I Am The Third Party (GL) - Chapter 34

Several people at the buffet table were looking our way. I immediately stopped wailing and grabbed Qi Xi’s hand. “Let me go first, everyone’s looking at you.”

“Haha, I was wondering why you were looking around so absentmindedly the moment you came in. So you were trying to catch some fat fish. So, is there anyone you like?” Qi Xi finally released his grip on my ear and snorted.

My expression instantly changed, fawning over me. “Yes, there’s one right here.”

Qi Xi raised an eyebrow. “Remember, don’t mess with those people at the banquet. Some people are more polite than they appear, but they’re actually more ruthless. If you really need money, tell me. Don’t dwell on those few dollars and ninety cents. Being frugal is fine, but being frugal to the point of being stingy will only make you lose money.”

I knew she was worried about me, afraid that with my lack of social experience, I’d be ripped off by those politicians and officials at the banquet.

A young girl attending a grand banquet for the first time, and then encountering a wealthy man’s sweet talk, couldn’t help but harbor some ulterior motives.

“Everything you say is right. I’ll treat every word you say like an imperial decree and won’t make even the slightest mistake. Don’t worry.” My words were a touch teasing, but deep down, I was delighted that Qi Xi cared about me.

Who wouldn’t be happy to be cared for by someone they loved?

Regardless of whether she liked me or not, as long as there was a small window in her heart where my reflection occasionally flashed, I’d be content.

Hiss… Hey, isn’t this a bit too mean?

“Don’t be distracted. Come, this way.” Qi Xi patted my shoulder. It wasn’t appropriate for her to hold my hand in this kind of situation, so she could only remind me to stay close to her and not get lost.

Besides, Yan Sinan was likely invited too, and Qi Xi would definitely get caught if she acted too intimate with me.

Humph, Qi Xi appeared to be indifferent, but she was actually terrified of Yan Sinan.

She was so afraid that Yan Sinan would leave her that she wouldn’t even give her a last-ditch effort.

To be honest, she deserved it.

She couldn’t accept Yan Sinan not giving her, not being under her control, and expressing his feelings differently.

Since Qi Xi loved Yan Sinan so much, he should have spoiled her, stayed by her side, protected her, supported her creative career, and given her a peaceful and tranquil life.

But Qi Xi didn’t.

Instead, she resorted to extreme methods to pressure Yan Sinan, using the most primitive childish crying to beg for her attention and pity.

Did it work? It didn’t.

Perhaps I shouldn’t say this from a… mistress-like perspective, but I sincerely believe that Qi Xi and Yan Sinan’s personalities are incompatible. Neither of them agrees with the other’s approach to things, nor is they willing to compromise. If they continue to drag things out like this, it will only end in mutual destruction.

On the other hand, ahem – I am a little skeptical about Yan Sinan’s loyalty to Qi Xi. Wei Ling reminded me last time: Yan Sinan might be Qi Xi’s man…

We sat down in the small compartment on the east side. It was still relatively early and there were not many people there. Qi Xi looked at me and smiled, saying, “You look really good in this dress, little fairy.”

I was very happy to hear that. Looking at her, I imagined myself as a big golden retriever and wagged my tail vigorously, “Isn’t it beautiful? I tell you, this skirt is so expensive, you have to wear it out to dry in the sun.”

“Well, if you hadn’t asked that Lily to come and do your makeup so early in the morning, you would be even more amazing.”

“…” I took a sip of water in the teacup, and the waiter saw it and came over to refill it for me.

Qi Xi grinned and picked up a plate for me, “The protagonist of the party hasn’t arrived yet, you should go and stock up on some food, otherwise you won’t be able to grab anything when there are too many people.”

That won’t do. How can I not grab any food!

The first reason I came here was to find Xiao Xuewu, and the second reason was to eat.

“Yeah, yeah, okay.” I took the plate. “Whatever you want, I’ll bring you one.”

“Whatever. I’m not hungry, just take care of yourself.”

I nodded and hurried to my own table. From a distance, I saw a man in a red tie pouring salmon sashimi on his plate. Hey, is there such a hungry ghost at this high-end banquet?

Then – I’ll pour it too!

I pulled up my white gauze and picked up a plate of grilled eel slices and poured them on the plate. There were two slices left stuck to the bottom of the plate, and I picked up the fork to pick them up.

“Where did this wild girl come from who doesn’t understand so well? It’s not like she’s hungry, but she’s pouring it on her own plate. What will others eat if it’s all in your bowl?”

I was shocked and apologized quickly. “I’m sorry, I just saw someone pouring it on the plate, so…”

“Yazhi, I know this sister. She has a very straightforward personality. It’s her first time at a banquet like this and she doesn’t know the rules. Don’t blame her.”

The voice sounded familiar, and I looked up. It was indeed Yan Sinan.

Today she was wearing a light blue fishtail dress, her hair tied in a bun with a jade hairpin, a lock of black hair cascading down her back. She looked at me with a smile.

“Really?” the pink princess dress next to Yan Sinan murmured, glancing at me lightly. “Is the little sister ignorant and unattended?”

Yan Sinan smiled. “Yes, I think I know who’s taking care of her,”

the princess dress asked. “Who?”

Yan Sinan said, “Qi Xi.”

The princess dress narrowed her eyes. “Miss Qi, indeed. She’s a cheerful person too.”

“Yazhi, go to Mr. Wu first. I’ll talk to this sister and then

I’ll be over.” “Then hurry up,”

Yan Sinan said. She turned and took a large tray from the serving counter, walked over to me, and showed me the dishes on the buffet table, recommending that I take quite a few.

“A Xi likes you very much. It’s rare to see her so happy,” Yan Sinan said suddenly.

My heart trembled. Was there some hidden meaning in her words?

I didn’t know what to say, so I lowered my head and pretended to listen attentively.

“I seldom have time to accompany her, so she gets angry with me.” Yan Sinan shook her head and smiled softly, “I know everything she does outside. I don’t care about her, not because I’m not angry. It’s just that I think no matter how close people are, they should have their own space. The relationship between two people always has an end, and distance is inevitable. But Qi Xi…”

She paused and looked at me with a smile, “Xiao Yu, can you understand what I am saying?”

I lowered my head and bit my lip, “Yeah.”

She nodded with relief, “Qi Xi is too naive. In the eyes of outsiders, she is strong and scary, but to me she is always a child. When she is wronged, she is stubborn outside, but she cries in my arms and calls me Sister Sinan.”

“…”

“Xiao Yu, I am very grateful that you can accompany Qi Xi during this time. Maybe I will have to trouble you in the future.”

I don’t need your thanks, thank you.

For some reason, I felt a little angry. I clenched my fists and asked, “Sister Sinan, are you busy?”

“Huh?” She blinked, “Yeah, I guess so.”

“But Qi Xi really wants you to spend more time with her.”

Yan Sinan sighed, “I just want her to be more independent in front of me and learn to grow up slowly. She can’t rely on me mentally for her whole life. That’s why I told her that we can be together only when she can no longer rely on me.”

“…”

“I have something to do, so I’ll leave first. Feel free to take whatever you want to eat. No one will say anything to you.” Yan Sinan patted my shoulder and walked towards the table in the southwest corner with a smile.

Asta never showed up. Only Jorma came. She stood on the central staircase and recited the welcome speech with deep emotion. Then she solemnly announced the start of the dance.

Qi Xi kept her word. She held my shoulders with one hand and my waist with the other to teach me to dance. However, I pushed her away after just two steps.

“Everyone else is a man and a woman. What’s the difference between us?” I asked, turning my head away.

“Then there has to be a man willing to ask you to dance.” Qi Xi smiled.

I glared at her and curled my lips. “You’re just trying to squeeze me.”

She took me to the sofa and sat down. She took a glass of orange juice from the table and gave it to me. “Are you still dancing?”

I shook my head. “I don’t want to dance anymore.”

In fact, I really wanted to dance with her, but the two of us were too weird in a group of affectionate men and women.

Qi Xi came up to me and pinched my face, “Then I’ll take you out to play.”

“Out to play?”

“Well, there’s a small amusement park in the back with a carousel. Do you want to go?”

I jumped up and grabbed her hand, my eyes shining, “Let’s go.”

———————————-

It turned out that there was a different world inside the VR Royal Hotel. The whole hotel was in the shape of a U-shaped Chinese character, with a small park and a small playground in the middle. Qi Xi took me out of the banquet hall and ran to the small playground, and bought two tickets, one for each of us.

I ran to the game center to exchange for a handful of game coins, walked to the carousel, turned around and grinned at Qi Xi, “I didn’t expect you to like this.”

She put her arm around my shoulders and touched my shoulder, “When I was a child, I didn’t have the chance to play. I especially envied those children who went to the amusement park with their parents. Now I want to try all kinds of games whenever I get the chance, as a way to make up for my childhood.”

Waves surged in my heart, and my chest felt sore. I couldn’t help but hug her.

“Let’s go, get on.” She took my hand and led me to a horse with a silly smile on it, then she sat on the one in front of me. After the others were seated, the wooden horse slowly turned, and as the rhythm of the music quickened, it spun faster and faster.

Qi Xi turned around and waved at me. I smiled and tried to pull her finger, but couldn’t touch it.

The song ended, the turntable stopped turning, and we jumped off. Unexpectedly, we saw Yan Sinan standing by and smiling at us.

She walked forward, touched the mane of a pony, and lowered her eyes, “I miss you so much.”

“Sinan…” Qi Xi’s eyes sank, and he stared straight at Yan Sinan.

Yan Sinan smiled gently at her, “You still like playing these things so much. Remember when I took you to the carnival on your seventh birthday? I gave you a stuffed rabbit that day.”

Qi Xi curled his lips, “I remember. The rabbit is on my pillow.”

Yan Sinan sat sideways on the pony, “Let’s play again.”

Qi Xi walked over and sat on the one behind her, “Okay.” She looked at me again, “Little fairy, sit on it.”

I hurriedly shook my head and stepped back, “I just spun around and feel a little dizzy. You guys play.”

Qi Xi said nothing more.

I puffed up my cheeks and let out a breath, then sat on a stone bench to the side, holding my chin and watching them quietly.

Colorful neon lights kept flashing, and the colorful Pegasus on the big turntable jumped up and down to the cheerful music. Yan Sinan smiled faintly in the front, and Qi Xi watched her quietly from the back.

An egg tart ice cream popped up in front of me.

“Look at the carousel. If you sit at the back, you will never catch up with the front.”

I looked up and saw a blonde girl in an apricot windbreaker handed the ice cream to me with a faint smile on her lips. She sat down next to me with a pure white ribbon tied around her wrist.

I smiled bitterly and took a bite of the ice cream. “Just when I was thinking about how to find you, Asta.”