After Being Taken by the Eldest Young Lady - Chapter 4

“Jiang… Jiang Xule?”

She really showed up!

Fang Yize almost didn’t recognize her. She was wearing makeup today and a black evening gown that wasn’t too flamboyant, yet the subtle shimmer of the skirt’s fabric was incredibly eye-catching under the banquet lights.

Today, she was much more beautiful than every other time Fang Yize had seen her before; one glance was enough to make it impossible to look away.

“Yiyi, are you alright?” Seeing the situation, Sun Lin came jogging over.

Fang Yize was staring at Jiang Xule as if entranced, especially at those slightly knitted brows and the thick eyelashes that drooped downward like a tiny umbrella over her eyes. It felt so… evocative.

Sun Lin’s gaze lingered on Jiang Xule for a moment before she realized what had happened.

“Clumsy ghost.”

Jiang Xule felt a bit uncomfortable being stared at by Fang Yize. Furthermore, she didn’t particularly want to attract the attention of her other classmates. Thus, she merely shot her a cold glare, dropped the phrase “clumsy ghost,” and headed toward the restroom while lifting her skirt.

Even after the person had walked far away, Fang Yize was still staring in the direction Jiang Xule had left with a look of infatuation. Sun Lin looked at her with amusement and said, “Still looking? She’s long gone! You really are devoted; how many years has it been? The way you look at her now is exactly the same as back when we were in school!”

Only after Jiang Xule disappeared from her field of vision did Fang Yize look up and take a large gulp of champagne to calm her nerves. Just now, when she saw her, her heart felt like it was going to leap right out of her throat.

“If you’re still in love, go up and confess so you don’t miss out again. But she used to have excellent grades, and now? Her current status might not be a match for a young miss like you. Your parents won’t agree to you being with her.”

Sun Lin’s voice wasn’t quiet, so Fang Yize immediately made a shushing gesture and said, “This matter stays between you and me. Let heaven and earth know, but don’t let a third person find out—especially not my parents.”

Sun Lin nodded and made a gesture of zipping her lips.

Satisfied, Fang Yize sat on a high stool, scooping up a fresh piece of cream cake. As she ate, she looked toward the direction Jiang Xule had just left and asked Sun Lin, “What do you think of Jiang Xule?”

“What do you mean ‘what do I think’?”

“Your first impression of her! Isn’t she very beautiful? Don’t you feel like her face has intense sexual tension?”

Sun Lin did think Jiang Xule was beautiful, but she didn’t get the point Fang Yize was making at all. Besides, Fang Yize had asked her that exact same question back in school.

However, she still pinched her chin and thought seriously for a moment before saying with a sudden realization, “If you think she has it, then she has it…”

Just as Sun Lin finished speaking, Fang Yize suddenly grabbed her arm.

Confused, Sun Lin looked in the direction of Fang Yize’s gaze and saw Jiang Xule, who had been covered in cake, walking out of the restroom. The cake on her clothes had been cleaned off, but the wet patch on her chest was very obvious.

A moment later, a girl appeared out of nowhere and rushed up to wrap a shawl around Jiang Xule’s front.

Fang Yize narrowed her eyes, her grip on Sun Lin’s arm tightening even further.

Sun Lin burst out laughing and pried Fang Yize’s hand off, speaking in a tone that suggested she enjoyed watching the drama. “Oh my, looks like she’s already taken.”

Fang Yize looked at Sun Lin with dissatisfaction.

But after all these years, even Sun Lin had gone through several partners, let alone a girl as beautiful as Jiang Xule. She looked like the type of person who could walk through a thousand flowers without a single petal sticking to her.

“Could that really be her girlfriend?”

Seeing Fang Yize’s heartbroken expression, Sun Lin softened and swallowed the ruthless mockery she was about to deliver. Instead, she offered comfort: “Don’t be too disappointed. Maybe she’s straight, and that girl is just her friend.”

“That’s even worse,” Fang Yize said. “Meeting after all these years and offending her right off the bat—the probability of turning her gay is basically zero!”

“So little confidence in yourself? That’s not the Fang Yize I know.”

“Ugh…” Fang Yize’s mouth turned downward, her eyebrows knitting into the shape of the character for ‘eight’. She grabbed a whole bottle of red wine nearby, poured a large glass, and downed it all in one go.

Sun Lin was startled and hurriedly tried to stop her. “Are you crazy? Is that how you drink wine?”

“Give me back the wine.”

“You have evening self-study to attend tomorrow. Stop drinking so you don’t get another headache.”

There was no shortage of anything at this banquet, especially wine. Since Fang Yize was sitting right next to it, she could reach it just by stretching her hand.

Sun Lin was unwilling to give it back to her, so Fang Yize didn’t bother with the opened bottle. In the blink of an eye, she grabbed a new one, this time drinking directly from the bottle as if it were a soft drink.

Sun Lin stepped forward to stop her, resulting in wine spilling all over Fang Yize. It flowed down her neck, staining a patch of her inner dress red.

“If you keep this up, I’m calling your sister to come deal with you!” Sun Lin’s strength slipped, and she slammed the wine bottle heavily onto the table, instantly startling half the classmates in the hall.

Seeing this, Chen Li teased, “Boss Sun, on such a great day, why not let Yize drink to her heart’s content? It’s uncomfortable to be covered in spilled wine, isn’t it?”

Sun Lin pulled the corners of her mouth into a reluctant smile but didn’t reply.

Seeing Chen Li come over, other classmates also started coming up with their drinks, cheering about drinking until they dropped. Everyone wanted to have a drink with Fang Yize.

Fang Yize responded enthusiastically, pouring some into a tall glass and clinking glasses with them.

In the distance, Jiang Xule looked over with some disdain, thinking to herself that these people were still the same as before—noisy and rowdy.

“Xule, how about we go over and have a drink with Fang Yize too?”

The girl speaking was named Yang Huan, the only person who had stayed in contact with Jiang Xule over the years.

After graduating from high school, Jiang Xule didn’t go to university and went straight to work. Firstly, she didn’t have the means, and secondly, she hoped to work hard for a few years to save up money for a house as soon as possible.

Her part-time jobs during that period were all introduced by Yang Huan because Yang Huan also worked part-time frequently. Over time, she naturally developed a lot of connections.

Fortunately, the store managers and owners she knew were very happy to be friends with her. When they were too busy during holidays, they would ask her to come help, and Yang Huan would bring Jiang Xule along.

Luckily, Jiang Xule was a hard worker.

“If you want to go, go ahead. I’m not going.” Jiang Xule popped a macaron into her mouth; the shell was very chewy and resilient.

“Why? Fang Yize’s family has massive industries. Just in the catering business we often work in, the Fang family owns a huge portion of Yuegang. Getting on her good side could mean she introduces us to her family. Maybe we could struggle for a few less years.”

Jiang Xule usually couldn’t afford these high-end desserts. Now that she finally had the chance to eat some for free, she was immediately disillusioned. This macaron was so sweet it made her throat feel sticky, making the milk tea on the side taste like it had no sugar at all.

She swallowed several times to get that cloying sensation down before responding unhurriedly, “You really believe the rumors that her parents are the richest people in town?”

“Huh? If not, then what?”

“Last time I wanted to try setting up a stall, I went to No. 1 Middle School. And guess what? I ran into Fang Yize. She’s a teacher there.”

This was the first time Yang Huan had heard that Fang Yize had become a teacher.

Logically, it shouldn’t be the case. Shouldn’t a young miss be sitting in an air-conditioned office, clicking a keyboard and moving a mouse to live a life free of worries? Why would she go do such a bitter, tiring job that makes one angry and hurts the liver?

“So she’s just crafting a persona for herself?” Yang Huan asked in disbelief.

Jiang Xule used a fork to pick up a bite-sized piece of tiramisu, put it in her mouth, and nodded. “Definitely. Otherwise, why can’t you find any information about the ‘Richest Man’s Daughter’ on Baidu?”

“You actually searched it online?”

“Better than being kept in the dark.”

Yang Huan pursed her lips and looked toward the noisy crowd. Seeing Fang Yize holding her glass high and drinking generously with her old classmates, she sighed and said, “I didn’t expect her to be that kind of person.”

Hearing this, Jiang Xule raised an eyebrow and picked up the same type of cake that had just been smeared on her. Taking a bite, she found the sweetness to be moderate; it was easily the most delicious item on the entire dessert table.

She felt strangely refreshed now, as if a person she disliked had finally been seen through by everyone else.

The party lasted until ten o’clock at night before breaking up. However, since the old classmates had finally managed to gather, many were reluctant to part so soon. Someone suggested going to KTV, and everyone chimed in in agreement.

Only the parents who were married and had children left the venue in a hurry.

Fang Yize had been drinking all night, and now her steps were starting to falter. Almost her entire body weight was leaning on Sun Lin, who was supporting her.

“You better not vomit on me, or I’m calling your sister right this second!” Sun Lin was worried, but she still didn’t let go of Fang Yize.

“Why do you keep mentioning my sister? You think my sister can do anything to me?” Fang Yize burst into a fit of loud laughter.

In public, this laughter was somewhat inappropriate, so Sun Lin covered her mouth again.

“My ancestor! Just behave yourself!”

When everyone reached the entrance, Sun Lin called out to Chen Li, “Sorry, President. Fang Yize drank too much. I brought her here, so I have to take her back. I won’t be going to the KTV.”

Before Chen Li could speak, Fang Yu cut in, saying, “That’s hilarious. Isn’t Fang Yize the daughter of the richest man? Can’t she just call a private chauffeur to come over? Does she really need you to send her?”

In reality, Fang Yize didn’t even have her family driver’s number saved. She knew how to drive and usually traveled by herself unless she had to attend family banquets, in which case she would take the family car.

“It’s late; it’s not good to disturb people,” Sun Lin said.

Fang Yu crossed her arms and gave a mocking snort. “What’s this about ‘disturbing’ or ‘not disturbing’? Stop making excuses. In my view, Fang Yize being a wealthy young miss is fake—being an ordinary worker is the truth!”