CHAPTER 408: CHAPTER 401: STRANGE GAZE

Tang Qiubai had no idea what his fiancee was thinking; he was chatting with Sisi. Today, seeing Sisi was a rare occurrence, so Tang Qiubai just wanted to talk to her a bit more.

Sisi didn’t say she wasn’t Song Mengshi’s good friend, but she didn’t admit it either. She just greeted Song Mengshi with a faint nod. Although Tang Qiubai found Sisi’s indifference odd, as it wasn’t the expression one would have when meeting a good friend, he then remembered that Sisi had always treated him, an old childhood friend, the same way, and he quickly regained his composure.

Sisi felt dizzy: Brother, I’m really not that close to you!

Li Yuxi was also very happy to see Sisi and came over to greet her. She took the opportunity to sit down at the same table as Sisi and the others.

However, Tang Anzhi had come with Li Yuxi, and they seemed to be on very good terms, chatting and laughing together. Sisi originally had an okay impression of Li Yuxi, but seeing him mingling with the Tang Family, she immediately felt a bit of aversion.

Tang Anzhi and Tian Xinhua used to work in the same department. According to Tian Xinhua, it was supposed to be Tang Anzhi going to Sui Province this time, but because of his young age, he would have to wait until next year. However, Tang Anzhi’s grandmother and mother thought it was too tough there and firmly disagreed with him going. So, Tang Anzhi remained in the General Office, waiting for next year’s spot.

A doting mother brings up a spoilt child!

With such elders, it’s no surprise that Tang Anzhi would turn out to be a profligate!

Tang Anzhi’s eyes lit up when he saw the beautiful Sisi. He appeared to still be interested in her and wanted to sit next to her. However, Shangguan was sitting to Sisi’s left and Mo Liu to her right; there was simply no room for him to squeeze in. He had to chat with Sisi from a distance, to which Sisi mostly responded with non-committal ’uh-huhs’ without engaging in conversation.

Chang Yunhuan came over to greet Sisi as well and wanted to stay and sit down. His girlfriend, however, wasn’t keen on the idea, plus Sisi’s table was already full. So, he had no choice but to sit at the next table over.

The guests had mostly arrived, and the head of the Jin family, Old Sir Jin, took the stage to say a few formal words of thanks to the guests for gracing the occasion. He also said some auspicious words to bless his granddaughter, and in front of all the guests, slipped a translucent mutton-fat jade bracelet onto Jin Wen’s wrist.

Jin Wen did look a bit unconventional: thick lips, phoenix eyes, flat nose, dark skin, narrow forehead. Taken singly, none of her features seemed attractive, but together, they had a certain appeal. Combined with her model-like stature at least 170cm tall, Sisi personally thought that Jin Wen actually looked pretty good, at least much prettier than a certain model with small eyes from a previous life.

However, this was Sisi’s appreciation. In the eighties where beauty standards revolved around fair skin, almond eyes, a high nose bridge, cherry lips, and an oval face, Jin Wen’s looks couldn’t even be considered plain. If not for the Jin family’s influence, she might have been directly labeled as an ugly woman.

Jin Wen’s voice wasn’t as delicate and sweet as other girls, and was somewhat hoarse and deep. If one didn’t see her in person, they might think it was a boy speaking. Sisi also noticed that Jin Wen had very thick body hair.

For example, the hair above her lips was quite noticeable, and one could even see a few dark, coarse hairs that resembled a mustache. The same went for her exposed calves and arms; especially the hair on her calves was black, long, and dense, which looked quite strange.

Thinking that girls nowadays weren’t aware of hair grooming, Sisi couldn’t help shaking her head. Perhaps the female elders in Jin Wen’s family had a rougher disposition, otherwise, why would they allow Jin Wen to wear a dress that revealed so much skin?

And who could have chosen that dress for Jin Wen? It was a peach-red, knee-length dress — good dress, good figure, but her skin was just too dark. Set against the red dress, Jin Wen’s skin looked even darker.

But no one would point these things out. Instead, they unanimously praised Jin Wen for her beauty, saying she looked even more beautiful in that dress.

"Sisi, look at those people, each one as blind as bats, complimenting Jin Wen for looking beautiful in that hideous red dress—it was so cringe-worthy that I got goosebumps."

Zhang Jie just couldn’t take it anymore and leaned over to complain to Sisi beside Shangguan. Sisi chuckled and whispered back, "Just think of it as them putting on a show, but in truth, they are always playing a part. When was anything they said genuine?"

While Sisi and Zhang Jie were having a good time chatting, Li Yuxi and Tang Qiubai occasionally chimed in with a few comments. To an outsider, their table seemed quite harmonious, especially Sisi and Li Yuxi—one graceful as a willow, the other pure and fresh, both a pleasant sight.

Sisi always felt someone’s gaze on her, but every time she turned to look, the gaze shifted away. After several attempts, Sisi couldn’t help but feel irritated. Who was it that was spying on her from the shadows?

Tang Anxin watched Sisi’s table with a mixture of emotions. Li Yuxi said something that made Sisi laugh behind her hand, and seeing that he had pleased a beautiful lady made Li Yuxi extra happy, speaking even more energetically.

Had Li Yuxi ever tried to please her like he did now?

Wasn’t he always too bashful and quiet?

So he could joke around too?

It turned out she herself was the biggest joke!

Tang Anxin bit her lip, her face flickering with hesitation and then resolve, took one last look at Sisi’s table, and turned to walk towards the inner room.

The banquet offered a rather lavish spread of dishes which, of course, couldn’t compare to the feasts of later generations, but were nonetheless the highest standard for the era.

The chef’s skills were also impressive. Sisi loved the Song’s fish soup the most; she hadn’t had it since leaving Sui City. Although the taste was slightly off compared to Niu Sanxian’s cooking, it still satisfied her craving.

After having too much soup, it naturally led to a need for the restroom. Sisi asked the server where it was and headed towards the indoor bathroom, encountering many others along the way, probably with the same need.

Inside the women’s restroom, a girl washing her hands caught her attention. She was pretty, and judging by her clothes, she must’ve come from a decent family.

But there was something odd about the girl’s eyes. Sisi didn’t think too much of it, went about her business, and failed to notice the strange smile that girl revealed before she gracefully left.

That’s right! That look—while washing her hands, Sisi suddenly remembered—that was the exact gaze that had been spying on her earlier. The feeling was unmistakable; there could be no mistake.

Who was this woman?

Why was she spying on her?

Sisi was puzzled; she didn’t recall ever meeting this girl, let alone having any feud. But the girl’s intentions toward her were definitely not kindly—Sisi even felt a profound malice.

Unable to figure it out, Sisi decided to stay alert and discreetly took out a seven-day drunk spray from her Space and placed it in her bag, just in case.