Join in the Fun

"Who are you calling blind?" An'an flared up at those words and snapped right back, "You bumped into us, and you think you're in the right? If you're not using your eyes, donate them to someone who can!"

"What happened?" Because of An'an's words, Shen Yanchuan didn't notice me right away.

The woman turned and hooked her arm through Shen Yanchuan's. "They bumped into me and then cursed at me!"

Shen Yanchuan slipped an arm around the woman's waist. "Who was so damn bl-huh? Xiao Hanhan!"

The corner of my mouth twitched. "Don't call me that like we're close."

Shen Yanchuan took his arm from around the woman's waist and stepped toward me, grinning. "That really hurts my feelings. What brings you here? Out having fun?"

I said nothing. After a pause, I looked behind him.

Seeing no one else there, I let out a sigh of relief.

The woman tugged at Shen Yanchuan's hand. "Yanchuan, they're the ones who cursed at me just now. Aren't you going to stand up for me?"

An'an and I exchanged a look, and she curled her lip.

Shen Yanchuan looked at the woman with a wicked smile. "This woman belongs to my buddy."

"S-so what?" The woman hadn't expected Shen Yanchuan to refuse to take her side.

"So what? Nothing! Even if she beat you up, it wouldn't be my place to interfere."

An'an couldn't hold back a snort of laughter.

I lowered my head, barely managing to suppress my own smile.

The woman pressed her lips together, a little furious and flustered, but Shen Yanchuan's words kept her from daring to lash out.

Just as I was about to pull An'an away, she spoke up. "You're the one who came out of the restroom without looking where you were going and bumped into us. And you were the one who cursed at us first!"

The woman knew she no longer had Shen Yanchuan backing her up, but she still refused to back down. "I didn't see you either, okay? What? Are you going to keep making an issue of it?"

If it had been me, I might have thought it was better to have one less problem than one more.

But not An'an. She had to get to the bottom of who was right and who was wrong.

She planted both hands on her hips, looking like she wouldn't let this go. "Yes, I am. Apologize!"

Shen Yanchuan watched An'an with interest.

I stepped between him and An'an, blocking his view of her.

"That is what happened."

Shen Yanchuan didn't hesitate either. He turned to the woman, his voice quiet but his tone brooking no argument. "Apologize."

The woman frowned, pitching her voice so high and affected that her throat was about to smoke, and lightly stamped her foot. "Yanchuan!"

Shen Yanchuan's expression turned cold.

The woman's body visibly stiffened, and she reluctantly spoke. "S-sorry."

An'an didn't give her any more trouble.

Shen Yanchuan sent the woman away, then turned to me. "Your friend has quite a sense of justice!"

I tugged An'an farther behind me.

This scoundrel had more than eight hundred tricks up his sleeve. I absolutely couldn't let An'an get involved with him.

Seeing how guarded I looked, Shen Yanchuan shook his head. "She's as forthright as a guy. She's not my type."

An'an glared at him. "So what if I'm like a guy? What's it to you?"

An'an never let herself lose a war of words!

"Nothing, really. But, Miss Guy, dare to have a few drinks with me?"

"Hah?" An'an gave a disdainful laugh. "What's there to be scared of? You don't look like much of a drinker. Don't let me drink you under the table. We won't be taking you home."

Shen Yanchuan probably hadn't met a woman who dared to challenge him to a drinking contest before.

For a moment, he laughed in exasperation!

Seeing that just a few words from him were about to lure An'an into his trap, I hurriedly grabbed her. "Why don't we go to another karaoke place?"

But Shen Yanchuan blocked our way. "Why go to all that trouble? I've already booked a private room."

With that, he turned to An'an. "How about we drink in my room?"

Before I could stop her, An'an had already nodded her agreement.

I could only go along with them.

Shen Yanchuan pushed open the door to the private room and let us enter first.

An'an went ahead, and I followed behind her.

The moment I walked in, I regretted it.

I stiffly stared at the roomful of people, along with Gu Hansheng sitting in the middle and Shen Nian, dressed in finery, nestled in his arms.

I turned to leave, only to be blocked by Shen Yanchuan, who had come in last.

He looked at me with a sly grin.

This is bad. He's set me up again.

"He's here too?" I asked him quietly.

Even without looking back, I knew Gu Hansheng was watching me with an icy gaze.

"Who?" Shen Yanchuan asked, though he knew perfectly well.

Then, still smiling, he glanced behind me.

He feigned sudden realization. "Oh? You mean President Gu? I never said he wasn't here."

Not daring to look at Gu Hansheng, I took An'an's hand and tried to leave.

"Sister Yu Han!" Shen Nian called sweetly. "Stay and have fun with us."

Shen Yanchuan smiled at me. "That's right. It's Niannian's birthday today. Since we happened to run into each other, join in the fun."

I turned around, deliberately avoiding Gu Hansheng's gaze. "Happy birthday, Miss Shen. I'm sorry, I didn't know it was your birthday, so I haven't prepared anything."

Her smile was innocent and kind. "That's all right. I'd be very happy if you could stay."

For a moment, I didn't know whether I should stay. Presumably, Gu Hansheng didn't want to see me.

It was his white moonlight's birthday. Why would he want to see me, the ex-wife he was so sick of?