Chapter 41 - Anniversary Party (1)

It was the anniversary day of Long Huojin and Xue Guangli.

That morning, Song Luli went to work and cut it short to get ready for that early afternoon and evening. Song Meiling came over with Zhang Enyu, who dressed in an all-white suit, contrasting her sister's black dress.

Zhang Enyu patiently waited in the living room, as the women got ready.

In her bedroom, Song Luli asked Song Meiling, "Why are you bringing Zhang Enyu. I thought you hated him?" she asked curiously. Song Luli recalled her sister ranting about him the time they went shopping. She spoke endlessly about his haughty behaviour towards people like her.

"I dragged him here because everyone has a date, and I don't, so I don't want to stare at a wall for most of the evening," Song Meiling responded.

"How did you manage to convince him?" Song Luli asked.

Song Meiling took out her makeup bag and began to apply some of it on Song Luli's face. "I told him that it must be boring to stay home every night, and he agreed with me, for once, and decided to come along. I also mentioned that there would be delicious food and expensive wine," she said.

Song Luli chuckled with a smile, knowing that her older sister was good at persuasion.

After Song Meiling finished applying her makeup, she began to do Song Luli's hair.

"Luli," her sister called out to her softly after playing around with her hair.

"Yes?"

"Can I cut your bangs?" She asked.

Song Luli was taken aback. "Eh? Why would I let you cut my bangs?" she questioned her sister.

Song Meiling rolled her eyes. "Please trust me on this," she said to her.

Song Luli wasn't sure about it. But her sister held a determined expression in her eyes, almost as if she ached to cut her hair. "Fine," she said to her.

Song Meiling clapped her hands, excited. She combed her hair, dividing the strands. "I won't cut them short," her sister told her. She then grabbed a pair of scissors, taking strands of hair, twisting it around her nose. Slowly, Song Meiling cut them with precision.

Though her sister cut them around her nose, they both knew her hair would bounce. After Song Meiling finished, Song Luli glanced at the mirror, stunned.

Song Meiling didn't give her a fringe; she gave her side-swept bangs. It divided in between, not covering her entire forehead, and it did not overlap, but it suited her perfectly. She also had put on silver eyeshadow and white eyeliner, shaping a perfect wing on each of her lids. Song Meiling highlighted her cheekbones using an opaque glitter, complimenting the dress she would wear later on.

Song Luli couldn't stop looking at herself in the mirror. She knew makeup was one of Song Meiling's hobbies, but her skill was beyond an amateur.

Song Meiling encouraged her to put on the dress to complete the look, so Song Luli quickly changed, slipping on the shimmery white-silver dress.

Song Meiling gasped when she saw her, covering her mouth. "You look amazing! But you're missing some jewelry!" she said. Song Meiling went into her closet, rummaging through her things, looking for something specific. "Ah!" her sister exclaimed.

She then passed her a pair of long earrings and a silver necklace around her neck. She also placed a silver-gold armband around Song Luli's upper arm. "There!" Song Meiling said, "You're ready."

Song Luli glanced at the completed look. She grinned, knowing that she would be a sight to see.

Song Meiling then quickly placed on makeup, already dressed. She went for a charcoal black look, outlining the gold in her eyes.

Song Luli locked arms with her sister as they descended the stairs, meeting with Long Jie and Zhang Enyu.

The two men were waiting in the foyer, as they watched the two ladies descend the staircase.

Zhang Enyu's mouth gaped as he saw Song Meiling. He didn't expect her to look...he shook his thoughts away before completing that sentence in his mind. Song Meiling stepped to his side with a lingering smirk on her lips, but he pretended not to notice.

She walked ahead of him, and her wavy brown hair swept across her shoulders. He followed after her, heading into the car.

Meanwhile, Long Jie was taking his time to register Song Luli's appearance before him. Her new bangs shaped her the curves of her face, and there was something about her poise, her confident walk, her beauty that made her appear so gracefully elegant.

Song Luli didn't know what Long Jie was going to wear, but his silver-grey suit matched hers, and it surprised her. But then again, she took the suggestion of her dress from his mother.

Long Jie's pale-blue eyes darkened as he gazed at her, but his expression remained cold and indifferent. He did not show any astonishment or blatant awe, but Song Luli didn't care.

She wore her hair, makeup, and dress more for herself than anyone. So she walked ahead of Long Jie, heading towards the car.

From behind, Long Jie's eyes did not leave her. He kept staring at her, appreciating the dip of her back, how the dress revealed most of her skin.

Once they reached the car, he sat in the driver's seat as Song Luli helped herself in the passenger seat. They took separate cars from Song Meiling and Zhang Enyu, as they would take different directions after the ceremony and party.

At the venue, Song Luli stepped from the car; her heels clicked against the ground. She held some of the skirts of her dress, preventing her from stomping on the short train. Long Jie stepped to her side, offering an arm, without sparing a glance at her.

Song Luli hesitated, but she took it.

They had to arrive together, inevitably. So Long Jie walked her down a white carpet, blanketed with snowdrops and white tulips. The venue from the outside, as well as indoors, were richly decorated with white flowers. There were white seats on either side of the aisle, and Song Luli was stunned by the beautiful venue; she wondered how in love his parents must have been.

Not many people arrived yet; they were early, considering Long Jie was the only son of the married couple.

"My parents never had a wedding," Long Jie said from behind her. Song Luli widened her eyes as she faced him, intrigued.

A server stopped by offering them champagne and Long Jie took two glasses, offering her one. He then said, "Come with me."