Chapter 567: Chu Family Banquet (9)

At Chu Lingxiu’s words, Shen Nian looked back toward Lu Cheng.

’And here I was wondering,’ she thought. Lu Cheng seemed unusually calm today. Even when she’d been talking so much with Gu Hengzhi, Lu Cheng hadn’t come over to interrupt.

’So he’s just been bottling it all up, waiting until he can’t stand it anymore to let it all out!’

’So when Lu Cheng suddenly suggested drinking... don’t tell me he wants to get Gu Hengzhi drunk!’

...

Shen Nian truly never would have expected this outcome.

"Xiao Nian, how can you still be laughing?!"

Chu Lingxiu had been watching Shen Nian with some concern, but then she saw her friend glance toward Lu Cheng and start to laugh. ’What in the world? Isn’t this supposed to be a serious matter? How can she be laughing?!’

"If I’m not laughing, am I supposed to be crying?"

"That’s not what I meant! I mean, Xiao Nian, aren’t you worried that Lu Cheng is getting jealous?"

"If he’s jealous, let him be. It’s no big deal!"

Shen Nian glanced at Lu Cheng and smiled again. For now, she thought it was no big deal. But when Lu Cheng finally revealed the consequences of his jealousy, it would be far from a simple "no big deal."

"Alright, then."

Chu Lingxiu was exasperated. Still, judging by Shen Nian’s reaction, everything was probably fine. ’In that case, I shouldn’t get more worked up about it than she is.’

"I don’t get what they have to talk about. It’s only been a minute, and it already looks like they’re becoming fast friends!"

Chu Lingxiu watched the three men, who were clearly getting chummier over their drinks. She shook her head and sighed in resignation.

The moment she turned her head, she saw a man walking toward her and Shen Nian.

Chu Lingxiu tugged on Shen Nian’s arm, prompting her to turn around as well. The man had already reached them.

"Miss Chu, Miss Shen. I didn’t get a chance to greet you earlier. I’m Qin Hao, from the Qin family."

After speaking, Qin Hao extended his right hand toward Chu Lingxiu and Shen Nian.

Neither Chu Lingxiu nor Shen Nian had any intention of shaking his outstretched hand, however. They were the Qin family, after all. Forget Shen Nian—even Chu Lingxiu, who knew next to nothing about them, had a poor impression of the Qin Family, having been influenced by her own Chu Family over the years.

Besides, looking at the smile Qin Hao gave them, Chu Lingxiu felt that Gu Hengzhi’s smile, from their first meeting, was much easier on the eyes.

"Young Master Qin."

Shen Nian gave Qin Hao a slight nod, uttered just his title, and then looked away.

Qin Hao shrugged, smiled, and withdrew his outstretched hand.

"It seems Miss Chu and Miss Shen don’t welcome me very much. I wonder if I’ve done something, somewhere, to offend you two ladies?"

Chu Lingxiu figured that since they’d both made their attitude perfectly clear, this Young Master of the Qin family would have the sense to take the hint and leave.

But who would have thought? Not only did he fail to take the hint, but he actually started to pester them even more.

’Of course we don’t welcome him,’ she thought. ’As for the reason why... doesn’t everyone already know? Does he really need to ask it so directly?’

"Of course we don’t—"

Chu Lingxiu was just about to say that, of course, they didn’t welcome him. But before she could finish, Shen Nian grabbed her hand and shook her head, cutting her off.

After interrupting Chu Lingxiu, Shen Nian turned to face Qin Hao.

"Young Master Qin, you seem to have a rather short memory when it comes to your own actions."