Chapter 1258: Banquet
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Her love had long disappeared, but her concern still existed.
Although she had never shown a hint of concern for him before, but he was still aware of that.
So he had asked about Pei Ziheng from Xia Yingluo and told her personally.
Li Lei was just like a big-sized pet. He hugged her and said coquettishly, “What are you thanking me for, are you that distant to me?”
She just smiled and turned her head to plant a kiss on his cheek.
He kissed her too, gently biting on her ear. “Okay, since you know about his news now, you’re not allowed to go hear about him elsewhere, and you’re not allowed to go see him. Do you hear me? If anything is to happen to him—for example, be defeated and fall from grace, or to be cheated and go bankrupt, I will give him material a.s.sistance.”
Xia Ling couldn’t help but laugh. This man was already a few people’s father but was still so boyish. He had come all the way here to say these just because he was jealous. “Why would I go and see him?” She laughed. “He won’t go bankrupt, don’t curse him.”
Li Lei felt unfair. “He’ll go bankrupt sooner or later, then I’ll buy him.”
Xia Ling laughed again and pacified him. “Okay, okay.”
She pacified him as if pacifying a child. He stole a few more kisses from her and Yingluo’s matter was thrown to the back of her mind.
The phone rang and broke apart the two of them.
It was his good brother Du Yunfeng. “Li Lei, when did you return to China? Why didn’t you tell us so we can gather? Me and Xiao Jin and the rest are all planning to hold a banquet for you. Bring along your family, okay.”
Li Lei was feeling a little gloomy at Du Yunfeng for interrupting him, but he still agreed.
Xia Ling said, “That’s good, we can let the families of S City get to know Yingluo so that she won’t suffer any more grievances in the future.” Xia Yingluo had been overseas since young and had little chances to go back to China. She had never been exposed to the media before, so none of the rich families in the whole city would be able to recognize her. Now that she was being eyed on by Wei Lingnan, it was a good thing to get to know more people. She was soon seventeen years old and had to officially step into society.
The two of them told their daughter about it at night.
Xia Yingluo did not reject it. “Okay, Brother Du Zheng has even helped me a while ago and I have yet to thank him. Oh yes, mother, could I bring Ling’er along? Ling’er has a part to play in Brother Du Zheng helping me.”
Xia Ling didn’t mind. “Then bring her along to play. Brother Du Zheng and Uncle Jin Yifei are all in the film industry. It’ll be helpful for your friend’s debut to know more people.”
Xia Yingluo grinned. “Thank you, mother!”
She returned to Imperial’s training camp and immediately told Jin Ling’er the good news.
Jin Ling’er heard that she was going to attend a prestigious banquet and was extremely happy. “Wow! I’ve never even been to such a banquet before, that’s awesome. I’ll definitely dress up nicely and won’t throw you face!” While talking, she began to get a little nervous. “Yingluo, what should I wear and what should I talk about when I’m there? The other people… would they belittle me?”
Xia Yingluo said, “There’s me, who would dare to belittle you? Don’t worry, when we are all dressed up, we’ll go together and you only have to follow me. I’ll introduce you to my parents and, oh yes, and Brother Du Zheng. He helped us chase Jiang Bilian from the filming crew last time. I have yet to thank him properly.”
Jin Ling’er was surprised. “You know Du Zheng?”
“Yes,” Xia Yingluo said. “Du Zheng has a deep relations.h.i.+p with our family. This banquet is being held by the Du family. Brother Du Zheng is on very good terms with my elder brother, so he’ll be sure to take good care of us.”
Jin Ling’er exclaimed, “You know so many people.” She suddenly realized something. “No wonder Du Zheng helped me so much last time. I still thought it was because my sincerity had moved him, but it turned out he was doing it because of you?!”
Xia Yingluo giggled. “Your sincerity played a big part. Brother Du Zheng is a righteous man and is famous to be iron-faced. If he doesn’t agree with your viewpoint, he wouldn’t have helped you even if it was for me.”
Jin Ling’er felt a little better and felt like her efforts had not been wasted.
But after pondering over it, she covered her face. “It’s so embarra.s.sing. You two are obviously so familiar with each other and yet, I still tried to compliment you in front of him.”
Xia Yingluo patted her head happily. “Good friends are loyal.”
“He must think I’m ridiculous, right?” Jin Ling’er got more and more embarra.s.sed and fell down onto the bed.
Xia Yingluo stopped comforting her and said disdainfully, “You’re usually so thick-skinned, why are you trying to save your face now?”
“You don’t understand…” Jin Ling’er whined.
Actually, she couldn’t understand either. Why was her face red just at the thought of it? It was as if it was okay to lose face in front of everyone else, but if that man called Du Zheng thought she was ridiculous… she couldn’t take it!
The days pa.s.sed.
Xia Yingluo dedicated herself to helping Jin Ling’er find a little formal dress. She brought her to a professional hairstylist and they made her up, then they rode in her private driver’s car and headed towards the Du family’s banquet.
On the way, there was a car accident nearby.
“Miss, we can’t go through this road,” the driver said. “We have to go back and find another road. We will be late.”
“What?” Xia Yingluo was unhappy. It was unlucky, but things had already come to this and there was no other choice, so she had to give her family a call.
The one who picked up was Li Rui. He, Li Lei and Xia Ling had already arrived at the banquet. A few people were already crowding around exchanging greetings, and Li Rui interjected. “Father, mother, Yingluo said the road there isn’t well, so she’ll be late.”
Xia Ling asked, “Is she okay?”
Li Rui said, “She’s okay.”
Xia Ling nodded. “Okay, tell her to be careful.” She looked up and smiled at Du Yunfeng, Du Zheng and the rest. “This girl is used to being wild outside and has no rules. Please don’t mind her.”
“What’s there to mind about our own family?” Du Yunfeng also smiled. “We haven’t seen our niece Yingluo for so long, she must be very beautiful now.”
Li Lei was proud. “My daughter is, of course, the most beautiful.”
“Look at you, are you bullying me for having no daughter?” Du Yunfeng scolded jokingly.
The few of them continued chatting and didn’t put the little disturbance to heart.
The afternoon air was good.
The driver turned a big round and finally brought Xia Yingluo and Jin Ling’er to the banquet.
Xia Yingluo jumped off the car and walked to the entrance with Jin Ling’er. They brandished their invitation cards.
The attendant at the door took the invitation card and said with a respectful tone, “Ms. Xia, please enter. They have been waiting.” Then, he personally brought them inside and soon they arrived in front of Du Zheng.
Du Zheng was chatting with a few guests on a finely-trimmed gra.s.s patch. Xia Yingluo called, “Brother Du Zheng.”
Du Zheng turned back and saw her, then excused himself and turned back to talk to her. “Little girl has grown up.”
Xia Yingluo also grinned. “Brother Du Zheng has become more and more handsome. Oh yes, this is my good friend Ling’er. You have met her before.”