While they were chatting, Qin Moling arrived. He and Zhong Yanyue entered the banquet hall together. The two had come out of Lemeng at about the same time and met in the basement of the hotel.

Qin Moling basically knew everyone who had been invited to the Ye family’s banquet today. Everyone was usually busy, and sometimes they didn’t meet even once in a year or two. Now that there’s a chance, it couldn’t be helped but to stop to say a few words.

From the moment he entered the banquet hall, people were greeting him and there were waves of people coming over.

It lasted until the birthday banquet was about to start, and Qin Moling was called over by a friend to sit with them.

Jian Hang had naturally seen Qin Moling when he entered the banquet hall. The table where he sat was three or four rows away from her, diagonally in front of her.

She looked up and could see him chatting with the beautiful woman next to him.

Qin Moling had his back to her direction and never once turned around to look for her.

He didn’t seem to care whether she came or not.

Feng Mai gave Jian Hang some popular news guide, “The woman sitting next to Qin Moling is called Zhong Yanyue. You must know her older sister. If you don’t know her, you may have heard of her: Zhong Yanfei, the eldest daughter of the Zhong family.”

Jian Hang has more than heard of her.

The project she was gunning for was still in Zhong Yanfei’s hands.

Feng Mai took a sip of wine and continued, “Zhong Yanyue’s family is about the same strength as ours. She wouldn’t be placed at Qin Moling’s table at all. But Zhong Yanyue and Qin Moling are friends and have a good relationship. It is only under the light of Qin Moling’s friendship that she can sit at that table.”

Jian Hang knew that no matter what the occasion, by default, everyone’s seat would be assigned in order of status and strength.

When the banquet started, Qin Moling looked for Jian Hang. He had just finished chatting with Zhong Yanyue about the sales situation of the Second Business Department.

He sent her a message: [Where are you?]

Jian Hang: [You came later than I did.]

Qin Moling turned around and saw her across a few tables. [Come sit here? I’ll ask the waiter to add a chair.]

Jian Hang: [No need to go there, it will be the same wherever I sit.]

She would not rush over to change tables when everyone had already started eating.

She didn’t know how many people would laugh at her behind her back then.

Qin Moling didn’t reply to her.

She put her phone away and put it in her bag.

… …

Feng Mai had gone to her father’s table to toast, and someone else came to sit in the empty seat next to her.

“I have admired you for a long time.” The person was Han Shuang.

Jian Hang smiled politely, “Ms. Han, nice to meet you.”

The two clinked glasses together.

She and Han Shuang didn’t know each other. They had heard of each other’s names and had met each other on some occasions, but no one formally introduced them, and Jian Hang couldn’t afford to have a relationship with someone like Han Shuang.

The two of them were strangers.

Han Shuang smiled, “Why didn’t you go sit at Moling’s table?”

She only asked because she just went to Qin Moling’s table to look for Jian Hang but couldn’t find her.

Jian Hang smiled back and said, “My table is full of strangers, so I don’t need to chat with them and can eat more food.”

Han Shuang: “…”

She never expected that Jian Hang would use the excuse of eating more to explain why she didn’t sit at Qin Moling’s table.

She smiled, “I learned a trick. In the future, when I attend banquets, I have to find a table where I don’t know anyone. I usually can’t eat much and would only be persuaded to drink by my friends.”

“You eat slowly, I’ll go pay respect to the elders.” Han Shuang stood up and said, “Let’s get in touch when you have time.”

She suddenly felt that it would be interesting to have a work partner like Jian Hang, unflappable and so witty in her remarks.

Of course, she would not take the initiative to ask Jian Hang for her contact information but would create an opportunity for Jian Hang to find her.

… …

Feng Mai did not come back. She had been taken by her father to meet some people from the financial circle.

Jian Hang took her bag and went to say goodbye to her mother-in-law, “Mom, I’m leaving first.”

Shen Jingyun smiled, “I heard that you younger ones are going somewhere for some games in the afternoon. Go and have fun with Moling.”

Jian Hang didn’t sit at the same table as Qin Moling. She didn’t know what those games would be. Probably a card game.

After talking to her mother-in-law for a few more words, she left through the back door.

… …

Qin Moling and his group were waiting for the elevator. Most of them were from the same table as before, including Jiang Shenghe, Qin Xing, and a junior from the Ye family.

The elevator came, and they walked in slowly.

They were a group of people who were from either rich or noble families. They were used to special elevators. They were not at all used to crowding into the elevator with other people, and they didn’t like to be elbow to elbow next to others. But that was not the case today. Everyone who came to this birthday banquet was from the same circle.

There were many people and the elevators were limited, so they could only squeeze in together.

Everyone came in until not one more person could enter.

The elevator door slowly closed.

Jian Hang happened to walk to the elevators at this time. Everyone inside saw her. There were so many people inside, but she could only clearly see Qin Moling standing in the middle and the woman next to him, Zhong Yanyue.

“Hi, sister-in-law,” Qin Xing, who was squeezed in at the very back, did not forget to greet her warmly.

Qin Moling didn’t expect that she hadn’t left yet.

After the banquet, Jian Hang went to find her mother-in-law; so when he looked around, Qin Moling didn’t see her in the banquet hall and thought she left the banquet early.

The elevator doors were almost closed, leaving only a half-foot gap.

Without calling for assistance from the people near the door, Qin Moling pushed aside the people around him, took two steps forward, stretched out his long arm and pressed the button to open the doors.

Jian Hang didn’t know what was going on inside. She only saw the elevator door close and then slowly open again—and Qin Moling came out of the elevator.

He didn’t look at her or say anything. He only stood next to her and waited with her for the next elevator.

Marriage First, Love Later translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

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