Gasp! She's a Time Traveler Using Modern Tech to Improve Ancient Life-Chapter 438 - 435: Lu Shouyue’s Little Cousin

Fortunately, such awkward attention didn’t last long before Ye Yinyin took the stage to speak and announced the start of the banquet.

After the formal dinner began, guests kept coming to the main table to toast, with glasses clinking in joy.

Lin Wanwan, who attended the birthday party mainly to return a favor, once she delivered her gift, felt her task was completed, and focused solely on eating, becoming an earnest foodie.

"Hi, I’m Lu Ying. You’re that internet-famous kung fu girl, right? How did you get my aunt’s bracelet, and when did you become Shouyue’s girlfriend?" As Lin Wanwan was earnestly tackling the Australian lobster, Lu Shouyue’s cousin, Lu Ying, slid over to sit beside her and fired off several questions in quick succession.

Most of those at the table stood nearby to respond to people coming to toast, leaving only Lin Wanwan and Lu Ying available.

Looking into Lu Ying’s curious eyes, Lin Wanwan replied, "I’m just Teacher Lu’s ordinary friend, not his girlfriend."

Lu Ying immediately showed a disbelieving expression: "How could that be? If you’re not his girlfriend, why would Shouyue bring you to this table, and how could my aunt give you the Qianlong Palace Bracelet? Do you know how much that bracelet is worth?"

Qianlong Palace Bracelet?

It turned out the bracelet had a significant background. No wonder Lin Wanwan, not particularly worldly, had immediately noticed its extraordinary nature at first glance.

Such a grand gift, could Aunt Lu truly see her as a prospective daughter-in-law? How on earth should she explain this misunderstanding?

Before Lin Wanwan could respond, Lu Ying quickly popped out another question: "You were Xiao Junning’s senior in middle school, right? There were rumors about you two online. You haven’t dated, have you?"

Looking at Lu Ying, who was the same age as her but had a tense and questioning look, Lin Wanwan secretly laughed, guessing that this might be her true reason for approaching.

Though seeking gossip, any rumor about her and Xiao Junning was pure fabrication, leaving nothing she couldn’t openly deny. So she promptly dismissed it: "No, the internet made it up. He only spoke on my behalf because we attended the same school."

"Really?"

Lin Wanwan burst into laughter: "Why would I lie to you?"

After Lin Wanwan’s response, Lu Ying immediately looked overjoyed and began asking her about Xiao Junning’s middle school years.

Well, it turns out she’s just a huge fan of Xiao Junning at the wealthy admirer level.

But Lin Wanwan could only regretfully inform her that she was actually not familiar with Xiao Junning and wasn’t even in the same grade; they’d never exchanged a single word during school.

As for the letter Xiao Junning had given her back then, she had long since forgotten it completely.

As a campus queen blessed with beauty from childhood, she had received too many love letters in her lifetime to really care.

"Oh, you actually aren’t familiar with Xiao Junning at all, that’s such a shame," Lu Ying summed up after hearing Lin Wanwan out, speaking of shame without any hint of it in her expression.

"By the way, you’re good friends with Chen Jinyu, right? You previously trended for fighting on her behalf. Did you know she’s now being sidelined by her company?" Lu Ying brought up another of Lin Wanwan’s old acquaintances.

"Oh, her? We used to be, but not anymore. I’ve given up on our friendship since we don’t see eye to eye." Lin Wanwan calmly replied.

Regarding the news Lu Ying inadvertently shared about Chen Jinyu being sidelined, honestly speaking, Lin Wanwan couldn’t care less now.

With how Chen Jinyu would go to any lengths for fame, even deceiving her into attending dubious events, stepping on landmines was a matter of time.

"Oh, you two fell out?" Lu Ying said, shocked. "What did she do to make you so angry?"

Lin Wanwan vaguely smiled, picked up a piece of salmon, and shifted the topic: "This fish is very fresh, would you like to try it?"

Seeing that Lin Wanwan wasn’t keen to discuss more, Lu Ying dropped it, only bringing Chen Jinyu up out of idle curiosity. Set to join the entertainment circle herself, she wouldn’t sign with an outside company, but surely with the one Lu Shouyue invested in and where Wang Bocheng serves as president.

Which implied she and Chen Jinyu were fellow apprentices.

Lin Wanwan finally remembered that Lu Ying was the trainee who debuted center stage this year in the youth program on Penguin Video!

From the outset, Lin Wanwan felt everyone at the table seemed somewhat familiar, especially Lu Shouyue’s cousin.

Now, Lin Wanwan could match names to faces. Lu Ying had trended a few times for her nasal voice and exaggerated mannerisms, which Lin Wanwan had inadvertently seen in videos and photos.

But in reality, Lu Ying showed no nasal voice, contrasting with her sweet girl persona on screen; clearly, a packaged celebrity wasn’t necessarily genuine.

"What are you two chatting about?" Lu Shouyue, finished with his networking, came over to his seat with a smile.

"Oh, nothing much, just casual chatting. Shouyue, sit." Lu Ying quickly gave way.

Lu Shouyue sat down and first apologized to Lin Wanwan for being too busy socializing to keep her company.

Lin Wanwan smiled and told him not to worry, saying she didn’t need anyone to look after her and had eaten more than enough.

At the luncheon, besides the conversation with Lu Ying, only Wang Bocheng came over to toast her, otherwise leaving her undisturbed.

After the meal, guests lingered for a brief rest before a self-service tea party started.

Lu Mother Ye Yinyin reappeared in a blue-black gown, wearing the Alexandrite necklace Lin Wanwan had gifted.

Renowned as "emerald by day, ruby by night," Alexandrite was always popular in the antique world, coveted by top collectors who scrambled for any that hit the market.

In the United States, there’s even a bounty hunting organization dedicated to tracking Alexandrites, a true rarity beyond market pricing.

As Ye Yinyin wore it now, knowledgeable ladies quickly recognized it and flocked around, flattering and inquiring. When told the necklace was a gift from Lin Wanwan, they all showed disbelief in their eyes.

This snow-skinned and flowery-faced beauty was initially suspected by everyone to be a starlet eager to marry into wealth. But she turned out to be a rich beauty, far from a poor dove. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Being able to give such a priceless gift signaled an affluent background, surely suggesting a match with Ye Yinyin; otherwise, Qianlong’s meaningful bracelet wouldn’t end up on her wrist.

Today’s pendant on Ye Yinyin not only featured Alexandrite but absolutely bespoke master craftsmanship, no generic handiwork seen in ordinary trade.

Still, it puzzled the ladies as to why such a generous young woman hadn’t been seen in Hai City’s elite gatherings before?