83: Chapter 83 There are people much better than you

Therefore, after Lu Chunyue announced the plans for noon, no matter how reluctant Zhao Qingyan felt, she had no choice but to show her face and play along.

She hated these types of things, yet she was forced to attend.

It was incredibly annoying.

While changing clothes, Zhao Qingyan wondered, if Shen Weiyue were facing these problems, what would he do?

Would he be as resistant as her?

Definitely not.

Shen the Donkey was quite skilled at handling interpersonal relationships; if he were in this situation, he would surely be in his element.

Whenever Zhao Qingyan encountered something annoying now, she would subconsciously compare it to Shen Weiyue; it was a change she hadn't even realized herself.

"Baby, why are you wearing your uniform? You've already graduated, you don't need to wear that anymore." Lu Chunyue looked at her wearing The First High School uniform, sighing with a mix of amusement and frustration.

Zhao Qingyan kept a straight face and replied coldly, "I like it."

"Oh right, I forgot to tell you, I bought all those clothes you tried on at the pedestrian street. Go pick one and change into it. You and Li Yunjie were childhood sweethearts, and even though it's just a family dinner, you should take it seriously."

Lu Chunyue turned and brought over a pile of bags from the master bedroom closet, opening them one by one for her to choose from.

Zhao Qingyan took a closer look and saw, to her surprise, that pair of skinny jeans she had worn when Shen the Donkey saw her. At the time, that donkey's eyes had nearly popped out, and he had even complimented her on her amazing figure.

Then there was the short skirt she had worn the second time he saw her, along with super-short denim hot pants, and various other flashy, colorful clothes.

"Mom, why did you buy all these?"

"For you to wear, of course. You're going to university soon, you can't keep wearing a school uniform. My daughter is so pretty, you need to start learning how to dress up."

Lu Chunyue pulled out the jeans and held them up, "How about this one?"

"I'm not wearing it."

"How about this one? This skirt is pretty, like a princess."

"I'm not wearing it."

"What about these shorts? They'll be cool to wear."

"I'm not wearing those either."

Zhao Qingyan, feeling annoyed and stubborn, refused to choose. After much persuasion from Lu Chunyue, she reluctantly picked out a casual outfit.

A short-sleeved T-shirt, comfortable long pants, a pair of white sneakers, and her hair tied in a high ponytail. After getting herself ready in this simple way, she was unbelievably beautiful.

"My daughter is truly beautiful, a natural beauty." Lu Chunyue's eyes were full of doting affection. Just as she was admiring her daughter's looks, she heard the car horn honking downstairs.

"Your dad is going to lose his temper." She grabbed Zhao Qingyan's arm and hurried out the door.

Principal Zhao Weiming had been waiting in the Crown sedan for a while. When he finally saw the two of them come out, he urged them, "We're running late, get in!"

As soon as the mother and daughter got in, he floored the gas pedal and sped off.

The dinner was held in a private room at a hotel.

When the family pushed the door open and entered, several people were already seated inside.

When Principal Zhao Weiming saw Li Ji, he began exchanging pleasantries, "Sorry, Leader, we were delayed on the road for a bit. We aren't late, are we?"

"Not at all. This is a family dinner, no need to be so formal." Li Ji shook his hand, then his gaze fell on Zhao Qingyan, and he said with a smile, "Is this Qingyan? In the blink of an eye, she's grown up so much, she's become quite the young lady."

"Qingyan, say hello to Uncle Li," Principal Zhao Weiming prompted.

"Hello, Uncle Li," Zhao Qingyan said indifferently.

Li Ji nodded with a smile and called out to a young man behind him, "Yunjie, come over and say hello. Didn't you love little sister Qingyan the most when you were kids?"

The young man was dressed in a hip-hop punk style, wearing flashy, gaudy chains around his neck and wrists, and his hair was permed and dyed yellow. Hearing this, he walked up and extended his right hand, "Yanyan."

Zhao Qingyan frowned, feeling physically uncomfortable with such an intimate way of addressing her.

Moreover, she clearly sensed that in Li Yunjie's gaze, beyond mere amazement, there was a hidden lecherous glint.

She didn't reach out, just gave a faint grunt of acknowledgment.

"Haha, it's been too long, perhaps you've grown distant and don't recognize each other? Yunjie, you two are the same age, and you'll both be in the capital later, so you must take care of your little sister."

"Of course, Dad. Anyone who dares to bully little sister Yanyan, I'll break their legs!" Li Yunjie boasted confidently, then enthusiastically pulled out the chair next to him for Zhao Qingyan to sit in.

Zhao Qingyan didn't even look at him; she walked straight to the other side and sat down, remaining silent.

"Oh, this child has always been like this, she doesn't like to talk. Please don't mind her," Lu Chunyue quickly tried to smooth things over.

Li Ji's family didn't take it to heart, assuming it was just the natural changes of a girl growing up, and that she was just shy.

Besides, Zhao Qingyan was pretty, so it was normal for her to be aloof and proud; they figured things would get better as they spent more time together.

"Come, come, since everyone is here, let's serve the dishes. Old Zhao, the students you led at The First High School this year performed excellently. We definitely need to have some hard liquor at lunch."

"That's only because you, Old Li, are in charge of education and manage things so well. Today's meal is to celebrate both our work achievements and the two children, since they both got into their dream universities. It's a triple celebration."

Amidst the pleasantries, the banquet officially began.

Principal Zhao Weiming and Li Ji sat together drinking, while Lu Chunyue sat with the county magistrate's wife, Zhang Ying, chatting. Li Yunjie then pestered Zhao Qingyan.

After eating for a while, he carried his red wine glass and sat next to Zhao Qingyan, "Yanyan, it's been so many years. You've become more and more beautiful. Let's have a drink."

Zhao Qingyan impatiently raised her drink glass, but Li Yunjie said, "Have some wine. It's a rare occasion for childhood friends to reunite."

"I don't drink alcohol," Zhao Qingyan refused coldly.

"Just a little bit, for the gesture," Li Yunjie urged.

"I'm not drinking." Zhao Qingyan became increasingly impatient.

Seeing this, a flash of violence flickered in Li Yunjie's eyes, though a smile remained on his lips. He didn't press her further and just clinked his glass against hers.

So you're aloof and proud, huh? I like chaste and spirited women like you; getting them too easily wouldn't be a challenge at all.

As the two stood and sat, he raised his glass, but his gaze drifted downward, appraising Zhao Qingyan's figure.

Zhao Qingyan was most sensitive to disgusting scrutiny. After taking a sip, she stood up and went to the Restroom to avoid Li Yunjie's harassment.

A playboy like this was clearly no good.

Who knew how decadent Li Yunjie's private life had been while he was abroad all these years.

Zhao Qingyan looked at herself in the mirror and thought, why do people force themselves to do things they don't like?

She didn't like dinners like this, and she didn't like dealing with playboys like Li Yunjie.

In comparison, even though Shen Weiyue was poor, he felt incredibly comfortable to be around.

He didn't dye his hair, didn't grow his nails long, and didn't wear jewelry or necklaces.

He was just a fresh, clean person, and much more pleasing to the eye than Li Yunjie.

Furthermore, setting aside their family backgrounds, Shen Weiyue was a thousand times better than Li Yunjie. She would rather drink a glass of Shen Weiyue's bitter melon juice than a single sip of Li Yunjie's red wine.

She didn't want Li Yunjie to take care of her; associating with him was nonsense.

A greasy, flashy guy like that was clearly no good person.

Zhao Qingyan had subconsciously compared Shen Weiyue to someone else again, and the result of this comparison was, as always, a complete victory for Shen Weiyue.

Her donkey really was a rare and precious steed.

It was a pity that he was so disappointing and went to Jianghai.

Stupid donkey!