"Yaoyao, I actually came back to China this time to hold my engagement banquet."
Bai He is a typical sassy legal beauty. She majored in law abroad, the same major as Song Yu. They are fellow apprentices under the same master.
Qin Yaoyao and Bai He smiled at each other sweetly. Qin Yaoyao scooped up a spoonful of the baked custard in front of her and put it into her mouth.
She propped her chin with the other hand, her face full of longing for the future. "I'm going to marry a very gentlemanly and elegant man. Aren't you happy for me?"
"Happy. Remember to invite me then."
Qin Yaoyao nodded absent - mindedly. On the surface, she seemed very interested in Bai He's topic, but in fact, she was constantly thinking about another thing.
That was how to get Bai He to help her get rid of Jiang Li, this hidden threat.
"I almost forgot that you're also in a relationship recently." After talking about herself, Bai He looked at her excitedly. "So, who is the other person? Can you reveal the name?"
Seeing her friend's anticipation, Qin Yaoyao lowered her eyes, a shy look on her face. "Of course. And you know him."
"I know him?" Bai He suddenly became interested. "Who on earth is it? So mysterious."
Qin Yaoyao's face turned a bit red. She lowered her voice softly. "It's your cousin."
Cousin?
"Ah?" Bai He was completely dumbfounded. The spoonful of baked custard she had just scooped up hung in mid - air. She couldn't help but ask, "Yaoyao, you know that I only have one cousin."
"Yes, it's that cousin of yours." Qin Yaoyao blinked her eyes, her face flushing even more. "I've been dating A Yan recently, and we've even met our parents."
Although one of them was so angry by her that they were hospitalized and still hadn't woken up, and she hadn't even talked to the other one.
Listening to Qin Yaoyao tell about what had happened during this period, Bai He lifted the spoon and put it down several times. Finally, she still couldn't quite believe it. "You're really together with Brother A Yan?"
This news was really explosive. It took Bai He a while to digest it. The look in her eyes was rather complicated, obviously more shocked than happy.
She opened her mouth. Some words got stuck in her throat, and finally she just managed to say dryly, "Congratulations then."
After the afternoon tea, they were about to get up and leave. Suddenly, Bai He seemed to remember something. She grabbed Qin Yaoyao and asked, "I have a welcome party tonight. Do you want to come and have fun?"
After all, Bai He was a daughter of the upper - class society. She had a wide network of connections in the circle. It was only natural for everyone to get together to celebrate her return.
"Brother A Yan will also come." Bai He added.
Originally, Qin Yaoyao had planned to invite Xiao Yanzhi to have dinner together. Hearing what Bai He said, she immediately felt excited. "Sure."
She thought that if A Yan saw her appear in front of him, he would definitely be very surprised.
...
At seven o'clock in the evening.
Jiang Li was dragged out by Xiao Yanzhi.
The reason was that he was worried that something might happen to her if she stayed at home alone because her emotions were unstable.
Jiang Li thought to herself that being with him was the most likely way for problems to occur.
Although the verdict had already been announced, Jiang Li still had to wait for the court to complete the final procedures. After that, she had to sign and wait for a week of public notice before the trial judgment could be completely finalized.
These days, she had been living in Ruiyuan, and Xiao Yanzhi had also accompanied her there. Strangely enough, they got along quite harmoniously.
Their daily routines were almost the same, but they kept a strange yet just - right balance, not interfering with each other.
...
Until that night, Xiao Yanzhi asked her to go to a welcome party with him, saying that it would be a good chance for her to relax.
Jiang Li refused, but her refusal was in vain.
The man was used to being overbearing and arbitrary. How could he give her a chance to resist?
The car drove to Jinhai Bar.
Jiang Li sat in the car, looking up out of the window. She remembered that not long ago, because of a phone call from Qin Yaoyao, thinking that something had happened to Xiao Yanzhi, she had rushed over in a hurry.
Not only was it a farce, but she had also been sneered at by him.
"It's just a gathering of some acquaintances. You don't need to socialize later, and don't drink." Xiao Yanzhi tilted his chin slightly and simply instructed her.
Jiang Li retracted her gaze and slowly opened the car door and got out. The man first answered a phone call.
She had no choice but to stand not far away and wait for him.
At this time, Bai He and Qin Yaoyao had just arrived by taxi. The two of them got out of the taxi arm in arm, like sisters.
Jiang Li looked up. The moment she saw Qin Yaoyao, she was stunned on the spot.
She subconsciously turned her back.
Xiao Yanzhi was still on the phone dealing with official business. His handsome face was extremely calm, and he didn't notice anything.
By chance, he looked up and happened to see the two people walking towards him.
Their eyes met. Xiao Yanzhi hung up the phone. His gaze first landed on Qin Yaoyao calmly and then moved to Bai He's face. His tone was flat. "When did you arrive today?"
"I just arrived a little while ago." Bai He respected this cousin in the family very much. Her tone was very formal. "Thank you, cousin, for hosting a welcome party for me."
"It's nothing." Xiao Yanzhi calmly raised his hand and then looked at Qin Yaoyao.
Qin Yaoyao immediately let go of Bai He's arm and walked towards him with a bright smile. Her voice was soft. "A Yan, I also came back today."
Xiao Yanzhi didn't answer. His gaze was meaningful. "You're quite a troublemaker."
Qin Yaoyao froze for a second. She understood that he was talking about her quitting the advertisement shoot. So she lowered her head. "I heard that A Yan was back in Beicheng. I couldn't see you in Huacheng. I was distracted every day."
She coquettishly spoke in a very charming voice, making it impossible for anyone to blame her.
Seeing that his expression remained unchanged, Qin Yaoyao took a step further and came to hold Xiao Yanzhi's arm.
Bai He observed quietly.
Her cousin, the one she had always respected and admired, didn't dodge immediately. He just let Qin Yaoyao hold his arm.
The two of them were as intimate as a couple.
A look of surprise flashed across Bai He's eyes.
Could it be true?
Was her cousin really together with Qin Yaoyao?
Qin Yaoyao noticed the surprise in Bai He's eyes and couldn't help feeling secretly happy. So she leaned closer to him. Just then, she noticed another beautiful figure beside the car door.
Although it was just a back view, Qin Yaoyao could tell who it was without even seeing her face.
"Sister Jiang Li, why are you here too?" Qin Yaoyao deliberately raised her voice to attract attention. "Are you also here to welcome He He? Do you two know each other?"
Jiang Li: ...
A million swear words flashed through her mind, but out of her upbringing, she still held it back.
She knew she shouldn't have come.
If it's not a disaster, it won't come; if it's a disaster, you can't avoid it.
After cursing Xiao Yanzhi in her heart many times, Jiang Li seemed to just hear Qin Yaoyao calling her. She turned around.
Xiao Yanzhi stood there calmly, not far from her, looking her up and down with his eyes.
"Why did you come here?"