A few days later, the banquet was held as scheduled.
After only a few days, Yan Jingxing felt like his waist was about to break from exhaustion - it was just a feeling, because even if his body became a superman, mental fatigue was always unavoidable.
A large amount of unfamiliar knowledge made him, a student whose horizons were once limited to the campus, overwhelmed and extremely busy.
Xie Yuzhi even hired teachers who were responsible for teaching etiquette and how to take care of his appearance to teach him.
Yan Jingxing originally planned to refuse, because he felt that he definitely didn't have the spare time, and it felt like he was rushing to sell the product. But Miss Xie told him that since time was tight, it would be troublesome to come to her home every day, and learning a new thing often required persistence and perseverance——
All things considered, she decided to invite him to stay at her home, and they spent as much time together as possible during this time.
So Yan Jingxing readily agreed.
As for the course, it was also different from what he imagined. Even if you go to a banquet, you don't have to wear a bow tie or suit like adults. That will only look nondescript and leave a negative impression on others. Students are naturally suitable for relaxed and casual dressing.
But the so-called "relaxed and casual" only means that the type of clothes chosen is different from the serious formal wear. This does not mean that there is no emphasis on it. Miss Xie's dress on her day off is the best example.
The two ladies hired by Xie Yuzhi gave Yan Jingxing temporary make-up lessons, and they finally started teaching a few days later.
He stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror and looked at himself in the mirror. He seemed cleaner and more energetic than before.
…
After the preparations are completed, the next step is the critical banquet.
Trivial matters such as setting up the scene and so on can be left to professionals, who will be responsible for supervision. The most important part is the interpersonal communication.
"It's like pretending to be an adult..."
Yan Jingxing expressed such emotion after he made another call to invite guests. He was rubbing his eyebrows tiredly, his face expression was very stiff. This is because when he talks to people in as polite or enthusiastic a tone as possible, he will smile unconsciously - he can't say one thing with another expression yet, and he doesn't want to learn this skill.
"But are we different from adults?"
Xie Yuzhi also just finished making a phone call and put down the phone. A bit of exhaustion could be seen in the expression on the girl's face, but her bright eyes were the only one shining brightly.
"No, we should ask the other way around: Are the thoughts and practices of adults different from those of us children? It is precisely because we personally participated in it this time and did things that adults should do that we have Such doubts.”
"..."
"'It turns out that all this is no big deal, it's just a big play house'... Don't you think so?"
"Maybe it's just like you said, the adults are just playing house."
Yan Jingxing shrugged.
"But 'playing house' would take too long and be too tiring. Children won't have the patience. The most important thing is that the work is not over yet, and we have to attend the banquet..."
*
Time passed by and it was the night of the banquet.
The fountain in front of the door was crowded with all kinds of luxury cars, and the courtyard that originally seemed spacious now seemed cramped.
Outside the window, the night is falling and stars are dotted; inside the floor-to-ceiling windows, in the luxuriously decorated banquet hall, accompanied by the sound of people drinking wine, the aroma of wine overflows from the clinking glasses and floats among the crowd.
The guests at the banquet chatted very restrainedly, and often only the people facing each other could hear the conversation, so it didn't seem noisy at all.
The lighting is just right. The light in the middle is not too bright and dazzling, nor is it so dim that people can't see each other clearly. The light next to the tables and chairs with flower arrangements and red wine on the outer tables is darker, creating a private atmosphere.
Soothing and melodious music sounded in people's ears, and the pianist played music in the adjacent backyard. The music floated gently in the wide and deep banquet hall, and there was an elegant atmosphere everywhere.
It is on such occasions that well-dressed and well-born men and women communicate with each other and do business.
Among this group of people, only Yan Jingxing and Xie Yuzhi seemed a little out of place. Although they were supposed to be the protagonists of this banquet, they sat silently in the corner, each holding a glass and sipping at it. juice.
It was not that there were no young people among the guests present: there were college students and underage children like them, all of whom came with their adults.
They have their own circle, and the atmosphere there seems to be more lively than that of adults; many of them have been known to each other by their family members since they were children. They all go to the same school and play together, and they are even in-laws.
But neither Yan Jingxing nor Xie Yuzhi planned to join in the fun.
In fact, no one will ignore the heroes and heroines of this banquet. There have been people who have been trying to talk to them before. Especially Xie Yuzhi, who was dressed up like a real princess tonight, attracted the attention of many people. .
However, the result of the conversation was that both parties ended the conversation after a few polite and distant exchanges, and all invitations were politely declined.
"Why don't you go talk to someone you know?"
"how about you?"
"I think it's okay to say hello and show politeness. Anyway, we don't have much in common and we are strangers meeting each other for the first time. It would be awkward if we just say polite words to each other."
"me too."
Xie Yuzhi answered softly.
"Although in this class, it is often the case that the adults are in the same circle, and the children will know each other since childhood. But I am undoubtedly a special case, because according to my age, everyone usually chooses to go to the city to study, but I choose to stay In the countryside, I was not in their circle from the beginning, so naturally I have nothing to say... It would be more interesting to accompany you."
"That's it..."
The boys and girls sitting in the corner looked at the people in the hall and whispered.
"There are quite a few people here tonight."
"Well, after all, it is the connections my father has accumulated over the past few decades, and it is his only daughter who has made the engagement. Almost everyone who can be notified has been notified."
Miss Xie's tone seemed to be talking about something that had nothing to do with her, but she quietly put her head on the shoulder of the boy next to her. She relaxed and yawned softly, as if she felt sleepy.
"want to sleep?"
"A bit. Normally I would have planned to rest at this point...but don't worry, I can hold on until the end of the banquet."
Yan Jingxing didn't think there was anything wrong. During the time they lived in Yuzhi's house, they had become accustomed to this level of closeness and tacit understanding.
"Cheer up." He reminded half-jokingly, "The protagonist of this banquet is you, not to mention everything in front of you is also the result of your hard work."
"Why do you say it like it's none of your business..."
Xie Yuzhi raised her pupils slightly and glared at him "viciously" with her eyes moving.
Although it was a look expressing dissatisfaction, the two people's faces were too close. Yan Jingxing felt that the girl's gaze at that moment was so charming - his heart skipped a beat, and even his heart skipped several beats. .
Today, Miss Xie is wearing a princess dress suitable for curvy girls of this age. The sleeveless dress exposes a piece of snowy skin. The dim light above her head covers her flawless white jade-like figure with an ambiguous veil.
He didn't dare to look further, so he turned his eyes.
He originally thought that he was almost getting used to the rose-like elegant fragrance of the eldest lady, but now he was once again uneasy about the scent that was so close. There was a pounding sound in his chest, and he could only breathe hard and deeply. calm.
The quiet atmosphere between the two lasted for a while.
Yan Jingxing suddenly remembered and said in a hesitant tone:
"...In the end, Chunzao still didn't come today?"
"Well, I asked several times, and she only said that she had to study hard alone... But no matter what she said, she wouldn't be able to spare even one night."
"...She told me the same thing. It seems like she..."
Yan Jingxing didn't finish his words, he just sighed softly. He knew that Xie Yuzhi could understand what he meant, and saying it on this occasion would only make people feel embarrassed.
"After the banquet is over, I will go visit her."
He said.
Problems always have to be solved. Chun Zao is his first friend and most important partner - even if he and Yu Zhi become an unmarried couple earlier, this relationship will not change in any way.
"I'll go with you." The eldest lady said softly.
"Um."
The topic ended here, and the two began to observe the situation in the hall silently, enjoying the beautiful music and atmosphere flowing in the air.
After a while, Xie Yuzhi raised his cup towards the center of the hall and signaled to him.
"Do you see that over there?"
"Huh?" Yan Jingxing looked in the direction she indicated, "Uncle Xie?"
"Yes, as soon as he came out, all the important guests gathered over him."
"...Uncle Xie told you that he would only be an ordinary guest at the banquet, but just by standing there, he would make people take the initiative to talk."
"Yes," Xie Yuzhi murmured in a low voice, "I see, it turns out there is this reason. As long as he is here, everyone will only regard dad as the host. I was originally worried that someone would need us to entertain. ."
"Huh? So——"
Yan Jingxing suddenly realized.
"——So, I guess dad just wants to be lazy for a while."
Xie Yuzhi seemed a little bit dumbfounded.
"……It really is."
"Let me just say that? There is actually no difference between adults and children. They are just as willful as they want."
While he was talking, Yan Jingxing saw Xie Jianye waving towards him with a smile, gesturing for the two of them to hurry over.
The boy and girl looked at each other and had no choice but to get up.
And at this moment——
He heard the roar of an engine approaching quickly from the distance. A car was speeding across the road and heading towards the courtyard.
"Hey, what a big noise...a sports car?"
"It's a late guest. Don't worry, let's go first."
Xie Yuzhi raised her hand gracefully and invited him. Yan Jingxing didn't hesitate and immediately grabbed the soft and gentle hand.
The two walked hand in hand to the center of the hall, which was shrouded in gorgeous lights.
…
A few minutes later, there was a "bang!" and the door was knocked open.
The voice was loud and rough, like a sharp steel knife, cutting through the atmosphere in the hall.
More than one guest was attracted by the noise. They turned their surprised eyes to the door and saw a woman striding into the hall.
(End of chapter)
