Luxury cars were parked neatly at the entrance. The scene was just like an annual luxury car exhibition.
There was still an hour to go before the time stated on the invitation cards, but many people had already arrived early, giving the Xia family full face.
As soon as one entered, there were special servants to guide, receive gifts, and lead the guests to the outer hall.
Only relatives and family members were allowed to enter the inner hall.
Distant relatives who were barely related came one after another. After presenting their gifts, they were also invited to wait in the outer hall.
Inside the inner hall.
The direct relatives of the Xia family were sipping tea and chatting with each other.
Suddenly, someone asked curiously, "Why haven't we seen niece Weilan?"
"Sister Weilan is still preparing the ingredients for tonight. She's still busy," Xia Ruolin replied with a sweet smile as she sat properly beside the old man of the Xia family.
She was subtly implying that Xia Weilan was too inefficient and still in a flurry at this time.
Hearing this, the old man of the Xia family frowned. In his opinion, the matter of preparing ingredients was just a small thing. The Xia family had a wide network of connections, and they could get whatever they wanted with just a single word.
However, the old man of the Xia family had forgotten that Xia Weilan had never been exposed to such things before and had no channels either.
Moreover, the butler sent to help her had been declined by Xia Weilan.
"Steward Zhao, go and check on the eldest miss," the old man of the Xia family said. He finally realized that Xia Weilan might have encountered some difficulties when he saw that she still hadn't prepared everything.
Just then, the curtain at the door was suddenly lifted. As a gust of wind blew, a girl without any makeup walked in.
The girl was wearing a purple flower halter dress, with a neat bun at the back of her head. A small ribbon fluttered gently. She was pure and beautiful, with a touch of sweetness on her face, just right.
"Grandpa, hello, uncles, aunts, uncles, and aunts," Xia Weilan greeted.
As soon as Xia Weilan appeared, there was a faint fragrance of grass and trees in the whole room, making people unconsciously take a deep breath and feel refreshed.
Was she a fairy who had accidentally fallen into the mortal world?
Several relatives who saw Xia Weilan for the first time instantly fell in love with this girl.
Before this, they had always thought that Xia Weilan would be a wild girl with a fat bottom and a yellow face, but they didn't expect her to be so extraordinary.
The more they had looked down on her before, the more shocked they were now.
Under the gazes of everyone, Xia Weilan was not timid at all. She walked naturally to the old man's side.
"Girl!" The old man of the Xia family looked at Xia Weilan's performance appreciatively.
Her behavior was not overly formal, but just right, quiet and elegant.
Anyone who saw her like this couldn't find any fault.
The old man of the Xia family was happy and asked, "Girl, have you prepared everything that needs to be prepared?"
"Yes, grandpa," Xia Weilan replied.
This short conversation already implied the old man of the Xia family's appreciation for Xia Weilan.
"Why are you so late? Niece, if you have any difficulties, just tell your uncle. Don't try to handle it alone," the younger brother of the old man of the Xia family, who was sitting in the second seat, exhaled a puff of smoke and put on the airs of an elder.
"Okay, uncle," Xia Weilan replied politely.
The second master of the Xia family responded with a nonchalant grunt and exhaled a puff of turbid air.
Previously, since the old man of the Xia family had no heir, the second master of the Xia family was determined to get the huge Xia family business.
Now, the second master of the Xia family felt that the duck in his mouth was about to be snatched away.
This made him unable to sleep peacefully.
...
Different from the quiet inner hall, the outer hall was very lively under the bright lights.
Ouyang Mingqi was a bit out of sorts and frequently looked in the direction of the inner hall.
There were sweets, fruits, and drinks for people to help themselves to beside him, but he didn't even touch them. He just smiled perfunctorily and waited for Xia Weilan to come out.
"Here comes the old man of the Xia family!"
"Look, is that the eldest miss of the Xia family?"
Just then, someone suddenly shouted, which completely pulled his thoughts back.
Ouyang Mingqi suddenly straightened his back and looked up eagerly.
He saw an old man with gray hair in a black dragon - patterned Tang suit walking out slowly.
Beside him were two young and beautiful girls.
One was as noble as a peony.
The other was as quiet as an iris.
Ouyang Mingqi's gaze fell directly on Xia Weilan's fair and delicate face without any makeup.
His heart inexplicably skipped a beat.
She was like a clear stream in a pile of makeup, with a radiant and compelling aura.
At this time, the people around him all rushed over there. Ouyang Mingqi quickly followed suit.
"Old man of the Xia family," Ouyang Mingqi squeezed through the crowd and stood opposite Xia Weilan. He bowed and said, "Old man of the Xia family, Mingqi has prepared a birthday gift for you. I wish you a long and healthy life."
"Thank you for your kindness, young master Ouyang," the old man of the Xia family nodded.
Xia Weilan glanced at Ouyang Mingqi indifferently and then turned her head, expressionless.
This obvious action made Ouyang Mingqi's heart tighten.
A surge of depression welled up, was suppressed, welled up again, and was suppressed again.
Soon, many people followed suit, and the birthday wishes came one after another.
"Congratulations, old man!"
"You're still as heroic as ever, old man!"
"Thank you all for coming," the old man of the Xia family responded one by one.
"Grandpa, I've prepared a violin piece for you. I wish you a long life," Xia Ruolin said in a timely manner. It was a tradition for her to play a piece at the birthday banquet every year.
Soon, a servant brought over the instrument.
Xia Ruolin deliberately glanced at Xia Weilan, with a flash of pride in her eyes. Then she put the violin on her shoulder.
Before long, a melodious tune came from the quiet outer hall.
When the piece ended, there was a continuous stream of flattering applause.
Xia Weilan also clapped her hands, with a small smile on her lips.
"Do you like it, grandpa?" Xia Ruolin asked.
"Yes, I like it!" The old man of the Xia family lovingly stroked Xia Ruolin's hair. It was obvious that he was happy.
At this time, Xia Ruolin asked Xia Weilan, "Sister, what gift did you prepare for grandpa?"
Xia Weilan smiled faintly and said, "Grandpa, do you like the gift I gave you?"
"I like it. The gift from girl Weilan must be special," the old man of the Xia family replied.
The two sentences, one from the old man and one from the girl, instantly piqued everyone's curiosity.
"Why not take it out and let everyone have a look? I'm also very curious about what could make grandpa like it so much," Xia Ruolin was not willing to let go of any opportunity to humiliate Xia Weilan.
She thought that Xia Weilan couldn't come up with anything presentable.
Moreover, nothing could be more sincere than her own performance.
"Grandpa, I think you can just open the gift by yourself. There's no need for a big fanfare," Xia Weilan said coolly.
This sentence made Xia Ruolin, who had just made a big show, clench her teeth.
"No, I'm very curious. I want to see it now," Xia Ruolin said impatiently. She couldn't wait to make Xia Weilan lose face.
"Grandpa, the gift I gave is already yours. You decide," Xia Weilan said.
"Okay, since everyone is so curious, Steward Liu, go to my room and bring out the two boxes on my table," the old man of the Xia family said. Then he added, "Handle them with care."
"Yes!" Steward Liu bowed and stepped back.
Soon, he came out holding two boxes.
The two boxes, one big and one small, didn't look special from the outside.
"What is it?" Xia Ruolin pretended to be curious, picked up a box, and opened it on her own.