"Why am I looking for him? He's not here either."
"I just want to remind you that when people encounter difficulties, the first person they look for must be significant to them, especially when it's a man and a woman." Lin Zhaonan hinted.
"You're overthinking it," Lin Gantang asked.
Lin Zhaonan remained non-committal. He saw a group of men and women gathered together and gestured for her to look over. "It seems like they are your old friends. Do you want to join them? It's still early. I'll come to find you later."
The scenery at Qinghe Manor was quite beautiful. Jiang Tongtong had never been here before, so Lin Zhaonan showed her around.
Lin Gantang was uninterested in those friends. She took her champagne and went upstairs.
The balcony on the second floor offered a wide view. She could see the crabapple and cornflower in front of the building. Not far away, there was a lake. When the villa was constructed, the lake's water was used for landscaping, and a fishing platform was built. At this moment, someone was fishing there.
Lin Gantang had drunk half of her champagne. The light breeze hooked her hair, and she looked very comfortable.
Her appearance today was simple. Her previously long, black, straight hair was now cut short and curled. She adorned it with a pearl hairpin on the left side and wore a pearl necklace that her mother had loved. Other than that, she had no other accessories.
The black gown complemented her fair skin, making her look radiant.
Someone called her name from below, and Lin Gantang casually looked down. Her composed expression surprisingly caught everyone's attention.
"Wow, is that Lin Gantang? She's becoming even more beautiful." Le Yu exclaimed in amazement.
The person beside him nudged him with his elbow and teased, "What's the use of being beautiful? Can you handle her temper?"
Upon spotting Lin Gantang, Zhang Rongqing's expression flickered. She called out to her friend beside her, "Why don't we go up and chat with Gantang?"
Someone immediately agreed.
"Hey, Gantang." Zhang Rongqing greeted her warmly as soon as she came up. She held her arm affectionately and said, "Why are you here alone? I didn't expect you to come to Yin Zhen's birthday party. Otherwise, I would have come to find you earlier."
With the motion of setting down the wine glass, Lin Gantang pulled her arm back. "Did you buy the skincare products I asked you to bring?"
Zhang Rongqing hesitated for a moment, thinking that it was just a few thousand, and she could still get it back by making Lin Gantang happy. So she smiled and replied, "Yes, I bought them. But I didn't know you would be here, so I didn't bring them today. I'll give them to you when we get back."
"Sister Qingqing and Sister Gantang have such a good relationship." Che Qin approached Lin Gantang, wanting to greet her.
"Of course, we're best friends." Zhang Rongqing turned to Lin Gantang and asked, "You didn't come alone, did you? Where's your brother? It's been a while since I saw him. I should go over and say hello."
"My brother is dating. Why would you go over?" Lin Gantang inquired.
Zhang Rongqing's expression stiffened for a moment, but she quickly put on a smile again. "I just want to say hello. By the way, you don't like Jiang Tongtong, right? Then why did you bring her along this time?"
"Do you think I can change my brother's mind?"
"Your brother is persistent, but you can talk to Jiang Tongtong. She's not worthy of your brother. She knows nothing, and she'll embarrass you again. If you don't tell her, she won't even know her place." Zhang Rongqing subtly tried to sow discord.
Lin Gantang found it amusing.
Despite her bad temper and difficult personality, Zhang Rongqing persisted in becoming her best friend. First, because of the Lin family's background, and second, because of Lin Zhaonan.
Zhang Rongqing liked Lin Zhaonan, but his heart was set on Jiang Tongtong. Zhang Rongqing had no choice but to find another way to make Lin Gantang dislike Jiang Tongtong and encourage her to drive her away.
Didn't that give her a chance?