Chapter 11.11 Obscured by Clouds and Mist
The more He Peiru looked at herself in the mirror, the more she couldn't take her eyes off her.
Only through personal experience did I truly understand the meaning of "clothes make the man".
Just then, there was a knock on the door, and Sophia's voice came closer: "Miss, how much more time do you need to prepare?"
Sophia's image was reflected in the full-length mirror. He Peiru took one last look and replied, "It's all better now."
She then asked, "Where are my parents-in-law and uncle?"
Sohpia replied, "They were almost ready when I came up."
She didn't linger and quickly turned around, saying, "Then I'll go down now."
Fortunately, He Peiru was used to wearing high heels in some school settings, and she was quite adept at it.
She quickened her pace downstairs, silently anticipating her family's reaction when they saw her in the dress.
Perhaps because she was loved, He Peiru was eager to integrate into the Jiang family's life, which is why she cared about their opinions.
As soon as she came to a stop at the corner, she saw the two elderly people and Jiang Yici standing at the top of the stairs. Without even asking, she was certain that they had waited for her there on purpose.
Upon hearing the sound, they all turned to look in unison.
Zheng Wanqiao nodded in satisfaction: "Looking at you, you really are exactly the same as Ayan back then. It's just that you and your mother are both too reserved. If you could be a little more outgoing, that would be better."
Jiang Yaozong did not agree with his wife's statement, but gently shook his head: "Personality is something that cannot be changed by talking. I think Aru is just fine as she is."
Jiang Yici didn't join the conversation, but instead reminded them from the side, "It's time to go, it's almost time to start."
"Okay, let's go."
Zheng Wanqiao took He Peiru's hand, and the three generations walked together toward the banquet hall.
Jiang Yici then slowly told He Peiru about the things they had arranged recently: "We didn't want to distract you or make you overthink, so when we planned to invite Feng Shiqi and her mother to this dinner, we didn't tell you in advance, but they declined the invitation."
Upon hearing the first part of the sentence, He Peiru thought she could see Feng Shiqi at this important occasion, but the second part prompted her to immediately ask, "Why did they refuse?"
Jiang Yici pursed his lips.
When he first learned that He Peiru knew how to be grateful, he was glad that she understood these things without them having to say anything.
Later, she realized that she couldn't live without the people she had met along the way, so she told her exactly what her mother said: "Her mother said she never thought of coveting wealth and luxury, as long as you don't have to live so hard anymore, they never thought of getting anything in return."
These words left He Peiru with a lump in her throat: "They..."
Having done so much, she once again felt she had no way to repay him.
Jiang Yici had already thought of a response and continued, "I have already arranged for all the public facilities and other things in the housing estate where you used to live to be updated in your name. This is the most appropriate approach."
The design of the Chiang family ancestral home took many factors into consideration, and a banquet hall connected to the main building was built on the other side.
The distance was not far, and before He Peiru could even reply, she had already reached the outside of the banquet hall.
At this moment, Assistant Li, who had been stationed outside, came forward and told them, "Everyone, the invited guests have basically arrived, and the banquet can begin soon."
Jiang Yici nodded.
Having not seen any guests on the way here, He Peiru was about to take advantage of the break to look around when she spotted Gu Zhaoqian leaning against a pillar not far away.
His fingertips seemed to be mixed with specks of red light.
When Gu Zhaoqian saw them, he seemed to have no intention of hiding his presence, and said somewhat abruptly, "I thought you would be coming later."
"Do you think we're like you? With so many customers, it's best to start on time."
Jiang Yici's tone at this moment gave the impression of educating a younger generation.
He didn't mind at all, raising an eyebrow: "What I'm trying to say is that the protagonist is destined to arrive late."
He Peiru was amused by his words, which unconsciously eased her tension.
Jiang Yici seemed used to her like this and asked, "What are you doing standing outside? Why aren't you going inside?"
Gu Zhaoqian shrugged, his rolled eyes obscuring half his face: "I don't know if my dad is here or not. I don't want to run into him."
...
Jiang Yici didn't say anything more: "Then you can decide for yourself."
Zheng Wanqiao's plan was for them to enter through the main entrance together with He Peiru. She patted He Peiru on the back reassuringly and said, "Let's go in now."
Assistant Li immediately pushed open the banquet hall door with the others.
In that instant, the once bustling banquet hall fell silent, and every guest holding a wine glass turned to look at them.
The feeling of attracting attention made He Peiru suddenly hold her breath, but she didn't forget to maintain a perfectly appropriate smile.
The tension I had just managed to suppress resurfaced.
Jiang Yici took a small step forward and whispered to comfort her, "Don't be nervous, this is the Jiang family's home ground."
"Just call any elder you don't know 'Uncle' or 'Auntie'."
He Peiru nodded gently.
Guests, having regained their senses, came up one after another.
Even though it was only the first time He Peiru had met them, their reactions seemed to have been something she had known since childhood.
Her earnest concern left her nodding in response.
After finally getting out of the crowd, Jiang Yici took her to meet some relatively important elders.
Standing before her at this moment were all people of great renown and high moral standing—
"Ah Ru is studying at HKU, and she's even studying business? My spendthrift sons only know how to spend money. If only they were as smart as you."
“I went to the University of Hong Kong a few days ago and heard that Ah Ru’s grades are very good. It seems that it is true.”
"As expected of a descendant of the Chiang family, when will Mr. Chiang teach us how to educate future generations?"
Whether it was due to the Jiang family or He Peiru's own reasons, these elders were all more amiable than she had imagined.
They didn't seem nearly as serious as they appeared when viewed through a screen in the news or at various meetings.
Moreover, she doesn't even have a university degree yet, but she has already experienced the significance of academic qualifications.
Although the people present were so wealthy that they didn't need to worry about a certificate, the excellence they displayed was proof of the family's capabilities.
The Jiang family treated her very well, but He Peiru couldn't imagine whether they would still have the same attitude if she dropped out of middle school as He Zhong had suggested.
Her ethereal contemplation made it even harder for her to speak freely in this setting, but Jiang Yici gave her a reassuring look and thanked her for the praise without making a sound.
She didn't know when she would reach that level of ease and control.
Jiang Yici introduced her to many people.
On the surface, it seemed like celebrities from all walks of life came for her, but in essence, this banquet was a social occasion. It was obvious that many people around her were paying close attention to what was happening, just so they could have a word with Jiang Yici.
Jiang Yici seemed to sense that she was about to be overwhelmed, and quickly found the spot where Gu Zhaoqian was standing.
He didn't seem to be doing much better. As she approached Jiang Yici, she overheard their conversation still revolving around work.
All of this was irrelevant to Jiang Yici. After interrupting their conversation, he said to Gu Zhaoqian, "Qian, could you please show Aru around the area?"
"Perfect."
Gu Zhaoqian still gave face to everyone present and did not say the following sentence, "I don't want to stay here either."
Once they were away from the crowd, he turned to He Peiru and asked, "You've probably never been here before, have you? Let me show you around."
"good."
She nodded.
Even if she might not have anything to talk about with Gu Zhaoqian, it's still better than racking her brains to answer other people's questions in the banquet hall.
However, just as the two stepped onto the balcony, before He Peiru could even ask Gu Zhaoqian about the past of this banquet hall, they heard sparse conversations.
"I heard that the eldest daughter of the Jiang family used to live in public housing. Would you say she's risen from humble beginnings to become a phoenix?"
"Maybe she's just an illegitimate child. The Jiang family doesn't have many descendants to begin with, so they might just give her a title to acknowledge her."
"But when I heard she was studying at the University of Hong Kong, my dad almost pointed at my head and called me stupid."
The clear conversation left her speechless, and she even felt that it was better to avoid trouble and wanted to turn around and go somewhere else.
Gu Zhaoqian, however, showed no politeness whatsoever. He not only stepped forward but also...
He then directly said, "So this is what your upbringing is all about—gossiping about others behind their backs? Who gave you permission to say such things in the Jiang family?"
Those who were just talking were clearly startled by his sudden outburst, and when they turned around, it was clear they hadn't expected He Peiru to be there.
The women's faces turned terrified. They jostled each other helplessly, and finally one of them spoke up: "I'm sorry."
Gu Zhaoqian answered for her, "An apology doesn't necessarily mean you have to accept it. You should take care of yourselves first."
After saying "I'm sorry" many times, the others fled into the banquet hall as if they had been drenched in sweat.
Gu Zhaoqian watched their retreating figures and said dismissively, "Some people may appear glamorous on the surface, but many of them are like that in real life."
"But I think you should be more assertive."
“I feel like you…” He Peiru didn’t take these comments to heart. She felt that nothing in the world could be more excessive than He Zhong’s reprimands in the past.
She pondered for a moment, then organized her thoughts: "You seem to see things very clearly."
Gu Zhaoqian didn't keep her in suspense and told her directly, "After all, not every wealthy family can be like the Jiang family; most are probably chaotic and disorganized."
He Peiru suddenly recalled the conversation between him and Jiang Yici when they came out of the study last time she returned home, and boldly asked, "Is it... related to what you and my uncle talked about last time?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
He answered calmly.
Seeing that he didn't intend to continue, He Peiru didn't press him further.
She took a few steps forward and leaned against the balcony railing, gazing at the distant sea view, and sighed, "Sometimes I wonder if fate is just that magical."
Gu Zhaoqian did not answer, but waited for her to continue.
He Peiru smiled and said, "If it weren't for my mother's choice back then, I might not have been born, and I wouldn't have had such a difficult life or returned to the Jiang family now. But if my parents were still in this world, the final outcome would probably be different."
“Perhaps this is fate.” Gu Zhaoqian understood her complicated thoughts. “Besides, you’ve returned to the Jiang family at the best possible time.”
At this moment, he seemed to have shed his previous arrogance, and his words of advice were like those of a friendly older brother next door.
He Peiru glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.
Throughout this period of time, I have always felt that Gu Zhaoqian is a very nice person, but I can always sense his intentional or unintentional distance.
It's as if there's always a cloud obscuring his thoughts, making it impossible to see through them.
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