Chapter 122: The Birthday Banquet

"Opening a shop is no easy feat. Without tens of thousands in capital, how could one ever get started?" Shi Yufen was actually somewhat tempted.

Her job hunt over the past two days had been a series of setbacks.

Perhaps it would be better to strike out on her own. As for the food business, while she couldn't manage anything large-scale, she was quite capable when it came to a small storefront.

"But we already have five thousand yuan, don't we? I've earned some recently. If we pool our resources, running our own shop is much better and more liberating than working for others. We can open when we want, and if we don't feel like it, we can just close for the day. Wouldn't that be wonderful..."

Shi Yufen placed some food in Shi Qingqing's bowl. "If we really were to open a shop, how could it be as trivial as you make it sound? By the way, your eldest uncle called today to invite us to attend your grandmother's birthday banquet at the hotel tomorrow night."

Shi Qingqing's first reaction was a desire to refuse. Every time she attended a Shi family banquet, it was only to be met with cold stares.

They were merely there as background decorations; the Shi family held a particular disdain for Shi Yufen.

It was as if this daughter were a wild weed picked up by the side of the road.

As for Shi Qingqing, they found her unpleasant and looked down upon her in every conceivable way. Whenever the cousins gathered, Shi Qingqing was always the green leaf meant to highlight the brilliance of the other sisters.

Seeing the look on Shi Qingqing's face, Shi Yufen added, "Your grandmother is getting on in years; she won't be around much longer. We really should attend her birthday banquet..."

"Fine, all right. I'll try to ask for leave from my tutoring job tomorrow."

"Good!" Shi Yufen let out a sigh of relief and smiled.

Shi Qingqing pondered that she had just promised Zhan Su today that she wouldn't skip work, and now she was asking for leave tomorrow. She wondered if he would approve it.

If he didn't approve, she simply wouldn't go.

That would save her the embarrassment. Aside from her cousin Shi Zimo, not a single soul in the Shi family was friendly toward her.

***

In the bar, the lights were dazzling and the atmosphere was intoxicating.

Sheng Chao was having a wild time when his phone rang.

He glanced at the caller ID, a flicker of impatience crossing his face, yet he pressed the answer button nonetheless.

"Yini, is something the matter?"

Yang Yini's sobbing came through the phone, and she recounted the whole affair in broken sentences.

"You’re being punished by family law and are going to be exiled abroad for three years? You’re joking, right? You won't even be coming to school tomorrow?" Sheng Chao had not expected things to be so serious.

"Yes, my father has such a cruel heart. Just because of that bidding project, he's exiling me for three years. Boo-hoo... it must all be because of that Shi Qingqing. Aside from her, I haven't offended anyone else lately. She must have some illicit connection with Young Master Zhan. Senior Sheng, I can't bear to leave you..."

Sheng Chao's eyes darkened, his mood turning deeply frustrated.

He had finally found such an excellent, foolish pawn who happened to be in the same class as Shi Qingqing, someone he could use from time to time. He hadn't expected her to be out of the game so soon.

Furthermore, if Shi Qingqing really did have a connection with Young Master Zhan, he feared his own plans would become difficult to execute.

Sheng Chao felt he needed to accelerate his progress.

If things continued like this, the plump prize he was about to taste would slip right through his fingers.

***

Every Tuesday and Friday afternoon was reserved for club activities.

When Shi Qingqing arrived at the Calligraphy Club, the place was already packed.

The last time she came, the large classroom had only been full in the front rows, but this time, there wasn't even standing room.

Even the aisles were filled with desks moved in temporarily, and the vacant classrooms next door had also been converted into annexes for the Calligraphy Club.

"Senior, you must teach me how to improve my calligraphy! I want to make it into the top ten. The top ten get to receive their awards in person from the nation's top heartthrob, Young Master Zhan!"

"Senior sister, your handwriting is truly beautiful. I'll pay you one thousand yuan if you write a few characters for me so I can enter the competition under my own name..."