Chapter 36: Liveliness

Star Lake stood as the largest inner-city lake in Tiannan's capital, spanning more than 300,000 square meters.

The capital’s most prosperous commercial street, as well as several elegant restaurants with charming scenery, were lined around Star Lake. Gourmet House was one of them.

It rose four stories high, with a total floor area of over 2,000 square meters. Built in a traditional style, it enjoyed considerable prestige in the capital. Ordinary people often struggled to book even a single table.

For Su Yaoyu, the general manager of Xingyu International Hotel, who had years of experience hosting guests and earned an annual salary of five to six hundred thousand, securing a private room here was naturally effortless.

When she and Yaoguang arrived, two young girls were already waiting. Seeing them, Su Yaoyu introduced them to Yaoguang, "This is Yaoshuang and Yaoqin."

She then spoke to the two girls, "This is your older brother, Yaoguang."

"Elder Brother Yaoguang," Su Yaoshuang stood up and greeted him politely.

Su Yaoqin, however, kept playing on her phone. She lifted her head to glance at him once, said nothing, and continued with her game.

Su Yaoshuang wore glasses, had her hair tied in twin ponytails, and had carefully applied makeup, looking obedient and sweet. Su Yaoqin had trimmed bangs covering half her face. She hid behind her hair, complemented with decorative hairpins, giving off a vintage, off-mainstream artistic vibe.

Both were sixteen and attended a famous elite high school in the capital, where annual tuition reached tens of thousands.

Yaoguang nodded at the polite Su Yaoshuang. As for Yaoqin, he simply ignored her.

Su Yaoyu frowned. "Yaoqin, stop playing with your phone."

But Yaoqin did not even lift her head. She continued as if she had not heard a thing.

"Yaoxue will be here soon. Remember what she said? If she sees you using your phone at the table again, she will smash it. You should put it away now," said Su Yaoyu.

Su Yaoxue’s authority was obviously far stronger than Su Yaoyu, the eldest sister.

"We are not even eating yet." Though reluctant, Yaoqin still put her phone away. Even so, her eyes remained unfocused as she sat there dazing off.

Meanwhile, Su Yaoshuang acted like the perfect well-behaved girl, turning the serving tray with initiative. "Elder Brother Yaoguang, would you like a drink or something alcoholic?"

"I will handle it." Su Yaoyu replied.

"Alright." Su Yaoshuang straightened her back, sitting with perfect posture, like a model young lady.

Yaoguang glanced at her. For some reason, she seemed even stranger than Yaoqin.

"We are family. No need to be so stiff." Su Yaoyu reminded her.

"That is not appropriate, Elder Sister. A girl must maintain her image at all times and present her best self. It is a form of respect toward others and a basic social courtesy."

Su Yaoshuang looked at Su Yaoyu. "Elder Sister, your makeup today was not done well. With your features, if you added

aegyo-sal

under your eyes, you would look softer."

"I have to work." Su Yaoyu looked helpless. "And you are a student. Who allowed you to wear makeup every day?"

"Elder Sister, I already said it. This is basic social etiquette." She smiled and removed her glasses. "Wearing glasses is my acknowledgment of my identity as a student."

Yaoguang observed the three sisters. Thanks to the good genetics of the Su family and Su Huaifeng’s impeccable taste as a playboy, the Su Sisters were all beautiful. Su Yaoshuang, in particular, immediately caught the eye, thanks to her elaborate makeup and youthful brightness.

Every movement of hers felt deliberate, graceful, and brimming with feminine charm... This wasn't something a sixteen-year-old girl should have been trying to perfect.

"How are their grades?" Yaoguang asked in the tone of an elder.

"Yaoshuang has always ranked within the top five in her class and the top thirty in her year. As for Yaoqin..." Su Yaoyu shook her head. It was clearly not something worth mentioning.

"Elder Brother Yaoguang, please do not worry. An excellent girl must focus not only on appearance, posture, and etiquette, but also on her inner qualities. Good character and academic performance are additional assets. I never slack when it is time to study." Su Yaoshuang smiled, casually brushing her hair aside with a graceful motion. These little gestures made her adorable and full of feminine appeal.

"Aren’t you tired?" Yaoguang asked.

"What in this world is not tiring? If we set standards for ourselves, we naturally must bear the consequences. Is that not so?" Su Yaoshuang replied.

Yaoguang thought it made some sense. Su Yaoyu, however, looked speechless. "You just enjoy watching the boys blush as they line up to give you love letters. Stop pretending in front of your own family."

"That is exactly why you should show your charm at work too, Elder Sister. I like a poem.

'You stand on the bridge looking at the scenery,

People upstairs look at you.

The bright moon decorates your window,

You decorate someone’s dream,

When you dress yourself beautifully,

You become a lovely part of someone’s life.'

Is that not a form of mutual fulfillment?" said Su Yaoshuang.

"Enough. Stop with your Green Tea B*tch monologue. It is annoying." Su Yaoqin finally spoke, unable to tolerate it any longer.[1]

"If you put some effort into your appearance, you could make the school rankings just like me." Su Yaoshuang smiled.

Su Yaoqin did not bother hiding her disgust. "Flirting everywhere. Do you know how many people at school cannot stand you? Keep this up and one day someone is going to XX you."

"Yaoqin!" Su Yaoyu snapped. "You are a girl. How can you speak like that?"

"What era is this? I cannot even have freedom of speech?" Su Yaoqin snorted, though she did not continue arguing with Su Yaoyu.

Yaoguang glanced at the two sisters. This was indeed not normal, but when he recalled Su Huaifeng’s behavior as a father...

The children mirrored the parents. The fact that Su Yaoyu had not developed bad habits was already admirable. As for Su Yaoxue, who had yet to appear, he wondered what kind of personality she had.

Right as this thought crossed his mind, noise drifted in from outside. "No one wants your elder brother. Who can you blame for that?"

"Things change over time! Do you really think your Su family is still what it used to be? Without our Ye family mediating for you, do you think Old Master Yue would even spare a glance at merchants who only stink of money? Let me tell you this! Your Su family is nothing but a fat lamb waiting for slaughter. They will butcher you whenever they need to!"

"And it all depends on your Ye family? How shameless are you? If your Ye family is so amazing, how come you are not flying in the sky?"

"What does any of this have to do with your Ran family? You're nothing more than a cheap girl who flirts with everyone. No wonder you stick to Su Yaoxue every day."

"If I flirt around, at least it proves I have charm. That is better than you, Ye Ziyi, who nobody wants."

"Ran Qiu, you are bold. Even your elders do not dare speak to me that way..."

Inside the private room, Su Yaoyu listened for a few seconds, and her expression instantly changed.

"That is Yaoxue and Ye Ziyi," she hurried out as she spoke.

Su Yaoshuang and Su Yaoqin followed immediately. Yet their attitudes were completely different. Su Yaoshuang went to watch the show, while Su Yaoqin actually looked a little worried.

Seeing the three sisters rush out, Yaoguang had no choice but to stand as well.

"Being raised by parents is important..." He pushed open the private room door.

At the second-floor stairway, a girl in a white dress with long straight black hair and neat bangs, dressed very femininely, had already rolled up her sleeves, exposing tattoos on her arm as she shoved and argued with a girl who was wearing casual clothes.

Each side had someone trying to pull them apart. Not far from them, a few onlookers watched with interest, as if watching a circus act.

"Stop fighting," Su Yaoyu called out quickly.

"Why stop?" A woman in a red dress among the spectators laughed. "It is getting lively. How can we end it now? Ye Ziyi, put more effort. If you strip their clothes off, you can consider the favor you asked me as good as done."

Ye Ziyi, who had been shoving back and forth with Ran Qiu and Su Yaoxue, immediately perked up, her mind sharpened, and her movements became noticeably rougher.

1. Green Tea Bitch is a Chinese online term that refers to a woman who presents herself as innocent, sweet, and kind to approach guys. ☜