Chapter 216: Missing
Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Missing
Shen Yan was momentarily stunned, but he quickly understood Lu Jingyu’s intentions. With a smirk, he began introducing the guests to him. He didn’t care what Lu Jingyu was plotting, as long as it kept him from being alone with Xu Qingsui. Once the introductions were done, Shen Yan planned to slip away. These people would keep the man tied up, leaving Shen Yan free to seek out Xu Qingsui.
While the two men were busy keeping each other in check, a tall, thin, and sleazy-looking man approached Xu Qingsui. He pretended to just be passing by, his eyes roaming all over her before he suddenly stepped back into her path. "You look quite unfamiliar, miss. Which family are you from? Would you mind getting to know each other?"
A person’s true nature was hard to hide; no matter how much he tried to act like a gentleman, he was still a complete eyesore. Xu Qingsui had noticed this creep the moment he walked over. Seeing him try to hit on her, a flash of disgust crossed her eyes.
"I do mind!" Too lazy to waste words on this kind of person, she rejected him flat out.
The sleazy man was stunned. Normally, wouldn’t a woman be a bit more tactful? That would have at least given him a chance to banter. Her blunt response left him completely at a loss for words.
However, Xu Qingsui was even more direct. After speaking, she completely ignored him and walked straight toward the drink station in the corner.
Watching her walk away, the man’s lips curled into a smirk. She was feisty, just the way he liked them! Women like that were the most fun to play with. Keeping his eyes fixed on Xu Qingsui’s back, he grabbed a passing waiter. After whispering a few words into the waiter’s ear, the man watched with a sly smile as the staff member walked away.
Since she really hated these kinds of social events, Xu Qingsui lingered around the bar, sampling the drinks. To cater to different tastes, there were dozens of varieties available. By taking only small sips, she managed to try quite a few. Soon, the waiter returned to restock the beverages. Looking at the colorful cocktails, Xu Qingsui picked up another glass.
After making a full round of introductions, Shen Yan finally found an opening and slipped out of the crowd. Lu Jingyu was busy dealing with the guests, but his eyes never left Shen Yan. When Shen Yan retreated, Lu Jingyu guessed exactly what he was planning. He wanted to follow him, but the layers upon layers of guests walled him in, giving him no chance to escape.
Noticing his predicament, Shen Yan flashed him a victorious smile. He then began scanning the room for Xu Qingsui. From a distance, he saw her lift a colorful cocktail, examine it for a moment, and bring it to her lips. Shen Yan’s lips curled into a smile, and he immediately headed her way.
However, he hadn’t taken more than a few steps before a figure blocked his path. Shen Yan’s brows furrowed, and the smile instantly vanished from his face. "What do you want now?"
Hearing the tone of his voice, Liang Xiaoxiao felt the growing sense of alienation between them more acutely than ever. Ever since she could remember, she had always followed him around. The stark contrast between their past intimacy and this current distance felt like a sheer drop off a cliff. The thought brought tears welling up in her eyes.
"Do you really hate me that much now?" Liang Xiaoxiao asked, her voice trembling with a sob.
Shen Yan’s eyes flickered, feeling a twinge of pity. "No. It’s just that my actions in the past caused you to misunderstand. For you to move on as soon as possible, it’s best if we keep our distance from now on."
Liang Xiaoxiao raised a trembling hand and slowly covered her chest. She felt like she was sick; her heart hurt so much. "Shen Yan, do you really have absolutely no feelings for me? I don’t believe it!" How could anyone be so heartless, especially two people who had grown up together?
"I only see you as a sister. Nothing more!"
Liang Xiaoxiao stiffened, stumbling back a few steps. It took her a long while to steady herself and keep from falling. "Then what if Xu Qingsui hadn’t shown up?" she demanded, still refusing to accept it.
Shen Yan’s lips moved. Seeing her like this, his heart ached for her as an older brother would. Just as he steeled himself to reject her again, a somewhat awkward voice cut in from behind.
"Shen Yan. Oh, Xiao Xiao is here too!" The tone at the end of the sentence carried a distinct layer of strangeness.
"Mrs. Shen!" Seeing Zhang Yuqing, Liang Xiaoxiao hurriedly wiped the tears from her face.
Zhang Yuqing offered a smile, though it was utterly strained. Ever since she learned the truth about certain things, she simply couldn’t face Liang Xiaoxiao normally anymore. The fact that she could even manage a smile was already a feat.
Letting out two dry, awkward laughs, Zhang Yuqing turned to her son. "Shen Yan, many young ladies from prominent families are here today. You’re not getting any younger. It’s time for you to settle down and start a family." After she spoke, she snuck a glance at Liang Xiaoxiao out of the corner of her eye. It was good that she was here—it would help sever her delusions sooner.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Liang Xiaoxiao reacted even more strongly than Shen Yan, her entire body trembling uncontrollably. Shen Yan, however, frowned deeply and quickly said, "Mom, didn’t I tell you? I already have a girlfriend, and she’s here today!"
He had originally intended to introduce Xu Qingsui to his parents anyway. Now that the opportunity had presented itself, he eagerly looked toward the bar. But in just that short span of time, Xu Qingsui had vanished.
His heart skipped a beat. He quickly glanced over at Lu Jingyu and was slightly relieved to see that he was still surrounded by guests. But where did Xu Qingsui go?
Following Shen Yan’s gaze, Zhang Yuqing didn’t see Xu Qingsui either. She couldn’t help but say, "Shen Yan, Mom also hopes you can find someone you truly love. But marriage is a major life event, and you must be cautious. Everything your parents do is for your own good."
She stared intently at him, already laying the groundwork to preemptively soften any future blows. But Shen Yan was completely focused on Xu Qingsui and missed the underlying meaning in his mother’s words. He immediately walked past Liang Xiaoxiao and headed toward where Xu Qingsui had been standing.
Amidst the crowd, Lu Jingyu watched Shen Yan’s hurried movements, and a bad premonition welled up in his chest. Looking toward the bar, he saw that Xu Qingsui was gone. His heart tightened. Abandoning all etiquette, he offered a few perfunctory excuses and forcefully shoved his way out of the crowd.
On the second floor, Xu Qingsui had just walked out of the restroom. She leaned against the wall, rubbing her forehead. Perhaps she had drunk too much; her head had been spinning for a while now. During her brief trip to the bathroom, the dizziness had intensified, and she vaguely felt a ball of fire igniting in her chest.
The flame rapidly spread through her entire body, leaving her burning and restless. In just a few moments, her clothes were soaked with sweat, which continued to pour from her skin.
Feeling the bizarre changes in her body, Xu Qingsui finally realized that things weren’t as simple as she had thought. This wasn’t drunkenness. Her drink had been spiked!
Panic seized her. She didn’t dare imagine what would happen next. Terrified to stay there any longer, she clung to the wall, staggering toward the stairs to find Lu Jingyu. But the moment she took a single step, her body lost all control, and she pitched forward.