Chapter 158: The Venue

After stepping off the elevator, a magnificent and spacious sky corridor unfolded before Xia Yuwei. Luxurious carpets, dazzling lights, couples of celebrities and famous figures, especially the bright flashes and sounds of cameras clicking incessantly, suddenly overwhelmed her with an intense sense of discomfort. Instinctively, she stopped in her tracks.

“Miss Xia, I heard that Young Master Ye has been abroad for less than half a month. Have you thought about how he might feel? Or have you already decided to choose the gentleman before you?”
“Could someone please introduce who this gentleman is? Is he also a scion of a wealthy family?”
“I’ve heard your family is from an ordinary background, yet every boyfriend you choose is from a wealthy lineage. What is your true intention?”

Unpleasant memories surged over her like a tidal wave, and Xia Yuwei pressed her hand to her forehead.

Jun Yihan noticed her sudden halt and her furrowed brow as she held her forehead. Grasping her hand firmly, he asked, “Weiwei, what’s wrong?”

“...Nothing, nothing at all...” she said, her face pale. Unconsciously, he called her Weiwei as well. “The flashes are too bright, I feel uneasy...”

Jun Yihan supported Xia Yuwei and guided her toward the left, away from the crowds and the harsh lights.

The elevator opened again, and Bai Yixuan linked her arm confidently with Lu Yichen’s as they stepped out. Holding her head high, she knew her Brother Chen was the most handsome man in the room, and linking arms with him gave her confidence. Let those jealous stares come! Ha, she shot them a dazzling glance in return...

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Sitting quietly in the lounge, Xia Yuwei’s complexion gradually returned to normal. Jun Yihan handed her a cup of warm water.

“Thank you,” Xia Yuwei said, holding the cup with both hands and feeling its warmth. She shyly added, “I’m sorry. I...”

“Why would you be sorry? I imagine there must be a reason. No one is sensitive to something for no cause,” Jun Yihan said as he sat beside her on the sofa.

“Yeah, you’re right,” Xia Yuwei replied gloomily. His voice sounded like an encouragement. “I... I have a shadow when it comes to camera flashes.”

“That’s alright. If you don’t want to talk about it, then don’t,” Jun Yihan said. He naturally had his ways of understanding the situation.

“You mentioned sensitivity, and suddenly I remembered—I’m allergic to pollen. There must be many flowers at the venue, right? Otherwise, can I just not go...” Xia Yuwei suddenly looked up at him.

“Isn’t it too late to back out now?” Jun Yihan smiled at her. “Without a date, do you want me to be laughed at?”

“But...”
“No more buts. Wait here for me,” Jun Yihan patted her hand and turned to leave.

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Bai Yixuan and Lu Yichen had already passed the red carpet and the flashing cameras and were smoothly guided by the attendants into the venue, taking seats near the front.

On each table lay a bouquet of pink roses.

“The flowers are beautiful,” Bai Yixuan said to Lu Yichen.

At that moment, an attendant came over and began removing the flowers from their table.

“What’s going on?” Bai Yixuan asked, her face creasing in confusion.

“Sorry, there’s a distinguished guest here who is allergic to pollen. We just received orders to clear all flowers from the venue—no flowers allowed,” the attendant explained, taking away the transparent vases as well.

Bai Yixuan glanced around and indeed saw many attendants busily collecting flowers from the tables. In what felt like an instant, all the fresh flowers and potted plants had disappeared from the entire hall.

“Oh, such a fuss... I wonder who has so much influence. If they’re allergic, why not just skip attending such an event...” Bai Yixuan muttered resentfully.

Lu Yichen, however, remained silent. The image of Xia Yuwei appeared in his mind.

Are you obsessed with her? Why do you associate everything with her...

How could she be here... The man she married surely didn’t have the best circumstances. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have lived in such an ordinary residential building, suffered so much, or been pushed to the point of selling liquor and being mistreated.

Yet at such a gathering, his mind kept flashing to her face—her every frown and smile, every movement.

He thought of how she would rather endure hardship than keep any gifts from him, how she mercilessly tossed the bank card on the table, the scars around her waist... The late-night phone call, the childlike voice calling “Mommy,” and that man saying “Yuwei”...

She no longer belonged to him—her person, her heart.

...

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“Mr. Jun, this way please,” the etiquette attendant guided Jun Yihan and Xia Yuwei to seats in the front row.

Indeed, there was not a single flower in the entire hall. Xia Yuwei marveled, not knowing how Jun Yihan had managed it. Jun Yihan only smiled without a word. They hadn’t entered through the main entrance, keeping a remarkably low profile, yet it didn’t diminish their VIP status. Jun Yihan gestured for her to sit first.

“Thank you,” Xia Yuwei smiled at him, carefully arranging her skirt before sitting down.