A Young Woman's Heart

Mo Xueyao wondered if she should greet everyone with "Hello, Uncle" or "Hello, Auntie" later, so she took it upon herself to say, "Hello, Uncles and Aunties!"

"Haha, you're quite clever." The godfather chuckled and had the two of them sit down beside him.

Seventeen or eighteen people were sitting around the large table, including young girls—perhaps the daughters of other section chiefs.

"Our table is great, so many beautiful young women!" A middle-aged man with a thick head of hair chuckled. "Especially the ones you brought, Yu Liang, they really outshone all the other girls, making them all pale in comparison!"

"Haha, Director Li, you're too kind. Your daughter's temperament is far beyond what my goddaughter and niece can match!" With that, he stood up to offer a toast first.

Mo Xueyao turned her head away somewhat uncomfortably, feeling very uncomfortable in this kind of social occasion.

Fortunately, someone came to her rescue.

"Director Li." The woman who arrived was middle-aged. She smiled at Director Li first, and then said, "Director Yang said that we should arrange for all the young people you brought to sit at one table so they can get to know each other and build rapport. What do you think?"

"Isn't that good?"

“Hmm, Xiaoyao.” Godfather looked at Mo Xueyao, “You guys go sit at the table with the young people, we’re all ‘old men’ here, you definitely won’t be able to sit here, haha.”

"Oh, oh." Mo Xueyao stood up, much to her delight.

So the two of them got up again and sat down at another table with the capable middle-aged woman.

Before long, the place gradually filled up.

They all looked like the children of section chiefs or bureau chiefs, and their clothes were all incredibly expensive...

The only one not wearing designer brands, but the fabric of her clothes was of good quality; you could tell at a glance that they were custom-made—perhaps much more expensive than the others.

“Come on, we guys should take the initiative.” A tall, handsome guy stood up. He looked like he was at most a college student. “Let’s toast all the girls first. Of course, girls who can’t drink don’t have to force themselves. They can have tea instead, haha.”

He spoke in an official tone, just like Yu Liang and the others from earlier.

Seeing that someone had taken the lead, the other men naturally did not want to be left behind and stood up to show their respect.

Mo Xueyao, who had just warmed up her chair, had to stand up again to accept the toasts from the boys.

"Hello! My name is Li Haoyu!" The boy sat next to Mo Xueyao. He was exceptionally attentive when toasting her and even introduced himself, but the smile on his face was very fake and not necessarily sincere.

Even when he saw a beautiful girl like Mo Xueyao, he seemed to just go through the motions and offer some flattery.

But since the other person was being polite, she couldn't be impolite, so she put on a nine-tenths fake smile, clinked glasses with him, and then downed the red wine in her glass in one gulp.

The boy's smile suddenly held a hint of surprise—this time it seemed genuine.

Mo Xueyao sat down, slightly puzzled. Her memory was still stuck on drinking with Nora a few days ago, and she didn't feel that there was anything wrong with this 'bold' way of drinking.

The other girls, apart from her, only took a symbolic sip—it was as if they were just wetting their lips.

If this were a TV series, Mo Xueyao's bold and forthright behavior might arouse the curiosity of boys and even attract many suitors who like her personality.

However, in reality, a hint of disdain flashed in the boys' eyes.

Even if she's very beautiful, it still feels like looking at a country bumpkin.

The boy sitting next to her politely came to her rescue, saying, "You're truly a heroine, haha..."

"My name is Mo Xueyao." She was still responding to his words, unaware of what was happening.

Everyone sat down again. Li Wanyan pursed her lips, her face calm. Only when she looked at Mo Xueyao beside her did she slightly raise the corners of her mouth.

The tense atmosphere quickly lightened again. Mo Xueyao glanced at her empty wine glass, her hand about to reach for the wine to pour herself a glass, when Li Haoyu, seeing this, quickly called out softly, "Waiter?"

"Do you need any help?" The waiters standing next to each table immediately came over.

"Pour this young lady...madam, a glass of red wine."

"Ok."

"Um, thank you." Mo Xueyao smiled politely, then said casually, "Actually, I could have come by myself, it wouldn't have been so troublesome."

The air seemed to freeze for a few seconds before Li Haoyu changed the subject and started talking about other things.

Mo Xueyao forced an unnatural smile, not understanding why they had suddenly fallen silent.

……

Chapter Seventeen: Attending My Godfather's Annual Party (Part Two)

For my godfather and his ilk, the annual meeting is a recognition ceremony. In public institutions, as long as you don't make any major mistakes and behave properly throughout the year, you're bound to receive some prizes at the annual meeting.

Of course, what people look forward to most is the year-end bonus distributed at the annual meeting.

For someone like my godfather, who is at the section chief level, it's common to receive a year-end bonus of 10,000 to 20,000 yuan. Even the most ordinary public servants can get around 3,000 yuan.

Compared to current prices, it's actually equivalent to several months' salary for other people.

Mo Xueyao's initial novelty quickly dissipated. Even though the table was full of young people, she seemed to sense a bit of the atmosphere of officialdom. For her, who was not good at being polite, silence was the best choice.

Fortunately, there was still something to focus on – the host was already standing on the front stage, and the band preparing for the opening performance was tuning their instruments.

This is a twelve-member Western band. Judging from their attire and their very skillful movements, they are much more professional than Mo Xueyao's Snow Music Band.

An annual meeting is certainly not just about award ceremonies—there are also all sorts of performances to watch, and plenty of activities that require the audience to participate.

After the host announced the program, he stepped back, the lights dimmed slightly, and the stage was left to this professional Western band.

After the piece was finished, the audience applauded in unison.

"Not bad." The bureau chief, whose last name Mo Xueyao had forgotten, clapped his hands and said approvingly, "One more song, please."

The conductor on stage immediately bowed in fear, then turned around with delight to lead his band in another song.

The participants in the annual meeting below the stage also fell silent for a moment.

Although the hall was full of people, Mo Xueyao felt that it was quiet and empty.

She suddenly realized that the world hadn't really changed.

Below the stage were princes and nobles, along with their supporters or subordinates, while on the stage were 'geishas' who entertained them.

The only difference is that they have become more civilized, and are no longer as naked and wild as before.

Even the most developed countries are the same.

As she thought this, she suddenly felt disillusioned with this era.

But they also felt lost—because which era wasn't like this?

This era is, at least, much better than the previous ones...

After the band finished playing, other people came up to dance and perform magic tricks.

Next came the activities that required the participation of the audience.

For example, they could select a few people or have them sign up themselves to go on stage and play games like musical chairs or hopscotch on one leg, which would make the leaders laugh out loud.

In Mo Xueyao's eyes, those guys who would sell their face for a little reward and call it enthusiasm and extroversion were as ridiculous as clowns.

Everyone here is like a clown.

But in other people's eyes, she was completely out of place, wasn't she?

Mo Xueyao was lost in philosophical thought, her eyes becoming somewhat unfocused. She paid no attention to what was happening on the stage, only feeling that it was like the barking of dogs at night. Although it was annoying, she gradually got used to it as if it were something that should be there.

"Young lady, you've been chosen! How about coming up and trying out this fun game?" The host laughed, pointing at Mo Xueyao and shouting, "The prizes for this game are very generous!"

"Ahem." Li Wanyan cleared her throat and gently nudged Mo Xueyao, who then snapped back to reality.

"Huh? What?"

Her bewildered expression was somewhat endearing, making people unable to help but chuckle.

"Haha, come on up! It's a very simple game!" the host said with a smile again.

Although no one forced her, all eyes were on her, and an invisible force pushed her to stand up, forcing her to walk onto the stage.

"Little girl, what's your name?" The host handed her the microphone.

"Uh... Mo Xueyao." She immediately looked for her godfather and Li Wanyan. When she saw her godfather's smiling face and Li Wanyan's calm eyes, she felt a little relieved.

Having performed on the school's main stage before, she wouldn't be so easily intimidated.

Mo Xueyao quickly recalled Hua Yinyin's lively demeanor when there were many people around—as long as she imitated her, she shouldn't be considered introverted, right?

I don't know when it started, but when adults say you're introverted, it always seems to carry a hint of reproach.

It's as if everyone has to be extroverted, and no one is allowed to be introverted.

"Mo Xueyao, that's a very nice name. May I call you Xue'er?"

"Of course." Mo Xueyao perked up and smiled. "Well, I still prefer people calling me Xiaoyao. The nickname Xue'er sounds a bit too cheesy to me!"

"Haha, okay, okay, Xiaoyao, the game we're going to play next is very simple. You just have to do the opposite of what I tell you. For example, if I tell you to stand up, you have to squat down, and if I tell you to squat down, you have to stand up. If I tell you to point to your eyes, you have to point to your ears. If I tell you to point to your nose, you have to point to your mouth. Do you understand?"

"Oh... I think I understand, but what if you ask me to point to my stomach, where should I point?"

"Haha, then you're pointing to your back!" the host continued to laugh loudly—Mo Xueyao was already getting a little tired of watching him, and wondered if his face would become stiff from laughing like that for so long.

"Then you should say all the instructions, otherwise how will anyone know which one corresponds to?" Mo Xueyao winked playfully. "After all, ears and eyes aren't exactly opposites!"

"Okay, very meticulous. You must have good grades in school, haha. Now I'll tell you all the instructions I know. You remember the corresponding actions, and when I say something, you have to do the corresponding action."

So, it's not actually the opposite, but rather a correspondence.

Mo Xueyao didn't nitpick; she simply wrote down all the instructions very carefully.

Although jumping around on stage like that might make you look like a clown, if you do it terribly, you'll only make a bigger fool of yourself.

In many situations, there is no perfect choice, only something that is relatively better...

"I will divide the group into five groups and gradually increase the difficulty, for a total of five rounds. If you can pass all of them, you will receive a mystery gift!"

"It's not that big plush bear, is it?" Mo Xueyao wasn't too keen on that thing—she was fine with Li Wanyan holding her while sleeping at night, so that one was useless.

"Haha, of course not! You'll know once you complete it, and the value will definitely be quite high!"

"Okay, let's begin!"

"OK, looks like you're really looking forward to it. Let's see if you can pass the test!"

"Squat down!" the host suddenly announced.

Mo Xueyao subconsciously bent her knees, but quickly realized what she had done and stood up straight without moving.