234 Theyâre Not Qualified
Lin Jiao had never interacted with the Song couple, but she had heard of their style of doing things.
âThen pick me up at nine oâclock.â She turned sideways and stared at that face that made oneâs heart flutter.
Pei Zhi nodded. âOkay.â He drove in the direction of the market. âHave you prepared a gift?â
âNo.â Lin Jiao took out a bottle of juice from the glove compartment and took two sips. âIâll buy it tomorrow afternoon.â
!!
âSo casual?â
âMy relationship with Song Zhen isnât that good anyway.â
Pei Zhi pinched her face and smiled. âBut you represent the Lin family.â
Being reminded by him, she remembered that Lin Hongyuan and the Song couple knew each other. This time, she was not the only one invited.
âIâll ask.â She called Lin Hongyuan. When she heard that they were not going, she said, âDad, what do you think I should send?â
âCalligraphy, painting, or vase?â He always sent people these kinds of things as a gift. âCome back tomorrow and pick one. Thereâs still some left in the storeroom.â
âSure.â It just so happened that she couldnât be bothered to go and buy a gift.
The next day, Lin Jiao chose the cheapest calligraphy from the storeroom and went to the wedding venue.
She met up with Pei Yilan at the door and walked side by side to the elegant hall.
The palace-style chandelier hung in the hall, and everywhere one looked, there were petals of roses everywhere.
The guests who came together carried gifts to congratulate the Song and Yuan families. They either flattered or fawned on them, or chatted sincerely or hypocritically.
Lin Jiao had no intention of joining the crowd.
âSong Zhen.â Lin Jiao slowly walked up to him and gave him a congratulatory gift. âHappy engagement.â
âThank you.â Song Zhenâs lips curled up slightly.
He was wearing a black suit and his hair was carefully styled. He looked mature. âSister Jiao, arenât Uncle Lin and the others here?â
âThey canât come because they have something on.â Lin Jiao smiled. âWhereâs your fiancée?â
âI donât know where she is.â
âBrother Zhen.â A fake cute voice came from his right. âWho are these two?â
Yuan Tong sized Lin Jiao and Pei Yilan up secretly, her gaze lingering on Lin Jiaoâs face as if she was thinking about something.
Song Zhen, who was held by her, frowned slightly.
He suppressed his impatience as he introduced Lin Jiao and Pei Zhi.
âYour surname is Pei?â Yuan Tong shifted her gaze away as her eyes flickered. âThe Pei family from the east of the city?â
Pei Yilan shook her head. âNo.â
âI see.â Her expression changed slightly, and her tone was not as kind as before. âBrother Zhen, my friend is still waiting for us over there.â
Song Zhen understood what she meant.
He picked up a glass of red wine before being led away.
âJiaojiao.â Pei Yilan lowered her voice. âHis fiancée is too snobbish.â
âI can tell.â Lin Jiao found an empty sofa and sat down. âFortunately, they donât know you.â
The Pei family protected her very well.
Other than the aristocratic families and friends she was especially familiar with, no one else knew about her identity.
âTheyâre not qualified to know me either.â Pei Yilan hated snobbish people the most since she was young.
She glanced at the Song coupleâs flattering smile and clicked her tongue. âNo wonder the Song couple wants her to be their daughter-in-law. They are birds of a feather.â
Lin Jiao chuckled. âIndeed.â
She sat casually with her back against the sofa. No matter how noisy the surroundings were, she was not affected at all.
Perhaps because of this, she attracted the attention of many people.
Yuan Tongâs biological brother, Yuan Teng, was one of them.
He asked Yuan Tong about it. When he found out that she was the daughter of the Lin family, he revealed a smug smile.
âMiss Lin.â Before the other men could approach her, he approached the sofa. âCan we get to know each other?â
Lin Jiao rejected him bluntly. âNo.â She couldnât stand his gaze and frowned.
She was like a rose with thorns. Instead of feeling discouraged, Yuan Teng was more excited to get to know her.
He sat down on the other end. âI heard from Yuan Tong that youâve known my brother-in-law for a long time?â
âWhy?â
âJust asking. Do you have a boyfriend?â
Lin Jiao placed her left hand between her knees. âYes.â
The diamond on her ring reflected a faint light, and Yuan Teng saw it clearly at a glance.
However, he had no intention of giving up. After all, this was not the first time he had attempted to break up a couple.
âMiss Lin, do you know how to dance?â He offered his hand and tried to close the distance between them.
âNo.â
âThen Iâll teach you.â
Pei Yilan said, âAre you very free?â She put down her cup with a bang. âYoung Master Yuan, I advise you not to ask for trouble.â
...
The way she emphasized the word âYoung Master Yuanâ was mixed with mockery towards him, and it was especially ear-piercing.
Yuan Tengâs expression changed slightly.
Since they were friends, he couldnât flare up. He said shamelessly, âIf I can get into trouble for her, Iâll be happy to do it.â
âDo you know how to spell the word âshamelessâ?â Pei Yilan retorted bluntly.
The moment the atmosphere became tense, Gu Quan sat calmly beside Lin Jiao with a glass of wine.
He looked at Lin Jiao, pretending not to see Yuan Teng. âJiaojiao, when did you arrive?â
âFor a while.â
âHave you had dinner?â
âYes.â Lin Jiao deliberately ignored Yuan Teng, not wanting to waste her breath. âWhy arenât you talking to Song Zhen?â
âJust had two drinks with him.â
âBrother Quan.â Yuan Teng swallowed his anger and tried to make his presence known. âYou didnât bring a girlfriend?â
...
âIâm single.â
âDo you want me to introduce you to someone?â
âNo.â Gu Quan clinked glasses with Lin Jiao and Pei Yilan and chatted about something Yuan Teng couldnât participate in. âI saw Xiao Hua in the afternoon.â
At the mention of Xiao Hua, Lin Jiao could clearly see its appearance in her mind.
She asked with concern, âHow is it doing now?â
âSheâs gained a lot of weight.â He smiled. âThey were fighting when I passed by.â
âDid Xiao Bai get beaten up again?â
âYes, itâs used to being beaten up.â
âWho is Xiao Hua and Xiao Bai?â Pei Yilan found the names familiar, but she could not remember.
Gu Quan said, âThe cats we fed in the past.â His tone was very natural. âJiaojiao should have told you.â
âYou even bought them canned cat food,â Lin Jiao reminded Pei Yilan, trying to jog her memory. âDo you remember now?â
âI remember now!â Pei Yilan had fed them a few times when she went to Lu Fu Bay to accompany Lin Jiao. âDo they have kittens together?â
âI heard from the auntie next door that Xiao Bai is with the cat raised by the supermarket owner.â
âSo Xiao Hua is abandoned?â
âNot necessarily.â Lin Jiao took two sips of the wine. âI think Xiao Bai likes Xiao Hua. Sheâs probably just a friend with the cat from the supermarket.â