Ye Shu saw Aunt Wang looking somewhat dejected and felt an unpleasant taste in her heart.
Up to now, her interactions with Huo Shenting had been falling within the best pattern she had expected given the circumstances.
In her head, she had even imagined worse scenarios since, after all, she had forced this marriage upon him.
Outside was the sound of Huo Shenting's car driving away, and as Ye Shu thought about the look in his eyes when he left, her mood also began to drop.
After changing her clothes, Ye Shu drove to the entertainment venue that Ji Liang had messaged her about, and followed a server into a private room.
As she stepped inside, Ji Liang rushed over and gave her a bear hug.
"Why are you only coming now, hoping to pick up what's left?"
Having not seen Ji Liang for a long time, Ye Shu also showed a smile on her face, "Are you even worth my while to pick up the leftovers? You couldn't outdrink me even if I gave you a three-round head start."
Her voice was neither loud nor soft, and due to Ji Liang's action, the attention of everyone in the room was on them, so naturally, they heard what Ye Shu said.
Her words were followed by a chorus of teasing from the private room.
"Ye Shu, since you're late, you need to punish yourself with three drinks."
Tang Yuan, who was Ji Liang's childhood friend, naturally knew Ye Shu and was the most boisterous one egging her on.
Ye Shu took the glass Tang Yuan handed her and downed it in one gulp.
"Tang Yuan, you better hope I don't catch you being late."
After saying this, she downed two more drinks and her gaze paused momentarily on someone sitting in the corner.
"Miss Ye can really hold her liquor."
The man looked at her with a smile, lifting his glass in a gesture.
Ye Shu pursed her lips but hadn't expected to see Huo Zijun here of all places.
However, it was well known that Huo Zijun frequented these kinds of settings, and given the Huo family's status in G city, it was not a surprise to find him here.
"Thank you."
After speaking, Ye Shu raised her glass and finished three drinks.
The room was filled with cheers and boisterous noise.
Huo Zijun's gaze fixed on Ye Shu, not moving away in the slightest.
The woman sitting by his side felt some dissatisfaction and tugged lightly at his arm, "Zijun, who is this woman?"
Everyone present was from either a rich or noble background and Ye Shu quickly blended in with them; Lan Xin had been sitting next to Huo Zijun for so long unnoticed, which made her feel a bit jealous.
In her circle, she was always the center of attention, but now she felt like a mere backdrop.
The Ji family was in the entertainment industry and carried the bold generosity of the jianghu spirit.
"Brothers, quiet down. Let me give a grand introduction. This is my good sister, Ye Shu. The eldest daughter of the Ye family, the daughter of Sun Qian!"
The Ye family might not have a big reputation in this industry, but everyone still knew of Sun Qian.
Before marrying Ye Wenzhao, Sun Qian had carved out a path of her own in the Sun family, establishing herself as a business heroine; however, she later gave up her own business kingdom to marry Ye Wenzhao.
Ye Shu's face was smiling as she stood out brilliantly among the crowd.
Lan Xin felt the name sounded somewhat familiar and, looking up at Huo Zijun whose attention was completely captivated by that woman, she felt a swell of discontent and whispered.
"It seems like we're missing some fun at this event, why don't I call a few more girls over?"
Huo Zijun, who hadn't heard clearly what Lan Xin said, nodded and stood up to head towards Ye Shu.
Lan Xin, almost suffocating with anger, glanced at Ye Shu with displeasure.
"Miss Ye, shall we have a drink?"
Ye Shu was discussing design issues with a young lady from an official family when Huo Zijun suddenly approached, which naturally drew the probing eyes back to her.
Ye Shu's face exuded confidence as she lifted her glass, "Hello, Mr. Huo."
Huo Zijun slightly raised his eyebrows, a smile playing on his lips as he watched Ye Shu, and took the seat beside her.
"I had no idea you were friends with Miss Ji. Ji Liang and I got along quite well overseas in the past."
Ye Shu offered a slight smile, "I've heard about that from Ji Liang before."
She couldn't figure out what Huo Zijun's intentions were, pretending to meet her for the first time despite knowing her relationship with Huo Shenting.
Ji Liang came over and sat in Ye Shu's arms, wrapping her arms around Ye Shu's neck, and looked at Huo Zijun.
"Mr. Huo, you're not falling for my friend, are you?"
Huo Zijun's gaze remained on Ye Shu, not moving even as he drank.
"I just find your friend very interesting," he replied.
Ji Liang laughed, appearing to see right through Huo Zijun, "All feelings start with interest. But our Ye Shu is different from those women around you. Mr. Huo, better to keep your distance."
Ye Shu smiled slightly, her demeanor composed.
Tang Yuan overheard Ji Liang's words and immediately leaned in.
"Zijun, I've been interested in Ye Shu for a long time, but she is too difficult to handle, so forget it."
The private room's door was pushed open, and Lan Xin walked in, followed by several of her friends.
"Miss Ji, I've brought some friends to join us for fun," she announced.
Ji Liang nodded, "As long as everyone's happy, feel free."
Lan Xin immediately led her group of friends into the room.
When Ye Shu looked up, her gaze met Tian Xin's.
Tian Xin, following Lan Xin closely and holding her arm with a bright smile, frowned upon seeing Ye Shu embracing Ji Liang, their comfortable manner making her dissatisfied.
If she had known Ye Shu was here, she wouldn't have come.
However, seeing Huo Zijun there, she quickly adjusted her attitude and greeted him with a smile.
"Mr. Huo, we meet again," she said.
Lan Xin looked at Tian Xin with considerable dissatisfaction, but Tian Xin seemed oblivious.
Huo Zijun nodded, his expression indifferent, "Hello, find a place to sit anywhere you like."
Lan Xin pursed her lips into a smile, maintaining her generous and proper demeanor in front of Huo Zijun, then led Tian Xin and the others to the spot where Huo Zijun had been sitting earlier.
Watching Huo Zijun and Ye Shu chat and laugh together, Tian Xin's heart filled with envy.
"Lan Xin, why didn't you tell me Ye Shu was here?" she asked.
Lan Xin's eyebrows lifted slightly, "You know her? I heard she's someone important."
"Someone important? She's just my lowly little sister! What 'important person' bullshit," Tian Xin said with a look of disdain, thinking that Ye Shu was really good at pretending.
When Lan Xin looked at Ye Shu, her eyes held a trace of scorn, "So she's just your sister. I thought she was some lady from a prominent family. Who is Sun Qian, her mother? Some formidable character?"
Tian Xin felt a pang of pain at the mention and fell silent.
If it weren't for Sun Qian's prowess back then, her mother and she might not have been disowned.
Seeing Tian Xin saying nothing, Lan Xin made her own assumptions. With a slight smile curling at the corner of her mouth, she leaned in and whispered something in Tian Xin's ear, causing Tian Xin to furrow her brows and finally nod faintly.
Ji Liang pulled Ye Shu to play a finger-guessing game with other friends, and Huo Zijun naturally took his place beside Ye Shu, occasionally speaking with her.
Tian Xin, holding a glass, stood up and walked over to sit next to Huo Zijun, asking softly.
"What are you playing? Can we join in?"