Tan Yuchen did not reply.
They had just added each other on WeChat. His profile picture was a solid black background with a beam of light piercing through an ice cube, refracting a dazzling light. Meng Jiuyi found his profile picture an eyesore and immediately deleted his chat.
The jeers came from behind him.
"My God, she's so shameless, coming to a place like this to try and pick up men."
"What good is a face? For this kind of person, a face is the least valuable thing. While they're young, the most important thing is to learn from her mother and use any means necessary to climb the social ladder."
Meng Jiuyi lowered her head, listening clearly, and bit her lip in annoyance.
"You don't know her mother, do you? She's a parasitic lily. Back then, she begged and pleaded to marry into the Meng family because of the child in her belly."
"Although it was quite an ugly affair, I have to admit it was a clever tactic."
This wasn't the first time she'd heard such words. Meng Jiuyi initially wanted to ignore them, but some things were simply unbearable. She turned around and walked over to the two women who were chatting.
"What methods?"
The two instantly felt awkward, realizing they had been overheard gossiping behind each other's backs.
"Miss Meng, what a coincidence!"
"unfortunately."
Meng Jiuyi curled her lips without a smile, "I was drawn here by your conversation, why don't you continue? Tell us so we can all have fun together."
The two women became increasingly embarrassed.
We're talking about a certain TV series—
Meng Jiuyi approached them, holding a wine glass, and poured it. The woman in the black satin dress, thinking she was about to be splashed, stepped back in fright, her glass being lightly tapped.
"My face is worthless. I'll do anything to splash men or women, it makes no difference to me. If you keep spouting nonsense and I hear you again, I'll buy you drinks, okay?"
By the end, her face was devoid of any smile, and her cold eyes sent a chill down one's spine.
The two women apologized and left quickly.
Meng Jiuyi put down her wine glass and turned around, only to be met with a gaze that was coldly fixed on her from not far away, her eyes like thorns.
She probably saw what happened earlier.
Meng Jiuyi pursed his lips, resigned to his fate, and let her think whatever she wanted.
Having not eaten anything all night, she went to the long table to get a plate of dessert. Suddenly, a figure stumbled and bumped into her from behind. If she hadn't caught it in time, the wine in the other person's hand would have spilled on her skirt.
"sorry!"
The girl wore a pink satin dress, her curly hair half-tied into a ponytail with a bow; her simple and playful outfit exuded an indescribable air of elegance. She was the girl Meng Yintong had flattered earlier.
She looked guilty.
"Did you get it dirty? I'll pay for it, okay?"
In this circle, fawning on the powerful and belittling the weak is the norm. You see different people with different faces, one after another. The person in front of me is straightforward and innocent, clearly protected outside the rules.
Meng Jiuyi smiled, and her expression became more lively.
"There's nothing wrong with the dress, but I wouldn't mind if you wanted to give it to me."
"Okay, so what kind do you like? How about I have my PR person deliver it to you?"
Another rich young lady; Meng Jiuyi was just joking with her.
"I--"
"What's wrong, Ni Ni?" Noticing their disagreement, Meng Yintong stepped forward and shielded Tan Ni behind her.
"Meng Jiuyi, what kind of good deed have you done now?"
Meng Jiuyi pursed his lips and looked at her, "What did you see me do this time?"
Don't you know that yourself?
Meng Yintong retorted sarcastically, "How many times are you going to use that wine-throwing trick? You keep copying your mother's disgusting methods."
Meng Yintong clearly saw through the mistake with the red wine earlier; it was definitely premeditated and a seduction.
She even seduced a middle-aged man! She's practically an old man now!
Meng Jiuyi's eyes turned slightly cold, and her tone was neither too light nor too heavy, "Are you talking about yourself, sister? It's true that if the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be crooked too. I'm just imitating you."
Meng Yintong's marriage originated from a glass of wine, and she often boasts that it is a match made in heaven.
She was furious.
"you--"
Tan Ni grabbed her hand and quickly explained, "No, cousin, it really was me who almost spilled the wine on this lady. Please don't misunderstand her."
Cousin? Meng Jiuyi looked at her in surprise.
Feng Ran has only one younger sister, Feng Lan, who married into the Tan family, one of the top wealthy families in Kyushu. She can call Meng Yintong her cousin.
They only talked about family.
Tan Ni asked, "Cousin, do you two know each other?"
Meng Yintong had no intention of introducing herself, and stubbornly said, "...I don't know her!"
Tan Ni is a very empathetic person. She could tell that the two of them had a disagreement. "It really has nothing to do with her, cousin. It's all my fault. Don't talk about her like that."
Meng Yintong was too lazy to call her naive; some people are just as cunning as a lump of coal.
"By the way, where's my cousin? I haven't seen him."
Upon hearing her mention Tan Yuchen, the other young ladies, who seemed indifferent at first glance, involuntarily perked up their ears.
The Shen sisters, in particular, had come specifically for him and were afraid of missing this opportunity to meet him.
Tan Ni was also looking for it. "I don't know. I didn't come with my brother, but I heard that he accepted the invitation."
As soon as he finished speaking, the room fell silent, and everyone's eyes turned to the door.
Such a commotion must mean that a distinguished guest has arrived. Meng Jiuyi also looked over in surprise, and among the many figures, she saw Tan Yuchen.
Everyone else was dressed in suits and ties, but he was wearing a loose gray shirt and a suit jacket draped casually over his shoulders. Compared to the formal attire of the others, his nonchalant and unruly demeanor made him seem like he was just there to fill a spot.
From the moment he appeared at the banquet, everyone's eyes were on him. Meng Jiuyi saw Cen Dong step forward and bump fists with him, and then introduce him to other friends.
These two people clearly knew each other a long time ago!
Meng Jiuyi bit her lower lip, hating herself for not being well-informed enough. She belatedly realized that this man had deliberately set a trap for her. If only she had known about his relationship with Cen Dong earlier...
She would never come, even if you killed her.
Perhaps because his gaze was too venomous, Tan Yuchen lazily glanced in her direction. The distance was too far for Meng Jiuyi to see his expression clearly, but her heart tightened for no reason.
She took the plate and left.
"What are you looking at?" Cen Dong followed his gaze and immediately saw Tan Ni and several girls beside her.
"If Ni Ni stays in China frequently in the future, will her body be able to handle it?"
The young lady from the Tan family had severe bronchitis. Tan Yuchen only allowed her to return to China after she underwent two surgeries.
Tan Yuchen said calmly, "As long as you're not provoked, you'll be fine."
Did you enjoy your afternoon tea yesterday?
Tan Yuchen glanced at him. "Since you're so concerned, should I get your contact information?"
Cen Dong laughed heartily, but weariness was evident between his brows.
Old Madam Tan was extremely worried about Tan Yuchen's marriage. In the past, he was constantly involved in scandals and was practically a regular in the Kyushu entertainment newspapers. She thought her grandson had been behaving himself lately, but unexpectedly, trouble arose again. So she immediately arranged for a young lady of similar character, appearance, and family background to meet him, almost dragging him there, hoping to make him settle down.
"I don't have your charm that appeals to all ages."
Tan Yuchen squinted at him and slowly began to speak.
"If you're not smart enough, use fewer idioms."
Cen Dong chuckled, then inadvertently caught a glimpse of a figure moving through the banquet hall, and raised an eyebrow.
"I didn't expect her to come too. I haven't seen her for years, and she's even more beautiful than before."
Seeing that Tan Yuchen did not react, Cen Dong said, "It's that one from the Meng family."
Tan Yuchen glanced in the direction his chin was slightly raised. She was standing by the long table picking up cake. Everyone at the banquet was socializing; who had the heart to eat?
But her plate was almost full.
The crystal chandelier hung high, its light like scattered snowflakes falling on her eyelashes, which fluttered gently like butterflies flapping their wings.
Tan Yuchen repeated his words with a blank expression.
"Meng?"
"A relative from your fourth aunt's branch of the family, her name is Meng something."
Cen Dong couldn't recall her, but among all the beauties he had seen, this one was exceptional.
He asked, puzzled, "Really no recollection? You're really neglecting your duty as a cousin."
Someone just called him that.
Gritting his teeth, speaking in a hypocritical tone.
Tan Yuchen's eyebrows twitched slightly, his tone casual.
"I don't know him."
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