“? Dive into the exciting bio of the hot, New novel! New drama awaits! ? #MustRead”
Chapter 16: A Message
The bar party with thirty or forty people was exceptionally lively. The unique artistic cave style, combined with multi-angle lighting, created a luxurious and special atmosphere. Guan Xi walked over and sat beside Lang Ningyi, watching her and Wei Xiuyang fiercely arguing over some bet. The surroundings were noisy, filled with laughter, music, and playful chatter. However, Guan Xi felt like her whole being was empty, and her heartbeats had an irregular rhythm.
“You two are of the same kind. Birds of a feather flock together.”
Mutual affection.
What did Wei Zihan know?
It couldn’t be, right?
Maybe she was just being too sensitive, thinking too much. Wei Zihan had always been at odds with her since childhood, saying things to annoy her was normal.
“Guan Xi, Guan Xi? Hey, what are you thinking about? Look, someone’s here.” Lang Ningyi patted her hand.
Guan Xi followed her gaze and saw Jiang Suizhou, who had previously claimed to be too busy to come, appearing. He came with Song Li.
At the moment, the two of them seemed to be in the middle of a conversation. Song Li had her arm around Jiang Suizhou’s shoulder. Jiang Suizhou stood with his hands in his pockets, a slight smile on his face.
I don’t know if she sensed that people here were talking about her, but Guan Xi’s gaze suddenly looked over. Amidst the coming and going of people, their eyes collided like this. Her gaze was deep and steady, with a faint, unrestrained smile that she hadn’t had time to suppress. Guan Xi was probably uneasy, considering her expression; her heart inexplicably skipped a beat, and she awkwardly withdrew her gaze from the stares.
“Shall we play a game? Loser drinks, what do you think?” After a while, someone suggested.
The bar atmosphere was thick, and the party atmosphere quickly veered towards dancing and excitement.
“Sure, sure, what game should we play?”
“Let’s play dice and guess the number, loser drinks.”
“Is it that simple?”
“The quantity of drinks will accumulate, are you sure it’s simple?”
“Damn! That’s more like it, come on, let’s start.”
…
“So lively, we want to join too.” Just then, two more people joined their group.
Wei Zihan pulled Guan Ying to sit down.
The people here were close to Guan Xi, usually treating her well. So, when they saw the sudden appearance of Guan Xi’s sister and the cousin she usually didn’t get along with, for a moment, no one dared to speak. All eyes turned to Guan Xi, waiting for her reaction.
Guan Xi was surprised to see Wei Zihan, but the suspicions she had before were pulled from her mind. The matter was highly confidential, and she believed Wei Zihan couldn’t possibly know.
“Can you drink?” Guan Xi spoke, but the words were directed at Guan Ying. Because in Guan Xi’s impression, she had a strong good-girl image and seemed like someone who couldn’t handle alcohol.
Guan Ying nodded at the question. “It’s okay, I can handle a bit.”
“If you can’t drink, I can drink for you,” Wei Zihan took over, addressing everyone present. “Guan Ying just arrived, so everyone should take good care of her.”
People were very curious about Guan Ying, as her recent appearance had become a hot topic in their private social circles. However, when they heard these protective words from Wei Zihan rather than from Guan Xi, her own sister, it seemed a bit strange. As if… the relationship between the two sisters from the Guan family wasn’t good.
Guan Xi coldly scoffed, feeling the urge to roll her eyes.
She didn’t know what tricks Wei Zihan was up to, so she just gave a meaningful look to Lang Ningyi and Zhong Lingfan, signaling, “If she wants to join, make sure she ends up lying down outside.” Then she said, “Since that’s the case, let’s begin.”
The game is the guessing number game often played in bars and KTVs. Guan Xi is very familiar with this game and hasn’t been caught in the trap after playing several rounds. However, things aren’t going as smoothly for Guan Ying on the other side; perhaps she hasn’t figured out the game yet, and she’s losing quite miserably.
Wei Zihan is true to his word and has indeed helped Guan Ying consume quite a bit of alcohol. Another round, and the number of glasses on the table increases to seven. Unfortunately, Guan Ying loses this round again. Wei Zihan’s face darkens; perhaps she didn’t expect her to lose so dramatically.
“I’ll handle this one myself.” Guan Ying glances at Wei Zihan, feeling embarrassed, and reaches for a glass.
While Guan Xi wants to deal with Wei Zihan, she doesn’t intend to be harsh on Guan Ying. Seeing her about to continue drinking after finishing one glass, Guan Xi stands up abruptly, “Tsk… forget it, it’s boring to keep winning. Let’s stop here and not play anymore.”
Guan Xi’s sudden ending is surprising, but as the rich young lady who always does things her way, everyone is used to it. Seeing her not playing, they start organizing the next round themselves.
Unexpectedly, Wei Zihan suddenly stands up and stops Guan Xi, “Hey, are you leaving just like that?”
She staggers a bit, obviously a bit tipsy.
Guan Xi crosses her arms, mocking, “What, are you unhappy because I didn’t let you lie down and leave?”
Wei Zihan says, “How do you know we won’t keep playing!”
“I can tell,” Guan Xi lazily says, “You won’t win against me in this game anyway.”
“Oh?” Wei Zihan stares at her, and her eyes look dark due to dissatisfaction and resentment.
Guan Xi calmly accepts her gaze attack, without the intention to continue battling like a drunkard. She turns around to leave.
Wei Zihan calls out, “Guan Xi!”
Ding—
Buzz—
With Wei Zihan’s intoxicated voice, almost coincidentally, the phones of everyone in the bar—inside bags, on tables, in pockets, palms—almost simultaneously receive a notification.
They’ve received a message from an unknown number.
Someone absentmindedly opens the message, their lazy gaze suddenly sharpens. A few seconds later, they look in shock at the glamorous woman standing not far away from the private room. One person, two people… more people check their phones, all looking at the protagonist mentioned in the message with surprise.
“Ling Fan, I’ll go first…” Guan Xi turns around, intending to inform her that she’s leaving, only to find Zhong Lingfan staring at her.
No, it’s not just her; everyone in the private room is looking at her.
Guan Xi: “What’s wrong?”
Lang Ningyi’s face looks extremely unpleasant as she walks over and pulls Guan Xi’s hand, “Xi Xi, I, I’ll leave with you.”
Guan Xi is puzzled, “Didn’t you say you won’t return until you’re drunk tonight? I don’t think you’re drunk yet…”
Before she could finish her sentence, Guan Xi hears Wei Zihan, with a surprised expression, shaking her phone in front of her, “Guan Xi, what’s going on? Aren’t you going to clarify things with everyone?”
What’s going on?
Guan Xi is stunned.
Lang Ningyi lowers her voice, “I just received a long image, about you…”
As if everything suddenly has a premonition, Guan Xi stands still, not moving.
“Give it to me.”
“Xi Xi…”
“Show me.”
Lang Ningyi frowns but can’t resist her. She reluctantly hands her phone to Guan Xi. It’s a long image, and surprisingly, it depicts the details of when she was adopted by the Guan family when she was young! Adoption procedures, signatures, the appearance of the orphanage, textual explanations… everything about how Guan Xinghao once adopted Guan Xi is vividly clear in the image.
In a glance, Guan Xi lowered her eyes and felt a slow, chilling sensation rising from the soles of her feet, entwining her gradually, eventually enveloping her entirely.
Mass message.
Does everyone know?
Guan Xi looked at Wei Zihan, the latter raised his eyebrows, shrugged, indicating that she knew nothing. Guan Xi’s gaze slowly moved to the faces of others. Everyone was looking at her; Guan Ying was in a daze, Zhong Lingfan was stunned, Wei Xiuyang was shocked… The expressions of everyone varied, seemingly bewildered by this gossip.
Guan Xi handed her phone to Lang Ningyi, her face devoid of any expression.
Without giving Wei Zihan a chance to stop her again, she turned and headed towards the exit of the bar. But just as she turned around, she saw Jiang Suizhou. He was standing about two meters away from her, the light above his head shimmering through his pupils, too bright to discern his expression.
Guan Xi’s heart skipped a beat, for some reason, a crumbling castle collapsed completely at the moment she saw Jiang Suizhou.
“…”
She suddenly wondered, what would he say?
Is he calculating in his mind that it’s time to break up and dissolve the engagement?
Certainly…
Guan Xi glanced at him, suppressed the turmoil in her heart, and immediately walked away.
“Guan Xi!” Wei Xiuyang abruptly stood up, wanting to chase after her.
But he was firmly held back: “What are you doing, where are you going!” Wei Zihan glared at him.
Wei Xiuyang gritted his teeth: “Let go.”
“Wei Xiuyang, are you my brother or her brother? At a time like this, you’re still siding with her?” Wei Zihan looked at him.
Wei Xiuyang looked at Wei Zihan: “What are you up to?! I didn’t send that thing! But, in the end, isn’t it the truth! Look, Guan Xi didn’t deny it just now.”
“What does it matter to me whether it’s true or not! Even if it’s true, so what!” Wei Xiuyang shook off her hand grabbing his clothes. “Even if it’s true, she’s still she!”
**
The world outside the bar was a completely different world. Guan Xi walked to her car, opened the door, silent for two seconds, then fiercely kicked the car door.
Well, well done, giving her such a set…
“The car is your car; kicking this hurts your own interests.”
A familiar voice came from behind. Guan Xi’s heart tightened suddenly, and she was about to sit in. But she was pulled by someone. Jiang Suizhou effortlessly pulled her out of the driver’s seat and sat in himself.
At this moment, the person she least wanted to see was him. Annoyed and ashamed, she snapped, “What are you doing!”
Jiang Suizhou gestured to the passenger seat: “Don’t want people to come out and watch the excitement, get in.”
Guan Xi was speechless, paused for two seconds, and saw Wei Xiuyang coming out of the bar entrance from a distance. At this moment, she didn’t want to explain anything or face these people, so she immediately walked around to the passenger seat and sat in.
“Drive.” Guan Xi looked out the window, her tone cold and abrupt.
Jiang Suizhou glanced at her, stepped on the gas. The car sped along the road, with towering buildings rapidly retreating on both sides. Neon lights blurred into parallel lines as if in a movie-like haze.
Guan Xi sat in the passenger seat, her back stiff and straight. The car was silent, and her heart sank.
Leave a Reply