Volume One, Chapter 169: Affection? He Loves That Word!

“Aye...”

Ming Qing also saw Sang Wan.

But with just a glance, his gaze slid past her and settled on Lou Ye. “I’ve had your clothes dry-cleaned. I’ll bring them over to put in your car later.”

He only mentioned the clothes, not the coat. Everyone in the banquet hall, especially the men and women gathered in the distant corners, immediately cast gossiping glances at Lou Ye and Ming Qing.

Then they looked at Sang Wan, all wearing faces of understanding.

One was the eldest daughter of the Ming family, a childhood sweetheart who grew up alongside Lou Ye.

The other was Sang Wan, who had suddenly appeared on the scene and was divorced.

Even if Lou Ye was momentarily blinded by beauty, it likely wouldn’t last long.

After all, there is no shortage of beauty in this world.

In a few years, even if he aged a bit, he would still be the crown prince of the capital, with beautiful women flocking to him like flowers.

And Sang Wan?

Once she passes thirty, whether in looks, figure, or charm, she would only decline day by day.

Would she still be able to cling to Lou Ye like this?

Lou Ye was unaware of what others were thinking.

He only knew that he had told Ming Qing that the coat was lost.

“No need!”

His gaze coldly swept over Ming Qing. Lou Ye turned around, helped Sang Wan take off her coat and handed it to a waiter to hang up, then put his arm around her as they walked toward Qin Baichuan and He Lan.

“Mr. Qin, sister-in-law...”

Sang Wan greeted them with a smile.

He Lan pushed Qin Baichuan aside, waved to Sang Wan, and pulled her to sit down to chat.

Ming Qing, left ignored, looked a bit displeased.

But soon, Ming Qing’s mood lifted considerably.

Everyone here today were childhood friends who had grown up together, along with their respective partners.

Though Ming Qing hadn’t seen them for years, they kept in contact and were always surrounded by a crowd.

Sang Wan, on the other hand, was a complete stranger.

Those gathered around Sang Wan were only He Lan, Jiang Ke’er, and a few children from the start.

The sky darkened.

Outside on the terrace, barbecue grills were set up, and the chefs brought out skewers of meat already prepared for grilling.

The kitchen inside was silent, but delicious aromas wafted out in waves.

The festive atmosphere was at its peak.

“Sis Lan...”

Ming Qing went outside to help and turned to ask He Lan, “That last time at your place when we had barbecue, I still can’t forget your secret sauce after all these years abroad. Could you teach me how to make it?”

“Sure...”

Without suspicion, He Lan greeted Sang Wan and got up to go to the terrace.

Lou Ye was talking with Qin Baichuan about a collaboration for next year.

He turned his head and saw Sang Wan sitting there all alone.

Looking around again, except for those helping on the terrace, everyone else was laughing and chatting, ignoring her completely.

Just as she was about to get up, a girl walked over and sat beside Sang Wan.

They spoke briefly, and a gentle smile appeared on Sang Wan’s face.

In the blink of an eye, the two were happily engrossed in conversation.

“Come, come! Jiang’s secret big skewers! Don’t miss out if you’re passing by!”

The door swung open, and Jiang Huai’s loud voice rang out.

Everyone in the hall headed outside.

“Is it good?”

Lou Ye’s voice suddenly appeared, startling Sang Wan so much that she almost poked his shirt with her skewer.

She glared at him angrily but nodded. “Very delicious! Want a skewer?”

“No.”

Lou Ye glanced at the crowd gathered in front of the grill, then shook his head, grabbed Sang Wan’s hand, and took a bite from her skewer.

The pretty girl beside Sang Wan laughed, “Wan, you and Lou Ye really look so in love!”

In love?

He liked that word!

Lou Ye raised an eyebrow slightly. “Have we met before?”

“Hello, Lou Ye. I’m Qin Miao, an employee under President Jiang.”

Qin Miao smiled. “We met at the charity auction at Wangjiang Tower last September.”

Lou Ye remembered, his expression strange. “Are you sure you’re an employee?”

Qin Miao nodded seriously. “Yes!”

Lou Ye glanced at Jiang Huai, who was enthusiastically grilling skewers, but said nothing.

Jiang Huai changed girlfriends more often than he changed cars.

Moreover, in all these years, he never brought a woman to the New Year's Eve gathering, since it was all family, and bringing a casual date would only make him seem frivolous.

“Aye!”

A bright voice sounded beside him.

Lou Ye turned to see Ming Qing looking troubled. “It’s rare for us to gather like this. Don’t be angry, let Fangfei come join us too, okay? You said that last time, and she cried for a long time after.”

“I don’t decide...”

Lou Ye lifted his chin. “Ask Sang Wan!”

???

Why ask her?

Ming Qing said nothing, but the confusion on her face was obvious even to Qin Miao.

Lou Ye’s voice grew firm. “This garden belongs to her. If you want to invite friends over, don’t you need the owner’s permission?”

“Owner?”

Ming Qing exclaimed in shock. “Isn’t this Jiang Huai’s place?”

“I gave it to my sister-in-law!”

Jiang Huai shouted loudly by the grill.

Ming Qing froze.

Everyone waiting for skewers was stunned.

Though this place was in the suburbs, it was still within the capital’s territory.

Not to mention, the garden was vast and beautiful.

Last year, someone offered 500 million to buy it, but Jiang Huai refused without hesitation.

A garden worth far more than 500 million was just casually gifted to Sang Wan?

Everyone: !!!

Ming Qing: ...

But now that it was said, no matter how unwilling Ming Qing felt, she had to look at Sang Wan. “Sang Wan, Fangfei comes with us every New Year's Eve. Could you consider...”

“Wan!”

Before Ming Qing finished, Qin Miao clutched her stomach. “Are you going to the restroom?”

“Yes!”

Sang Wan nodded.

The two held hands and ran into the banquet hall.

Ming Qing was stunned, instinctively looking at Lou Ye.

Lou Ye smiled softly at the direction Sang Wan disappeared, as if saying: You’re an adult now; why still act like in middle or high school, needing company even to go to the restroom?

She knew Qin Miao was deliberate.

Sang Wan was deliberate too.

Ming Qing looked at Lou Ye again, her sarcasm barely concealed in her voice. “Lou Ye, you can’t even tolerate a Fangfei. Is this the woman you like?”

“You alright?”

Lou Ye’s face darkened. “The one who can’t tolerate Mu Fangfei is me, from start to finish. What, you can’t take me, so you want to mess with her instead?”

“Ming Qing, you’re just the eldest daughter of the Ming family, not a major socialite in the capital. Don’t think everyone has to accommodate you and yield to you! Don’t be so presumptuous!”

Those two sentences were almost harsh words.

Even though Lou Ye’s voice was not loud, Ming Qing could feel everyone around was staring at her.

A voice roared angrily: Damn it!!!

She wanted to angrily kick over the grill and storm off.

But another voice hesitated: What if Zheng Mingzuo bothers you again next time?

She didn’t like Zheng Mingzuo, but in the Ming family’s eyes, the Zheng family was a well-matched and respectable ally.

Lou Ye was only annoyed with her attitude for a moment.

If he got truly angry, he would stop caring about her altogether.

Then next time if Zheng Mingzuo bothered her again, she...

Ming Qing’s face went pale.