The Engagement Party

The grand banquet hall was splendidly adorned, with melodious tunes gently permeating the air. Men and women, dressed in beautiful evening wear, held champagne flutes and gathered in groups. Smiles always graced their faces, their gestures intimate, as if they were long-lost close friends. Perhaps, outsiders would not discern how much falsehood those smiles concealed.

“Miss, this is the wine you requested.”

In the hall, a waiter in a black vest, trousers, and a white shirt bowed as he presented a glass of champagne on a tray to a woman. Just as the waiter was about to leave, the woman grabbed his bowtie, pulling him into a secluded corner.

Based on her attire, one could surmise the woman was one of the guests that night. She had captivating, deep red curly hair, and due to her high heels, she was half a head taller than the waiter. She pressed the waiter against the wall, looking down at him from above, her beautifully manicured fingernails caressing his fair, jade-like face.

Normally, anyone subjected to such treatment would feel fear. But the waiter allowed the woman to press him, his eyes devoid of any panic. This reaction, of course, displeased the woman. She frowned slightly, pulling the waiter closer to her.

“What’s your name? Where do you work? How old are you?”

Her voice was incredibly ambiguous, a little hoarse. Her gaze swept over the waiter from head to toe, finally resting on the space between his legs and his slender, straight legs, her throat subtly bobbing.

“Xiao Lin, waiter, twenty-two.”

The waiter calmly answered the woman’s questions. His beautiful dark pupils showed no fluctuation. If one were to say he was unaware of the current situation and thus so calm, it wouldn't quite fit.

“You seem very calm? Don’t you want to know why I brought you here?”

The woman said, her hand on the waiter slowly tracing downwards. Just as she was about to touch his chest, her arm was suddenly seized by someone. The grip was so strong she couldn't move.

“Hello, Miss. He is my younger brother. If he has offended you, please forgive him.”

At this moment, another woman approached. She wore an elegant black evening gown, her long hair tied up, revealing her earrings and a fair, slender neck. Her expression did not match the cheerful demeanor of those around her; there was no joy, but rather a hint of sternness and coldness. She looked less like someone attending a party and more like someone collecting a debt.

“Ah! Younger brother? If this cute little one is your younger brother, I won’t contend. Otherwise… this tender, adorable type, I truly wish to savor slowly. Sweetie, find me another day.”

The woman finished speaking, took a business card from her handbag, smiled, and tucked it into the waiter’s bowtie, then sashayed away.

In an instant, only the woman in the black dress and the waiter remained in the dark corner. Once the other woman had left, the one in black decisively snatched the business card from the waiter’s bowtie and tossed it into a trash can. Then, she took a wet wipe and cleaned his cheek. Throughout the entire process, the waiter offered no resistance, finally being embraced. The height difference meant the waiter’s head rested perfectly on the woman’s chest. This scene of a strong woman and a weak man caught the attention of quite a few people, but they merely smiled and paid it no mind.

“Qing…”

At this moment, the waiter finally spoke, his voice no longer rough as before, but soft as water. Without a doubt, this person was Bai Lin, and the woman embracing her was Chi Qing.

“Were you touched anywhere else?”

Chi Qing asked with dissatisfaction, her wiping motion on Bai Lin’s cheek not stopping until the fair cheeks were rubbed red.

“No, just my face.”

“Don’t let others touch you casually again.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Hearing Chi Qing’s instructions, Bai Lin immediately agreed, her heart filled with sweetness. Seeing her obedient demeanor, Chi Qing lifted her shoulders, observing Bai Lin from above. Today was Bai Jun’s daughter’s birthday banquet, and also an engagement party. Although it was unclear what tricks Bai Jun intended to play, in order to uncover the underlying reasons, the organization decided to take a risk and investigate the purpose of the party.

Chi Qing was rescued by Su Ao Ran when she was fourteen. Although her current appearance did not look thirty-eight, it was vastly different from her former self. Thus, she only needed a little makeup to attend the party directly. Compared to Chi Qing, Bai Lin was not so fortunate.

Therefore, Su Ao Ning could only have Bai Lin infiltrate the ranks of the service staff, giving her a male wig. At this moment, Bai Lin, dressed in a white shirt and black vest, with soft, not-too-short black hair, looked like a young man straight out of a Japanese manga, perfect and captivating. No wonder the woman just now had set her sights on Bai Lin and acted as she did.

“Alright, I cannot stay with you long. Later, try to stay close to me. If that person comes looking for you again, you…”

“Qing, don’t worry, I won’t let anyone touch me again.”

Chi Qing hadn’t finished speaking before Bai Lin interrupted her. Seeing the other’s gentle eyes looking at her, Chi Qing truly felt reluctant to leave Bai Lin. But she had no choice but to go.

“Mm, if anything happens, remember to report to me first.”

“Okay.”

Watching Chi Qing’s retreating figure, Bai Lin’s bright eyes immediately dimmed. She looked at the business card in the trash can, her pupils sinking. Then, she pulled out a lighter from who knows where, lit the business card, and watched it slowly burn to ashes. Smoke and ash obscured her vision, also concealing Bai Lin’s face and the faint, enigmatic smile at the corner of her lips.

At eight in the evening, the banquet officially began. Chi Qing, along with Su Ao Ning and Lu Wei Lai, were all ready, waiting to see what tricks Bai Jun intended to play. As the music swelled, the grand doors of the banquet hall opened, revealing a man in a blue suit behind them.

After more than thirty years, seeing Bai Jun again, Chi Qing had expected to be agitated, wishing she could tear him apart and make him pay for what he had done to her in the past. However, when she actually saw him, she found her heart strangely calm. Bai Jun hadn’t changed much, but one could tell he had begun to age. Even with various beauty preservation methods, he could not defeat time.

He slicked his hair back, revealing a gaunt, angular face. His slightly hunched back made him look somewhat comical. Even though he wore luxurious, expensive custom-tailored clothes, it made others feel he was utterly despicable. His face wore a smile as he waved to everyone, who nodded back with utmost respect.

Following him was the man Chi Qing had encountered in Germany—Bai Xi. He still maintained his elegant, dashing demeanor, dressed in a white suit. Seeing him look her way, Chi Qing turned her face, pretending to converse with Lu Wei Lai. Su Ao Ning had already disappeared into the crowd, preparing an escape route after discovering Bai Jun’s intentions.

“I am deeply grateful to everyone for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend my daughter’s birthday. As you all know, my wife passed away many years ago, and she is my only daughter. I believe many distinguished guests and media today wish to know who my daughter is and what she looks like. I can only say, she is truly magnificent and will absolutely not disappoint anyone.”

“Furthermore, today is not only my daughter’s birthday but also the engagement ceremony of my adopted son, Bai Xi. I hope everyone enjoys themselves and leaves satisfied. As for their wedding, I wish to keep it simple, using the saved funds to sponsor impoverished mountain villagers and help unfortunate children.”

As soon as Bai Jun appeared, he began his speech, fluent, deceitful, and in line with his usual style. After listening to his grand and righteous speech about helping orphans, Chi Qing and Lu Wei Lai exchanged glances, both feeling nauseous. They were here to find out who Bai Jun’s daughter was and what this party concealed, not to listen to his nonsense.

“Alright, I have spoken enough today. Next, I invite today’s main character to appear, my beloved daughter.”

Along with Bai Jun’s words, a melodious tune echoed through the hall. Immediately after, everyone heard amplified footsteps, and then the doors slowly opened.

A vibrant red skirt fluttered, and what met everyone’s eyes was an exquisite face no less beautiful than a movie star. Seeing her face, the wine glass in Lu Wei Lai’s hand fell to the ground, emitting a crisp sound. But because the music was too loud, no one noticed. Everyone was focused on Bai Jun’s daughter. At this moment, Lu Wei Lai, like everyone else, had eyes only for the girl slowly walking in.

She was the biological daughter Bai Jun wanted to introduce today, the one who would get engaged to Bai Xi. But she was also the one who had brought Lu Wei Lai countless light and hope, making her find warmth in the cold, making her love her to death and back, and whom she still couldn’t forget.

Zeng Ke Hen…

Lu Wei Lai repeatedly chanted the name in her head, reflexively giving a faint smile. It turned out this was the most ironic thing in the world. It was the thing she least expected, and the thing she could least change. Why did this happen to her and Zeng Ke Hen?

Agitation affected her psyche; her heart pounded frantically, each beat threatening to leap from her chest. Next came Su Ao Ning’s voice through the phone, Chi Qing’s words. Lu Wei Lai couldn’t hear clearly, nor could she hear the reporters’ mixed questions. Lu Wei Lai seemed to have turned deaf, only hearing Zeng Ke Hen recount her studies abroad and how much she missed her father, Bai Jun.

After that, she hugged Bai Jun, then was held by Bai Xi’s hand. Tonight, she wore her deep purple hair curled, with enchanting and beautiful makeup, draped in a vibrant red long dress. A radiant, beautiful smile graced her face—a smile once meant for Lu Wei Lai, now given to another man.

Funny? Of course. Regret? How could there not be?

“Wei Lai, what are you still doing? The plan has changed. Hurry and leave!”

Seeing that Lu Wei Lai wasn’t responding to her calls, Chi Qing walked up to her and gently patted her cheek. But no matter what method she used to bring Lu Wei Lai back to her senses, the other woman just stood there blankly, her eyes shifting from hazy to bloodshot.

“She… she’s Zeng Ke Hen?”

Zeng Ke Hen, I don’t believe this stranger is you.

“Wei Lai, calm down first. We’ll talk about this when we get home.”

Hearing Lu Wei Lai’s murmur and seeing tears stream from her eyes, Chi Qing painfully whispered words of comfort.

Having been together for ten years, Chi Qing knew how much Lu Wei Lai loved Zeng Ke Hen. But seeing it was one thing; whether she could feel Lu Wei Lai’s current anguish was another. Even Chi Qing hadn’t expected Bai Jun’s daughter to be Zeng Ke Hen. However, if this were true, then the past betrayals all strung together made perfect sense. Chi Qing knew what to do now, but she didn’t know how to comfort Lu Wei Lai.

After all, the girl she had loved for over ten years was the enemy’s daughter. Such a rapid transformation was truly shocking. How could she not hate? How could she not resent? But no matter how distressed she felt, Chi Qing couldn’t let Lu Wei Lai continue to stand there in a daze. She always felt that tonight was unusual and they had to leave quickly.

“Big Sister… I…”

“What are you still doing? Aren’t you leaving quickly?”

Behind them, Su Ao Ning emerged from the crowd. Seeing Chi Qing and Lu Wei Lai standing still, she directly grabbed Lu Wei Lai and pulled her out. But then, Bai Xi placed a ring on Zeng Ke Hen’s finger.

Lu Wei Lai stood dumbfounded amidst the crowd, her pupils wide, staring at Zeng Ke Hen’s hand and the diamond ring about to be slipped onto her finger. She mumbled “don’t” in a daze, her body wanting to rush forward, but fortunately, Su Ao Ning stopped her just in time. At the same moment, a loud noise reverberated throughout the entire party, and the hall instantly plunged into darkness. Many people thought it was just an accidental power outage, but Chi Qing knew the sound was a gunshot.

“Su Ao Ning, you take Lu Wei Lai and leave first. I’ll go find Bai Lin.”

“Okay, be careful.”

Hearing Chi Qing’s instructions, Su Ao Ning looked at Lu Wei Lai struggling in her arms, quickly knocked her unconscious, and took her outside. Chi Qing remained in the darkened hall, searching for Bai Lin. She distinctly remembered telling her to stay close and not wander off. Why couldn’t she find her now?

In the chaotic darkness, she stumbled forward, occasionally bumping into others, occasionally having her feet stepped on. Chi Qing didn’t know why she was so panicked. She always felt that if she didn’t find Bai Lin quickly, there was a high possibility she would never find her again…