A toast

The whole room broke out in an uproar. They had all guessed her to be a celebrity or friend of Yu Zhiruo but not even one soul had imagined her to bee the dumb stupid daughter of the Yu Family. It was so inconceivable!

How could that tweb turn out to be this goddess!

"oh my god! What a transformation!"

"I seriously would never have guessed"

"She looks so different now."

Tan ya-ting looked at the young lady and was dumbfounded, she couldn't believe how much the girl had changed. From her aura to her looks, even her composure, you could tell she had totally discarded her young naive self. She looked no where near that naive young girl that she used to be. That Figure couldn't ever also belong to a naive young girl. The gown the girl had on hugged her body in the right amount of fitness, her curves were out for your eyes to see. The milk white colour also fitted her skin tone. She was more than gorgeous.

"mmm I thought you've made up your mind not to show up?" she complained.

"I had something urgent to attend to. I hope I'm not too late" She had really made up her mind not to show up but didn't want to miss this opportunity to cause a stir in everyone's heart.

She was back! They all needed to know that and feel it too.

"hmph! so you know how to come back home, you unfilial brat!" Grandfather Yu scolded angrily.

"grandpa don't be like this. Sister have really been busy since she came back"

"no need to try and stand for her Zhiruo, who doesn't know she's been busy climbing in and out of different directors bed" Gao Ling sneered looking at Yu Xiao Yan with contempt. The displeasure in her eyes held obvious meaning, like she was asking 'why are you back?'

"mom!" Yu Zhiruo exclaimed surprised, she walked to Yu Xiao Yan and held unto her hand "sister Yan is definitely not a person like that. Sister quick explain to Grandfather and mom that it's not true"

Everywhere went quiet and everyone's eyes settled on Yu Xiao Yan waiting to see what her reaction and reply would be.

"Are you done?" the silent Yu Xiao Yan finally spoke, without waiting for Yu Zhiruo to reply she added "if you're done acting you can let go of my hand now" The nonchalance in her voice was overwhelming. If people didn't know who, they would think she wasn't there one they just spoke of.

Everyone gasped at her indifference and less concerned look. They had all expected her to give an excuse or try to justify herself but out of their expectations she didn't even look like she had heard anything at all.

"sister" Yu Zhiruo said in a very sad voice. It sounded like she would cry in any second.

"Zhiruo look at who you're trying to defend, she doesn't even have any sense of remorse, just so shameless" Yu Shufen glared at Yu Xiao Yan.

Mo Zhou pulled the sobbing Yu Zhiruo into his arms and also glared at Yu Xiao Yan. If looks could kill Yu Xiao Yan would be six feet under from their glares.

Everyone began whispering, each comment a little more worse than the previous. It was a like a funfare made special to accuse the beautiful girl.

"Enough!" Tan ya-ting could not bare it any longer. She yelled furiously "as elders shouldn't you be ashamed of yourselves, insulting and abusing without restraint a young lady you all had thrown out of the house six years ago. You should even be grateful she still has enough respect to come see your revolting faces!" She directed her anger at her husband and the so called people that called themselves the girl's parents.

Yu Zhiruo was not left out "and you what are you crying for? Xiao Yan didn't ask for your help neither are you the one being insulted yet you're putting up an aggrieved look and crying like you lost a limb. You're such a drama queen! You better wipe that look off your face and stop faking tears for us to see or I'll give you something to be aggrieved for!" She yelled at Yu Zhiruo.

Yu Zhiruo shivered as she snuggled in Mo Zhou arms. Mo Zhou thought it was because she was afraid so he hugged her tightly and hid her in his arms but the truth was Yu Zhiruo was shivering in anger.

How couldn't she be angry? The Old lady had called her a drama queen in front of everybody, she even said she was Faking her tears! No doubt a few people would look at her with a judging look now. This Old wench was infuriating!

After Grandma Yu furious outburst, to save the faces of the Yu Family, everyone pretended nothing happened and they all went back to their drinking and discussion and although they gossiped about it in their group it was all in hushed whispers.

Yu Xiao Yan exchanged a few words with her grandmother then found a quiet place to sit and press away on her phone. She could feel the occasion eyes that settled on her but she ignored them like they weren't there.

"may I have your attention please" Yu Zhiruo voice rang out accompanied by a clicking sound as she tapped a silver spoon on the side of her wine glass.

Everyone left their discussion and turned to face her. Eager to hear some gossip.

"I would like to offer a toast to my dearest sister to wish her a happy return home also success in her new life" She walked over to Yu Xiao Yan and gestured for the maid following her to hand a glass of wine to Yu Xiao Yan.

Yu Xiao Yan looked at the two people standing before her and the tray with a glass cup stretched towards her, a smile edged at the corner of her lips. She stood up elegantly but didn't stretch her hand to pick the glass.

"You shouldn't have come home. Now watch me send you back to where you belong" Yu Zhiruo leaned in close to here and whispered I to her ear. Her voice was very low that even the maid wouldn't hear what she said aside from Yu Xiao Yan.

"Sister I apologise for my last actions. if I had ever offended you in any way then please forgive me. I have not been a good sister in the last and let the elders misunderstand, but I promise, this time around, I would be a better sister. This toast is to forgiveness and a new sisterhood. You wouldn't reject my toast would you?" She said in a convincing tone. Everyone really believed she was fighting to see their sisterly bond grow stronger than it use to be and was wishing to make amends.

Yu Xiao Yan played along. She showed a conflicted look and her fingers hesitated to pick the cup.

"Xiao Yan don't be heartless!" as always Gao Ling chimmed in "Your sister is seeking your forgiveness despite not doing you any wrong,, she is offering you a toast. Must you look down on her like this in public?! How can you be so petty"

Zhiruo's face dropped sadly. Her lips turned up in a sad smile "mummy no Sister must still be angry at me. I guess she still feels mad that I and Bro Zhou are engaged. I know sister always loved Bro Zhou, it was wrong of my to accept his proposal knowing this. I totally understand if sister doesn't want to accept my toast"

"It's not that..." Yu Xiao Yan bit her lips "sister It's just that I can't hold my liquor very well. I get intoxicated easily" Her reason was plausible. There were people who couldn't stand a sip of alcohol so the judge everyone had in their heart for her began to dissipate.

"Then that's not a problem. Just a sip would be fine. Some other time I'll teach sister how I hold my liquor" Yu Zhiruo said and snorted in her mind. now she would see what other excuse Yu Xiao Yan would give.

Yu Xiao Yan smiled "sister must be very good at drinking, if that is the case you don't mind sharing half of my wine" She picked the glass up and before Yu Zhiruo could react, she turned half of her wine into Yu Zhiruo almost empty glass.

"Now we can go on with the toast. A toast to my sister who I hold no grudge against. A toast to her engagement and divine marriage. Cheers!" with a sly smile she clicked her glass with Yu Zhiruo's glass and downed the wine into her mouth.

"Cheers!" everyone chorused and drank their respective wine too except Yu Zhiruo. She kept on staring at the glass in her hand not knowing how to toss it away in the eyes of so many people. She thought of 'accidentally' dropping it but before she could implement the plan. Yu Xiao Yan held unto her hand and collected the glass from her.

"sister why aren't you drinking? You know the rule bottom up or wait why don't I feed you to show you I'm no longer angry at you. Come on" She rose her wrist and brought the cup yo Yu Zhiruo's lips.

Yu Zhiruo smiled and tried to pass but everyone joined in persuading her to drink from Yu Xiao Yan's hand. Following the chant she could only drink as she was told.

Her heart growing weary with every sip that passed her throat.