Li Qingshen’s face grew increasingly grim as he stood up from the mahjong table and walked to the window, dialing Ling Momo’s number over and over. In the end, Ling Momo’s phone switched to an automated customer service voice, "I’m sorry, the number you have dialed is powered off."
Li Qingshen then hung up the phone with a dark look and walked back to the center of the room.
Anyone with eyes could tell that the birthday boy was in an extremely foul mood that evening, and the roomful of people glanced at each other, at a loss for words.
Silence filled the room until, after a while, Su Chen gently cleared his throat, breaking the strange atmosphere, "Well... let’s just wait a little longer, I’m not hungry anyway."
"I’m on a diet recently, a diet!" Qin Sheng chimed in happily when he saw Su Chen speak.
Once the atmosphere was lightened, everyone began to chime in about waiting a bit longer. Li Qingshen slightly lowered his eyes, his lips pressed lightly together, exuding a chill that made everyone stop talking as they looked on.
The room fell silent for a long time before Li Qingshen finally raised his head, but he said nothing.
His cold and elegant eyes stared into the void, and after a while, he moved his lips slowly, "No need to wait any longer, Asheng, call the manager, and let’s start the meal."
Qin Sheng stood there, not moving, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Are you sure we shouldn’t wait?"
"Yeah," Li Qingshen nodded with a resigned air, a faint layer of disappointment in his eyes, "Her phone is off."
The mood in the room plummeted to freezing once again.
Holding his phone, Qin Sheng quietly informed the "Imperial Palace" manager.
The food was soon served, along with two bottles of 1982 vintage Lafite red wine.
The server arranged the wine glasses, poured the wine, then quietly retreated.
Naturally, it was time to eat, but everyone seemed a bit stiff. Li Qingshen looked around the group, walked deliberately to the dining table, and casually picked up a glass of red wine, saying lightly, "Come, cheers!"
Seeing Li Qingshen raise his glass, everyone followed suit. Su Chen, with a touch of concern, glanced at Li Qingshen and couldn’t help but speak, "Qingshen, don’t be too upset; maybe she really had something important to do."
"Yeah, maybe she’ll show up later," You Yi added, agreeing.
Li Qingshen could hear the consolation in their voices, but it seemed so pale, so ironic.
It really didn’t matter whether there was an issue or not.
If she truly cared, even if she had to cancel, couldn’t she make a call or send a message?
What could be so important that he called her more than twenty times without getting even a hint of a response?
Li Qingshen gripped the wine glass tightly, his eyelids drooping slightly, his smile loose and dazzling, his normally indifferent eyes softened quite a bit, revealing a rare sadness that he never easily showed in front of others.
He clinked his glass with everyone else’s, then, with a cool and clear look, he pressed his lips to the crystal glass, tilting his head back slightly to drink it all in one gulp.
The entire sequence of movements appeared so graceful and refined. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on novel⟡fire.net
Seeing Li Qingshen drink, everyone raised their glasses and drank. Bao Chongchong took the lead, presenting the gift she had prepared to Li Qingshen with both hands, shifting the atmosphere to a lighter note, "Qingshen, happy birthday!"