The sun was gradually setting, and the temperature was becoming more comfortable.
Lin Wanyi even felt a slight chill.
She started heading back; she had to pick up Keke and take her back to bathe and change clothes.
Otherwise, if she caught a cold outside, it would be troublesome.
She walked along the stone path, spotting Wang Keke running out of the playground from a distance.
She crouched down, arms open wide, waiting for Wang Keke to jump into her embrace.
Wang Keke excitedly shouted "Mom!" and rushed into Lin Wanyi's arms.
She asked:
"Mom, can I come play here again tomorrow? It's so much fun.
That trampoline lets me bounce really high, and I climbed all the way to the top, you know?"
Lin Wanyi picked her up and walked toward the hotel:
"Yeah, it's fun, so fun you don't want to go home, right? Come on, hurry back with me for a bath.
If you catch a cold, see how you'll play then."
Wang Keke giggled.
Back at the hotel, Lin Wanyi immediately bathed Wang Keke.
Meanwhile, Su Jing made arrangements for dinner.
After Lin Wanyi blow-dried Wang Keke's hair, she took her downstairs to the restaurant.
Su Jing said:
"There's a buffet and à la carte menu here. You all can eat whatever you like.
I'm older, I don't eat much in the evening, so I won't join you all."
Li Suhua echoed:
"I'll stay with Su Jing. Wanyi, you and Huihui figure it out yourselves."
Chen Hui didn't hesitate and pulled Lin Wanyi along:
"Big Sister, let me tell you, you have to try the buffet.
Before we came, I checked online—the buffet here costs 1,888 per person. It would be a huge loss not to eat it."
"1,888?"
Lin Wanyi thought to herself, that's way too expensive.
But Liu Siyue also pulled her along:
"Come on, sister. My Big Brother said all expenses here are on him. Since we rarely get a chance like this, we should try everything."
The three of them, along with Wang Keke, entered the buffet hall.
As soon as they walked in, Wang Keke spotted the huge king crabs and giant lobsters.
Her eyes widened:
"Mom, this crab is almost as big as me. It won't eat me, will it?"
Chen Hui burst out laughing:
"Keke, don't worry. We'll eat it first!"
There weren't many people in the restaurant. Lin Wanyi found a seat by the window.
Chen Hui and Wang Keke went around hunting for delicious food, piling plates with everything they'd never tried before.
Soon, the table was covered with delicacies.
Lin Wanyi told Wang Keke:
"That's enough, Keke. Finish what's here first before getting more.
We can't waste food, okay?"
Wang Keke obediently sat down, while Chen Hui and Liu Siyue dug in ravenously.
Liu Siyue, who had hardly had any appetite lately, found herself eating heartily after seeing Chen Hui's enthusiasm.
Plate after plate was cleared. Chen Hui got up to grab new dishes.
When she returned, she told Liu Siyue:
"Siyue, let me tell you, I've never eaten such good food in my life, but you can have it every day.
What does that tell you?"
"What?" Liu Siyue asked reflexively. Lin Wanyi worried that Chen Hui, being so blunt, might say something unpleasant.
She was about to stop Chen Hui when Chen Hui said:
"It means you're very happy, Siyue. It means your life is truly blessed.
I honestly envy you, truly—I do. But no jealousy or hatred.
Siyue, thank you for letting me live a few days of this good life too."
As she spoke, she put her hands on her head and made a heart shape:
"Grateful to have you, thankful for you, my dear Siyue."
Lin Wanyi relaxed, realizing Chen Hui's intent—she just wanted to cheer Liu Siyue up.
Ever since Qin Chao was arrested, Liu Siyue had clearly been happier.
But it was only on the surface; she still often spaced out.
She ate very little, practically stopping after a few bites each meal.
Lin Wanyi knew the trauma she had suffered was too severe to heal in just a day or two.
Thankfully, Chen Hui was around with her outgoing personality. Lin Wanyi believed that being with Chen Hui, Liu Siyue would gradually get better.
Liu Siyue was so moved she almost teared up.
How could she not see it?
So she got up and, like Chen Hui, piled her plate with good food:
"Yeah, Huihui, eat up, or we won't get our money's worth for the 1,888!"
The four of them ate heartily.
Outside the glass window, from another spot, Su Jing took photos and sent them to Liu Jiannan:
[Husband, our daughter will definitely get better.]
An hour later, they were all full and satisfied.
Chen Hui hugged her belly and burped:
"I can't, I still need to get one more lobster. If I don't eat it now, I won't be able to afford it outside.
Big Sister, how about we open another bottle of red wine? That bottle's got to be expensive too."
Liu Siyue immediately told her:
"It costs 30,000 a bottle."
"Holy cow." Chen Hui's eyes widened:
"Girl, why didn't you say so earlier? We've already made our money back just on the wine!
I have to drink a bottle!"
Lin Wanyi couldn't stop her. Chen Hui quickly opened the bottle.
She poured a glass each for Lin Wanyi and Liu Siyue:
"Big Sister, Siyue, come on—let's forget all the unhappy stuff tonight and drink until we collapse."
Under her influence, even Lin Wanyi, who never drank, tried a glass.
Liu Siyue drank even more.
Half an hour later, Lin Wanyi felt a bit drunk, her mind getting fuzzy.
Enough. She tugged at Chen Hui:
"Huihui, I can't drink anymore. I need to go back first."
Chen Hui and Liu Siyue were having a great time drinking. Chen Hui waved her hand:
"Okay, Big Sister, you and Keke go ahead. We'll head back later."
Lin Wanyi was a little uneasy:
"It's getting late. Why don't you both come back and drink?"
"Big Sister, this is a resort—security guards everywhere, it's totally safe. Go on, don't worry about me."
Lin Wanyi thought about it; it made sense.
This was the Liu family's resort—nothing would go wrong.
But just as she stood up, she heard a woman in a strappy top at a nearby table speak in a sharp, sarcastic tone to Liu Siyue:
"Oh, Liu Siyue, what a coincidence running into you here."
Liu Siyue glanced at her but didn't say anything. The woman continued:
"I've been abroad for a year, and when I came back, I heard a lot about you.
Like how you suddenly disappeared for a few months around Chinese New Year, and then came back and dropped out of school.
I also heard your boyfriend called you a 'slut' in front of everyone at school.
Liu Siyue, tell me—where did you go during those two months you disappeared?"
The atmosphere plummeted.
Liu Siyue, who had been in good spirits moments ago, started trembling all over.
She was breathing heavily, gasping for air.
Lin Wanyi saw it—she was definitely having a stress reaction.
Forgetting about the woman, she hurriedly hugged Liu Siyue and tried to calm her down:
"Yueyue, take a deep breath, deep breath.
Don't listen to her. Just breathe deeply now."
Chen Hui sobered up too. She glared fiercely at the woman:
"Shut up, you hear me? Shut your mouth!"
The woman showed no sign of stopping. Instead, she crossed her arms and raised her voice:
"Hah, what are you so afraid of? Doing the deed but not willing to talk about it?
Liu Siyue, stop pretending.
Let me tell you—not just me, but them too, and them..."
She pointed at other people at the tables:
"We're all curious. Just tell us already."
"You have no idea, everyone in A City's wealthy young social circles has been guessing.
"Guessing whether you lost your virginity during those two months over the New Year..."
