Chapter 4 Chapter 4: The Gathering

When Ali and Liu Mengwan arrived at the private room, it was already crowded with people. As expected, Lu Jinyan was the most conspicuous among them. He lounged on the sofa, no longer meticulous as he was before others—his collar undone, his posture relaxed and casual, with everyone else gathered around him.

"Wow, the star of the evening is here!" The most boisterous, An Yu, started the commotion. He was the youngest master of the An family, spoiled since childhood, rebellious and eccentric. He was also the most fervent supporter of the 'couple' pairing of Lu Jinyan and Liu Mengying, so naturally, he found it hard to accept Ali, whom he considered an intruder.

"Mengwan, you're here!"
"Mengwan, it's been so long!"
The others greeted Liu Mengwan warmly, but Ali, standing beside her, was treated like air—no one paid her any attention.

Ali had foreseen this scene, which was exactly why she hadn't wanted to come.

"What are you standing there for? Come over."
Among them, Lu Jinyan was the only one to acknowledge Ali. His thin lips curled slightly, his tone casual but commanding enough to silence the room. Instantly, everyone fell quiet and turned to look at Ali.

"Ali, what are you waiting for? Jinyan is calling you, go on," Liu Mengwan said with a poised smile, gently nudging Ali forward.

Ali walked over, but every seat beside Lu Jinyan was taken—no one offered her a place. Lu Jinyan glanced sideways at An Yu, who blinked innocently, feigning ignorance. Ali understood; he simply didn’t want her to sit next to 'Uncle,' hoping Liu Mengwan would take the spot instead.

Lu Jinyan said nothing. He simply reached out, grabbed Ali, and without warning, pulled her to sit on his lap.

"Uncle!" Ali exclaimed in surprise.

She felt every gaze in the room fixed upon her.

"What is it?"
Lu Jinyan wrapped an arm around her waist, lazily shooting her a glance, seeming entirely unaware of his own actions.

An Yu stared with indignant eyes. "Jinyan, there are so many people here! Aren’t you being a bit careless?"

"I'm holding my wife. What do I need to be careful about?"

An Yu was momentarily speechless.

He immediately turned to Liu Mengwan, whose smile had turned somewhat stiff. "Mengwan, you should sit here."

Liu Mengwan glanced at Lu Jinyan, then shook her head at An Yu. "No need, Yu. Anywhere else is just as fine."

An Yu shot a glare at Ali, as if she were some villainous character ruining the main couple, and urged Liu Mengwan, "You're the star tonight—sit down!"

He stood up. Liu Mengwan, helpless, walked over and offered Lu Jinyan an apologetic smile. "Jinyan, Yu is just throwing a tantrum. Don’t mind him."

Lu Jinyan looked down at Ali. "Do you mind?"

Once again, Ali became the focus of everyone’s attention. But now she was sitting on 'Uncle’s' lap—what was left to mind?

Ali shook her head. "I don’t."

Beside her, An Yu rolled his eyes so hard it was as if he were saying: 'You fake, stop pretending!' Ali was speechless. What was she pretending about? She truly didn’t care how they viewed her. Now that 'Uncle' had given her dignity, what was there to be dissatisfied with? One must learn to be content.

The gathering proceeded smoothly enough. After the initial awkwardness, everyone chatted and laughed.

But as for the topics, Ali couldn’t join in. They spoke only of amusing incidents between 'Uncle' and Liu Mengwan, stories she knew nothing about and couldn’t comment on, making her seem out of place. All she could do was sip her juice—since 'Uncle' wouldn’t allow her to drink alcohol.

All night long, her stomach was full of water.

The private room was noisy. Ali leaned close to Lu Jinyan and whispered in his ear, "Uncle, I need to use the restroom."

"Go ahead," he said, releasing his arm from her waist.

After she finished, Ali washed her hands in the bathroom. Suddenly a figure approached. She turned to see it was An Yu.

Nothing good ever happened when she ran into him.

Ali tried to leave, but An Yu blocked her path, his expression fierce. "Don’t get ahead of yourself. Can’t you see? Jinyan is only using you to provoke Mengwan. You’re nothing but a tool to him."

Ali had considered this possibility herself. Otherwise, why would 'Uncle' want Liu Mengwan to sit by his side?

But Ali didn’t want to dwell on it. She retorted, "So what?"

An Yu hadn’t expected that response. He glared at her. "Do you have no shame? Jinyan and Mengwan are meant for each other. If you had any sense, you’d divorce him instead of coming between them!"

Ali replied, "The marriage was arranged by Grandma, and ‘Uncle’ agreed. If you’re unhappy with it, take it up with Grandma or with ‘Uncle’—just don’t come to me. Picking on the weak rather than facing the strong hardly makes you a man."