Chapter 825: Love Starting from a Breakup 14

Soon, evening arrived.

The entire Zhuang Yuan, shrouded in twilight, resembled a castle bathed in holy light.

The young masters and ladies who had been active all afternoon would stay to enjoy the dinner prepared by Zhuang Yuan's top chefs.

The daytime decorations were replaced with cozy bonfire lights, and the music became tranquil and elegant.

The warmth of the garden fireplace kept the whole banquet from being cold.

It also allowed them to stay in their best condition.

On the long dining table, candlesticks and red roses were placed every five seats to separate them; the silverware reflected the light, plates of appetizers had been served, and attendants poured red wine beside the table.

Not far away, a valuable piano was placed, waiting for someone to play a piece.

Piano was a required course for them since childhood; to say they could play, it was something everyone could do.

But whether it sounded good, and how skilled they were,

that was another matter.

Everyone present simultaneously thought of one person.

"Has Qiao Xu not come yet? I don't know if we'll be able to enjoy his piano playing tonight."

Suddenly someone said something, and the topic turned back to Qiao Xu again.

Even though he wasn't present here.

But someone born to shine will always have a spotlight.

Gu He was again asked by many people about Qiao Xu; on one hand he felt resentful, thinking he would always steal his limelight, clearly just a moment ago they weren't talking about him, yet the nearby young nobles' conversation would still bring him up.

Yet on the other hand he enjoyed the attention focused on himself.

As if he too shone like Qiao Xu.

Such contradictory feelings have accompanied him ever since he met the fifteen-year-old Qiao Xu, continuing to this day.

Qiao Xu also finally, under the servant's guidance, returned to the garden.

After all, he wasn't yet familiar with Zhuang Yuan; he had almost gotten lost earlier.

Because he was the last to arrive, and seating was arranged by headcount, only one seat remained open.

That seat was deliberately left by Gu He.

It was quite subtle.

To his left were Gu He and Qi Zhan; to his right were Shen Ling's friend, then further right Shen Ling and Jin Chen—five people in total, not separated by candlelight.

Qiao Xu glanced at Jin Chen, then at Shen Ling, who tilted her head with a wanton gaze, and finally sat down without saying anything.

If he followed his usual nature, he would surely have made Jin Chen move aside, or had the person opposite stand up.

But today he was already very tired.

Sleeping through the afternoon did nothing to relieve his mental fatigue, and his hand still hurt.

He had no energy to say another word.

When Qiao Xu came out, he tidied his attire, still refined and noble, but his pallid complexion could not be hidden; the young lady who had wanted him to play piano, sitting opposite, saw the state and swallowed her words.

Don't let him collapse right beside the piano.

The main courses were all served, everyone began eating, and a toast session was inevitable.

Yet they all unconsciously avoided Qiao Xu, fearing that the Young Master might have an accident in front of them.

Qiao Xu, however, was happy to relax, propping his chin to look at the dishes; considering his weak stomach, he followed Lin Yisheng's advice from a few days prior and took out the portable box of stomach medicine from his pocket.

The young ladies sitting nearby suddenly stopped moving, staring blankly as he opened the box lid by lid; inside were multicolored pills.

Mo Lin, sitting opposite, looked on in amazement and couldn't help asking, "Qiao Xu, do you really have to take this many pills every day?"

Qiao Xu was just recalling how to take them when his thought was interrupted.

He lifted his eyes, blinked, saw it was a friend, and raised a perfectly appropriate smile.

"Just these few days."

Then he continued lowering his head to count the pills.

Gu He deliberately didn't remind him how to take them, and that medical advice was also hidden; if he could ruin his body by taking pills, for them it would be effortless gain.

As he counted, Young Master Qiao's temper flared.

He angrily dumped them out, intending to take two of each.

Jin Chen endured and endured, finally could bear it no longer.

"The yellow capsules should be taken three at a time, the white ones with letter labels only half a pill; more would damage the stomach lining."

Qiao Xu's motion to put them in his mouth paused, and he let out an "Oh."

Then he began to split the pills.

Shen Ling, sitting between them: "……"

He just knew!! Jin Chen really does like Qiao Xu! Damn it!

How boring, truly boring; if I'd known earlier I wouldn't have focused my attention on Jin Chen, I could have spent this time scouting new handsome guys!

Seeing his expression change, those who needed to rely on the Shen family's friends assumed he was jealous.

Thus he mocked Qiao Xu aloud: "Young Master Qiao is really naive, not even knowing how to take medicine."

The mockery, both overt and implied, was quite obvious.

Qiao Xu would never let himself be bullied by others.

He gave that person a sideways glance, tone cold: "Who are you?"

What youths hate most is being looked down upon; his face flushed red, and he inexplicably started introducing himself.

Upon hearing the family name, Qiao Xu pretended to ponder, lowering his eyes to think for two seconds.

Then he looked at him, up and down, his eyes hinting at contempt yet putting on an air of nobility.

Sorry, I haven't heard of it.

After saying that, he picked up his knife and fork and leisurely cut the steak, his tone still light and airy.

Do your best; if we can still sit together, I'll try to remember you next time.

This remark is practically a direct jab at someone who's not fit for the table.

Absolute, truly absolute.

As expected of Young Master Qiao.

Everyone sighed in admiration.

That young man had merely been speaking up for Shen Ling, but now he's completely overstepped.

He immediately spoke coldly, without restraint.

Young Master Qiao really is just as the rumors say—ill‑mannered, but since you have no mother, it's somewhat understandable.

The whole table's atmosphere suddenly froze; everyone was startled by that remark and, without prior agreement, all turned to look at Qiao Xu.

Cough cough cough...

Shen Ling was frightened out of her wits by him and slapped him, shouting, "Are you sick? Why scold someone for no reason!"

Huo Chen hissed, glanced at Jin Chen sitting opposite, and raised his eyebrows in a silent question.

Can you tolerate this?

Jin Chen, not knowing what he'd thought of, showed a faint smile in his usually indifferent eyes.

If Young Master Qiao could be bullied by someone like this, he wouldn't have fame abroad.

Qiao Xu's hand trembled slightly; he quickly composed his expression, set down his knife and fork, propped his chin on the back of his hand, and turned his head to look at him with a smile hidden in his eyes.

Sounds like your parents are still alive—oh right, you just said your family runs what enterprise? A heavy‑industry conglomerate?

I don't know why Qiao Xu brought this up again; the face that got slapped is burning with pain, and now that we've lost face, we might as well make a big scene!

He gave the name of the enterprise, then said, "Young Master Qiao, being this rude, you're clearly destined to be cast aside."

Saying that, he felt as if he could trample Qiao Xu underfoot, and a sense of gratification rose in his heart.

Qiao Xu snorted, lifted the corner of his mouth, narrowed his eyes, and in the flickering candlelight possessed a kind of almost demonic beauty.

Congratulations—go tell your well‑bred parents that this enterprise is now mine.