Lu Xinyi looked around the ballroom with awe. Compare to the last gala she and her husband attended during his last business trip, this charity gala was way grander than the latter. Beautiful women in nice and elegant dresses welcomed them, their necks and ears adorned with expensive jewelries than could worth hundred thousands or millions. The men were looking so devastatingly handsome on their immaculate dark suits.
If she would be honest in herself, Lu Xinyi felt like she didn’t belong here. This wasn’t her world and she felt like Cinderella forced to attend the ball but not to meet the prince but to fight for him. She held Shen Yi’s arm tighter while trying to think of anything that could ruin her focus.
“Xinyi! Here.” A familiar voice called out her name across the room. She turned back and saw Xiao Lan just came in with her husband.
Shen Yi internally groaned but made their way over Xiao Lan when Shen Xue appeared from nowhere and put an arm on his shoulder and whispered something on his ear. He nodded back to his brother and turned his attention to his wife.
“Xinyi, I have to meet Grammie first. Xiao Lan and Xue will keep your company for the meantime.”
“I’ll wait for you then.”
Shen Yi reluctantly released his hold on her slim waist and made his way upstairs.
“Oh my goodness, Big Sis! You look absolutely stunning tonight.” Shen Xue grinned as he gave her a glass of champagne. “Grammie just want to give Bro a quick word before meeting you. Everything will be fine.”
“So how are you liking it so far?” Xiao Lan, taking a sip from her own drink.
Lu Xinyi took a moment to look around and noticed some women glancing in their way and talking behind their hands. She had a feeling it was because Shen Yi arrived with her so everyone was curious to know who she was to him. Their conversations were probably centered about her, and she bet they were dissing her.
“Well, it is what I expected to be but are all parties the Shen family host as grand as this?”
“They are.” Shen Xue replied. “These kind of parties are extremely important for those who want to flaunt their wealth as well to those who want to get a connection with the Big 5 families of the city. Only the wealthiest, most prominent and famous figures are invited and usually attended these events.” he added.
“That’s right. I already met some members of the Li and Sun families earlier.” Xiao Lan said. Her words almost made Lu Xinyi shiver in fright. What if the young master of the Li family was here? She’d been persistently declining and to meet him everytime the Sun family tries to make her. Oh, and she dearly hoped that her evil aunt of hers wasn’t there to give her problems.
“I thought they said they aren’t interested to attend. At least the Tang and the Liu families had sent their regards but kept their promise for their pledges..” Shen Xue frowned. While the Shen family wasn’t in good terms with the Sun family, they have to pretend that everything was alright on the surface.
Xiao Lan shrugged and wrapped an arm to her husband who wasn’t paying attention to their conversation.
“No Idea but Xue, I think it’s time for you to bring Xinyi to meet Grammie. It should be fine now since she’d already greeted most of the guests,” she replied.
“Then we should go. Grammie values her time. We can’t be late. Come with me, Big Sis. I’ll bring you to her and let her know why my brother is head over heels for you.” Shen Xue held out his hand for his sister-in-law.
Lu Xinyi stared at him first before taking his offered arm. This was it. She allowed Xue to lead her into the party. People were drinking and dancing everywhere as the mellow music resonated within the area. They waded through the crowd, then walked up to a staircase until they reached the VIP area.
The space of the room was humongous. It was like a different place from what they had downstairs. There were two sofas with a lot of white plush pillows on it. There were servants checking the hors-d’oeuvre on one side of the room while the other pouring wines on the empty glasses.
There was an old woman sitting in one of the sofas with Shen Yi. Lu Xinyi looked at her in awe; she was still beautiful even at her age. Her eyes were still bright and her long silvery hair worn in loose curls. She was wearing a simple violet dress but it didn’t lower her value as the host. For whatever reason, Lu Xinyi felt that it wouldn’t be easy for her to get the woman’s approval.
Along with her and Shen Yi, there were two other people within the room. One was an old man who had a brooding expression in her place, the other was a young woman. Lu Xinyi was quite sure that she’d had seen this woman before.
Then it hit her, wasn’t that the woman Shen Yi with when she first met him at the cruise?
Xia Yuhan was also shocked when Shen Xue arrived with the familiar woman on his side. She lifted her hand and stuttered, not finding the right words in her shock.
“You!” she pointed a finger at Lu Xinyi’s direction. “You’re brother Yi’s girlfriend!”
Lu Xinyi’s brows snapped together. What girlfriend? What was she talking about? She was definitely Shen Yi’s wife and not just a girlfriend!