When Fan Jielan and Yang Qianlu came back to the table after mingling and chatting with many other families, they were confused by the change of atmosphere. Their youngest son was patting the back of their daughter instead of wooing women and their other son was sitting as still as a rock.
"What happened?" Yang Qianlu's voice was heavy, angered even, at the sight of his baby girl.
"Nothing, papa." Yang Ruqin shook her head, her bottom lip slightly jutted out in a tiny pout with her brows pulled together.
"Were you crying?"
Yang Ruqin hurriedly shook her head. "No, I wasn't. Don't fret."
"You seem like you were." Yang Qianlu stepped closer to his daughter to get a better look at her.
"I'm fine, really." Yang Ruqin raised her head, straining her face for a smile.
Yang Qianlu looked heavily disappointed at her lie, his heart being weighed down by worry. He always felt uneasy whenever he saw his daughter this glum, his heart aching for her. "What happened? Daddy will fix it for you."
Fan Jielan sighed at the sidelines. The men in this family were all smitten by Yang Ruqin, who was always doted on like a little princess, and it was something she did not know if she should laugh or cry over.
Yang Ruqin opened her mouth when something caught her eye. There was a woman alone sitting not far from their table, her back turned towards them. She could only see the woman's slender neck and red collar from here, but that was enough for Yang Ruqin to abruptly stand up, surprising her father and brother. Without warning, she picked up the hem of her long dress and dashed to the woman, her heart soaring the closer she got and the more familiar the woman looked.
"Feifei!" Yang Ruqin squealed in delight, her voice capturing the attention of many people.
When Zhao Lifei turned around, a body had already crashed into hers, hugging her very tightly.
"Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" Yang Ruqin gushed, pulling away, her sorrows long forgotten.
Zhao Lifei opened her mouth to speak, but paused when she noticed the dull light within Yang Ruqin's usual bright eyes. "Did something happen?…" She trailed off then, understanding it was not the right time and place to ask. She decided after the celebration she needs a girls' night with Yang Ruqin.
"You never asked." She shrugged.
Yang Ruqin let out a sigh of relief when her Feifei did not press her on the way her family members did.
Zhao Lifei reached her hand out to fix Qinqin's sleeves that had ridden up in her frenzy to rush here. "Where were you? I didn't see you when I came in."
"Oh…Well…Uh, I—I was, you know…" She stammered, searching for excuses.
Zhao Lifei saw this as a sign to change the topic, "I saw your favorite dessert."
Yang Ruqin perked up again. "Really?! Where?"
Zhao Lifei laughed, the melodic sound drawing men one step closer in her direction. "If I tell you, are you going to run off again?"
"Hmm…" Yang Ruqin pretended to think, placing a finger on her chin.
Zhao Lifei rolled her eyes. "I already know the answer is yes."
"Hehe, don't be jealous Feifei, I love you as much as I love my strawberry shortcakes!"
Zhao Lifei's lips tilted into a smile that reached her eyes. The sight awed many men, who despite knowing she was Yang Feng's woman, could not help but be drawn to her charisma like a moth flying dangerously close to the flames of death.
"Who said I was jealous?"
Yang Ruqin reached out to pinch her cheek, "Your face."
Zhao Lifei shook her head, deeply amused, "Sure it did."
Right as she said that, a shadow loomed over her. She could already tell by the presence that accompanied him who was standing behind her.
Yang Feng rested one hand on Zhao Lifei's shoulder while the other lifted her face to look up at him. When he saw who his younger sister was talking to different emotions washed over him, but the most prominent one was happiness. He was very pleased to see her here. Only when she was present would he revert to his normal self.
"Did you not want me to?"
"No." He answered in a heartbeat.
Zhao Lifei smiled at the flash of panic in his eyes. "Sit down. My neck is getting tired from looking at you."
Yang Feng's eyes swept to the chair beside her where a name card was resting on a burgundy cloth. He flicked it away and sat down to her right.
Yang Ruqin felt her cheeks puff out in anger that her brother would ruin her precious time with her Feifei. She also pulled a chair beside Lifei and sat down.
Zhao Lifei eyed the siblings when she realized one of them had stolen her grandfather's seat.
"So, Feifei," Yang Ruqin emphasized the nickname, "How has your life been? Anything interesting happened while I was gone?"
"Well—"
"Lifei, the banquet is serving rice cakes from Hedong, let's grab some." Yang Feng did not like the fact that her attention was this easily diverted from him. He hooked his finger under her chin, turning her gaze so that she could only look at him.
A thunder cloud cackled over Yang Ruqin's head as she grabbed Zhao Lifei's hands, clasping over them. "Feifei, I know you like macarons more, let's go get some—"
"Don't touch her." Yang Feng hissed, tugging his woman to his side just as Yang Ruqin wrapped her arms around Lifei.
"She's my best friend, I can touch her as I please."
"She's my woman, you have no right to touch her."
Yang Ruqin gasped. "I have every right to!" She turned to her best friend, "Right, Feifei?" She looked at her with the same puppy eyes she always used when she wanted something.
Zhao Lifei felt like a mother split between her husband and child.
"My brother is being very irrational and rude, don't you agree, Feifei? He's bullying me! I think we should get away from him."
A low growl came out at his sister's words and Yang Feng tugged Lifei closer, very displeased that someone would try to take his woman away.
