Chapter 51 Engagement Banquet (Part 1) When Qi Xueqing took Gu Qingyan's hand...
Two days before the engagement banquet, Zhou Xubai's parents flew back from abroad as scheduled.
To show respect and to make Lin Yuwei feel more relaxed, Zhou Xubai specially arranged a small family dinner so that both sets of parents could meet before the formal occasion.
The restaurant was set up in an elegant and private room. Mr. and Mrs. Zhou were dressed casually but appropriately, their faces showing a hint of fatigue from the long flight, but more than anything, gentleness and anticipation. Lin Yulan, on the other hand, was clearly dressed up carefully, wearing a dignified suit, and because she was in a good mood recently, she was radiant.
"Mrs. Lin, hello. I've often heard Xu Bai mention you. It's great to finally meet you today." Mrs. Zhou extended her hand warmly and shook hands with Lin Yulan. Her gaze then turned tenderly to Lin Yuwei: "Weiwei is so outstanding and beautiful. Our Xu Bai is so lucky."
"Mrs. Zhou, you're too kind. It's our Weiwei who's so lucky! Xu Bai is such a wonderful child, so thoughtful and considerate, and so successful in his career." Lin Yulan replied with a smile, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes smoothing out. She took the hand of Lin Yuwei, who was a little reserved beside her, and patted it gently, her tone full of satisfaction: "Seeing the two of them getting along so well, I'm really... really indescribably happy."
The atmosphere at the dinner was very harmonious. Zhou's parents were knowledgeable and witty, and they also inquired about Lin Yulan's health and daily life with great care. Lin Yulan praised Zhou Xubai highly, and her eyes were full of satisfaction and pleasure.
After a few rounds of drinks, Lin Yulan, perhaps too happy, or perhaps driven by a subconscious sense of accomplishment for "bringing things together," held her wine glass and said to Zhou's parents with a touch of emotion and barely perceptible pride, "Honestly, in-laws, seeing the two of you so happy and getting engaged, a huge weight has finally been lifted off my shoulders. It's wonderful, they're such a perfect match!"
She paused, lowering her voice slightly, as if sharing a secret, yet loud enough for everyone at the table to hear: "To be honest, at first, our Weiwei was hesitant. Girls are shy and overthink things. It was only after I gave them a push that she finally agreed. Now it seems like it was the right thing to do! Sometimes, fate just needs someone to give it a push, don't you think?"
Upon hearing this, the air in the room seemed to freeze for a moment.
The question that had been troubling Lin Yuwei for days was finally answered. Her body stiffened for a moment, and the color drained from her face. She subconsciously looked at Zhou Xubai. Zhou Xubai gently squeezed her hand under the table, his face still showing a gentle smile, but a fleeting unease crossed his eyes.
Zhou's mother's smile remained elegant. She put down her wine glass, her voice gentle yet carrying a clear sense of distance. She first glanced at Zhou Xubai, her eyes filled with support, before turning to Lin Yulan and slowly saying, "As a mother, Mrs. Lin, we understand your concern for your child. However, Xubai's father and I have always felt that marriage is a major life event for the children themselves. Ultimately, it's most important that they truly feel it's good and that they themselves experience happiness. Others' opinions are ultimately just for reference."
Mr. Zhou nodded in agreement and chimed in, his tone gentle yet his stance clear: "Yes, as parents, the most important thing is respect. Times have changed. Young people have their own ideas and pace. We trust Xu Bai's judgment and respect Weiwei's choice. As long as it's a decision they both made together, we will support them unconditionally." His words gently distinguished between "parental influence" and "their own choice."
After several exchanges, the Zhou family expressed their gratitude and subtly but firmly demonstrated their open-mindedness and respect for their children's autonomy, forming a subtle yet clear contrast with Lin Yulan's traditional concept of "parental responsibility" and "giving a push."
Lin Yulan's smile froze for a moment. Having been in the business world for decades, she realized she had misspoke and quickly covered it up with a smile, her tone slightly awkward: "Yes, yes, my dear in-laws are right. It's mainly because the children are in love with each other..." She picked up her wine glass and took a sip to hide her brief embarrassment.
Zhou Xubai raised his glass, smiling as he skillfully smoothed things over, steer the conversation toward looking forward to the future: "Thank you, Mom and Dad, thank you, Auntie. It's my greatest fortune to have come this far with Weiwei. We will make the most of our future together, so please don't worry."
The dinner continued with casual conversation, maintaining a seemingly harmonious and amicable atmosphere.
But Lin Yulan's words, which carried a sense of seeking credit, were like a cold pebble, unexpectedly thrown into Lin Yuwei's already turbulent heart. It did not stir up widespread ripples, but simply sank to the bottom, causing the temperature of the lake water to drop a few degrees, and an indescribable chill quietly spread from the bottom of her heart.
The more open-minded and understanding Zhou's parents are, and the more they emphasize "autonomy" and "choice," the more it reflects how much "push" from her mother and "compromise" she has made in standing here.
Zhou Xubai and Lin Yuwei's engagement banquet was held in the banquet hall of the most luxurious hotel in Mingchuan City, where crystal chandeliers glittered and the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers.
Zhou Xubai and Lin Yuwei were undoubtedly the focus of the entire event. He wore a perfectly tailored dark suit, looking gentle and handsome, and stayed by Lin Yuwei's side attentively, with an impeccable happy smile on his lips. Lin Yuwei wore a flowing and elegant custom-made wedding dress, with exquisite makeup, and was breathtakingly beautiful. She held Zhou Xubai's arm and responded to the guests' blessings with a proper smile.
Their seemingly perfect "affectionate" entrance drew praise from the guests, but this harmonious scene was soon disrupted by the appearance of another couple.
When Qi Xueqing, arm in arm with Gu Qingyan, walked intimately into the dazzling banquet hall, the air around them seemed to freeze and settle for a moment.
Qi Xueqing wore a sharply tailored dark red velvet dress, like a cluster of cold and beautiful flames, bright and dazzling. Beside her, Gu Qingyan wore a well-fitting dark suit, his posture as upright as a pine tree, his cold face revealing no emotion. The handsome man and beautiful woman walked side by side, creating a very impactful scene that attracted countless curious or inquisitive glances.
The happiest people were none other than Mr. and Mrs. Qi. Their outstanding daughter had been single for many years and had never brought a male companion to any formal occasion. But now, she suddenly appeared hand in hand with such a handsome, upright, and extraordinary man. This surprised them, but they were overjoyed, and their smiles instantly became incredibly bright.
Qi Xueqing felt her parents' burning gazes and a complex bitterness rose in her heart, but her smile became more and more composed. She took Gu Qingyan's hand and went straight to the table next to her parents to sit down. She introduced him to the two elders in a clear voice: "Dad, Mom, this is my college classmate, Gu Qingyan."
She lightly brushed off the word "classmate," but to the uncles and aunts around her, it became a shy excuse for the young man. Looking at Gu Qingyan's outstanding appearance and demeanor, and then at the subtle and close distance between him and Qi Xueqing, everyone showed knowing and kind smiles, their eyes filled with good-natured teasing and blessings, as if they had already accepted their relationship.
Gu Qingyan ignored this, merely nodding slightly as a greeting, but all her attention seemed to be drawn elsewhere by an invisible thread.
On the other side, Lin Yuwei, who was exchanging pleasantries with guests, also keenly noticed the subtle commotion at the entrance. She subconsciously turned around, her gaze piercing through the clinking glasses of the crowd, and precisely caught sight of the familiar figure etched into her very being beside Qi Xueqing—Gu Qingyan!
The two hadn't seen each other for almost a year, and time seemed to be compressed and stretched out at this moment. Across the fragrant clothes, the laughter and chatter, their eyes met and collided in the air. Lin Yuwei's polite smile froze instantly, her fingertips trembled slightly, and the glass of champagne in her hand almost tipped over.
Zhou Xubai immediately sensed the subtle change in the person beside him, the instant stiffening of her back and the almost stopped breathing. He followed Lin Yuwei's gaze and saw Qi Xueqing, and the man beside her with a cold expression but whose eyes were fixed on Lin Yuwei.
In a flash, Zhou Xubai suddenly understood why Lin Yuwei had seemingly casually inquired about Qi Xueqing a few days ago when she saw the guest list. At the time, she asked so casually that he took it as just ordinary conversation and told her that Qi Xueqing was the daughter of his father's old friend. They had played together when they were young, but had not been close friends since. He even asked her if she knew Qi Xueqing, to which she simply replied, "I saw her at a competition in college, but I don't really know her."
Now, watching Qi Xueqing and Gu Qingyan walking side by side, seemingly familiar, and seeing the almost murderous glint in Gu Qingyan's eyes that seemed to devour his fiancée, and reflecting on it all... Qi Xueqing was Gu Qingyan's classmate in university! The three of them... in those years he wasn't part of, perhaps there were some deep bonds he didn't know about. Lin Yuwei's seemingly casual inquiry might have concealed immense unease and a test!
Everything became clear in an instant, forming a glaring clue. A trace of pain from being deceived flashed across Zhou Xubai's eyes, but it was quickly covered by a stronger gentleness and tolerance. Now was not the time to question Lin Yuwei. He did not show any abnormality, but simply tightened his grip on her hand, holding Lin Yuwei's slightly cool fingers more firmly and tightly in his warm palm, as if he wanted to use this action to pull her back to reality from that distant gaze, and back to his side.
He gently stroked the back of her hand soothingly with his thumb, then turned his head and whispered softly in her ear, "What's wrong? Did you see someone you know?" His voice was as considerate as ever, but with a hint of tension and inquiry that was barely perceptible.
Lin Yuwei's long eyelashes drooped, casting a faint shadow under her eyelids. She lowered her head slightly, her voice so soft it almost blended into the surrounding music, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor: "Gu Qingyan is here."
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Author's Note: Come on, Gu, Zhou, and Lin, let's have a hair-pulling match! [Newbie Dog]
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