"Cousin, how is auntie? It's been awhile since I dropped by and visited her." He Zejin asked softly, his hands having been playing with the edge of his clothes.
Not knowing why, He Zejin always finds it scary to talk to Qi Jianyi. Maybe because he still had a psychological shadow when they were kids, he found himself hesitating to hold a conversation with her.
Contrast with He Zejin's complicated mind, Qi Jianyi only focused on the food and regarded his existence as a wall that could talk. She picked a chocolate muffin and put it on her plate before answering, "She's fine. She wishes for you to have a healthy and happy life."
He Zejin nodded at her replies, "Thank you auntie for me then. I should come to visit her more often later."
"I will convey it to her." Qi Jianyi answered, and ended the conversation. She took the plate full with food and searched for an available seat. Ling Xi has long disappeared to greet her other friends.
Seeing how Qi Jianyi was looking for a place to eat, He Zejin quickly extended his offer, "Cousin, why don't you eat at my table with me and the others?"
Qi Jianyi turned her head to look at the young man who was still behind her. She was confused as to what was the reason for this man to still follow her around?
"Who are the others?" She asked cautiously. It was mainly because she doesn't want to have another awkward conversation.
"Me, the twins, brother Zeqing and his friend and a few of my close friends." He Zejin replied quickly. A table that could fit ten people could certainly welcome Qi Jianyi to sit there comfortably.
'The legendary annoying male lead is there?' Qi Jianyi was curious to know what the main character that was described as the immortal god, undefined beauty in the novel would look like in real life.
"Sure, lead the way." Qi Jianyi nodded her head, agreeing with the suggestion.
Stunned for a while, He Zejin quickly led the way, "Okay, okay follow me cousin."
Qi Jianyi observed the people in front of her. She saw her two brothers sitting on her left side and He Zejin on her right side. Her eyes wandered towards the remaining people and stopped at the young man opposite her.
Qi Jianyi believes the man before her was the legendary male lead in this novel, He Zeqing. As to the reason for her confidence? It's because of the resemblance between that guy and He Zejin.
Observing the appearance of the male lead, Qi Jianyi agrees with the description in the novel. He Zeqing was born with a cold and dignified aura. The man was indeed handsome as described, a tall bridge nose, sharp eyebrows, white teeth and a natural pink lips. He is someone you would define as perfect.
The kind of man that people wished to be with. Even Qi Jianyi now understood the reason for the female lead to keep trying to be by his side. With such good looks, who would ignore it?
If the man before her was not the main protagonist, Qi Jianyi might not hesitate to shoot her shot. Unfortunately, both of them were destined to never cross paths and Qi Jianyi herself refused to be entangled in any kind of messy relationship.
She does not seek love. She is someone who does not need it.
After judging the male lead's look for a while, Qi Jianyi darted her eyes to a man beside He Zeqing. She did it so naturally to the point that when He Zeqing wanted to question her, he could only swallow it back. He couldn't just utter rude words towards Qi Jianyi as they're after all relatives. Not to mention that both of them rarely communicate.
It was just a look, He Zeqing could still accept it.
Despite the complex thought of the male lead, Qi Jianyi was attracted by the man beside him. She wondered if all of the male lead's friends were good looking?
The man who claimed to be He Zeqing's friend was wearing an all black suit. His face was cold and full of annoyance as if he was dragged to be in this party. The sharp eyebrows and the coldness in his eyes could make anyone who wants to talk to him change their mind.
His face was stunning and strikingly handsome, with an air of cold confidence. Unlike the aloof He Zeqing, Song Chengfeng had a presence that claimed he was a significant figure, some kind of a big shot, a hidden major character in a novel.
Seeing his appearance that was on par with He Zeqing, or maybe surpass the male lead made Qi Jianyi pursed her lips. She found it a pity that all the good looking people in front of her were just fiction in a trash novel.
As if he could feel the obvious gaze from Qi Jianyi, the man who was closing his eyes just now, opened his sharp eyes and glanced at the woman who dared to look at him so blatantly.
The moment their eyes met, Qi Jianyi could feel her heart skip a beat. It wasn't because she fell in love at the first sight. But because of the coldness and the killing intent that was shot out to her suddenly made her scared for a second.
At that moment, one thought seeped into Qi Jianyi's mind. The man in front of her was the epitome of 'if looks could kill.' Because she believes she almost met the gate of hell just now.
'I just looked at you for a while and you wanted to kill me? Hm so petty.' Qi Jianyi mumbled, dissatisfied.
Noticing the unintentional exchange of eye contact between Qi Jianyi and his brother's friend, He Zejin quickly diverted Qi Jianyi's attention towards him. Less she annoyed the man before her.
"He is brother Zeqing's friend, the young master of the Song family, Song Chengfeng. Cousin, he was a former soldier who recently retired. That man has a bad temper, so don't look at him anymore." He Zejin advised softly while pulling the hemp of Qi Jianyi's clothes.
Song Chengfeng? Qi Jianyi couldn't recall seeing that name in the novel before. This meant he hadn't appeared in the first 30 chapters. Yet, he was at the birthday party today. How could he not have been mentioned?
However, Qi Jianyi was too tired to think it through. Since she hadn't finished the book, there was no point in speculating too much. The man before her was probably just another side character with no significant role, like herself.
Little did she know, Song Chengfeng played a more significant role than just a side character in the novel. If she had read beyond the first 30 chapters, she would have been aware of his existence.
Qi Jianyi glanced at the anxious He Zejing and nodded, saying, "I understand. Eat your food."
She put Song Chengfeng's hostility at the back of her mind, not caring enough to take it in her heart.
Seeing how Qi Jianyi was not affected by Song Chengfeng looks just now made He Zejin sighed in relief. He couldn't afford to offend both sides. The former was his cold-shoulder cousin while the latter was his brother's closest friend. If he made a wrong move and offended either one of them, He Zejin could already imagine the consequences in the future.
For a while, the birthday boy's table was so quiet. It only has the awkward atmosphere around it, even people around them talk softly in order not to disturb the big shots at the main table.
First of all, He Zeqing has always cherished his words like gold and refuses to start a small conversation with anyone, meanwhile his friend has no reason to talk at all. The twins Qi Jianlu and Qi Jianli were the youngest and eventually got intimidated by their serious cousin especially when their sister was there beside them.
He Zejin wanted to chat but hold himself after receiving the cold glance from his brother. The remaining people at the table were his two close friends, Lou Yi and Qiao Li. Both were not willing to open their mouths. And the only person left on this table was Qi Jianyi who was absorbed with the food. She doesn't like to have small talk. Although the atmosphere was awkward, it didn't diminish her appetite at all.