How would the attendant dare to name the person? He lowered his head and broke out in a cold sweat.
He couldn’t say anything. Vexed and frightened, he averted his gaze.
During the stalemate, Song Yu called out softly, “Mr. Xiao.”
Xiao Zexing’s jawline was cold and hard. He neither looked at her nor make a flicker of movement. Tang You, who was in his arms, quietly poked her head out to take a look.
Song Yu was also wearing a green high-fashion gown today, but the shade was softer, like willow leaves at the end of spring.
The same slender waist, the same gentleness.
The handbag had already been picked up and was tightly clutched in her hand. Her smile fit the standards so precisely it could be used as a template. She was kind and gentle, “It’s cold outside, let’s head in and talk. Youyou’s has a weak constitution, don’t catch a chill.”
Actually, Tang You didn’t have a weak constitution at all.
She had a healthy body that could eat well.
She was just a little afraid of pain.
The hand Xiao Zexing placed on her waist was very warm. Tang You was a little unused to it, but she knew that Second Uncle was doing this specially to show his support.
Second uncle was truly the best!
It’s just that… this posture of support was a little ambiguous huh.
She wanted to stealthily avoid his hand, and moved tentatively.
……He squeezed her even tighter.
It was a little painful.
Xiao Zexing lowered his head, his voice lowered a notch, “Are you cold?”
Tang You nodded. She was actually very afraid of other people touching her waist—it was ticklish with the slightest touch. Being held in her arms now, it was both ticklish and painful, and she was completely unable to move.
With so many people around, she didn’t dare to tell him to let go.
Song Yu’s gaze skimmed over Tang You’s waist and her smile stiffened a little. She said softly and slowly, “There’s never been such an absurd rule at the ball. Don’t worry, I will definitely look into this thoroughly, so as to give Miss Tang You an explanation.”
Tang You gave thanks, “Thank you, Sister Song Yu.”
Calmly, Song Yu smiled and made way for the two to enter.
Tang You took the opportunity to push Xiao Zexing’s hand away gently and extricate her waist, changing her posture to holding his arm instead. Smiling, she said, “Thank you, Second Uncle.”
“What are you thanking me for?”
“Thanking you for backing me up, of course.” Tang You’s waist hurt, but she didn’t dare to rub it. Her voice was soft and gentle, “It’s just that you’ve used a little too much strength to support me, until my waist hurts.”
Xiao Zexing accepted her feedback readily, “Then, I’ll be more gentle next time.”
Tang You thought:
Next time?
There won’t be a next time!
As they walked, everyone they passed greeted Xiao Zexing; when their gaze fell on Tang You, they were all stumped.
Even Zhao Die, who was following behind them, was dumbfounded. She couldn’t keep from asking Song Yu, “How can Xiao Zexing still accompany her after when the engagement’s already annulled? How can it be Xiao Zexing? Isn’t it inappropriate?”
After the “shock” from just now, Song Yu had straightened out the details in her mind and had completely calmed down. “What’s so inappropriate? The old man has always been fond of Tang You in the first place. By asking Xiao Zexing to come here, he’s most likely making it up to her, and also reminding others that he’s still treating Tang You as his own granddaughter.”
Zhao Die snorted. “Seems like the rumours are true, Tang You almost got to the top by sucking up to her elders.”
“To be able to smoothly win the approval of elders is also a kind of ability. For people like them, the elders’ liking is more important than anything else.” Song Yu laughed, then changed the subject and asked in a low voice, “You almost caused big trouble tonight. What if Mr. Xiao had insisted on asking and that attendant gave up your name?”
Zhao Die said dismissively, “As long as I do not admit it, what can Xiao Zexing do? I can just say that the attendant is maligning me. Why, am I lesser than a little attendant?”
She was simply too wilful and arrogant.
Song Yu sighed softly.
When she looked up, Tang You was standing by Xiao Zexing’s side obediently.
Xiao Zexing was tall, which made Tang You look even more delicate and petite.
When they talked to each other, Tang You would tilt her head upwards, while Xiao Zexing would accommodate her by bowing his head slightly.
It was indeed a very beautiful picture.
It’s just that… they didn’t really look like an elder and junior.
Song Yu frowned slightly.
She was acutely aware that there was a trace of something unusual.
Tang You was entirely oblivious.
When Xiao Zexing introduced her to others, he would say in measured tones, “This is Miss Tang You.”
There was never any mention of her identity.
Tang You did not feel there was anything wrong with that either.
After all, she had nothing to do with Xiao Weijing now. So, by association, she had nothing to do with Xiao Zexing too. It was because of Xiao Zexing’s strong sense of responsibility that he continued to treat her so kindly.
Of course, it might also be that Elder Xiao had asked him to do so.
The ball began with a formal photoshoot, and a few professional photographers had been invited. These photos would be kept in a safe place and would never be circulated outside unless the consent of those in the photo was obtained. In terms of privacy protection, they have always been doing very well.
The banquet officially began with the appetisers, but they were all not to Tang You’s liking.
She only tasted two bites, then set her cutlery down.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Xiao Weijing walk over with a slightly plump girl on his arm.
He might have been delayed by something to have arrived so late.
Tang You wiped the corners of her lips gently, and asked Xiao Zexing in a low voice, “Who is that girl on Xiao Weijing’s arm?”
Xiao Zexing glanced over and said without batting an eyelid, “Why? Jealous?”
“No way!” Tang You retorted him forcefully, “I’m just curious.”
Of the fruits that had been served, she picked out and polished off all the cherries, leaving the others behind.
“It’s Weijing’s maternal aunt’s daughter, Liang Quekui.” Xiao Zexing casually fed her a cherry and continued, “She seems to be the same age as you.”
During their conversation, Xiao Weijing had already walked over with Liang Quekui on his arm.
They happened to have been assigned to sit here as well.
Liang Quekui was next to Tang You, and on her other side was Xiao Weijing.
As soon as Liang Quekui saw Xiao Zexing, her eyes brightened and she called out to him with some effort, “Second… Second Uncle!”
Xiao Zexing smiled and greeted her, “Quekui.”
Liang Quekui held herself back for a long while, then said, “It’s… it’s been a long time since I last saw you, have you been well?”
“Everything is fine, thank you very much.”
Only then did Tang You realize that Liang Quekui seemed to have some kind of speech impediment.
It wasn’t that she stuttered, but the beginning of every sentence she said seemed like it had to be muffled for two seconds before it could come out.
Liang Quekui also noticed Tang You; she smiled somewhat shyly, “You… Youyou, I’ve heard of you from Auntie long ago. I finally get to meet you in person. You look much better than in your photos.”
Caught off guard by such a straightforward compliment, Tang You’s eyes curved into a smile. “Thank you. You also look very beautiful today.”
It wasn’t a lie.
Liang Quekui was slightly chubby, with snow-white skin; her pair of eyes were exceptionally pretty, like dark, gleaming grapes, the blacks and whites clear and distinct.
There were also small dimples in her cheeks, and she looked really sweet.
After exchanging greetings, the main courses were served; Tang You tasted them one by one.
All right, she’s confirmed it—there wasn’t a dish that was to her liking.
Liang Quekui couldn’t help glancing at her several times. She still couldn’t understand why Xiao Weijing didn’t like Tang You.
Liang Quekui had also seen Wen Ling before; in terms of both looks and bearing, she was far inferior to Tang Youzu.
She did not know Wen Ling well, so she wouldn’t make any comment on her character for the time being——
But that very afternoon, Wen Ling had slit his wrists and committed suicide.
Because of this, Xiao Weijing had no choice but to rush to the hospital, even nearly delaying the ball.
Half an hour ago, Liang Quekui went to the hospital in a car to pick Xiao Weijing up. Outside the ward, she saw Wen Ling tap Xiao Weijing on the shoulder. Xiao Weijing did not respond; he stood up and poured her a glass of water.
Liang Quekui really couldn’t figure it out.
…Maybe her cousin’s aesthetic sense was just more unique.
In contrast to the preoccupied Liang Quekui, Tang You’s thoughts were much simpler.
She had carefully confirmed that none of the dishes served tonight—appetizers, main courses and desserts—were to her liking.
It seemed like she wasn’t going to be able to live up to Ms. Meng’s expectations; sure enough, she really wasn’t suited for such affairs.
Fortunately, in order to maintain their image, these heiresses do not eat much too. At the end of the banquet, there was still more than ten minutes before the dance. The men were gathered in the garden and main hall, chatting, while the ladies went to the dressing room on the second floor to touch up their makeup.
Tang You drank too much water during dinner; when she came out of the ladies, she stumbled upon the scene of Liang Quekui arguing with someone.
No, to be precise, it was Liang Quekui who was being bullied one-sidedly.
She had come out late, and just happened to hear Zhao Die sneer, “…it’s usually ‘a beauty undoes her silks’, but when it comes to Miss Liang, it’s ‘a pig loosening its ropes’. Before dreaming of marrying Mr. Xiao, why don’t you take a look in the mirror?”
Liang Quekui lowered her head; perhaps because she knew she couldn’t win her in an argument, she remained silent, looking really pitiful.
Tang You couldn’t bear to watch any longer.
She walked out, pulled Liang Quekui to her, raised her chin slightly and asked sarcastically, “Shouldn’t you first take a look at yourself before asking others to look in the mirror?”
Tang You sized up Zhao Die carefully, and said with a sneer, “You made your eyes bigger, had a comprehensive nose job, had Thermage treatment on your face, and even had fat injected into your face. Seems like Miss Zhao is very satisfied with the results of her plastic surgeries huh.”
The fact that Zhao Die had work done on her face was nothing new, but she didn’t expect that Tang You would say it out loud so bluntly——
Tang You had always appeared like a delicate, weak, and wimpy little girl!
When did she become so tough? And even dared to challenge her?
Zhao Die glared at Tang You furiously and was about to scold her when Song Yu appeared at just the right time. Standing calmly not far away, she called out to her, smile faintly, “Xiao Die, the dance is about to start.”
Song Yu walked over calmly and greeted Tang You with a smile, “Tang You, do you want to go down together?”
Tang You said, “No, thank you.”
Song Yu smiled again and glanced at Zhao Die.
The resentful Zhao Die snorted, unwilling to take it lying down, but still left with Song Yu gloomily.
Only then did Tang You let out a breath; she turned to look at Liang Quekui, “Are you okay… Ah, hey, ey, don’t cry.”
Liang Quekui hugged her and whimpered unceasingly.
Tang You had no choice but to coax her, “Good girl, it’s okay now.”
Liang Quekui was a big crybaby; Tang You kept coaxing her, and when she finally managed to calm her down, Liang Quekui said haltingly, “Thank… thank you.”
Tang You made nothing of it, “It’s nothing.”
Usually, Second Uncle took very good care of her. Correspondingly, she should also take good care of Second Uncle’s family.
Liang Quekui and Tang You went downstairs side by side. Xiao Weijing saw Liang Quekui’s slightly red and swollen eyes at a glance and frowned.
Before he could say anything, Liang Quekui told him in a low voice, “Just… just now Zhao Die scolded me, and Youyou scolded her back for me.”
Having said this, Liang Quekui blushed a little embarrassedly.
Xiao Weijing paused slightly. “It wasn’t Tang You who bullied you?”
Liang Quekui was dumbfounded. “How… how can you have such dark thoughts?”
Xiao Weijing looked a little uncomfortable. “It’s nothing.”
He did seem to be a bit prejudiced against Tang You.
When did he begin to stubbornly believe that Tang You was a hypocrite?
Liang Quekui tugged on Xiao Weijing’s sleeve and whispered, “Do… do you want to invite Youyou to dance? ……Ah, it seems that there’s no need, Second Uncle is Youyou’s dance partner.”
Xiao Weijing’s face stiffened; he turned to look, and immediately saw Xiao Zexing smiling and talking to Tang You.
He pursed his lips.
For some reason, his heart felt a little uncomfortable.
As if a toy that should have belonged to him had now been taken away from him.
It was probably possessiveness talking.
In the past, Xiao Weijing never thought that the person who had been softly calling him “Brother Weijing” as she stood in the same spot would one day leave him in such a decisive manner.
Tang You was looking at the various beautiful dresses with concentration when she suddenly heard Xiao Zexing ask, “Can you dance?”
Tang You was instantly baffled. “Our heights are not really compatible, right?”
She could dance, but was she really going to have to dance with Xiao Zexing?
Her heels today were only four centimetres high. Even with them on, Tang You was still quite a bit shorter than he was. For a dance like waltz, if the heights were not compatible, it seems like… it might be a bit strenuous.
When Tang You was in college, she had taken ballroom dancing as an elective. There was a pair where the male was 188cm and the female was 158cm. When they managed with some difficulty to dance together, they were teased by the teacher as “dancing with a teapot”.
Tang You acknowledged that the height difference between Xiao Zexing and herself was not much better than that pair.
Xiao Zexing smiled and took her hand. “How will we know if we don’t try?”
Xiao Zexing’s palm was wide, and her little hand fit just right in it. Tang You was pulled onto the dance floor by him, with her right hand in his palm and the other hand barely resting on his shoulder, while Xiao Zexing’s right hand wrapped around her gently, pressing against her back.
Tang You’s gown today exposed half of her back; she could clearly feel the man’s thumb gently brushing against her skin.
It was a feeling that was hard to describe. If she really had to make a comparison, Tang You thought it felt like a heavy snowfall causing plum blossoms to fall, creating tremors as it came down one by one.
Her heartbeat was really fast.
She could hardly breathe.
Xiao Zexing’s fingers quickly moved away.
He apologized gently for his mistake, “Excuse me.”
Tang You’s eyes widened; her body had stiffened to the point that she no longer felt like it belonged to her.
Xiao Zexing really smelled very good.
He was so warm.
On the other side.
Liang Quekui looked dazedly at the two and said suddenly, “I… I think Second Uncle and Youyou are such a good match.”
“Don’t talk nonsense, Second Uncle just dotes on Youyou a little more.” Xiao Weijing was a little lost in thought, but he spoke without hesitation. “Second Uncle is not that kind of person who’d do such a beastly thing.”