Chapter 155 - Childhood Friend Demands Explanation
To the dissatisfaction of some people, the interaction between Chen Yi and Li Bai Yuan went down peacefully. Ye Zan looked glum in particular. Beckoning over her daughter, he whispered something to her. Li Min nodded and slipped out of the crowd.
Li Bai Yuan couldn't have enough of Li Luxian. She had him sit close to her and chattered incessantly. Advising him this and that and not even remembering to get angry for the stoic expression he wore. To the pain of some, it was clear as sky that he was her precious jewel. No one could drive a wedge between them.
Chen Yi kept them company, exchanging requisite introductory words with the masses for some time before she noticed something through the corner of her eyes.
Looking back, she found Li Bai Yuan totally engrossed in chatting with her grandson. Li Min and Ye Bai were nowhere to be found. It was unlikely anyone would notice her absence. Falling quiet at first, she blended into the background before she gradually disappeared.
Walking through the house, she had just passed through the exit into the back garden, close to the swimming pool when a voice called back to her.
"The man who deserves to be by my side is yet to be born"
Chen Yi made no effort to repress the smile and turned around. Li Quang was leaning against a tress. His arms were crossed in front of his chest. Staring at her, he didn't look too happy.
"Why would you run away like that after spotting me? Shouldn't you come forward to greet your cousin-in-law?" Despite the heavy accusation in Li Quang's words, Chen Yi didn't sound defensive at all. On the contrary, her tone was quite light and playful.
Li Quang was dumbfounded. "Is this all you have to say?"
In response, Chen Yi broke into a cackle.
"You..!" He straightened up, traversed the distance between them. Pointing at her with his finger, he couldn't bring himself to say any word. His face went from red to green and the tip of his finger was shaking.
There were so many questions. They couldn't be spoken in a few words and he ended up choking on them.
"Alright, calm down. I know it came as a shocker—"
"Why did you not tell me?!"
"Would you have believed if I have told you?"
"Absolutely not but still!"
Chen Yi rolled her eyes. "Stop behaving like your tail's on fire. It's no big deal."
That's what Chen Yi thought. After all, Li Quang and she had been close friends once. But they hadn't been in contact for so long. They were no longer like in the past, two outcasts sticking close to each other protecting themselves against the shower of oncoming stones and abuse.
However, Li Quang stayed silent and stared at Chen Yi with something unreadable in his eyes.
"You know, I have tried looking for you. When you disappeared all of sudden..." His voice died down.
"Don't think I'm the same Chen Yi from high school. After all, now I'm in a higher position than you." Chen Yi winked. Not wanting the conversation to steer in that direction, she hurriedly added, jokingly. "Come on, why not call me elder cousin-in-law? My ears are itching to hear you say so."
Li Quang smiled, understanding her intention, and followed along. "Not a chance."
...
"Aunt Ye, where's Chen Yi?" The one who came back with Li Min was Wang Hualing. It was difficult to pick up anything from her expression but if you looked closely, her makeup had been redone.
Likewise, her eyes were somewhat puffy.
Li Luxian had excused himself some time ago and who knew where he was.
"Did you want to see her for something?" Ye Zan looked back from instructing the servants to tend to the guests and stood close to Li Bai Yuan.
"No, I just found it strange that she is not with Grandmother Li."
Li Bai Yuan was no longer so happy after Li Luxain disappeared. Now when she noticed how first Chen Yi disappeared then Li Luxain vanished, she connected these two and her mood worsened.
"Wang Hualing is asking because she wanted to see the gift Chen Yi has prepared for Grandmother Li."
"Gift?" Ye Zan seemed to be perplexed. "It's not Mother-in-law's birthday. Why is there a need for a gift?"
"I also thought it strange but when Cousin came back, he asked the steward to bring inside something. By the looks of it, it appeared quite heavy."
"Pretentious." Preparing gifts when it was just a family gathering, felt way over the board. It would have been fine if the person was of Li Bai Yuan liking. But with this girl not having earned her heartfelt approval, Li Bai Yuan only found fault with this gesture of Chen Yi.
It was obvious she was dying hard to please Li Bai Yuan.
"Since Niece-in-law has already made the effort then why not bring the gift here? It's the sentiments that matter. Niece-in-law just wants to get close to Mother." Ye Zan instructed the servants to bring the packaged gift.
Li Luxian was not around. They did not fear anything.
Thus without the consent or the presence of Chen Yi, the gift she brought was brought over and placed before Li Bai Yuan. She gave it a cursory glance before averting her eyes, not at all interested in opening it. She wouldn't even look at it as if the gift was an eyesore. This reaction was noticed by many.
The more indifference she showed, the more uncomfortable Li Shanguaan grew.
"Why not wait for Yi'er first? She would hand it over personally" Li Shanguaan had stayed a little away from Li Bai Yuan and others. Since Li Bai Yuan didn't like her, Li Shanguaan didn't want to ruin her mood by appearing before her and spoil Chen Yi's chance.
However, Li Shanguaan's words only worsened the situation. "Just be done with it. I don't have the patience to wait for someone." Li Bai Yuan said in retaliation.
"But... this..."
Li Shanguaan's words were unheard when the servant girl began opening the outer layer.
Just then, Chen Yi walked inside along with Li Quang.