Chapter 21: Birthday Banquet

Shen Nanzhi couldn’t sit there any longer. If she let her whimsical best friend continue, she’d even conjure up children for them.

Setting down her water glass, Shen Nanzhi went to the bedroom.

“I have class later, don’t let your imagination run wild. I’ll get my laptop, and we’ll go back to school.”

“Why the rush to go back to school?” Gu Qinghe followed her, “There are still more than forty minutes left.”

Gu Qinghe was as excited as if she’d been injected with stimulants about her best friend’s marriage to Jiang Jinnian.

Chasing into the bedroom, she didn’t forget to remind Shen Nanzhi:

“Think carefully about this marriage to Jiang Jinnian. He’s definitely more reliable than Jiang Tingxu.”

“But it’s over now that it’s missed. My brother told me that Jiang Jinnian is the type who won’t easily give up once he’s set his mind on something. Since he proposed a marriage alliance once, he’ll definitely propose it again.”

Shen Nanzhi: …

Gu Qinghe, this young miss, was genuinely concerned about Shen Nanzhi’s marriage to Jiang Jinnian.  On the way to Huaihuai University, she continuously explained the benefits of marrying Jiang Jinnian to Shen Nanzhi.

Shen Nanzhi’s ears were starting to get calluses.

Entering the gates of the University, to avoid the topic, Shen Nanzhi pulled her best friend and changed the subject.

“How did you handle the marriage proposal from the Cheng family?”

Gu Qinghe paused, then sighed listlessly, “I didn’t handle it, I just ignored it. Anyway, I don’t agree. Even if there’s a real marriage alliance, I have to find someone decent.  Cheng Yu’an, that kind of man who pretends to be a good person but secretly drinks and chases girls, I absolutely disagree.”

“What does your brother think?”

Gu Qinghe: “The marriage alliance with the Cheng family was agreed upon by my father. My brother understands Cheng Yu’an’s character, and he doesn’t agree with me marrying him either. He said he’ll talk to my father and have him refuse the proposal.”

After speaking, Gu Qinghe’s eyes flickered.

She looked at Shen Nanzhi again with mischievous intent.

Having been best friends for so many years, Shen Nanzhi knew what Gu Qinghe wanted to say from her expression. Seeing that this ancestor was about to bring up the old topic again, Shen Nanzhi decisively interrupted her:

“Come to the lab with me. You can help me.”

“?” Gu Qinghe pointed at herself, “Me? Go to the lab with you?”

Shen Nanzhi nodded, “Yes, this afternoon. I’ll tell you about the current progress first.  Time is tight, so you can get a head start.”

Gu Qinghe’s attempt to persuade her was interrupted.

She listened blankly as Shen Nanzhi talked about the project progress for nearly twenty minutes, until they reached the lecture hall.

…

Shen Nanzhi had never been drunk before.

She didn’t know that her ‘blackouts’ after getting drunk had a time limit.

In the next two days, without warning, some images from her drunken state would pop into her mind.

As she remembered more and more, Shen Nanzhi became increasingly hesitant to see Jiang Jinnian.

It was a good thing he was busy these two days.  The merger of E.R Group and Tiansheng headquarters was ongoing, and he basically didn’t have time to come to her apartment.

In the blink of an eye, a week passed.

The weekend was Gu Qinghe and Gu Wenchuan’s birthday banquet.  Gu Qinghe started sending messages to Shen Nanzhi from Saturday morning, afraid she would forget their birthdays.

Speaking of the birthdays of the Gu siblings, it was quite a coincidence.

Gu Wenchuan was seven years older than Gu Qinghe.

But their birthdays coincidentally fell on the same day.

Every year, the Gu family held a grand birthday banquet.

Basically, all the brothers and friends in Gu Wenchuan’s circle would come. The Gu family’s status in Huaihai City was second to none. Whether it was for profit or because they were in the same circle and saw each other often, most of the wealthy young ladies in Huaihai City would also attend.

When Shen Nanzhi arrived at the banquet villa owned by the Gu family that weekend, there were already many men and women attending the banquet.

As she entered the banquet hall, Gu Qinghe, dressed in a luxurious princess dress adorned with pearls, greeted her with a smile.

“Finally here, little ancestor.”

Shen Nanzhi handed over the exquisitely packaged birthday gifts, a charming smile on her lips, “Happy birthday, young miss.”

Gu Qinghe readily embraced the two gifts. She looked at the slightly darker gift box below and, resisting the urge to open it, looked up and asked her best friend:

“Same as every year, the one below is for my brother?”

Shen Nanzhi nodded with a smile.

Gu Qinghe linked arms with Shen Nanzhi, smiling as she led her inside, jokingly saying:

“Since they’re already in my hands, why don’t I, the young miss, just accept two gifts?”

Shen Nanzhi glanced around the banquet hall. Almost all the powerful and influential people in the circle were present. In front of the cake, in the front-side position, Gu Wenchuan was surrounded by several friends.

Withdrawing her gaze, hearing her best friend’s words, Shen Nanzhi replied lazily, “Okay, as long as your brother agrees.”

Gu Qinghe, the domineering young miss, declared, “My best friend’s gift, he has to agree whether he wants to or not!”

They went to the dessert area, Gu Qinghe handed a small cake to Shen Nanzhi, and they chatted while eating desserts.

Midway through their conversation, however, she saw her best friend, who had been happily sharing last night’s fun, suddenly turn sideways. Her good mood was affected, and she angrily dug into her small cake with a spoon.

Shen Nanzhi followed her gaze.

In the main banquet hall, a young man in a suit, looking debonair, seemed to be heading towards them.

But before he took a few steps, he was stopped by Gu Wenchuan behind him.

Shen Nanzhi glanced at the man a couple more times. Although she hadn’t been active in the circle these past two years, she had grown up in it and recognized everyone.

The man was Cheng Yu’an, who had almost entered into a marriage alliance with Gu Qinghe.

It was said that he was quite capable.

After taking charge of the company, he quickly made significant achievements.

The Cheng family’s current influence was also considerable. Although their foundation was somewhat inferior to the Gu family, it was by no means lacking. Among the various uncles and cousins of the Cheng family, Cheng Yu’an stood out, and it was almost certain he would take over Cheng Group and become the next heir.

Because of this, when Cheng Yu’an proposed a marriage alliance with the Gu family, Gu Qinghe’s father agreed.

Gu Wenchuan was indeed a qualified protective brother.

After Gu Qinghe clearly stated she wouldn’t marry Cheng Yu’an, throughout the birthday banquet, from the beginning to the impending end, Cheng Yu’an had not found an opportunity to speak with Gu Qinghe alone.

As the banquet was nearing its conclusion, Gu Wenchuan called Gu Qinghe over. Shen Nanzhi felt a bit dizzy from staying in the banquet hall, so she set down her champagne and went through the side door to the fountain garden behind the banquet hall to get some fresh air.

After passing through the glass door and arriving under the begonia trellis, Shen Nanzhi had barely stood for two minutes when a mocking voice came from behind her.

“Miss Shen, it’s been a long time since we last met.”

Shen Nanzhi turned around to see Meng Shijin, the daughter of the Meng family, following her out from the side door.

Behind Meng Shijin were two lesser companions from families of slightly lower status.

They all carried themselves with an air of arrogance, noses pointed upward.

Especially Meng Shijin.

She had never gotten along with Shen Nanzhi since childhood.

The Meng family held a mid-tier status in the upper circle of Huaihai City. Ten years ago, when Shen Nanzhi’s father was still alive, she wouldn’t have dared to act so high and mighty in front of Shen Nanzhi.

However, after Shen Nanzhi’s family encountered misfortunes, the value of the Shen family’s shares drastically declined for a time.

Taking advantage of the situation, the Meng family—being a competitor to the Shen family—climbed the ranks considerably.

Since then, the Meng family’s prized daughter felt she could step on Shen Nanzhi and often sought opportunities to mock and show off.

But before she could get her wish, Shen Nanzhi was taken by Mr. Jiang and Mrs. Jiang to live in the Jiang family’s old residence. In all the necessary events and banquets during those years, Mrs. Jiang always brought Shen Nanzhi along, helping her familiarize herself with the interpersonal relationships within the circle.

Due to the Jiang family’s powerful status and the marriage alliance already established between the Jiang and Shen families, Meng Shijin, despite her disdain for Shen Nanzhi, didn’t dare to be overtly hostile.

However, in the past two years, rumors about Jiang Tingxu not wanting to proceed with the marriage alliance and the once-labeled Shen Nanzhi being abandoned by the Jiang family had been swirling like waves.

The recent ambiguous video of Jiang Tingxu and Su Wu had spread across hot searches, serving as concrete evidence to support the rumors that “the marriage alliance between the two families was about to be canceled.”

People like Meng Shijin, who had long wanted to step on Shen Nanzhi, wouldn’t miss such a long-awaited opportunity for mockery.

As soon as Shen Nanzhi stepped out of the banquet hall, she was closely followed by Meng Shijin.

“I haven’t seen Miss Shen around the circle for the past two years. I thought the young lady of the Shen family had lost face and couldn’t stay in the upper-class circle anymore.”

“Why is it that you’ve finally come out today?”

As soon as Meng Shijin finished speaking, her two sycophantic companions chimed in with disdain:

“Isn’t it just relying on her ties with the Gu family’s young lady? Without that friendship, what is she, a person without parents and family, doing in this circle?”

The phrase “without parents and family” made Shen Nanzhi squint her eyes.

Meng Shijin let out a sneer, playing along with her companions:

“I initially thought Miss Shen still had the Jiang family as a fallback, but what’s the result? How does it matter if Chairman Jiang and Mrs. Jiang are satisfied with the marriage between the Jiang and Shen families?”

“Jiang Er Shao refuses to agree to the marriage, and not only that, he’s trending with a young star. And your brother, who has no blood relation to you, is constantly abroad, not even returning to Huaihai.”

“Shen Nanzhi, if I were you, I would have left this circle the moment your parents died—ah!”

Meng Shijin’s scream and the sharp sound of a slap echoed simultaneously.

Shen Nanzhi shook her hand, coldly watching the clear handprint that appeared on Meng Shijin’s tightly held cheek.

The stinging pain on her face made Meng Shijin lose her composure for a moment, her expression of mockery splitting open to reveal disbelief as she stared intently at Shen Nanzhi:

“Shen Nanzhi, you dare hit me?”

That slap had been delivered with full force. Regardless of how Meng Shijin looked, Shen Nanzhi’s hand was burning with pain.

“What’s wrong with hitting you? You throw around my parents’ death so casually. How disrespectful to your elders! Were you not born of parents?”

Meng Shijin was furious.

The two small companions behind her were momentarily stunned by Shen Nanzhi’s sudden action.

Realizing what happened, the one who had just insulted Shen Nanzhi for being without parents under Meng’s protection quickly rushed to support Meng Shijin, ready to retaliate against Shen Nanzhi.

As she spoke, Shen Nanzhi turned her gaze away from Meng Shijin and flicked the stinging palm of her hand, “I forgot about you; you have a share too.”

With that, Shen Nanzhi swung her other hand and slapped again.

The small companion screamed even louder than Meng Shijin had earlier.

She looked as if she had suffered a tremendous humiliation.

If it weren’t for the noisy piano and chatter in the banquet hall, people would have already been drawn to the commotion.

Jiang Tingxu was not at the banquet today, and Meng Shijin thought that since the last time the ambiguous video of Su Wu trended, the relationship between Shen Nanzhi and Jiang Tingxu had already shattered. Today, Jiang Tingxu’s absence from the birthday banquet must have something to do with Shen Nanzhi.

Before Shen Nanzhi came of age, whenever there were gatherings in the circle, Jiang Tingxu would always bring Shen Nanzhi along, acting like a protective older brother, fearing she would be bullied.

Now that the marriage alliance between the Jiang and Shen families was clearly falling apart, and with the birthday banquet for Gu Wenchuan and Gu Qinghe coming to an end, Jiang Tingxu not showing up was particularly noteworthy.

Meng Shijin, no longer cautious, felt a surge of malice after Shen Nanzhi slapped her. With a flicker of hostility in her eyes, she raised her hand, ready to retaliate.

But just as her wrist lifted, a cold, indifferent voice broke through the noise, neither angry nor happy.