As night fell, the apartment was silently filled with darkness, with only a few rays of light filtering in and illuminating the naked, long-haired woman.
The sound of rushing water came from the bathroom. The lethal acetaminophen capsules were being played with by Gao Xian Yue as if they were toys.
When Yan Chen came out of the shower, he saw that her palm was already covered with a large handful of food, so he immediately pulled her arm up forcefully.
Capsules were scattered all over the ground. Gao Xian Yue chuckled when she saw how nervous he was.
"You don't think I'm going to kill myself, do you?"
Yan Chen stared intently at her, his jaw clenched, and remained silent.
That's what he saw. During her years abroad, Gao Xianyue attempted suicide by cutting her wrists and taking medication no less than twenty times, and Yan Chen saved her every time.
"Oh dear, I really didn't want to die, don't be so nervous."
Gao Xianyue wrapped her arms around his neck. "I met someone really interesting today. Suddenly I feel like living is much more fun than dying. Can you help me? Please help me, Yan Chen. I need your help."
She was pressed against him, completely naked, even though they had just been entangled in bed.
Yan Chen could never refuse her; his Adam's apple slowly bobbed down.
"good."
**
On the eve of the engagement banquet, private planes carrying flowers from all over the world landed one after another on the tarmac of the Garden Hotel. They were all rare and exotic flowers that Shen Yuan loved, and the bright Freud flowers almost covered the main venue from the entrance.
A giant silk fabric woven with magnolia blossoms, transparent as silk under the crystal chandelier, was specially commissioned from haute couture artisans, but this was merely the entrance passage for guests.
The entire Kyushu media was invited by Shen Fu, and reporters carrying long lenses and microphones filled the hotel's main entrance and main road.
The Alphard electric car started up immediately, and Meng Jiuyi was the last to get out. The suffocating clicks of the camera shutter still left her breathless.
The woman in the still frame looks up, bewildered and slightly confused, her nose flushed red, like a butterfly with outstretched wings standing on it.
The entertainment reporter immediately decided to use this photo as the cover of this issue's behind-the-scenes feature.
Upon entering the venue, guests were numerous, including many whose names were well-known from television news, all accompanied by their families.
Meng Jiuyi didn't see Shen Yuan, and was considering whether to squeeze into the crowd to make her seem busy.
Tan Ni, who was socializing, noticed her immediately and, after saying goodbye, took her arm.
"Xiao Jiu, you're finally here! Otherwise, I would have thrown up just hearing about Los Angeles."
That's how socialites socialize; everyone flatters her, trying to decipher every word she utters.
When Tan Ni mentioned that she had visited LA in the winter a few years ago, the other person immediately launched into a series of interesting anecdotes about the desert hotels and attractions, and the conversation flowed on and on.
Tan Ni could only nod with a forced smile.
Meng Jiuyi said seriously, "I've never been to Los Angeles. Why don't you tell me what they said?"
Tan Ni feigned anger: "Fine! You think I'm not annoying enough already?"
Meng Jiuyi smiled, but froze when his gaze casually swept across the room.
Under the soft lamplight, shadows flickered. Shen Yuan's father, introduced by Tan Yuchen, smiled broadly and reached out his hands to shake hands and chat with the other party.
Having grown accustomed to his lazy demeanor at parties, it's rare to see him in formal attire. The gilded embroidered swallowtail tuxedo not only failed to suppress his wild and untamed nature, but instead added a touch of nobility.
The man was also holding a wine glass in his hand, his nonchalant manner making it seem as if he were carrying a glass of Luckin Coffee.
What Meng Jiuyi found strange was that usually it was the father-in-law who introduced his son-in-law to others, but in his case it was completely the other way around.
Perhaps because her gaze lingered for too long, Tan Ni followed suit, looking sullen.
“I hardly recognize my brother anymore. It’s obvious that he’s being used by the Shen family.”
The people who came to the banquet were all there because of the Tan family and Zhou Congjin. During this time, Tan Ni watched as Tan Yuchen personally helped the Shen family rise to a higher level.
"Is he still the third brother I know?"
Seeing the desolation in Tan Ni's eyes, Meng Jiuyi felt a pang of sadness.
She could face Tan Yuchen without any guilt, but even though she knew Tan Ni didn't like Shen Yuan, she still made Shen Yuan her sister-in-law because of her own selfish desires.
Is it possible that my cousin also has a little bit of a crush on Miss Shen?
"Is that so?"
Who knows what's going on in this man's mind?
Their gazes lingered for too long, and the man glanced in their direction unintentionally. The heavy lamplight blurred his expression, but it still made people uneasy.
Meng Jiuyi turned around reflexively.
Tan Sheng was waiting for her not far away, his eyes filled with unspoken words.
Meng Jiuyi shook his head at him, telling him not to come over.
But this fool did the opposite; when he was with Tan Ni, he couldn't stop talking about Meng Jiuyi.
Her fourth brother is usually busy with work and doesn't have much to say.
Tan Ni immediately felt something was off, and couldn't help but glance at him and Meng Jiuyi a few more times, her lips curving into a knowing smile.
Meng Jiuyi felt a chill run down his spine.
What's wrong with you?
She called Tan Sheng to a private corner outside the banquet hall and whispered, "Didn't I tell you not to come? Didn't you notice that Tan Ni noticed?"
Tan Sheng only had eyes for him, "Xiao Jiu, I missed you."
Meng Jiuyi's head was practically twice the size of his own.
How exactly did Feng Lan raise her son? She's such a shrewd and cunning mother, yet her son is obsessed with romance.
Thanks to Tan Sheng's help, Feng Lan hasn't gone to the Meng residence to cause trouble for Mo Ruyue recently, but if she continues to get entangled with Tan Sheng like this, she'll definitely get into big trouble.
She wanted to say goodbye to him immediately, but she was worried that he might do something rash at the banquet.
Meng Jiuyi could only try her best to appease him, "Cousin, I have been replying to your messages. There are too many people at the banquet, can you go back first? Let's pretend we're not close."
"How about we go out and have fun for a few days tomorrow? I really don't want to see you again—"
Hearing a slight noise, Meng Jiuyi suddenly looked towards the corner.
"who?"
Tan Sheng immediately shielded her behind him. At the corner of the long corridor, only a wisp of smoke could be seen dissipating before someone emerged from the shadows.
It turned out to be Xu Yanzhi.
Meng Jiuyi felt as if a club had fallen on her, making her dizzy and disoriented.
Why do I run into him everywhere I go?
The man had taken off his suit jacket, his shirt neatly tucked into his trousers, and the only accessory he wore was the Windsor knot in his tie. His mechanical watch was securely fastened to his wrist, and the smoke from his cigarette still curled into the shape of wind between his fingers.
It's obvious he just came out for a smoke during halftime.
Xu Yanzhi slowly approached, his eyes misty as he looked at Tan Sheng's tightly gripping hand and her evasive face.
The light, like a fog, covered his face, making him look even colder and more somber.
Upon seeing that it was Xu Yanzhi, Tan Sheng suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Brother Xu, what are you doing here?"
"Come out for a smoke."
Xu Yanzhi's lips curled into a slight smile. "Sorry to bother you?"
His voice was deep and mellow, and even his apologies were gentlemanly and polite.
Even if Tan Sheng had been slightly displeased just now, it had completely vanished. Moreover, judging from the cigarette in his hand, he must have arrived even earlier than them.
"Brother Xu, you flatter me. My family doesn't know about Xiao Jiu and me, so please keep it a secret."
He knew this was clearly unnecessary, and given Xu Yanzhi's upbringing, he would probably forget everything once he left, but he was considering Meng Jiuyi's situation.
I still need to ask him for help.
It's all kept secret.
Xu Yanzhi stared at her downcast face, looking down at her with increasingly dark eyes, "Since you have feelings for each other, why don't you let your family know?"
You know perfectly well why you're asking this!
He overheard everything clearly last time, so what else doesn't he understand?
Meng Jiuyi glared at him.
Tan Sheng smiled and said, "There are still many obstacles. Some things cannot be changed overnight. We have to take it slowly."
Xu Yanzhi said in a deep voice, "If there are obstacles, then solve them. Do you think it's appropriate to make a girl hide from you like this?"
He has a very good voice, patient, gentle, calm, and powerful.
Like a gentle breeze blowing through the willows in March, Meng Jiuyi suddenly felt a lump in his throat and blinked hard.
Xu Yanzhi was just like that—upright and honest.
She is a despicable person who constantly lies.
They can only keep using one lie to cover up another.
Tonight, he wrapped her lies in a fragile shell.
She tugged at Tan Sheng's hand, without looking at anyone else.
"Let's go."
Tan Sheng nodded and bid farewell to Xu Yanzhi.
She walked very fast, without ever looking back.
It was as if Xu Yanzhi was just an interlude in her life.
The music ended and the audience dispersed.
Xu Yanzhi watched her back as Tan Sheng put his arm around her shoulder and they walked side by side.
The smoke blurred his face, and Xu Yanzhi closed his eyes, feeling a pang of heartache.
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