Chapter 33: Lingyun Grand Hotel (1)
She didn't recognize any of the actors and actresses adored by the new generation, except for Ling Jiaojiao—the actress who relentlessly pestered Gu Yunchen and was always openly hostile toward her.
Yu Mingxin nudged Meng Yier gently with her elbow, the one holding a slice of cake, and signaled with her eyes for her to glance to the side. "Xiao Yi, that woman over there is Ouyang Xi—the one everyone calls a goddess."
Meng Yier looked up and saw a stunning woman with blazing red lips, dressed in a mist-blue, backless, form-fitting gown. She was elegantly holding a wine glass, chatting and laughing coyly with a middle-aged man, who leered unabashedly at her voluptuous chest.
"Mm, she is quite pretty—"
Yu Mingxin curled her lip in mild disdain. "Pretty, yes, but too gaudy for my taste. Not like you, Xiao Yi—so beautiful, so pure. Just looking at you puts people at ease."
As she spoke, Yu Mingxin set down her cake and spoon, then mischievously pinched Meng Yier's delicate cheek with her cream-smeared fingers. "This little face is what true beauty looks like."
"Yu Mingxin, you've got cream on your hands—" Meng Yier hissed, batting away Mingxin’s hand with distaste and hurriedly grabbing a napkin to wipe the spot on her face. "Filthy—" she grumbled as she wiped.
Yu Mingxin grinned in triumph, squinting playfully at her friend. "Better this than you leaving me behind and getting swept away by some handsome guy."
Meng Yier laughed. "Mingxin, wasn’t it you who was forced into a blind date today? Dragged me along, too. So, which one is the guy Uncle Yu set you up with?"
Yu Mingxin’s animated face suddenly dimmed. She lowered her eyes and took a sip of her drink. "You’re making fun of me now. I’m so fed up. In my father’s eyes, only his interests matter. He doesn’t care about my happiness at all…"
Meng Yier patted her shoulder in comfort. "Mingxin, don’t think that way. You’re his only daughter—he does care about your happiness."
"You don’t understand, Xiao Yi. Every man my father introduces me to is tied to the company’s interests. This time, it’s the second son of the Hua Group—Hua Group is the country’s biggest film conglomerate, behind all the major movies and shows. Dad thinks if we can form a connection with such a giant, it would be a huge advantage for Yunteng. But Xiao Yi, you know me…" Yu Mingxin’s eyes reddened as she bowed her head.
Meng Yier gently patted her trembling shoulder, a sudden ache blossoming in her heart. Of course she knew—Yu Mingxin had never been able to let go of Gu Yunchen. Only when he was mentioned did she look like this.
"You still haven’t moved on?"
Yu Mingxin shook her head, her voice full of sorrow. "I thought I could, but Xiao Yi, I’ve tried so many times. I’ve been back for over a year now, and I… I just can’t do it…"
Meng Yier looked at her forlorn friend, wanting to offer comfort, but at a loss for words. She knew Mingxin had loved Gu Yunchen for five years, and she also knew that Gu Yunchen didn’t reciprocate, having rejected her more than once.
One was her best friend, the other her beloved brother—of course she wished they might end up together. But matters of the heart—what could outsiders do?
Just moments ago, the two girls had been laughing and joking, and now, both wore troubled expressions, each lost in her own sorrow.
Suddenly, the once-bustling banquet hall fell eerily silent.
The strange shift in atmosphere jolted Meng Yier from her thoughts. Curious, she looked up and followed the direction of everyone’s gaze—only to instantly spot Yan Yichen’s breathtakingly handsome face.
What was he doing here?
Meng Yier’s mind flashed back to their last encounter at the airport.
Of course—he was a celebrity. It was perfectly reasonable for him to be here.
But then, she remembered the lie she had told earlier: “My friend is sick in the hospital, I need to visit her.”
She instinctively straightened in her seat, heart pounding erratically like a guilty child awaiting punishment.
If Yan Yichen saw her here, wouldn’t her lie be immediately exposed?