Hen Ningyue couldn't help but associate with a certain type of tragic personality, the extreme ISFP. They lacked the self-mediating abilities of ordinary ISFPs and were instead more self-deprecating, timid, and cowardly.
She had long heard of the strange affairs in the Yang Family, it was said that the elder ignored his own daughter yet doted on his brother's child, Yang Fei, to the sky, ready to hand over the family business to her at any moment.
It seemed the rumors weren't unfounded, Yang Yuran lived in too much frustration.
Her reconsidered gaze at Yang Yuran contained a bit more sympathy, followed quickly by a memory of her own thoughtless actions, seemingly having played the role of Yang Fei's gunman to bully Yang Yuran.
At this thought, she couldn't help but feel extremely vexed.
The words "I'm sorry" almost reached her lips, but she heard Yang Yuran apologize first, "I'm sorry, have you been mad at me for not speaking all this time?"
Hen Ningyue suddenly lost the urge to apologize and chided sharply, "Can't you live with a bit more backbone?"
Yang Yuran was so confounded by the scolding that her fingers twisted incessantly, and her gaze darted around, as if she might flee at any moment.
Looking at the person in front of her, more hopeless than a puppet, Hen Ningyue felt greatly irritated.
Suddenly, the restless music stopped, and the corridor brightened as a group of people approached.
"Sister Hen, what brings you here? I'm sorry for not greeting you from afar."
The affected sweet voice drifted over, the nauseating perfume smell made Hen Ningyue's stomach churn, and she turned to give Yang Fei a look as if she wanted to vomit.
Yang Fei acted as if she saw nothing, reached out to link arms with Hen Ningyue, and said with a radiant smile, "Li Shuo is waiting for you in Block C. He knows he was wrong about some things and is too embarrassed to see you, so he sent me to fetch you. I've told him before that you have the depth of the Prime Minister, and you won't hold a grudge against us."
Yang Yuran turned her back to everyone, pretending to avoid them, but she couldn't stop sneering inwardly.
Yang Fei's understanding of etiquette might fare well with the elders, but using it on Hen Ningyue only backfired. Especially calling her "big sister" and "you" probably had Hen Ningyue fuming by now, making her seem old.
And sure enough, Hen Ningyue sidestepped and withdrew her arm, marking a clear boundary indifferently, "Stop falsely acknowledging relatives; we don't grow tea in my house."
Her sarcastic words left hanging, the young masters and misses with Yang Fei exchanged glances, most of them keeping silent, supporting Yang Fei with unpleasant expressions. A few who were used to mingling in social scenes readied themselves from the back row, prepared to switch sides and speak a word or two against Yang Fei at the crucial moment, seeking to curry favor with Hen Ningyue.
Yang Fei's smile froze for two seconds, and then chuckled coquettishly, "Sister, what are you talking about? Just now, Li Shuo said he was sorry to you, and he always had you in his heart. It's just that the Hen Family called off the engagement, and he had no say in many matters."
This trump card was very effective, Hen Ningyue was taken aback, her mind flooded with sweet memories of the two of them over the past three years.
Coming back to her senses, she uncontrollably asked about what concerned her most, "He said that?"
"Yes, he also said he is not the kind of person who likes being bound by marriage, and he agreed to the engagement for you. Now that the Hen Family has cast him out, without you, he feels it would be the same with anyone else."
Yang Fei spoke with persuasive emotion, and nearly everyone present could sense the sadness in her voice.
Bai Yan must have taught Yang Fei not to offend Hen Ningyue outright, after all, in the domestic commercial arena, they couldn't compete with officials, especially with Hen Ningyue's father in a high position.
Yang Yuran felt a sinking feeling, things were getting out of control.
Sneaking a peek at Hen Ningyue, she saw the aggressive aura that had enveloped Hen Ningyue fading, leaving only eyes full of reluctance and longing, gazing intently in the direction pointed out by Yang Fei.
"Today is my birthday, and yet Li Shuo is not happy at all, sulking and drinking alone. Sister Hen, please come inside with me. I guess when you get there, Li Shuo's mood will improve," Yang Fei said.
Yang Fei linked arms with Hen Ningyue again, and this time Hen Ningyue did not pull away.
Hen Ningyue conceded defeat; Yang Yuran could not continue the senseless solo fight. It was time to retreat.
Just as she was about to slip away, Hen Ningyue's call rang out, "Yang Yuran, didn't you say you'd come with me? Let's go in together."
Yang Yuran turned around excitedly, but in her sneak peek, she noticed the beads of sweat on Hen Ningyue's forehead.
Zhou Yuanyuan was right, Hen Ningyue was head over heels in love; the woman clearly wanted to drag her along to confirm Li Shuo's sincerity.
Wait, if she became the scapegoat...
A new plan suddenly flashed through her mind.
Without a word, she sat on the edge of the couch, listening to people lavish praise on Hen Ningyue as if she were the moon amid stars. Yang Yuran was a bit curious about what Yang Fei was feeling at that moment.
The birthday party had turned into an event to lift Hen Ningyue's sedan, and they had to put in the effort themselves, which was hilariously absurd.
After listening for about ten minutes, Yang Yuran couldn't hold back any longer and broke her composure at one of Yang Fei's insincere compliments.
"Sister Hen's dress is so beautiful, it has attracted all of Brother Li Shuo's attention."
Yang Yuran covered her mouth with one hand and made an apologetic gesture with the other. Glancing up unintentionally, she caught Li Shuo's gaze, his phoenix eyes dark and intense as they silently accused her of not belonging there.
Yang Fei had long found her an eyesore and finally seized the opportunity to vigorously denigrate her, "My cousin doesn't have the generous heart that I do. I can accept that Brother Li Shuo loves Sister Hen, but my cousin can't. She learned that Brother Li Shuo considered her a stand-in and resolutely broke up with him. Her possessiveness is just too strong."
Her words insinuated that Yang Yuran was jealous and deliberately causing trouble.
With more mud being slung her way, Yang Yuran remained unflustered. She lightly tapped her fingertips on the ice mountain cup, creating a clear, clinking sound. The DJ's dance music had stopped when Hen Ningyue arrived, and now all eyes were on her, following Yang Fei's words.
Yang Fei had painstakingly set the stage for her, and the actor must take her place.
Resting her chin on one hand, she spoke slowly, "I admit I'm someone with emotional OCD; the person I love can only belong to me. Even lower animals understand ownership, and if highly evolved humans can share fervent love or gift their lovers to others for some purpose, then they might as well be living as a lower form of life."
Three young masters who liked to play messy games were present, and upon hearing this, their expressions gradually darkened.
Yang Fei hastily attempted to save face, using her usual sarcastic tone, "My cousin is again talking about her profound study of anthropology. There are so many types of relationships in this world, and it's often the regrets that make them unforgettable, isn't it?"
"Regret is not an excuse for moral decay, nor is it a reason for infidelity."
Yang Yuran soberly stated her prepared line, then the next second, she withdrew the frosty coldness from her eyes and asked Yang Fei with a light smile, "You just said that because Li Shuo can't marry the person he loves the most, it doesn't matter who he marries, right? Did he tell you this himself?"
Yang Fei glanced at Li Shuo with extreme grievance, hoping he would understand her painstaking efforts, but he did not notice her intentions at all.
His gaze remained fixed on the right side of the couch, not knowing whether he was looking at Hen Ningyue or Yang Yuran.
"Is that so?" Yang Yuran pressed again.
Yang Fei allowed herself to be overwhelmed with bitterness and answered dejectedly, "Yes, Brother Li Shuo told me so himself."
Yang Fei vividly remembered that ever since Yang Yuran went abroad to study, she had never suffered such an indignation again. She told herself frantically to stay calm, after all, both Hen Ningyue and Yang Yuran would be her defeated foes. When she married Li Shuo, they would be the ones crying.
"Oh~"
Yang Yuran drew out the sound meaningfully, then closed her right eye in a wink, casting a flirtatious look at Li Shuo, softly suggesting.
"If love can't decide the future of a relationship, then let's leave it to luck. Today, let's help Li Shuo, the young master, choose a wife. All the single ladies present should draw lots. Whoever is drawn will be the fated woman for Young Master Li. That would be more reliable than a blind choice."