I hadn’t mentioned anything to Lin Yusen about attending the banquet.
It would be more fun to surprise him.
The birthday banquet was being held at a club by the Huangpu River. Uncle had originally planned to leave Nanjing in the afternoon and go directly there, but because of troublesome me, he had to leave much earlier, arriving in Shanghai around two o’clock.
Aunt Huang was already waiting for us in the hotel lobby.
Mom also has some properties in Shanghai, and Aunt Huang has been helping her manage various affairs. This time she also arranged makeup artists and stylists for me.
This was one reason I didn’t like going to such occasions before – it’s especially troublesome, taking half a day just to get ready from head to toe. But if I was going to appear before Mr. Lin at the banquet, I had to be properly dressed up. Mr. Lin always looks so proper, I can’t look too shabby in comparison.
I wonder what Lin Yusen looks like at these banquets… though he’s always well-dressed, he must be even more particular at formal occasions.
Among all the males I know, he’s probably the most particular about his appearance
While the makeup artist was carefully working on my face, I noticed it was about time and sent Lin Yusen a message: “Have you landed? What time are you going to the banquet tonight?”
No reply.
“Where are you? Still haven’t landed?”
After several minutes still with no reply, I couldn’t help but check his flight status.
Sure enough, it was delayed – estimated to land after five o’clock.
Will he have enough time to get properly dressed up?==
Between makeup and hair styling, time flew by quickly. At five-thirty, Lin Yusen called.
“I just landed, the flight was delayed.”
“Oh, ~~~ Aren’t you attending the banquet? Will you make it?”
“I’ll go directly from the airport, should be fine. Are you in Suzhou yet?”
It takes about an hour from Pudong Airport to the banquet venue, so he should arrive around the same time as me. While calculating the time, I casually deflected: “No, I’m still in the car.”
“When will you arrive? Do you have a lot of luggage? Should I ask Senior Fang to pick you up?”
You’re too casual about ordering Fang-senior around!
Worried that continuing the conversation would give me away, I brushed him off quickly, “No need, I don’t have much stuff. I’m almost there, got to go, enjoy the banquet, bye bye bye.”
I hung up quickly.
The stylist was waiting with the few cocktail dresses I’d hastily bought yesterday. Seeing me end the call, she smiled and said, “These cocktail dresses are all very nice. How about this goose-yellow long dress? The color is perfect – fresh and bright without being too much.”
I liked this one best too, but after trying it on and looking in the mirror, I hesitated. Wouldn’t yellow be too eye-catching? After all, I wanted to surprise Mr. Lin, not be spotted the moment I walked in.
After much deliberation, I painfully gave it up: “Let’s go with the black one.”
Sigh~~~ Being this indecisive, I must have been infected by Mr. Lin – isn’t this typical Lin-style behavior, like changing ties multiple times?
After changing again, the stylist made some small adjustments to my hairstyle to match the dress, and then I left with my uncle.
The cocktail reception started at seven, with the formal dinner beginning at eight. We didn’t hit traffic on the way and arrived just after seven, thinking it would be early enough that there wouldn’t be many people yet. But when we got to the entrance, cars were so backed up we couldn’t even get in.
Uncle remarked: “Sheng Yuan has made it big these past few years, look at all these people.”
After being stuck for almost ten minutes, we finally got through. As soon as we got out of the car at the entrance hall, a middle-aged man quickly approached, greeting my uncle with a broad smile.
“Old Jiang.”
Uncle seemed quite familiar with him, immediately teasing: “Oh my, even the great Director Zhang is working as a greeter today?”
Director Zhang patted his shoulder, joking: “It’s the old master’s celebration, it’s my honor to serve as a greeter. Besides, with Chairman Jiang here, how could I not attend to you personally? And who is this?”
An uncle introduced me: “My niece, Nie Xiguang. Xiguang, just call him Uncle Zhang.”
I pulled back my gaze that had been unconsciously scanning the crowd and smiled politely at him, “Uncle Zhang.”
Director Zhang looked at me thoughtfully: “Is this Chairman Nie’s daughter?”
Uncle chuckled, and Director Zhang quickly changed the subject, making a welcoming gesture and leading us inside.
The cocktail reception outside the banquet hall was already very lively.
Uncle kept exchanging greetings as we walked, inevitably introducing me over and over. Most times I only needed to nod and smile, but there were a few overly enthusiastic aunties who grabbed my hand directly, beaming as they praised me from head to toe: “Oh my, so this is Cheng Yuan’s daughter! This is my first time meeting you, you’re so beautiful, why don’t you come out more often?”
I continued smiling, acting reserved.
Uncle answered for me: “She’s been focused on her studies, and just started working.”
“Where did you study, overseas?”
“She studied here in China, and got in on her merit.” Uncle mentioned my university, and the auntie praised me some more, asking how long I’d be staying in Shanghai, suggesting her son who had just returned from studying abroad could show me around.
Uncle laughed it off saying: “She’s leaving early tomorrow morning, let’s chat later, we should go greet the hosts.”
As he quickly led me away, he added, “Her son is a notorious playboy.” He mentioned a name and warned me seriously, “That’s his name, if you ever run into him in the future, stay far away.”
Then he added angrily, “How dare she suggest her son, not afraid of ruining other people’s daughters. We’ll need to be more careful doing business with her in the future, she might try to pass off inferior products as good ones.”
I suppressed my laughter and consoled him: “At least now you know what kind of person she is.”
Uncle nodded in strong agreement.
Uncle took me to greet the Sheng family. The Sheng family seemed quite prosperous – besides Sheng Bokai whom I’d heard about from Dad, there were Sheng Zhongkai, Sheng Shukai, and others. I just followed Uncle’s lead on how to address everyone.
Sheng Bokai was a slightly chubby middle-aged man who spoke cheerfully: “Old Nie isn’t being fair, my son has met him many times, but he’s been hiding his daughter.”
Uncle laughed it off: “Xiguang has been studying in Nanjing, and doesn’t go out much.”
“Not many young people these days can focus so well,” his wife smiled at me and said, “My Xingjie is about your age, he’s quite reserved too. I’ll introduce you to young people later.”
…Sheng Xingjie?
Isn’t that Rong Rong’s boss?
As I half-listened to their polite exchange, I gradually became distracted, my eyes unconsciously searching the crowd. Where was Lin Yusen? Was he stuck in traffic?
Just then, there was some movement at the entrance. My heart jumped, and I quickly turned to look – sure enough, Lin Yusen had arrived.
Perhaps because he’d just been on a long flight, he looked slightly tired, completely different from his usually energetic appearance, yet there was a certain handsome charm to his weariness. He was detained at the entrance by enthusiastic guests, standing sideways to me with a polite smile on his face.
I watched him from afar.
Sometimes I feel that Lin Yusen seems different when he’s with me versus when he’s alone. Maybe it’s his too-straight posture, but he always gives off this feeling of being gentle yet somehow unapproachable.
Hmm… I can’t describe it well.
Like right now, if this was my first time seeing him at the banquet, even though his presence would immediately catch my eye, I probably wouldn’t have the courage to try to meet him.
So…
No wonder he stayed single for so long!
I couldn’t help but want to laugh again.
“Xiguang, what are you looking at?”
Hearing Uncle’s question, I turned around to find Mr. and Mrs. Sheng Bokai also looking at Lin Yusen with complex expressions. Noticing my gaze, they turned back with a smile, exchanged pleasantries, and went to attend to other guests.
I tugged at Uncle’s sleeve.
“Uncle, I’m looking at him.” I pointed at Lin Yusen, “Do you know who he is?”
Uncle looked over and surprisingly did know: “Met him once, he’s the old Master Sheng’s grandson.”
The world is really small, but that’s perfect!
“Could you introduce me to him?”
Uncle was startled, looking at me in shock: “What… what are you trying to do?”
I said seriously: “Nothing, just that he’s handsome, and I want him to be my boyfriend.”
I nodded and added, “Don’t you remember? Mom told me to find one, and I think he’s quite good, I feel a connection.”
Uncle was completely flustered.
I tried hard to suppress my laughter while looking at him with utmost seriousness.
Uncle looked around and lowered his voice: “Your mom told you to find someone, but you can’t just grab anyone you see!”
I argued: “How is this just anyone? Look, we know his background and family, he’s handsome, and he looks like he has good character.”
I was about to burst out laughing as I pulled my dazed uncle toward Lin Yusen. Uncle had a “where am I and what am I doing” expression, not even thinking to resist. Just then, we saw an elderly man in a Zhongshan suit appear, supported by a young man.
Uncle quickly pulled me back, greatly relieved, “Wait, wait, Old Master Sheng is here.”