Inconvenient?
Yan cocked her head to the side, and her eyes twinkled brightly. She stared at Su Yaoyao for a while before breaking into a smile. “Why is it inconvenient? There’s nothing inconvenient about it.”
Just like how I’ve decided I’m determined to conquer Han Qing’s heart.
If I decide to stand by his side, I believe I’ll have to attend events like these, and I’ll have to face similar situations in the future.
I can’t run away every time, can I?
Su Yaoyao was astounded.
“What—”
“You weren’t mistaken. I’m attending the banquet together with Han Qing tonight. I’m his date. Is there a problem?”
Han Qing…
Su Yaoyao was slightly dazed. She addressed him by his full name. Su Yaoyao felt her heart sink, but she smiled faintly.
“Don’t be nervous, I don’t have ill intentions. I’m just curious because I saw you two walking together. I heard my father mentioned that… President Han never brought dates to banquets in the past. That was why I thought it was rather surprising.”
“Ah, I see.” Yan flashed her an equally friendly smile while blinking innocently. “I thought you were here to sniff out information from me.”
Su Yaoyao’s heart skipped a beat at her blatant remark. She felt slightly overwhelmed when faced with Yan’s sharp gaze.
What is happening?
Where did this little girl get her courage from?
In all honesty, Yan was pulling a face at Su Yaoyao in her mind’s eye. She wouldn’t have asked such a direct question in the past. However, she picked up a few things after working with Han Muzi for such a long time.
This is just the right chance to test my skills.
“W-Why would I do that? Why would I try to sniff out information?” Su Yaoyao smiled awkwardly before defending herself. “Please don’t treat me like one of the bad guys. I should be honest with you; many people have a crush on President Han. However, I’m not one of them. I’m just curious, and so you don’t have to worry.”
“Oh, so were you just curious, huh? In that case, I won’t tell you anything more.” Yan smiled innocently. “After all, you’re just curious, and so it doesn’t matter much whether you know about it or not.”
Su Yaoyao was rendered speechless by Yan’s reaction.
She sounds so reasonable that I don’t have a comeback for that.
This woman looks so simple and innocent; in fact, she looks like an easy target for bullying. Who would have expected her to be such a nuisance? Su Yaoyao was just ready for a comeback when she heard some heavy footsteps approaching them.
Yan, who had always been somewhat eccentric, looked up at the sound when she heard the footsteps while thinking to herself, Are there more people coming over to disrupt my peace? Nevertheless, this woman has already disrupted the peace here. It’s annoying indeed, but it’s still better than the banquet.
When she saw Han Qing and the banquet host walking over to them, the slick and cunning smile across Yan’s face vanished instantly. Instead, it was replaced with an obedient expression.
Su Yaoyao noticed the swift change in the expression on Yan’s face, and so she turned to look at the people approaching them. Then, she inhaled sharply.
President Han is actually here.
Why is President Han here?
President Han has seen me before. Furthermore, I’ve chatted with him just now. If Han Qing comes over right now, would he think that I’m trying to cause trouble?
Su Yaoyao looked away swiftly to avoid causing trouble for the Su Family. Then, she spoke to Yan, “I suddenly recalled that I need to attend to something urgent. I should leave now.”
After that, she stood up abruptly to leave the place in a hurry.
Yan was at a loss for words.
She gazed in the direction where Su Yaoyao left. Judging by the way she left, she didn’t look like she was lost at all. She was trying to ask about Han Qing via me, but she immediately ran away once Han Qing arrived.
Hmm, reality proves that Han Qing is a scary man.
Just when she was deep in thought, Han Qing and the banquet host arrived in front of her.
The banquet host saw many empty cake containers on the table in front of Yan, and so he commented with a smile, “It seems like I’ll have to reward the pastry chef tonight.”
Initially, Yan was still thinking about Su Yaoyao, but she blushed instantly when she heard the banquet host’s comment.
Yan was focused on eating earlier, and she did not expect Han Qing to return suddenly. Right now… the both of them saw the amount of food she had had, and so the atmosphere turned awkward all of a sudden. Yan rubbed her nose in embarrassment because she forgot to put away the trash.
Han Qing glanced at the small empty cake containers, whereas Yan looked embarrassed. Furthermore, there was some cream smeared across her lips, and so he raised his hand naturally to wipe the cream away from her lips.
Yan saw him reaching out to her, but before she could respond, Han Qing already touched her lips. She blushed furiously by the time he wiped the cream away from the corner of her lips.
What is wrong with me? Forget about eating so many cakes; I can’t believe my lips are even smudged with cream.
Yan’s mind was in a mess. On the other hand, Han Qing was wiping away the cream with his handkerchief, seemingly unfazed.
The banquet host observed the incident unfold before him in silence, and then he flashed Yan a smile. “Miss Zhou, why are you here alone? The banquet is crowded and lively. Why don’t I introduce you to some people?”
Introduce me to some people?
Yan wanted to explain that she merely operated a ramen restaurant, and so she wouldn’t need to be introduced to anyone at all. However, she realized instantly that the banquet host was doing that out of courtesy for Han Qing.
Hence, she glanced at Han Qing, who answered quietly, “Do you want to go? You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
Well, of course I don’t want to go along with this, but Han Qing is here to attend the banquet, and I’m sure he has his reasons. I would trouble him if I don’t go.
After weighing her options, Yan nodded obediently. “I’d like to go.”
“Great! Let’s go.”
After that, Yan clung onto Han Qing’s sleeve to walk alongside him carefully.
With the banquet master leading the way, coupled with the fact that Han Qing was beside her, everyone was especially nice to Yan. However, one of them was quite tactless because he asked about Yan’s family background. Han Qing shot him a swift, sharp and steely stare.
The man was utterly embarrassed, but he was a straightforward person, and so he burst out laughing immediately.
“I’m truly sorry. I’m not good with words, and it’s my fault to have offended you, Miss Zhou. I’ll punish myself with three glasses of liquor!”
Hence, he gulped down three glasses of liquor in front of everyone.
Yan’s expression changed swiftly when she saw that, but she didn’t manage to stop him in time.
She stared helplessly while the man gulped down the liquor. After a while, she raised her glass too. “Well… in that case, I’ll toast you…”
With that, Yan was about to drink the liquor.
Han Qing glanced at her quickly, and he realized that she chose a liquor with a high alcohol content. Upon recalling her numerous drunk stupor in the past, Han Qing stopped her before she could drink the liquor.
“What is it?” Yan looked at Han Qing in confusion. “He’s had three glasses. Is it wrong… for me to return the favor with one?” she whispered.
