Chapter 27 My Little Princess
In the banquet hall, a giant crystal chandelier hangs high above the ceiling, like a shining dream palace.
Thousands of natural crystals are strung together, crystal clear, swaying slightly under the caress of the air-conditioning airflow, reflecting brilliant light, and the ground is filled with tiny spots of light.
The surrounding walls are carefully inlaid with gilded reliefs with exquisite craftsmanship, and every line exudes luxury and elegance.
The long table in the center is like a work of art, covered with a hand-embroidered silk tablecloth with delicate needlework outlining exquisite patterns.
The Italian bone china tableware on the table glows with a pearl-like luster under the light, exuding an atmosphere of low-key luxury.
The waiters were dressed in uniform, walked lightly and steadily, and moved among the crowd carrying silver trays in their hands.
On the trays are delicacies airlifted from various places. The exquisite presentation looks like a piece of art, exuding an enticing aroma.
However, at this moment, in the huge banquet hall, Jiang Shixu was the only one standing quietly in the center.
Jiang's father and mother then walked into the banquet hall. Seeing that only their son was in the hall, they couldn't help but frowned slightly and asked, "Where is Ting Wan?"
"Ruan Yue is nervous." Jiang Shixu's tone remained calm, and his eyes subconsciously swept towards the second floor, "Ting Wan is accompanying her."
As time went by, guests arrived one after another.
For a moment, the banquet hall was bustling with the scent of women in lingerie.
The eyes of the young ladies from the noble families all fell on Jiang Shixu.
He stood tall and straight, quietly in the middle of the hall, with an indifferent expression, yet he seemed to have a powerful aura that could not be ignored.
The slender figure, set off by the champagne-colored suit, looks even more heroic, like a sword drawn from its sheath, restrained yet steady and extraordinary.
"Hey, why is Wanwan gone?" Lu Yiqiao took Lu Zhaoye's arm and looked around the crowd curiously.
Lu Zhaoye raised the corner of his mouth and said jokingly, "Maybe he was too nervous to come out."
"Brother!" Lu Yiqiao glared at him in dissatisfaction.
"When has Wanwan ever been nervous?" She paused, then whispered, "I still want Wanwan to be my sister-in-law! If you keep talking like this, you will never be able to snatch Brother Chen Guan's place!"
"Oh?" Shen Guan, who was standing aside, raised his eyebrows and chuckled when he heard this, saying with a half-smile, "It's normal that your brother can't win over me."
As the three of them spoke, they walked up to Jiang Shixu and exchanged a few simple greetings.
Chen Guan stayed to talk with Jiang Shixu, while Lu Yiqiao pulled Lu Zhaoye aside and whispered, "Jiang Shixu is so handsome! I can't imagine how pleasing to the eye Wanwan will be standing next to him!"
Lu Zhaoye glanced at her sideways and did not respond.
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At the same time, in the lounge on the second floor, Ruan Yue sat on the sofa with a nervous expression, her fingers tightly clenched on the hem of her skirt, her knuckles turned white from the force, and her breathing became rapid.
Jiang Tingwan half-knelt in front of her, her eyes gentle and focused. She gently handed a cup of warm water to her and said softly, "Look at me." Her voice gently soothed Ruan Yue, "Take a deep breath - yes, like this."
The sound of guests' laughter and chatter could be heard faintly outside the window. When Ruan Yue heard it, his shoulders unconsciously tensed up again.
Seeing this, Jiang Tingwan gently held her face with both hands and forced her to look at him, his eyes firm and encouraging.
"Remember, you are the eldest daughter of the Jiang family. No one is more dazzling than you tonight."
Downstairs, the band played the first dance music, and the melodious tune echoed throughout the banquet hall. Jiang Tingwan knew that it was time for them to perform.
She slowly stood up, extended her hand to Ruan Yue, a warm smile spread across her face, and asked softly.
"Are you ready, my little princess?"
Ruan Yue looked a little dazed. After a moment, she put her hand on Jiang Tingwan's hand.
Jiang Tingwan smiled and nodded, and the two walked towards the stairs side by side.
The light from the chandelier poured down like a galaxy of stars. When Jiang Tingwan appeared at the top of the spiral staircase with Ruan Yue, the noise in the entire banquet hall came to an abrupt halt.
Jiang Tingwan wore a champagne-colored tasseled fishtail dress. The Swarovski sequins on the dress swayed gently with her every step, shining brightly. The deep V-neckline just revealed her delicate clavicle lines, showing her elegance and sexiness. The tassels hanging from the tulle sleeves trembled slightly with her movements.
The unique hollow design on the waist, the faintly visible skin and the dazzling sequins set off each other, creating a fatal temptation.
The hem of her fishtail skirt swayed gracefully and slowly as she walked down the stairs. Every movement was full of luxury and elegance.
Ruan Yue beside her was equally radiant, but at this moment, everyone's attention was involuntarily attracted to Jiang Tingwan.
When she tilted her head slightly and gave Ruan Yue an encouraging smile, the smile that bloomed instantly made many guests present hold their breath.
The eldest daughter of the Jiang family, who has always been cold and gentle, now has a breathtaking brightness and charm in her eyes.
When Lu Zhaoye saw this scene, his eyes suddenly became deep, and there was a hint of imperceptible surprise and excitement in his eyes.
There was an undisguised look of amazement in Shen Guan's eyes, as if he had a new understanding of Jiang Tingwan.
Jiang Shixu, who was always calm and self-possessed, couldn't help but stop greeting the guests and kept his eyes on Jiang Tingwan for a long time.
“It seems…” Shen Guan chuckled softly, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the wine glass in his hand, “I have to re-evaluate my competitors tonight.”
Jiang Tingwan seemed to sense something and raised her eyes slightly, looking in their direction.
The light of the crystal lamp fell on her eyelashes, casting tiny shadows, but it could not cover the picturesque features of the beauty at all. Instead, it added a bit of mystery and hazy beauty to her.
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Jiang's mother gently took Ruan Yue's hand, and the two stood on the stage together.
Mother Jiang looked solemn and spoke in a clear and powerful voice.
"Tonight, this banquet is not only to welcome Shi Xu's return, but also a family reunion banquet for my Jiang family's lost and found daughter, Ruan Yue."
As soon as these words were spoken, there was an uproar in the audience. The guests whispered to each other and talked in low voices. Their eyes were like spotlights on Ruan Yue, who was on the stage wearing a dreamy dress.
Ruan Yue was so nervous that her fingertips trembled slightly and her heart was beating violently in her chest.
Jiang Tingwan was standing in the audience. She noticed her uneasiness and immediately gave her a reassuring smile while silently mouthing the words "Don't be afraid".
At some point, Lu Zhaoye quietly stood beside Jiang Tingwan.
He shook the wine glass in his hand, and the liquid inside swayed gently, emitting an alluring luster.
He asked in a low voice with a hint of sarcasm.
"A new sister has returned. How does Miss Jiang feel about this?"
Jiang Tingwan raised her eyebrows slightly, a faint smile appeared on the corner of her lips, and responded.
"I'm afraid it won't go as Mr. Lu wishes. We are very happy to meet each other."
Lu Zhaoye sneered, glanced at the stage, and said meaningfully.
"It's like this now, but it may not be the case in the future."
Jiang Tingwan couldn't help but frown slightly, she understood that Lu Zhaoye had something else to say.
She glanced at Lu Zhaoye and said in a rare serious tone: "She doesn't look like the kind of person who would play tricks."
Lu Zhaoye didn't say anything else, just took a sip of wine.
I hope this is true. After all, although Jiang Tingwan is smart, if she really meets someone who is good at disguise, she may not be his opponent.
Just as everyone's attention was focused on the stage, at the other end of the banquet hall, a sharp gaze quietly fell on Jiang Tingwan.
The man was tall and strong, like a steady mountain. He was wearing a neatly tailored black suit that fit his figure perfectly, making him look even more imposing.
His facial features were sharp, his brows were deep, and his pair of black eyes were as sharp as an eagle's. However, when he looked at Jiang Tingwan, he revealed an almost focused passion, as if she was a unique treasure in the world.
He seemed not to care at all about what was being announced on the stage. The whole world seemed to have blurred in his eyes, and only Jiang Tingwan's figure was extremely clear.
He just stared at her closely, his eyes full of persistence.
Jiang Tingwan seemed to notice something and subconsciously looked back.
In an instant, their eyes met.
The man didn't even try to dodge and just stared at her straight in the eyes, with unreserved passion in them.
Jiang Tingwan frowned slightly. She was sure that she didn't remember which banquet she had met this person at.
However, there was a familiarity in his eyes, as if they had known each other for a long time.
Lu Zhaoye noticed something strange about her and followed her gaze, only to find that the man was staring at Jiang Tingwan without any concealment.
For some reason, he felt an inexplicable impatience in his heart. He quietly moved sideways and stood between Jiang Tingwan and the man.
Jiang Tingwan came back to his senses after his vision was blocked.
She raised her eyes to look at Lu Zhaoye, a teasing smile appeared on the corner of her lips, and asked: "Master Lu, what are you doing?"
Lu Zhaoye lowered his eyes and looked at her, saying calmly, "The wind is strong, I'm afraid you'll catch a cold."
Jiang Tingwan couldn't help but chuckle and was about to say something when Jiang's mother on the stage announced the official start of the banquet.
Melodious music sounded at the right time, guests raised their glasses one after another, and laughter echoed in the banquet hall.
And that burning gaze, like an invisible brand, was deeply left on Jiang Tingwan's back.
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