Chapter 127

Regardless of who invited them, Jing Yi and Shen Huaichu were both preparing to go downstairs.

Jing Yi now truly felt that attending parties was a troublesome affair. All of her gowns were beautiful, but also very cumbersome. Next time, she would just wear boots or sneakers to attend!

Jing Yi looked at the stairs, carefully lifting her skirt, preparing to step down.

If her high heels caught on her dress while going downstairs and she fell, she really wouldn't need to live on this planet anymore.

Just as she was about to take a step down, Shen Huaichu's voice came from behind, "Miss Jing, let me go first."

Was he really going to compete over this too?

Jing Yi thought Shen Huaichu found her too slow, and wordlessly made way, "Please, after you!" Not a gentleman at all! Jing Yi added another mark against Shen Huaichu. Searᴄh the ηovёlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

However, Shen Huaichu didn't go downstairs. Instead, he stood two steps below her and extended his hand.

Jing Yi clearly heard him say: "Come, aren't you afraid of falling?"

At that moment, Jing Yi felt bewitched again by Shen Huaichu's face.

Shen Huaichu was truly handsome, with deep, cold eyes and thin lips that rarely curved. But this didn't detract from his exquisite features, instead adding a unique air of nobility and mystery.

From this angle, Jing Yi could even see his slightly open collar and distinct collarbone...

Jing Yi blinked, hurriedly lowering her head to hide the emotions in her eyes. "It's fine, I can go down by myself." Shen Huaichu maintained his earlier posture.

Seeing this, Jing Yi knew he wouldn't back down.

She felt inexplicably nervous, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly as she bit her lower lip. She placed her hand in Shen Huaichu's palm.

Shen Huaichu gently tightened his grip, lightly holding the hand in his palm. His cold fingertips touched Jing Yi's warm fingers.

The people in the hall stood still, watching as Shen Huaichu carefully guided her down the stairs, their expressions frozen in shock.

They had been wondering how long it would take before Jing Yi was sent down, but while she did come down, it was with Shen Huaichu protectively escorting her.

After reaching the bottom of the stairs, Jing Yi withdrew her hand, smiling awkwardly, "Thank you." As the warmth in his palm disappeared, Shen Huaichu's hand tightened slightly before he put it behind his back, saying coolly, "You're welcome."

Meanwhile, Shen Xi, who had been shocked throughout, came over. "Yi Yi, do you want to eat something?" She had to find an excuse to pull Jing Yi away for questioning!

Shen Xi carefully watched Shen Huaichu's expression, unable to hide the curiosity in her eyes.

Jing Yi was already feeling extremely awkward, so when she heard Shen Xi's suggestion, she quickly pulled her friend to the dining area.

Shen Huaichu's deep gaze followed her retreating figure, his eyes seemingly holding some other meaning, his hand behind his back still tightly clenched.

"Brother, she's already gone," Gu Lin couldn't help but tease, standing beside Shen Huaichu.

The person had walked far away, yet he was still staring. Was this what his brother meant by "presumptuous thoughts"?

Shen Huaichu glanced at him, "Didn't they say they were going to eat?" Gu Lin pointed confusedly to the area behind them, "That's already set up over there."

It was in the completely opposite direction from where Jing Yi had gone. Shen Huaichu looked in the direction Jing Yi had left, "Then where did they go?"

"Probably to the other dining area." Surely his brother wasn't thinking of following them?

Gu Lin looked at Shen Huaichu in shock.

Of course, Shen Huaichu wasn't going to follow. He had just asked casually.

He put his hands in his trouser pockets, looking at the supposedly discreet glances people around were casting his way, his eyes filled with impatience.

"Have someone send it to the deck," Shen Huaichu said before turning to go back upstairs.

Gu Lin was exasperated. Then why did you come down? Just to specially help Jing Yi down the stairs?

The girls who had been discussing Jing Yi earlier watched as Shen Huaichu walked back up to the top deck, their eyes full of unwillingness.

"Lili, aren't you going to try again?" One girl raised her eyebrows, suggesting she approach Shen Huaichu again.

This girl called Lili was the first to go up to the deck to test the waters, but she had probably been chased away before she could even poke her head out.

Lili, stung by the mockery, glared at her, "Why don't you go try?!"

The girl shrugged, "My target was never Shen Huaichu. I know my limits. I'd be eternally grateful if I could win over Young Master Gu."

Lili laughed sarcastically, "You really think Gu Lin is like cabbage in the market for you to pick and choose? Look at yourself!"

"If you really knew your limits, you wouldn't have set your sights on Gu Lin in the first place!"

The girl seemed to be provoked, her expression twisting for a moment, "Well! He didn't even look at you properly, yet you were mocking Jing Yi about being sent down. How did that turn out? She was escorted down!"

Their voices had grown louder, and the friends around hurried to intervene, afraid they might attract the attention of the party hosts.

At the other dining area, the table was laden with various foods, from seafood to barbecue, to colorful desserts.

However, Shen Xi wasn't interested in any of this. At this moment, she only cared about why her uncle had held her best friend's hand coming down.

Jing Yi was busy sampling the party's dishes. "That wasn't holding hands, it was supporting. It's a gentlemanly behavior."

Shen Xi didn't care, to her it was all the same - it was physical contact!

"How can that be the same? It only shows that your uncle is a gentleman, who, concerned that a lady might have difficulty descending the stairs in her gown, offered his hand in support."

Shen Xi narrowed her eyes, full of doubt. Her uncle? Shen Huaichu? A gentleman?

Who wouldn't laugh their teeth off hearing that?

Jing Yi put down her knife and fork, grinning at Shen Xi to show her teeth were still intact.

Shen Xi looked at her helplessly, "You do know that's just a figure of speech, right?"

How could Jing Yi not know? But she and Shen Huaichu were at most just friends, and their relationship had only recently begun to improve. What was the point in making a fuss?

Seeing that Jing Yi had no such intentions, Shen Xi didn't press further. However, she still felt that Shen Huaichu's attitude was a bit odd.

Shen Xi sat beside her, rubbing her chin with a pensive look. Jing Yi forked a small piece of steak and fed it into her mouth.

"Just eat your food. Why are you acting like some profound thinker here?"

Seeing that she wasn't going to delve deeper, Jing Yi breathed an internal sigh of relief. "By the way, didn't you go chat with that handsome guy? How did it go?"

Jing Yi had expected to see the same disinterested Shen Xi as before, but to her surprise, the girl's face visibly reddened, shocking Jing Yi so much she forgot to eat.

"No way? What's with this bashful blush? Did you take a liking to him?"

Jing Yi stared intently at Shen Xi, finding it more and more incredible. Was there really someone who could survive a conversation with Shen Xi?

Now Jing Yi was intrigued. She leaned closer to Shen Xi, her face full of curiosity as she began to inquire about what they had talked about.

Meanwhile, Shen Huaichu was still on the deck, feeling the breeze as he gazed at his palm, lost in thought.