Chapter 95: Ji Family Banquet
Chapter Ninety-Six: Ji Family Banquet （2）
When Xia Yang led Qing Tian into the exclusive VIP venue, many people had already gathered inside. Qing Tian looked around and saw the young masters and ladies of the Ji Family dressed in elegant gowns, feeling very timid.
As if sensing Qing Tian’s thoughts and emotions, Xia Yang reached out and held Qing Tian’s hand. Qing Tian’s hand was cold, and so was Xia Yang’s. Qing Tian turned her head in surprise to look at Xia Yang, wanting to pull her hand away, but hesitated for a moment before taking no action.
Xia Yang gave Qing Tian a reassuring look and then said, “Don’t worry, I’m here, nothing will happen!”
Qing Tian gazed at Xia Yang’s determined eyes, nodded gently, then held her head high and followed Xia Yang into the venue!
As they entered, many members of the Ji Family looked over. Those people were very surprised to see Xia Yang appear, and they all started whispering.
Qing Tian whispered in Xia Yang’s ear, “Do you know all these people?”
Xia Yang, pulling Qing Tian with a cold gaze, said with no warmth in his voice, “More or less. Some faces are very unfamiliar! Qing Tian, don’t leave my side for a moment. These people here are all hungry wolves; be careful of a sheep falling into a tiger’s den!”
Qing Tian frowned. The previous two times she went to the Ji Family, Ji Weiwei had tried every means to frame her. Back then, it was only Ji Weiwei, but today was very different; most of the attendees were members of the Ji Family.
Qing Tian looked at Xia Yang and nodded. She really didn’t know what else she could do besides follow Xia Yang.
Grandfather Ji’s birthday party every year only invited family members to attend, along with the married daughters. Counting them, the Ji Family still had about a hundred members.
The Ji Family now had four generations living together. The empire built by the Ji ancestors was becoming more magnificent with each passing year!
As an illegitimate child, Xia Yang’s attendance at Grandfather Ji’s birthday party was bound to be met with much gossip and ostracism. However, none of that mattered. Xia Yang didn’t want to attend this boring birthday party anyway; he’d rather go home and get a good night’s sleep than wander around here.
Grandfather Ji, holding his wine glass, walked over to Qing Tian and Xia Yang with a smile. Qing Tian sweetly called out, “Hello, Grandfather Ji!”
Grandfather Ji said to Qing Tian with a beaming smile, “Qing Tian is here today too! Grandpa is so happy, thank you!”
Qing Tian’s cheeks flushed. It was one thing to come, but she hadn’t brought anything, making her feel embarrassed to speak. She could only mechanically say, “Grandpa, I wish you many happy returns of the day!”
Grandfather Ji placed his hand on Qing Tian’s shoulder and said kindly, “Qing Tian, Grandpa is especially happy today. Thank you for fulfilling an old wish of Grandpa’s!”
Regarding why Xia Yang came this time, Ji Xiangyu also played a part. Qing Tian didn’t dare to take all the credit: “Grandpa, you’re too kind. Xia Yang’s attendance is entirely his own decision and Ji Xiangyu’s!”
Grandfather Ji gave Qing Tian a look. Qing Tian was startled, then looked at Xia Yang, who had a completely nonchalant expression. Qing Tian smiled helplessly at Grandfather Ji and whispered, “He’s always like this, likes to act cool. Please don’t mind him, Grandpa!”
Grandfather Ji chuckled instead, “I don’t mind, certainly not. It’s good that you could come!”
After speaking, Grandfather Ji went to talk to others. Qing Tian held Xia Yang’s hand and earnestly advised, “Xia Yang, could you at least say a word to Grandfather Ji? It’s so awkward when you don’t say anything. If you’re not bothered, I am!”
Xia Yang led Qing Tian to get a drink and started drinking, “Save your saliva. Aren’t you thirsty after talking so much?”
Qing Tian pouted and complained unhappily to Xia Yang, “Speaking of which, when does the banquet start? I’m starving. Let’s leave as soon as we’re done eating. I really don’t want to stay here any longer!”
Xia Yang gulped down the soda in one go and then elegantly placed the cup on the table. Qing Tian rolled her eyes at him helplessly.
Xia Yang put his arm around Qing Tian’s shoulder and whispered, “You’re overthinking it. There will be a ball later, and after the ball, there’s a documentary about the Ji Family. We can only eat after the documentary is shown, understand? So if you’re really hungry, make do with what’s available. Anyway, you’ll find the final dinner tasteless. A row of people sitting there eating, it’s like a group of convicts eating. Can you imagine that scene?”
Qing Tian tried to imagine a group of convicts eating, and suddenly felt that it was indeed not out of place at all!
Qing Tian couldn’t help but laugh out loud at Xia Yang’s words, and then asked, “Aren’t you one of them too? You’re a convict!”
Unknowingly, Xia Yang led Qing Tian to sit on a swing chair on the venue’s balcony. Qing Tian curiously asked, “You seem very familiar with this place!”
Xia Yang nodded, his eyes showing a hint of sadness, “I grew up in hotels since I was young. There are many memories here!”
Qing Tian sensed a bad emotion in Xia Yang’s tone. This place must be where he and his mother shared common memories. Where did Xia Yang’s mother go?
Qing Tian kept this question in her heart. This was really not the time to ask such a sensitive matter.
So, the two sat on the swing, talking about trivial things, very happily.
This scene, however, felt like a thousand arrows piercing Ji Xiangyu’s heart!
Situ Jingyi walked up to Ji Xiangyu and asked him with a sweet smile, “Yu, can you dance the first dance with me later?”
Ji Xiangyu looked at the gentle smile on Situ Jingyi’s face and couldn’t bear to refuse. He nodded without speaking.
Situ Jingyi took Ji Xiangyu’s nod as his agreement and walked away in a good mood.
Ji Xiangyu still stood by the window, watching Xia Yang and Qing Tian talking and laughing on the balcony as if no one else were around, from more than ten meters away.
This reminded him of the only night he had with Qing Tian, a night of extreme happiness. Did Qing Tian still remember the beer bottle they buried together?
Ji Xiangyu clenched his fist and slammed it hard against the wall!
Before the ball officially began, Xia Yang went to the restroom. Qing Tian had to wander around alone and then encountered this scene.
The young and handsome young masters of the Ji Family lined up, bent their right arms at their chests, bowed slightly, and said in unison, “Beautiful Princess Jingyi, may we have the honor of dancing with you?”
Qing Tian blinked her eyes, wondering in her heart, “Do they have to be so dramatic? Situ Jingyi’s charm is too high! Over a dozen men are captivated by her? It’s unbelievable!”
Before Qing Tian could even catch her breath, another dozen or so slightly older young masters of the Ji Family also lined up, bowed at a 45-degree angle, with their left hand behind their backs, holding a beautiful, vibrant rose, and said, “Most, most beautiful princess, please dance with me. It will be my honor!”
The female relatives of the Ji Family nearby said with envious eyes, “I’m so envious of Sister Situ! So many men have fallen for her!”
Qing Tian muttered in her heart, “Isn’t it a pomegranate skirt? What era is this? Still ‘pomegranate skirt’? Isn’t that a bit old-fashioned?”
“Alas, every ball is like this. I don’t actually want to disappoint you all, but the only one who can dance the first dance with me is my Yu!” Situ Jingyi said with a delicate and charming smile, her eyes sparkling as if the most beautiful happiness in the world belonged only to her.
This radiance made others feel like they had nowhere to stand.
Qing Tian, being sensible, prepared to escape. However, Situ Jingyi, with her sharp eyes, spotted her. So, rhythmically and slowly, she walked over to Qing Tian and said, “Oh, isn’t this classmate Qing Tian? How come you’re here? Did Yu invite you?”
Qing Tian looked up dejectedly, glaring resentfully at Situ Jingyi. Couldn’t this woman just not call her name? She was really asking for it!
Qing Tian smiled slightly, a smile that was truly forced. Situ Jingyi crossed her arms and looked Qing Tian up and down.
Qing Tian felt uneasy under her gaze, so she excused herself, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now!”
Situ Jingyi raised her voice and sarcastically said to Qing Tian, “Oh, not bad. The latest model from Paris, Violet. But this dress really makes it look cheap on you. But it’s okay, the designer won’t know it was you, Qing Tian, who wore it. Thankfully, thankfully!”
Qing Tian was choked by Situ Jingyi’s smilingly harsh words. Wasn’t this statement a bit too much? Situ Jingyi was just like Ji Weiwei, both wolves in sheep’s clothing, hungry wolves!
While Qing Tian was thinking about how to respond, Xia Yang put his arm around Qing Tian’s shoulder and said coldly, “Women who pretend to be something they’re not are the most disgusting and nauseating. Ugly freaks, get lost!”
Upon hearing Xia Yang’s words, Situ Jingyi clutched her heart as if greatly hurt and said, “Xia Yang, how could you do this?”
Xia Yang asked indifferently, “What did I do?”
Situ Jingyi stomped her foot as if deeply wounded and walked away.
Qing Tian felt uneasy at this moment. Although Xia Yang had avenged her, wasn’t this creating another enemy for her? It was really troublesome!
Qing Tian complained to Xia Yang with annoyance, “Aren’t you being a bit too meddlesome? You’re not helping me; you’re harming me!”
Xia Yang said dismissively, “It’s fine. She’s not an important character anyway!”
Qing Tian remained silent. Xia Yang was so optimistic, but she couldn’t be.
Then, as expected, Qing Tian danced the first dance with Xia Yang. Qing Tian’s dancing skills were average, and she even stepped on Xia Yang’s feet quite a few times!
Xia Yang protested, whispering in Qing Tian’s ear, “Are you doing this on purpose?”
Qing Tian smiled innocently. Xia Yang murmured, “You’re definitely getting revenge on me for what I did to you earlier.”
Qing Tian laughed joyfully. To outsiders, the two appeared very intimate and harmonious.
