Chapter 128: A Blind Date in Disguise

When asked by Yang Yuqing, Zhao Fan replied, "The invitation said 8 o'clock. Am I early?"

Yang Yuqing paused slightly. "The invitation should have said 9 o'clock."

Zhao Fan: "..."

Their eyes met, and a brief silence ensued.

"Ahem, that doesn't matter. Let's go; I'll show you around."

"Alright."

They walked to the side, away from the bright lights, into a dimmer area where the atmosphere felt somewhat melancholy.

Yang Yuqing said, "Tonight's banquet is called a Yang family banquet, but in essence, it is a matchmaking party."

Zhao Fan's mouth twitched. "A matchmaking party?"

Yang Yuqing nodded and said, "Because everyone attending is young. That is also why the banquet time was pushed to 9 o'clock."

If it were truly for business, a banquet would have to start by 8 o'clock at the latest, or there wouldn't be enough time.

Zhao Fan rubbed his forehead. "And here I was wondering about that invitation."

It was surprising that Yang Tiancheng was even willing to send him one.

Yang Yuqing pursed her lips and smiled. "Is it unexpected?"

"Indeed."

As they spoke, the smile on Yang Yuqing's face faded. "Thank you for what happened before."

Zhao Fan's expression remained unchanged as he countered, "Haven't we only just met recently? Are you talking about the incident at school?"

Yang Yuqing was slightly taken aback, but then she realized what he meant and her eyes curved into crescents. "Yes, the school incident."

As if the schemes of the past had never existed, the two walked back along the path they had come, only to bump into Du Xinyan, who was heading toward them.

When Du Xinyan saw Yang Yuqing, her eyes lit up immediately.

"Yuqing, I finally saw you! How have you been lately?"

The smile on Yang Yuqing's face vanished. "Not well."

Du Xinyan opened her mouth, then lowered her head, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her clothes. "I'm sorry. I really didn't mean for that to happen. I was just deceived by Bai Yu, and that's why..."

"You are you, and I am me. No matter what happened between us, that is in the past. Don't appear in front of me again."

Yang Yuqing spoke at length, but the core message was singular: she wanted Du Xinyan to stay far away from her.

Du Xinyan shook her head. "No, I did nothing wrong. Why shouldn't I show up?"

Yang Yuqing’s expression shifted. "You think you did nothing wrong?"

Du Xinyan was self-righteous. "I was deceived, too. Why would I be at fault?"

This logic stunned not only Yang Yuqing but Zhao Fan as well.

What kind of mindset did one need to be so self-righteously convinced that the fault lay with everyone else but herself?

"Du Xinyan, I don't want to waste my breath on you. The moment you chose to listen to Bai Yu’s lies instead of asking me, our friendship died."

Zhao Fan hadn't brought up that day's events, yet Du Xinyan, one of the primary culprits, had brought up the past herself.

It was ironic; Du Xinyan was supposed to be her best friend, yet she valued an outsider more than her.

As more guests arrived, Yang Yuqing had to go greet them, so she walked past Du Xinyan without another word. Zhao Fan followed calmly. As he passed Du Xinyan, he shook his head slightly—someone who would rather listen to others than trust her own best friend was beyond help.

The atmosphere grew livelier as more guests arrived. Two hours later, the banquet ended, and as the guests gradually departed, they left behind a scene of utter disarray.

Zhao Fan went to find Yang Yuqing to say goodbye, but was suddenly embraced by the intoxicated young woman.

As they drew close, Zhao Fan caught a faint scent of flowers. It was light, yet it seemed to seep into his heart, making him feel a strange itch.

After a brief silence, Zhao Fan coughed and gripped Yang Yuqing's shoulders to hold her at a distance. "You're drunk."

Yang Yuqing opened her eyes wide and shook her head in denial. "I'm not drunk."

Zhao Fan was caught between laughter and tears. She could barely speak clearly, yet she claimed she wasn't drunk?

Fine. A beautiful woman is always right.

"Come on, I'll help you into the living room."

"Okay."

When drunk, Yang Yuqing was unusually obedient; she did exactly what Zhao Fan told her to do. The Yang family servants rushed over to take their mistress from him.

"I'm sorry for the trouble, Mr. Zhao."

Zhao Fan waved his hand. "It's a small favor, no trouble at all."

His gaze lingered on Yang Yuqing's face for a few seconds before he turned to leave.

Just as he was about to step out the door, Yang Yuqing suddenly shouted, "Zhao Fan!"

Zhao Fan stopped, hesitating—should he leave, or return?

Before he could decide, Yang Yuqing spoke again. "Zhao Fan, come back."

This time, Zhao Fan turned around without hesitation. "Is something the matter?"

"Sit down over here."

Yang Yuqing's eyes were clear and bright; if not for her obvious intoxication, Zhao Fan would have thought she was perfectly sober. "Why are you still standing there?"

Zhao Fan smiled faintly and sat down to appease her.

"Let me ask you, why didn't you come that day?"

Zhao Fan replied, "Because it was against the rules."

"Rules? Are you really someone who follows the rules, Zhao Fan?"

Zhao Fan: "..."

He wasn't a rule-follower, but he knew one thing: one shouldn't make enemies on every front. The Bai family was already a sworn enemy, but the Yang family hadn't reached that point yet. If Zhao Fan had gone that day, Yang Tiancheng might have used it as a pretext to attack him. As for the young mistress of the Yang family, Yang Tiancheng would always prioritize his own reputation.

"The situation wasn't right. I had to do what I did at the time."

"But, didn't you ever think I might be in danger? What if, what if..."

As she spoke, tears welled up in Yang Yuqing's eyes. Zhao Fan remained silent, feeling flustered. Why was she crying all of a sudden?

"Don't cry. It was my fault that day. I apologize."

"Will there be a next time?"

Zhao Fan choked. Did such a thing need to happen even once, let alone again?

Yang Yuqing's face was almost touching his. Zhao Fan quickly said, "There won't be a next time. Absolutely not."

"You have to keep your wor—"

"Yuqing!"

Before she could finish, a furious roar interrupted her. Zhao Fan turned to see Yang Tiancheng standing behind them, glaring.

There was a moment of awkward silence.

Zhao Fan coughed. "She's drunk and not thinking clearly."

*Slap!*

A crisp sound echoed through the room.

Zhao Fan's face was struck to the side. Looking at Yang Yuqing's face so close to his, he was suddenly speechless.

Yang Tiancheng: "..."

His daughter was indeed not thinking clearly.

"Who are you saying isn't thinking clearly?" Yang Yuqing asked with perfect, sober logic. "Zhao Fan, my mind is perfectly clear. Don't you dare slander me."

Zhao Fan was dumbfounded. "I'm not slandering you."

"What did you say?"

"Yes, yes, yes, I'm slandering you. You're not drunk."

Faced with the muddled Yang Yuqing, Zhao Fan could only humor her. By the time he finally left, it was already 2 o'clock in the morning.