Chapter 96: Ji Family Banquet
Chapter Ninety-Seven: Ji Family Banquet （3）
Qing Tian glanced at her surroundings, only to see Situ Jingyi leaning against Ji Xiangyu. The two looked like a prince and princess from a television drama, elegantly and conspicuously dancing on the dance floor.
Qing Tian clearly saw the shy expression on Situ Jingyi’s face. She must be very happy. It’s true, dancing with the most handsome and powerful eldest grandson of the Ji family would surely make one feel ecstatic. Moreover, it was the first dance; there must be a lot of jealousy and envy from the crowd.
Qing Tian sighed softly. Truly, a beautiful woman matched with a talented man, or one could say they were a talented couple. In any case, all sorts of flattering adjectives fit them perfectly.
At some point, the music stopped. Xia Yang brought Qing Tian to a nearby chair to rest and asked considerately, “Tired? Wearing such high heels!”
Qing Tian smiled and shook her head. Staying by Xia Yang’s side and attending this ball wasn’t a big deal at all; in fact, she was quite happy. Was it that as long as she was with Xia Yang, others wouldn’t cause trouble?
The answer was, of course, no. Having Qin Hailan alone was enough. Thinking of Qin Hailan, Qing Tian felt very guilty. Although Qin Hailan usually had a sharp tongue, she loved Xia Yang more than anyone deep down. Who couldn’t see Qin Hailan’s feelings for Xia Yang?
Xia Yang handed Qing Tian a glass of soda and asked, “What are you thinking about so intently?”
Qing Tian shook her head again. In her heart, she really wanted to say one thing to Xia Yang: Thank you!
She truly had to thank Xia Yang for saving her every time. According to the older generation, Xia Yang was the knight in her life, a dark knight who would appear whenever she was in trouble!
Xia Yang flicked Qing Tian’s forehead. Qing Tian covered her forehead and complained, “Why did you hit me?”
Xia Yang coolly downed the soda in one gulp and looked at Qing Tian with a lazy expression, “Are you saying you’ve fallen for me?”
Qing Tian almost choked, but she did choke. She coughed and couldn’t say a word to Xia Yang. Xia Yang continued, “That’s understandable. I’m so handsome and dashing, you’re bound to be captivated by my good looks!”
Three vertical lines immediately appeared on Qing Tian’s forehead. She smiled and said, “Hey, Xia Yang, can you change your narcissistic bad habit!”
Xia Yang grinned and gave Qing Tian a big fake smile, “This is called confidence, okay?”
Qing Tian took a sip of soda, helplessly holding her forehead, “That’s just narcissism!”
Afterward, they looked at each other and smiled!
“Xia Yang, could I borrow your dance partner for a moment?”
Ji Xiangyu had appeared beside them at some point, asking Xia Yang very gentlemanly.
Qing Tian looked up in surprise, gazing at the standing Ji Xiangyu. She realized Ji Xiangyu was still wearing a white tuxedo today. This attire suited him very well. White was pure and noble, perfectly complementing Ji Xiangyu’s noble, prince-like status.
Xia Yang put his arm around Qing Tian and said proudly, “No one can borrow her tonight. Qing Tian is exclusively mine tonight!”
Hearing Xia Yang’s grand declaration, Qing Tian’s face instantly flushed with embarrassment. That sentence was too ambiguous! What did he mean by exclusively his? She was clearly free!
Qing Tian shrugged her shoulders, trying to break free from Xia Yang’s intimate embrace. However, it was all in vain. Xia Yang’s strength was considerable; there was no way Qing Tian could resist!
So, Qing Tian could only sit quietly and listen to the two young men talk. Interestingly, she noticed Ji Xiangyu was wearing a red string on his hand today. She wondered why.
Just as she was pondering the red string, Ji Xiangyu suddenly pulled her. Caught off guard, she stumbled into Ji Xiangyu’s embrace. Her hands instinctively tried to create distance between their bodies, but she accidentally ended up hugging Ji Xiangyu.
Qing Tian was mortified. She looked up at Ji Xiangyu with embarrassment. Ji Xiangyu’s gentle voice rang out, “Qing Tian, are you alright?”
Qing Tian lowered her head, blushing, not daring to look at Ji Xiangyu. It was too embarrassing, truly too embarrassing!
Xia Yang stood up and said to Ji Xiangyu in a slightly loud voice, “Ji Xiangyu, isn’t it too much to forcefully snatch someone else’s things?”
Ji Xiangyu’s expression immediately turned cold, and his voice was equally indifferent, “Xia Yang, that’s enough. Qing Tian has spent enough time with you. I just want to dance one dance with her. You won’t even allow that? Aren’t you being too overbearing? Besides, is Qing Tian an object?”
Seeing the two of them starting to get angry, Qing Tian felt helpless. Why couldn’t they talk calmly? Why did they have to get so heated?
Qing Tian glanced around. Many people were looking their way. So, she said to Xia Yang comfortingly, “Xia Yang, don’t mind it too much. I was actually thinking of going to dance!”
Xia Yang’s face turned ashen, and he remained silent. Qing Tian could only sigh helplessly. Why couldn’t these two hot-tempered young masters learn to be more gentlemanly? She was the one who should be angry. Firstly, Ji Xiangyu suddenly pulling her was not gentlemanly. Secondly, Xia Yang calling her an object was hurtful to her self-esteem. Lastly, shouldn’t he have asked her opinion about dancing first?
She was really about to be angered to death by these two!
Ji Xiangyu led Qing Tian into the dance floor. Qing Tian felt that this dance was permeated with a strange feeling, as if the surrounding electric waves were quite strong.
Were those women’s gazes trying to kill her? It was too terrifying. Couldn’t Ji Xiangyu be less charming?
Qing Tian was complaining internally, while Ji Xiangyu seemed to be in a much better mood. He guided Qing Tian, following his steps.
Then, a gentle voice sounded in Qing Tian’s ear, “Qing Tian, thank you!”
Qing Tian looked up in astonishment and asked in confusion, “Thank me for what? I don’t think I’ve done anything worthy of your thanks!”
Qing Tian saw a fleeting look of disappointment in Ji Xiangyu’s eyes, but it was only for a moment!
Ji Xiangyu put on a gentle smile, “For many things, but this time, thank you for not refusing my request!”
Qing Tian felt a little disappointed, but she hid this emotion well. She smiled slightly and said to Ji Xiangyu, “It’s nothing. Actually, dancing with you is what every girl dreams of. I should be the one saying thank you. I’m honored to dance with you; this is my exclusive privilege!”
Ji Xiangyu was amused by Qing Tian and looked at her with a warm smile.
Qing Tian’s heart could barely take it. It was precisely this kind of smile that made her fall for him the moment she saw it. It was a smile that warmed her to the core, a smile that could truly captivate the world.
Qing Tian shyly buried her head in Ji Xiangyu’s embrace, secretly smiling in her heart. It felt so good, this feeling was so good. Being enveloped by Ji Xiangyu’s presence felt so good!
Just as Qing Tian was enjoying being enveloped by Ji Xiangyu’s presence, an accursed aunt bumped into her. Qing Tian was pushed and almost fell to the ground, but thankfully, she managed to regain her balance!
Qing Tian took a deep breath and looked up to see who had caused it. The moment she saw the person, her mood immediately soured, and her entire demeanor changed.
Situ Jingyi was smiling apologetically at her, her voice particularly sweet and coquettish, which gave Qing Tian goosebumps all over.
Situ Jingyi, with her signature gentle smile and a voice that could make one’s skin crawl, said to Qing Tian, “Sorry, I really didn’t mean to!”
Qing Tian calmed her inner anger and put on a smile, intending to say it was nothing. However, Situ Jingyi ignored her presence and directly linked her arm with Ji Xiangyu’s, asking exaggeratedly and gently, “Yu, are you alright?”
Just as Ji Xiangyu was about to go and ask Qing Tian if she was okay, Situ Jingyi held onto him with effort, “Yu, are you alright?”
Ji Xiangyu looked at the arm Situ Jingyi was holding and then at Situ Jingyi’s irresistible gentle smile. He said helplessly, “I’m fine, Jingyi, I…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Xia Yang walked over and put his arm around Qing Tian’s shoulder, saying, “Since you’re done dancing, I’ll take her away now!”
Qing Tian looked apologetically at Situ Jingyi and Ji Xiangyu, feeling a mix of emotions.
She had never expected to stand beside Ji Xiangyu. She wasn’t a princess; what right did she have? Since Situ Jingyi was so concerned about Ji Xiangyu and even went to such lengths to prevent her from getting close to him, how could she ignore such obvious hostility?
Situ Jingyi’s appearance made Qing Tian realize a fact: no matter how bad Situ Jingyi was, she was still the daughter of a chaebol. With her gentle smile, perfect figure, and powerful background, Qing Tian could never compare. There was simply no comparison.
No matter what, she was just a commoner!
Ji Xiangyu chased after them and grabbed Qing Tian, who was being led away by Xia Yang. He looked at Qing Tian with complex eyes and said, “Qing Tian, I have something to tell you!”
Xia Yang slapped Ji Xiangyu’s hand away and warned, “Ji Xiangyu, I’m warning you, this is the Ji Family, not First High School. Are you trying to embarrass Qing Tian by pulling her around like this? Look at those people waiting to watch the show. Don’t you think you’re becoming a laughingstock? Where did your IQ of 150 go? How could you do something so stupid!”
Xia Yang’s words jolted Ji Xiangyu awake. Everyone here was waiting for some conflict to erupt between him and Xia Yang. How could he be so foolish!
Xia Yang said helplessly, “Young Master Ji, please think carefully before you act. Don’t be impulsive! Because there will be consequences for impulsiveness!”
Ji Xiangyu nodded, his eyes turning cold.
Qing Tian felt that this Ji Xiangyu was very different from the warm, sunny prince in her heart. She remembered what Ji Xiangyu had told her before: “You don’t know the real me yet! I’ll really scare you then!!!”
What was Ji Xiangyu’s other side?
Before Qing Tian could ponder further, the Master of Ceremonies began speaking on stage. According to him, he was the Ji family’s second uncle.
The Ji family’s relationship tree was too complicated. Qing Tian just listened; she didn’t need to recognize those people anyway.
“Today is the old man’s joyous occasion. We’ll follow the old rules and show some of our family’s past events. The young ones should watch carefully how the elders climbed mountains and crossed seas to consolidate the Ji family. Study hard and, in the future, build an empire for the Ji family!”
Then, the screen began to play photographs of the Ji family’s history. Today’s protagonist was Grandfather Ji, so naturally, there were many photos related to him.
One photo showed Ji Xiangyu and a young boy standing beside Grandfather Ji, who was smiling kindly.
Qing Tian hadn’t noticed before that, apart from their personalities, Ji Xiangyu and Xia Yang looked very similar. It wasn’t just similar; even their fierce gazes were the same.
Blood brothers, yet due to the love and hate entanglements of the previous generation, they had to turn against each other. What a pity. If they could get along harmoniously, wouldn’t many things be different?
Of course, these were just Qing Tian’s own thoughts. Perhaps Ji Xiangyu and Xia Yang didn’t want to get along at all. It was best to maintain a certain distance, or even better, to become strangers from now on!
The crowd began to stir, whispering amongst themselves. Qing Tian looked up at the screen and saw the content, her eyeballs almost popping out in surprise.
How could this be?
Qing Tian looked at Xia Yang; his face showed complete bewilderment. She then looked at Ji Xiangyu; Ji Xiangyu was also looking at Xia Yang in surprise.
Ji Xiangyu asked Xia Yang with a face full of anger, “Did you do this?”
