Chapter Eleven: On What Grounds Do You Speak to Me?

“Yes, do you want me to introduce you?”
“I don’t mind,” Gong Yi waved his hand. Meanwhile, Huangpu Shenqing continued to sip his drink, tacitly agreeing.

...

“So, how was it? Did we dance well?” Though they were simply improvising without any real dance training, Xia Wanqing thought it was worth a bit of encouragement.
“You danced great, right, Ye Xin?” Ouyang Muya pulled Ye Xin in.
“Yes,” Ye Xin echoed.
“Do you have work tomorrow?” Shangguan Renran asked as she sat down.
If Wanqing was starting work, then she would have to get into work mode too.
Otherwise, if everyone was working hard except her, she’d feel awkward.
“Yes, I’ll be joining the crew tomorrow. But you’ll still have Ye Zuo and Ye Xin to keep you company, and Muya can spend the evenings with you too.”
Xia Wanqing saw right through her—she was just worried no one would be around to hang out with her once Wanqing left. In truth, Shangguan Renran was quite fun at heart.
“Of course I know. I’ll be just fine without you,” Shangguan Renran lifted her head, full of confidence.
She was aloof in public, but playful among friends. Once you spent enough time with her, her true nature would shine through.
“Hmph, alright then. Don’t miss me next time,” Xia Wanqing huffed.
“That won’t do. I’ll definitely miss you,” Shangguan Renran replied. Her favorite moments were the ones spent with them.
“Hahaha, Renran, you’re so lively now,” Ouyang Muya said, delighted.
It was a world of difference from when she first met Shangguan Renran.
Ye Xin couldn’t help but smile, while Ye Zuo had a gentle look in his eyes behind his glasses, his lips curved in a soft smile.
This was the first time he’d seen this side of her—so energetic and playful, just like before.
“Sis, what are you all talking about? You look so happy,” Ouyang Mufeng walked over, noticing his sister laughing, along with two or three people he didn’t recognize.

---

“Why are you here? Weren’t you with your friends?” Ouyang Muya turned her head.
“Sis, let me introduce you all. They’re just upstairs on the second floor.”
“That’s not necessary, is it? Wouldn’t that be an imposition?” There were so many of them—how could she not feel awkward?
“It’s not an imposition at all. In fact, my friends really want to meet you.”
Since no one had objected earlier, he went ahead.
“Um...” Ouyang Muya hesitated, glancing at Shangguan Renran and the others.
Shangguan Renran and Xia Wanqing found it a bit odd, but they didn’t say anything—after all, they had to look out for Muya’s feelings.
“Come on, sis, I promise it’s just a quick introduction.”
So the five of them followed Ouyang Mufeng upstairs in a lively procession.
Ye Zuo and Ye Xin simply went with the flow; their only job was to protect Shangguan Renran, not to interfere in any decisions.
“Sis, this is my second brother, Huangpu Shenqing, and over here is my third brother, Rong Yi.” They were all from the same circle; she’d heard of them, and had even met Rong Yi before—their families had collaborated in the past.
But she never expected her younger brother to be on such familiar terms with someone from the Huangpu family, especially this eldest son of the Huangpu clan, a figure rarely seen but much talked about.
Yet her own brother addressed him as if they were close friends.
“Hello, I’m Ouyang Muya,” she greeted.
“And these are my friends: Shangguan Renran, Xia Wanqing, Ye Zuo, and Ye Xin,” Ouyang Muya introduced each one.
“A pleasure to meet you.”
“Please, have a seat. Don’t just stand there,” Rong Yi invited them, gesturing to a long table with two sofas facing each other and another by the door.
Rong Yi and Huangpu Shenqing sat on one sofa; Ouyang Muya, Xia Wanqing, and Shangguan Renran sat across from them, while Ye Zuo and Ye Xin took the sofa by the door.
Ouyang Mufeng grabbed a few bottles of fruit wine and some glasses, squeezing in beside Rong Yi.
Directly across from Huangpu Shenqing sat Shangguan Renran. With sunglasses off, her mixed heritage was even more striking—her features sharp and refined, her long ashen hair tied up, dazzling in its beauty.
She glanced up at the man opposite: hair falling just above his brows, a high straight nose, perfect jawline, thin lips curled slightly at the corners.
His long, fair hands rested on his knees; he wore a black suit with the collar slightly open, a hint of collarbone showing, and blue round cufflinks. Yes, that was her favorite color, the same as her eyes.

---

“Miss Shangguan, may I ask...” Rong Yi broke the silence.
“You’re wondering why you haven’t seen our Renran before, aren’t you? She just returned from abroad,” Xia Wanqing explained. She’d already guessed this wasn’t a casual meeting—their real interest lay elsewhere.
“So you went to school overseas? That explains why we haven’t met,” Ouyang Mufeng chimed in. By rights, he knew nearly everyone in City A.
“Yes, I studied in Country Y,” Shangguan Renran replied. Ever since she’d gotten lost as a child, she’d been sent to Country Y.
She couldn’t remember what exactly happened, but from what she’d heard, it was because her parents were too busy and the servants weren’t attentive enough.
So her grandfather took her everywhere with him and even had Uncle Li watch her every step, afraid something might happen again.
“Country Y? I’ve heard it’s beautiful there,”
The voice was cool but not unfriendly—it was Huangpu Shenqing who asked, taking Shangguan Renran by surprise.
Ouyang Mufeng and Rong Yi were both stunned; they’d never heard him express any fondness for Country Y.
“It’s alright. People there just care a lot about their living environment, that’s all,”
They valued appearances and enjoyed clean surroundings.
“I’ve heard compound surnames are rare in City A. May I ask—?” He felt a peculiar sense of familiarity about her and couldn’t help wanting to know more.
“Young Master Huangpu, isn’t it a bit intrusive to ask about someone’s private matters?”
Before Shangguan Renran could reply, Ye Zuo cut in, his gaze meeting Huangpu Shenqing’s, unyielding.
“Oh? And in what capacity are you speaking to me?”
Huangpu Shenqing’s aura intensified as he looked at him, idly playing with the wine glass in his hand—casual yet subtly forceful.