Halfway through the banquet, someone asked why Miss Tan had disappeared. Just as they were wondering, the lights in the century-old garden villa gradually dimmed, and all the light shone into an open flower hall on the second floor.
Beside the crystal grand piano, a young girl in a pale yellow dress, her skirt flowing gracefully to the ground like flamboyant peacock feathers.
As she pressed the first key, the crisp sound of water striking stone rang out, and the entire garden was instantly swept up by the piano music, trembling and stirring.
It is the "Grand Polonaise".
Meng Jiuyi could barely play a few tunes, but lacked professional training and resources. To put it bluntly, it was no different from playing cotton.
She stood there, staring blankly, and suddenly remembered when she first returned to the Meng family many years ago. Fifteen-year-old Meng Yintong sat in front of the Steinway piano in the living room, shining brightly, the music flying with her fingers, while Meng Jiuyi looked like Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden for the first time, her eyes full of staggering and inferiority, looking at her father's other daughter.
After Meng Yintong finished playing, she walked arrogantly toward her.
Are you the servant's child?
She wasn't, and she would never be, in their world.
As the last key fell, thunderous applause resounded in Meng Jiuyi's ears. She smiled and clapped along.
After the song ended, Tan Ni calmly shook hands with the other person as she went downstairs. She simply smiled slightly, and the noble air of a young lady from a wealthy family was unconsciously revealed.
Seeing Meng Jiuyi not far away, she smiled.
"Jiuyi!"
Meng Jiuyi stepped forward slowly and said sincerely, "The music tonight was particularly beautiful; even I, a layman, felt as if I were there."
"Thanks."
Tan Ni looked at her with admiration, "This dress really suits you. I thought my brother just picked it randomly, but I didn't expect it to be so beautiful."
Meng Jiuyi froze instantly, even his expression became stiff.
"This dress...was picked out by your brother?"
Tan Ni didn't notice her unusual behavior.
"Yeah, I have decision-making anxiety. The PR sent so many lookbooks, so I just asked him to help me choose. By the way, you haven't met my brother yet, have you?"
Tan Ni looked around and saw Tan Yuchen and a group of young men sitting on lounge chairs by the pool. Tang Ning was also there, handing him a glass of sparkling wine.
Tan Yuchen took it but didn't drink it; he just held it in his hand and shook it gently.
She waved her arms, "Brother—"
Before Meng Jiuyi could stop him, Tan Yuchen had already turned his head away. Just then, someone came up to him, bowed, and exchanged pleasantries, perfectly missing the opportunity.
Tan Ni is going to find him.
Meng Jiuyi quickly stopped her, "Forget it! Your brother is busy, and there's no need for that—"
After being threatened like that by him last time, Meng Jiuyi now least wants to see him.
"no!"
Tan Ni insisted on going over, and no one knew what they were talking about. He glanced at Meng Jiuyi indifferently, and Meng Jiuyi's heart tightened.
After much persuasion, they managed to get the person to come over.
Now it was Meng Jiuyi's turn to be at a loss.
Amidst a sea of suits and ties, he stood out in a patchwork shirt, his broad shoulders and the hem billowing in the wind.
This outfit doesn't look like someone attending a banquet; it's more like someone who's just wandered off from a brothel and is casually heading home, exuding a decadent, carefree vibe.
As they approached, the man's brow bone and nose became increasingly clear.
Meng Jiuyi clenched her fingers. This person probably wouldn't embarrass her in public, would he?
She's a decent actress; she's trying to figure out what kind of expression she should make to look like it's the first time they've met.
In the blink of an eye, the person was right in front of her. Tan Ni said, "Brother, this is Jiu Yi, whom I told you about. Speaking of which, why didn't you two run into each other at the hospital last time?"
She whispered in his ear, "Isn't she gorgeous?"
Tan Ni thought it was a whisper, but little did she know that Meng Jiuyi had heard it all and cried out to the heavens.
Tan Yuchen's eyelids slowly slid down, his gaze lightly landing on her face.
Meng Jiuyi's eyelashes drooped, and the trembling arc of her eyelashes represented her shyness.
"Hello."
She didn't look at him, nor did she want to, so naturally she didn't see the amusement in Tan Yuchen's eyes.
But that gaze lingered on her head for so long that Meng Jiuyi could barely maintain her composure before Tan Yuchen finally reached out his hand.
"Hello, Tan Yuchen."
“Meng Jiuyi.” She gently returned the handshake.
When their hands briefly clasped, the man's palms were warm and dry, and he gripped her firmly.
Tan Yuchen said, "The dress suits you very well."
Tan Ni replied matter-of-factly, "That's because my brother has good taste."
Meng Jiuyi couldn't wait to forget about this, but the young lady brought it up again.
Her face flushed, and her smile became somewhat stiff. "Thank you. I just heard from Tan Ni that you picked it out. It's really... too much trouble."
Tan Yuchen's gaze remained on her face as he smiled and said, "Thank you for being so polite. Tan Ni's friend is also my friend. It was just a small favor."
Someone was waiting for him at a distance. He nodded slightly and said, "Don't be shy, please make yourself at home."
Meng Jiuyi couldn't wait for him to leave, and even breathed a sigh of relief as he brushed past her. Suddenly, she heard the man's slow, low voice, tinged with a hint of teasing.
"The acting is too fake."
Meng Jiuyi: "......" If you're so capable, why don't you act it out yourself?
After Tan Ni and the others left, she asked, "Isn't my brother exceptionally gentlemanly and considerate? He's perfect in every way except for being bossy."
Gentlemanly, considerate—I have no idea what these words have to do with Tan Yuchen.
Meng Jiuyi nodded twice, humming in agreement, against his will.
“Jiuyi, I think you and your brother are a handsome couple, standing together like a perfect match.”
Tan Ni tentatively asked, "Compared to that Tang Ning—"
"Wait!" Meng Jiuyi quickly called out, asking suspiciously, "What are you thinking?"
Okay, I've been found out.
Tan Ni hung her head.
She didn't seem like she was going to play matchmaker, so Meng Jiuyi asked, "Do you have some kind of problem with Tang Ning?"
How did you know?
Meng Jiuyi gave her a look. Please, she didn't have the charm to drag Tan Yuchen over there; it was only because Tang Ning was there.
"Okay, I admit it, a little bit." Tan Ni gestured with her fingernail.
The source of her dissatisfaction stemmed from Tan Yuchen's scolding of her at the hospital; her brother had never spoken to her like that before. It was all because of Tang Ning.
"Anyway, she didn't have any good intentions in getting close to my brother. There's no way I could accept someone with such impure thoughts as my sister-in-law. Just thinking about it makes me want to ascend to heaven on the spot!"
Meng Jiuyi suppressed a laugh and remained silent.
In her opinion, Tang Ning was actually very smart. If she was going to seduce someone, she would seduce the biggest one, taking both their wealth and beauty. So what if her intentions weren't pure? History is written by the victors.
Her mind was entirely on the banquet, and she didn't notice that under the dark night sky, an extra-long Rolls-Royce Phantom drove up the mountain and parked in the parking lot.
The waiter, having been notified of the arrival of the distinguished guest, rushed over and stood ready outside the car.
However, the car owner had his own butler, Uncle Zhuang, a 60-year-old man appointed by his father and who had been by his side since high school.
The night was dim, and the yellowish light reflected off the brown car windows, vaguely blending with the figure of the man inside, exuding a natural air of nobility.
As the car door opened, Xu Yan got out and grabbed the suit jacket next to him.
He held the high-quality charcoal gray suit in his hand, with several waiters following behind him. "Young Master Xu, the Third Young Master is waiting for you in the main hall. He said there are many guests tonight, so please forgive him if he is not well taken care of."
It's easy to imagine how insincere those words sounded coming from Tan Yuchen. Xu Yanzhi subtly curved his lips, his tone as composed as his gait.
"Thank you for your trouble."
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