Weijun peeked at Liwu’s phone. His wife was ignoring her mother. Why?
Then his phone rung, and it was his mother-in-law. "Don’t you dare pick up." Liwu warned through a moth full of dumplings.
Madam Xu’s phone rung.
Once again, Liwu said the sa thing. She looked around the table and warned everyone, staring at them sharply. "If any of your phones ring and you are unfamiliar with the number calling, don’t pick. That will be my mother, trying to make take on that case because it is a publicity nightmare. The case belongs to the financial fraud departnt of the SOB and all the won are from Chengdu. The bureau has been established there for over a decade and they have many capable detectives that can handle it."
With the exception of Weifeng and Manman, everyone else’s phone vibrated or scread at once, resulting in wincing and awkwardness.
Liwu rose and smiled. "Ti to dress up and head to the launch of Kingdom Cotton candy. I hope you will attend, except for....." she turned her head, looking at Manman. "You are not invited. Nothing personal, but my family will not be too pleased to see you there and things will beco awkward."
She didn’t wait to see Manman’s aggrieved face.
At exactly 9:40 AM, Liwu entered the hall with the Shen’s, except Weifeng. She never imagined that a whimsical idea she had ntioned to her sister would be transford into this spectacle. Yet, here she stood, beneath the chandelier, at the grand launch party.
The ballroom shimred with blue and white hues. Towers of cotton candy spiraled like enchanted castles. each spun with flavors beyond imagination: rose gold champagne, fiery mango chilli, black strawberry, midnight blueberry, chocolate sesa swirl. Textures ranged from airy clouds to chewy ribbons, each bite a surprise. Guests had arrived earlier than the invitation suggested. They gasped as their jeweled hands reached eagerly for samples.
Even those without a sweet tooth were tempted to try.
Zhang Xixi, radiant in a gown the color of spun sugar, greeted guests, influencers and celebrities with practiced charm. Her slightly teary eyes made them grip her hands and promise to purchase in large quantities.
Liwu adjusted her trench coat, and odd choice for such a glamorous event, but she refused to shed her identity. She had co dressed in jeans, boots, a white shirt and trench coat. Her baton was strapped to her side and her handcuffs could be seen clearly because she had opted to put them in front of her belt!
They split up, to look around the hall and see what their tongues liked. Liwu made her way to the center, where guests had ford a circle. An apple sized ball of cotton candy was glowing blue, perched on a crystal pedestal.
Most amazing, was the fact that it was talking!
"I bet you would like to take a bite out of ," the cotton candy intoned, its voice sweet and soft. "My na is sugar. Place in your car and I will accompany you on your long drives. Put in your living room and I will welco your guests. Put in the classroom and I will whisper joy and laughter."
Whispers rippled through the crowd. Celebrities leaned closer, influencers stread live reactions and wealthy patrons laughed. The cotton candy like ball blinked with tiny lights, its words echoing like a fairy tale. Children squealed, adults marveled.
It was not the first ti they were seeing smart devices like this. Since systems fell, many manufactured robots of different shapes and sizes had flooded the market. The bureau had captured most, leaving only what they declared safe.
The advantage this ball of sugar had was its fluffiness, the sweet scent, the beautiful eyes which looked like Xixi’s. The voice was also soft and in the background, Xifeng’s violin could be heard. Gentle, but captivating.
Liwu’s lips twitched. "A talking ball of sugar," she muttered. "Only my sister could conjure this madness."
The launch was more than sweets. A grand fa unfolded across the ballroom: guests were given crowns spun from cotton candy, each color representing a faction in the ga Xixi had nad Kingdom Cotton Candy.
In the ga, Pink crowns were for rulers of the flower court, blue crowns for the ocean court, golden crowns for the sun court. Challenges awaited--trivia about flavors, races to spin candy faster than machines, duels fought with fluffy swords that dissolved mid-swing.
Liwu chuckled. "Only you Xixi." she muttered.
Her brothers-in-law were already playing the ga. They had cotton candy shaped smart glasses over their eyes. Winners earned tokens redeemable for rchandise: cotton candy T-shirts, pastel mugs, cotton candy plushies, and other cloud shaped toys. Even perfu bottles infused with sugar essence.
Rich n and so of her uncles, brothers and family friends were laughing, competing and boasting like children.
"She is a genius, your sister. Is she not?" Her mother’s voice ca from behind her.
Liwu turned around. It was not just her mom that had co but all of her siblings too. Before responding to her mom, she greeted, hugged and laughed with them.
After they left, she focused on her mother. "Where is your husband?"
"Trying to keep Xifeng from stealing the show by pulling out a violin." Alix replied with a faint smile.
Liwu looked around warily. "Elder Zhang is not here, is he?"
Alix grimaced.
Liwu looked towards the exit. "That is my cue to leave. I have stayed long enough. Xixi will be heartbroken if my bad luck decides to make an appearance and ruin her hard work."
"I thought you were able to control it now." Alix frowned.
"I still encounter three unlucky events a day. But they are simple and easy to handle." Liwu scratched the back of her neck. "I kind of missed your call in the morning."
Tai Alix raised her brows. "Missed my call!"
Liwu shrugged. "It happens."
Alix snorted. "I gave the case to soone else so you can quit it with the lies. Why are you dressed like this? Are you planning to arrest soone here?"
Liwu looked in the direction of the talking ball of cotton candy. "How legal is that thing?"
Alix rolled her eyes. "The bureau approved it. It is smart. but only to a limit. It is environnt friendly and can double as a ho security device. Don’t you dare arrest your sister on her big day."
Liwu snorted. "I kind of ca up with this whole idea." she mumbled. " and my cotton candy loving husband."
Both won searched for Weijun with their eyes. He was striding like a peacock, shaking hands and claiming half of the credit.
It made Liwu roll her eyes.
"He is not wrong, that shirtless picture of his is on so of the t-shirts. Give the man his credit." Alix laughed.
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