The Engagement Banquet

"Gu Xiao Xiao, I have something to talk to you about."

Mu Yun Fan walked over in giant steps and arrived before her. He grabbed her arm and attempted to drag her to an unnoticeable corner to straighten out some things with her.

"Gu Xiao Xiao, thank you for coming to the engagement banquet thrown for Yun Fan and I."

Someone intercepted. Gu Xiao Xiao hazily stared at the woman before her.

She was wearing a makeup look that was delicate and detailed and her lips carried a scornful smile. Without anyone's permission, she held onto Mu Yun Fan's arm and stared into Gu Xiao Xiao's eyes.

"An engagement banquet… for you two?" Gu Xiao Xiao felt like there was something wrong with her ears. She looked over to Mu Yun Fan with a grin; the boy whom she grew up with, the boy whom she had known for more than a decade. Gu Xiao Xiao said softly, "Mu Yun Fan, this joke isn't funny."

"Gu Xiao Xiao." Mu Yun Fan stared directly at Gu Xiao Xiao. His expression was emotionless as if he didn't even recognize this person before him. "You didn't really believe that I was going to marry you, did you?"

"Today is the engagement banquet for Jin Jing and I. We have decided to get married after the new year. I asked you to come today just to tell you this."

Mu Yun Fan's words entered Gu Xiao Xiao's ears. They beat down onto her eardrums and stung her eyes.

It was a banquet hall that was warm like summer, yet Gu Xiao Xiao could only feel coldness. It was as if a bucket of ice water was being poured down from above – the bone-deep coldness stabbed through all her limbs and her bones in an instant.

Gu Xiao Xiao gritted her teeth and glanced around powerlessly. The tip of her nose was faintly red and the sparkling tears in her eyes unstoppably flickered. However, no tears fell.

Watching Gu Xiao Xiao's helpless reaction, Jin Jing stretched her cruel and scornful smile wider. She brandished her arm and waved over the waiter who was standing close by.

"Gu Xiao Xiao, today is a joyous one. Don't you want to toast us?"

The red liquid swirled around inside the beautiful tall wine glass, moving rhythmically to Jin Jing's movements. Gu Xiao Xiao was never good at drinking, but she knew this glass of wine was one she had to have.

She was never one to pester someone relentlessly. If it wasn't for the fact that Mu Yun Fan knew this about her, he never would have the guts to do what he was doing now.

Taking the wine glass, Gu Xiao Xiao gently exhaled.

"Alright." She responded slowly, doing her best to not look so discomposed. "Mu Yun Fan, I wish for you a long-lasting marriage and I wish for you to soon have beautiful children."

After gulping down the red wine, Gu Xiao Xiao placed the wine glass back onto the tray the waiter was carrying.

"Do you have anything more to say? If not, I will be on my way." With a tilt of the head, Gu Xiao Xiao asked while staring into Mu Yun Fan's eyes.

"That glass of wine you drank was to toast Mu Yun Fan. Aren't you planning on making a toast to me as well?" Jin Jing had no plans to let Gu Xiao Xiao go this easily. "We are all schoolmates. You are not this fickle, are you?"

"Ha." Gu Xiao Xiao chuckled lightly. That's right. They were schoolmates. She had known about Jin Jing for a long time.

On the first day of the first year of university, Jin Jing drove her Ferrari to campus for registration. Her reputation of being pale-skinned, rich, and beautiful was passed around all of University B in no time.

For her to end up with Mu Yun Fan, it was unexpected, but also expected.

Everyone wants a better life for themselves and Mu Yun Fan chose a shortcut. Gu Xiao Xiao had no right to blame him. To have met a man with such poor quality was something she, herself, had to take responsibility for. It was a simple concept.

"Alright." Gu Xiao Xiao took over the wine glass again with her lips curled up. She said to Jin Jing, "I wish you a lifetime of happiness and an eternality of love."

Another glass of wine entered Gu Xiao Xiao's stomach, already making her a little dizzy. She knew her alcohol tolerance well and so she stumbled back a few steps and bid farewell to these two.

"Mu Yun Fan, I hope nobody close to you will become a second Gu Xiao Xiao."

Gritting her teeth, Gu Xiao Xiao made her final statement. With determination, she turned around and headed for the exit.

Her head felt heavy and her feet felt light. She had always known about her poor alcohol tolerance, but she didn't know it was as bad as this. She couldn't even handle two glasses of wine?

"Ah, a young girl with a sharp tongue." Jin Jing watched Gu Xiao Xiao leave and then whispered some instructions to the waiter, "Tell Director Shi that we have prepared the person he requested. Room 1102."

"Yes, miss, I understand."

After Gu Xiao Xiao walked out of the banquet hall with difficulty, she had no more strength in her to continue. She supported her body by holding onto the wall and strangely, she felt a gush of hot air circulating within her.

She has never felt this way before. The last time she drank, she had only wanted to puke.

Cold sweat rolled down her forehead, as she slapped her own cheeks, hard. Then, she saw two men walking out of the banquet room and approaching her. One to her left, and one to her right, they held onto her and stabilized her footing.

"Miss Gu, please come with us."

"Let me go!" Gu Xiao Xiao struggled with all her might. But her body had already gone limp and she could muster little to no strength.

Gu Xiao Xiao's increasingly coarse breathing along with her aggravated mood made her start to cry.

"I don't know who you are. Where are you taking me? Let me go. If you don't, I am going to scream!"

 The two waiters listened to Gu Xiao Xiao's quiet mumbles. They exchanged glances and grinned. Carrying her weakened and strengthless body, they hurried to the elevator.

In her hazy state, Gu Xiao Xiao resisted subconsciously. She cannot go with these two. That was the only thought she had in her clouded state.

She walked onwards exhaustingly until she crashed into someone's chest.

The scent of an unfamiliar man engulfed Gu Xiao Xiao tightly. The moment right before she fainted, she thought she heard him whisper her name…