Just then, Yu Xi came out and said, "You can step back now; I'll talk to Yujie."
"Yes, sir," the butler replied and quickly left the scene.
Upon seeing Yu Xi, Jian Yujie wasted no time, "Where's Yiling?"
"Your sister has been studying really hard lately. When she arrived this morning, her eyes were bloodshot, so I let her rest in the guest room," Yu Xi explained, concern evident in his voice.
"Yu Xi, don't try to fool me," Jian Yujie replied, his tone skeptical.
"Yujie, do you really not trust me?" Yu Xi's brow furrowed in surprise. Did he really have such a poor reputation?
"It's not that I don't trust you," Jian Yujie replied, but inwardly, he thought about the troublemaker living in Yu's household.
The latter half of his sentence remained unspoken, but Yu Xi understood the implication.
Patting Jian Yujie's shoulder, Yu Xi leaned closer and whispered, "Don't worry; he doesn't mess with women, let alone your little sister."
If the Young Master Zhai were interested in causing trouble for women, the Zhai family wouldn't be so persistent in their invitations.
---
As time went on, guests began to arrive at the Yu residence in droves. Those who could make it were all young adults from affluent backgrounds within Hengyuan City. This party was tailored for the younger crowd, and the oldest attendees were no older than twenty-five.
Everyone arrived right on time, showing great punctuality. Although this gathering was organized by Yu Xi, everyone was well aware of who currently resided at the Yu household.
Yu's family had prepared a sumptuous spread of food, organized party games, and various performances to keep the guests entertained. The only notable absence was the Young Master Zhai himself.
Parties for eating and drinking could happen anytime, but opportunities to see Young Master Zhai were rare.
Qiu Yizhen and Mo Shiyun also made an appearance at the party. Given the close relationship between Yu Simiao and Qiu Liyao, it would have been odd not to invite Qiu Yizhen to the gathering.
Not only did Qiu Yizhen show up, but she also brought along her friend Mo Shiyun, who was rather apprehensive about being there.
"Qiu Jie, is it really okay for me to be here?" Mo Shiyun whispered, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
"What's wrong with that? It's completely normal to bring a friend to a party like this. It's not a formal banquet—just a casual get-together. Once you're here, we're all friends; there's no need for formality," Qiu Yizhen reassured her, noting her friend's hesitation.
Seeing her friend so self-conscious, she added, "Honestly, you worry too much about inconveniencing others. I've told you, we're sisters now; there's no need for such distance."
"I'm not trying to be distant; I'm just worried I might embarrass you," Mo Shiyun replied softly.
"Stop that nonsense! In my eyes, you're a million times better than those rich kids who only know how to eat, drink, and play! You're diligent, talented, and have a great personality," Qiu Yizhen insisted.
"I'm not as great as you make me out to be," Mo Shiyun replied, her cheeks flushing slightly.
"Alright, alright! Let me take you to grab something to eat. The dessert station is on the left, the fruit station is on the right, and right in front, we have the barbecue and seafood stations. Over there in the seafood section, we have Australian lobsters and top-quality sashimi. Just take whatever you want!"
Knowing that it was Mo Shiyun's first time in such a setting, Qiu Yizhen took her by the hand, guiding her toward the food stations.
"Hey, who's this girl next to you, Qiu Yizhen? I haven't seen her before!"
A boy, slightly over five feet tall and somewhat chubby, approached them with a friendly smile. He seemed quite familiar with Qiu Yizhen.
While many people recognized Qiu Yizhen, Mo Shiyun was a newcomer in this social circle, and most hadn't met her before.
"This is my friend, Mo Shiyun, a top student from our school's elite class. She's incredibly talented," Qiu Yizhen introduced, her pride evident.
Turning to Mo Shiyun, she added, "This is Ji Ming, a friend from Hengyuan No. 1 High School, my buddy."