Lu Ziqian's birthday banquet was approaching rapidly.
The servants had started the preparations a day in advance. The vast Lu Mansion was decorated with lanterns and streamers everywhere, bustling with activity.
"Madam, it's time to get up!"
At this moment, Shen Jianyi was lying sprawled on the soft big bed, sound asleep.
Ms. Gu squatted beside the bed helplessly and whispered to Shen Jianyi.
"Master has gone out for business. He told me to wake you up."
"What time is it?"
Shen Jianyi didn't open her eyes and mumbled vaguely.
"It's almost eleven o'clock."
"Okay..."
Only then did Shen Jianyi open her eyes leisurely. In the room, besides Ms. Gu, there was also Song Miner, the young maid, and a strange woman she had never seen before.
Song Miner was holding a light-colored dress in her hand.
"Madam, the makeup artist is here. You can start after you wash up."
Shen Jianyi felt a bit restless.
She frowned and looked at the strange woman with a troubled expression. "Can I skip the makeup?"
She could use that time to sleep a bit more.
"Madam, you can't."
Song Miner said, "Today is your first time attending a Lu family banquet as the young mistress of the Lu family. There are a lot of guests today. Master has instructed that you must be well-dressed to outshine everyone!"
After saying that, Song Miner felt three pairs of eyes land on her simultaneously. Only then did she realize that she might have said something wrong.
She stuck out her tongue embarrassedly and let out a couple of giggles.
"I mean, to be the most eye-catching one!"
Shen Jianyi: "..."
If possible, she actually didn't want to be so conspicuous.
But judging from their attitude, it was impossible not to get dressed up properly.
She staggered into the bathroom, washed her face and brushed her teeth, and then sat in front of the dressing table.
The makeup artist had brought all the necessary tools and had excellent makeup skills.
Shen Jianyi only felt the tickling of the makeup brush on her face, which made her feel so comfortable that she was on the verge of falling asleep.
She didn't know how much time had passed.
She was pulled up by Song Miner and changed into the evening dress.
"Wow!"
Song Miner's exclamation came.
The makeup artist and Ms. Gu also looked amazed.
They had been stunned by the young mistress's beauty last time, but they didn't expect that this time, they would be once again refreshed by her stunning beauty.
This time, her hair was not tied up. Her long black hair fell smoothly behind her back.
A smoky-colored evening dress set off her graceful figure. Her skin was as smooth as coagulated fat, so tender that it seemed like water would come out if you pinched it.
Her skin was already very good. The makeup artist only applied a light layer of foundation and earth-colored eyeshadow, which was enough to highlight her much more superior facial features than ordinary people.
Especially her eyes, still carrying a trace of sleepiness. Besides being cold and aloof, there was also a bit of innocent childishness.
"Madam will definitely be the most beautiful one today!"
Song Miner said firmly.
Shen Jianyi was amused by her. After confirming that she was well-dressed, she left the villa and walked towards the main building's banquet hall.
Shen Jianyi didn't expect there to be so many people today.
The area of the main building was already quite large, but it still seemed a bit crowded today.
She called Lu Jinsheng, but there was no answer. So she had to search for Lu Jinsheng's figure in the crowd.
"Yiyi?"
Hearing the call from behind, Shen Jianyi frowned and pretended not to hear, then continued walking forward.
A trace of disappointment flashed in Zhong Jin's eyes, but it quickly brightened up again.
He quickened his steps and walked in front of Shen Jianyi. When he saw her face, a look of amazement appeared on his face without any concealment.
"Do you need something?"
There was no expression on Shen Jianyi's face. Instead, there was a bit of alertness.
"Are you looking for Jinsheng?"
She was about to walk away directly, but after hearing what he said, she hesitated for a moment.
"Where is he?"
"I'll take you there."
Zhong Jin was a bit delighted.
Shen Jianyi thought for a while and then nodded.
Along the way, Zhong Jin kept chatting with Shen Jianyi.
"Jian Xiao seems to have some misunderstandings about our relationship. Has he given you any trouble at school?"
Zhong Jin asked.
"There is no relationship for him to misunderstand."
Shen Jianyi's answer made the smile on his face freeze for a moment. After being stunned for a while, he let out a couple of low laughs. "Yes, kids are naive and may have wild imaginations."
They walked forward for some distance.
In the garden, Shen Jianyi saw Lu Jinsheng.
He was talking to a woman in a white short dress.
The woman had her back to her. Shen Jianyi could only see that her back was slender and her skin was as delicate as mutton-fat jade, emitting a warm glow in the sun.
She didn't know what they had said. The woman took two steps towards Lu Jinsheng, but Lu Jinsheng seemed a bit reluctant for her to get closer and took a step back.
"Um..."
Zhong Jin didn't expect to see such a scene. He felt a bit embarrassed. "Don't misunderstand. This is an orphan adopted by Jinsheng's father in the early years. She can be regarded as Jinsheng's younger sister."
Adopted?
So there was no blood relationship.
Shen Jianyi twitched the corner of her lips and smiled. Lu Jinsheng had already seen her.
"Yiyi."
He left the girl behind and walked quickly in front of Shen Jianyi.
The girl also walked over.
"Hello, sister-in-law. My name is Lu Yuan."
When Shen Jianyi saw Lu Yuan's face, she was a bit stunned.
She was very beautiful. Different from Shen Jianyi's cold and aloofness, her facial features and temperament made people feel like getting close to her. It was a kind of purity and cuteness similar to a next-door girl.
Besides that... Shen Jianyi always felt that this girl gave her a sense of familiarity as if she had met her before.
"Dad plans to let me stay in Shanghai from now on. Can I be your bridesmaid at your and brother's wedding?"
Lu Yuan blinked playfully.
Lu Jinsheng didn't like the people of Lu Ziqian getting close to Shen Jianyi. He frowned unhappily and was about to say something.
"Sure."
Shen Jianyi replied indifferently.
The other three people present were a bit stunned.
Did Shen Jianyi just agree like that?
"Yiyi, are you sure?"
Lu Jinsheng thought he had misheard.
"Sure. Your name is Lu Yuan, right?" Shen Jianyi smiled and stretched out her hand towards her. "My name is Shen Jianyi."
At this moment, Lu Jinsheng and Zhong Jin had the same expression, looking a bit blank and stunned.
Shen Jianyi's temper had almost angered those old men to death, but now she was so polite to an adopted daughter?
Lu Yuan seemed not to notice their strangeness. She smiled sweetly, showing a pair of shallow dimples, and held her hand.
Lu Jinsheng really couldn't figure out why Shen Jianyi would act so strangely.
After leaving Lu Yuan and Zhong Jin, he couldn't help asking, "Yiyi, did you know Lu Yuan before?"
"No, this is the first time I've met her."
Shen Jianyi answered absent-mindedly, still thinking about Lu Yuan.
It seemed that she needed to find out about Lu Yuan's background.