Chapter 54
As Yan hope got out of the taxi, he kept complaining, "Why did I dress like this?"
The young man, dressed in a white suit with clean lines and a generous cut, was dressed in a very formal and sophisticated manner. However, the way he wore earmuffs, a scarf, and gloves completely ruined his elegant and noble image.
Ah Heng glanced at him—"In a little while, go into the heated room and take it off."
Yan hope glanced furtively at the hotel, but seeing no familiar faces of his age in the magnificent lobby, he felt relieved.
Just kidding, if those brats in the yard saw this, they'd laugh their heads off.
Although Aheng was only familiar with Yan hope and Da Yi, in fact, there were quite a few high-ranking officials' children in the courtyard whom he knew and would greet when he met. Many of them came from families with similar backgrounds to the Wen family, but not many came from families that surpassed the Yan and Xin families.
Most of these people were boys. Although Yan hope's relationship with them wasn't as close as his with Si Wanda and Yi Tie, they were still friends he could talk to. Back then, when Yan hope was sick, quite a few people came to visit him.
Yan hope put down the scarf as she walked into the hall. She didn't seem embarrassed at all, as she was carrying the scarf on her arm. She chatted and laughed with A Heng as they walked, her demeanor subtly revealing her confidence, but rather a sense of ease.
The seventh floor, where the banquet was held, was the most exquisite VIP area of the restaurant, divided into the South Hall and the North Hall. Normally, it takes three days to book a table there. The Wen family called ahead of time, speaking with great caution, saying that they would be holding two banquets on January 10th and the 28th of the lunar calendar. The hotel manager remembered the old custom of the Wen family members coming of age and knew that the two young ladies of the Wen family had reached the age. He understood the implication and put a lot of effort into everything from the invitation to the menu.
The waiter led Ah Heng and Yan hope to the elevator, where they happened to run into the Sun family in the courtyard who were holding invitations. They decided that since they had an invitation, they should just bump into each other and take the same elevator.
Aunt Sun looked at Yan hope and smiled—"Little hope, you brought your little wife with you?"
Aheng was extremely embarrassed. She didn't even know where the rumors came from, but anyway, everyone in the courtyard believed that she and Yan Xi were a couple. Usually, when the aunts and elders were happy, they would joke and chat, and if they happened to wander around to the Yan and Wen families, they would vividly talk about the marriage agreement between the Yan and Wen families back then. They said that when the Wen family's daughter was born, the gender was already determined, and the marriage agreement was made. Later, that incident happened, and it was unknown which girl the Yan family preferred. But after Aheng moved into the Yan family, it was clear that they had chosen Wen Heng. So everyone understood and teased the two children. Not to mention that the young master Yan was thick-skinned, the little girl was funny and would always blush. When she blushed, the elders laughed even more heartily.
Ah Heng is troubled. It's a completely unfounded rumor, and no one in the family has mentioned it. Why does everyone seem to understand, while she's the only one who's confused?
Yan hope grunted in response, looking completely unfazed. Uncle Sun chuckled as well, "What a rascal! He was shameless even as a child, and now he's getting more and more capable."
Yan Xi, you're so shameless. Uncle Sun, you're mistaken. I've had this face since I was a child, and it's never changed.
Uncle Sun was worried about the studies that Yanxi had missed while he was sick, so he asked him carefully about his progress. Yanxi was relieved to see that the adults were not teasing him and Aheng, and answered seriously and respectfully.
Sun Peng, the young master of the Sun family, is the same age as Yan hope. He has been intelligent since childhood, but he is a bit playful and mischievous. He took the college entrance examination with Si Wan. Although his college entrance examination score was not as good as Si Wan's, he still got into a very good university.
He had a good relationship with Xin Dayi, but didn't get along with Yan hope. It's been a long time since then; the two young masters' feud started because of Si'er.
In their courtyard, men outnumbered women; for decades, only boys were born, and no girls had ever been seen. Si'er was the only girl in the courtyard then, sweet-talking and pretty, treated like a treasure by all the aunties and grandmas. Even Sun Xiaoshao and the other boys adored her. They'd grab the soft little girl and try to pull her pigtails. One pull, and disaster struck! Si'er cried her heart out. Sun Xiaoshao was stunned. Before he could react, Yan Xiaoshao kicked him with her little feet, straddling him and starting to beat him. Sun Xiaoshao, always pampered, couldn't stand being wronged, and the two fought. Later, they each received a beating from their families. Sadness welled up inside them. Sun Xiaoshao was aggrieved: "I didn't do anything, why am I being beaten?" Yan Xiaoshao was also aggrieved: "I only hit Sun Peng because I saw Si'er being bullied, why did you hit my head, Grandpa!"
Then, whenever the two met, they would fight. In the last two years, as they got older, physical fights became less attractive, so they turned into silent battles and verbal sparring. They couldn't sleep well if they didn't tease and roast each other when they met.
Sun Peng sneered as he watched Yan hope pretend to be well-behaved in front of his father. He then glanced at A Heng, who was smiling at him with gentle, flowing lips. He was stunned, thinking that this girl looked so beautiful today. Looking at the invitation, he whispered teasingly into Yan Xi's ear, "Hey Yan, is today your wife's birthday or your sister-in-law's?"
Yan hope smiled respectfully at Uncle Sun, but secretly stepped on Sun Peng with all her might, and curled one side of her lips into a smile—"What do you think?"
After he finished speaking, the elevator doors opened, and Yan hope smiled and nodded, taking Aheng's hand as they walked out, leaving the Sun family somewhat hesitant.
"Dad, should we go to the North Hall or the South Hall?" Sun Peng held two invitations in his hand, both issued by the hotel. One of them was more special, as if it had been specially designed. It was light purple, gradually deepening to golden yellow, and inlaid with a snow-white ribbon. The lines were simple and elegant, exuding a sense of spirit, but the seating was in the South Hall.
The other card depicts the hotel's luxurious and sophisticated style, not directed at any particular person, but specifically alluding to the high-class status of the seventh floor. The seating arrangement printed on it happens to be the North Hall.
Mr. Sun was also a little puzzled—"It must have been sent twice. Which one would make a difference?"
Sun's mother, being observant, pointed to the invitation with the ribbon—"This one has a signature on it."
Sure enough, in an inconspicuous corner of the snow-white ribbon, a row of English letters was printed—MYHENG.
Myheng.
Sun Peng leaned closer, pondered for a while, and then realized what he meant. He smiled knowingly, “Dad, let’s go to the South Hall. I’ve never seen that guy put in so much effort before. We should give him face.”
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Si'er followed her mother, Siwan, to greet guests in front of the South Hall. She wore a light pink dress with a pink silk flower on the hem. Her hair was styled up, and she wore light makeup. A pink flower was ingeniously placed on her forehead, making her eyebrows and eyes look extremely noble and beautiful.
When the guests arrived and saw Si'er, they praised her highly, saying that she was beautiful and well-mannered. Wen's mother was quite happy, but when she thought of Aheng, she felt a little uncomfortable.
"Siwan, have you called Aheng and Xiaoxi yet? Why haven't they arrived?"
Siwan also looked around at the bustling crowd of guests—"They should be here soon."
Meanwhile, the lobby manager, who was greeting guests, suddenly rushed over in a fluster and whispered something to Siwan.
Siwan's face instantly turned extremely ugly—"What did you say? What do you mean the South Hall has been reserved by someone else?"
The lobby manager was in a dilemma: "I originally thought your family and that person were together, so I gave him the seating arrangement in the south hall. But I didn't expect that he said that although he and the Wen family have a good relationship, this banquet is not the same banquet."
Siwan's face turned ashen.
The manager, dressed in a suit and tie, glanced at Siwan, his forehead covered in sweat, and quickly explained, "I just told that the Wen family reserved the seats first, but they are adamant about not giving up the south seat."
Siwan took a breath and said calmly, "The person you mentioned sounds like they have connections with our family. Who is it that has such influence that even you, Manager Zhang, wouldn't dare to offend them?"
Manager Zhang understood the meaning behind Si Wan's words, realizing that he didn't take the Wen family seriously, and he inwardly groaned.
He didn't have the guts to offend the Wen family, but they were someone he couldn't afford to offend either.
Manager Zhang smiled bitterly, knowing that his bonus for this month was definitely gone—"Young Master Wen, it's not that I didn't try my best, it's just that this matter..."
Siwan was getting impatient—"Who is it?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Yan hope walked over with Aheng. Both of them were dressed in formal attire. Aheng was dressed in a gentle and calm manner, with a crystal butterfly hidden in her dark hair. Her face was clean and fair, and she looked more beautiful than usual. Standing next to Yan hope, people watching the two of them couldn't help but look away.
Siwan forced a smile and asked Yan hope, "Why are you so late?"
Unaware of the seating arrangement issue, Wen's mother took Aheng's hand and smiled, "We've been waiting for the two of you. The South Hall and North Hall are almost all occupied."
Wen's mother's words seemed to awaken Siwan, and he smiled—"Manager Zhang, I was willing to give up the South Hall for the person you mentioned, but as you can see, all our guests are here. Your hotel doesn't usually turn guests away, does it?"
Manager Zhang glanced at Yan hope with a troubled expression. Yan hope gave a half-smile and said, "It doesn't matter. All the guests are the same."
Siwan's face froze—"Yanxi, what did you say?"
Yan hope squinted – “Don’t you understand? I can say it doesn’t matter. The guests the Wen family invited are the same as the guests I invited.”
Ah Heng looked at the two of them and sensed that something was off. She was a little puzzled, but seeing Si Wan's expression, she didn't say anything.
Siwan walked to Yanxi's side, just a finger's width away, and spoke through gritted teeth in a voice only the two of them could hear—"What are you thinking?!"
Yan hope smiled and said, “I think time flies. In the blink of an eye, Aheng is already eighteen years old. The first time I met her, she was so young and silly. It’s a coincidence that Yan hope and Grandpa Yan have the same surname.”
She turned around, glanced at Ah Heng, and smiled with her eyes crinkling, her sharpness softened, replaced by tenderness and affection.
Ah Heng felt embarrassed and smiled at him blankly.
Siwan was a little annoyed - "Can't you hold your temper? Why do you have to argue with Er'er about today? We had already made preparations to celebrate Aheng's birthday in a couple of days, on the 28th of the lunar calendar."
Yan hope's gaze turned cold as she looked at him—"Wen Siwan, your family clearly knows that Aheng's birthday is January 10th, while even Aunt Wen probably doesn't know Si'er's birthday!"
Siwan frowned, trying to suppress her emotions—"It's precisely because Er'er is used to celebrating the 10th of January and Aheng is used to celebrating the 28th of the lunar calendar that Mom made this arrangement. After all, Er'er and Aheng will not be used to the change."
Yan Xi sneered, "Wen Siwan, you know perfectly well what it means to outsiders if we do things one after the other. Do you really want me to spell out your mother's and your little schemes?"
Wen Si'er's birthday is a perfectly legitimate date, January 10th at 11:35 AM. Aheng's birthday, however, is the 28th of the lunar calendar, a date with an uncertain Gregorian calendar date. In the Wen family, it's obvious to anyone with eyes to see who the legitimate young lady is and who is more favored.
Siwan felt somewhat embarrassed and fell silent.
Instead of getting angry, Yan hope smiled and calmly pressed, "You could have chosen to live together with both of you, so why did you only consider Si'er's feelings and forget about Aheng?"
Siwan's brows furrowed even more deeply—"Yanxi, do you have to be so extreme? We're just considering that Aheng might be more used to celebrating her birthday on the 28th of the lunar calendar."
Yan hope laughed loudly, as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world—"Perhaps we've gotten used to it because we've grown accustomed to it, but Wen Siwan, what if I told you that Aheng doesn't like celebrating her birthday on the 28th of the lunar calendar at all, and that it's all just your own wishful thinking?"
"Don't forget, the 28th day of the 12th lunar month eighteen years ago was the day you abandoned Aheng."
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Yan hope held Aheng's hand and led her to the south hall. In the center of the hall was a huge three-tiered cake. Aheng looked at it and smiled.
"Yanxi, look, this cake is so beautiful!" she said softly, her voice tinged with envy. "I've never eaten cake on my birthday before."
Suddenly, remembering something, she sniffed and poked Yan Xi—"Hey, Yan hope, you'll give me a present for my birthday, right? I'll be sad if you don't, really."
He just gave Si'er a beautifully packaged box that looked quite valuable.
Yan hope was stunned. He looked at her, smiled, and nodded.
Ah Heng laughed too—"Don't buy anything else, just give me a cake. I want to eat cake on my own birthday."
This birthday, although it is her birthday, is not a birthday that she can control or manage.
Yan hope understood the implication in her words, and tightened his grip on A Heng's hand, holding it tightly.
Suddenly, she smiled, a sly glint in her eyes—"What if I buy you a cake but you can't finish it?"
Ah Heng pouted – “If you can’t finish it, I’ll take it home.”
Yan hope looked at the cake, which was almost as tall as a person, and was in a good mood. "I guess you're going to be in for a world of hurt."
The appetizers were all served, and it was time to begin the meal. Everyone looked at the cake and laughed, urging the emcee to "hurry up and invite the birthday boy over to cut the cake! We've been waiting for the song for ages!"
Yan hope covered his lips with the back of his hand, smiled, and pulled Aheng to the cake.
Ah Heng was startled—"Yan hope, what are you doing?"
Yan hope held the microphone and smiled as she spoke, "Aheng, happy birthday."
Such a clean voice, such clear enunciation.
Happy birthday, Aheng.
The guests below all laughed. They were all familiar with the Yan and Wen families and knew about the history between the two families. When they saw the two children, they laughed and joked with them.
Ah Heng's expression was somewhat cold—"Yan hope, my birthday isn't today."
The guests felt a little embarrassed when they heard what Ah Heng said. They thought about how Wen Si'er was dressed in expensive clothes when her mother greeted them earlier, and felt that something was wrong, but they couldn't figure out what was strange.
Some people knew about the Wen family's past relationship. When they saw Wen's mother bringing Si'er out to greet guests instead of her biological daughter, they felt that the Wen family had acted somewhat unkindly. Now that Yan hope was putting on this show to vindicate his little wife, they were happy to watch the drama unfold.
Yan hope didn't take it to heart, smiled faintly, and patiently repeated, "Aheng, happy birthday."
Ah Heng was somewhat annoyed, and said, word by word, "My birthday is the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, not today."
"That day was the day our Aheng accidentally got lost and couldn't find her way home, not the day she was born." Yan hope smiled, gently hugging Aheng, his arms tightly encircling her, and spoke softly.
"Happy birthday, Ah Heng."
He wanted her to live in this world with dignity and pride.
At 11:35 a.m. on January 10th, her heart began to beat for the first time.
He wanted her to no longer have to humiliatingly imagine how she was abandoned in the early hours of the morning on the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month every year on her birthday.
That wasn't a top-tier banquet, but the regret could be made up for on the same seventh floor of the same restaurant.