Fu Huai'an held onto Lin Nuan's slender waist as he walked in their direction, guided by the waiter.
Xie Jingqian elbowed Ji Zibai and held his arm as she stared in the direction of Lin Nuan and Fu Huai'an with her bright and beautiful eyes. She asked sweetly, "Dabai, tell me, is Fu Huai'an's wife prettier, or am I prettier?"
Ji Zibai gazed at Xie Jingqian's eyes as she waited in anticipation. He raised his head to look in the direction of Fu Huai'an and Lin Nuan.
Fu Huai'an said something to Lin Nuan. There was a look of surprise on her delicate features, and she covered her mouth with her hands as she giggled, her eyes smiling.
Ji Zibai looked away, placed his cigarette back into the box, and put the lighter down.
The phone in his pocket vibrated. Ji Zibai leaned towards Xie Jingqian and stretched out his leg under the table as he reached into his pocket for his phone. "It's okay, I only have eyes for you!" he said before answering the call.
Xie Jingqian was rendered speechless.
She clenched her fist and waved it on top of Ji Zibai's head as she glared at him while he was on the phone. Furious, she turned around and took a sip of her fruit juice.
"Who told you we are having a bachelor party tonight?" Ji Zibai asked with a tinge of annoyance.
Xie Jingqian bit on her straw as she tried to eavesdrop on their conversation. When she heard You Jiaxin on the other end of the line answering 'Auntie' in a crisp voice, her mood lifted considerably.
Ji Zibai turned around to look at Xie Jingqian. She put the glass of fruit juice down hurriedly and looked expectantly at Ji Zibai. "I called my third brother and my third sister-in-law over, as well as Tang Xi and Xinxin! Why do you think we're sitting at such a big table?"
Ji Zibai was dumbfounded.
He couldn't be bothered to bicker with Xie Jingqian. Ji Zibai said hurriedly, "You and Tang Xi are not to come! Call your sister, there's no bachelor party tonight! Turn around even if you're already at the door!"
You Jiaxin lowered her voice and said something on the other end of the line. Ji Zibai raised his eyebrow and rapped his long and fair fingers on the table. "Anything nice to eat? Are you keen on eating the soles of shoes?"
Ji Zibai hung up the call and turned to look at Xie Jingqian, who had acted on her own accord without informing him. She had goosebumps from his icy stare. She smiled and held onto Ji Zibai's arm, then she grasped his large hand and placed it on her small face. "I know Fu Huai'an is your best buddy, so I called Tang Xi and my third brother over so that we can all get to know each other better. They can also look out for one another during their business dealings. I know you're worried about Fu Huai'an, and I want to help shoulder your burden. I'm so nice to you, but here you are glaring at me…" she said coquettishly.
Xie Jingqian was right, Ji Zibai's only buddy was Fu Huai'an.
All these years, Fu Huai'an had gradually shifted from being a lawyer to being a businessman, and Ji Zibai hadn't been able to lend a hand.
He had noticed Fu Huai'an's smoking addiction getting worse. Fu Huai'an slept and spoke even less than before. He was unfathomable and became more withdrawn and dull than an old man. Ji Zibai didn't know what else he could do.
It may seem strange for a grown man to admit this, but Ji Zibai truly cared for Fu Huai'an from the bottom of his heart.
When Ji Zibai was with Xie Jingqian, everyone thought that the tough Ji Zibai would have the final say in all things, but it turned out that Xie Jingqian was good at manipulating Ji Zibai's character and knew that a soft approach would work better than a hard one!
And so Xie Jingqian mastered the art of acting coquettish and being endearing. This was easy for her, and she did it all the time for almost anything and everything, and it would always work.
If it didn't work the first time, she would try it again! She usually managed to get Ji Zibai to eat out of her hand.
…
Lin Nuan was taken aback when Fu Huai'an told her that his friend was the artist, Ji Zibai.
Lin Nuan knew who Ji Zibai was. He was an artist in the contemporary art circle who did realistic paintings, and he was unsurpassed. His extreme realistic style was the ultimate attainment that everyone strived for. Although he might have been lauded to the skies, it was true that Ji Zibai's paintings were always stunning.
Lin Nuan clutched the sleeve of her sweater nervously. It wasn't because she was going to meet the mysterious artist, Ji Zibai, but because she was about to meet a very important friend of Fu Huai'an's.
Lin Nuan had met many high-profile and important people at the broadcast building in Haicheng previously, but she had never been as nervous as she was now.
Ji Zibai raised his hand and gestured to Fu Huai'an from afar. Fu Huai'an nodded and walked over with Lin Nuan. This was the first time Ji Zibai was meeting his good friend's wife, and even though he was usually uninhibited, he stood up politely to greet her.
Fu Huai'an said to Lin Nuan in a gentlemanly manner, "This is Ji Zibai, and this is his fiancee, Xie Jingqian."
Ji Zibai nodded at Lin Nuan. She had delicate and exquisite features, a clean face, and her eyes were clear and bright like Lake Malta!
The eyes are the windows to one's soul, and Ji Zibai had the sharp eyes of an artist.
Ji Zibai had met a good amount of people, especially so as he had to perfect his paintings. He was always observing the people around him. Sometimes he would be at the busy marketplace or at the slums, looking at the people hustle to make a living or commoners fighting over the smallest matter. Other times, he might be at a musical, speaking to the upper class.
From Lin Nuan's clear gaze, he could tell that she was a pure and tenacious person.
Ji Zibai had read online about Lin Nuan going to Iraq. He had been on the brink of death before, and he understood how she must have felt. Of course, their circumstances were different. Ji Zibai had to accept his situation awkwardly as he had no other choice, whereas Lin Nuan chose to put herself in danger knowingly.
He didn't know Lin Nuan, but he was full of admiration for her. This was him being confident of his own judgment as an artist.
Ji Zibai gave Lin Nuan a friendly smile and stretched out his hand. "Ji Zibai!"
Lin Nuan used her left hand to hold on to her right wrist respectfully and grasped Ji Zibai's fingertips. "Hi, Lin Nuan."
"Hello!" Xie Jingqian stretched out her hand as well and smiled sweetly at Lin Nuan. "I'm Xie Jingqian! I've seen your shows! I'm a fan of yours!"
Xie Jingqian had a keen interest in the gossip news on Weibo, and she was well aware of Lin Nuan's news.
When Xie Jingqian learned of how Lin Nuan had gone to Iraq because of a man, with little regard for her life, she felt that this was vastly different from the public persona that Lin Nuan projected. Even so, she was filled with admiration for her.
When she heard that Fu Huai'an's wife was Lin Nuan, Xie Jingqian was shocked. Fu Huai'an didn't seem to be the kind of man that Lin Nuan would marry.
Lin Nuan gave others the impression that she was calm and collected, confident and reserved!
Even when netizens were scolding Lin Nuan, she didn't bother to give any explanation and remained zen.
Xie Jingqian thought that such a withdrawn person like Lin Nuan would most likely not hit it off with a taciturn person like Fu Huai'an.
Lin Nuan smiled and shook Xie Jingqian's hand.