"Grandma!"
Could he not be anxious?
Marriages among the elite were a common occurrence.
Fu Hanjiang had seen plenty of those emotionless marriages for the sake of family interests since he was young.
Today, his grandmother was elevating Xiangsi's status, but who's to say someone wouldn't covet her position as the Fu family's adopted daughter? Even if they didn't love her, they might still seek to marry her!
"Enough."
Fu Mingzhu remained calm. "She's been criticized and gossiped about today, but who's responsible for that?"
Fu Hanjiang felt a pang of guilt.
"Sigh."
Fu Mingzhu sighed. "What's done is done. Gossip and criticism are inevitable."
She continued, "I refuse to believe that there isn't a young man in all of Jiangcheng who genuinely cares about her past."
The old lady was optimistic.
"I'll tell you, matters of the heart are complicated."
With Grandma's persistence, Fu Hanjiang had no choice.
But now, he glanced at Xizhou. "Where's Xiangsi?"
"Oh, let her roam around." Fu Mingzhu smiled. "I'll make the big decisions, but she should have the chance to interact herself. Maybe fate will come knocking?"
...
Fu Mingzhu's kind intentions were unfortunately wasted on Xiangsi.
The old lady suggested she mingle and converse with young people. But after being away from Jiangcheng for so long, she was no longer accustomed to such social gatherings.
She held her plate, finding a quiet corner to sit.
Tonight, she was supposed to perform.
Fu Hanjiang had called Manager Wu, asking him to take her out of the venue for the night, and Manager Wu readily agreed.
Xiangsi lowered her head, looking at the food on her plate, murmuring softly to herself, "Eat more, practice more tonight. Not afraid of getting fat."
"Hehe."
She heard a soft chuckle beside her.
Xiangsi looked up, "Zhong Pei?"
"Mm."
Zhong Pei's smile remained warm as he gestured to her plate. "You're so thin, eat more. Don't worry about getting fat."
Then he pointed to the seat beside her. "May I sit here?"
"Sure."
Zhong Pei sat down beside her, close enough to catch a whiff of the faint fragrance emanating from her, like the scent of white tea.
"You..."
Zhong Pei was a bit nervous, his Adam's apple bobbing.
"I didn't realize you were the Fu family's adopted daughter."
Xiangsi glanced at him, giving a faint smile before nodding. "Yes, when I was fifteen, I lost all my relatives. Grandma adopted me."
She was curious. "Didn't you know? Given my 'infamous' reputation, everyone in Jiangcheng knows."
"I didn't."
Zhong Pei shook his head truthfully. "I went abroad during high school and only recently returned to Jiangcheng."
That explained it.
"Oh." Xiangsi lowered her head again, continuing to eat.
"Ahem." Zhong Pei cleared his throat nervously, gathering his courage. "How are you and Second Brother Fu... you two... are you okay?"
"?" Xiangsi was surprised. What did he want to ask?
Zhong Pei immediately realized that it was too abrupt to ask such a question when they had just met.
"Sorry, I don't mean to pry into your privacy... I just..."
Just what?
He just wanted to know if she and Second Brother Fu still had a relationship? Did she still like him now?
Zhong Pei blushed, unable to ask.
"It's okay."
Xiangsi chuckled, gesturing for him to relax. "Don't be nervous. Even if you don't say it, I know. It's probably just what they say — that I'm arrogant, presumptuous, and ruthless..."
She took a deep breath, her smile even brighter. "They're right..."
"No, you're not!"
Before she finished, Zhong Pei hurriedly interrupted her, his brow furrowing in earnest.
"Huh?" Xiangsi was stunned, feeling a little dazed.
"I said, you're not."
Zhong Pei's face was full of sincerity. "The Xiangsi I know is a very talented dancer. She shines on stage, smiles at strangers passing by, and in a crowded party like this, she'll find a quiet corner and eat in peace."
That was his image of Xiangsi.
Not arrogant, not presumptuous, and certainly not ruthless!
"..."
Xiangsi was taken aback, a warm feeling flooding her eyes.
After suffering injustice for so long, besides Yu Huanxi, he was another person who praised and trusted her.
Not far away, Fu Mingzhu and Fu Hanjiang stood side by side, watching them from a distance.
"This kid?"
Fu Mingzhu squinted, pondering. "He seems to be from the Zhong family... is it... Zhong Pei? Yes, it's Zhong Pei!"
Fu Mingzhu praised endlessly, "Hmm, he seems fine. He seems very suitable for Xiangsi."
She pulled Fu Hanjiang, "They seem to be getting along well. Let's not disturb them... give them some time, maybe something will develop."
"Okay..."
Fu Hanjiang turned away passively, unwilling and unable to breathe properly, feeling like he was suffocating!