Jiang Qian looked at Su Xiangxue, and after a bitter smile, only a look of indifference remained on her face.
Su Xiangxue’s ending in the original novel was also unhappy. The male lead finally realized his feelings for her were only obsession, rejected her, and went back to having a mutually torturous relationship with the original female lead. Su Xiangxue’s career also plummeted, and she eventually left the entertainment industry, disappearing to who knows where.
Su Xiangxue looked quite spirited now, but Jiang Qian knew that she had just divorced not long ago and was here today to look for an old flame. Her own life was a mess, not as glamorous as she appeared on the surface.
Jiang Qian spoke lightly, mimicking the tone Shen Xiruo often used: “I won’t bother to explain these trivial matters to you. After all, you’re just a guest.”
With that, she turned and left decisively.
“Show off, then run! How exciting!”
Since Su Xiangxue came straight to question her, then so be it—let’s hurt each other! Let’s see who can actually hurt whom!
Jiang Qian refrained from looking at Su Xiangxue’s expression. After walking away, she grabbed a glass of wine from a passing waiter’s tray and headed towards the balcony.
Everyone’s eyes followed her back, whispering and asking each other about her identity, as she was the only woman who had emerged from the Shen family’s private quarters so far.
Su Xiangxue stood rooted to the spot, her fingers clutching the wine glass so tightly she was close to crushing it.
She stared at Jiang Qian’s retreating figure, the surrounding murmurs filling her ears: “Who is that girl? She’s so beautiful. She seems to be wearing that G-brand haute couture dress that was only shown once!”
“Really? That dress is rumored to be the only one in the world! She’s so young. Is she another second-generation heir from a wealthy family?”
“We’ve never seen her in our wealthy circles, but she’s really good-looking.”
A handsome second-generation heir who knew Su Xiangxue walked over and smiled slightly at her.
Su Xiangxue knew this handsome man had pursued her before, and was one of her admirers. She naturally assumed he was coming to flirt with her, which slightly improved the mood Jiang Qian had ruined.
The handsome man walked over, exchanged a few pleasantries with Su Xiangxue, and then suddenly asked, “I saw you talking to the beautiful woman in white just now. Do you know her? Could you possibly give me her contact information?”
Su Xiangxue nearly spit out the wine she had just drunk: “…You’re interested in her?”
The handsome man smiled shyly: “Yes, she is the best-looking girl here.”
Su Xiangxue was so angry she wanted to smash the wine glass. She used all her strength to restrain herself, forcing a smile at the handsome man: “Unfortunately, you’re too late. That girl is A’Zhou’s latest plaything.”
The handsome man and the surrounding group of eavesdroppers showed surprised expressions, then suddenly understood and started to discuss: “That’s right… she matches A’Zhou well, too. And A’Zhou is actually serious enough to bring her to this gala. Is he going to introduce her to the family?”
“But why didn’t A’Zhou come today? Isn’t he going to protect her?”
Su Xiangxue stood up straight, ignoring the surrounding chatter, and let out a disdainful huff.
A’Zhou’s prolonged absence must mean he knew she was coming and was preparing himself psychologically.
This time, she would firmly grasp A’Zhou, and the first thing she would do is make him break up with that Jiang Qian!
On the balcony, Jiang Qian was eating a French dessert, drinking sparkling water, and admiring the view outside when she suddenly sneezed.
“Mmm… someone must be talking about me.”
“Is it Shen Xiruo? Why isn’t Shen Xiruo down yet? It’s so boring here alone.”
The plot of this gala was completely different from what was written in the original book. She was a little anxious because she had no idea what would happen next.
What reassured her was that she hadn’t seen Shen Xizhou or any other member of the Shen family throughout the gala. That was quite good; she didn’t have to panic about meeting the parents.
Jiang Qian started to yawn as she waited alone.
Suddenly, a woman’s voice came from behind: “Qianqian.”
The moment she heard the voice, Jiang Qian’s heart fluttered slightly, and her fingers involuntarily tightened.
She turned around and saw Shen Xiruo, dressed in a black dress, standing beside her, smiling.
Shen Xiruo’s smile was always subtle. On her exquisitely beautiful face, the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, and her eyes held a hint of amusement.
It wasn’t a passionate smile, but it was incredibly captivating.
“You’re done with your business?” Jiang Qian grinned widely at her.
Seeing Shen Xiruo made her very happy. After all, she was a beauty, and wearing such a beautiful evening gown was a feast for the eyes.
“Yes. Have you eaten dinner? Come with me to get something to eat.” Shen Xiruo spoke gently, extending her hand.
“Actually, I’ve eaten, but I can eat again!” Jiang Qian put her hand in Shen Xiruo’s palm without hesitation.
Shen Xiruo’s palm was warm, and like her person, it was a subtle warmth that could reach deep into one’s heart.
As they walked through the balcony and into the room, everyone in the vicinity looked over.
In an instant, everyone was petrified!
“This, this, what did I just see? Did I see wrong?”
“Is that Shen Xiruo? Doesn’t she never have physical contact with anyone?” Now she’s holding that girl’s hand?”
“Oh my god, I’ve known her for ten years, and I’ve never seen her hold anyone’s hand! This is shocking, I need to take a photo to record this.”
Many people secretly took out their phones to snap pictures, not daring to photograph her openly, but unable to resist recording this historic moment.
Who was that? That was the Shen family’s Eldest Miss, Shen Xiruo, who had been noble and aloof for twenty-five years!
Shen Xiruo was well-known in aristocratic circles. Her most famous trait was her strong aversion to physical contact. She never shook hands with anyone, which had even caused a certain CEO Zhang, who was cooperating on a billion-dollar project, to lose face in front of his entire company.
But now? Shen Xiruo was holding someone’s hand! A completely unknown girl, with no background in the circle, who looked like a university student, could actually hold Shen Xiruo’s hand!
Did this mean that Shen Xiruo had changed her ways? Or was it just because this girl was too special? Who exactly was she?
“I heard that’s A’Zhou’s new girlfriend…”
“But Shen Xizhou and Shen Xiruo have always had a terrible relationship. Why is she so kind to her brother’s girlfriend?”
“Look, they went to the buffet table! What are they doing? Oh my god, Shen Xiruo personally took a tray!”
“Aah aah aah! Shen Xiruo is actually hand-feeding her a strawberry! I’m so jealous!”
Shen Xiruo took a small plate, picked some small pastries skewered with sticks, put them on the plate, and presented it to Jiang Qian.
Coincidentally, Jiang Qian had also taken a plate and was putting food on it.
Seeing Shen Xiruo hand her a plate of food, Jiang Qian was momentarily stunned, then smiled and handed the plate she held to Shen Xiruo.
“Here, I was getting something for you too. Give-and-take.”
Shen Xiruo took the plate with food and looked down.
On it were all the flavors she liked.
Shen Xiruo was astonished: “When did you memorize my preferences?”
Jiang Qian laughed: “What’s so difficult about that? We’ve had a few meals together. Look, you also chose all the things I like.”
Shen Xiruo frowned slightly: “That’s different…”
Because Jiang Qian liked many things, while Shen Xiruo only liked a few.
It was not surprising at all that she could pick things Jiang Qian liked.
But for Jiang Qian to be able to pick the things she liked was too considerate and too intentional.
It caused a huge shock in Shen Xiruo’s heart.
From childhood to adulthood, no one had ever treated her with such careful consideration, not even the grandfather who loved her the most.
All her food, clothing, housing, travel, and even entertainment were handled by the family’s servants.
Shen Xiruo herself had never paid attention to her own preferences, yet Jiang Qian had noticed.
Shen Xiruo’s pupils were deep and dark. She stared at Jiang Qian for a long time.
Jiang Qian put the skewered pastry into her mouth, chewed it like a little hamster, and then beamed: “Wow, this is delicious!”
Shen Xiruo nodded slightly, forced herself to look away, and picked up a piece of pastry from the plate to eat.
It was really delicious, super sweet.
Seeing Jiang Qian enjoy the food, Shen Xiruo suddenly felt a little dissatisfied.
She forked a candied strawberry and brought it to Jiang Qian’s mouth: “Try this.”
Jiang Qian instinctively opened her mouth, obediently ate the strawberry, and then smiled brightly: “Mmm, it’s very delicious!”
Shen Xiruo continued to look at Jiang Qian, hardly eating anything herself.
When both of them had eaten enough, the murmuring and burning gazes surrounding them gradually subsided.
Shen Xiruo led Jiang Qian to a corner and found a sofa to sit on.
A handsome man in a suit walked over. He was a second-generation heir who had once pursued Shen Xiruo.
He extended his hand to Shen Xiruo: “Long time no see, Xiruo.”
Shen Xiruo turned her face and nodded: “Mmm.”
Then she coldly turned her face back and smiled at Jiang Qian.
Jiang Qian saw the handsome man leave with a disappointed look, and only then realized belatedly: “Ah, why didn’t you shake his hand?”
Shen Xiruo said coolly: “I never shake hands with anyone.”
Jiang Qian looked at her own hand and thought about how she had just walked across the hall, through everyone’s sight, all the while holding Shen Xiruo’s hand. After eating, she was led by Shen Xiruo to this sofa to sit down.
She looked at her hand, speechless for a moment.
“So, am I not a person but a fairy?”
“Why is she so practiced at holding my hand? Everyone in the hall knows she doesn’t shake hands with others, but everyone in the hall watched her walk around the room holding my hand?”
“What level of explosion is this!”
Jiang Qian’s face suddenly turned red. She finally understood why everyone in the audience was looking at her. She had thought it was all thanks to this haute couture dress.
How many hidden attributes did this Shen Xiruo have? Were the actions that seemed so normal in front of her considered abnormal to others?
“Sigh! It’s so hard for me to be treated so specially by Shen Xiruo!”
However, she thought it was also normal. After all, she and Shen Xiruo had already had much more intimate contact… She dared not think about this matter. Any thought of it would only make her feel complicated.
Just then, the music suddenly changed. Shen Xiruo also stood up and extended her hand to Jiang Qian again: “I need to go on stage to host. You come to the front of the stage.”
Jiang Qian was on level ten alert, not knowing what this person was planning now, yet unable to refuse. She had no choice but to extend her hand again, and was led by Shen Xiruo to the center of the room.
Here, there was a dazzling and bright stage created by a circle of light.
Shen Xiruo walked slowly to the center of the stage and smiled slightly at Jiang Qian.
Swoosh—
The gaze of everyone who had gathered instantly focused on Jiang Qian. No one knew what would happen next.
Jiang Qian was so weak-kneed she almost couldn’t stand straight, yet she was also mesmerized by Shen Xiruo’s beauty at that moment, unable to take her eyes off her.
