Song Li and Cheng Yu stood together in an inconspicuous corner. They looked indifferent on the surface, occasionally exchanging pleasantries with passersby. But their eyes kept glancing at the distant figure in a pale yellow dress. Cheng Yu had been isolating himself at home, not seeing anyone, troubled and tormented by emotions. He had lost weight in recent days, thinking his practice of emotional detachment was somewhat effective, but when Fu Xiaotang entered, all his efforts turned to dust. His eyes were glued to her; he knew he shouldn’t look, but he couldn’t bear to look away. Her smile, her movements, her every expression… not to mention Fang Junjie, even Ji Shan made him insanely jealous. He wanted to rush over, replace Ji Shan, and stand in front of Fu Xiaotang…
In comparison, Song Li was much more composed, engaging in light conversation with others around him. His gaze would sweep over Fu Xiaotang without pause, only showing a slight flicker of emotion when she was too close with someone else. Both harbored their own concerns but were also curious about Liu Yi’s intention in inviting everyone today. They had no prior knowledge of this event and only learned about it after receiving the invitation, thus they came together to find out.
Song Li noticed the setup didn’t feel like a fashion show; it looked more like a business dinner. He knew Liu Yi wouldn’t do this without reason, and a sense of unease crept into his heart.
On the other side, Ji Shan said to Fu Xiaotang, “Liu Yi’s approach to this event is quite unique. She kept everything under wraps, and the moment there’s news, it’s city-wide invitations. Everyone must be wondering what she’s up to.” Fu Xiaotang nodded noncommittally. Ji Shan glanced at Fang Junjie not far away, then smiled at Fu Xiaotang, “What do you think of that young master?” Fu Xiaotang’s heart stirred, she looked over, and Fang Junjie turned, their eyes met, and they smiled at each other for a while. Fu Xiaotang turned back, slightly lowering her head, her eyes sparkling as she softly said, “Good.”
Seeing the flush on her cheeks, Ji Shan felt a twinge of sourness but was genuinely happy for her. He jokingly accused, “Fang Junjie really has caught up, hasn’t he? But why? Why does he get to go ahead of me? He’s cutting in line, and you’re biased!” Fu Xiaotang scoffed, “Big brother, you didn’t want me, remember? I’m a girl!” She intended it as a playful jab, expecting to rile him up. Instead, Ji Shan nodded seriously, “True, if I were serious about you, there wouldn’t be room for anyone else here, Song Li, Cheng Yu, or Fang Junjie, they’d all have to step aside.” Fu Xiaotang was stunned by his boastful words, her mouth agape. Ji Shan wanted to laugh but held it in, whispering, “Image! Image, that look is just silly!” Then he couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
