Chapter 96: We Haven’t Seen Each Other in So Long—Won’t You Give Me a Hug?

Tang Fei was flattered beyond measure.

Qianxi was the most famous luxury hotel in the capital.

An event at Qianxi Palace was not something one could simply book; only people of special standing were qualified to reserve it.

It was said that a single table there featured one hundred and eight dishes, rivaling the lavish feasts of old imperial banquets.

Tang Fei bowed and scraped with an ingratiating smile. “I shall obey the chairman’s hospitality, Miss Tang naturally will as well.”

As he spoke, he even nudged Jiang Ciyou beside him. “Hurry up and thank the chairman. Qianxi Palace is not easy to enter. This is a rare chance to broaden your horizons and see the world.”

One had to know that anyone attending an event hosted by Bo Wanhua would surely be accompanied by other powerful figures.

Jiang Ciyou was just about to say something when Bo Wanhua cut her off.

“Places like Qianxi Palace are not suitable for young people like Miss Jiang.”

For a moment, the atmosphere turned awkward.

Even Tang Fei had not expected that Bo Wanhua had no intention of bringing Jiang Ciyou along.

It seemed she was still dissatisfied with her.

The hostility was far too obvious.

Who would have thought that Bo Wanhua would then take an embossed invitation from her bag?

“I think Miss Jiang probably would not enjoy this kind of business gathering. There is, however, a better place for you tonight. This is the birthday invitation for the Shen family’s youngest daughter. It is more suited to young people for fun and amusement. I imagine all the prominent young heirs of the capital will attend today. You may as well go and make a few more acquaintances.”

Without further ado, Bo Wanhua placed the invitation directly into Jiang Ciyou’s hand.

Then she picked up her bag and headed for the door.

At the doorway, she even turned back and said, “By the way, help me arrange a bouquet of lilies for Miss Shen.”

She left Jiang Ciyou almost no chance to refuse.

Tang Fei hurried after Bo Wanhua as well.

Passing by Jiang Ciyou, he patted her shoulder. “Ciyou, it looks like you’ve passed the Bo family’s test. Chairman Bo is clearly trying to help you become part of the capital’s social circle. I’m optimistic about you, future crown princess.”

With that, Tang Fei vanished in a flash.

Jiang Ciyou looked down at the embossed invitation in her hand.

Her feelings were somewhat complicated.

Something about this did not feel simple.

She opened the invitation.

Only the address was written on it; nothing else.

Still, the address felt familiar to Jiang Ciyou.

Shen Residence, Yunxiao Road.

Was that not Shen Nuo’s home?

Shen Nuo had been Jiang Ciyou’s childhood friend; they had known each other since kindergarten.

In Jiang Ciyou’s memory, Shen Nuo had no parents, yet she lived in a large house with a butler and maids, and it was the butler who had raised her.

It was not until her second year of high school that Shen Nuo’s father came to find her.

Only then did everyone learn that Shen Nuo was the illegitimate daughter of the Shen family, one of the four great families of the capital, lost outside for years.

As for the Shen family, though it was not large, the family ties were quite complicated.

Old Master Shen had two sons.

Shen Ziqian and Shen Zishan.

Shen Ziqian had entered into an alliance by marriage with the Xue family and married Xue Ling, the aunt of Xue Tao and Xue Xin.

Yet after more than ten years together, they had still not had a child.

The old man grew anxious.

Later, Shen Ziqian confessed to the old master that in his youth he had once had a passionate affair and fathered a daughter whom he had arranged to keep in another city.

That daughter was Shen Nuo.

When Shen Nuo was in her second year of high school, the Shen family acknowledged her, bringing her back into the family and adding her to the family register.

Naturally, Xue Ling was furious over this illegitimate daughter who had suddenly appeared, already in her teens.

But having failed to bear a child for over a decade herself, she could only swallow her rage in silence.

She could only watch as the old master brought Shen Nuo back to the Shen family.

What was dramatic, however, was that one month after Shen Nuo returned, Xue Ling, already forty years old, became pregnant.

That was when Xue Ling truly straightened her back.

She made things difficult for Shen Nuo at every turn, and under the pretext that caring for the pregnancy made her moods unstable, she sent Shen Nuo back to Rong City once more.

But at that time, Shen Nuo was also happy.

She stayed in Rong City for several more years.

Then, after Jiang Ciyou and Yan Feng “got married,”

and the old master fell gravely ill, Shen Nuo was once again brought back by the Shen family, and later went abroad to study.

Coincidentally, Shen Nuo had only returned to the country three days ago.

As soon as she got back, she asked Jiang Ciyou to meet, saying she wanted to fly to Rong City to see her.

But because Jiang Ciyou had been in poor condition for some time,

and did not want to worry her, she had found an excuse to refuse.

Today, perhaps she could see her after all.

Jiang Ciyou wanted to surprise her, so she deliberately did not call.

She ordered a bouquet of lilies and took a taxi to the Shen residence.

By the time she arrived, it was already evening.

Four bodyguards in black suits stood at the Shen family gate.

Anyone entering had to present an invitation.

Jiang Ciyou naturally walked right in with hers.

Beyond the gate lay a world apart.

Inside was a vast Chinese-style garden.

Pavilions, terraces, winding corridors, arched bridges over flowing water, waterfalls and artificial rocks, and a sprawling courtyard.

But the courtyard had already been carefully decorated.

Delicate string lights and balloons hung from the trees.

Several long French banquet tables had been arranged in the yard, laden with exquisite desserts of all kinds.

Waiters in tailcoats moved back and forth carrying trays of wine.

There was even a live band.

A closer look revealed that it was a fairly famous group from a talent competition in the entertainment industry.

Quite a number of guests had already arrived.

People gathered in clusters of three or five throughout the courtyard, some chatting and laughing, others admiring the scenery.

The place was too large, and Jiang Ciyou did not know anyone.

In the end, she called Shen Nuo.

“Baby, did you miss me?”

Shen Nuo’s carefree voice came through the phone.

Jiang Ciyou smiled. “Where are you?”

Shen Nuo sounded unmistakably bored. “At home. Something came up today and my dad won’t let me go out. He’s afraid I’ll cause trouble for him. I’m bored to death.”

Jiang Ciyou’s voice remained calm. “Come downstairs.”

Shen Nuo did not catch it clearly. “What?”

“Come downstairs. Come to the gate to pick me up.”

Shen Nuo sprang up from bed like a fish flipping upright. “You came to my house?”

She did not even have time to change clothes.

Still in her pajamas, Shen Nuo went straight downstairs.

She drew countless sideways glances along the way.

“Who is that? Why is she dressed like that at Miss Shen’s birthday party?”

“Don’t you know? Shen Nuo, the illegitimate daughter of the Shen family’s main branch, Cousin to Shen Qingqing. She really is just like the rumors say, a total tomboy.”

“But I think she looks so cool. She is even this dashing in pajamas. She somehow looks more handsome than a guy.”

“Exactly, she is so handsome. So it turns out a husband is a feeling, not a gender. What am I supposed to do? I kind of want to call her husband now, and she even smells nice.”

“Will you all stop being ridiculous? She is the illegitimate daughter of the Shen family and not favored at all. The main branch already has a biological son. I heard Madam Shen cannot stand her at all. Who knows when she will be driven out of the house.”

Shen Nuo paid no mind to the gossip along the way.

She jogged all the way to the gate.

Then she saw Jiang Ciyou standing there with a bouquet of lilies.

Overjoyed, Shen Nuo quickened her pace and ran over.

When she reached Jiang Ciyou, she was slightly breathless. “Why are you here?”

Jiang Ciyou, however, lifted a hand to sweep back her hair, her smile alluring and languid.

She opened her arms, her eyes curved with amusement. “It has been so long since we last saw each other. Aren’t you going to give me a hug?”