“Please stop it. You two are a match made in heaven, and I have no part in any of this. Please enjoy the rest of your evening. Goodbye!”
With that, Yao Tanggulped down the last of her drink and left the scene.
“Yao Tang!”
Yang Nian didn’t miss a beat and immediately made to chase after her, but he was in a tight spot. He was still in the middle of the room, with all the guests crowding through the doorway.
He wasn’t alone in his sentiments. The students of No. 1 High Schoolalso wantedYao Tangto stay until the whole story was clarified.
However, her words and her dismissive attitude clearly conveyed that she had no interest in getting involved with Yao RanandYang Nian’s affairs.
Otherwise, she would have lost her composure once the two had been discovered in such an intimate and rather unfortunate state.
Instead, Yao Tanghad stayed back among the crowd, watching the debacle unfold while sipping her wine.
If she actually liked Yang Nian, she would have gone crazy right there and then. Any normal girl would.
Yao Tang had taken a few steps away from the crowd when the butler stepped forward and blocked her path. “I’m sorry, Miss, but I’m afraid you can’t leave just yet.”
Yao Tang’s eyes narrowed suspiciously at him.
The butler cleared his throat and explained. “The thing is, a criminal is on the loose in the subdivision, and the whole residential area is currently on lockdown. I’m afraid you can’t leave at the moment.”
She smirked at his words. “One would think that this haven of the rich and powerful would have better security, but that doesn’t seem to be the case at all.”
“The investigation is ongoing at present,” the butler pointed out. “All I’m saying is, the Miss will have to stay here for a while longer.”
His words carried over to the busybodies, and they promptly began another round of discussion.
“What? There’s a criminal on the loose here, of all places? I thought this was an upper-class neighborhood?”
“What if they don’t catch him, then? What’s going to happen to us? Will we have to stay here all night? I still have stuff to do later!”
“That’s right, are you really keeping us all stuck in this place?”
“Everyone, please settle down,” the butler called out in a booming voice. “Please be assured that the security of this district is top-notch. They are conducting a very thorough search as we speak to make sure that the matter is resolved as soon as possible. It shouldn’t take more than two hours. I humbly ask for your patience.”
The crowd let out a collective sigh of relief.
None of them wanted to be cooped up in the villa for the whole night.
Two hours wasn’t so bad. That was just as long as the banquet was originally intended to last, anyway.
More importantly, though, Yao Tanghad no choice but to stay.
That meant that they still had more of the show to watch.
“Student Yao Tang, since the subdivision is under lockdown, you should just stay and enjoy the rest of the party.”
“That’s right. Besides, it’s the weekend. Even the top students need a break once in a while!”
“Yes, yes, relax a little, won’t you? It’s only two hours, after all.”
Yao Tang glanced at the butler, her eyes glinting with a hint of mockery, silently telling him that she had seen through his devious little scheme.
Nevertheless, she sauntered back to where she had been standing in the crowd.
She shot Yang Niana cold look and said, “I’m giving you another warning,Yang Nian. Don’t drag me into your business withYao Ran. If you want the engagement so badly, then just get engaged with her!”
But the young man was unperturbed.
“Old Madam Yao has already told me that since the beginning, the person I was supposed to be engaged to has always been you.
“If you don’t believe me, then you can ask your grandmother yourself. Regarding what you all have seen in this room, I was only helping Cousin Yao Ran because she sprained her ankle. I would have done the same if it had been any other injured person. If I knew that it would cause so much misunderstanding, I wouldn’t have bothered extending a helping hand.”
Yao Tang’s temples started to throb in irritation. She closed her eyes and reached up to rub them.
Old Madam Yao had really caused her trouble this time…
Taking a deep breath, she held up a hand and looked Yang Nianin the eye. “Just stop. It was just a joke between our elders. You don’t have to take it seriously.”
It had no effect on him whatsoever. “I know that this may be a little too sudden for you. I also know we don’t know each other that well, but we have all the time in the world to remedy that. I believe that it wouldn’t be a hardship to cultivate our relationship. Since our elders have already exchanged words, why don’t we at least give it a try?”
To everyone watching, he was the perfect picture of a sincere and devoted suitor.
