This was not the first time that Ran Xueyi had attended the Old Master Song's birthday. The last time was several years ago when she was still at her peak in acting and wasn't engaged to Yang Baihua.
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At that time, she followed her grandfather and was introduced to the Old Master Song briefly. Now, she was almost certain that the Old Master Song wouldn't remember who she was.
And even though it wasn't her first time to attend the Old patriarch's birthday, it was her first time to come here to one of the mansions that was owned by the Song family.
With her dress that made her appear like a modern queen descending from her throne to bless her people with only her presence, it was undeniable that Ran Xueyi would receive several people's attention while she stepped into the grand hall.
As soon as their eyes half-landed on her figure, they were stunned and pleasantly surprised then almost immediately, they were shocked. The surprise and pleasant feeling of seeing a beauty walking in front of you was a feeling to be preserved, but the moment they recognized the person, they couldn't help but look at the person a few more times.
With what was going on in the country that almost shook both the socialite and entertainment world, it was not surprising that some people who were up to date to the latest and hottest news in the entertainment world would recognize Ran Xueyi.
"Isn't that..." One person whispered while standing from the side, "That's the lady from the news, right?"
"She's the eldest young lady of the Ran family from City A." A woman said next to him, "I met her when Old Master Ran took her around some charity events and parties several years ago. She seems to be a kind young lady. It must be why some unscrupulous people took advantage of her."
The gazes that looked at her were filled with pity and sympathetic eyes. Some praised her bravery and some appreciated her action a few days ago. But Ran Xueyi ignored and acted as if she didn't sense their gazes and returned a smile to those who smiled at her and greeted her.
Of course, these people who came to attend the party knew that they couldn't gossip passionately as they would usually do. Today was the Old Master Song's birthday party. They must watch out on their actions and manners lest somebody point it out to them and embarrass themselves.
Unlike the parties held by the mid tier high class people, these people knew how to discipline themselves. They knew when to openly gossip and when to act appropriately.
Hence, the number of people who looked at Ran Xueyi and talked about the scandal that broke out a few days ago were not many and the topic they were discussing were quickly extinguished, moving to a more proper topic.
While listening to them speaking with their hushed voices before it disappeared, Ran Xueyi glanced around the place.
The grand hall was a large place. It looked much like an auditiorium from her previous academy. There were organizers shuttlng back and forth, managing the place. The several servers dressed in their most formal uniform were making their way around the place while carrying a silver tray with glasses of different liquids on it. But the most number of people in the hall were made up of the guests who came to the party. They were dressed accordingly to the level of significance of the event.
It only proved how much importance everyone put on Old Master Song.
An organizer noticed Ran Xueyi, who arrived a little bit later than the rest of the guests. She wasn't really late since there were still some guests from the guests list who still hadn't arrived yet due to the distance where they lived, but she was also not too early either.
The organizer approached Ran Xueyi and asked in a polite and proper tone, "Miss, are you looking for your family members? If you just tell me their surname, I would lead you to their table."
Ran Xueyi glanced at the organizer and replied while raising the invitation card she printed out earlier, "I came here in my grandparents' stead, if you would please lead me to their table."
Nove l B(in).C OM
The organizer was slightly dazed when he heard the soft and sweet voice. The way she also spoke was a little bit humble and it made the organizer's feelings a bit lighter.
The smile on the organizer's lips deepened and became real, totally different from his perfunctory and professional smile he used to every other guests who came tonight.
He looked down at the invitation card in her hand and raised his eyes, the surprise became genuine. 'So, she was the representative of Old patriarch Ran.'
In order to maintain the order of the party, the organizers followed the Song family's instruction to arrange the tables according to the family members, their rank in the high elites, and if they were alone, they would be seated amongst the people they were known to be close with. Naturally, there was no need for the guests to strictly follow this order and could take their seats anywhere they wanted, but still, the people of the Song family followed the orders of their masters.
One did not know whether it was on purpose or the Song family being considerate to the Ran family, but the table arranged for the Ran family was put at a respected spot where other high elites were located. Not only that, it was very close to the table of the Song family.
In fact, they were in a better spot because of Old Master Song's wish to be closer to a close friend.
Therefore, when the organizer led Ran Xueyi to the table she would seat in, it was surprisingly close to the Song family. And from where she stood, she could clearly see the Song family and most importantly, Song Yu Han.
Ran Xueyi was slightly awkward.
First of all, what is this? Why was the table arranged directly across the Song family?
Despite the fact that it wasn't only her table placed directly across the table of the Song family, she was still a little bit nervous.
These people... if she were to think about it, they could be considered as her in-laws, right?
Then, wouldn't this mean that this was her first time seeing her husband's family after marriage?
"This is your table, Miss." The organizer politely pointed his hand at the table. He also pulled the chair to let her sit on it before pushing it forward when she finally sat on the chair. "I will send someone to serve you your drink."
Ran Xueyi finally nodded to the organizer and thanked him softly. She was slightly distracted because of the close proximity of the Song family to her table and thus, didn't mean to ignore the organizer.
Unlike the mental process that passed in her mind, the organizer looked at Ran Xueyi with a bit more admiration and thought to give more instruction to the server to serve her well.
After the organizer left and moved to call for a server, Ran Xueyi finally let out a deep sigh. This table was really in a difficult spot. It only made her become the center of attraction especially when she really doesn't want to add more attention to herself.
p Her appearance today might be hidden from the public for now, but the moment the party ended, there were certainly some people who couldn't keep their mouths shut and will absolutely catch the attention of the media, attracting them to chase after Ran Xueyi for answers and a one on one interview about what happened to her and Ran Xueyi, and also to Yang Baihua.
Ran Xueyi sighed. There was no need to think about it right now. If it's going to happen later anyway, she might as well enjoy the moment of silence and privacy in the party. Besides, she already knew that she can't possibly avoid the world forever and she must give them an answer sooner than later.
After thinking like this, Ran Xueyi's turbulent feelings slowly calmed down. It was as if two twisters slowly drained out of energy and disappeared. She calmly raised her head and looked ahead, to the table where the Song family were located.
She wasn't the only one who was looking at the country's treasured family, there were several others and it could even possibly be all of them in that hall. However, it was as if there was an instant spell that made the handsome and tall man standing next to the Old Master Song look this way and their eyes instantly met.
A pair of perfectly-shaped peach blossom eyes stared at her. The man's face appeared expressionless and motionless. Cold and indifferent.
However, those eyes when it discovered her and stopped to meet her gaze, the intensity of its coldness and ruthlessness was reduced by a lot, exposing a trace of rare gentleness and banter.
Meeting those teasing eyes that looked so deep and dark, Ran Xueyi's heart couldn't help but start beating faster.