Actually, Xu Tingyu wasn't a person who couldn't hold her liquor.
It was just that not many people knew she had just given birth.
Chen Yan didn't elaborate on this either. He just vaguely offered to drink on her behalf.
Everyone teased that Young Master Chen was really caring and considerate, and then didn't dig deeper.
The atmosphere in the private room became lively. Chen Chunyao also seemed a bit happy and drank several glasses in a row.
Later on, she even accepted every drink offered.
Xu Tingyu was sitting next to her and saw it clearly. So when another person came to toast, she stopped them.
"Alright, alright. Why are you only drinking and not eating? Do you want to get my good friend drunk? You guys have some nerve thinking you can see a big star drunk."
She joked as she blocked the drink for Chen Chunyao.
The two of them snuggled up to each other affectionately. Later, they went to the restroom together.
Chen Chunyao didn't know if she was drunk or just in a good mood because she saw many old friends today. In the restroom, she suddenly burst into tears.
Xu Tingyu was greatly startled and quickly hugged her. "What's wrong, baby?"
They were so close that they would call each other "baby" in private.
Chen Chunyao also hugged her and cried even louder.
"Tingyu, did you see? They're toasting me and smiling at me. No one dares to look down on me anymore."
She should have been happy, but her tone was anything but. There was only pain that couldn't be hidden at all.
Xu Tingyu's heart ached sharply.
She remembered when the Chen family first went bankrupt, Chen Chunyao with messy hair, sitting on the school playground, forcing a bitter smile at her.
"Tingyu, my family has no money anymore. I've moved, and I might even have to transfer schools. We..."
Xu Tingyu had just returned to Jingdu after a competition and didn't know about her family's bankruptcy. Hearing this, she was shocked and quickly knelt beside her to hug her.
Just then, several girls ran over, pointing at Chen Chunyao and scolding. "Why did you hit someone? Isn't your family bankrupt?"
"Exactly. You're in so much debt, yet you still act like a rich young lady. You were just an upstart anyway. You really thought you were something special."
"Just now, you even dared to pour water on me in the restroom. Do you know how much my shoes cost? You can't even afford to pay for them now."
...
Xu Tingyu was extremely angry. For the first time, she was imposing in front of these people.
Although she didn't know at that time how Chen Chunyao had gotten into a fight with these people, she immediately stood in front of Chen Chunyao and faced them alone.
"Shut up, all of you. This is a school. What you're doing now is bullying. If you don't want the teachers to know, get out of here quickly."
"And you, if you dare to say one more word, I'll tear your mouth apart. If you don't believe me, just try it."
...
Later, she scolded those people away and paid Chen Chunyao's remaining school fees.
She had a lot of pocket money and many dance competition prizes. Two - thirds of her money was spent on Chen Chunyao.
There were all kinds of rumors in school. Many people mocked Chen Chunyao for still having the nerve to stay in this noble school when she couldn't even afford to eat.
Xu Tingyu couldn't always be there to scold those people for her.
Fortunately, Chen Chunyao had a fiery temper and never really suffered.
But after all, it was the most face - conscious stage of adolescence. No matter how carefree Chen Chunyao was, those past events were like a thorn in her heart.
Fortunately, now she had finally turned the corner.
Those people, even if their gazes were once full of ridicule, wouldn't show their malice openly when they saw her now.
The two hugged each other for a long time in the empty restroom. Xu Tingyu kept comforting her.
After crying for a while, Chen Chunyao received a call from her assistant.
She had an advertisement shoot tomorrow, so she couldn't play too late today to ensure her state tomorrow.
Xu Tingyu wiped the tears from her face, smoothed out the wrinkles on her clothes, and sent her to her assistant.
"Yaoyao, you'll always be the best. No one will ever look down on you. In the future, countless people will love you. Go ahead and walk on your path of glory."
She comforted her softly and watched her leave.
Turning around and going back to the lively private room, someone mentioned Chen Chunyao's early departure in a rather awkward tone.
"After all, she's a big star now. It's not even possible to have a meal with her."
Some people spoke up for her.
"Don't say that. She has to earn money to support her family, so she's naturally very busy. Do you think everyone can be a useless person relying on their family like us?"
Xu Tingyu frowned and looked at the person who had spoken unpleasantly. "Everyone has different jobs. As friends, there's no need to be so sarcastic."
The friendships in school were pure, but now that everyone had entered society, many feelings had changed.
That person's face indeed changed when being talked to like this, but they didn't dare to lose their temper directly. They could only snort softly.
"Yeah, everyone is different. Some people are lucky and can live a worry - free life after marrying a good man."
Everyone present knew that Xu Tingyu and Qi Shifeng were in an arranged marriage without any feelings.
Even if they didn't know before, after so many days of hot - search news, they should know by now.
This was clearly an insult to her.
Before she could fight back, Chen Yan on the other side put down his glass heavily. "Can we still have fun? If not, get out."
Young Master Chen was always tolerant and could take a joke. He rarely showed his anger.
But once he got angry, no one could bear it.
Someone quickly changed the topic, and the atmosphere became lively again.
Xu Tingyu sat for a while and then excused herself to get some fresh air and went to the balcony.
Soon, Chen Yan also came.
"How's your body?"
He stood beside her, not too close. The faint smell of alcohol mixed with the fragrance of perfume drifted in the night breeze.
It wasn't unpleasant.
Xu Tingyu nodded. "It's fine. Otherwise, how could I have beaten Xie Yu to the hospital?"
As soon as she said this, Chen Yan burst out laughing.
"You don't know. I went to the hospital to see that Xie Yu. Her face was so swollen. When she saw me, she still cried and complained about you."
"Seeing that I didn't respond, she remembered her persona and pretended to be strong. Little did she know that in my eyes, it was just a pretentious act."
Xu Tingyu could imagine it without Chen Yan's detailed description.
After all, Xie Yu often acted like this in front of Qi Shifeng.
She also laughed.
"Look at your big brother here. I've sacrificed so much for you, but you didn't even think about contacting me or caring about me. You're really heartless."
After laughing, Chen Yan began to "complain" about her.
God knows how he had spent these days. He was extremely worried.
But every time he could only wait for news passively, just like a concubine in an ancient mansion, sitting alone in a side courtyard, waiting for the master's favor.
However, he didn't dare to tell Xu Tingyu such a shocking metaphor.
Otherwise, she would definitely be scared away and never dare to contact him again.
"Alright, alright. I know. When this is all over, I'll definitely treat you to good food. Every single meal."
"If you take a fancy to any girl, I'll be your wing - man. How about that?"
Xu Tingyu patted his shoulder, looking helpless.