119: Chapter 119 Coming empty-handed?

Song Yuan thought Ji Qingxue didn't recognize him, after all, they had only met once, and it was at night, but he didn't expect her to remember his name.

“I'm looking for my wife, have you seen her?”

Ji Qingxue looked back towards the rock garden in the distance.

“I saw her up ahead a moment ago, but she's not there now. Maybe she's already gone inside, why don't you go in and look for her?”

Song Yuan nodded.

“That's possible, let's go in together then.”

Ji Qingxue was interested in everything about Gu Shiyu, and along the way, she chatted with Song Yuan, asking about everything concerning Gu Shiyu.

“Brother Song, is Sister Gus a workaholic? Does she bring work home? Does she get up in the middle of the night to check emails? Is she usually very bossy?”

Song Yuan chuckled.

“You're asking so many questions at once, which one should I answer first?”

Ji Qingxue smiled, her eyes curved like crescent moons. They say daughters resemble their fathers more, and her appearance was very much like Ji City.

“Then answer them one by one.”

Song Yuan thought for a moment and answered her questions.

“She is indeed a workaholic. Sometimes she brings work home, and sometimes she deals with work in the car. In the middle of the night… she hasn't gotten up to deal with emails.

In daily life, she can be a little bit bossy, but she excels at convincing people with reason.”

Ji Qingxue's eyes sparkled.

“As expected of the female CEO admired by all the socialites in Beijing. What does she do when she's resting? Does she go shopping and drink bubble tea with her best friends? Can I ask her out to play together?”

“She does meet up with her best friends. You can try asking her out; she won't be fierce to anyone outside of Gus employees.”

Ji Qingxue's eyes darted around as she asked.

“Brother Song, can I add you on WeChat? If Sister Gus has free time, could you secretly tell me? I'll try to ask her out.

In exchange, I can help you arrange a meeting with my dad!”

Song Yuan smiled. He had heard how difficult it was to arrange a meeting with Ji City.

As an entrepreneur, Ji City rarely attended social events. Perhaps it was because he was older and had reached a certain status; he no longer needed to socialize with anyone, as others sought him out.

Song Yuan found chatting with this young lady from the Ji family quite relaxing; she was a very simple and likable girl.

Song Yuan took out his phone and added her on WeChat.

As they spoke, the two walked into the main hall.

The birthday banquet hadn't started yet, but most of the guests had arrived. They were all prominent figures from Beijing, including people from the business and political sectors.

Song Yuan saw many faces he had seen on television.

He had never been to the house where Old Lady lived, but it was no smaller than Ji City's.

The hall had a three-story high ceiling, withGlass lamp (glass lamps) hanging from above.

A bar was set up a few meters from the entrance, with various champagnes and high-end red wines covering the tables for guests to help themselves.

Guests gathered in twos and threes, chatting and clinking glasses.

Ji Qingxue greeted Song Yuan.

“Brother Song, I'm going to see how Old Lady is doing. Make yourself at home!”

Song Yuan nodded. In the blink of an eye, Ji Qingxue, like a rabbit, had already left his side and blended into the crowd.

Song Yuan looked around but still didn't see Gu Shiyu. However, he did see Li Mingqi and Ji Sheng casting provocative glances at him from not far away.

Song Yuan casually picked up a glass of wine from the bar. Just as he took a sip, a hand extended from the side and clinked glasses with him.

Xiao Nianchen had resigned himself to taking over Song Yuan's project and had also paid the money demanded by the Lin family.

But he was still resentful.

Xiao Nianchen hadn't expected to run into Song Yuan even here; it truly was a small world.

The fact that Gu Shiyu brought Song Yuan to such an event meant their marriage was stronger than he had imagined. She was even going to publicly announce her marital status!

Xiao Nianchen couldn't swallow the indignation of losing to Song Yuan.

He asked with ill intent.

“Song Yuan, you didn't come empty-handed, did you? What gift did you bring to Madam Ji's birthday celebration?”

Song Yuan's eyelid twitched violently. He really hadn't brought any gift.

Last night, Gu Shiyu told him that she had everything arranged and he didn't need to worry, so he didn't think much of it.

Now, it seemed too late to prepare a gift.

Ji Sheng and Li Mingqi had walked over at some point, and the two exchanged a knowing smile behind him.

Li Mingqi shrugged.

“Looking at his clothes, I knew he came empty-handed, otherwise he would have said something already!”

Ji Sheng curled his lips at the side.

“You're not here just to freeload drinks, are you? Everyone who came today brought a gift. There's someone registering them outside the door, didn't you see?”

Song Yuan had nothing to say.

The conversation between the few people attracted the attention of those around them. Soon, gossipy rich madams looked their way, with an air of watching a show.

A busybody asked.

“Looking at this gentleman's attire, it doesn't seem like he can't afford a gift. He wouldn't really come empty-handed, would he?”

“If he really came empty-handed, that would be a bit impolite. Everyone who comes to celebrate Madam Ji's eightieth birthday wants to share in the joy and bring good fortune. It's the first time I've seen someone come to a birthday celebration empty-handed.”

Xiao Nianchen was determined to see Song Yuan make a fool of himself. Seeing his silence, he was certain he had come empty-handed, and his guess was correct. He suggested.

“Young Master Ji, why don't you ask the butler for the gift list? We'll know then.”

Li Mingqi echoed.

“Yes, let's see what gift Song Yuan brought. He didn't bring nothing, did he?”

Li Mingqi's words drew a round of chuckles from the surrounding madams.

Ji Sheng looked at Song Yuan, then slowly parted his lips and said.

“Let's see.”

He immediately called the butler.

“Uncle Yang, bring the gift list to the hall, I want to see it!”

After hanging up, a crowd of onlookers quickly gathered here.

Song Yuan thought to himself, this was going to be embarrassing. How could he resolve this situation…

This was indeed his own fault. He hadn't asked Gu Shiyu more yesterday. It was also his first time attending such a grand old madam's birthday banquet. Gu Shiyu had said everything was arranged.

Song Yuan was also unsure, not knowing where she had gone now. She should have prepared a gift, but it was uncertain if the gift had been delivered, and she didn't have her phone with her.

Song Yuan couldn't contact Gu Shiyu at all right now.

At this moment, he could only think of another way.

Just then, servants carried a nine-tiered cake tower out of the kitchen.

On the stairs, Ji Qingxue and a gentleman roughly his age were helping Old Lady descend the stairs.

Old Lady was radiant, wearing a wine-red cheongsam, her hair meticulously styled. She looked physically robust, so well-preserved that she didn't seem like an eighty-year-old.

Old Lady smiled and said to the guests.

“Welcome to my birthday celebration. This is my eldest grandson, Ji Li. He excels at calligraphy and can imitate the brushwork of my idol, the renowned calligrapher, Old Mr. Tao Yushu.

He is now going to present me with a piece of his calligraphy.”

After Old Lady finished speaking, applause erupted in the hall.

Song Yuan also looked over, his eyelid twitching slightly. It turned out Old Lady's idol was his maternal grandfather.

The people who had been gathered around Song Yuan, waiting to watch the show, had their attention drawn to the front. Only Ji Sheng was still staring at Song Yuan.

“Song Yuan, the gift list will be here soon!”