first, then you can get some rest."

Yuyan felt a pang of unease at the sight of the servants acting with such extreme deference toward Huo Lingchen, but she followed Yunxi into the courtyard. A stone path stretched from the gate to the villa, flanked by lush, neatly trimmed greenery. Despite it being the season for flowers, the courtyard was entirely green, devoid of any blossoms.

Yunxi led Yuyan straight to the dining room, introducing the house as they walked. Yuyan glanced at the living room; it was clean and orderly, yet so sparse and empty that it lacked any sense of warmth—it felt as stiff as a showroom.

Stepping into the dining room, the aroma of food wafted over, making her hungry. However, as they sat down to eat, Yuyan wanted to chat with her sister as they had in the past, but the Huo household seemed to adhere to the rule of "no talking while eating." The only sounds at the table were the clinking of chopsticks and spoons. Watching her sister eat mechanically like a wooden doll, Yuyan’s appetite vanished.

After a stifling meal, the servants cleared the table and brought tea. Huo Lingchen stood up, leaned over to kiss Yunxi on the cheek, and said softly, "You two sisters have a good chat. I’m going to the study."

Yunxi smiled brightly. "You just got back, don't overwork yourself."

"Hmm."

Yuyan watched silently. Once Huo Lingchen disappeared up the stairs, she noticed her sister’s expression brighten slightly. She toyed with the rim of her teacup and asked softly, "Sister, does your husband treat you well?"

"Why would you ask that?" Yunxi was surprised, then assumed her sister was simply concerned. She smiled and held Yuyan’s hand. "Don't worry, Lingchen treats me very well. I am very happy."

Her smile was radiant and genuine, yet Yuyan felt something inexplicably wrong.

"Alright, you’ve been on the plane for so long, you must be exhausted," Yunxi said, leading her to a guest room on the second floor. "You’ll stay in this room for the next few days. Everything you need is here. I’m just next door if you need anything."

"Okay, don't worry about me, go get busy," Yuyan replied obediently. She watched Yunxi leave before closing the door.

When they were eating, the servants had already brought her suitcase to the room. Yuyan opened it; on the top layer was an exquisite jewelry box containing a sapphire bracelet, each stone clear and sparkling. It was a gift she had prepared for her sister.

She took the box and walked toward Yunxi’s room. The door was slightly ajar. Just as she was about to knock, she heard Yunxi’s disappointed voice from within.

"...Weren't we supposed to go to Emerald Island together this weekend?"

"Work is a priority. Emerald Island can wait until next time," Huo Lingchen said with cold indifference.

Yuyan sensed something was wrong. She glanced at the security camera in the hallway, turned around as if nothing had happened, and walked away slowly while pulling out her phone to send a message: "Shiyue, take control of the Huo family’s surveillance."

A few seconds later, the reply came: "Done."

Yuyan quickly returned to the master bedroom door, standing in a blind spot.

"You say that every time," Yunxi said, sounding dissatisfied. "It’s been two years, and you haven't taken me out once. Even during the holidays, you’re stuck at the company."

"Yunxi, don't be willful."

"How is this me being willful?" Yunxi’s voice rose involuntarily. "I’m just worried about you working so hard..."

Before she could finish, Huo Lingchen cut her off harshly. "Everything I do is for this family, so you can live a good life."

Listening to their argument, Yuyan felt deeply uncomfortable. Then, a gruff male voice came through her pearl earpiece: "Boss, he’s gaslighting our sister."

Knowing Yuyan couldn't talk, the voice continued: "Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation used to control someone's emotions."

Yuyan frowned. Aurai was an expert in psychology; his judgment was rarely wrong.

Inside the room, Huo Lingchen continued, "I want to give you a stable life, so you don't have to worry about anything. But you throw a tantrum over such small things, it makes me feel like such a failure, that I can't even make you happy."

Without waiting for a response from the crestfallen Jiang Yunxi, he strode out of the room. Yuyan slipped quietly back into her own room.