Scialites couldn't believe the sight of happiness on Shui's face. She was talking to Ai as if they were always besties. It didn't look one bit that one was an ex-girlfriend while the other was Jun's current girlfriend.
Ai beamed. "Happy Birthday Shui."
"Thank you!"
"Sister-in-law!" Nuo's energetic voice came from the other end, who was just as excited to meet her. "Hehe, you are here~"
Jun raised his brow. "How about greeting your brother too?"
Nuo sheepishly grinned and hugged him. "How can I forget my handsome brother?"
Her eyes darted from one place to another. Shui smiled. "Bro Siying is with Mom."
Nuo coughed. "I wasn't looking for him particularly..."
Jun grabbed Ai's hand and said, "Let's go."
"Huh, where?"
"If Nuo is here, then the twins are nearby too. I don't want to meet them."
Nuo chuckled. "Don't be afraid, Bro. For now, they are busy. Bro Jian is trying to escape the clutches of Uncle Liang for flirting with his precious daughter, Leina. Bro Nian is stubbornly standing outside to wait for Xing Bi. He wants to come inside with only her."
"Why?"
"So that he makes it clear to every man in the party not to lay eyes on her."
Ai's mouth twitched. "If Xing Bi hears this, she will beat up Nian for good."
"He is fine with that. My brother is turning into a masochist."
"..."
Shui didn't show it, but she was waiting for Nuo to talk about Jin; an expression which both Jun and Ai caught.
Jun casually said, "Good riddance from them for at least some time. But what about Jin? I don't see him anywhere."
Nuo pouted. "Jin is not feeling so well, so he stayed back home. But he said he already gave his wishes to Shui."
Shui blinked.
Jin didn't wish me today though...
"Y-yeah! Haha, he did."
Ai pursed her lips, seeing Shui's gaze dim. She didn't wish to see her sad on her birthday.
"Oh when will the party start? I am excited for the cake cutting ceremony!" She tried to divert the topic.
"Yes, it will begin in a while now," Shui sighed. "I get so anxious with all these socialites staring at me. Everytime, I say that I want a simple party, Dad always says the opposite and wants to make it as grand as possible."
"He dotes on you."
"Too much sometimes!"
On the other side, Zixin made his way with the Chen family with the twins hanging around his side. People gossiped about him for another reason and that was the accident he just went through.
"Hey, it's Chen Zixin and his family."
"Heard he got into a super bad accident!"
"That's harsh. Was it really an accident or...?"
"Yeah, he might have a deadly rival who planned it against him. But they are not disclosing anything."
"Even so, he is so hot!" One woman squealed.
"It's just all handsomeness everywhere!"
On their side, Yunru declared. "Bro, it's the first banquet you are attending after you have recovered. But you don't have to feel intimidated at all! I will protect you from the hungry socialites here! You have to be careful. Women will be targeting you to get into your good books. But worry not. I will deal with all of them!"
Yubi hit his head. "You will deal with them? Are you sure you can do that? I am afraid you will get seduced instead!"
His gaze darkened. "Yubi! You should be more aware of your surroundings. You won't even know if some man here flirts with you and you would only get swept away by him."
She gritted her teeth. "Are you saying I am dumb?"
He snorted. "Glad that you know it yourself."
Chen Liling separated them. "Enough, you two. You never fail to argue no matter what event it is. It's Shui's birthday, so go and wish her instead of fighting!"
Zixin looked around and saw unfamiliar faces everywhere. Though he liked Shui as a friend and wanted to be here for her birthday party, he couldn't help but feel slightly restless with this grand celebration when he hardly knew anybody. He would have preferred reading CherryBlossom's books back in his room, but he also wanted to be here for Shui.
Jianyu and Serena assured him. "Just enjoy it at your own pace, okay?"
Zixin nodded.
--
Chyou craned her neck and tried to find Shui in the crowd, carrying her gift in her hand. When she entered, the atmosphere was filled with a third source of gossip and that was the recent trending post on Weibo.
"It's Zhu Chyou! Did you see the latest post?"
"I saw that. She is dating Gu Yating! Damn, I never expected that."
"There was never even a hint about her being with anybody and suddenly boom. She has skills, I must say."
"But I was so sure that she will get together with Cheng Yin. Both A-listed actors who have worked together for several times."
"But wasn't his father, Gu Rong, in jail until a few days ago?"
That sparked another round of heated discussion.
Chyou, who was completely focused on finding Shui, bumped into a man, who was crossing her path. The gift fell from her hand, but the man quickly caught it.
"Ah thank Godddd!" She sobbed. "The gift is made of glass. It would have completely broken."
As she looked up, she was taken aback to recognize the man. "Yating."
He smiled and handed the gift back to her carefully. "Hey."
"You are here too?"
Yating recalled Gu Rong's stubborn insistence to attend this banquet tonight at any cost. He didn't have much work on his plate and neither a choice.
When will he give up on Chyou and me? He inwardly grimaced.
"...Yup. Dad couldn't make it. So I came instead. Though I feel awkward because I hardly know Han Shui."
"No worries! I will introduce you to her," she laughed.
But if Chyou was laughing, somebody on the other side had his dark brown eyes filled with ice.
Why the heck Gu Yating is here? Jun's expression twisted as he noticed him. He wasn't there at the banquet in last life, so why now?
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