Chapter 5 Marry Both Sisters

On the day of the engagement party, when the two sisters appeared at the entrance of the banquet hall, the originally noisy venue suddenly fell silent for a few seconds.

Everyone's attention was first drawn to Yan You; she was the star of the night.

But soon, some gazes began to drift toward Yan Shuang, those gazes filled with fresh surprise, as if they were realizing for the first time that the Yan family had such a daughter.

One is flamboyant and ostentatious, the other is elegant and reserved.

Yan Shuang stood at the entrance of the banquet hall, surrounded by congratulatory greetings and the clinking of wine glasses.

"Chairman Yan, you are so blessed to have two such outstanding daughters!" The chairman of the Gu Group held Yan Zhenye's hand, his gaze sweeping over Yan Shuang. "Your eldest daughter married President Shang, and your younger daughter is President Shang's capable assistant. It's truly a double blessing!"

Yan Shuang smiled just the right amount of her smile. Today she was wearing a champagne-colored bridesmaid dress, which was much more elegant than her usual work attire.

"Shuangshuang, get Mrs. Zhao a glass of champagne." Zhou Yaqin gently nudged her back and gestured to a bejeweled woman not far away.

Yan Shuang nodded in agreement and walked through the elegantly dressed crowd.

"Miss Yan is getting more and more beautiful." Madam Zhao took the champagne and gave her a meaningful look. "Do you have a boyfriend?"

"I'm too busy with work, so I'm not considering it for now," Yan Shuang replied with a smile.

"Mrs. Yan, your two daughters are truly remarkable in their own way!" Mrs. Shang, the mother of Shang Qiuzhu, exclaimed, holding Zhou Yaqin's hand.

“Youyou is bright and beautiful, but Shuangshuang is…” She paused, as if searching for the right words, “…like a lotus emerging from clear water.”

"If only we had a son," Chairman Shang said half-jokingly, his booming voice drawing laughter from the surrounding guests. "Marrying both sisters would strengthen our family ties!"

Amidst the laughter, Yan Shuang felt a gaze imprinted on her face, and when she looked up, she met Shang Qiuzhu's gaze.

He stood in the center of the banquet hall's dazzling lights, his impeccably tailored black tuxedo making him appear even more tall and aloof, as if he had just stepped off the cover of a financial magazine, maintaining a perfect distance from the surrounding glitz and glamour.

He was talking with several prominent business figures when Yan You intimately linked arms with him, the sapphire necklace around her neck shimmering and complementing her smile.

"Shuangshuang!" Yan You waved to her, her voice sweet, "Come and help us take a picture!"

Yan Shuang walked over and took Yan You's rhinestone-encrusted phone.

In the video, Shangqiu Zhu's expression remained as restrained as ever, while Yan You smiled brightly, proudly displaying her five-carat engagement ring with her left hand.

"Take a few more pictures, Qiu Zhu, smile!" Yan You said coquettishly, shaking her fiancé's arm.

Shangqiu Zhu smiled knowingly.

"Is it done?" Yan You eagerly snatched back her phone and checked the photos. "Oh no, my eyes weren't open in this one! Shuangshuang, take another one!"

Yan Shuang raised her phone again, and this time she waited for the moment when Shang Qiuzhu looked up.

"Perfect!" Yan You put her phone away with satisfaction and immediately started editing the photo to post on her WeChat Moments. "Brother Qiu Zhu, let's take a picture with Mom and Dad!"

Shangqiu Zhu was pulled away by Yan You.

"Shuangshuang, don't just stand there." Zhou Yaqin appeared beside her at some point. "Come and meet Madam Zhou and Madam Li." She took Yan Shuang's wrist. "They watched your sister grow up."

"This is the second young lady of the Yan family? She's even more beautiful than the rumors say." Madam Zhou said with a smile, "Look at her eyebrows and eyes, she's even more delicate than Youyou."

"...I heard she's working as a secretary for President Shang?" Mrs. Li looked over as well. "This job is too hard for a girl. She should find a good home sooner rather than later."

“That’s right.” Zhou Yaqin smiled and squeezed Yan Shuang’s wrist. “Now that Youyou’s matter is settled, it’s time to worry about Shuangshuang.”

Yan Shuang felt a wave of dizziness. She saw her mother's red lips opening and closing, and heard words like "Zhao family's young master," "marriage alliance," and "engagement next year" drifting in intermittently.

“Hey Lao Shang,” Du Yunchuan suddenly nudged him with his elbow, “is that the second young lady of the Yan family? Your little secretary?”

Inside the private room on the second floor, Shang Qiuzhu followed his friend's gaze and looked through the transparent glass wall. He saw Yan Shuang standing next to the champagne tower, with a young man in a dark blue suit talking close to her, his fingers occasionally "inadvertently" touching her bare arm.

That was the youngest son of the Zhao family, who had just arrived. He was a playboy who had recently gone viral for having sex in a car with a certain internet celebrity.

"Hmm." He took a sip of whiskey indifferently.

Du Yunchuan whistled, "She looks like a completely different person after taking off her business attire. That waistline..." He deliberately dragged out the word, his gaze sweeping over Yan Shuang, "I didn't expect you to be working with such a view every day."

Upon hearing this, Shangqiu Zhu merely frowned.

"Young Master Zhao doesn't even deserve it?" Du Yunchuan sneered, watching as the young master of the Zhao family downstairs almost cornered Yan Shuang in the champagne tower. "I heard he got a young model pregnant last month. Is this the kind of taste the Yan family has?"

Yan Shuang's back was almost pressed against the copper barrel of chilled champagne, yet she still maintained a perfect smile on her face.

"How about..." Du Yunchuan suddenly turned around, "I'll go and rescue the princess in distress? Since you're going to marry the older sister anyway, it's not too much for me to pursue the younger sister, right?"

Shangqiu Zhu saw Yan Shuang finally break free from Zhao Sanshao, but as she turned around, her wrist was grabbed, and the curve of her mouth was noticeably stiff when she turned back.

"Whatever you want." Shangqiu Zhu withdrew his gaze, his tone nonchalant.

Du Yunchuan raised an eyebrow: "Really? I'm really going."

He straightened his tie. "I bet a million, I'll get that kid out of here in five minutes."

At this moment, the master of ceremonies rang the crystal clock, announcing the official start of the engagement ceremony.

A burst of applause erupted downstairs.

Yan You took Yan Zhenye's arm and walked towards the central dance floor, while Yan Shuang took the opportunity to retreat to a corner.

Shangqiu Zhu put down his wine glass, got up and went downstairs.

The lights in the banquet hall dimmed, and the emcee announced the start of the cake-cutting ceremony.

Everyone gathered around the cake stand in the center, while Yan Shuang quietly retreated to a corner.

The parents stood in the front row, their faces beaming with pride and joy. Yan You nestled shyly beside Shang Qiuzhu, the two of them holding the cake knife together.

Yan Shuang originally intended to go to the restroom, but she was stopped by the night breeze seeping in from outside as she passed the side door.

The wind carried the scent of garden roses and a cool, free feeling, a stark contrast to the bustling world of revelry behind her.

The moment her fingers touched the brass doorknob, Yan Shuang glanced back. Her parents stood behind Shang Qiuzhu and Yan You, their faces beaming. Her older sister nestled shyly against her fiancé's shoulder. Everyone was immersed in a perfect picture of happiness.

The door hinges creaked slightly, and Yan Shuang slipped into the night like a fish swimming into the deep sea. Her champagne-colored skirt rippled one last time before being swallowed by the darkness.

The air in the garden was moist with dew. Yan Shuang took a deep breath and finally the smell of champagne and perfume was gone.

She took off her high heels and carried them in her hand, then walked barefoot across the cool cobblestone path.

The music from the distant banquet hall became muffled, like an echo from another world.

Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the bushes. Yan Shuang froze on the spot, afraid that it was the maid who came to find her.

But what emerged was a calico cat, which tilted its head and sized up the strange human who was dressed in fine clothes but barefoot.

"You escaped too?" Yan Shuang asked softly, squatting down to stroke its rough fur.

Inside the banquet hall, Yan You linked arms with Shang Qiuzhu, her smile perfectly balanced, conveying both ownership and elegance.

"Mr. Shang is young and promising, and he has found such a wonderful wife. He is truly the envy of everyone!" This compliment from a certain chairman drifted into my ears for the umpteenth time.

Shangqiu Zhu smiled faintly, maintaining politeness while keeping a distance to prevent further personal interaction.

He glanced down at his watch; only half an hour had passed, but the engagement party felt like an eternity.

The phone in the inside pocket of his suit suddenly vibrated; it was a report from the Singapore project team leader.

He nodded slightly. "Work call."

Before Yan You could even frown, Shang Qiuzhu had already walked towards the terrace, her cheerful laughter echoing behind her: "My Qiuzhu brother is just too responsible at work..."

The air on the terrace was filled with the rich scent of night-blooming jasmine. Shangqiu Zhu hung up after receiving brief instructions, but did not immediately return to the banquet hall.

He took out a lighter from his suit pocket and slowly lit a cigarette.

"...Young Master Zhao, please have some self-respect."

A soft but clearly resistant female voice came from behind the rose bushes not far away.

By the light shining from the banquet hall, Shang Qiuzhu saw that Yan Shuang was being cornered by Zhao Mingyuan.

He exhaled a smoke ring and leaned against the Roman column, unmoved.

He was in a terrible mood today and had no interest in playing the hero.

"Miss Yan, please don't be so cold. Your sister is already engaged, shouldn't the Yan family start considering your marriage?"

Yan Shuang lowered her head, twisting her fingers around the hem of her skirt, looking pitiful.

"I...I have to go back..." Yan Shuang said softly, trying to slip away from Zhao Mingyuan.

Zhao Mingyuan grabbed her wrist: "What's the rush? I heard you don't have much status in the Yan family. Why don't you come with me? I guarantee you'll live a more comfortable life than you do in the Yan family."

Shangqiu Zhu was about to turn around and leave this boring drama when she suddenly stopped.

Because he saw Yan Shuang raise her head, a cold smile that was completely out of place with her delicate appearance.

“Young Master Zhao,” her voice was still gentle, “your zipper is open.”

Zhao Mingyuan instinctively lowered his head, and Yan Shuang took the opportunity to pull her wrist away and quickly took two steps back.

At the same time, a waiter happened to be carrying a tray and came from around the corner, and Yan Shuang "accidentally" bumped into him.

Whoosh!

An entire plate of red wine was spilled onto Zhao Mingyuan's pristine white suit.

"Ah! I'm so sorry!" Yan Shuang exclaimed. She hurriedly pulled out a handkerchief, but while "helping to wipe" the wine, she "accidentally" spread the red wine even more.

"You!" Zhao Mingyuan's face turned ashen.

"My God, Young Master Zhao!" Yan Shuang raised her voice, a sly glint in her eyes, "Not only is your zipper open, but your clothes are also..."

Zhao Mingyuan's expression froze instantly. "I...I'll go change my clothes!" Zhao Mingyuan turned around hastily, but tripped over his own shoelace in his panic.

Shangqiu Zhu clearly saw that Yan Shuang had "inadvertently" stepped on the shoelace.

Watching Zhao Mingyuan's disheveled departure, Yan Shuang straightened her skirt, and the gentle expression on her face vanished like a mask.