Mai Qi and I shared a look. We could see the shock in each other’s eyes. We had never heard Ye Qian use a sneering tone.

Lu Yan sighed. “They say every road leads to Rome but some people are born in Rome. People like us will never catch up.”

Ye Qian’s voice returned to normal. “Lu Yan, you’re already doing so well. You just need to believe in yourself. If others can do it, why can’t we? Since we’ve met at this place, we need to help each other. If you need anything in the future, come to me. I might not be able to help you with a lot but I can help you with money.”

“Then, what about the others?” Lu Yan asked carefully.

Ye Qian’s voice turned serious. “Lu Yan, we’ve just climbed out of the mud. The first thing we need to do is to stay away from the mud. If the others did manage to climb out, we will help them. But if they can’t escape the mud, what are we supposed to do? Crawl back into the mud and die with them?”

Lu Yan was silent.

Ye Qian sighed. “Go back and think about what I said. I am still Ye Qian. I haven’t changed. I have merely placed myself first.” Ye Qian turned on her heels and headed back to the hall.

Mai Qi and I escaped into the nearest bathroom. Ye Qian’s footsteps stopped outside the bathroom. I pulled Mai Qi into the cleaner’s closet and locked the door. Ye Qian walked in and checked all the cubicles. She pushed on the cleaner’s closet door and left soon after.

Mai Qi sighed in relief. When she wanted to leave, I pull her back. I signaled her to be quiet and then I messaged Su Qian. Su Qian told me that Ye Qian was standing right outside the bathroom. I showed the message to Mai Qi. Mai Qi’s eyes widened with disbelief.

Mai Qi and I left the bathroom after we got the green light from Su Qian. Mai Qi patted her chest but said nothing.

Back in the hall, the wedding was going well. The newlyweds were accompanied by the bridesmaids to toast the guests. The culture was a combination of both the east and the west. People weren’t seated and the younger guests mingled about. However, there was a long dinner table in the middle of the hall. It was where the families of the bride and groom sat.

I finally saw Jing Tian. He sat beside Old Master Jing. His expression was icy but I loved it so much.

Mai Qi nudged me. “Danger incoming!”

I pulled back my gaze and saw Ye Qian walking towards us.

“Mai Qi, Nanxing, where have you been?” Ye Qian looked at us and asked gently. It was like the altercation we had at the hospital didn’t happen. She was our kind big sister again.

Mai Qi looked past Ye Qian and scanned the hall. “We brought a classmate with us but she disappeared. She is very new to this scene. We’re afraid that she might get lost and do something unsightly. That won’t be good.”

Ye Qian smiled. “I’m surprised that our Mai Qi has learned to care about others. You’ve changed so much. Nanxing, this should be your influence.”

I replied with a faint smile, “Sister Ye Qian, you should know the kind of person I am. When Mai Qi does something horrible, then that is really my influence.”

Ye Qian sighed, “Nanxing, why are you always like this? Why do you insist on putting yourself down?”