Chapter 58 The Charity Gala (2/2)
Now that Zhou Xiao was already walking over to their table, A Miao had no choice but to join her. Ji Xue sneered at her before turning her head away, acting as if she hadn't seen her.
”So you grew up with A Miao!” Bai Lu and Zhou Xiao were already chattering like a pair of old friends. Zhou Xiao babbled on, telling everything to Bai Lu.
A Miao pushed the plate of cake to Zhou Xiao with a frown. ”Stop chatting. You can't let the ice cream cake sit.”
”Oh, right, right, right!” Zhou Xiao picked up a fork. ”We'll eat first!” She had ordered the most expensive cake, after all.
Suddenly, Ji Xue nudged Bai Lu with a smile. ”Don't you girls have a charity gala tomorrow night? Why don't you invite them?”
”Sounds good!”
A Miao's refusal was stuck in her throat. She secretly kicked Zhou Xiao.
”We have something planned for tomorrow night. Isn't that right?”
Zhou Xiao's eyes turned round. ”What plans? They're inviting us! It'd be so rude if we turn them down.”
”That's right!” Bai Lu looked especially overjoyed. ”Come with us, A Miao. We're all young ladies of the same circle. We're of a similar age too. I'll introduce more friends to you.”
A Miao shook her head. ”I really have something planned for tomorrow. I'll take a rain check.”
”Is that so...” Bai Lu lowered her head, finding it to be a pity. She seemed to have recalled something and fished out a pink invitation card out of her bag. ”Here. I'll give you the invitation card. You can come over and play in case you're done with your business.”
Ji Xue wore a contemptuous look. ”Remember it's an auction. You need to bring something in.”
”Then that's all the more reason for me not to go.” A Miao looked at Zhou Xiao. Seeing the disappointment on her friend's face, she added, ”I don't have anything worthy of being auctioned off.”
Bai Lu gave Ji Xue a playful glare. ”Don't listen to Xiaoxue's nonsense. The heads of families would typically be the ones responsible for putting up items for auction in an event like this. It's not our place to do so, so it doesn't matter if you don't have any!”
”Then let's take a look!” Zhou Xiao tugged on the hem of A Miao's shirt.
A Miao nodded helplessly. ”Let's see how it goes...”
After leaving the store, Zhou Xiao began prattling as soon as they entered the car.
”A Miao, I want to go to the gala! I've never been to one!”
A Miao sighed. ”Do you think it's some sort of fun event? Those wealthy people all have their eyes fixed atop their heads. What will you do if someone bullies you?”
”You're also a wealthy person!” Zhou Xiao looked at her. ”Who in City S dares to bully you now?”
A Miao was rendered speechless by her friend's logic. It was Shen I who interrupted their conversation to say, ”That's right! Go ahead and have fun!”
”See!” Zhou Xiao grabbed A Miao's arm. ”Let's go! Let's go!”
A Miao made a last attempt to stop her friend. ”How can we go when we don't have evening wear?”
”Don't you have any?” Zhou Xiao was in disbelief. ”You can just lend me some.”
”I don't have such things...”
Zhou Xiao harassed A Miao so badly that the latter had no choice but to agree. She mulled over it before asking Shen I, ”Do you know where we could rent evening wear?”
The weekend. Under the glorious lights of the cruise ship by the sea.
”How beautiful!” Zhou Xiao stood next to A Miao. She was very pleased with the red evening dress that she was wearing.
A Miao heaved a sigh. ”Let's go in.”
”Don't be like this,” Zhou Xiao couldn't help saying after seeing her expression. ”Look at how plain your dress in. I might not be able to find you when we get in later.”
Truth to be told, A Miao was beautifully dressed today. Her pale grey dress reached her ankle and the lower half of the dress was decorated in layers of gauze that would lift delicately with her every move. The upper half of the dress had no superfluous decorations, only simple sleeves that covered half of her arms.
”You refused when I told you to choose some jewelry. Look how you fade into the background now.” Zhou Xiao was still complaining. A Miao casually smoothened the long hair that cascaded down her back.
”Stop complaining about me. You better stay put later and follow me closely. Do you hear me?”
Zhou Xiao curled her lips. ”I know, I know.”
The ship was already filled with guests, none of whom they both knew. Thus, they stayed in a corner.
”Try this, A Miao!” Zhou Xiao took two glasses of pretty-looking beverages from a waiter.
A Miao gave the drink a sniff. ”Don't drink too much of it. It's alcoholic.”
”Tsk. Can fruit wine be considered alcoholic?” Zhou Xiao disregarded her warning.
”A Miao!” Bai Lu rushed over to them. ”This is great! I thought you wouldn't be coming!”
The woman in front of them was wearing a tailored white qipao. Her hair was piled high atop her head and her only decoration was a butterfly-shaped jade hairpin. Once again, A Miao secretly sighed with emotion.
Bai Youran's younger sister was indeed a woman who was very difficult to deal with. Not only was she good at adorning herself, but she was even more adept at packaging herself.
”Come, let's go over there. I'll introduce you to my friends!” Bai Lu reached out to pull on A Miao's hand. A Miao wanted to throw off her hand but Zhou Xiao gave her a push forward.
Thus, A Miao allowed herself to be helplessly dragged by Bai Lu to a group of women. The moment she raised her head, she froze.
”A Miao... Isn't that your fiance?” Zhou Xiao asked quietly.
That man was simply too eye-catching. He could capture everyone's attention just by standing in place. She looked at Shen Xinglan who stood not far from her. He was also looking at her, with emotion swiftly flitting across his pupils. Evidently, he was astonished.
However... He wasn't alone. Standing next to him was a beautiful woman who was smiling bashfully at him.