novelno Chapter 178 Do you regret it?
Chapter 178 Do you regret it?
Xia Anqi's family background is practically a legend in this city that needs no further explanation.
As the only daughter of the Xia family, she was surrounded by countless halos and resources from birth, and was showered with love and affection.
The class barriers that ordinary people can hardly reach in their entire lives are nothing more than a smooth road under her feet.
What's even more remarkable is that she didn't develop an arrogant and domineering attitude due to her privileged environment.
On the contrary, she possesses an extraordinary, innate temperament, with every gesture exuding the composure and elegance of a well-bred lady.
In addition, her outstanding academic performance, which consistently ranks first in her grade, adds another layer of brilliance that is impossible to ignore.
It's hard not to be drawn to a girl who is almost perfect.
From the moment Lu Yuan stepped into the graduation banquet, Xia Anqi barely had a moment to spare to greet him.
It wasn't that she was being impolite, but rather that there were too many wealthy and influential people present who were eager to chat and laugh with this young lady from the Xia family.
They are the most important guests here, and Xia Anqi certainly cannot ignore them.
Facing these celebrities and dignitaries, Xia Anqi displayed astonishing social skills. She was polite and poised, and every well-timed smile and appropriate response earned high praise from the seasoned elders.
This is not surprising.
The more intelligent a person is, the better they know when to conceal their brilliance and don a perfect protective layer.
Only those who are stuck in the middle, lacking a clear sense of self, would recklessly and willfully act without regard for their own safety.
Standing at the edge of the hall, looking at Xia Anqi, who was surrounded by a crowd and radiant with light, Lu Yuan's emotions became very complicated.
He had to admit that Xia Anqi was extremely shrewd, so much so that it was difficult to see through her true thoughts beneath that perfect mask.
Moreover, she has an almost obsessive obsession deep down.
Lu Yuan couldn't help but mutter to himself, was maintaining contact with her a blessing or a curse?
Just as Lu Yuan was staring at Xia Anqi in a daze, a faint fragrance wafted over, and Tong Xiaowei appeared beside him without him noticing.
She held a glass of juice in her hand, her gaze following Lu Yuan's as she glanced at Xia Anqi in the distance. Then she turned her head and asked, seemingly casually, "Lu Yuan, do you regret it?"
"What?" Lu Yuan was stunned for a moment, looking at Tong Xiaowei with some confusion.
Tong Xiaowei smiled, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes: "Do you regret rejecting An Qi's confession?"
"Hmm?" Lu Yuan was even more surprised. He didn't expect Tong Xiaowei to ask such a soul-searching question at this moment.
Tong Xiaowei noticed the change in his expression and explained softly, "Don't overthink it, I meant no harm. Ye Yixian is a good person too, I see that clearly. I'm just simply curious. In your heart, have you truly never regretted it? Was there ever even a moment, even just a fleeting instant, when you regretted not choosing An Qi?"
Looking into Tong Xiaowei's clear eyes, Lu Yuan believed that she was genuinely just curious and had no ill intentions.
In fact, she wasn't the only one with this question; many people who know what happened between them at No. 1 Middle School probably have the same question.
No matter how you measure her, Xia Anqi is the most outstanding and perfect person.
Especially today, she was dressed to the nines, looking beautiful and charming, and countless people must have been filled with fantasies and longing for her.
Lu Yuan should have been the person here who had the best chance to get closer to her.
But he pushed it away himself.
No one knew how to evaluate Lu Yuan's decision.
Some say he is smart and self-aware, knowing that they are not a good match;
Some people say he's foolish, not knowing how to seize an opportunity that's already within his grasp.
Even if Lu Yuan is a very principled person and doesn't like Xia Anqi, human emotions are complex. Would he remain steadfast in his dislike for her?
Was there ever a moment when you were moved?
Lu Yuan did not answer Tong Xiaowei's question immediately.
He turned his head and thought seriously for a moment, trying to find even the slightest trace of his feelings for Xia Anqi deep in his memory.
After much thought, I still came up empty-handed.
Lu Yuan turned around, his gaze passing over the elegantly dressed crowd and landing precisely on Ye Yixian, who was sitting at the dining table, chatting quietly with Zhang Xueling and others.
She wore a simple dress today, without any fancy jewelry, but her smile was exceptionally serene, revealing her own unique beauty and charm.
As Lu Yuan looked at her profile, he could clearly feel his heartbeat, which was completely different from when he looked at Xia Anqi earlier.
Only Ye Yixian could give him that solid yet vibrant feeling of being moved.
So, Lu Yuan turned to look at Tong Xiaowei and said with a faint smile, "Anqi is indeed very beautiful and intelligent. However, beauty cannot last a lifetime, and time will always leave its mark; and intelligence, for me, is not always a good thing. People who are too intelligent often live more tiring lives than anyone else. So I can't like her just because of these advantages."
He paused, his tone becoming incredibly serious: "Honestly, I have never regretted choosing Ye Yixian over Xia Anqi. Not even for a moment."
Lu Yuan spoke slowly, but his eyes were filled with an unwavering determination.
Tong Xiaowei pursed her lips, probably touched by his frankness and determination.
She couldn't help but turn her head and look at Ye Yixian again.
No matter how you look at it, Ye Yixian is just an ordinary girl. What magic does she possess that makes Lu Yuan so devoted to her?
This question may take a long time to find an answer.
Soon, the banquet officially began.
The Xia family was incredibly generous, reportedly hiring a team of Michelin-starred chefs from abroad.
Each table was laden with exquisite dishes, all of which were visually appealing, fragrant, and delicious, drawing a full house of distinguished guests who all gave them high praise.
Lu Yuan and Ye Yixian received the same treatment as Xia Anqi's classmates and friends, and were not discriminated against in any way because they did not come from high society.
It has to be said that Xia Anqi's circle of friends is not simple. They either come from extremely wealthy families and were born with a silver spoon in their mouths, allowing them direct access to the core resources of high society.
They are either extraordinary, gifted, or they squeezed into this circle through hard work.
During the gathering, Lu Yuan got to know several young people who had already made a name for themselves at a young age.
Some run chain bars and KTVs in the provincial capital, while others are engaged in internet engineering in Beijing.
In short, if it weren't for Xia Anqi's invitation, Lu Yuan would probably have had to work hard for many years to get to know so many promising young people.
Halfway through the meal, Xia Anqi went on stage to speak.
Besides expressing gratitude to her parents, teachers, classmates, and friends, she also said, "Recently, I've learned a lot. Someone told me that an excellent person not only needs to learn the knowledge in books, but also the knowledge outside of textbooks. This makes me realize that I still have a lot to learn."
Her voice, carried through the microphone, resonated throughout the venue, tinged with just the right amount of emotion: "In the near future, I will be heading to Beijing to prepare for university. My friends with whom I've played and studied over the years will soon be scattered across the country, and I'm afraid we'll see each other less and less. I'm a little sad..."
At this point, her eyes truly reddened, and a layer of mist welled up in them.
Everyone was moved, even Ye Yixian was deeply touched and felt that Xia Anqi was a person who valued loyalty and righteousness.
But Lu Yuan didn't think so.
Xia Anqi is also someone who knows how to manipulate people's hearts; she knows how to most easily gain everyone's favor.
Of course, Lu Yuan didn't mean that Xia Anqi was heartless or hypocritical, but he knew that every tear Xia Anqi shed was not in vain.
When Xia Anqi finished sharing her experience, the audience erupted in enthusiastic applause.
After everyone had finished eating, some people left early, citing official business. However, the Xia family's banquet was not over yet; there would be a wonderful performance in the evening, and everyone was invited to watch together.
After dealing with those business tycoons and celebrities, Xia Anqi finally had the opportunity to get together with her classmates and friends.
She shed her heavy, glamorous gown and donned a simple, chic casual outfit, making her appear less aloof and more approachable, like a girl next door.
She walked up to Lu Yuan and the others, looked at Lu Yuan, and said with a smile, "What's wrong, Lu Yuan? You came empty-handed? You didn't even bring me a gift? That's really not nice of you."
Upon hearing this, Ye Yixian realized that neither of them had brought gifts, and immediately felt a little embarrassed, thinking it was her fault for reminding Lu Yuan in advance.
However, Lu Yuan shamelessly laughed and said, "I'm a poor wretch. Even if I sold everything I own, I might not be able to afford the gift you like. After thinking about it, I'd better not make a fool of myself."
"Hahaha!"
Lu Yuan's self-deprecating humor elicited laughter from everyone, instantly lightening the atmosphere considerably.
After getting to know Lu Yuan, Xia Anqi's friends all felt that he spoke very politely and pleasantly, and most of them had a very good impression of him.
Xia Anqi pouted and said disdainfully, "Don't think I don't know, you recently rented a shop in the Central Mall, you're planning to sell things, right?"
"I was planning to sell some clothes, but it's just something I did out of boredom," Lu Yuan frankly admitted.
"Ha, I just don't believe it. You, Lu Yuan, aren't a fool. Would you do something that doesn't bring you any profit?" Xia Anqi saw right through him.
"Hehe, it's just a small profit, just a small profit." Lu Yuan scratched his head and chuckled.
However, this topic still attracted the attention of several people, including some whose families owned gold shops or high-end clothing stores in the central shopping mall.
If Lu Yuan wants to open a successful shop there, he needs to learn from their experience.
This intelligence did indeed provide Lu Yuan with a great deal of help.
Seeing Xia Anqi's ambiguous smile, Lu Yuan suddenly felt enlightened.
He realized that Xia Anqi's invitation to this college entrance celebration banquet might not have been entirely without ulterior motives.
On the contrary, she was intentionally arranging for him to get to know these upper-class scions, in order to help him avoid potential pitfalls on his entrepreneurial path.
This woman is incredibly shrewd and calculating, yet her strategic vision commands respect.