Hearing his words makes Ye Qing Xin smiles and her heart is warm.

This time the hall is filled with quite a lot of people. A lot of young men shakes hand with Jing Bo Yuan.

Ye Qing Xin takes initiative to move aside to give them s.p.a.ce and time.

Jing Bo Yuan smiles at them but his smile is so different from the smile he shows to her. When he smiles at her, he always shows his sincere and relaxed smile.

Everyone watches the silent Ye Qing Xin. They are examining her for a short moment and s.h.i.+fts their gaze at Jing Bo Yuan.

Ye Qing Xin keeps her smile.

Inside the hall.

Jing Zong and Jing Yan (Jing Suo Suo’s father) stands in front of the door to greet the guests.

Ye Qing Xin holds Jing Bo Yuan’s arm and gets inside. Although there’s not lot of guests, but their gaze makes her a bit nervous. She raises her head and chest high and tires hard to make herself look calm. She smiles a bit more naturally.

It’s just she cannot stop her hands to be sweaty.

Jing Bo Yuan notices it and pats her hands. He lowers her head and says to her: “I’m here, don’t be afraid.”

His gentle gaze makes Ye Qing Xin’s nervousness slowly disappears. She smiles at him, “Em.”

“Pa, San Shu (Third uncle).” Jing Bo Yuan greets Jing Zong and Jing Yan.

Jing Zong nods and Jing Yan points them to the resting area: “Nai Nai is there, go there.”

Jing Bo Yuan nods toward Jing Yan and takes Ye Qing Xin to the resting area. A lot of young men shake his hand so they spend quite a while on the way there.

The resting area is big. There’s a lot of sofas inside. There’re a lot of old and young women with luxurious clothes and jewelry.

Ye Qing Xin says: “No wonder there’re only gentlemen outside, the ladies are inside.”

Ye Qing Xin comes inside and Old Madame Jing notices her. Everyone is asking her about Ye Qing Xin’s ident.i.ty. “That is my granddaughter-in-law, how is she? She is pretty right? Our A Yuan has a really great taste! In the future my grandkid will be white and chubby and beautiful!”

Old Madame Jing always remembers her inexistent grandkid.

“It’s certain thing. A Yuan’s taste is very good. In short ten years he can popularize Bo Wei’s group abroad. Of course he is good also at choosing a wife.” Someone says.

“But from which rich family this girl come? In the past I never saw her. Did she study abroad?” Someone asks.

“What is rich and not rich. As long as our A Yuan likes and she is a daughter from clean family. Other things are not important.” Old Madame Jing says, she doesn’t care about well-matched in social and economic status.

From her words, everyone know that Ye Qing Xin is not coming from a rich family.

Jing family is a part of military and political family. Jing Bo Yuan is a business man that is quite ruthless. A lot of people wants to marry into Jing family. But today they are showed an unknown young woman that can get his attention.

They examine her, this young girl is too young. But she has great trick.

Ye Qing Xin tries hard to ignore their gaze and smiles to everyone. She holds Jing Bo Yuan’s arm and walks toward Old Madame Jing. She pa.s.ses a box to her. “Nai Nai, I wish you a long life. This is for you. I hope that you’ll like it.”

She doesn’t say it clearly that the gift is from her.

Old Madame Jing knows her family condition. She couldn’t buy an expensive jewelry. She knows that Old Madame Jing also knows that she is given a gift by another. If she says directly it’s from her, she is afraid that Old Madame jing will think that she is insincere kid.

Now talking like that, everyone will think that the gift is from her. Even Old Madame Jing wants to find fault with it, she couldn’t do it.

It’s the trick or wording.

Jing Yi (Jing Suo Suo’s mother) stands beside Old Madame Jing and hurriedly wants to help to take the gift. The time she wants to take it, Old Madame Jing is faster, she takes it and smiles: “I want to see what our Xin Xin give me.”

Someone jokes: “Old Madame is showing favor to her. We also gave you gifts but you didn’t want to open it directly. Indeed she is your granddaughter-in-law, you treat her differently from us.”

“Yes, Old Madame.”

Old Madame Jing just smiles and opens the box. The time she sees the gift, her eyes turns bright.

She always loves jade, emerald. But she doesn’t show it too much. She just pa.s.ses the box to Ji Yi: “Thank you Xin Xin, Nai Nai loves it.”

Ye Qing Xin smiles: “It’s good Nai Nai likes it.” She says it and greets Ji Yi: “San Shen (Third Auntie).”

Ye Qing Xin looks at Jing Bo Yuan, Jing Bo Yuan smiles and nods at her.

After Ye Qing Xin sits down beside Old Madame Jing, Jing Bo Yuan says to Old Madame Jing and Ji Yi: “Grandma, San Shen, I’ll go out first.” Then he smiles to everyone; “Excuse me.”

His every word and every deed is well-mannered.

Jing Bo Yuan then turns his body to leave. He is at ease to leave Ye Qing Xin with Old Madame Jing.

Ye Qing Xin: “…….”

One after another guests come inside to congratulate Old Madame jing.

Ye Qing Xin keeps on smiling and because she is beautiful and also sits beside Old Madame Jing, everyone that come to congratulate Old Madame Jing will ask about her.

Every time Old Madame Jing replies happily: “This is my granddaughter-in-law.”

Finally there are two familiar people come inside: Gu Qiao and Wen Ren Xi.

Gu Qiao notices Ye Qing Xin beside Old Madame Jing. She seems to be panic, while Wen Ren Xi expects Ye Qing Xin to be here. Both of them pa.s.s the gift and congratulate her.

Wen Ren Xi seems to notice Ye Qing Xin’s nervousness and calls her: “Xin Xin.” Then she says to Old Madame Jing: “Old Madame, last night Bo Yuan took Xin Xin to have dinner at my restaurant. I like Xin Xin so much, can you lend your granddaughter-in-law for me for a while? Let me to chat with her?”

Wen Ren Xi is wearing a simple dress but she is attractive. Not only because she is beautiful but her demeanor is exceptional.

Old Madame Jing smiles: “Of course. But don’t you bully my granddaughter-in-law.”

Wen Ren Xi: “Old Madame, don’t you know me well? Am I that kind of unruly person?”

Ye Qing Xin thanks Wen Ren Xi with her eyes.

Honestly, inside the resting area, she just knows Old Madame Jing and Ji Yi but she isn’t that close to them. As for the others, they make her feel uncomfortable because of their judging eyes.

Ye Qing Xin, Wen Ren Xi and Gu Qiao walk toward the sofa near the window and sit down there. It’s quite far from Old Madame Jing and friends. All the other wants to earn favor from Old Madame Jing so they focus on Old Madame Jing.

“Have you been here for a long time?” Wen Ren Xi asks. Then there’s a sound of ‘xiu’ under her skirt.

Ye Qing Xin smiles: “I just come too.”

“You need to be used to this kind of event. Later on you marry with Bo Yuan, there’s even more grand event than this. You will receive a lot of gaze from others.” Wen Ren Xi advises her.

Ye Qing Xin replies: “I’ll try my best. Thank you Xi Jie.”

Wen Ren Xi asks her: “You don’t know this person right, she is Gu Qiao.”

Gu Qiao smiles: “Xi Jie, I knew Xin Xin earlier than you, right Xin Xin?”

Ye Qing Xin looks at Gu Qiao and laughs: “Qiao Qiao Jie.”

The time Ye Qing Xin’s gaze falls on her neck, she is startled.

She didn’t pay attention to her before. Gu Qiao is wearing the necklace that is similar to the one that her mother gave to her. It’s with the eye pedant.

The only thing that is different is the direction of the teardrop and eyelash. Seems… one is the left eye, the other is right eye.

Gu Qiao’s pedant is the right eye and hers is the left eye.

Ye Qing Xin thinks about it and Gu Qiao notices her gaze. She touches her necklace and smiles: “This one with the blue diamond is exceptional right?”

Ye Qing Xin nods.

Yes… it’s very exceptional.

Gu Qiao says: “I heard from Nai Nai that this was designed by my Gu Fu (uncle) for my Gu Gu (auntie). You might not know my Gu Gu, she is my Nai Nai’s biological daughter. But it’s a pity she died young. She is gone….”

Gu Qiao’s voice turns lower. “I heard from my Nai Nai. That the relations.h.i.+p between my Gu Gu and Gu Fu is really good. They are childhood sweetheart. The time they were together, they never fight with each other. Probably because the heaven is jealous with them, so three of them died in accident.”

“It’s a very special necklace, there’s should be a few of them right.”

“Of course. This one is designed personally by my Gu Fu. He made him by himself. There’s only one.” Gu Qiao says firmly and proudly.

Ye Qing Xin purses her lips: “Then, if there’s one similar like you?”

“It’s should be the imitation.” Gu Qiao smiles: “Nai Nai said that year the first time Gu Fu designed this, it caused a great sensation around the jewelry designer. A lot of stores want to buy it, but he didn’t sell it and some of them tried to imitate what he designed.”

Ye Qing Xin nods.

The imitators’ ability cannot be looked down. The one with her, should be fake too.

She thinks about it her mother is poor, how can she buy an expensive jewelry.

Luckily this period of time, she feels uncomfortable to wear it when she takes shower. So she just put it at her wardrobe. If not she will wear it and maybe she will turn to a great joke for others.

Wen Ren Xi notices that both of them are familiar with each other, she smiles: “You guys know each other so I don’t need to introduce you guys to each other.” She then strokes her cat’s head, Xi Fan: “Xi Fan, why you haven’t greeted these beautiful Jie Jie?”

Xi Fan raises her head lazily and says “Meow Meow” to both Ye Qing Xin and GU Qiao.

Ye Qing Xin looks at the cat’s eyes. Its eyes are brown.

Gu Qiao: “Xi Jie, Xi Fan is hiding under your skirt to get in?”

Wen Ren Xi smiles: “You guess it wrongly. This time she climbs in.”

Gu Qiao is surprised: “This is tenth floor, how can she climb inside?”

Wen Ren Xi smiles and kisses Xi Fan: “Our Xi Fan is smart and has its own way, right, XI Fan?”

Xi Fan raises its head: “Meow”. It seems so proud.

After a while, Jing Suo Suo gets in. Ji Yi calls after her and talks to her for. awhile. She is unhappy and pouts. She looks around and recognizes Ye Qing Xin. She just runs over to Ye Qing Xin. Ji Yi just shakes her head and sighs.

Jing Suo Suo greets Gu Qiao and Wen Ren Xi and sits down beside Ye Qing Xin: “Xin Xin, when did you come?”

Ye Qing Xin: “I just came.”

After Jing Suo Suo, Sheng family member also come in. Old Mister and Old Madame Sheng walk in front, Yu Geng Xin and Yu Qing You walks at last row.

Old Madame Jing stands up and greets them.

Jing Suo Suo’s eyes turn bright and waits for them to finish their greetings. Yu Geng Xin and Old Mister Sheng goes out. Jing Suo Suo hurriedly tidies up her hair and just runs out too.

Ye Qing Xin is curious about Jing Suo Suo.

She then notices Yu Qing You is looking at her. Ye Qing Xin smiles at her. Yu Qing You also smiles toward her, then she turns her head to talk with a group of other daughters of rich family.

The party will start soon and a lot of guests has come. Ye Qing Xin notices that Old Madame Yan is not here yet.

“Qiao Qiao Jie, where is Yan Nai Nai?”

Gu Qiao smiles: “Don’t worry. I sent message before. They are downstairs, they will be here soon.”

Indeed less than five minutes, both old couple of Yan family and Gu Xing De and wife get inisde. Gu Qiao immediately stands up and goes over.

After a while, she takes Old Madame Yan over.

“Xin Xin.” Old Madame Yan is happy to see Ye Qing Xin.

Ye Qing Xin stands up and comes over to welcome her: “Nai Nai, it’s been a long time. Are you well?”

Old Madame Yan holds her hand and sits down: “I’m okay. With you, thinking of me, I am well. I didn’t expect that you are with that guy. It’s good. I watch A Yuan since he was young. He is responsible good kid. He is suitable for our Xin Xin.”

Gu Qiao holds Old Madame Yan’s arm and acts coquettishly: “Nai Nia, look at you, then who is suitable for your G.o.d-granddaughter?”

Old Madame Yan pokes Gu Qiao’s head: “You ah. You are twenty six years old. I tell you about this man that man, you don’t like them, who will be suitable for you? I should just send you to the nunnery!”

Then she continues: “You, you need to pay close attention. You are at this age. You should marry quickly and have kid.”

Gu Qiao smiles: “Didn’t you say that you want to send me to the nunnery? Then it’s good, to save me from your chatter about marriage.”

“You!” Old Madame Yan is helpless: “look at our Xin Xin. She is just twenty years old and is settled. You are twenty six years old, when will you make me relieved?”

“Nai Nai, not everyone is lucky as Xin Xin. She can meet the one that she likes. Even though I can meet the one that I like but if the man doesn’t like you. It’s also a waste. That kind is a fate. You shouldn’t rush it.”

Old Madame Yan smiles: “That’s right.”

Gu Qiao smiles shyly: “What’s the point of being right? Someone knows that it is south wall, but she still wants to climb that wall.”

Old Madame Yan is surprised and looks at her: “Are you having feeling for someone?”

“No…….” then Gu Qiao looks at the tall man, who is getting inside the resting area. Her words are stuck on her throat. She then lowers her head and says, “Nothing, Nai Nai.”

Wen Ren Xi notices Gu Qiao’s expression and looks at Jing Bo Yuan, who is waling toward them. She doesn’t say anything and just strokes her cat’s head.

Jing Bo Yuan greets Old Madame Yan first then says to Ye Qing Xin: “Follow me out to see someone.”

Ye Qing Xin stands up and excuses herself from Old Madame Yan, Wen Ren Xi and Gu Qiao. The time she is ready to go out.

Jing Bo Yuan is about to turn his body but his gaze falls on Xi Fan. He frowns: “How can it get in?”

Wen Ren Xi keeps on stroking her cat: “It climbed through the window.”

She adds: “Don’t worry, it will not s.h.i.+t or pee at your hotel. It will not bite your guest to. Em…… it will only fall a bit of its fur. We are old friends. You shouldn’t mind it right?”

Jing Bo Yuan: “Next time don’t bring it over.”

Wen Ren Xi: “Then next time don’t invite me.”

Jing Bo Yuan: ” Er Shu is here, do you want to meet him together?”

Wen Ren Xi drinks her gla.s.s of champagne. Her voice starts to be tough and resolute: “No.”

Jing Bo Yuan is indifferent: “Okay, but Er Shu said that he will be here for a short time. He ask duty tomorrow. He should return today too.”

Wen Ren Xin is silent.

Ye Qing Xin comes out from the resting area with Jing Bo Yuan. Although she is curious about the relations.h.i.+p between Wen Ren Xi and Er Shu, but she doesn’t pry about it. She doesn’t ask about anything.

Inside the party everyone is talking in group. Jing Bo Yuan takes Ye Qing Xin to a tall and big man, who is surrounded by other group of people.

That man is alert and charismatic. But he is quite different from Jing Bo Yuan. Jing Bo Yuan is charismatic leader that leads other to unable to refuse his order but this man his charismatic law enforcer so everyone doesn’t dare to do anything bad or thinking about something bad. He is good at judging people.

They go in front of him and Jing Bo Yuan introduces her: “Xin Xin, this is my Er Shu.”

Ye Qing Xin smiles: “Er Shu, h.e.l.lo. I am Ye Qing Xin.”

JIng Yi has a tan skin but his facial feature are handsome. He is as tall and strong as Jing Bo Yuan. He lowers down her head and nods at her. He doesn’t say anything.

Ye Qing Xin doesn’t feel awkward about his att.i.tude. His reservedness probably is related to his duty as protector of the country, he should be respected.

Jing Bo Yuan asks: “When will you leave?”

Jing Yi looks at his watch: “Ten more minutes.”

Jing Bo Yuan: “Have you met Nai Nai?”

Jing Yi: “It’ll be enough for me to come. It’s okay to not meet.”

Jing Bo Yuan tries to persuade him: “It’s been a long time….”

Jing Yi cuts him off: “For me, it’s just happened yesterday. Okay just let it be. I’ll go to greet your Pa and your San Shu. I’ll go.”

He says and he really goes out. He bids his simple goodbye to Jing Zong and Jing Yan, who are welcoming with the guests, and just leaves.

Ye Qing Xin looks at him and feels that the way he talked with Jing Bo Yuan is not an usual style of conversation between uncle and nephew. It’s more like old friends.

Ye Qing Xin seems to have an idea that Jing Yi still thinks about the past, about the prost.i.tute.

Ye Qing Xin then looks at the resting area.

There is Wen Ren Xi, who is hugging Xi Fan. Her gaze is directed to the direction where Jing Yi left. Her gaze seems resentful and longing.

Ye Qing Xin guess that Wen Ren Xi and Jing Bo Yuan’s Er Shu are pining lovers.

The party starts and everyone starts to take a seat.

Ye Qing Xin follows Jing Bo Yuan and sits down on the host table.

It shows that her status to be the future mistress of Jing family.

Jing Zong goes up onto the stage and says pretentious words. Then he raises his gla.s.s to formally start the the party.

Old Madame Jing cannot drink anymore alcohol. Jing Zong and Jing Yan be her subst.i.tutes to have a toast with everyone.

Jing Bo Yuan has announced silently to everyone about Ye Qing Xin’s status. So everyone thinks about the way to earn her favor as they think earning her favor is like earning Jing Bo Yuan’s favor. They give her a toast.

Jing Bo Yuan has planned about it earlier, he changes Ye Qing Xin’s wine to grape juice. Ye Qing Xin doesn’t remember how many gla.s.ses she has that time. She feels full and cannot hold her pee anymore.

During the break, Ye Qing Xin asks Jing Bo Yuan: “Where is the restroom?”

Jing Bo Yuan: “Go out and turn left. It’s at the end of the corridor.”

Ye Qing Xin stands up and excuses herself from everyone on her table. She goes out from the hall.

She arrives at the restroom and just gets inside one of the cubicle. She relieves herself and couldn’t help to sight.

Then suddenly from outside there’s several footsteps of women with high heels. Then a clear voice of a woman: “Do you guys see her lowly appearance? Poor humble family shouldn’t appear in this kind of party, what is she wearing? It’s extremely ugly and dusty, is it because she buried inside the pile of ashes?”

Another woman says: “Poor humble family has its own benefit. At least she has no manner so she doesn’t know what is embarra.s.sment. She should only know how to service man. She can do any tricks that can cause a man willingly to die on her body. If not how can she defeat those well-known woman and successfully raise to new status.”

Another one says: “Exactly her face is too foxy. I could sense her foul smell.”

“The current young ladies these days are too great. For wealth and glory, they can do anything. She seems to be younger than twenty years old. She can be together with someone that can be her father. I don’t know whether she call him dad during the intimate moment.”

Ye Qing Xin stands up calmly and the toilet flushes automatically.

The flus.h.i.+ng sound let the noise outside subsides.

It is a silence for a while and someone continues: “Qing You Jie, I’m really feeling injustice for you. What’s so good about that girl? You are at disadvantage because you are too educated and well-mannered. You cannot do those shameful action or tricks like that foxy girl.”