Love So Sweet

55 The Banquet

Zhang Li Xue followed her mother and greeted Madam Mu. The middle-aged woman gave her a look over and nodded with a smile.

“Auntie hasn’t seen you in a long time. Li Xue, you’re getting prettier.”

Her lips turned up into a smile. “Thank you, Auntie.”

“I heard that you have started to work at the hotel?”

“Mmm... I’m learning this and that from my father. There are still a lot of things that I don’t understand,” Zhang Li Xue said.

“That’s fine too. As long as you are willing to learn, you’ll be fine soon,” Madam Mu spoke.

At this time, a few of her friends came over to greet her. Madam Mu turned to Zhang Li Xue again and spoke, “Zhen Yu is still getting ready in his room. He should come down any minute. I’m sure that he will be glad to see you here.”

Zhang Li Xue nodded. She watched as Madam Mu greeted the other ladies before turning around.

“I’m going around to greet the others as well,” Li Qin Yao said. “Li Xue, do you want to stay with me?”

.....

“I’ll go and look around.” Zhang Li Xue turned to one side and saw someone she recognized. “I see that Su Jin is here too.”

Li Qin Yao followed her daughter’s gaze and nodded. “Go ahead.”

Fang Su Jin waved her hand as she walked over. This girl was her deskmate during kindergarten. Although they did not go to the same school after, Zhang Li Xue’s relationship with Fang Su Jin was quite good.

They were living in the same city and often meet during any events. This was how their relationship lasted for a long time.

“Su Jin, you’re here,” Zhang Li Xue greeted and the two girls were hugging each other.

“Li Xue, I have been waiting for you. I know I would see you here.” Fang Su Jin gripped her hands tightly. “I haven’t seen you in a while.” She lowered her gaze and looked at Zhang Li Xue’s feet. “What happened to you? Why does it look like you were not walking right?”

“I had an accident during a friend’s wedding and sprained my ankle,” Zhang Li Xue said. “It’s getting better now.”

Fang Su Jin pointed at a corner and spoke, “Then, let’s head over there and talk.”

Fang Su Jin led her friend to the sofa and looked at Zhang Li Xue’s ankle. Seeing that it was not swollen, Fang Su Jin finally heaved in relief.

The two friends were catching up when Zhang Yi Hai appeared by his sister’s side.

Zhang Yi Hai nodded at Fang Su Jin before turning to his sister. “Sister, have you seen our father?”

“He should be talking to his friends.” Zhang Li Xue scanned around the room but could not see her father from her position. There were just too many people around.

“Then, I’ll just stay here with you.”

“You’re not going to meet your friends?”

“I don’t see anyone I recognized.”

Zhang Li Xue watched her brother helplessly.

“Li Xue, your brother still liked to stay close to you.” Fang Su Jin watched the siblings’ interaction and laughed.

“Don’t mind him. He’s just too lazy to talk to others,” Zhang Li Xue said. She glanced at her younger brother again and sighed.

Instead of meeting people his age, this boy liked to stay with his sister closely.

Zhang Li Xue was starting to worry about what will happen when her brother started to date a girl. Would that girl think of her as a nemesis?

“That’s right.” Fang Su Jin took out an invitation card from her bag. “I’ll be holding a joint exhibition next month. Li Xue, you have to come.”

Zhang Li Xue studied the invitation card in her hand in awe. Fang Su Jin’s drawing has always been good ever since kindergarten. She would never think that this girl would pursue art in college and would now hold an exhibition.

“Su Jin, this is great. I will definitely come.”

Fang Su Jin smiled brightly. “You can bring your boyfriend along.”

All of the sudden, she could feel her hair stand up. Fang Su Jin glanced at Zhang Yi Hai but that man did not seem as if he was watching her.

Fang Su Jin began to think that perhaps it was all her imagination. She let out a cough and continued. “Or... you can bring along your brother.”

The two friends began to discuss the incoming exhibition when they heard a commotion. They turned around and saw that the crowd was gathering at the center.

Zhang Li Xue listened to the other’s conversation and heard that Mu Zhen Yu had finally made his appearance.

Her heart skipped a beat. Zhang Li Xue wondered just how she should react upon meeting Mu Zhen Yu later.

However, there were too many people wanting to meet the boy. From where she stood, she could only see Mu Zhen Yu’s top head.

She did not know whether she should be glad or disappointed that she could not see him.

“Li Xue, you were quite close to Brother Mu when you were younger, right?”

Zhang Li Xue snapped out of her trance when she heard Fang Su Jin’s question. “Mhm... we were playmates when we were little.”

“Don’t you want to go over and see him?”

Zhang Li Xue looked at the crowd again and shook her head. “Forget it. There are just too many people. I’ll go and see him when there are fewer people around him.”

Fang Su Jin looked at the ladies gathering around and shrugged. She was not very fond of a large crowd as well. Since her friend decided to stay, the two of them could continue to chat a little while longer.

Now that they were all grown up, it was getting harder to meet up.

Zhang Li Xue saw that her brother was still standing around her and spoke, “Xiao Yi Hai, help your sister to get some drinks.” She saw that her brother make no attempt to move and continued, “My ankle is still hurt.”

“You just told me that your ankle is no longer hurting, You’re just using your injury to take advantage of me,” Zhang Yi Hai said with a sigh. “Fine. What do you want?” He did not want to leave his sister’s side. But his sister was just too pitiful.

“Anything is fine. My throat is a little dry after chatting with Su Jin. En. Help her to get a glass as well.”

Zhang Yi Hai narrowed his eyes. Then, he turned around and leave.

As the two girls continued to chat, a shadow suddenly loomed over them.

Zhang Li Xue thought that her brother had returned. However, when she looked up, a familiar-looking man was looking at her with a smile on his face.

Her movement halted. Zhang Li Xue suddenly did not know how she should react.

“Hello, Xiao Li Xue.” The man spoke. “Don’t you... remember me?”