Shen Qingya lowered her head.
“Sister, you’re right. I’ll go…”
She said it, but didn’t move—just raised her hand to her nose, looking pitiful.
Xie Ran grew impatient.
“Su Xingnuo, don’t misunderstand her. Qingya came over to avoid putting me in a difficult spot. Can you stop being so petty? She already said she’s not trying to take your place as Madam Xie. Can’t you be a little magnanimous?”
Su Xingnuo felt disgusted.
“You’re a scumbag and still want to drag me along? Do you really think you’re the emperor?”
“You—”
Xie Ran wanted to retort but glanced around, lowering his voice.
“I’ll take Qingya over there—Ding is there. Take her with you so she can make connections. You focus on entertaining the guests.”
With that, he left with Shen Qingya without looking back.
Su Xingnuo took a sip of juice and scoffed. Xie Ran had no guilt at all and still bossed her around, so she didn’t have to hold back either.
Among the crowd, some familiar faces caught her attention.
She smiled lightly. These people had also been invited—Xie Ran really didn’t discriminate.
Turning slightly, she overheard a flattery:
“Mr. Xie, you’re so outstanding and still single. All the young ladies in Gang City adore you. I wonder which woman will finally win your heart.”
Xie Ran’s voice was deeper than usual.
“Not at all. My focus is on my career right now. I haven’t had time for anything else.”
Someone noticed Shen Qingya’s earrings.
“Miss Shen, those earrings are beautiful!”
Shen Qingya smiled gracefully.
“A friend gave them to me.”
“I remember this pair went for eight million at a Gang City auction last month, bought by Mr. Xie.”
“Wow~~”
The crowd erupted in excitement.
“Your ‘friend’ really cares about you~”
“Mr. Xie and Miss Shen really do look perfect together.”
Xie Ran offered an official smile but didn’t say anything further.
Shen Qingya blushed.
“We’re just ordinary friends.”
But in the eyes of others, Xie Ran’s silence implied consent, and Shen Qingya’s words seemed like indirect confirmation, which sparked more gossip.
Su Xingnuo watched quietly, recalling how Xie Ran once told the media he was single with righteous certainty.
It seemed he was now eager, desperate even, to go public with his relationship with Shen Qingya.
After all, in his eyes, marrying Shen Qingya would be a match in social status between the Xie and Shen families.
Someone else remarked,
“I heard this birthday banquet was for Mr. Xie’s beloved. It must be for Miss Shen—you’re so lucky!”
“Yes, Mr. Xie is young and talented, and Miss Shen is beautiful. If they’re not together, it just wouldn’t make sense.”
“Stop saying that!” Shen Qingya replied shyly.
Xie Ran nodded politely to the crowd, letting them chatter freely, and led Shen Qingya away.
With their departure, the crowd’s attention shifted.
“Speaking of beauty, have you heard the Liu family recently found their daughter? She’s stunning too, maybe even a former model.”
“Right? She’s probably over 175 cm tall. No matter where she was, the heiress genes show. It would be great to be friends with her…”
“Stop dreaming. The Liu family just found their daughter. They guard her like their eyes, no media appearances, only a few blurry photos.”
One person suddenly pointed toward Su Xingnuo.
“That figure looks a lot like her. Such a body, it’d be a waste not to model.”
“That’s Miss Su of the Su family,” someone recognized her.
“Su family’s Miss? I’ve seen Su Tingting—she didn’t look like this.”
“The Su family went bankrupt three years ago. Su Tingting is her uncle’s daughter.”
The speaker, Ji Wei, showed disdain.
“It’s her? Three years bankrupt, Su Yunliang dead for three years, and she still comes to this banquet acting like a rich heiress? Shameless.”
Su Xingnuo had already approached Ji Wei.
In heels, she towered over Ji Wei by a full head. Lowering her gaze, she fixed her eyes on her. Coldly, she said:
“Shameless? Don’t even think about using that face today.”
Then she raised her hand and slapped Ji Wei.
Ji Wei’s face instantly turned red, a clear handprint visible.
“You! How dare you hit me! Am I wrong? Someone like you from a fallen family has no right to attend such a banquet!”
“Yeah, hitting people in public? Doesn’t that embarrass the host?” others chimed in.
“Exactly. Mr. Xie really is too easygoing, letting anyone in,” another complained.
Su Xingnuo turned to the two speaking women.
“I’ll remember your names. If you don’t want trouble, keep your mouths shut.”
The women laughed.
“What can you do with just names, a fallen heiress? You really think you can touch us?”
Ji Wei tried to argue, but Su Xingnuo’s glare made her instinctively step back, unable to speak.
There was something about Su Xingnuo’s eyes—a commanding aura, a pressure that made people uneasy.
She lifted her gaze, eyes flashing coldly.
“Apologize.”
Ji Wei was furious and in pain, clutching her burning cheek.
“You just hit me, and now you want me to apologize?”
Her friends spoke up:
“Miss Su, don’t be unreasonable.”
“Smack! Smack!”
Two crisp slaps echoed. Su Xingnuo’s hands moved decisively, leaving marks on both women’s faces.
They were livid.
“How dare you! Do you know who my father is?”
Su Xingnuo ignored them, looking at Ji Wei with a sharp voice:
“You think you can casually call my father’s name? A daughter of a nanny who slept her way up, thinking she’s the Ji family’s heiress?”
She knew Ji Wei—the second daughter of the Ji family, drenched in luxury items worth barely two million in total.
Ji Wei trembled.
“Don’t judge people with biased eyes.”
“Are you not judging with biased eyes yourself?” Su Xingnuo retorted.
Someone tried to mediate:
“Miss Su, Miss Ji complimented you earlier, saying you resemble the Liu heiress. Just forgive her unintentional mistake.”
Ji Wei refused.
“You must be deaf! I thought you were like the heiress, but it turns out you’re not even close.”
Su Xingnuo curled her lips coldly.
“Oh? You’ve met the heiress?”