Su Qingtang's birthday soon rolled around quickly. Su Qingtang stared into the mirror as her mother, Jiang Shu, gently brushed her hair. Yes. Mother. No one but a mother would stare at her daughter with so much love in her eyes. Su Qingtang silently lit a candle for the original. All the love and care that she would have gotten if only she had… Sigh.
"You look beautiful today, Qing-er." Jiang Shu said, her voice choked with emotion. She touched her daughter's soft hair before she started gently curling it. "You've grown up really nicely, haven't you."
Su Qingtang smiled, she curled her hands into her lap awkwardly. No matter how much she acted she wasn't the original after all. Who wouldn't feel awkward if someone gave you a compliment that wasn't meant for you? Pretty awkward and guilty like you stole something from someone.
Jiang Shu noted her expression and smiled, chalking it up to nervousness. "It's your big day today isn't it? You'll be up and out there, an official socialite after today."
The Su family was a reserved family. They weren't as prominent as the Lu family, while not a rich second generation family that many of the upper class looked down upon. They didn't attend many banquets or host many themselves, but they were quite respected and known for their upright characters.
There was no infighting like most large families, and the children were well-behaved and didn't cause too much of a stir. So not many people knew them well. It was really tranquil.
As a child, Su Qingtang wasn't taken to these gatherings and didn't truly understand how these gatherings worked. She was just an innocent girl who liked to read 'Overbearing CEO loves me' type books and hang out with her friends, she wasn't prepared for the cut-throat competition in women's circles. Her family was calm, so unlike most girls of her status and age she didn't need to scheme to get what she wanted. She didn't know how to scheme and so fell headfirst into plots at the hands of others.
Her personality was naïve to a fault. While Su Qingtang admired her, she loathed her stupidity. Being blindly trusting will leave you in a ditch, alone and betrayed. Su Qingtang admired the fact that she could stay so naïve in such a cruel world, but still felt that her sad end was no one's fault but her own.
With her hair finished Su Qingtang stands to her feet. Admiring the work Jiang Shu had put into her outfit she smiles brightly. Giving Jiang Shu a thumbs up inwardly.
"Truly worthy of being a top designer, ah. Really makes one envious." The system commented before going back to attend to eating its melon seeds. It was a manly system. Why would it pay attention on how females got ready?
When she was finished she turned to hold Jiang Shu's hand, allowing her to lead her to the already bustling party.
Su Qingtang's eyes roamed the entire building taking in all the sights. The guests looked at her, equally curious about this Young Miss Su.
The area was decorated beautifully, yet it was not overdone. It had a quite simplistic charm which created a nice ambiance. No one here would bat an eyelid at lavishness, they all could afford to be lavish living too so who would you be showing off to? That would provoke the ire of the guests instead of their appreciation.
The guests watched the young lady come down the stairs, led by Madam Shu. She had an oval face with nice looking skin, she didn't seem gaudy, with lots of makeup and had instead only applied light makeup. She was dressed in a blue dress making her seem like a fairy, but it was still not too overdone. This was a birthday party not a banquet. This wasn't some crazy novel that those young girls tend to read nowadays.
Overall, she had managed to leave a good first impression.
Seeing his daughter, Father Su politely paused his socializing and went to receive his daughter. His face beaming all the way.
"Here is my lovely daughter Su Qingtang." He introduced her to the guests. It was nothing more than a formality though. Anyone with a brain had already guessed this far. "Father wishes you a happy birthday."
"Thank you, father." Su Qingtang smiles widely at her father before addressing the crowd. "Many thanks for everyone for coming to celebrate my birthday with me. It really means a lot to see you all.
The crowd claps. Expressing their happy birthdays as a group before they all came up one after another, offering their individual well wishes and gifts.
These well wishes, while accepted by Su Qingtang with a great politeness and happiness, didn't really touch her. These gifts weren't really for her after all. These people might not have even bought these items themselves. This was just their way of giving the Su family face.
"Happy Birthday Big Sis."
Su Qingtang looks up to see her younger brother beaming at her. He smiles a bit bashfully as he hands her a present.
Unlike the other gifts Su Qingtang opens this one immediately, making Su Rui smile even wider. His sister seemed to really care about what he got her.
Out of the box came a bracelet. It looked glassy and was well-carved and beautiful. Su Qingtang wasn't a jade expert but feeling the weight and the shocked looks of some of the guests she could imagine how costly it must be.
Seeing Su Rui looking at her in silent anticipation she becons him over to help her place it on her wrist. He smiles elatedly and does so.
Su Qingtang laughed seeing his look. He looked like a puppy who had successfully pleased their master. "Its really beautiful. I love it."
The sibling smiled at each other. No words were needed to be said but the atmosphere was very warm.