At this point, more guests were coming. The Old Man happily called Xian Zihao. Although Xian Zihao was initially here to accompany her, Jiang Ruolan did not want to leave a bad impression on these people thus she told him to leave her alone and went to accompany the Old Man.
Jiang Ruolan was sitting by herself, sipping a cup of scented tea. From time to time, she would smile at the people who came to greet her.
She did not see Cui Liuxian today. In the end, everything that Cui Liuxian had done to her in the Xian Family had been seen clearly by the Old Man. Before Cui Liuxian admitted her mistake and knew what was right and wrong, the Old Man would not allow her to leave the room and continue being so unrestrained.
Actually, if we look past this punishment, the Old Man still doted on Cui Liuxian, but because he loved her dearly, he wanted her to change. Cui Liuxian was someone he had spoiled since she was young, so it was his responsibility to teach her how to be human again.
Jiang Ruolan looked up and watched Xian Zihao skillfully smiling at the elders. Old Man Xian's laughter occasionally attracted the surrounding people. He was smiling to the point where one could feel the spring breeze.
A waitress came to her table to change the hot water in the teapot. Suddenly someone accidentally bumped into her, and she almost spilled the entire pot of hot water on Jiang Ruolan.
Luckily, Jiang Ruolan's reflex was fast. She quickly got up and dodged it. The waitress hurriedly apologized to her. Jiang Ruolan looked over Xian Zihao's direction and saw how worried he was. He was about to walk towards her, but Jiang Ruolan quickly waved her hands and smiled at him, reassuring him that she was fine.
Then she looked down and saw that the waitress really didn't do it on purpose, so she didn't say anything and bent down to help her pick up the shattered teapot.
"Miss Jiang, it's better if I do it myself. You can't get injured." The waitress said nervously.
"This is a small matter. Let me help you." Jiang Ruolan smiled and picked the glass one by one. She saw that this teapot was of top-grade quality.
Jiang Ruolan didn't have the kind heart to meddle in other people's business, but when she saw the waitress's distressed look, she suddenly recalled the scene when she was once forced to work and was fired by her boss for breaking a bowl.
That's why when this incident occurred, she couldn't help herself from helping the waitress. "Let me handle it. If your manager asks, then tell him that it was me who broke it."
That waitress expressed her gratitude over and over again, while Jiang Ruolan merely smiled. She picked up the last piece and threw it into the trash can.
Suddenly, a pair of shiny leather shoes entered her line of sight.
Jiang Ruolan glanced at the leather shoes and slowly raised her head. When she saw the person, she immediately took the wet towel and wiped her hands before standing up.
"Senior Zhou." Jiang Ruolan greeted him naturally with some respect in her eyes.
Regardless of what Senior Zhou's relationship was with Zhou Shufen or what his relationship was with her mother, Zhou Qingling, at the very least, this courtesy was needed. She, Jiang Ruolan, did not have the habit of falling out with anyone in this kind of situation.
"Miss Jiang's body got bigger after a month of not seeing you." Senior Zhou looked at her with a smile. His bright eyes were fixed on her face as if he was observing something.
Jiang Ruolan smiled and patted her belly, "Yes, my body is getting bigger, isn't it? Senior Zhou, you don't have to say it. Hur Hur. Anyway, I have no other choice. When a woman gets pregnant, she will unknowingly grow slightly bigger. I can only try my best not to be too fat so that everyone will still be able to recognize me."
As if Senior Zhou didn't know that she was pregnant, he slightly frowned.
Jiang Ruolan stood straight and indifferently looking at the old man, who was still handsome despite the vicissitudes of life.
"How many months has it been?" He asked softly, the coldness in his voice receding, but it was obvious that he was not in a good mood.
"Two and a half months." Jiang Ruolan smiled.
Senior Zhou looked at her again, narrowing his eyes as if he were sizing up her appearance. Jiang Ruolan did not dodge from his gaze until Zhou Shufen noticed both of them. She looked a little hesitant before walking towards them.
Before Zhou Shufen could walk over, Xian Zihao had already returned to Jiang Ruolan's side. He held her hand, politely and indifferently looking at Senior Zhou, who had a stiff expression on his face.
Zhou Shufen, who originally wanted to walk over, immediately stopped and stood still when she saw Xian Zihao's gentle and caring gaze on Jiang Ruolan. She quietly watched them on the sideline. In the end, she didn't walk in their direction but instead turned around and walked towards the crowd on the other side, as if she did not want to meet up with them.
Rather than saying she didn't want to face them, it would be better to say that Zhou Shufen didn't want to meet with Jiang Ruolan at all.
Jiang Ruolan, on the other hand, naturally understood what Zhou Shufen was thinking. Perhaps she had no way of guessing it when Xiaoyi's identity and Xian Zihao's attitude was unclear, but now, after she knew the truth, she could clearly guess what Zhou Shufen was thinking.
Xian Zihao would be Zhou Shufen's only hope after Xiaoyi left.
Zhou Shufen might not be as despicable as Jiang Ruolan thought, but she knew that she had to be on guard against a woman who really wanted something.
"Zihao, Senior Zhou here said that he hadn't seen me for a month, so he came to greet me specially." Jiang Ruolan said while smiling politely. Looking at Xian Zihao's expression, it was obvious that he understood her meaning.
Xian Zihao also laughed out loud as he looked at Senior Zhou's expressionless face. "Senior Zhou is too polite. We should be the ones serving you a cup of tea."
"You two are very sweet." Senior Zhou's expression did not change, but the smile at the corner of his mouth held a hint of coldness. He looked at Xian Zihao's smiling face and said, "Zihao, are you sure you won't accept my suggestion?"
Jiang Ruolan didn't understand Senior Zhou's words, but she didn't let it show on her face. She only looked at Xian Zihao calmly.
Xian Zihao's expression still didn't change as he took the two cups of tea from the waiter's tray. He passed one to Senior Zhou and said calmly, "Although Senior Zhou's suggestion is interesting, it is not what I want. I hope you will respect my decision."
Xian Zihao paused for a moment after placing the teacup in Senior Zhou's hand. He looked at him meaningfully. "Senior Zhou should consider yourself first."
Senior Zhou's face was sullen. He took the tea but didn't drink it. He put it down and sneered at them before turning around and walking away.
After Senior Zhou left, Jiang Ruolan immediately asked, "What did he mean by that?"
Xian Zihao put down his teacup and asked her to sit down. He then said softly, "This is a serious matter. Let's talk about it when we get back."
Jiang Ruolan nodded.
While looking at Senior Zhou's back, she thought to herself. Just now, Senior Zhou was looking at her. Did he recognize her relationship with Zhou Qingling, or did she just overthink it?
It was hard to tell what kind of emotion Senior Zhou was having when he looked at her. There was indifference, complexity, and also a bit of suspicion.
****
It's already late, but the banquet was still on-going. Jiang Ruolan rested for a while and then went over to the Old Man's side. Old Man Xian was grinning from ear to ear and seemed to be truly happy.
It was already 11 p.m., and Old Man Xian was still full of energy and vitality. This gathering, which was organized by Old Man Xian, was not only among the elderly, but there was also a group of young people in their twenties and thirties.
At this moment, Xian Zihao, on behalf of Old Man Xian, was told to send the guests who came to meet him to the restroom. He left Jiang Ruolan with the Old Man and immediately helped send off the guest.
Zhou Shufen took this opportunity to go towards Old Man Xian's direction. When she saw Jiang Ruolan standing beside him, her bright eyes only swept across Jiang Ruolan's body once, then she walked in front of Old Man, smiled, and said, "Grandpa Xian, you're getting redder and redder. Other people get one year older every New Year's Day, but you, you seem to get one year younger every New Year's Day!"
Old Man Xian just smiled politely at Zhou Shufen, but he was not too happy with her words.
He then took Jiang Ruolan's hand and said, "Ruolan, go find Zihao for grandpa. I want to see how Old Bai is doing."
She could tell that the Old Man had something to say to Zhou Shufen. Jiang Ruolan nodded without batting an eyelid and turned to leave.
She did not look back, nor did she intend to eavesdrop.
