The corner of the hall felt quite chilly. Sheng Xia put a bite-sized cake into her mouth and felt confused when people looked at her with disdain.
What? Was it wrong to eat cake here?
Anyway, it was not her fault that she became an eyesore in this hall's corner.
Sheng Xia gazed at a round table not far from where she was standing. All of the Cheng Family sat on their assigned seat, chatting with the other guests joyfully.
A few minutes ago, Sheng Xia was told that there was no assigned seat for her because they thought she wouldn't come. Sheng Xia felt speechless, then stirred her gaze toward Cheng An. The young woman from the outside looked sad, but Sheng Xia could see that Cheng An looked at her with schadenfreude.
The clock was almost touch the opening time. Three minutes before the banquet started, a maid came to Sheng Xia and escorted her to the farthest round table from the stage, so different in position from Cheng An's table, which was side by side with the Gu's Family table.
Sheng Xia couldn't even respond anymore. She felt tired already. But, remembering the old man that she was acquainted with, she refrained from exploding.
Sheng Xia sat in her assigned seat and tried to be as invisible as possible. She wanted to greet the old man, give him her blessing, and run away as fast as possible. After all, she needed to pack her luggage before she went on vacation in Country J.
She didn't plan to waste any more of her time on the Cheng Family.
The banquet started with Gu's Family Head giving a speech, then an old man who still looked spirited came to the stage. He expressed his gratitude for attending his birthday celebration and pointed out that tonight, he was delighted to inform that Gu Bo would be married to Cheng An next year.
The guest erupted in joy; applause rang around the hall.
"Cheng An! Congratulation! You would be an amazing Madam Gu in the future. I hope you to take care of me in the future!" One of the guests smiled at Cheng An.
Cheng An blushed shyly. "Yes, please take care of me too."
Some guests who were close to the Cheng Family congratulated them, and some who were close to Sheng Xia peeked at her reaction and got confused by her indifference.
"You are Cheng's adopted daughter, right?" A female guest who was adorned in a luxurious dress, has a very beautiful face and a sexy body proportion, started a conversation with Sheng Xia. She looked so gossipy that Sheng Xia wanted to laugh at her weird situation.
Sheng Xia only smiled in return. She started to get tired, acting like a country bumpkin. Without Sheng Xia realizing it, her aura started to show, but thanks to her disguise, it melted down a lot.
The female guest wasn't discouraged. "You must be happy, right? Look at Cheng An, she got to marry a wonderful man. Since you were adopted into the family, in the future, with your brother-in-law connection, your future spouse will be quite good too. You got a jackpot, do you know?"
Sheng Xia's smile faltered a little bit. "Who knows?"
The female guest sat at this round table, so she must not be that renowned. But she was indeed beautiful. Sheng Xia started to wonder about this pretty sister's identity.
"I am Sheng Xia. May I know your name?" asked Sheng Xia, as usual, to her personality, directly asking the woman so that she wouldn't die of curiosity.
The beautiful sister smiled widely. "I am Su Le Qing. I like your name!"
Sheng Xia was stunned. "Your surname is Su?"
Su Le Qing looked at Sheng Xia with a clear gaze but was definitely confused. "Yes?"
Sheng Xia chuckled. "I am sorry. Your surname is similar to my sister's name."
"Hm? Your sister's name is Su? Did your parent divorce?" What a naive question, but Sheng Xia didn't mind it. After all, she could feel that Su Le Qing didn't have any evil thoughts.
"They were not," said Sheng Xia, feeling a bit refreshed while talking with this beautiful woman. "We were not biologically related, but to me, she is the most important person in the whole world."
"Oooh~ that was nice to know. I envy you."
"Envy?" Sheng Xia couldn't understand the source of envy. Sure, her sister is her salvation, and she was very happy they were destined to meet, but this 'envy' seemed a little bit different.
"Yes. I am so beautiful, right?" said Su Le Qing with complete confidence in her beauty.
Sheng Xia, for the nth time, chuckled again. "Yes, you are very beautiful."
"Right~? But because I am so beautiful, not many girls like me." Su Le Qing pouted, and her face looked grim. "They said I like stealing my friend's boyfriend or crush. But it wasn't my fault that those idiot boys fell for my beauty. After all, I can't steal what wasn't secured."
"Ah, yes, the classic 'gravity stole my apple' defense."
Su Le Qing giggled. "Right~? It wasn't my fault. I only mind my business; it's their man who wandered off on his own."
"So true."
Sheng Xia and Su Le Qing looked at each other, then laughed.
"Can I get your contact information? I like you!" said Su Le Qing with a wide smile on her face.
Sheng Xia put out her old phone. "Sure."
"Why does your phone look so old? Do you want me to buy you a new one?"
"No, don't worry. It still functioned properly."
"Nice to know."
After both exchanged contact information, there was an exclamation, and then almost all the guest stood from their seat. Sheng Xia stayed calm in her seat. She continued to talk with Su Le Qing about the dessert that was served a few minutes ago. In their table, only they eat their dessert. It was quite good, but the coffee kicked too much for Sheng Xia's liking.
"Is it true?" One of the guest at their table cried out.
"It's true!" The other guest nodded his head enthusiastically. "President Zhou Jingfeng came to the banquet!"
"What!"
"I must greet him tonight."
"I know, right. It was a rare chance to meet him. I heard he is in charge of overseas branches."
"He is indeed a very remarkable heir to the Zhou Group. Elder Zhou must be very happy and relaxed about the future of Zhou Group."
Sheng Xia almost choked on her cake when she heard their conversation.
Leon was here?
Sheng Xia unconsciously started to look for Zhou Jingfeng's silhouette, but thanks to the other guests also standing and looking for Zhou Jingfeng, from her seat, Sheng Xia couldn't see anything.
"You also like Zhou Jingfeng?" Su Le Qing asked Sheng Xia out of the blue.
"What? ... No way..." Sheng Xia bit her lip.
Su Le Qing pouted. "You are not very convincing."
Sheng Xia choked. "I-"
"Don't worry. There were indeed a lot of girls who liked Zhao Jingfeng in our circle. He is not only capable, but also handsome. It isn't weird to fall for him. If you like him, do you want me to introduce you?"
"No. No need."
"Okay..." Su Le Qing stabbed her dessert and ate it in a low mood.
"Do you like him too?" asked Sheng Xia, curious.
"No way!" Su Le Qing shouted. Her face showed fear. "He is so scary! I like a man with a gentle personality and a pretty smile."
Sheng Xia chuckled. "I see."
The banquet continued with people buzzing in the background.
The next segment turned out to be a waltz dance. Elder Gu was famous for his liking toward classic dance, specifically the waltz. Rumors said that it was the first dance that he and his deceased foreign wife danced when they first met.
Tchaikovsky's Waltz of the Flowers started to sound in the entire hall. Elder Gu, with his eldest daughter started dancing. Then Gu Bo walked to the dance floor hand-in-hand with Cheng An and also started to follow the music. Some Gu family members also bring their spouses to the dance floor. The joy filled the air.
Sheng Xia's gaze landed on Cheng An and surprisingly, the young woman looked jittery. Sometimes, her eyes wandered around. When Sheng Xia focused on Cheng An's direction of view, she met with a smirk she recognized.
It was Zhou Jingfeng.
Sheng Xia was stunned in place. Then she found out, Cheng An, again and again, landed her gaze on Zhou Jingfeng.
What is going on? You are dancing with your fiancé, but why do you still have time ogling other men?
Sheng Xia was truly confused.
Her mind churned, and the most explainable conclusion that she got was that Cheng An actually has feelings toward Zhou Jingfeng.
That starry-eyed shyness that radiated from her face. It was so obvious.
Sheng Xia chuckled. What a busy woman.
She wondered if Gu Bo knew this infatuation of Cheng An.
She almost wanted to approach Gu Bo, but she remembered that tonight was Elder Gu's birthday celebration, so she stopped her plan.
The waltz ended, and Elder Gu invited the other guests who had not danced yet, including Zhou Jingfeng. The hall buzzed, and a few giggles could be heard from the woman. It seemed Zhou Jingfeng didn't bring any companions with him.
Sheng Xia peeked at Zhou Jingfeng's area, but then, her eyes bulged. What is he doing here? No. The correct question is, what is he even doing in Country C?
The man who stood on the left side of Zhou Jingfeng was a mixed. He appeared cheerful and curious. Sheng Xia reached her phone and private chat with the man.
Su's Star: Teddy bear! What are you doing at Gu's banquet?
The chat was sent.
Not long after, the man named Teddy looked around the hall, and when he saw Sheng Xia, his smile widened.
Teddy Bear: you look funny! LOL
Su's Star: I know
Teddy Bear: I was invited by Leon Zhao.
Teddy Bear: At first, I didn't know why, but now...
Teddy Bear: Hmm... yo yo yo Stellaaa
Teddy Bear: I thought it was an unrequited love? You still have time for romance while checking out the Chengs?
Sheng Xia pouted. What was this man thinking? If Zhou Jingfeng were her boyfriend, she would tell the whole world that he was hers.
Su's Star: Shut up
Su's Star: It's not what you think
Su's Star: Just pretend not to know me
Su's Star: And tomorrow, can you pick me up?
For a while, Teddy hasn't replied to her chat.
Teddy Bear: ???
Su's Star: I decide to stop pretending
Su's Star: It's tiring
Teddy Bear: *hug
Teddy Bear: Have you told Elaine?
Su's Star: I haven't told Sister Su. I will do it tonight
Teddy Bear: Okay
Teddy Bear: I will pick you up at six am
Su's Star: Thanks, bro
Teddy Bear: Anything for Princess Stella~
Sheng Xia locked her phone and breathed a sigh of relief. Now, she was a little unsure whether she would tell Father Cheng or not about her departure.
Based on her personality, she would. It's not good to disappear just like that. And in the future, there might be a chance that she would visit Country C again and do business here.
But when she thought that she had to face her biological father, she felt a little bit bummed. She hated it when what she wanted did not come true.
She was disappointed that her blood-related relatives didn't accept her as she is.
What was wrong with the poor girl from an ordinary environment?
They could teach her the way of the circle.
They could accept her, and she would be fine if Cheng An stayed. They could become sister. She wasn't some evil girl who hoarded love and wealth.
She wouldn't even stay long in Country C because of her career.
She just wanted them to accept her as she is. Without her glamour, without her wealth, and without her fame.
But they had to degrade her, just to uplift Cheng An.
She didn't know if she should laugh or cry.
Suddenly, many people shouted, and Sheng Xia, who looked at her feet, raised her head. And not far from her, Zhao Jingfeng walked toward her.
Sheng Xia frowned. What was that man doing?
"Good evening," said Zhao Jingfeng while extending his arm. "Do you mind if I invite you to dance with me?"
Sheng Xia's lip corner twitched. "I do mind."
And people around them gasped.
Sheng Xia pouted. "I am not in the mood."
"That's too bad. I will not dance either then," said Zhao Jingfeng while sighing.
Sheng Xia squinted her eyes, then raised her hand and put her hand on his arm. "Fine. Tsk. Let's go."
Zhao Jingfeng's smile bloomed. "Thank you, Miss."
Not far from Sheng Xia, Cheng An gripped her hand. Her eyes showed disbelief.
"Why?" The chaos in her mind increased. "Why her?"