Sweetie, don't look at him, kiss me.

Su Tingwan received the dress after noon.

She unpacked the dress, lifted it up to look at it, and a smile slowly crept onto her face.

The dress was of even better quality than the drafts she had seen before.

The fabric gleams softly under the light.

The neckline has just the right curve, and the waistline is also perfectly cinched.

It was even better than she had imagined.

She hung up her dress, looked at herself in the mirror for a long time, and then picked up her phone and made a call.

"Aunt."

Her voice regained its sweet, soft, and gentle tone.

"I received the dress, and it fits perfectly."

"I'll wear it to the engagement party, don't worry."

The voice of Old Madam Ji, tinged with laughter, came from the other end of the phone.

"That's good. Once you've prepared everything on your end, I'll take care of the rest."

"Remember, that day depends on you."

Su Tingwan hung up the phone, looked at the reflection in the mirror wearing the dress, and smiled.

It's as if I can already see all the scenes that will happen tomorrow.

She will definitely be the most dazzling woman at the engagement party.

Ji Linzhou will definitely give her the explanation she has been waiting for in front of everyone.

Saturday, the day of the engagement party.

When Lin Qingmian woke up, the calendar notification on her phone was from Bai Cheng; it only contained the date and address, without any further text.

She stared at the notification for a few seconds, then flipped her phone over and placed it face down on the bedside table.

Ji Linzhou has already left.

Breakfast was laid out on the table, covered with an insulated cover, and next to it was a note with crisp, cold handwriting: "Something came up today, will be back later."

She ate breakfast, washed the dishes, changed her clothes, and sat on the sofa, unsure of what to do.

The phone screen lights up only occasionally, and it's always for trivial messages.

Someone in the classroom was asking who was going to class today. Yao Yingyu sent a string of emojis urging her to go to the cafeteria for lunch. She replied with "Not hungry" and didn't look at it again.

In the afternoon, she received a call from Jiang Yao.

"Mianmian, isn't today your engagement party? Aren't you going?"

"I'm not going."

Lin Qingmian leaned back on the sofa and held her phone to her ear.

"It has nothing to do with me."

"Is Ji Linzhou going?"

"……go."

"Then why don't you go and keep an eye on things?"

Jiang Yao lowered her voice, carrying the wariness of someone with experience: "Su Tingwan is definitely here too. Aren't you afraid she'll cause some trouble?"

"What kind of trouble could she possibly cause?"

"That's hard to say."

Jiang Yao snorted: "Anyway, I think you should go today."

Lin Qingmian did not answer.

After hanging up the phone, she sat for a while, then stood up, changed her clothes, and went out.

She didn't know why she had to go.

But she went out.

The banquet hall on the top floor of the Century Building was booked out today, and a golden welcome sign stood at the entrance, which read "Engagement Banquet of the Ji and Lin Families".

When Lin Qingmian arrived, the banquet had already begun. Amidst the elegant attire and the clinking of glasses, the lights were adjusted to a warm gold, making the entire hall appear both magnificent and lively.

She stood at the door and glanced around, then saw Ji Xingye.

He was wearing a dark blue suit, standing next to the main table with a polite smile on his face, talking to an elder.

His expression showed nothing unusual; his complexion was better than a few days ago, but the faint bluish tinge under his eyes was still there.

Lin Qingqing stood beside him, wearing that champagne-colored dress, her arm linked with his, nodding and smiling at the passing guests.

Lin Qingmian's gaze lingered on the dress for a moment before shifting away.

She saw Su Tingwan again.

Su Tingwan stood on the other side of the banquet hall, wearing a champagne-colored long dress with a V-neck and a perfectly fitted waist. The beads on the hem sparkled under the lights.

Her hair was styled in an elegant updo, and she was holding a glass of champagne, chatting with several ladies around her.

When she smiles, the curve of her profile is soft, making her appear exceptionally gentle and poised.

Ji Linzhou was standing not far from her, talking to a business partner.

He wasn't wearing a coat, just a white shirt and a dark gray vest. He was tall and straight, and the light highlighted the clear outline of his profile.

His expression was indifferent, as if he had no interest in the occasion and was only standing there out of a sense of duty.

Su Tingwan seemed to be waiting for an opportunity.

While she was talking to the ladies, her gaze would occasionally drift towards Ji Linzhou before returning to his direction.

She had almost finished her champagne glass, so she replaced it with a new one, her fingertips gently stroking the glass.

Lin Qingmian stood in the corner by the door and did not go over.

It wasn't until Ji Xingye was exchanging pleasantries with the elders that his gaze somehow drifted towards the doorway and met her eyes.

His gaze visibly lingered for a moment, and in that instant, the expression on his face became very complex, as if he had been struck by something, but he quickly suppressed it himself.

He didn't walk towards her, nor did he smile. He just looked at her for two or three seconds, then looked away and turned to answer the question from the elder beside him.

Lin Qingqing followed his gaze and looked towards the door, where she also saw Lin Qingmian.

Her smile remained unchanged, but her arm around Ji Xingye tightened noticeably.

At the main table, Madam Ji stood up, clapped her hands, and gestured for the guests to be quiet.

The conversation in the banquet hall gradually subsided, and everyone's attention turned to the main table.

With a smile, Madam Ji picked up the microphone: "Today is a joyous occasion for both the Ji and Lin families."

"From now on, Hoshino and Qingqing are a family."

"Thank you to all our family and friends for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend this engagement party..."

She said a few polite words, then changed the subject and looked at Su Tingwan.

"Also, since everyone is here today, I'd like to take this opportunity to announce some good news."

Su Tingwan tilted the champagne glass in her hand slightly.

She straightened up, her gentle and polite smile still on her face, but the tension in her eyes was no longer concealed.

"As everyone knows, Linzhou and Tingwan have known each other for several years."

Madam Ji continued, her voice tinged with amusement: "The two children are so in love, they should have settled down long ago."

"On this auspicious day, I want to ask Lin Zhou to give Ting Wan a formal explanation in front of everyone—"

"Aunt."

Before Madam Ji could finish speaking, Su Tingwan interrupted her with a smile.

Holding a champagne glass, she stepped out of her seat, stood beside Ji Linzhou, glanced at him, then turned to the guests, her voice sweet and soft with just the right amount of shyness: "Linzhou is rather shy, so let me do it."

She reached out and took Ji Linzhou's arm, looked up at him, and said in a voice that wasn't loud, but loud enough for everyone around to hear: "Linzhou, there are so many people watching, shouldn't you say something to me?"