Tang Xiaomin's genuine smile said it all.
He understood her; he would never question her peculiar actions.
Just like today.
After a while, Tang Xiaomin gradually suppressed her smile.
"Does it still hurt where you were hit?"
He was flesh and blood now, so it must have hurt.
Yan Jue nodded.
"My waist hurts."
"Where on your waist?"
"It just hurts, my waist."
Tang Xiaomin placed a hand on Yan Jue's left side. "Does it hurt here?"
"The other side hurts too."
Tang Xiaomin placed her other hand on his other side.
"Here?"
"Mmm... my chest hurts too."
...
Whether Yan Jue was truly in pain or faking it was unclear.
Considering he had rushed out without regard for his own safety, what else was there to fuss about?
Tang Xiaomin gently rested her head on the man's chest.
The thumping of his heart gradually quickened.
Beneath the brilliant fireworks, their figures were concealed.
...
Meanwhile.
In another banquet hall of the hotel.
Tang Yiyi's birthday party was desolate.
Her usual friends and classmates were nowhere to be seen.
Only a few people who were close to Tang Zhongcheng came to offer gifts and well wishes.
Some even sent representatives with gifts, without attending in person.
Tang Yiyi's twentieth birthday celebration was starkly deserted compared to Tang Xiaomin's.
Tang Yiyi's expression was grim.
The sense of defeat from being overshadowed by Tang Xiaomin made it impossible for her to smile.
Fortunately, her four brothers had all come, which finally coaxed a reluctant smile from her.
Each of her four brothers had prepared a meticulously chosen gift for her twentieth birthday.
Tang Yiyi's eyes welled up slightly.
At least her brothers still loved her and hadn't been snatched away by Tang Xiaomin.
Tang Yiyi feigned concern. "Brothers, if you come over to my side, won't sister be angry?"
Tang Yan said, "She's busy socializing with a crowd right now, how could she notice us? Yiyi, you don't need to worry."
Hearing this, Tang Yiyi's eyes moistened.
Seeing her like this, her brothers felt even more protective of her.
No matter what, she was still their sister, whom they had doted on since childhood.
Even if their mother hated her and drove her out of the house...
This made their possessive feelings towards Tang Yiyi even stronger than before.
Tang Yan said, "Don't think about unhappy things today. Regardless, I will definitely stay and accompany you."
"Me too."
"Me too."
...
All four brothers spoke in unison, promising not to leave halfway.
Tang Zhongcheng was satisfied to see his sons accompanying Tang Yiyi.
Watching his sons treat Tang Yiyi with their usual affection, Tang Zhongcheng wisely left, allowing the young people to celebrate on their own.
As he left the hotel, he overheard snippets of conversation.
"Tang Xiaomin is so close to Mr. Yan from Xianfu Group. Doesn't she have a marriage engagement with the Ye family? Why is she acting like that?"
"Didn't you see? When she suddenly ran into the middle of the road in a frenzy, it was that Mr. Yan who rushed out and saved her."
"Mr. Ye is rich and handsome, but Mr. Yan is also a god among men. More importantly, he's willing to risk his life. If it were you, who would you choose?"
"I'd choose the one who's willing to risk their life for me, and is also rich and good-looking."
"Then what about Tang Xiaomin's engagement to the Ye family?"
"I heard it's an arranged marriage from infancy, so it can be called off. Even if you get married, you can get divorced, it's all commonplace now."
...
Tang Zhongcheng caught fragments of these conversations and inquired further, learning the details of Tang Xiaomin's banquet.
Tang Xiaomin had gotten involved with that Mr. Yan, and to top it off, she had done so in front of Ye Fengxing, even angering him into leaving.
Did this mean the engagement would be called off soon?
If so, then Tang Yiyi's opportunity would arise.
Tang Zhongcheng schemed in his heart, planning to secure an opportunity for Tang Yiyi to marry into the Ye family.
However.
What he didn't know was that his nightmare had only just begun.
...
At Tang Yiyi's party, Tang Yu and the others stayed with her until midnight.
Drinking was par for the course on such an occasion.
They had consumed quite a bit. Tang Ye, who had been going through a career slump lately and was in a bad mood, got completely drunk.
Tang Yu, staggering, helped Tang Ye to a hotel room to rest.
Tang Yiyi's cheeks were flushed.
Tang Xu and Tang Yan escorted her to her room and then came out together.
Tang Yan said crossly to Tang Xu, "I know you like her, but you should put away those unrealistic thoughts. Mother will never agree."
Tang Xu retorted defiantly.
"You're pathetic. You don't even dare let Mom know you like Yiyi. You're such a mama's boy."
"You!"
Tang Yan glared at Tang Xu in anger.
"Fine, you're so noble, so amazing. I'd like to see how you'll overcome Mother's objection."
Tang Yan truly didn't believe Tang Xu could completely disregard their mother's feelings for Tang Yiyi.
Tang Xu didn't say much more to Tang Yan.
Just as he said, Tang Yan was a mama's boy who obeyed his mother implicitly.
A person like that was not qualified to compete with him for Yiyi.
Tang Xu didn't take Tang Yan seriously at all.
Their conversation ended unpleasantly, and they each retired to their rooms.
...
Tang Xiaomin did not leave the hotel. Holding a vase and her room card, she opened Tang Yiyi's room door and walked in.
Inside, Tang Yiyi was sleeping soundly on the bed.
Tang Xiaomin placed the vase in her hand on a nearby table.
For today, she had specifically learned how to arrange flowers from Zhang Meiyu, a skill she picked up from palace intrigue dramas.
She sprinkled some aphrodisiac powder on the petals, and then activated it with water. It would be undetectable.
Tang Xiaomin picked up Tang Yiyi's phone from the bedside table.
After finding Tang Xu's number, a wicked smile curved her lips.
Without hesitation, she composed a message and sent it.
Having done that, she left the hotel as silently as she had arrived.
The real show was yet to come.
...
On the other side, Tang Xu had already gone to bed.
But he received a message from Tang Yiyi on his phone.
"Third Brother, I feel so unwell, can you come over? It's okay if you're asleep."
This was Tang Yiyi's usual way of formatting her messages.
Upon seeing that Tang Yiyi was feeling unwell, Tang Xu got up without a second thought and went to Tang Yiyi's room.
At this moment, Tang Yiyi on the bed had a flushed face and was restlessly wriggling her body.
"Yiyi, what's wrong?" Tang Xu asked, concerned.
He touched Tang Yiyi's forehead and found she was burning up.
"Yiyi, you're so hot, I should take you to the hospital."