Jiang Shang sat in the passenger seat, looking utterly confused. This wasn't the way to the old mansion.
Ten minutes later, the car came to a steady stop in front of a small restaurant in an alley.
Gu Siheng led Jiang Shang into the restaurant and moved the menu in front of her.
Jiang Shang flipped through it casually and found that all the dishes were the specialties of Ningcheng, her hometown.
Realizing this was Gu Siheng's thoughtfulness, Jiang Shang was a bit surprised.
After ordering, Jiang Shang thanked him. "Gu Siheng, I didn't expect you to help me celebrate my birthday."
She didn't expect him to be so considerate either.
Gu Siheng hooked his lips into a faint smile, with an expression that seemed to say "this is just the beginning". Then, under Jiang Shang's gaze, he took out a ring box.
"Stretch out your hand."
Jiang Shang, startled and dazed, obediently stretched out her hand and watched as the man put the ring on her finger himself.
The crystal - clear teardrop - shaped diamond was embraced by the ring setting, and tiny diamonds dotted the ring band. It was elegant and unassuming.
The tactile sensation of the ring against her skin sent a strange warm current through Jiang Shang's heart.
The preparation for the engagement banquet took a long time, but she always felt that there was something missing despite all the efforts.
Today she finally understood that what was missing was the ceremony that an engagement should have.
Although she wasn't marrying Gu Siheng out of true love, as a girl, she still had expectations for a grand and pure wedding.
And this man in front of her had quietly filled in what she had overlooked but secretly hoped for.
Noticing her tangled expression, Gu Siheng spoke again, soothing her emotions in just a few words.
"Shangshang, from tomorrow on, we'll be an engaged couple. It's only natural for me to do these things for you. You don't have to feel burdened."
He said it was only natural. No one had ever told her that being kind to her was something natural.
Jiang Shang gently twirled the ring, and a place in her heart was quietly set aside for Gu Siheng.
At seven o'clock the next evening, the engagement banquet was about to be held.
Since Jiang Shang's engagement banquet was to be held in the old mansion, the whole mansion was open to guests today.
As night fell, the entire villa was lit up, looking like a castle decorated with ribbons of lights, romantic and resplendent.
Luxury cars parked one after another outside the villa, and numerous noble families arrived in succession.
The banquet hall was bustling. Young masters and ladies were clinking glasses and laughing merrily, while in the dressing room backstage, it was in a complete mess.
"Didn't you check the dress before bringing it here? Time is running out. If the eldest sister - in - law can't make it on stage smoothly, I'll hold you accountable!" Gu Ningxi held the damaged dress and berated the servants.
Jiang Shang walked in after finishing her makeup and saw this scene.
Gu Ningxi was hugging the tattered dress and was on the verge of crying.
"Sister - in - law, I'm sorry. I didn't do my job well. The servants damaged the dress..."
Jiang Shang looked at the dress. Somehow, a black hole had been burned in the hem of the skirt. It was dirty and obviously couldn't be worn anymore.
Her face also darkened. If it were just a small engagement banquet for herself, it might not matter much, but this was a grand event for the Gu family.
Gu Ningxi pointed to the spare dresses on the hanger and said, "Sister - in - law, why don't you just make do with one of these? Although they don't fit well, it's the only solution for now."
Jiang Shang frowned tightly. This was her engagement banquet, and she was definitely not willing to make do.
Jiang Shang was extremely anxious. Just as she was about to compromise, Gu Shuwan walked in upon hearing the noise.
"Jiang Shang, have you changed into your dress?"
Gu Shuwan looked around. The servants didn't even dare to breathe loudly after being scolded, and Gu Ningxi was holding the dress with a face uglier than crying.
"Auntie, the dress is damaged. It can't be worn."
Hearing this, Gu Shuwan also frowned. Just as Jiang Shang was about to resign herself, Gu Shuwan sent someone to bring a set of dress.
"My father was worried about something going wrong, so he asked me to make a spare dress for you. Coincidentally, this is a newly - made high - end custom - designed dress of mine this spring. There's only one in the world."
Gu Ningxi's face immediately changed. She never expected that the head of the Gu family would be on guard against her and ask Gu Shuwan to have a backup plan!
After saying that, Gu Shuwan turned to look at her. Without caring about how much effort Gu Ningxi had put into the dress, she scolded, "How could there be only one set of banquet dresses? Don't you even consider unexpected situations?"
"You're still too young. You need to practice more in the future."
Having failed in her sabotage and being scolded, Gu Ningxi's face turned red and then white. She unwillingly left the dressing room.
Jiang Shang took the dress from the servant's hand and thanked Gu Shuwan gratefully.
This little episode didn't delay the banquet. At half - past seven, the engagement banquet started on time.
Jiang Shang was wearing a long golden strapless dress. She already had fair skin, and the dazzling gold made her look even whiter, noble and dignified.
She hooked her arm through Gu Siheng's and slowly walked downstairs under everyone's gaze.
The head of the Gu family pulled Jiang Shang and Gu Siheng to his side with a faint smile and introduced Jiang Shang grandly.
"Thank you all for coming from afar. The Gu family has been indebted to your care for many years. So I'd like to share this important moment with you.
My grandson, Gu Siheng, is engaged to Miss Jiang Shang of the Jiang family. Let's give them our warmest applause and most sincere blessings!"
Jiang Shang and Gu Siheng wrote their names on the engagement document under everyone's watchful eyes and jointly cut the half - person - tall engagement cake. The applause rang in their ears continuously.
Jiang Shang turned around with the cake in her hand, wanting to give it to Gu Siheng. Suddenly, a soft touch landed on her forehead.
Up close, she could see the man's prominent and sexy Adam's apple. All her senses were enveloped by the cedar scent on him. Jiang Shang was stunned and didn't dodge his kiss.
The young masters and ladies all cheered, like a grand blessing.
"Wish Miss Jiang and Young Master Gu a harmonious union for a hundred years!"
"May Miss Jiang and Young Master Gu be together for a long time. Happy engagement!"
Everyone present was well - versed in the business world and knew all about social etiquette. Whether they were sincere or not, they definitely knew how to create the right atmosphere for the head of the Gu family.
Jiang Shang's face blushed slightly. She awkwardly handed the cake to Gu Siheng.
Jiang Jiaojiao watched from afar as the beautiful couple toasted. Her gaze gradually fell on the seafood dish with cod on the banquet table. A cold smile curled up on her lips.
Just wait until you eat the cod and die of an allergic reaction. I'll see how you can still be so arrogant!
When Father Jiang led the mother - daughter duo to mingle with the noble families, Mrs. Lin was holding Lin Duoduo and talking to others.
"Mrs. Lin, long time no see. Thanks to your daughter's treatment, Duoduo has grown so big."
Suddenly, the conversation was interrupted. Mrs. Lin looked at the person with dissatisfaction, but the people around all flocked to Jiang Hao when they heard it was the Jiang family.
The Jiang family becoming in - laws with the Gu family meant sharing resources with the Gu family. Many noble families had long wanted to curry favor with the Jiang family.
Mrs. Lin frowned and showed no sign of getting along well with the Jiang family.
The so - called good relationship between the Lin family and the Jiang family was just for the sake of cooperation projects on the surface. Moreover, most of the time it was Lin Zheng who had work exchanges with Jiang Hao. In fact, she had hardly met Mother Jiang and Father Jiang a few times.
Mrs. Lin had long heard the rumor that the Jiang family mistreated Jiang Shang. Facing Jiang Hao's overtures, she just smiled faintly.
Father Jiang tried to engage her in conversation, but Mrs. Lin held Lin Duoduo in her arms and just perfunctorily replied.
Jiang Jiaojiao stared intently at the main table all the time and unconsciously tightened her grip on the wine glass.
Jiang Shang coldly watched the three members of the Jiang family socializing smoothly. Her chopsticks directly reached for the seafood platter with cod in it.
Excitement welled up in Jiang Jiaojiao's eyes as she stared fixedly at her chopsticks.
Under Jiang Jiaojiao's anxious and excited gaze, Jiang Shang put the sashimi into her mouth without a clue...