Just like Zhou Jiayan moments earlier.
Although Zhou Jiayan and Jiang Wanqing had lost the verbal sparring match to her, they had taken the crowd’s attention with them.
As they left, the guests in the banquet hall silently and unanimously distanced themselves from Shen Shuhe.
The space around her became unusually quiet.
The influential guests kept their distance, occasionally casting disdainful and curious glances in her direction as they whispered among themselves.
“Tsk, she’s got some nerve. If it were me, I’d have left already. How can she still stay here?”
“If she weren’t thick-skinned, how could she show up at a birthday banquet the day after getting dumped at her own engagement ceremony?”
“Come to think of it, how did she even get an invitation?”
“Exactly. Isn’t the Shen Group about to collapse?”
“Could she have sneaked in?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Security at the Lu family’s Xishan Villa is tighter than national defense.”
“Oh… right, that’s true.”
Shen Shuhe gently swirled the champagne in her glass, her delicate face betraying no emotion.
Ever since childhood, her exceptional beauty combined with her razor-sharp tongue had made her the center of controversy wherever she went.
She had long since grown accustomed to being the focus of everyone’s attention.
Leave?
She had no intention of leaving.
She had come openly with a legitimate invitation.
Why should she leave?
Besides, she had completely fallen out with Zhou Jiayan. The Zhou family would undoubtedly withdraw their investment from the Shen Group.
Before tonight’s banquet ended, she had to find a new investor powerful enough to help the Shen Group survive this crisis.
Other than the Lu family of Beijing, it would be difficult to find anyone else capable of hosting a gathering that brought together top government officials, business tycoons, and senior military leaders.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Shen Shuhe surveyed the entire hall, searching for her target.
At that moment, the grand symphony flowing through the luxurious ballroom came to an abrupt stop with a crisp gesture from the conductor.
The hall instantly fell silent.
The sharp click of high heels echoed clearly throughout the room.
Champagne glasses in hand, the guests turned toward the sweeping spiral staircase draped in deep crimson velvet.
Beneath the brilliant crystal chandelier, where the light converged into a dazzling spotlight, a graceful figure slowly entered everyone’s view.
It was the star of today’s birthday banquet—
Lu Mingshu.
She wore a custom-made silver mermaid gown that shimmered like ice beneath the crystal lights.
Her strikingly beautiful features radiated confidence and pride.
Her long hair was elegantly pinned up, revealing a graceful swan-like neck and flawless shoulders.
A diamond necklace adorned her neck, glittering like a river of stars.
With one hand resting lightly on the banister, she descended the staircase at an unhurried pace under the gaze of every guest.
“It’s Miss Lu Mingshu.”
“As expected of the Lu family’s precious daughter. What incredible presence.”
“She just returned from studying abroad. Old Master Lu chose to hold her birthday banquet at Xishan Villa… Is this his way of announcing that she’ll be staying in Beijing?”
“Probably. But where’s her brother?”
“You mean Lu Yanzhou?”
“Exactly.”
“Keep dreaming. There’s no way he’d show up.”
Halfway down the staircase, Lu Mingshu stopped.
An attendant approached with a tray.
She casually picked up a glass of champagne and raised it toward the guests with effortless elegance.
“Welcome, everyone, and thank you for attending my birthday banquet today.”
Tilting her head slightly, every gesture she made exuded confidence and ease.
“I hope you all have a wonderful time.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the guests throughout the hall raised their glasses in response, offering one birthday wish after another.
Smiling graciously, Lu Mingshu acknowledged them before raising her glass toward the orchestra.
As the elegant music resumed, she continued descending the staircase, the string instruments accompanying each of her steps.
She possessed extraordinary presence.
Watching from afar, Shen Shuhe couldn’t help but admire it.
As expected of the daughter of the country’s foremost military-political family.
Only someone like Lu Mingshu could command such respect from every influential figure in the room.
The Shen Group was now in crisis.
After the scene caused by Zhou Jiayan and Jiang Wanqing, everyone at the banquet was avoiding her.
These seasoned elites wouldn’t willingly involve themselves in troubled waters.
But…
What about the Lu family?
The Shen family should never have qualified for an invitation to such an exclusive birthday banquet.
Yet they had received one.
No one but the Lu family could issue invitations to this event.
It was the Lu family that had invited the Shens.
If the Lu family was willing to lend even a little support, the Shen Group could survive this crisis.
After that, she would have all the time in the world to settle accounts with the Zhou family and Zhou Jiayan.
Having organized her thoughts, Shen Shuhe walked toward Lu Mingshu.
Her pace was steady and unhurried.
Though she looked straight ahead, she quietly listened to the conversations around her, gathering every piece of information she could about Lu Mingshu.
After last night’s drunken episode, the invitation had arrived so suddenly that she hadn’t had time to thoroughly learn about the Lu family’s treasured daughter.
Unfortunately, Jiang Wanqing, together with her circle of socialite friends and Zhou Jiayan, reached Lu Mingshu before she did.
As soon as Lu Mingshu stepped off the staircase, Jiang Wanqing and the others surrounded her, showering her with exaggerated compliments.
“Oh my goodness, Mingshu! Is that the custom handmade ALSN gown? It’s absolutely breathtaking!”
“The gown is amazing, but what’s really incredible is your figure! Anyone else wearing it couldn’t possibly pull it off!”
“Happy birthday, Princess Mingshu! The moment you appeared, everyone else became completely forgettable!”
Lu Mingshu had long grown accustomed to such flattery.
She couldn’t even be bothered to respond.
As though she hadn’t heard a word, she walked directly toward Jiang Wanqing.
Jiang Wanqing linked arms with Lu Mingshu and leaned close to whisper into her ear.
The two looked every bit like inseparable best friends.
Shen Shuhe’s steps came to a halt.
A bad feeling washed over her.
Jiang Wanqing… and Lu Mingshu were close friends?
The glimmer of hope that had just begun to shine in her heart for saving the Shen Group quietly went out.
Even without hearing their conversation, it wasn’t difficult to guess what Jiang Wanqing was whispering.
She was undoubtedly speaking ill of her.
Sure enough, the next moment Lu Mingshu looked up.
Her gaze landed directly on Shen Shuhe.
She slowly looked Shen Shuhe up and down from head to toe.
The assessment in her eyes was openly condescending, filled with unmistakable disdain.
Then, in a clear voice, Lu Mingshu asked,
“Who are you? And why are you at my birthday banquet?”
Shen Shuhe straightened her back.
Without the slightest trace of anger, panic, or embarrassment, she calmly met Lu Mingshu’s gaze and smiled faintly.
“Happy birthday, Miss Lu. I’m Shen Shuhe, daughter of Shen Yanzhi of the Shen Group.”
With those simple birthday wishes, she subtly explained why she was attending the banquet.
Mentioning both her father and the Shen Group not only laid the groundwork for seeking investment later but also demonstrated humility and courtesy.
She knew perfectly well that she and Lu Mingshu had never met.
To Lu Mingshu, she was nothing more than a complete stranger.
Lu Mingshu tilted her head slightly, raising an eyebrow.
Her striking features carried an unmistakable edge as she asked in a louder voice,
“I didn’t invite you.”
“So how exactly did you sneak into my birthday banquet?”