Chapter 38
Although it was a holiday, the Spring Festival was also one of the busiest days of the year.
Vanessa had hardly rested since she got home. She was asked by her parents to do general cleaning, buy supplies, and spend a day visiting her sick relatives. It was not until New Year's Eve that she was really free.
In the evening, her father was cooking in the kitchen. The TV in the living room showed the trailer of the Spring Festival Gala.
Valeria sat on the sofa, eating melon seeds, glancing at Vanessa, who was playing with her mobile phone.
"Sooner or later, you'll get into your cell phone!"
Vanessa was impatient. "I'm sending new year's greetings to my leaders."
"Then you are very considerate." Valeria pretended to say casually, "Did you send Lonn New Year's greetings?"
"Yes. I wish him a happy new year, with plenty of money, smooth work, and good health. How sincere I am! I typed it myself."
Valeria knew she was perfunctory. "Why don't you ask him out for dinner and bless him face to face. I think it's more sincere."
Vanessa was about to retort when she suddenly saw the message on her cell phone and ran to her room.
"What are you doing? It's time for dinner!"
"I know!"
Then Vanessa didn't come out of the room until the dinner was ready.
At the dinner table, her parents were still talking about Lonn.
"He is busy with his work. He just got home today. Young people work really hard now."
"Let him rest for two days. In two days, we'll take Vanessa and go over to have dinner with his family."
"I won't go."
Vanessa suddenly appeared at the dinner table, naturally picked up the bowl, and smiled, "Stop setting us up. I have no feelings for him. And..."
Vanessa poked the rice in the bowl and said slowly, "I have plans for my feelings."
Valeria snorted, disdaining, "You always say that, but I've never seen you really have plans."
Vanessa didn't talk but smiled secretly.
After a long time, she murmured, "It will surprise you when you see it for a while."
At first, her parents did not take her words seriously until the evening of the third day of the New Year.
"Why does she sneak out to make phone calls at this time every day?"
Valeria pulled Abbot's sleeve. "Does she really have a boyfriend?"
For the past three days, their family would go to different relatives' houses every night to pay New Year's greetings. However, at six or seven, Vanessa would look at her mobile phone absently. Then she would go out to answer the phone and return after a long while.
Abbot took a look at the balcony with his teacup. "Let's have a look."
On the open balcony, Vanessa leaned against the fence with her hair blown out by the wind. From time to time, she touched the ground with her toes.
"I'm going to the wedding tomorrow."
"A senior in college."
"When you were in college, didn't you socialize with people in lower grades?"
Behind the door, Vanessa's parents looked at each other with a trace of disgust.
"Why is her tone of voice on the phone so artificial?"
"I don't know."
However, as soon as she hung up, Vanessa stopped smiling softly.
Speaking of tomorrow's wedding...
She pulled off a leaf of the green plant and rubbed it in her hand.
She surely had to go, which meant she had to meet Bianca! Then she had to be prettier than Bianca.
Vanessa had always been very active in this regard. The next morning she got up early to take a bath, wash her hair and apply a facial mask. She sat in front of the dressing table for two hours.
When Valeria opened the door for the third time, she saw that Vanessa was still fiddling with her hair. She couldn't help saying, "Are you the bride?"
Vanessa fiddled with the curls of her hair and whispered, "It's none of your business."
Since she could only attend today's wedding alone, she must be imposing.
According to Vanessa's experience, guests were usually divided according to their relationship. They were college students, so naturally, she would be arranged at the table with college students.
But Hackett obviously had a special consideration for Vanessa. He put her at his relatives' table and told his cousins to treat her well.
However, things didn't happen as they wished. As soon as Vanessa arrived, several of their schoolmates noticed her.
They didn't know the situation and thought Vanessa would sit with them at the table, so they greeted her warmly, which embarrassed her and Hackett.
Anyway, it was her classmate's wedding. Vanessa didn't want to cause any trouble, so she had to sit with her college classmates.
Although there were schoolmates around, many of them were unfamiliar. They were enthusiastic about Vanessa just out of curiosity about the recent situation of the campus belle these years.
As soon as she sat down, people began to gossip. Someone asked her about her work while others asked her about her life.
Suddenly, a girl remembered the past and said, "I remember your boyfriend is our junior and has a good relationship with Hackett. Why didn't you come together?"
When she said this, everyone remembered it.
"We broke up." Vanessa said calmly, "I don't know if he will come today. It has nothing to do with me."
As she finished, the girl next to her glanced at the entrance and suddenly stopped eating snacks, "Eh..."
Now, all the people, including Vanessa, looked towards the entrance.
The bride and groom welcomed the guests under the arch door wrapped with flowers. Jackson appeared in a suit and talked to Hackett with a smile.
Bianca, holding his arm, shook hands with Hackett, then looked at the guest room and locked her eyes on Vanessa.
As soon as these two people appeared, the schoolmates understood the situation without explanation.
The people who just chatted with each other in full swing all shut up in a moment.
However, they didn't know Vanessa or Jackson very well, so they didn't speak for any of them but naturally changed the topic.
But now that they knew their relationship, the atmosphere at the dinner table would inevitably become strange.
When Jackson came with Bianca, he noticed Vanessa.
He hadn't expected she would come.
He thought she would at least avoid meeting him even if she came.
But...
When he thought about this, Bianca sat down generously and nodded to the people at the table.
Then she turned and looked at Vanessa.
Vanessa leaned back in her chair, looking at her cell phone with a blank face.
Others who originally wanted to talk to Jackson chose not to talk to him for the moment to avoid embarrassment.
Later, all the others were chatting. Only these three people were silent as if they were in another world. The atmosphere became more and more strange.
Fortunately, they didn't come early, and the wedding officially began soon. Everyone's attention was attracted by the bridegroom and bride on the stage, which was a legitimate reason to ease the embarrassment.
After a series of procedures, the host of ceremonies worked hard to mobilize the scene's atmosphere, and the guests applauded and cheered, making it very lively.
Finally, under the arrangement of the host, the bride turned her back to the guest seat and held up a bouquet.
The single men and women stood up and prepared to catch the bouquet full of blessings.
With the noise of the scene, the bouquet drew a parabola in the air. In the eyes of everyone, the bouquet fell firmly into Vanessa's hands.
Vanessa was stunned. She was at a loss in the uproar holding the bouquet.
"Congratulations to this lucky beauty!" The host was excited. He said, "Come on, pass the microphone to this beauty."
With a microphone in her hand, Vanessa stood up, confused. She looked at the bright eyes of the host.
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
Originally, this was a basic question in the process, but the person to be asked was Vanessa.
Jackson thought of something and immediately looked up at her.
So was Bianca. Only she thought differently from Jackson.
Seeing this, their schoolmates noticed the unusual atmosphere and became quieter.
Vanessa lifted her chin and smiled, "I do." Even if she hadn't seen a male creature for ten years, she would say that she had a boyfriend at this time!
Jackson changed his expression.
At the same time, Bianca smiled sarcastically.
"This bouquet is indeed the will of heaven! You and your boyfriend must have a good result!"
After the host said many blessings, Vanessa sat down slowly with the bouquet in her arms.
The banquet turned peaceful again.
Vanessa glanced at Jackson and Bianca, smiled, and took a picture of the bouquet in front of them.
Then she sent it to Shawn.
She sent a picture without saying anything.
Soon, Shawn replied, "Is the wedding fun?"
Vanessa replied, "Not at all."
Shawn, "What's up?"
Vanessa, "I met people I hate. They really upset me."
Then she sent a helpless emoji.
After sending this message, the bride and groom came to propose a toast. Vanessa put down her cell phone, picked up her cup, and stood up.
After drinking the juice, she sat down again.
Bianca sat opposite Vanessa. She asked Jackson to bring her soup and then peel shrimp for her. Her voice was very artificial, making everyone around speechless.
In this case, men might not have any ideas, but sensitive women could understand Bianca's deliberate behavior.
A girl didn't want to see her show off her love, so she deliberately asked Vanessa, "Vanessa, when are you going to get married?"
Jackson was sensitive. He paused his shrimp-peeling hand and listened carefully to Vanessa's answer.
Being suddenly asked, Vanessa was not prepared. She smiled and said, "I haven't considered this yet."
"Should it be soon?" The girl said, "Your boyfriend didn't come with you this time. Is he non-local?"
Vanessa nodded.
Because of his distraction, Jackson threw the shrimp that should have been put into Bianca's bowl into the dessert plate.
Bianca gave him a cold look.
"What does your boyfriend do? Is he of the same occupation as us?"
Vanessa, "Yeah."
"That's good. You have a common language. You can help each other at work. Is he also a reporter?"
"No," Vanessa answered softly.
"Is he from the financial circle? That's really great! All the men in the financial circle have high education and good conditions."
The girl wanted to support Vanessa, so she said it on purpose.
Bianca naturally recognized her meaning. She hadn't spoken since she was present. Finally, at this time, she said coldly, "Yes, I know him. He is not only highly educated but also excellent in all aspects."
When she finished, everyone else looked at Bianca.
What was this?
Jackson was also surprised.
Bianca stirred the spoon and said slowly, "That man graduated from a famous overseas school with a master's degree. He is an executive of a listed company. His annual salary is frighteningly high. Also, he's handsome with a good personality. He has almost no shortcomings."
As she said, Vanessa frowned more.
By now, Vanessa had guessed what she was going to say.
Sure enough, Bianca shrugged. "Only he is a little older and has a family."
Then, everyone was silent.
The girl who helped Vanessa stopped talking.
After all, the human was more likely to believe in worse possibilities than to imagine a reversal in the case of others' assertions.
Jackson was the first to break the silence.
"What are you talking about?"
Bianca didn't contradict but smiled, "Just treat my words as nonsense."
Vanessa was not as angry as Bianca had imagined. She just looked up slowly and looked at her.
"Don't talk nonsense."
Bianca smiled and nodded. "I know this better than you."
"Really?" Vanessa clenched her fist but still smiled. "You really know better than I do about destroying relationships and interfering in other people's feelings. I haven't learned it yet."
Up to now, everyone had understood the relationship between them.
It turned out that Jackson was cheating.
The atmosphere at the dinner table became stifling.
The people around seemed to be eating, but in fact, they were embarrassed and at a loss.
Vanessa was still staring at Bianca. None of them gave in, and the rivalry of their eyes was tense.
"All right!" Jackson interrupted Bianca, "Stop talking!"
At the same moment, Vanessa's mobile phone on the desk rang.
It was Shawn.
Vanessa's heart beat faster when she saw it. Then she stiffly answered the phone.
His familiar voice came over the phone.
"Don't stay there if you're unhappy. Come down. I'm downstairs."
Vanessa stood still with her eyes widened.
In just a few seconds, various emotions climbed into her heart like vines, interwoven into a dense network.
A moment later, Vanessa got up. Her expression was not as calm as before.
"I have something to go first. Enjoy the wedding."
Someone wanted to stop her, but they didn't know what to say, "You..."
"Did Vanessa cry?"
"We're all schoolmates. What're you doing?"
"Go out and have a look."
Vanessa didn't know why she couldn't control her speed. She couldn't help striding down the steps in high heels.
She walked in a hurry, and a few minutes' distances made her sweat. But she walked faster and faster.
When she opened the hotel gate, she saw Shawn standing by the fountain.
He was alone but made Vanessa suddenly feel at ease.
However, such ease of mind weighed heavily on Vanessa's heart like a stone.
There were more complex emotions in this stone called ease.
Vanessa's thoughts were intertwined.
The idea against her original intention burst out in her brain.
"Why you? Why is it you who came to find me?" She thought.
She stood silent, but her expression was very aggrieved.
Shawn didn't know how she was struggling in her heart. He raised his eyebrow, walked forward, and reached out to her on the steps.
Vanessa looked at the hand with her fingertips trembling slightly. Before she could think, she held it tightly.
Then she frowned and took his hand with her other hand.
Shawn glanced at her and said nothing. He let her hold his arm and led her to the parking place.
The driver hurried out of the car and opened the door for them.
When she got in the car, Vanessa still said nothing but kept holding his hand.
Shawn looked at her up and down. "You can be bullied even at a wedding."
Vanessa didn't speak.
She looked up and frowned at Shawn.
"What are you staring at me for?" Shawn rubbed her hair and whispered, "Is it me who bullied you?"
Vanessa wanted to speak, but she couldn't say anything.
However, when she turned her head slowly, she found many people standing at the hotel's door.
Jackson, Bianca, Hackett, and some schoolmates.
They stood there with different expressions. Apparently, they had been out for a while and saw what had just happened.
Shawn followed Vanessa's eyes and saw Jackson.
He frowned.
Vanessa, who was beside her, had lowered the window and looked straight at Bianca.
She took a breath, put away her expression of grievance, sneered, stretched out her hand, and pointed at Bianca.
"What are you looking at? Don't you come and say hello when you see your elder?"
Shawn glanced at Vanessa.
Bianca, on the other hand, was like falling into an ice cellar with a buzzing in her mind.
How could Vanessa be with Mr. Yeats?
Bianca didn't dare to see Shawn.
But...
When she fell her eyes to the driver's seat, she found the driver was looking at her in surprise.
Her elder?
When did Vanessa know about her relationship with the driver?
Bianca glanced at the driver, saw Vanessa's arrogant expression, and finally understood.
Vanessa knew she was Shawn's driver's niece, so she wanted to humiliate her.
However...
Bianca looked at Shawn. Seeing his oppressive eyes, she felt her back cool instantly.
She even felt her feet as heavy as sandbags, but she still walked over step by step.
She didn't dare not to go.
After she took a few steps, Jackson came back to his sense and immediately followed.
The distance between them was no more than ten meters. Bianca stood still in front of the car, her expression no longer as calm as before. She could not open her mouth.
Until the driver poked his head out and asked, "Binaca, why are you here?"
Bianca looked pale. "Uncle, I'm attending the wedding."
Vanessa, with her arrogant expression, was stunned.
Slowly and stiffly, she turned her neck and looked at the driver, trying to clear the relationship with all the capacity of her brain.
Half a second later, she was astonished.
What?
Who was Bianca calling uncle?
So the driver was her little uncle?
At the same time, Jackson caught up with Bianca and heard her calling the driver uncle.
He was stunned before he could stand still.
Uncle?
He looked at Bianca, and the driver in confusion, then turned to Vanessa and recalled what she had said that day.
After a while, Jackson carefully called Vanessa, "Aunt-in-law?"
Vanessa's pupil shook. She almost suffocated on the spot.
"Who is your aunt-in-law? Don't call others your relative casually."
She plummeted into the seat and grabbed Shawn's hand like holding a life-saving straw.
Then she looked back at Shawn in a daze. Her mind was in confusion.
"Aren't you Bianca's uncle?
How did your driver become her uncle?" She thought.
Shawn was puzzled when he saw Vanessa's dull eyes. "Who are these people?"
Vanessa even forgot to blink in shock.
"I also want to ask you who they are?
Aren't you her uncle?
What the hell am I doing these months?"
While Vanessa was thinking about these issues, Shawn glanced around, ran down the people with different faces, and finally looked back at Vanessa.
Her face was now pale.
Shawn felt that her hands were cold, so he held her hand tighter as a comfort.
However, Vanessa pulled her hand away like a spring.
When looking at Shawn, she almost stopped breathing.
It was over.