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墨書 Inktalez
"Xu Wen, you know, we need to set up the venue for a few experts coming to give lectures at our institute." Qinglan glanced at Xu Wen and winked, providing cover.
"Oh, I see. When Qinglan called me, I was at the venue and even saw Shen Xiaomeng busy there."
"Yes, she was probably too busy with so many people around that she didn't hear her phone. As for Xu Wen, he is the best at slacking off; he must have been sneaking away to relax at one side of the venue, which is why he heard my call," Qinglan teased Xu Wen, actually trying to smooth things over for Hao Chuanze.
Soon, the dishes were served. Qinglan stood up first and reintroduced all her friends one by one, especially giving a special and enthusiastic introduction to Xiang Yuanqiu and Wang Wei.
This special enthusiasm from Qinglan was sincere.
Holding her wine glass, she hadn't drunk yet but felt slightly tipsy.
She was genuinely moved by their respect in coming all the way to Beijing to visit her.
She thought of An Shaojie and wondered how many promises they had made that he had not kept. Did he still remember those promises? Where was he now, and who was he with? Was he lonely? Here she was, surrounded by joy and laughter,
with clinking glasses and flowing wine, yet her heart felt desolate.
After Qinglan finished her introductions, Hao Chuanze stood up again to introduce his relationship with Yao Mengni in depth. Although some people present already knew about his relationship with Mengni and even the story of their unexpected encounter, there were still a few unfamiliar faces among the guests. As the host, he naturally took the opportunity to elaborate on the magical fate of meeting an old friend in a foreign land.
Once Hao Chuanze finished his introduction, Xu Wen would not hold back. He stood up and poured himself a few more drinks.
Since Qinglan was separated by Lin Xi, she couldn't check on him directly. Fortunately, Lin Xi, being Qinglan's good friend and confidant, frequently reminded and looked after Xu Wen nearby.
"Xu Wen, drink less," she said when she noticed his emotions were getting a bit out of control. She took away her wine glass to prevent Simple from continuing to stir things up.
He was someone who rarely lost control of his emotions; this was known not only by Qinglan but also by Lin Xi, who had only interacted with him a few times. His aloof and elegant demeanor showcased his calm and stable character.
"Hey, there's a special smell in the air tonight," Simple said, pretending to sniff around her.
The others didn't quite catch her meaning at first. "Hmm, what smell? I don't smell anything," Qinglan replied, also sniffing.
"Probably the smell of food, wafting through the air," Hao Chuanze explained logically and scientifically.
"No, it's not the smell of food; it's a strong, ambiguous scent, the kind that just started to sprout," Simple said, resuming her usual gossiping nature after a brief silence.
Simple's words were vague, and since everyone had been drinking a bit, it seemed like each person had someone they were secretly interested in, their eyes filled with a dreamy allure.
So when they heard Simple's words, they all blushed with embarrassment.
As for Yao Mengni, she was different. She came to Beijing for Hao Chuanze, openly and without any reservations. She had no qualms about others discussing her relationship with Hao Chuanze. So when she heard Simple's words, like everyone else, her face flushed as well, but there was no hint of guilt or shyness. Instead, her large, affectionate eyes boldly focused on Hao Chuanze's handsome and refined features.
Hao Chuanze, on the other hand, was so captivated by her radiant gaze that he dared not look up and kept his head down to eat.
The more he avoided her gaze, like an innocent boy untouched by love, the more she fixed her eyes on him and grew fonder of him.
"Brother Zhe is still as easy to blush as he was when we were kids. Just a little alcohol and someone’s words can make you turn red," Yao Mengni whispered softly into Hao Chuanze's ear.
Her warm breath mixed with a faint fragrance lightly brushed against his neck and the back of his ear, like a delicate feather sweeping across his sensitive skin. It tickled him and made him tremble all over; the skin from his ears to his neck turned as red as his face.
Seeing this reaction made Yao Mengni even happier. She lowered her head and stirred the soup in her bowl with a spoon while her smile blossomed like a vibrant flower.
As a child, she loved coming up with various ways to tease him until his face turned as red as Guan Yu's. Only then would she stop.
Yao Mengni lowered her head and stole a smile, feeling relaxed and at ease.
In contrast, Hao Chuanze felt like he was sitting on a bed of needles, his muscles tense and not daring to relax at all. This was because, in their childhood, Mengni not only loved to tease him but was also quite good at playing pranks that made him look foolish. Being with her meant he had to be on guard at all times, as she could bring him unexpected surprises at any moment.
In this world, everything has its counterpart.
As for Hao Chuanze's personality, he really disliked girls who loved to play tricks on others, even finding them somewhat annoying. This was one of the reasons he had never dated anyone before meeting Shen Xiaomeng.
He believed that many girls nowadays were too rough and too forward, lacking any modesty.
He preferred ladies.
He thought girls should be gentle and quiet, delicate and soft-spoken, like Shen Xiaomeng, whose voice could soften a man’s heart and instantly evoke a protective instinct in him.
However, Yao Mengni was the complete opposite of the type he liked. She was independent, passionate, generous, and opinionated—completely capable of taking care of herself without needing a man's protection.
Yet, despite being the kind of girl he didn't like, Hao Chuanze often found himself softened by her unintentional gestures—a wave of her hand, a tilt of her head, a charming smile, or a light-hearted word. He didn’t feel even a hint of the annoyance he had towards girls like her; instead, he enjoyed her various antics and stubbornness in front of him. When alone, thinking of her quick wit and quirky actions would often bring a knowing smile to his face.
This Mengni was still just as mischievous as she was in childhood… not changed at all.
If Yao Mengni felt embarrassed by Simple's words and knew it well enough not to mind being seen by others, then Lin Xi's embarrassment was somewhat inexplicable and shy about being seen by others—especially afraid of being seen by Qinglan. It wasn't the first time she had interacted with Xu Wen nor had she never seen handsome guys before. Lu Chenyu was also a heartthrob among people; why was she unable to control herself sitting next to Xu Wen tonight? Before hearing Simple's words, she felt guilty and flushed as if those words were meant just for her. It felt like everyone's eyes were on her, as if they could see through her inner guilt. She felt as if she were pricked by thorns all over her body, standing under the spotlight with flustered hands and feet and an uneven heartbeat.
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