After Becoming a Spare Tire, I Got Together with My White Moonlight - Chapter 3

Hotel, backstage corridor.

The moment Jiang Xuehe pushed open a certain door, she was immediately pulled inside by her anxious mother. Pressed all the way into the dressing room, her mother waved for the makeup artist to stand by while she couldn’t help but complain.

“My dear, where on earth have you been? I told you to change into your outfit before coming. If you go out dressed like this, people will laugh at the Jiang family for mistreating their daughter!”

“I might still be jet-lagged and feeling a bit unwell, so I went out for some fresh air,” Jiang Xuehe replied gently.

In truth, she simply couldn’t stand dealing with all those overt and covert stares.

The invited guests had only just started arriving, but many members of the Jiang family were already present, each bringing their children along under the guise of paying their respects.

Her mother had repeatedly reminded her that even if she felt uncomfortable, she shouldn’t let it show otherwise, people would start spreading all sorts of baseless rumors.

“Just bear with it a little longer. You can rest properly once we get home tonight.”

Jiang Xuehe gave a noncommittal nod. When it came to etiquette, she had never made a single misstep in the past.

But after all, she had been away for six years. Abroad, there hadn’t been so many banquets to attend.

Changing into the custom-made evening gown her mother had specially commissioned for this occasion, Jiang Xuehe sat in front of the makeup mirror. The hotel assistant in charge of the banquet handed her the guest registration list as requested.

Her mother, standing nearby, remarked, “I’ve looked over the list too. Quite a few promising young men are attending today talented, handsome, all excellent matches. And your Uncle Tang has promised to bring his son. The two of you are close in age, though it’s been years since you last met. This is a good chance to catch up. If you don’t find him suitable, you can always look at the others.”

The Tang and Jiang families had been close for generations, but the Tangs had risen rapidly in recent years, now subtly surpassing the Jiangs.

Yet after years of collaboration, their relationship was no longer purely competitive. The Jiang family had even begun to worry that the Tangs might leave them behind once they fully ascended.

Of course, higher up, they weren’t entirely without other options.

Both sides were well aware of these uneasy undercurrents, though neither was eager to see the cracks widen.

Coincidentally, the Tang family’s heir was their only son five years older than Jiang Xuehe but still unmarried, with no known romantic entanglements.

At least, that was the official line from the elders. As for the truth, no one bothered to dig deeper.

Her mother’s meaning was simple: Jiang Xuehe was no longer young, and it was time to consider marriage.

As for the choice of partner, naturally, it should also take into account the benefits for the family.

That was the thought, but her mother didn’t dare to be too blunt. Jiang Xuehe appeared gentle and never openly contradicted her parents, but she had a strong will of her own. If she didn’t want something, no one could persuade her.

Especially since Jiang Xuehe had chosen to study abroad on her own initiative, her mother often felt inexplicably apprehensive around her, as if lacking confidence.

Jiang Xuehe quietly scanned the list without responding.

Her mother grew uneasy and quickly added, “Of course, I’m not forcing you. It’s up to your own preference, do you have someone you like right now?”

Jiang Xuehe’s fingers paused slightly, her gaze lingering on a particular page of the list. The corners of her lips lifted faintly before she turned to her mother with the same gentle smile, showing no trace of impatience.

“If that day ever comes, I’ll let you know.”

“Is that so? That’s wonderful,” Mrs. Jiang replied. “But with such a great opportunity tonight, meeting them wouldn’t hurt anything.”

Jiang Xuehe handed the list back, murmured a quiet “thank you,” and closed her eyes, letting the makeup artist do their work.

Outside, people knocked on the door from time to time, announcing the arrival of various guests. Mrs. Jiang reacted differently each time, though most responses carried a hint of delight.

After all, for a simple welcome banquet to draw such a crowd was a testament to the Jiang family’s prestige.

By the time Jiang Xuehe finished preparing and stood to leave, she finally heard her mother’s voice tinged with complaint.

“Traffic? What kind of excuse is that?” Mrs. Jiang’s expression darkened. “She promised she’d be here without fail. How could she come up with such a flimsy excuse at the last minute? Is she toying with us?”

The hotel manager, who had just taken the call, forced an awkward chuckle and kept his head bowed, offering no reply.

Jiang Xuehe paused and asked, “What happened?”

The manager glanced at Mrs. Jiang before answering, “Miss Luan just called to say she encountered a car accident on the way. The traffic is too severe, and she likely won’t make it in time. She asked the hotel to pass along her apologies and promised to personally make it up to Miss Jiang next time they meet.”

“Miss Luan?” Jiang Xuehe inquired. “Luan Yinghua?”

“Who else could it be but the Luan family’s daughter?” Mrs. Jiang interjected. “I heard Miss Luan has a passion for collecting artwork. Xuehe, after all your years studying abroad, you might just catch her eye. Making friends with her would only benefit you.”

In their circles, there was only one Luan family worth mentioning.

Unlike the nouveau riche who had risen in the second or third generation, the Luan family was genuine old money, standing strong for two or three centuries. Even a slight connection with them was enough to bring prestige, let alone any substantial collaboration.

And as luck would have it, the Luan family currently had a young heiress of marriageable age.

Had this young lady deigned to attend, this modest welcome banquet would have taken on far greater significance killing multiple birds with one stone.

Mrs. Jiang’s face darkened further. “Last time we met, she promised me she’d come if she had the chance. And now, at the last minute, she pulls this excuse? It’s downright disrespectful!”

Jiang Xuehe reassured the manager with a few words, sending him off before turning to her mother. “Perhaps there really was an unexpected situation.”

Mrs. Jiang wasn’t buying it, her displeasure still evident. “What kind of ‘unexpected situation’? A car accident? If she had the energy to call, it couldn’t have been her own accident, could it?”

Jiang Xuehe’s voice cooled. “Mom!”

Mrs. Jiang faltered, glancing around before realizing no one else was nearby. She pursed her lips sheepishly.

“I’ll head to the front first. It’s not good to keep the guests waiting too long,” Jiang Xuehe said, softening her tone as she walked out.

Her older brother, Jiang Xueyang, was waiting at the end of the hallway. Dressed to the nines, he cut a reasonably dashing figure.

Despite being siblings, Jiang Xuehe and Jiang Xueyang didn’t look much alike.

Xueyang had narrower, sharper eyes and more angular features, giving him a shrewd appearance. He wasn’t unattractive, but he wasn’t conventionally handsome either. Still, with careful grooming, he managed to exude a certain charm.

In contrast, his sister was the epitome of classical beauty tall and graceful, with porcelain skin, dark hair, and delicate, picturesque features. She carried an air of elegance and poise that even surpassed her mother’s youthful beauty, likely enhanced by her temperament.

Seeing his sister all dressed up, Jiang Xueyang couldn’t help but feel a flicker of admiration in his eyes.

It wasn’t until Jiang Xuehe walked up to him that Jiang Xueyang snapped out of it, coughing lightly before teasing, “If you step out like this, the girls outside are going to die of envy.”

“You flatter me,” Jiang Xuehe replied with a faint smile, linking her arm with her brother’s outstretched one.

One of the purposes of this welcome banquet was to show outsiders the harmonious relationship between the Jiang siblings, leaving no room for others to sow discord or take sides.

Jiang Xuehe seemed perfectly content with these arrangements, cooperating throughout the event. The rest of the Jiang family inwardly sighed in relief, though they wouldn’t dare let their guard down completely until the official announcement was made to the public.

As he held his sister’s delicate arm, Jiang Xueyang’s heart trembled slightly.

Immediately, he scolded himself this was his own sister. How could he be wary of her as if she were some kind of threat?

Pushing open the doors to the banquet hall, Jiang Xueyang set aside his jumbled thoughts when the first guest spotted them and approached with a glass in hand, greeting them warmly. He put on a polite smile and introduced his sister standing beside him.

After exchanging pleasantries with a few guests, several young women who were already acquainted with Jiang Xuehe gathered around her.

Jiang Xueyang greeted them before leaving his sister in the company of her friends.

Once he was out of earshot, the first girl to approach nudged her chin toward Jiang Xueyang’s retreating figure and teased without restraint, “After all these years you’ve been gone, he’s still this afraid of you? Talk about having no backbone.”

Jiang Xuehe relaxed slightly, chatting with her friends for a while before letting her gaze sweep across the banquet hall.

Amidst the sea of formal attire, the one dressed in casual clothes stood out like a sore thumb.

Even Jiang Xuehe was momentarily stunned when she caught sight of that face and outfit whether intentional or not, daring to stand out so boldly in such a setting was nothing short of audacious and utterly unapologetic.

Her friend noticed her gaze and blinked in surprise. “Yan Guiqiu? Xuehe, your influence must be immense to have someone like her show up.”

“You know her?”

“Only by reputation.” Her friend’s brow twitched as she searched for the right words, finally settling on one. “She’s quite an eccentric.”

“How so?”

“For someone of her status, she’s a bit unambitious. Eldest daughter of the Yan family’s main branch, with only younger sisters beneath her, yet she’s barely set foot in the family company since middle school. She should’ve graduated from university this year, and I heard she plans to continue studying completely unrelated to the family business. She hardly ever attends events like these. If she didn’t say anything, who’d guess she’s the Yan family’s eldest miss.”

“Well, to each their own,” another friend chimed in, covering her mouth with a hand, eyes gleaming with gossip. “But the real story is something else. Haven’t you all heard?”

“What?”

“She likes women!”

“…”

“Is that such a big deal? If she’s not involved in the business, she could fancy gorillas for all it matters.”

“Tsk, tsk, don’t tell me you’ve got a thing for her though, to be fair, Yan Guiqiu is quite the looker. Heard she’s got a straightforward personality too.”

“What on earth are you talking about?” The teased friend waved her hands dismissively. “The main point is obviously the person she likes!”

“What person?”

“Qin Xiangxi!”

“…”

“Isn’t that the one who’s always had a thing for Xuehe.”

Jiang Xuehe instantly became the center of attention again.

In a corner of the banquet hall.

Yan Guiqiu sneezed against the wall.

“I think someone’s bad-mouthing me behind my back,” Yan Guiqiu said, covering her nose as she sneezed again.

“Why don’t you consider that standing in the cold wind for an hour might give you a cold?” Song Anchen said dryly. “I thought you’d already guessed you’d attract this much attention.”

“The process isn’t important,” Yan Guiqiu recovered, looking serious. “According to Plans One through Three Hundred Fifty-Nine of my strategy, the first step is always to get to know her. Later, remember to back me up.”

Yan Guiqiu paused mid-sentence, glancing around and noticing only two acquaintances nearby greeting others.

Of the two who had been most enthusiastic about helping her, only Song Anchen was present.

“Where’s A Luan?”

“Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. She ran into a car accident on her way here,” Song Anchen replied. “She just called me, said your phone was off.”

“Must be out of battery,” Yan Guiqiu said. “Is she okay?”

“She’s fine. It was the car in front of her. Just minor injuries, but she volunteered to take a pregnant woman and the injured to the hospital. Probably won’t make it tonight.”

Yan Guiqiu thought for a moment, still optimistic. “No problem. We still have Plans Two Hundred Fifty-One through Three Hundred Fifty-Nine left.”

Song Anchen: “…”

Song Anchen: “If you put this much effort into the family business, your mom would be so thrilled she’d set off fireworks at the company entrance for three days straight.”

Yan Guiqiu pretended not to hear and continued, “You know her, right? Later, when you go say hello, take me along. When introducing me, focus on the good points take it step by step, try to leave a good first impression.”

Song Anchen teased, “Are you trying to be a matchmaker or applying for a job here?”

Yan Guiqiu: “Same difference. It’s my first time as a matchmaker, so better to be cautious.”

Song Anchen: “…” Too cautious.

“I only met her a few times as a kid,” Song Anchen said, scanning the room. “But honestly, if you really want to set her up with someone, it won’t be easy.”

She subtly gestured around. “See, these are probably all the young talents her mom has her eye on. If the conditions aren’t good, her mom wouldn’t even consider them. With her gentle personality, it’s going to be a real headache later.”

This was the public’s impression of Jiang Xuehe whether praising or criticizing her, “good temper” and “soft-hearted” were always part of the description.

Yan Guiqiu raised an eyebrow slightly. “Then you’re underestimating her.”

If Jiang Xuehe were truly that easy to push around, not to mention the tactics in the plot, just based on the rumors about the Jiang family over the years, her parents and brother wouldn’t have such a reputation for being both incompetent and harsh.

In contrast, aside from her concessions to family, no one ever doubted Jiang Xuehe’s capabilities.

“Alright, guess appearances can be deceiving,” Song Anchen shrugged indifferently. Compared to Yan Guiqiu, she was the more carefree one, never bothering to delve into the intricate dramas of other families.

Before Yan Guiqiu could say anything more, she suddenly felt someone’s gaze on her back, and nearby, someone seemed to mention her name.

She instinctively turned to look but didn’t see who had spoken, only catching a few curious glances that quickly averted.

Farther away was a familiar face.

Though the person had changed clothes and was now wearing makeup, Yan Guiqiu recognized her at once, the woman she had just encountered in the small garden.

Was this fate?

The other woman seemed to notice her gaze as well. From a distance, she raised her glass slightly and offered a polite, faint smile.

Yan Guiqiu instinctively smiled back.

She had initially thought it was just a trick of the light, but as her lips curved, she felt as though she was stepping onto a soft, fluffy cloud.

The three hundred-plus plans stored in her mind were wiped clean in an instant, leaving only the pounding of her heart.

Chemistry.

Perhaps it was just that inexplicable and elusive thing.

Even dressed in the same refined makeup as everyone else, she still stood out, fresh and striking.

Yan Guiqiu was lost in thought when Song Anchen nudged her arm and followed her gaze, whispering, “Going over now?”

“Going where now?”

“Jiang Xuehe,” Song Anchen said. “The one in the blue dress in the middle. It’s a good time now not too many people around.”

“Blue dress,” Yan Guiqiu paused.

“And the one next to her, Xia Yaoxin. Don’t you know her? I remember they’re something like cousins. She used to be pretty close with Jiang Xuehe too.”

Song Anchen briefly introduced the people around Jiang Xuehe, then paused as something occurred to her. “By the way, who did you want to set her up with? Even matchmaking needs the right approach. Maybe someone here knows her well enough to help.”

Yan Guiqiu spaced out for a moment, her mind already waging a fierce internal battle. When she snapped back to reality and heard Song Anchen’s words, she changed her mind without hesitation.

“Screw matchmaking, I’ll go for her myself!”

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