Chapter 426: One Person Missing
Yun Xiangxiang glanced over and frowned. Song Mian paid attention to every move of her, “What’s wrong?”
“I feel that someone is missing.” The seats were completely filled up, but only the main seat of Old Man s.h.i.+ was left empty.
It was impossible for the s.h.i.+ family to not arrange according to the number of people, but Yun Xiangxiang did not see the little girl she b.u.mped into the toilet.
Yun Xiangxiang had been in the fas.h.i.+on circle for so long, and she had followed Song Mian for such a long time. She could tell at a glance that the other party was from a wealthy family. She was either a guest or a family member of the s.h.i.+ family.
No matter who she was, it was impossible for her to not be served at Old Man s.h.i.+’s birthday banquet.
Even s.h.i.+ Youxuan, the illegitimate daughter, was eligible to be at the table. Unless the ident.i.ty of that girl was more embarra.s.sing than an illegitimate daughter?
If that was the case, how did she enter the s.h.i.+ family? Or did it mean that there were other inside stories she did not know?
“Huh?” Song Mian also glanced around, “The s.h.i.+ family are all here except for the old man.”
Yun Xiangxiang’s heart sank. It can’t be that I b.u.mped into a ghost in broad daylight?
Song Mian said that all of them were present. His understanding of the s.h.i.+ family was not one-sided. Even if there were members of the s.h.i.+ family he did not recognize, he would have remembered all of them so that he would be able to recognize them if they met outside.
“When I called you just now…” Yun Xiangxiang told Song Mian the affair.
Yun Xiangxiang had just finished speaking, and the birthday person walked in with a sandalwood crutch that had a dragon head carved on it.
Although he supported himself with crutches, his pace was steady. He was already eighty years old, yet his hair was still not wholly white. Instead, it showed a grayish-white state.
His hair was dense. His face had many wrinkles, but he did not appear weak, and his eyes still looked sharp.
Everyone stood up. Song Mian sat on the left-hand side of the old man because of his high status, while s.h.i.+ Youxuan’s father, the s.h.i.+ family’s master, sat on the old man’s right-hand side.
Yun Xiangxiang followed Song Mian and probably based on the wife’s principle being respected based on the husband’s honor, she sat next to him while Chang Yuan sat on her right.
It was supposed to be Chang Tao, but considering Yun Xiangxiang, Chang Yuan, who was also a female, was arranged to be sitting next to her.
“Everyone don’t be restrained. Just treat this as a family banquet and accompany this old man to a meal.” Old Man s.h.i.+ was still very kind, “Sit down.”
He said that he sat down first, and the rest of the people sat down.
This big family naturally inherited the Chinese tradition of keeping quiet during meals and bedtime. Any discussions must have been done before dinner.
The whole dinner table was tranquil, but the food in s.h.i.+’s family was good, and no one felt depressed. They just enjoyed their meal in peace.
Song Mian completely ignored the gaze of so many people, so nearly spoiled Yun Xiangxiang like she could not take care of herself. He would pick through the food entirely and put it in Yun Xiangxiang’s bowl.
For example, he would pick out the meat in the seafood, and the peppercorns in dishes would be picked clean…
This resulted in many people casting their gaze over frequently. Yun Xiangxiang couldn’t stand it no matter how thick-skinned she was. She secretly pulled the hem of his clothes several times.
Song Mian didn’t seem to feel it and didn’t cooperate at all. Yun Xiangxiang couldn’t glare at him openly, let alone warn him.
She could only accept it with a smile. She forced herself to ignore the others and focused on her meal.
Everyone rested for a while after the meal was finished, and the younger generations were going to celebrate Old Man s.h.i.+’s birthday.
Everyone would present their gifts at that time. Although Yun Xiangxiang came with Song Mian, they were not considered a family as they were not married.
Song Mian asked her if she wanted any help with the gift preparation, but Yun Xiangxiang refused him. She asked Qian Yongnian to buy a good quality bloodstone through some of his remaining contacts in the previous years.
Old Man s.h.i.+ took it in his hand and smiled, “You are considerate. I don’t know if my old bones can wait until your wedding.”
Old Man s.h.i.+ was ridiculing Yun Xiangxiang, but he had made small talk with those who gave gifts before, so no one thought it was abrupt.
“Old man, your body is very healthy. You will surely live a long life,” said Yun Xiangxiang auspiciously.
“Hahaha.” Old Man s.h.i.+ laughed happily, “A lot of people say these things to me, but it’s a different feeling when you said it.”
Yun Xiangxiang smiled shyly back.
Old Man s.h.i.+ said, “You and Youxuan are cla.s.smates. Do come and often visit when you have time.”
“I will come and talk to you often if there is a chance.” Yun Xiangxiang replied politely and let out her position.
Old Man s.h.i.+ started talking to them after everyone else gave him their gifts. Yun Xiangxiang did not understand the context of the chat.
Yun Xiangxiang took the opportunity to ask s.h.i.+ Youxuan, “Is there anyone from your family who didn’t come?”
s.h.i.+ Youxuan glanced at Yun Xiangxiang inexplicably and shook her head, “Who would dare to be absent on such an important day for grandpa?”
Unless it were someone who was not recognized like s.h.i.+ Youxuan’s mother, they would apply for leave and attend. The only exceptions were her cousin brothers studying abroad and could not request a leave.
Yun Xiangxiang felt even weirder. This person seemed to have emerged and disappeared out of thin air, but it was not appropriate for her to continue inquiring. She might be suspected of trying to dig the s.h.i.+’s family privacy.
“Accompany me to the bathroom?” Yun Xiangxiang turned her head sideways and asked Tang Suran.
Tang Suran would not refuse her, and both of them left the hall quietly.
“Where are you going?” Tang Suran was puzzled. There was a bathroom on the left-hand side.
The maids naturally asked them if they needed anything when they left the hall, and the maids pointed to the nearest bathroom when they said they wanted to go to the bathroom.
Yun Xiangxiang refused to let the maid lead the way and did not even go to the location pointed out by the maid, “When I was playing mahjong with you all previously, I also went to the bathroom. I might have left something behind.”
Yun Xiangxiang wanted to go to the bathroom, but she still decided to go to the bathroom she went to previously. She didn’t want to dig into the s.h.i.+’s family’s privacy, but she felt that something was wrong.
If she didn’t run into this person, it would be fine; but somehow, she b.u.mped into Yun Xiangxiang, and it left a deep impression on Yun Xiangxiang.
Tang Suran didn’t overthink. She accompanied Yun Xiangxiang, and both of them entered the bathroom.
Yun Xiangxiang and Tang Suran went into different cubicles. Yun Xiangxiang smelled a fragrant aroma halfway through.
“Xiangxiang, hold your breath!” Tang Suran’s voice came from next door.
Yun Xiangxiang immediately held her breath. She got up quickly and wanted to leave the bathroom, but she felt dizzy the moment she pushed the door.
She bit her tongue and pushed the door open. Everything she saw had a double image, and her feet were weak. She finally managed to get to the sink.
She stretched out her hand to get some water, but she fainted in the end as she lacked energy and was unable to stay clear-headed.
She felt someone approach her and pick her up with her remaining consciousness. The boundless darkness then swallowed her.
A scream woke her up. She felt that her hands were sticky, and she forced herself to open her eyes. The first thing she saw was blood.
She held a knife in her hand, and a dead person was lying in a pool of blood next to her.