Chapter 55: Adding Friends
Perhaps sensing an intense gaze, Chen Jiamu turned his head to check and suddenly locked eyes with a pair of amber pupils…
The owner of those eyes wore a dark expression, clearly displeased.
Looking at his own outstretched hand, Chen Jiamu’s heart sank.
It’s over. The deity has seen it…
Silently mourning for himself for a minute, Chen Jiamu awkwardly withdrew his phone, pretending nothing had happened.
“Oh, Li Qi?” Chen Wensong was the first to notice Li Qi, blurting out his name and causing everyone to look back.
“Uncle Chen. Auntie Su, Sister Chen.”
Li Qi greeted everyone one by one, conspicuously leaving out only Chen Jiamu. Seeing Li Qi, Chen Cheng instinctively looked at Chen Jiamu. Seeing his expression remained normal, she let out a sigh of relief.
Four years ago, Chen Jiamu had been angry for a long time over Li Qi’s abrupt departure without saying goodbye. Now that Li Qi was back, Chen Jiamu had no reaction at all.
Presumably, there was still a barrier between them, and things couldn’t go back to how they were.
“Little Li, when did you get back?”
“Where is your Auntie Song?”
Su Yi warmly pulled him over to ask questions. Although the recent scandal with Li Ru had been noisy, Song Jin doted on Li Qi, so Su Yi liked him as well.
“Last night.”
“Auntie Song is keeping the old lady company.”
Su Yi smiled, raising her hand to pat his shoulder, signaling an elder’s approval of a junior. “Little Li has gotten sturdier. Good, very good.”
“I’ll go chat with her. You stay and talk with Jiamu and the others.”
Su Yi knew Li Qi’s departure had upset Chen Jiamu back then, but thinking they were just children, she assumed a little chat would fix things.
“Okay.”
Li Qi agreed, but his eyes never once looked at Chen Jiamu. Su Yi left, and Chen Wensong followed. Now, only the four of them remained in the hall, looking at each other. Fearing the atmosphere would turn awkward, Chen Cheng suggested, “Since everyone hasn’t met in a long time, how about we get together after the banquet?”
“Yiyi, do you want to join?”
As soon as she said it, Chen Cheng regretted it. Chen Jiamu obviously wasn’t interested in this girl.
“Sure.”
An Yiyi seemed very interested, except her eyes were fixed on Chen Cheng, not Chen Jiamu.
The words were already out, so Chen Cheng had to bite the bullet and pick up her phone to make arrangements.
She felt her suggestion was creating a recipe for disaster…
Li Qi looked up, staring at Chen Jiamu with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile. That look made cold sweat break out on Chen Jiamu’s back.
“I’m going to the restroom. You guys chat.”
Unable to stand the judgment in those eyes, Chen Jiamu made a random excuse to leave.
Seeing this, the corner of Li Qi’s mouth hooked up. He turned to Chen Cheng and said, “I haven’t seen you in four years, Sister Chen. You’ve become even more beautiful.”
Praised by Li Qi, Chen Cheng paused for a moment, then a blush quickly spread across her cheeks. This Li Qi had been abroad for four years; how had his personality become so outgoing?
Back then, he was a silent, sullen gourd.
“It seems I’m not the only one who’s changed in four years. Little Li’s mouth has gotten sweeter.”
“Here, let me introduce you. This is Uncle An’s daughter, An Yiyi. I don’t know if you’ve met.”
Li Qi turned to look at An Yiyi, who was standing quietly nearby. He had absolutely no memory of this person.
But her presence didn’t please him, because she seemed to be the one being pushed onto Chen Jiamu.
“Hello, I’m Li Qi.”
No matter how unhappy he was inside, Li Qi still had to maintain surface appearances. An Yiyi kept a faint smile on her lips, and responded politely to Li Qi’s greeting. “Hello.”
They shook hands briefly and quickly pulled back. After withdrawing his hand, Li Qi subtly wiped his fingers on his clothes.
A while later, Chen Jiamu returned. He expected to see daggers drawn, but instead, the three of them were holding wine glasses and chatting happily.
It wasn’t the hellscape he had imagined at all.
On the contrary, he had become the third wheel.
The banquet didn’t run late, ending an hour later.
After saying goodbye to Song Jin, Li Qi set off with the group to the private room Chen Cheng had booked.
Once seated, Chen Cheng ordered food, as no one had really eaten anything at the banquet.
Thinking the meal was a bit dry, Chen Cheng asked the waiter for some alcohol.
An Yiyi, however, couldn’t drink, so she joined them with tea.
Although she wasn’t familiar with Li Qi, their chat earlier meant it wasn’t too awkward.
The only awkward part was the cold communication between Chen Jiamu and Li Qi. However, as the alcohol started flowing, Li Qi’s expression improved significantly.
He kept frantically pouring drinks for Chen Jiamu…
Everyone drank in moderation, but aside from the teetotaler An Yiyi, they were all slightly buzzed.
Chen Cheng didn’t show much change on her face, but her steps were a bit unsteady.
Li Qi was the first to leave. Chen Jiamu was in the restroom, vomiting his guts out. Only after emptying his stomach did he feel a bit better.
He picked up his phone, and a text message popped up: [Xiangyang Hotel, Room 1506.]
[Don’t come, and you’ll suffer the consequences.]
He didn’t need to guess who sent it. That brat held a grudge. If he didn’t go, Li Qi would probably run everyone over tomorrow…
Chen Jiamu rubbed his forehead. How did he end up provoking such a living terror…
Fighting back the dizziness, Chen Jiamu walked back to the private room. Seeing Chen Cheng seemed fine, he made up a lie: “Sis, I’ll call the driver to take you back. Xiaobai asked to meet up, so I won’t be coming home tonight.”
“Go have fun, but don’t stay out too late.”
“Okay.”
With permission granted, Chen Jiamu rubbed his temples and went downstairs. Chen Cheng stood up and looked at An Yiyi. “I’ll have someone take you home. It’s not safe for a girl to go back alone so late.”
An Yiyi wore a faint smile. Seeing Chen Cheng walking out, she pursed her lips and quickly stepped forward to support her, speaking gently: “Sister, you’re drunk. Let me have my driver take you back.”
“My driver is just downstairs. It’ll be fast.”
“Ah.”
“Alright, sorry to trouble you then.”
Since Chen Cheng usually drove herself and the drivers were with their parents, calling one now would take time.
As they walked out, An Yiyi held tightly onto Chen Cheng’s arm…
Meanwhile, following the text message, Chen Jiamu arrived at the hotel room door. Just as he knocked, the door flew open, and a powerful force yanked him inside…
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