Chapter 21: Fatal Lipstick 2

  Xia Xian Ning took in the grand hall: the magnificent crystal chandelier made the hall sparkle and shine, radiating a warm glow. The elegant tablecloth, tall candelabra, and fragrance of flowers that filled the room made it feel like her own home. She bit her lip, telling herself: this is Huayang, her new life.

  "Aunt Wei, your decorations look really beautiful!"

  "Our Xiaoyu's mouth is really sweet. Let's be hypocritical for once, honestly, your family's not as good-looking." Ling Wei said and regretted it immediately, she hastily pointed at the food on the dinner table: "Want to eat?"

  "Can we eat first?"

  "You've just grown up, and now you're back to this. Go ahead, in a while, let's go recognize new friends together." Ling Wei Yi gently tapped the tip of Xia Qian Ying's nose.

  Xia Qian Ning hummed in agreement, then walked to the dinner table, where the mousse was too enticing. She put it in her mouth, oh! Xia Qian Ning slightly tilted her head back, half-closing her eyes: It's truly a heavenly delicacy, fragrant and smooth, intoxicating wine aroma, let me have another piece.

  "The mousse here is a bit different. It has twice the amount of Baileys as usual." Ling Mu Ye looked at Xia Qian Ying's hand reaching for the mousse again.

  Xia Qian Ning's hand stopped in mid-air: "Really?"

  "Fake! Didn't expect it, but your mouth is quite greedy."

  "What's wrong with being gluttonous? You're not losing any flesh."

  "Alright then, come and eat." Ling Mu Ye continued to smile gently.

  His temper is so good, unlike some people. Why think of that person again? Xia Xian Ning put another piece of mousse in her mouth, and her mouth was sweet, maybe her heart wouldn't be thinking wildly: "Has Ming Yin come?"

  "Not yet. You're considered early because you came with your aunt. Would you like some juice or something?"

  "Hmm." Xia Qian Ning looked around for juice.

  "On the table over there, you pick what food you like first, I'll get some juice and we can head to the lounge upstairs. It's going to get more crowded here." Ling Mu Ye said as he gestured for Xian Ying to choose her food: "Forgot to ask, what kind of flavor do you like?"

  "It's all good!"

  ——————&&&——————&&&——————

  "Ah! Come here for a moment." Finally found this little master, and Mei Li let out a sigh of relief.

  Ling Shui reluctantly walked over.

  "Where have you been? I've been searching for you for half a day. The Nie family's people are almost here, let's go and greet them together."

  "You go yourself. I'll wait in the hall." Ling Shuiyue said coldly.

  "Meili hastily said: 'What did you say? I want to go myself, but they want you to go.'"

  "I still have something on." As things came to a head, Ling Shuiyue began to hesitate.

  "What's going on? We agreed, just for tonight, and after that, it's up to you. It's just a courtesy welcome, I won't eat you. Standing there so tall, when will you understand some human affairs?" Ling Kangyan walked over: "Hurry up."

  "Are you two individuals not enough? I"

  "Do you want to suffocate me?" Ling Kangnian interrupted Ling Shuiyue's words.

  Ling Shuiyao still didn't move.

  "What? Do you want to go back on your word? Or do you want me to teach you a lesson here? Do you want to lose face now?"

  "Then let's do it as we said, just for tonight." Ling Shuiyue said, and strode towards the gate.

  Mei Li followed behind: "He's really your good son. I almost knelt down to beg him. Why is he so difficult to get along with?"

  "Brother Ling, how can you still have the face to let me come out and welcome you?" Nian Zhongrang walked over with a smile.

  "Really, too kind," said Mrs. Ní with a smile.

  "Yes, we're almost like a family now, and we also think it's unnecessary. But Yao must come. We have to consider his feelings too."

  Ni Shi Luo took a step forward and grasped Ling Shui Yue's arm.

  "Look at them, they're really a golden boy and jade girl."

  Ní Zhòng Ràng burst out laughing. He was somewhat dissatisfied with Ling Shuǐyào's birth mother, but everything else was fine as long as Luòluò liked it.

  "Oh, you misunderstood." Ling Shuiyue hastily explained.

  "Zhòng ràng! Your whole family has arrived." Sun Jiatian came over from behind to greet them, drowning out Ling Shuiyue's words.

  "Oh, it's Jiatian brother, how rare! To see you here." Nijialang exclaimed in surprise.

  "Indeed, Brother Jiatian, I thought you had something on and wouldn't be able to make it. Your esteemed presence brings honor to our humble abode."

  "Where, where. Such a rush, I also have to congratulate you, twenty years, it's not easy." Sun Jiatian and Ling Kangnian are old friends.

  Ling Shuiyue has been shaking hands with Shi Luo all along, but with so many people around, he can't be too excessive.

  Ni Shi Luo smiled brightly, knowing that Ling Shui Yue couldn't do anything to her in this situation, with an air of having the upper hand over Ling Shui Yue.

  ——————&&&——————&&&——————

  Xia Xianjing was intently picking at the delicate pastries, unaware of the person slowly approaching her.

  "Clang" - two forks collided together.

  Ming De smiled and looked at Xia Xianying: "Hey! It turns out that our tastes are the same."

  Xia Qian's thoughts were interrupted for a moment.

  "Mingde, when did you start liking pear mousse?" Ling Mu Ye handed a glass of juice to Xia Qian Ying.

  "Now, in the future!" Mingde was very determined.

  "Ming De, why didn't you wait for me? I'm your sister after all. Even if you bullied me at home, shouldn't you take care of me when we're out?" Ming Xin panted as she ran over, but then she saw Xia Qian standing next to Ming De: "Qian! Oh my god, Qian, you look so beautiful!"

  Ming Xin almost pounced on her: "Xian Ning! You're going to be with me today."

  "Why?" Ming De said discontentedly beside her, "What kind of party has girls together with girls? Later I want to dance the first dance with Xian Ning. The two of us standing together is really a handsome guy and beautiful girl!"

  Ming Xin was shut down by Ming De's words. Yes, it's all boys and girls dancing together, which girl dances with a girl, but she just can't stand the look of Ming De's complacency: "Can't dance together, can't eat together? Fen Ning, what do you like to eat?"

  "I arrived before you and have been eating." Xia Xian Ning lightly raised the mousse in her hand.

  "Why don't we pick some more and go to the lounge upstairs to eat, and chat while eating?" Ming Xin said the same thing as Ling Mu Ye, they must have always spent their parties like this.

  "Alright." Xian Ning agreed.

  Four people came upstairs together. The room was very quiet, because most of the people who come here are for socializing, so this rest room on the upper floor can only be considered a decoration.

  "Feng Ning, aren't you cold?" Ling Mu asked with concern.

  "It's fine, the heating in the room is turned up high enough."

  Ming De sat to the side, still thinking about Ming Xian's words from earlier. He had bitten Xia Wen Cong before. Ling Shui Yue also said that he and Wen Cong had known each other for a long time. Could it be that they were all blind and didn't notice?

  "Xia Qian Ning! Were you a flower girl when Ling's aunt got married?" Ming De suddenly realized.

  "Hmm." Xia Qian nodded.

  "My god, it's really you. I'm so lucky to have met you. I thought Yoh was the one who knew you first, but it turns out I knew you before him. Mokuyou, do you have any wine?"

  Ling Mu also thought they should drink something: "How about we have a little red wine to celebrate our reunion?"

  "Good, good!" Ming Xin nodded in agreement with both hands: "Feng Ning, what about you?"

  "Alright."

  Ling Mu said: "Alright, you guys wait a minute, I'll go get some wine."

  "Thursday, let's go together." Mingde stood up and went downstairs with Lingmu to get food and wine.

  Ming De and Ling Mu Ye went downstairs, Ming Xin said: "Let's stand by the railing. This way we can see everyone in the hall. Lan Bei said she would be a bit late today, I'm afraid if she comes later and can't find me, she'll blame me."

  "Alright."

  "That's strange." Ming Xin looked around the hall: "Qing Ning, where is Yao?"

  "Oh no." Xia Qing also found it strange after saying that. Having been here for so long, why hadn't she seen Ling Shuiyue?

  As soon as Xia Qian Ning's words fell, she saw Ling Kang Nian and his entourage walking into the hall. Ni Shi Luo was holding onto Ling Shui Yao's arm, following behind them.

  "Isn't that Yao and Nishiro?" Ming Xin's mouth was agape. My god! They're really together.

  They look very much alike, walking behind the adults, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, very intimate: "Very matching, isn't it? Even with a hint of golden boy and jade girl." Xia Xian said these words without realizing the sour taste in them.

  "Where? I don't like the way they look at each other. That Luo Luo is simply a witch, how can she hold onto Yao? She must have used some kind of trickery, secretly harming people is her specialty." Ming Xin pouted.

  Xia Qian Ning didn't hear Ming Xin's words clearly, her mind was filled with Ling Shui Yue and Ni Shi Luo. Ni Shi Luo was holding hands with Ling Shui Yue, beaming with joy. She saw that Ling Shui Yue's eyes were full of love and infatuation, he didn't even look at the road ahead, his gaze fixed on Ni Shi Luo's face. From this angle, she couldn't see Ling Shui Yue's expression, probably very happy too.

  "Xian Ning, Li Ling is here too!" Ming Xin pulled on Xia Xian Ning's cloak, pulling her attention back. Xia Xian Ning followed Ming Xin's gaze and saw a handsome figure that was different from Yao but equally captivating. She took a deep breath, clearing her mind: "You might become his dance partner today!"

  Indeed, there are no girls around him, she must seize this opportunity, otherwise the party would be in vain. No, Xia Qianqian just said something to herself: "Qianqian? What did you say?" Ming Huan's devilish hand began to flaunt itself in front of Xia Qianqian again.

  Xia Qian Ning quickly left the railing and ran while saying: "Ming Xin, today we are all ladies. Be careful with your dress!"

  "I'm not afraid! My evening dress has always been tight on me. It's someone else who should be worried." Ming Xin chased after her.

  Ming Xin said that, which reminded Xia Wenning that she was wearing a shoulderless evening gown today. Xia Wenning hurriedly covered her right shoulder with her hand, but forgot that she still had a sable cape on.

  Xia Qian Cheng let out a sigh and sat down: "What did I say wrong? If I can't even tell you the truth, then what's the point of us being together? You should know that I value friendship above all else."

  "Really?" Ming De stood at the stairs with a whole tray of mousse, hearing Xia Yiner say that, his face full of surprise: "Ugly eight! No, Yiner! I am too, we really are fated."

  Ming De let go of Mu Si and took Xia Xian Ning's hand: "Good Xian'er! You must forget about me biting your hand, you see our thoughts are the same, that is to say our hearts are connected. So you must be my best friend."

  Ming Xin snatched Xia Xian's hand: "When I was young, I didn't hold Xian's hand. Is it now that I'm finding an opportunity to hold Xian's hand?"

  "You - I didn't mean it, I was just momentarily excited. I didn't think that Xian Rong and I would have the same idea."

  "Please! Xian Ning was just kidding. Don't believe me? Xian Ning, tell Ming De that you were just joking."

  Xia Qian Ning was embarrassed, how could there be such siblings?

  Ling Mu Ye had already poured wine on one side: "You guys came here just to argue? Can't you see such good wine?"

  Mingde handed over a gift to Mus: "Xian'er, I brought it especially for you."

  "Thank you very much."

  "You must eat more."

  "Uh-huh."

  Ling Mu-yao filled each glass one by one: "Come! For our reunion. Cheers!"

  "Clang!" The four crystal glasses collided with a particularly crisp sound, like transparent youth!