Chapter 227: Chapter 227
No matter why Xiang Yuan was vague before, or if she had forgotten her initial panic and slight inferiority when she first stepped into the Tang Family, Shi Nian slowly relaxed upon hearing Tang Yansheng’s words. She felt that tonight’s visit was worthwhile.
It was rare to find such a well-bred lady walking through the ancient kingdom for business, yet not overlooking the local sentiments. The eldest granddaughter of the Tang Family was not only noble but also possessed a soft heart.
Even though it was their first meeting, Shi Nian found herself liking this elder sister.
Shi Nian smiled and said, "You’ve really flattered me, eldest sister. This is what every media person ought to do. Since you have firsthand experience of traveling on the ground, your perspective must be broader and your knowledge more detailed than ours. If possible, I’d love to learn from you in detail."
Tang Yansheng laughed, "Of course, I would love that. A Yuan knows about my store; when you have time, you must let him take you there. I’ve brought back some excellent tea, and we can sit down together, drink tea, and chat." Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on Nov3lFɪre.ɴet
Gradually, more guests arrived, all greeting Tang Yansheng. Shi Nian realized that the main character tonight was indeed Tang Yansheng. The theme of this gathering was to welcome her return after being away for half a year.
Shi Nian pulled Xiang Yuan’s hand and walked to the side, taking a deep breath, "A Yuan, I really like Sister Yan Sheng, but that doesn’t mean you had a reason to hide the fact that you were bringing me to the Tang Family."
"You didn’t have to do this, A Yuan. If you had explained the situation to me beforehand, I think I might have hesitated, but I would still have come with you."
Xiang Yuan stared at Shi Nian, "What makes the Tang Family any different from any other family? Why would you happily come with me to someone else’s home even if I hadn’t told you in advance? Yet, it’s only when you find out it’s the Tang Family that you get upset?"
Shi Nian gently closed her eyes...
"A Yuan, are you trying to test my feelings in this way? You really don’t have to. You can just ask me directly."
Xiang Yuan took a deep breath, "Ok, it’s my fault again. Shi, I sincerely apologize to you: I’m sorry. I didn’t tell you in advance that it was the Tang Family because I was afraid you’d feel burdened. The Tang Family has many rules, and the guests are all either wealthy or powerful, so I was worried you wouldn’t want to come."
"But you heard what Sister Yan Sheng said earlier; she has a high regard for you, so she insisted I bring you... I told you the main character is an older sister who is an antique hunter; I just didn’t say it was the Tang Family. Shi, please don’t be mad at me, okay?"
Shi Nian lifted her eyes to look at Xiang Yuan, "Is that really all?"
Xiang Yuan raised three fingers, "I swear, okay?"
Shi Nian then lowered her head and chuckled softly, "Let it go. Now that I’m here, I realize maybe I overthought it before. I’m already here; what can I do about it? There’s really nothing to fear."
Relief spread across Xiang Yuan’s face, "You’re not mad at me anymore, right?"
Shi Nian tilted her head to look at him, "Actually, it’s not fair to blame you for my worries. It’s my own matter; I have to face it myself."
Ultimately... She used to worry that the feelings between her and Tang Yanqing would be discovered by the Tang Family, and that they would look down on her because of it. Even though she and Xiang Yuan had legally separated and were no longer bound by marital obligations, she had still been married, and to a close associate of the Tang Family.
But these things couldn’t be dictated by fear or lack thereof. Since she was already here, and since she could no longer pretend Tang Yanqing didn’t exist in her life... she had to face the gazes of the Tang Family.
Even if there’s scorn or reproach, she has to hold her head high and face it.
Xiang Yuan didn’t know that Shi Nian’s mind was filled with these thoughts at that moment; he assumed she had genuinely forgiven him, and happily took her hand, wanting to introduce her to the network of families in the courtyard.
Shi Nian, however, withdrew her hand.
Xiang Yuan was stunned, "Why?"
Shi Nian shook her head, "I’m sorry, I don’t want to lie. We are legally separated, which means our marital obligations have ended; I don’t want to pretend to be in love."
Xiang Yuan’s heart was a mix of shock and anger, "... Is it because of Yanqing?!"
Finally, he had asked it out loud.
Shi Nian clenched her own hand, took a deep breath, "A Yuan, you need to understand, it’s because of you and me. Even if Mr. Tang hadn’t appeared now, I would still have separated from you and would have still requested a divorce."
Xiang Yuan narrowed his eyes, "So, you’re admitting it? That between you and Yanqing, there’s indeed something...?!""
A voice called, and Xiang Yuan had to swallow that last half-sentence, looking up at the caller with a forced smile, "Xiansheng, you came too."
The man approaching with a wine glass was Luo Xiansheng, a childhood friend of Tang Yanqing.
As a member of one of the interlinked families, Luo Xiansheng was not only a childhood friend of Tang Yanqing but technically a childhood friend of Xiang Yuan as well. However, Luo Xiansheng’s personality was more compatible with Tang Yanqing, while Xiang Yuan was on a different path.
As he came forward, he casually looked Shi Nian up and down, then smiled, "So this is the sister-in-law. I attended your wedding four years ago."
Xiang Yuan could only temporarily suppress his feelings and introduced Shi Nian: "This is ’Starry Sky Network’ investor, Luo Xiansheng."
As a journalist, Shi Nian had naturally heard of the name "Starry Sky Network". Not sure whether to hold respect for the person in front of him or to avoid him, he had no choice but to extend his hand when the person offered his.
Originally thinking it was just a handshake, Shi Nian was surprised when Luo Xiansheng’s hand swiftly grabbed his small hand, flipped his wrist, and lifted the back of Shi Nian’s hand to give a kiss as a greeting.
Though a hand-kiss greeting is a social etiquette and not considered rude, it happened so suddenly that it startled Shi Nian to the point the hair on his neck almost stood up. While thinking about how to escape, unexpectedly, Luo Xiansheng’s lips stopped in mid-air, unable to land for a long time.
Noticing something was wrong, Shi Nian quickly looked up.
The night was dark and deep, the lights dreamy. A man simply dressed in a stand-collar buttoned linen shirt stood tall under the starry sky.
His eyes lingered on her but his hand was holding the back of Luo Xiansheng’s neck.
Shi Nian held his breath, not quite sure what to say.
Xiang Yuan also looked over and slightly furrowed his brows: "Yanqing."
Only then did Luo Xiansheng realize who was behind him and turned his head to glare: "Qing Guan’er, show some hospitality, will you? Give me some face in front of my sister-in-law."
Tang Yanqing’s ears were filled with Luo Xiansheng’s playful laughter, but his gaze fluttered lazily across Shi Nian’s face.
He responded to Luo Xiansheng in a lazy yet distant voice: "You let go first, and then I’ll let go too."
Luo Xiansheng was dumbfounded and chuckled: "Why?" He teased, "If A Yuan requested it, it might make sense."
"Then forget it, neither of us will let go." Tang Yanqing sneered, his face unknowingly curling into a mischievous smirk, glancing around to find Tang Yansheng’s figure, and made a gesture to call out: "Big sister?"
Luo Xiansheng immediately dropped Shi Nian’s hand like it was burning and quickly covered Tang Yanqing’s mouth: "You can’t just let me have a peaceful night, can you? Your big sister just got back and you want to upset her?"
Tang Yanqing shrugged: "I didn’t make my big sister angry."
Luo Xiansheng, surprisingly, blushed slightly, awkwardly glanced at Shi Nian and grinned: "Sorry, sis-in-law." Then he extended his fist to Xiang Yuan, in a gesture of apology among friends.
Xiang Yuan accepted it with a smile but kept his eyes cautious on Tang Yanqing.
Tang Yanqing squinted and said to Luo Xiansheng: "All the guests my big sister invited tonight didn’t come alone. But you violated my big sister’s rule and came by yourself. I originally wanted to reluctantly pair with you to save you. Together, we could at least act as the male host, help my big sister hold the event, and entertain the guests."
"But look, Brother Xiang Yuan has been here for so long, and you, as half a male host, haven’t even brought him a drink. I think you don’t want to continue as this half male host. I might as well tell my big sister and have you removed."
Luo Xiansheng immediately got anxious: "Oh no, I’ll go get some wine right away."
Tang Yanqing winked at Luo Xiansheng, who was startled but had no choice but to comply with Tang Yanqing’s intention, pulling Xiang Yuan towards the long table.
In the misty night scene, only Tang Yanqing and Shi Nian were left, looking at each other.
Seeing that he seemed unwilling to start a conversation, Shi Nian took a deep breath and slightly lowered his eyes: "Mr. Tang, didn’t you say you had to return to the police station tonight?"
"Mm, I did return. Finished my business and just rushed back," Tang Yanqing squinted, looking at her under the red-light mist. Tonight she was charming yet pristine, walking in with her arm around Xiang Yuan, standing beside him with a charming smile.
At that moment, he was upstairs, lazily watching the guests in the courtyard, planning how to explain to his big sister to leave early and return to the school to accompany her... but unexpectantly, with a glance, he saw her walking in with Xiang Yuan!
At that moment, he really wanted to borrow a catchphrase from some male celebrity, go down, grab Xiang Yuan, and shout: "Come on, let’s have a fight!"
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