Chapter 47 Simply Basking in Reflected Glory

"Xiao Li, I might need to trouble you again this afternoon."

When Jiang Mian came down the stairs, she saw Xiao Li busy at her desk and couldn’t help but call out.

Xiao Li turned her head in response, following the sound to look over, watching as Jiang Mian slowly descended the stairs and finally walked over to her side.

"I'm attending the Wen family’s birthday banquet at Jiang Jin Restaurant tonight. Could you drive me there? It’s a bit inconvenient for me to drive in my formal dress."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Li immediately nodded. "Of course. If you need me to pick you up afterward, just call me."

"That’s not certain yet. If it’s needed, I’ll contact you."

Actually, this wasn’t really part of Xiao Li’s duties, so it might be a bit of an inconvenience for her.

But Xiao Li didn’t see it that way. Having known Jiang Mian for so long, they were practically friends. Asking her for such a small favor was no trouble at all.

Besides, she still had her job, which she owed to Jiang Mian’s efforts in keeping the studio afloat.

Jiang Mian smiled but said nothing more. She wandered downstairs for a bit, drank a glass of water, and then went back upstairs.

That morning, when she came to the studio, she had casually left her formal dress there. She planned to change and have her makeup done over there shortly.

There were quite a few design drafts on her computer, but most were still mere sketches.

Lately, she seemed to have lost her touch for refining these ideas, always distracted by various matters surrounding her.

Moreover, even if she finished these designs, she wasn’t sure who they were for.

The studio’s current state was definitely not what she had hoped for.

For no particular reason, Wen Jinhai’s words from before popped into her mind.

“Miss Jiang, there’s always a place for you here.”

Opportunities must be grasped well.

Right now, she felt like a chess piece hanging on the board—one wrong move, and everything would fall apart.

In the afternoon, Jiang Mian called Xiao Li, and together they drove to the studio.

First, she would have her makeup done, then change clothes. The Wen patriarch’s seventieth birthday was a grand affair, with many guests attending—a large social banquet. She couldn’t afford to embarrass herself; appearances had to be maintained.

As for the gift for the Wen patriarch, it was a piece of Hetian jade.

The Wen family lacked for nothing, and certainly didn’t need what she was giving, but Jiang Mian couldn’t let herself appear too shabby. Otherwise, it would be a disrespect to the invitation Wen Jinhai had given her.

Xiao Li waited nearby while Jiang Mian had her makeup done and couldn’t help but exclaim, “Sister Mian, you look absolutely stunning.”

Although Jiang Mian usually wore light makeup, it still paled in comparison to the professional makeup artist’s work.

The artist applied full makeup, making her look far more refined than usual, with eyelashes curled and highlights shimmering.

Jiang Mian smiled faintly, lowering her eyes. “Xiao Li, stop praising me, or I might really start to think I’m the most beautiful woman in the world.”

The makeup artist chuckled along, “Miss Jiang, you’re already beautiful to begin with. She’s not wrong.”

Raised well by her parents, fair-skinned and blessed with her mother’s good looks, such praise was hardly an exaggeration.

Her mother had once been revered as a goddess in school.

Jiang Mian said nothing more, only smiling as the makeup artist continued her work.

Her hairstyle was designed to complement her gown—braided from both sides and pinned up at the back, tied with a sky-blue ribbon and adorned with a white magnolia hairpin.

Her dress was a new-style embroidered silk cheongsam with off-shoulder sleeves, the fabric wrapping elegantly around her upper arms.

A white jade pendant at her chest accentuated her fresh and refined aura. The hairstyle’s subtle color accents matched her gown’s theme without straying from it, making the whole look harmonious.

By the time all was done, it was past six in the evening and the Wen patriarch’s birthday banquet had already begun.

Xiao Li drove Jiang Mian to Jiang Jin Restaurant. On the way, Jiang Mian sat in the passenger seat and changed her shoes.

She had worn white canvas shoes when she left for the studio this morning, but now switched to white high heels for the evening event.

At the entrance of Jiang Jin Restaurant, Xiao Li stopped the car and watched Jiang Mian get out, carrying a small pearl clutch containing her phone, touch-up supplies, and the invitation.

After closing the door, Xiao Li rolled down the window to call out, “Sister Mian!”

“Hm?” Jiang Mian bent slightly to look over.

Xiao Li waved. “I’ll take the car back to the studio. If you need me to pick you up later, just give me a call.”

“Okay,” Jiang Mian replied, waving goodbye as Xiao Li drove off. Then she turned and walked toward the restaurant.

The banquet hall was on the third floor. Taking the elevator up, she arrived right at the entrance, where staff were stationed.

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Mian took the invitation from her clutch and stepped forward in her heels.

“Hello,” she said, handing over the invitation.

The attendant glanced at the invitation, then checked the name against a notebook before returning it.

“Welcome, Miss Jiang. Please come in.”

“Thank you.”

The invitation Wen Jinhai had sent was indeed useful. Another staff member led her inside.

They brought her to a corner spot and bowed slightly. “Miss Jiang, you can rest here for a while. If you need anything, please contact the staff.”

“Thank you.”

Each table in this area had a placard marking it as the VIP section.

She probably didn’t truly qualify—she was only borrowing the spotlight.

Only half of the banquet hall was arranged with round tables and chairs, each seating about six people.

The other half was a scattered social area, with a self-service tea and snack station along the side.

The formal banquet seating was one floor up; this was just a pre-dinner mingling area.

Jiang Mian sat for a short while before a server brought her tea.

She sipped from the cup, feeling somewhat awkward, as she didn’t really know most of the people here.

As the saying goes, sometimes when life feels too smooth, obstacles are bound to arise.

When she turned her head, she saw Jiang Zhixuan enter with Wen Yan.

Zhixuan wore a platinum-white evening gown embroidered with shimmering patterns under the lights. Her hair was pinned up and adorned with pearls.

If one didn’t know better, one might think she was a little princess of the Wen family.

Arm in arm with Wen Yan, her smile was radiant. Jiang Zhouyi followed behind, greeting others.

The phrase “riding on someone’s coattails” was perfectly embodied by this father and daughter duo.