Nan Xi's heart was immediately thrown into disarray; she suddenly didn't know what to do.
Had Lu Jianshen decided to bring Fang Qinglian because he couldn't hold back any longer, so he wanted to introduce Fang Qinglian's identity to everyone?
Then what about her?
What was she considered?
Nan Xi's face turned ghastly pale in an instant; with a smack, the phone dropped from her hand.
Seeing this, Housekeeper Zhou hurriedly picked it up, "Young Mistress, what's wrong? You look so pale, did the Young Master say something?"
Nan Xi shook her head blankly, "No."
"Excuse me, I need to go to the restroom."
Standing by the sink, Nan Xi suddenly acted like a mad person, desperately splashing cold water on her face to wash it.
She couldn't remember how many times she washed, until her entire face had lost all warmth and her hands turned red with cold, she finally lifted her head, pushed back her hair, and looked at herself.
In the mirror, she was wearing the most glamorous and beautiful clothes, her makeup was the gentlest and most lovely, her jewelry and necklace the most expensive; but at that moment, she felt like a completely miserable clown.
He had already promised that once Grandfather's birthday celebration was over today, she would bring up the divorce tomorrow.
Just half a day.
Only half a day left, yet he couldn't even wait that long.
Noticing that Nan Xi had been inside for quite some time and the water was still running wildly, Housekeeper Zhou, worried something had happened, knocked on the door anxiously, "Young Mistress, are you alright?"
"..."
Not hearing a response from Nan Xi, Housekeeper Zhou became more anxious, calling out again, "Young Mistress..."
At that moment, Nan Xi opened the door, looked at Housekeeper Zhou with a gentle smile, "I'm fine, let's go downstairs!"
"Are we still waiting for the Young Master?"
Nan Xi shook her head, "No need, he'll be here soon."
And besides, he didn't need her to wait any longer.
In the restroom, Nan Xi contemplated a hundred times whether she should go downstairs or not.
She could have refused if she didn't want to, but she went down anyway.
One reason was that she didn't want to disappoint Grandfather or leave any regrets on his birthday; as for the other reason:
Perhaps by going, she would finally give up hope.
When Lu Jianshen introduced Fang Qinglian in front of everyone, when he denied her existence, she might truly give up.
Some pains, you have to witness with your own eyes to feel them to your core, and only then can you leave thoroughly.
By the time Nan Xi went downstairs, Grandfather was already seated, and most of the guests were there too, with only two seats left empty.
Nan Xi briefly glanced and saw the remaining ones were for her and Lu Jianshen.
It seemed he hadn't arrived yet.
Seeing Nan Xi come down, Grandfather grabbed her hand excitedly, "Xixi, come here, sit next to Grandfather."
"Okay, Grandfather."
Nan Xi nodded obediently and sat down next to Grandfather Lu.
Then Grandfather Lu noticed the empty spot next to Nan Xi and frowned unhappily, "Where is he? He's still not here, what on earth is he busy with?"
Nan Xi sweetly tugged at Grandfather Lu's arm, smiling sweetly in response, "Grandfather, you are wronging my husband. Indeed, something particularly urgent came up at the company, and he had to go."
"We all know that Grandfather's birthday is the most important thing, but if there really is a problem at the company, Grandfather wouldn't be happy either. After all, it's the lifetime's work of Grandfather."
After Nan Xi finished speaking, Grandfather Lu's face softened quite a bit.
"You're good with words, unlike that kid who can drive me mad just by opening his mouth."
Across the round table, Lu Rou watched enviously as Nan Xi chatted cozily with Grandpa Lu, eliciting joyful smiles from the old man. Her eyes were practically shooting daggers.
Especially since she realized the person was the same one she had pushed into the swimming pool earlier, which really made her blood boil.
Yang Ying tugged at Lu Rou's clothes, "Rourou, who is that person? I've never seen them before, so how did they suddenly get to sit next to your grandpa?"
"Just look at yourself, as clueless as a pig and miles away from Grandpa. Such a great spot, close to Grandpa and with a chance to talk to him, why didn't you sit there and let an outsider take the advantage?"
Lu Rou was feeling incredibly wronged, "Mom, stop making baseless remarks. How would you know I didn't go sit there?"
"What do you mean?" Yang Ying sensed something was off.
"I knew where Grandpa's seat was and immediately sat next to him to wait, but as soon as Grandpa arrived, he shooed me away, saying someone else would sit there and told me to sit here."
"You still won't admit you're silly. Isn't there another seat next to Grandpa?"
After saying that, Yang Ying's gaze hungrily fixed on the seat on the other side of Grandpa Lu.
Lu Rou pouted impatiently, "Mom, what do you know? That's Lu Brother's seat, would you dare to sit there?"
"Speaking of Lu Jianshen, why hasn't he arrived yet? It's his own grandpa's birthday celebration and he's late, that's just disrespectful. If you ask me..."
She was only halfway through her words when Zhou Bo excitedly ran over, "The young master is back."
The next moment, the distinguished figure of Lu Jianshen appeared at the entrance of the hall. Dressed in the same black suit from the morning, he made his way through the large and small tables, eventually sitting down next to his grandfather, on his left.
Nan Xi was stunned.
Why was he alone?
Didn't he come with Fang Qinglian?
As soon as Lu Jianshen arrived, lunch began.
Although Grandpa Lu always scolded Lu Jianshen on the surface, he actually was very fond of this grandson.
Besides, as the only grandson he recognized, who else could he dote on?
During the feast, Nan Xi was eating absentmindedly, preoccupied with one question: where was Fang Qinglian? Hadn't they arrived together?
Or was it that, after the banquet ended and the guests left, Lu Jianshen would call her out?
Her phone chimed with a message. Nan Xi glanced at it and saw a WeChat message from Lu Jianshen, "What are you thinking about so intently that you're not eating properly?"
"Thinking about Fang Qinglian," Nan Xi replied.
Lu Jianshen: "?"
Nan Xi couldn't hold back and asked, "Didn't you bring her with you? Why didn't she come in?"
"Eat your food properly. What nonsense is filling that little head of yours?"
"When did I say I was bringing her here?"
"Do you think you're the foolish one, or is it me?"
Nan Xi: "…"
He always took every chance to mock her, never sparing any opportunity.
When the meal was halfway through, Lu Rou could no longer contain herself and found an opening to say, "Lu Brother, where is that wife of yours? It's been two years since your marriage, and I, your sister, haven't even seen her shadow. Today is grandpa's eightieth birthday; shouldn't she at least make an appearance?"
Lu Jianshen glanced at her coldly, his eyes brimming with warning.
If Lu Rou had any sense, she'd keep her mouth shut.
But she was asking for trouble, "Lu Brother, your wife is really ignorant. She's clearly from a humble background, showing no respect for Grandpa, completely unfit for society."
"Actually, we're all just curious whether she's fat or thin? Beautiful or ugly? Just let us meet her, to satisfy our curiosity!"
Seeing her chance, Yang Ying joined in the provocation, "Right, Jianshen, your sister has a point. I'm also very curious to have a look. I heard that she clung onto you desperately to get married, tsk tsk, she obviously has no..."
Before Yang Ying could finish, suddenly, Lu Jianshen put his chopsticks down with a swift motion, his icy gaze shooting across like an arrow.