Chapter 156 - Graced The Party

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The party of the Zhang Group was held in one of the grand mansions with a lake view amidst the scenic mountains.

Stepping out of the car, Li Na stared at the decorated mansion, which was emitting pretty warm lights like fireflies. She'd seen the mansion decked for celebration several times, every occasion, and thought of it had made her happier, but this one had turned out to be a lethal blow on the gut. She struggles to regulate her breathing, as memories of past celebrations rush in her head like a movie with a sad ending. It wasn't something entirely unexpected for her but to have it unfold on her face made it worst. 

Li Na took a few deep breaths to calm herself down and prep herself. 'It's just for few hours, you can do this Mei-Xing, without losing your temper! And don't act rash no matter what happens!' she repeatedly told herself in the mind.

Apprehensive, she shot a look of deception toward Lu Jianjun. She knew he had ulterior motives when he asked her out and he had been true to his image she'd of him, inconsiderate and overly smart, he won't let her go unless she confessed her truth to him. She was on guard but to think she had agreed on her own selfish accord help her even out, the corners of her lips pulled up. 

Lu Jianjun brows furrowed and his eyes looked confused at her, he thought she would throw a fit as soon as she would know the event he brought her to attend. He analyzed her for a few moments to make sure she was not angry he turned to look away in disbelief.

After Li Na smoothen her dress, Lu Jianjun extended his arm as an invitation. In return, she amply accepted the invitation and held his arm as they entered the mansion. Zhang Genji and her husband were the first ones to come and greet Lu Jianjun, Li Na doesn't remember what they talk as she was blank out to suddenly have so many familiar people around her and the fact that nor she or they could greet each other the way they used to in the past. 

Everything was too superficial for her to cope with so she stayed silent, only her eyes moving from one talking face to another, greeting her distantly.

The inside ambiance was perfect, people enjoying themselves and the violin and mild instruments been played softly in the background giving it a vibe of sophistication.

All the women seemed to belong to well-heeled families. On seeing the man beside her, a big thrill was apparent on everyone's face, but their refinement kept them from shrieking.

It was within minutes of their arrivals that Lu Jianjun was swarmed with businessmen and their women or daughters, coming forward for a handshake or small talk. 

As the CEO of GQ Lu Jun-hui was also present, he only greet his big brother and ignored her. 

Though Ethan was helpful in managing people, Lu Jianjun's presence has gathered too much attention, and she saw the change in him, his entire body started giving off a frosty, distant vibe as if he was as distrustful of being here as she was. When the people started to increase he gripped her hand and walked away.

She also got eyes on her, but they were quick to move on to the handsome man beside her with an intimidating aura. Li Na was entirely overshadowed by Lu Jianjun, not that she minds as that kept him busy and frequently her eyes roamed around the hall spotting her and Zhang's family members receiving the other guest. Though she has yet to see her parents and the married couple, for who the entire celebration was arranged she remained patient. Even with the possibility of the Smiths and Zhang family not forming any marriage alliance still Zhangs' would definitely invite Smiths. She was sure to see her parents tonight.

Seating herself at a VIP table at the corner, close to a large window, and out of it was the lake view, Li Na sipped on her drink. Lu Jianjun easily got busy in business talks and she got hurled away from him but even from a distance, he would still look at her every now and then. Li Na didn't venture to do anything out of place. 

Despite possessing such a rebellious personality, Li Na knew when to steer out of trouble. so she sat at the corner and sighted the dark, velvety skies studded with diamonds. Accompanied by the sounds of occasional soft waves rippling upon the surface of the water she sat lost in the sight, her mood tainted with past.

Li Na remembered the time when they would have dinner at night and would play music sitting beside the lake drinking, kissing and a lot of talking from late in the night till dawn. She looked out the window, her lips curling into a small faint smile, as though mocking the situation.

A gust of the cold, lake breeze blew and kissed her skin. She shivered at the begotten blissful past, fortunately, there was heating inside the hall room.

Accompanied by her shadow, Li Na waited and waited, indulging herself in the lake view. Not once did it bother her that the party hadn't started. 

Within a short while, the man of honors entered, descending down the staircase of his house, nonchalant and indifferent, he was dressed in posh black with a magnetic blue shirt, the favorite of Mei Xing's shade, and a bow. Silence settled in the hall room for few seconds, Li Na froze in the middle of taking a sip from her glass as she stared at Zhang Han, unlike others. 

Now that she was seeing him clearly she saw the subtle change in the present person and the person in her past. There was a hint of weariness around him as if he was tired of something, but then it was not noticed by others, she knew because she'd seen and known him better. Now that things were unfolding before her, she felt slowly her pulses were going haywire.

Silence shattered. Murmurers about Zhang Han's wife gradually started to fill the room, Where is Mrs. Zhang? Why she didn't come with him? Do we have to wait for her? there was all sort of talk among ladies.

Li Na frowned, she thought she was aware of the situation, either Zhang Han had moved on from her death by marrying another woman or it was Mei Lein who got involved, her theories were endless but the truth is one that she didn't know what exactly happened after her death. So she chooses to wait and see it for herself. Li Na didn't get to hear the name of Zhang Han's wife since ladies talking about her here were unfamiliar, they just called the woman, Mrs. Zhang. 

Invited deemed guest went to congratulate Zhang Han, but the same couldn't be applied to Li Na as she remained seated and eyeballed the scene. Zhang Han stood up on the podium accepting the wishes. He then raised a glass and drank with everyone. After giving the stage to Master Zhang and Madam Zhang, Zhang Han walked down the stage leaving the remaining guests to Zhang Genji and others to attend. He went to the courtyard near the lake where fewer people were drinking as if he was trying not to make conversation with anyone and want to be left alone. 

Li Na's line of sight circled the hall room and she frowned when she didn't saw Lu Jianjun present inside. The mood in the main hall was clamorous, with laughter erupting again and again. 

Madam Zhang and Master Zhang graced the floor by having the first dance. All had eyes on two, dreamily sighing as they took view except for Li Na. Other couples also began to dance, some came to ask her but she refused them, looking for Lu Jianjun. Where did he go at such a crucial moment? She turned to look for him and overheard people talking.

When talk of the missing bride got loud, Zhang Genji stepped forwards to the woman politely giving some excuse for Mrs. Zhang's delay. By then most people seems to felt it was because of Mrs. Zhang's arrogance and carelessness that she was making her in-law's invited guest wait, many deemed guests had lost interest in meeting the new bride. Her first impression was lost on them, they were just enjoying the night.

Just when Li Na stepped out of the hall room and towards the courtyard. Her eyes fell on Lu Jianjun's side face, he was standing near the lake surrounded by a bunch of suited men. In the same instance, Lu Jianjun turned his head slightly and his gaze collided right with the girl in the green dress, her stare on him was intense and slightly enthralled. He couldn't look away. Just when she took a step towards him, someone interrupted her from the back.

"Hello, Li Na? How have you been recent?" The caring voice of a woman stirs Li Na to look back. She pursed her lips, looking at the graciously smiling lady.

'Wait! Is that the principal? What was her name again, something like Miss Mo?' Li Na debated if she was seeing right, she had noticed her previously when she and Lu Jianjun entered, Principal Mo, in her red dress but Li Na didn't think the woman would try to converse with her, especially after what happened in the school office. She had clearly disrespected the lady that day, why is she suddenly acting close to her?

"Good Evening, Miss Mo! I'm fine! Thanks for bothering," Li Na replied in a distant tone, and sarcasm in the last few words made it clear she was not interested in making any talks.

Ignoring the rude words, Mo Qingchun smiled stepping as if taking a stroll around, she came to stand before Li Na and said with care. "That's good. I heard from Bai Tian you got into some trouble after you left school that day." though she had said it to Li Na, Mo Qingchun's eyes moved to look at a particular man in the distance. Li Na caught the sight of Lu Jianjun from the corner of her eyes as he was returning to her with another man beside him.

At the same, there was a commotion in the hall room, as if the newlywed Mrs. Zhang had finally graced the party with her presence.

In a nimble move, Lu Jianjun had also come near her from behind. He naturally pulled Li Na over, his arm circling her waist. His slender fingers brushed past her exposed warm skin before they came to settle lowly. When Li Na was embraced, her heart raced like crazy, his sudden sweet and affectionate action towards her wasn't missed by others' eyes. Mo Qingchu's eyes went wide to see his stunningly brooding stance up so close. 

"Were you looking for me?" He gently asked the girl in his arms. To hide her astonishment, Li Na could only purse her lips and nod. His eyes turned tender as he stared down at her.. Whereas, Li Na's eyes fell on the man beside Lu Jianjun and it flew wide, open in shock.

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