Chapter 207

"Everyone here, many of you should know what I used to be like."

Unknowingly, Xia Nuannuan was no longer nervous or constrained; she had a sweet smile on her face as her gaze swept over the guests below.

The few tables sitting in front were almost all relatives from both sides of Xia Nuannuan's parents, as well as some fellow villagers from their hometown.

Hearing Xia Nuannuan's words, they all felt it was deeply true.

In their impression, Xia Nuannuan was still that slightly chubby girl with a shy and introverted personality, which was quite different from the poised, graceful young girl on stage at this moment.

Today, after everyone arrived at this hotel, when Xia Nuannuan greeted them, many people didn't even recognize her.

"That's right, it was because of Qin Tian's constant encouragement that I was able to have the courage and perseverance to persist and step by step become who I am today."

Xia Nuannuan's gaze turned again toward the direction of Qin Tian, and she asked with a blooming smile, "Brother Tian, do you still remember our promise that day?"

Somehow, she suddenly changed how she addressed Qin Tian; she wanted to be closer to him.

Everyone present had their gazes focused on Qin Tian at this moment.

Qin Tian gave a hearty laugh, nodded, and said, "Of course I remember!"

The smile on Xia Nuannuan's beautiful face became even brighter, and she said in an unhurried tone, "At that time, you told me that we could become better together, go to the same university together, and then have a romance that others would envy."

The large banquet hall was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop, and only the sincere voice of the young girl on stage continued to ring out.

"Do you know that at that moment, I suddenly felt that I wasn't as bad as I had imagined, that there were still people who liked me, and that it was such a good boy. So I decided that no matter how difficult it was, I would work hard to fulfill this promise."

"The two-plus months before the college entrance exam were the first time in my life I had worked desperately for a goal. Fortunately, with you by my side accompanying me and encouraging me, it seemed that this process wasn't as difficult as I had imagined."

"From the day we made the promise, my high school life seemed to have become colorful. And then, the class monitor, Liao Juan, Cui Ying, and the others successively became my friends."

"Gradually I understood that it wasn't that everyone didn't like me, but that I didn't know when I had started to become unconfident and chose to close myself off."

"During this time... I was really so, so happy. From not wanting to go to school every morning after waking up, I started to look forward to going to school, and even wanted this senior year to be longer, not to graduate so soon!"

Having said this, Xia Nuannuan's voice became a bit hoarse again.

Not only the girls like Mu Nan, but many guests at the scene were also infected by this confession of her inner thoughts.

Xia Nuannuan's parents, grandparents, and the relatives who doted on her were many of them wiping the corners of their eyes.

At this very moment, they suddenly realized that this child's campus life had not been happy before.

And as the elders closest to and most respected by Xia Nuannuan, they had never known and hadn't really cared much.

Of course, there were some who knew a little.

For example, Xia Zhengping and Su Xia, the couple, of course knew that their daughter didn't have many friends at school before, and they were very worried and blamed themselves for it, but they never had a good way to change their daughter's situation.

"Nuan Nuan, it's okay, we will always be friends. I'm also going to Jiangcheng for university, I will often come to find you to hang out, it will be the same."

Tian Jiajia shouted loudly, her voice also carrying a hint of a sob.

At the dining table, everyone also nodded in agreement one after another.

"Okay, thank you Jiajia, thank you everyone!"

Xia Nuannuan smiled, looked at Qin Tian, and said, "Brother Tian, the fact that I can stand here now and say these things is all because of the courage and confidence you gave me. I... I don't want to say thank you, I want to say... I like you!"

Finishing her final confession with a suddenly accelerated speaking speed, Xia Nuannuan shyly covered her face with her hands.

"Ohhh..."

Below the stage, a group of guests were like they had been injected with adrenaline, excitedly egging them on loudly.

"Hahaha... Nuan Nuan, well said!"

The Xia family patriarch shouted with a glowing face.

The other relatives at the dining table were also full of smiles.

"Mom, Nuan Nuan sister... is so bold, I..."

A cousin of Xia Nuannuan said to her mother beside her with sparkling eyes.

"You what?"

The smile on the woman's face beside her instantly faded, and she said seriously, "You just graduated from middle school, what do you want to do?"

The girl's eyes rolled around, and she had a sudden inspiration, pointing to the plate of roast chicken on the table.

"I, I want to eat a chicken leg!"

"All you know is eating!"

The woman placed the chicken leg into her daughter's bowl and said with a playful smile, "Unless you can find a boyfriend like Nuan Nuan sister, I won't object; otherwise, you better cut out this thought immediately."

"Mom, is that possible? She is a top scholar with a perfect score in the college entrance exam! And he's so handsome too!"

The girl gnawed on the chicken leg directly with her hand, saying with a speechless face.

"So, don't even think about it. Just honestly study hard for me and get into Jiang University like Nuan Nuan sister first."

"Hehe, you think it's really simple. Then why don't you introduce such a boyfriend to me? Let alone Jiang University, even Tsinghua or Peking University would be a small problem."

"You brat, where am I supposed to find one for you?"

The woman angrily pinched her daughter's ear.

"That's your business!"

The girl pushed her mother's hand away and muttered with a pouting mouth.

"Haha..."

Others around who heard the conversation between the mother and daughter all burst into hearty laughter.

The Xia family patriarch at the head table had the most hearty laugh; he picked up his wine glass, clinked it with one of Xia Nuannuan's uncles beside him, and then took a blissful sip.

Xia Nuannuan, who returned to Qin Tian's side with hurried steps and sat down, still had a flushed face.

"Don't you speak!"

Qin Tian glanced at the grinning Zhang Peng and directly stopped his thought of opening his mouth to tease and mock Xia Nuannuan.

The smile on Zhang Peng's face stiffened, and the words that were on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back forcibly.

Tian Jiajia and the other girls were all smiling gracefully and didn't say anything.

Everyone knew that Xia Nuannuan had just said so many heartfelt words and finally confessed to Qin Tian in public; she must be very shy now.

"Come, come, come, classmates, eat the food, eat the food. This food is too sumptuous, it would be a pity if we didn't finish it and it went to waste!"

Li Yanwang called out.

Everyone nodded in agreement and picked up their chopsticks to continue feasting.

Qin Tian peeled a peony shrimp and placed the crystal-clear shrimp meat into the plate in front of Xia Nuannuan.

"Eat!"

"Mm!"

Xia Nuannuan pecked her little head and lowered her head to eat the shrimp meat obediently.

"There's a bit too much food. If we can't finish it later, I'll pack some for my mom to take!"

Qin Tian said with a smile, finding a topic.

Xia Nuannuan looked up at him and asked, "Why didn't Auntie come over together?"

Before, she had already invited her several times to let Tang Xiuxia come with Qin Tian to attend her celebration banquet.

"The shop is too busy!"

Qin Tian smiled and added in a low voice, "And all your relatives are here today, she wasn't ready and felt a bit embarrassed!"

Xia Nuannuan smiled and nodded, saying, "Then let's pack a bit more later. These seafood are ingredients my dad had someone send over himself. I'll have the hotel prepare some more specifically later!"

"No need, there's so much on this table, we won't be able to finish it."

Qin Tian said with a smile.