A rebuking explanation in her speech also eased the atmosphere.
As the prospective son-in-law of the Lai family, Qin Yansheng already knew about Tang Li’s background. She was not the relative people assumed, but a daughter Lai Wenyan had outside.
Tang Li stood alone, her smile still alienating her from the familial scene.
This was also the first time Qin Yansheng saw Tang Li clearly.
Previously when he visited the Lai family, he saw Tang Li a few times, each time she kept her head low, always so quiet, making people overlook her appearance.
But tonight, Tang Li appeared before them with the currently popular medium long hair, slightly voluminous and fashionable, especially with her casual outfit, which contrasted markedly from Lai Shengxia and Lai Yuanyuan wearing dresses, bringing a unique flavor.
Compared to when she first arrived in the Capital, Tang Li’s complexion had lightened several shades.
In terms of appearance, she looked more like a biological sister to Lai Shengxia.
Lai Yuanyuan got her oval face and cherry lips from Ouyang Qian, while both Tang Li and Lai Shengxia had oval faces. The details in their eyes and brows were somewhat similar, though Tang Li’s nose was more pronounced, not as delicate as Lai Shengxia. Tang Li was also a couple of centimeters taller than Lai Shengxia, her slender figure seeming unable to gain weight no matter what she ate.
Though the sisters were also not overweight, they had inherited Ouyang Qian’s tendency to gain weight easily, even getting fatter by drinking an extra glass of water, hence they were very diet conscious.
Just as Ouyang Qian, heading into middle age, maintained her figure by skipping dinner.
Qin Yansheng suddenly noticed the young girl entering, and was somewhat attracted, so when Lai Shengxia spoke, he playfully made peace: "On the way here, your sister kept asking me if you would like her choice of gift, leading me to run a red light."
Tang Li replied: "It’s a pity I don’t have a driver’s license yet, otherwise I could lend it to my brother-in-law for demerits."
"Don’t listen to his nonsense, blaming me for his reckless driving," Lai Shengxia stood up, blocking Qin Yansheng’s view as she walked over and took Tang Li’s hand: "Come upstairs with me first, the gift I brought for you is in the room."
"Okay." Tang Li smiled without distraction.
Lai Shengxia had brought back a bottle of perfume and a handmade shawl for her.
In the room, Lai Shengxia draped the English-style shawl over Tang Li, saying: "Looks like my taste isn’t bad!"
Saying this, she looked up at Tang Li with a wink and a smile.
That’s just how Lai Shengxia was.
No matter where and when, she always played the empathetic elder sister.
Yet, in this life, Tang Li looked on without being moved because she clearly understood that Lai Shengxia’s kindness had never been sincere.
Even so, she came back tonight.
Because only by seeing Lai Shengxia could she be certain that she was indeed "alive."
Rather than caught in a prolonged, illusory dream.
Tang Li accepted the gift, not forgetting to smile and say thank you: "I like it very much."
By the time they returned downstairs, everyone else was already in the dining room, with several cold dishes laid out and servants bringing out the hot dishes.
Lai Shengxia pulled Tang Li to sit at her right.
"Let me see what dishes they have," Lai Yuanyuan suddenly stood up and went to the kitchen.
She returned to her seat shortly after.
Aunt Wu brought out a few glasses of juice.
A glass of watermelon juice was placed next to Tang Li.
Tang Li glanced at the vibrant red watermelon juice, then picked up the glass and handed it across Lai Shengxia to Qin Yansheng: "I remember the brother-in-law likes this."