Phi-Fic Chapter 549: Things Have Changed Over
Chapter 549: Things Have Changed Over
Watching Li Renyi's flustered state, Long Jinyan couldn't help but burst into laughter. Murong Changqing, on the other hand, remained calm and composed, but the smile on her lips deepened.
Li Renyi looked at the three men and secretly regretted it. He had thought he could come and check the situation without anyone noticing, but he was caught red-handed as soon as he arrived at the door, and these men even saw through his intentions. It was a real miscalculation.
Ouyang Tuoba's shout was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly breaking the busy rhythm in the hall.
Fang Xiaoxiao was focused on directing the workers to set up the stage when she heard the shout. She frowned, paused in her work, put down what she was holding, and walked toward the door.
Li Wan'er and Hongxiu also stopped what they were doing, exchanged a glance, and followed Fang Xiaoxiao with curiosity.
Fang Xiaoxiao approached Li Renyi, looked him up and down at his strange attire, paused for a moment, and then burst into laughter.
She pointed at Li Renyi, laughing so hard tears were almost coming out. "Li Renyi, what are you up to? Dressed like this, are you planning to play the lottery again?"
Just like last time at the Moon-Viewing Pavilion in Changle County, when I was competing in poetry with the First Prince's tutor, Zhang Xuzi, on stage, you were setting up betting odds on my wins and losses from below the stage. What, what do you want to bet on this time?"
Fang Xiaoxiao's voice was clear and loud, with a hint of teasing and joking, which made the people around her chuckle.
Li Renyi's face turned bright red, like a ripe tomato. He opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but Fang Xiaoxiao's laughter silenced him.
Just then, Li Wan'er walked over, led by Hongxiu.
Li Renyi subconsciously raised his head, his gaze falling on Li Wan'er.
Now, Li Wan'er was dressed in a light blue silk dress with delicate embroidery on the hem. Her hair was piled up high and adorned with a jade hairpin. She looked elegant and poised, and her temperament had undergone a complete transformation compared to before.
She was no longer the cute, timid little princess who always followed him around.
Li Renyi's eyes instantly became panicked, his originally straight back slumped slightly, and his hands unconsciously clenched and unclenched.
He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but his throat seemed to be blocked, and he couldn't make a sound.
Li Wan'er remained calm, slightly raising her chin and glancing indifferently at Li Renyi, her face showing no emotion whatsoever.
She gave a slight curtsy and said in a calm yet polite tone, "Young Master Li, it's been a long time." After saying that, she ignored Li Renyi and turned to talk to Fang Xiaoxiao about the stage setup.
Li Renyi watched Li Wan'er's retreating figure, a strange sadness welling up in his heart. Before, Li Wan'er had always been like a shadow, completely dependent on him, following him wherever he went, impossible to shake off. But now, she was so indifferent, as if their past had never existed.
This huge contrast made him feel very uncomfortable, even somewhat unbalanced.
He stood there, a hint of loss and confusion in his eyes, watching Li Wan'er and Fang Xiaoxiao chatting and laughing while he was left standing there. He secretly regretted not cherishing Li Wan'er back then. Now that she had changed and no longer revolved around him, he realized how important she was.
Looking at Fang Xiaoxiao's ambiguous smile, Li Renyi felt a little uneasy. To save face, he forced himself to remain calm and said, "I'm here for no other reason than to make a little money. You're holding that martial arts and literature contest for marriage tomorrow, right? I'd like to open a betting shop and maybe make a small profit." As he spoke, he rubbed his hands together and forced a smile, trying to make his words sound more believable.
Fang Xiaoxiao crossed her arms, raised an eyebrow, and her eyes revealed a hint of understanding.
She knew perfectly well that Li Renyi hadn't come for such a trivial matter; it was probably because of Li Wan'er.
But she didn't intend to expose him. She simply said "whatever" and turned back to the lobby to continue directing the staff to prepare for tomorrow's competition.
Ouyang Tuoba, Long Jinyan, Murong Changqing, and others followed, leaving Li Renyi alone at the door, looking somewhat embarrassed and at a loss.
He watched the busy figures of the crowd, opened his mouth as if to say something, but didn't know how to begin.
In the end, he could only sigh helplessly and stand there dejectedly.
As night falls, the lights are on.
The Fang family courtyard was brightly lit, and the dining table was laden with a sumptuous feast.
Fang Xiaoxiao, Li Wan'er, Hongxiu, Ouyang Tuoba, Long Jinyan, Murong Changqing and others sat together, creating a lively atmosphere.
Fang Xiaoxiao raised her glass, a bright smile on her face, and said loudly, "Come on, everyone, raise your glasses! I believe that tomorrow we will definitely be able to choose the best husband for Wan'er, so that she can have a happy and fulfilling life in the future!"
"Great!" Everyone responded enthusiastically, raising their glasses with happy smiles on their faces.
A shy yet expectant smile appeared on Li Wan'er's face, her eyes sparkling with hope.
Everyone ate, drank, chatted, and laughed, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.
Ouyang Tuoba told jokes in a vivid and lively manner, making everyone laugh out loud;
Long Jinyan patted his chest and promised that he would definitely keep a close watch on things tomorrow and drive out those with ill intentions.
Murong Changqing calmly analyzed the situation of the talented individuals who might participate in the competition, occasionally offering suggestions.
As for Li Renyi, he sat in the corner, eating his meal silently. Occasionally, he would look up and see everyone's happy faces, and a strong sense of loneliness would well up in his heart.
He felt like an outsider, not belonging to this lively scene.
He used to have dealings with these people, but now it's as if there's a thick barrier between them.
He watched Fang Xiaoxiao chatting and laughing with everyone, and saw the happy smile on Li Wan'er's face, and felt a sharp pain in his heart.
He suddenly realized that he had lost too much, lost Li Wan'er's love, and lost the warm affection he might have once had.
No one noticed his dejection; everyone was immersed in anticipation for tomorrow and a joyful atmosphere.
Li Renyi silently put down his chopsticks, looking at the lively scene before him, his loneliness grew stronger and stronger, as if he had been forgotten by the whole world.
The banquet ended, and the moonlight, like water, quietly spilled into every corner of the Fang family courtyard. In Fang Xiaoxiao's room, the candlelight flickered, emitting a soft glow.
Fang Xiaoxiao, Li Wan'er, and Hongxiu lay side by side on the bed, the room filled with a warm yet slightly tense atmosphere.
Li Wan'er clasped her hands together in front of her chest, her fingers fidgeting nervously, a hint of tension in her eyes. She turned slightly to look at Fang Xiaoxiao beside her and asked softly, "Xiaoxiao, how's the stage setup for tomorrow? Hope there aren't any problems?"
Fang Xiaoxiao naturally knew that Li Wan'er's real concern wasn't about the stage setup, but she didn't point it out. She just smiled, winked, patted Li Wan'er's shoulder, and said, "Don't worry, Wan'er, the stage setup is perfect, there's no problem at all. Don't you trust me to handle things?"
She paused, a sly smile appearing on her face, and continued, "And let me tell you, tomorrow there will definitely be many wealthy and powerful young men from all over the capital coming to attend."
"At that time, we can not only find you a perfect husband, but also make a fortune!"
"Huh? Making money?" Li Wan'er was slightly taken aback, a look of confusion on her face, her eyes wide open. "I understand choosing a husband, but what's this about making money? I've never heard of it before."
At this moment, Hongxiu, who had been quietly listening to the conversation between the two, couldn't help but laugh. She sat up, gently poked Li Wan'er's shoulder, and said, "Princess, you don't know yet, do you? Tomorrow, we can make a lot of money just from selling admission tickets."
In addition, our Lingxi Pavilion also prepares various medicinal dishes, teas, and some other supplementary products.
"Those rich kids and their entourage are coming; they'll definitely spend money, and that's all money!"
Li Wan'er suddenly realized, a look of surprise on her face. She gently patted her forehead and said, "Oh dear, how come I didn't think of that! There are so many intricacies involved!"
Looking at Li Wan'er's expression, Fang Xiaoxiao couldn't help but tease, "What's wrong, Wan'er? From what you're saying, are you regretting holding this civil and military marriage contest? Is that it?"
Li Wan'er quickly shook her head, a determined smile on her face, and said, "No way! I don't regret it at all. I've felt for a long time that it should be held, but I just haven't found the right opportunity."
Moreover, finding my Mr. Right through this opportunity is far more important than making money. Besides, wouldn't it be even better to make money? It's killing two birds with one stone!
Fang Xiaoxiao and Hongxiu couldn't help but laugh when they heard this.
Fang Xiaoxiao put her arm around Li Wan'er's shoulder and said, "Alright, don't worry. Get a good night's sleep and get plenty of rest. Tomorrow we'll wait and see how those young masters perform, and then we'll pick the best husband for you!"
Li Wan'er nodded, a relieved smile on her face.
She leaned on Fang Xiaoxiao's shoulder, closed her eyes, and felt a surge of anticipation for tomorrow.
In the room, the candlelight gradually dimmed, and the three of them drifted off to sleep in the warm atmosphere.