Chen Chen decided to ignore Jiang Rui for the whole day.
When Ah Zi called in the afternoon, she was still in bed and didn’t want to move.
“You’re still sleeping?” Ah Zi shouted over the other side of the phone. “The God of War told me that you were uncomfortable and asked me to leave you alone. But it’s so late now. Aren’t you hungry yet?”
Chen Chen was too embarrassed to say that Jiang Rui had fed her at noon. She stammered to change the subject. “Is there something wrong in the store? I’ll stay in the shop tomorrow and you can have a rest then.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about!” Ah Zi asked her with confusion, “Didn’t the God of War tell you?”
“Tell me what? He has gone to the troops in the afternoon and hasn’t come back yet!”
Ah Zi heard the words and felt proud right away. “My Bear just called to tell me that the old bitch in the Jiang family is about to hold a birthday party!”
The old bitch she was talking about was Song Chunli.
“I don’t know about it. Brother Xiao Rui didn’t tell me.” Since the last time Song Chunli woke up, Chen Chen hadn’t seen her. After they got back from abroad, she didn’t have time to go see the Jiang family.
Ah Zi said from the other side, “You can ask him when he comes back at night. I won’t go if you don’t.”
After hanging up the phone, Chen Chen still didn’t want to move. She just lay there staring blankly until Jiang Rui picked up Tuan Zi and came back.
“Still don’t want to move?” Jiang Rui walked in and held her up. Then he found that the little woman was already in her pajamas. He opened his mouth. “Did Ah Zi call you?”
Chen Chen felt dizzy because of too much sleep. So she went into the man’s arms and said with her eyes closed, “How did you know?”
“It’s unlike her to not call.” Jiang Rui held her to sit up. “I wanted to visit Grandpa several days ago. Then I heard from my uncle that she would have her birthday party soon. So we can just go there earlier on that day.”
After putting her shoes on her, Jiang Rui took her to the washroom. Then Chen Chen opened her eyes. Seeing Jiang Rui holding the toothbrush to her mouth, she hurriedly took it from him. “I can brush my teeth by myself. You can leave now!”
Jiang Rui kissed her and said, “Hurry up, I bought your favorite spicy rabbits’ heads.”
On the weekend, Jiang Rui took Chen Chen and Tuan Zi back to the Jiang family in the morning. Song Chunli was still cold to them.
“Happy birthday, Grandma.” Tuan Zi handed a gift to her. It was a set of jade jewelry designed by Xin Qing.
Song Chunli opened it in public carelessly and only nodded after she saw it and found it satisfying. Then she plainly said thanks.
Tuan Zi didn’t care about it. Jiang Rui had taught her that she didn’t have to please those who didn’t like her. They didn’t deserve it.
Chen Chen didn’t say anything. Now that Song Chunli pretended that she was invisible, she just treated Song Chunli as nothing as well. Jiang Rui plainly said, “Happy Birthday,” then he took his wife and daughter into the study with Jiang Qianren.
“She herself mentioned that she wanted to have a birthday party?” Jiang Rui frowned. Song Chunli was less negative but colder.
Jiang Qianren felt strange as well. “Yes. She has never mentioned having a birthday party before, so Grandpa was in no position to refuse her. She is over 70 now. Maybe this is her last chance.”
Jiang Rui thought about it and asked Tuan Zi, “What do you think of Grandma?”
“Cold,” Tuan Zi said, “Cold as ice.”
“Do you mean that nothing sadder than a withered heart?” Chen Chen gave a rare correct opinion.
Jiang Rui smiled. “When we arrive at the hotel, don’t go too far away from me.”
“I’m always in trouble with you!” Chen Chen pouted. “I want to be with Ah Zi.”
Tuan Zi pulled Jiang Rui’s sleeve. “Dad, I will watch Mom.”
Chen Chen stared at her. “I will watch you!”
“Hahaha!” Jiang Qianren laughed out loud. “Your family is really funny.”
At noon, in the most luxurious hotel in the capital, everyone who was respected arrived. The Jiang family hadn’t held a party in many years. It was really rare, so many people came.
Song Chunli was taking a rest in the restroom when Song Meiyu led someone in.
“Grandaunt, this is my new friend, Han Xueying.” She pointed at the beautiful woman beside her. “I brought her here specially to celebrate your birthday!”
Han Xueying passed a gift to her and showed a sweet smile. “Grandma Jiang, may you have a long life and good health!”
Song Chunli looked at her. “She is not from the capital?”
“Oh, Grandaunt. Han Xueying grew up overseas and has just come back.”
Han Xueying’s eyes were watery. She said nervously, “I hope Grandaunt Jiang will not look down on me.”
Scar and Xiao Si never attended such occasions unless Jiang Rui told them to. Normally, there was only Bear with him because he had the highest title. Therefore, if Song Meiyu didn’t take her here, Han Xueying was not qualified to be at the party.
“Simple.” Song Chunli smiled out of expectation. “Since you have this pretty face, your status and background are not that important.”
Han Xueying was flattered. Even Song Meiyu said with jealousy, “Grandaunt, you forget about me now that you see Xueying is so beautiful!”
“You are too naughty. I heard that your father would send you abroad next month.” Song Chunli took a look at her and thought she was too silly despite her beauty. The Song family planned to send her out for a year. When she came back, she could get married.
Song Meiyu didn’t say anything on the surface. But inside, she didn’t care about it. They couldn’t force her to go abroad if she wouldn’t go…
“Mom!” Jiang Qianren pushed the door open, “It’s about to start.” Jiang Qianren stopped when he saw the unknown woman in the room.
Han Xueying quickly lowered her head and pretended to be terrified.
Song Chunli patted her head. “This is a friend of Meiyu’s.”
“Come here, I’ll help you out!” Jiang Qianren nodded to Han Xueying as a greeting.
When they were outside, they saw that in the main seats were the Jiang family. Han Xueying was arranged to sit at a table next to them. She already noticed that the name on the sign said the Bai family.
“I didn’t say it wrong. Look!” Ah Zi disdainfully looked at Han Xueying. “That stupid Song Meiyu took her here as we expected.”
Chen Chen saw Bai Ziqi walking to the table and said, “I wonder if he will fall for Han Xueying!”
“Who knows!” Ah Zi uttered her hatred. “My Bear said that Bai Ziqi was strong now, not the way he had been in the past when he only made trouble.”
Jiang Rui turned her head around. “Stop looking. Bai Ziqi is more good-looking than I am?”
“Hahaha!” Chen Chen leaned on the man’s shoulder right away. “You’re more good-looking than him.”
The girl never lied so Jiang Rui pinched her nose with satisfaction. He kissed her by the way. Chen Chen stared and pushed him away. “We’re in public. Be careful! Where is Tuan Zi?”
“She went to get some cake with the boy in the Wen family. Xie Hong is following them.” When they were talking about it, Xie Hong took the two little kids back.
Jiang Rui stood up and said, “I will go to find my grandpa and will definitely drink some wine later. Take care of yourself.” Then he said to Xie Hong, “Please take care of her.”
“Don’t worry!” Xie Hong sat down to joke with him. “This time, I’ll fix my eyes on her without blinking. No one can take your wife away.”
Chen Chen pushed him. “Go! Go!”
Bai Ziqi was shocked at the first sight of Han Xueying and recalled the time when he was a rich, useless sir. But when he saw Jiang Rui at the nearby table, that thought was gone.
He had vowed to regard that man as his aim and wouldn’t be fooled by beauty, especially when he knew nothing about her background. Bai Ziqi despised himself inside and then politely nodded to Han Xueying.
“There is no one here. You can sit if you like.” As Han Xueying revealed an innocent smile, those eyes looked even more bright. Bai Ziqi thought that the girl was pretty cute and had mistaken him for someone taking up a seat here.
So he pointed at the name tag on the table. “Bai Ziqi. That’s my name.”
“Ah!” Han Xueying’s face turned completely red and she apologized awkwardly. “Sorry, I… I didn’t know.”
Bai Ziqi saw that her eyes were very watery so he wanted to chat more with her. She was a beauty indeed. He would consider it if she had a clean background. It was one thing to sleep around, and it was another thing to marry someone.
It was well-known that Officer Jiang loved his wife as his life and was very obedient to Chen Chen.
“You’re Song Meiyu’s friend?”
Han Xueying looked at him blankly. “How did you know?”
Bai Ziqi smiled. “This seat belongs to her.”
Song Meiyu followed Song Chunli to sit with the Jiang family, and the reason she gave was that she offered her seat to Han Xueying.
“Haha!” Han Xueying smiled. “I’m stupid. You all know each other.”
Ah Zi looked at them once in a while and found Bai Ziqi actually chatting with Han Xueying. She hurriedly poked Chen Chen’s arm. “See? What did I say?”
“Stop it.” Bear pulled her. “Didn’t you see Master staring at you? Don’t interrupt Mrs. Jiang when she is eating.”
Not only them but also Song Chunli and the people who surrounded her offering their greetings all noticed it. After the meal, Song Meiyu took Han Xueying along to say goodbye, and Song Chunli casually said, “I will learn the tea ceremony tomorrow afternoon. Are you interested?”
Song Meiyu hesitated. She didn’t like doing this with old ladies.
“If Grandma Jiang doesn’t mind, I’ll go with you!” Han Xueying glanced at Song Chunli and then opened her mouth smilingly.
“Well done!” Song Meiyu gave her an eye, which meant thanks for saving me!
Han Xueying smiled and thought, “I didn’t do it to save you. I don’t want to miss such a good chance.”
“Okay. Where do you live? I’ll send my driver to pick you up tomorrow afternoon.” Song Chunli nodded with satisfaction. “You are a good girl!”
In the evening, Han Xueying recalled everything she had gained during the day, which was way better than she had expected.
She never thought that she would be so lucky to sit beside Bai Ziqi. She recognized him when he was walking toward her. Then her innocent expression let down the guard of the man. And they exchanged phone numbers when they parted.
What’s more, she caught Song Chunli’s attention.
But the old lady shouldn’t be looked down upon. She had to have some purpose to get close to her. Han Xueying was not worried about that. In fact, she felt nice about it. It seemed that she had something useful for Song Chunli.
It was for the best. Both of them could get what they wanted.
But… Scar should have known that she had been at the party. Why didn’t he have any reactions to it?