Ai beamed. "It's a pleasure to meet you too. How is your health now? I am sorry that you couldn't be a part of the finals," she pursed her lips in disappointment.
Shi Huan took a pause and smiled. "I am much better now. And I don't lament being disqualified. It's an honor to even reach the finals."
'Guiying' was getting annoyed at their interaction and more so because they were completely ignoring them.
Zhan Yahui held her arm. "Let's go. We don't have any more time to spend here."
Jun narrowed his eyes. His gaze fell on Cai Lingyun again, seemingly feeling disturbed by his presence.
Cai Lingyun didn't want to leave, but it was clear that Ai won't be coming with them. The light in his eyes flickered with distaste and discomfort.
Ai stared at 'Guiying' who was looking back at her with hostility in her eyes. It was the same resentment that caused a rift between them in the past life. But she didn't understand why she looked so different?
Guiying feels different today…Until the Summit night, she was smiling and friendly. But now she looks indifferent. Is it because of Bro Lingyun?
Worry filled her heart. It wasn't that she yearned for Guiying's friendship anymore, but she also didn't wish for them to have any differences and be neutral and civil.
Zhan Yahui finally pulled them away, throwing a squinted gaze at their group before leaving. Cai Lingyun also followed them reluctantly.
Ai brought her attention back to Shi Huan who looked visibly more comfortable now that Guiying had left.
Strange, Ai thought. Do Shi Huan and Guiying know each other?
Shi Huan said, "Congratulations for winning the Summit."
"Thank you. How did you all meet?"
Nian laughed. "Hahahaha!" Newest update provided by novel·fire·net
Jun grimaced. "What is so funny about that?"
Xing Bi coughed while Yunru blushed furiously. He exclaimed. "It's nothing at all! We just bumped into each other!"
Nian chuckled. "But how is the main question~"
"Shut up Bro Nian! If you say another word, then I will curse your love story!"
"Hey! Respect your elders!"
Ai and Jun curiously leaned in. "Now, we want to know what happened. I never saw Yunru acting so flustered."
Shi Huan shrugged and answered. "Indeed it's nothing much. He just accidentally grabbed my chest."
Yunru felt the silence that crushed his heart. "It's not like what you are imagining!" His cheeks reddened like a tomato. "Listen to my story!"
"Where is Ai!?" Xing Bi was looking around everywhere but couldn't see her. "She got lost? I didn't even realize!" She gasped.
Yunru quickly said, "Calm down. Let me call her."
But the call didn't connect. In the end, they had no choice but to go back and fetch her. Along the way, a woman bumped into Xing Bi, who tripped and landed directly into Nian's arms. He effortlessly held her waist and supported her, a garden of flowers instantly surrounding his head.
Xing Bi is in my arms…Ah, she is so soft…
A silly and perverted smile lifted his lips, but it soon disappeared when she stepped on his foot. "How dare you take advantage of me!?"
"But I was just holding you!" He cried.
"More than you should have," her nostrils flared, "And I felt your hands wandering on my waist. Pervert!"
"N-no, I was just protecting my Xing Bi. How could I let you fall? So, I was tightly holding onto you," he nodded sincerely.
Yunru rolled his eyes and left them to bicker while he searched for Ai. From a distance, he noticed someone's back and hair that looked similar to Ai's figure. Even the dress color matched.
He beamed and rushed towards her. "Sister-in-law!"
Then two things happened.
The woman turned, and a passer by's bagpack hit Yunru, making him lean over the woman. His hand accidentally touched her chest, making Yunru gasp in horror.
I-I-I…What I am touching!? I am so dead!
But as he looked down, he noticed that she wasn't Ai at all.
Shi Huan glanced at his hand that was on her chest and then back at him, who was staring back at her with his jaw dropped.
He immediately pulled his hand back, steam escaping from his face. "I…I…I…"
She…she is MysticMidnight, right? The third author to reach finals in the Summit and who is from Shi Publishing?
"It w-was an accident…I wasn't trying to harass you! I respect women a lot!" He wanted to kill himself. The touch of her chest against his palm made his ears burn.
"It's alright. I saw what happened," Shi smiled. "It's not your fault. There is just too much crowd here."
"Tsk, tsk. You have a dirty mind, Yunru," Nian teased as he walked to his side.
"It cannot be dirtier than you who was clearly taking Xing Bi's advantage! Back off! Leave me alone!" Yunru cried and ran away, unable to shake that embarrassing incident off his mind.
Ai burst into laughter when she finally couldn't hold it in. "I see. Indeed, our dress colors are similar. It's not your fault if you mistook her for me, Yunru."
Jun chuckled and shook his head.
Yunru wiped his eyes. "Sister-in-law…."
He cleared his throat and said without looking at Shi Huan, "I will apologize once again for outraging your modesty! Y-you can slap me if you are angry."
Shi Huan was speechless. "It's alright already. I know you didn't do it on purpose."
Ai smiled. "It's really good to meet you here."
She gave a dry smile. "I wasn't supposed to be here, but Mom insisted I do. I didn't even qualify for the finals, but…she can get very persistent."
Clearly, Shi Huan wasn't in favor of coming here through her connections.
Ai shook her head. "I am glad that she was. I wanted to meet you again."
Ai then curiously asked, "By the way, do you know Guiying personally?"
Shi Huan blinked. "Cai Guiying? No, I don't."
"You don't? But I thought you were looking at her as if you knew her already. Even at the Summit and now. So…"
She tilted her head thoughtfully. Then it clicked her, and she said, "You thought I was staring at Cai Guiying? I wasn't. I was looking at Zhan Yahui."
Jun asked, "Her editor? Why?"
Shi Huan took a pause after which she said, "Because we know each other. She is my half-sister."