The door of the box opened, and a woman in a light green dress with willow pattern walked in slowly.
Tan Jiao was not at all shy. Without waiting for anyone to respond, she found an empty seat and sat down.
"Why are you here?" Tan Hongbo asked Tan Jiao.
"I was strolling nearby and happened to see Qingfeng. I asked her and found out that you had secretly made a dinner appointment behind my back." Tan Jiao pouted angrily and said coquettishly.
Ling Qingwan said nothing and watched the conversation silently.
It is said that Tan Jiao likes Ling Xiao, but she has never taken her eyes off Wei Xun since she entered the room. Ling Qingwan noticed just now that there are several empty seats in the room, and Tan Jiao happened to sit next to Wei Xun.
Tan Hongbo was also surprised, but when he saw his sister during a casual meal, his reaction was very awkward. Those who knew that they were just having a meal would think that they were gathering together to do something shameful.
"So Wanwan is here too." Tan Jiao turned sideways and called Ling Qingwan affectionately.
Ling Qingwan frowned calmly.
She had only met Tan Jiao once, and during that meeting, Tan Jiao always targeted her. She had no idea how Tan Jiao called her "Wanwan".
"Miss Tan, if you haven't eaten yet, you can join us." Ling Qingwan spoke awkwardly and deliberately kept a distance from Tan Jiao.
She glanced at Wei Xun inadvertently from the corner of her eyes. Wei Xun curled his lips slightly, and a smile appeared on his cold face. Then he raised his head and drank the wine in the glass.
"Forget it." Tan Jiao chuckled and looked down at the empty plate of Eight Treasure Duck in front of Ling Qingwan. "I'm afraid you're full. I don't want to eat your leftovers."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present looked in the direction Tan Jiao was looking.
Ling Qingwan had never been so speechless in her life.
"I was saying that the Eight Treasure Duck at Zuixiaolou is delicious. If Wanwan finds it to her liking, I'll ask the kitchen to make another portion." Tan Hongbo laughed.
Originally, it was to help Ling Qingwan ease the embarrassment, but when Tan Hongbo said this, everyone felt that Ling Qingwan had an even bigger appetite.
Ling Qingwan had no expression on her face and glanced at Tan Jiao. She saw that Tan Jiao had a smug look on her face and was looking at her with a smile.
It seemed that the person who came here had bad intentions. As soon as Tan Jiao came in, she targeted her. Ling Qingwan was thinking about how to reply, when suddenly a hand reached out and picked up the only piece of duck meat left on the plate.
Wei Xun's movements were very familiar. He put the duck meat into his mouth in front of several people.
Ling Qingwan looked around, and saw that everyone had different expressions, which was quite exciting. Tan Hongbo and Ling Xiao were shocked, and stared at Wei Xun with wide eyes. Tan Jiao pouted, looking aggrieved.
Now Ling Qingwan was certain that Tan Jiao didn't like Ling Xiao, but Wei Xun. She was still wondering why Tan Jiao regarded Ling Xiao as an imaginary enemy if she liked him.
"Brother Tan is right, Zuixiaolou's Eight Treasure Duck is indeed delicious." Wei Xun spoke slowly and gently. After that, he waved his hand to signal Wei Shi to go to the kitchen to pack another portion.
Wei Xun's behavior made it very easy for Tan Jiao to think that he and Ling Qingwan had eaten the dish of Eight Treasure Duck together. Tan Jiao was unwilling to do so and kept her scolding to herself.
If she implied that Ling Qingwan ate too much at this time, wouldn't she also be implicating Wei Xun
"By the way, have you heard? Zhuyanfang will hold a winter celebration banquet the day after tomorrow, and Miss Wanyin will also be performing on stage then." Tan Hongbo noticed that the atmosphere in the room was not right, and quickly found a topic to divert everyone's attention.
"What does this have to do with me and Wanwan?" Ling Xiao spoke bluntly.
"That's right, you should have left for Suicheng the day after tomorrow." Tan Hongbo nodded. "But Wanwan can come with me."
As he spoke, Tan Hongbo turned towards Ling Qingwan.
"Don't listen to your brother and think that Zhuyanfang is a shady place. Most of the people in Zhuyanfang are talented women who make a living by performing arts. This time, Zhuyanfang is hosting a banquet, and we will definitely be able to see a lot of talents. There will be everything from painting and writing to playing the piano and dancing. It just so happens that Wanwan has just recovered from a serious illness, so going out to play for a while will also help her recover."
"no."
Just as Ling Qingwan was about to speak, Ling Xiao took over the conversation.
"I asked you to take good care of Wanwan, and this is how you take care of her?" Ling Xiao rolled his eyes at Tan Hongbo helplessly.
Ling Qingwan saw the two of them arguing again and couldn't help laughing out loud.
"I haven't even finished reading the notebook that Brother Hongbo brought me, so I won't go to Zhuyanfang." Ling Qingwan had no interest in Zhuyanfang and didn't want to make Ling Xiao worry, so she rejected Tan Hongbo immediately.
Anyway, Tan Hongbo didn't take it to heart. If Ling Qingwan didn't go, it wouldn't have any impact if he went.
"Is the prince going?" Tan Jiao tilted her head and looked at Wei Xun motionlessly.
"No." Wei Xun responded calmly, with no emotion at all.
The meal was awkward, especially after Tan Jiao came, Ling Qingwan couldn't get a word in. Feeling that Ling Qingwan was in a low mood, Ling Xiao quickly took Ling Qingwan out of the restaurant after the meal.
"Are you still hungry?" Ling Xiao asked Ling Qingwan.
"Do you really think that the Seventh Prince and I ate that Eight Treasure Duck together?" Ling Qingwan joked, her eyes curved into crescents with laughter.
"I saw it." Ling Xiao sent Ling Qingwan into the carriage and followed. "I'm still wondering what the purpose of the Seventh Prince doing this is."
The carriage slowly drove towards the Marquis' Mansion. Ling Xiao and Ling Qingwan were very close to it, and the two chatted about what had just happened at the dinner table.
"Brother, why do you think about this?" Ling Qingwan became interested in Ling Xiao's words.
"The Seventh Prince is very particular about cleanliness. He would not touch the wine glasses and plates that others have used more than once. He would only be a little more relaxed when he was with me and Tan Hongbo." Ling Xiao patiently told Ling Qingwan. "He is so demanding, yet he is willing to eat the leftover Eight Treasure Duck."
No wonder Ling Xiao and Tan Hongbo looked so shocked just now.
"I think the Seventh Prince must really like you." Ling Xiao said to Ling Qingwan in a serious tone.
Ling Qingwan was stunned.
"Won't Tan Jiao blame me even more?"
Ling Qingwan was certain that Wei Xun would never fall in love with her. Even if Wei Xun helped her out today, Ling Qingwan thought he had ulterior motives. Compared to this, she was more concerned about whether Tan Jiao would often cause trouble for her in the future.
With Ling Chuchu, Ling Qingwan already had many things to do, and now there was Tan Jiao. Ling Qingwan was in a terrible headache.
"You also noticed that Jiao'er has feelings for the Seventh Prince?" Ling Xiao's eyes flashed with disbelief.
"Anyone with a discerning eye can see it." Ling Qingwan had no idea what Ling Xiao was so excited about.
"Don't take this matter to heart, just do what you want. Jiao'er likes the Seventh Prince, but the Seventh Prince has no interest in her, and this marriage cannot be forced." Ling Xiao was worried that Ling Qingwan was thinking about this matter and would hesitate when choosing to marry Wei Xun, so he wanted to hide it.
Ling Qingwan was very touched to see that Ling Xiao took care of her everywhere.
"Don't worry, brother. I will never give in to Tan Jiao." Ling Qingwan responded and said to Ling Xiao in a firm tone.