Chapter 6: Younger Sister, or Wife
Xue Shufan’s life was dramatic.
Despite being her biological father, he favored his stepdaughter… The Crown Princess Xue, with her proud spirit, abandoned the family before they could abandon her.
Lian Li said, “Uncle might be in the ancestral hall right now, asking the daily question: Has the eldest miss realized her mistake? The butler’s answer: No!”
Xue Shufan burst into laughter.
After settling the bill at the restaurant, the two were in high spirits, and Xue Shufan took the initiative to suggest going to a bar to play around.
Lian Li had no objections.
The veteran bar STAR, large venue, good atmosphere, and great drinks. At night, neon lights and noise surged into every corner.
Inside the circular bar counter, the bartender was shaking and greeting customers. Lian Li and Xue Shufan sat at the bar counter, each ordering a low-alcohol custom cocktail.
Xue Shufan: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you wear green clothes.”
Lian Li was wearing a black dress and a green top today. The green top was like lush, verdant woods, making her skin appear even fairer, like pure white, flawless mutton-fat jade.
“Aren’t other colors good?” Lian Li’s wardrobe was mostly filled with simple, elegant, and plain colors.
“Of course, they’re good! It’s just that I rarely see you wear bright colors like red and green.”
Xue Shufan’s mobile phone was on the bar counter. A call came in from the laboratory. She gestured to Lian Li and found a quiet place to take it.
On the basement level, the resident band and the enthusiastic dancers swayed with the flashing lights.
Lian Li sat at the bar counter, her fingertip gliding across her phone screen, checking the US stocks Nasdaq and the A-share Shanghai Composite Index.
The noisy, dynamic music had changed its style three times, and Xue Shufan still hadn’t returned. Lian Li was about to send a message to ask about the situation.
Xue Shufan’s WeChat message arrived first: 「 Lili, change of venue, come to the second floor to sing! I’ll wait for you at the entrance! 」
Just reading the text, one could feel the immense excitement of this karaoke enthusiast.
Lian Li went up to the second floor. Xue Shufan, afraid she wouldn’t find her, specifically walked to the staircase entrance to wait for her.
Xue Shufan linked arms with Lian Li and walked down the dimly lit corridor, leading her forward.
“I just ran into an old friend who returned from abroad, a childhood playmate. He was sent abroad in high school and just recently returned.”
“Although it’s said that it’s good to have friends from afar, you have too many old friends.” Lian Li said, “This is how many? The third one, right?”
Xue Shufan laughed, “One can never have too many friends!”
They entered the VIP private room hidden in the shadows of the STAR bar.
The private room was spacious. A man sat on the sofa facing away from the door. He had one hand resting on the back of the sofa, his well-defined fingers holding a cigarette, tapping the ash idly… leisurely, appearing very relaxed and casual.
Lian Li inexplicably felt a sense of familiarity. Before she could figure it out, Xue Shufan had already pulled her to sit on the sofa on the other side.
“Pei Qingji, this is my Junior Sister Lian Li.” Xue Shufan introduced her old friend.
Pei Qingji wore glasses on the bridge of his nose. He had thick eyebrows and large eyes, with a refined demeanor.
The crown prince of the Pei family from Zhong Tai Bank, sent abroad by Old Master Pei at seventeen, he had recently returned to the country.
Lian Li politely curved her lips, “Hello.”
Pei Qingji quickly sized her up. Just as he was about to greet her, Zhong Yang, sitting on the other sofa, suddenly stood up and exclaimed in surprise:
“Isn’t this Yan Ting Ge’s sister, Li Mei!”
The moment the words fell, the sounds of drinking and revelry in the private room instantly died down.
Everyone turned to look at Lian Li.
Almond-shaped eyes and ink-black pupils, a well-defined nose, and facial features like a meticulously drawn fine-brush painting. Her eyes and lips, even when not smiling, curved slightly upwards, possessing a wonderful sweetness.
Whether judged by her skin or bone structure, she possessed a stunning appearance.
Jin Shi Yue sat on the sofa, his long legs lazily crossed. His gaze swept over Lian Li nonchalantly, his eyes cold and intriguing.
“Yan Ting Ge’s sister…” someone teased, “Second Young Master, is this your sister, or your wife?”
Sister or wife?
As the teasing subsided, Jin Shi Yue flicked the ash from his cigarette, turned his head, his gaze casually falling on Lian Li, his voice magnetic and pleasant, with a lazy chuckle.
“I’m also very curious. Is this my sister, or my wife.”
The spotlights in the private room were soft, illuminating the man’s handsome and deep face, lending a hint of wickedness to his roguish smile.
Not many people knew the relationship between Lian Li and Jin Yan Ting.
Zhong Yang had only known that Jin Yan Ting kept a young girl outside. It was only in the past few months, attending gatherings within their circle, that he got to know Lian Li.
Before Lian Li could speak, Zhong Yang immediately answered, saying to Jin Shi Yue, “Li Mei is Yan Ting Ge’s sister, so of course, she’s your sister too.”
“She’s so cherished, I think she’s Young Master Zhong’s sister!”
Everyone burst into laughter.
After the joke, the private room returned to drinking and revelry.
Zhong Yang called the waiter to bring over the good wine that the Second Young Master had stored there.
The waiter stole a glance at Jin Shi Yue. Seeing that the indifferent Second Young Master did not object, he agreed.
Sometimes, silence is the best crisis management.
If they couldn’t see the spectacle they wanted, everyone would quickly lose interest and leave.
When everyone’s attention was no longer on her, Lian Li’s expression remained calm, and she greeted Jin Shi Yue, “Mr. Jin.”
Distant and proper, neither humble nor arrogant.
Jin Shi Yue raised his eyelids and glanced at her, his dark eyes lazy, making it impossible to discern his exact expression.
The Junior Sister’s accent carried a subtle Taipei lilt, like fresh rushes.
The surname ‘Lian’ seemed to be more common in Taipei.
Thinking this, Pei Qingji asked Lian Li, “Has Junior Sister lived in Taipei before?”
Lian Li took the wine Zhong Yang handed her, thanked him, and then said to Pei Qingji, “No.”
She paused, then added, “My father is from Taipei. He later settled in the Capital City, so his speech retains some of his Taipei habits.”
Xue Shufan took a sip of wine and suddenly realized, “No wonder I always found your voice so gentle and refined, more comforting than a broadcaster’s. It’s because of your Taipei accent.”
“Isn’t the Taipei accent supposed to be whiny and overly sweet?” Zhong Yang asked, tilting his head.
Xue Shufan said, “You’re ignorant. That’s a stereotype. Go and experience it yourself sometime to dispel those stereotypes.”
Zhong Yang said with a carefree laugh, “Experience what? Don’t I have Li Mei right here?”
Pei Qingji and Xue Shufan, as old friends reuniting, spoke at length, discussing research projects, the Zhong Tai Group headquarters, and the downfall of the Crown Princess.
“It’s all thanks to Lili supporting me. Otherwise, penniless as I was, I would have been begging on the streets long ago.” Xue Shufan, with her cheerful personality, extended her arm and put it around Lian Li’s shoulder.
Lian Li’s eyes crinkled with a faint smile, and she said, “That’s because you’re worth it.”
Zhong Yang opened a deck of playing cards and called Lian Li and Xue Shufan over to play.
Lian Li calmly surveyed her surroundings and sat down with composure.
To her left was Jin Shi Yue, who was leaning casually against a single sofa.
Zhong Yang shuffled the playing cards and chattered, “Li Mei is very good at cards. Yan Ting Ge always lets her play for him.”
Jin Shi Yue raised his eyelids, his gaze loosely falling on Lian Li’s face, and he said nonchalantly, “Good at cards?”
It was a question, but with a tone of certainty.
Lian Li smiled faintly, “Mr. Jin flatters me. I only know a little.”
Her response was flawless, and logically, there should be no fault to find. Who would have thought…
Jin Shi Yue looked at her, his thin lips curved into a smile, his expression unchanged, “What, am I not worthy of you calling me ‘Ge’?”
Good morning, two updates today.
