“!!!”
The two women’s eyes widened. Instinctively, they took a step back, but thinking of the Ji family’s fate, they knew there was no retreat.
They removed their shoes, gritted their teeth, and walked across the shards of glass, blood dripping onto the floorboards. Their faces were already streaked with tears.
The pain was unbearable; they collapsed to the ground, their hands cut by the glass.
Their cries drew the attention of others in the banquet hall. Some were curious, others simply wanted to watch the spectacle.
“Yo, aren’t these the daughters of the Lin and Qi families? How did they end up like this? Who did they offend?”
“They must have offended someone important. Normally, with their arrogance, they wouldn’t so easily accept punishment.”
“Could it be… Liu Shao?” someone whispered.
The only major figure attending the banquet today was the eldest young master of the Liu family.
Some gossiped with a sense of schadenfreude:
“Serves them right! Who else would dare offend Liu Shao?”
Fragmented discussions echoed around the hall. No one dared to help the daughters of the Lin and Qi families.
“What happened?”
Xie Ran noticed the commotion and walked over. The floor was a mess—glass mixed with blood.
The daughters of the Lin and Qi families were sprawled on the ground, hands and feet bleeding.
Seeing Su Xingnuo there, he struggled to contain his anger.
“Su Xingnuo, what’s going on here?”
He had asked her to help entertain the guests—was this how she did it?
Most attendees were wealthy or influential, few were people the Xie family could afford to offend. Yet Su Xingnuo had caused such chaos.
His breathing grew uneven, face flushed with anger, hands clenched at his sides.
Shen Qingya followed Xie Ran, secretly pleased. This incident would only increase Xie Ran’s dislike of Su Xingnuo, giving her more opportunity.
Her voice soft, like a gentle spring, she coaxed,
“Brother Xie Ran, Miss Su certainly didn’t mean it. She must have panicked encountering this situation. It’s best if you handle it.”
Xie Ran ground his teeth; he shouldn’t have let Su Xingnuo come.
If the banquet were ruined, he would not let it slide.
“Not intentional?” he snorted coldly.
Some onlookers couldn’t help but explain for Su Xingnuo.
“Mr. Xie, Miss Su knows the Liu family’s daughter. These two offended her, which is why they…”
Xie Ran’s anger flared. He glared at Su Xingnuo, fire nearly visible in his eyes.
How dare she make up stories at his banquet?
He took a few steps forward, grabbed Su Xingnuo’s wrist, and dragged her to a secluded corner.
His restrained anger finally released, his previously polite demeanor gone.
“Get out of here immediately. Being jealous is one thing, but think about the bigger picture. Throwing a tantrum here and offending the wrong person is something neither of us can afford.”
Su Xingnuo felt baffled.
“Xie Ran, the floor is shiny here. Maybe you should check yourself. I may be jealous, but you’re not worthy!”
“From now on, stay in the lounge. Do not leave without my permission.”
Xie Ran knew Su Xingnuo was stubborn and didn’t have time for a quarrel.
Her gaze shifted, and she spoke softly.
“Xie Ran, you were just trying to cozy up to Mr. Li, weren’t you? Looks like Li doesn’t think much of you.”
Xie Ran clenched his fists.
“What are you getting at?”
“Why don’t I talk to him? Maybe I can secure a major project for the company.”
Xie Ran didn’t quite believe her—she had been a housewife for three years. Could she really negotiate business?
He was about to refuse, but Su Xingnuo added,
“Mr. Li and my father have a good relationship. Maybe out of respect for my dad, he’d be willing to work with Ruitu.”
Xie Ran paused, slightly taken aback. Why hadn’t she told him sooner about this connection?
“Fine. Go ahead and try.”
Su Xingnuo smiled.
“Wait for my good news.” With that, she turned and left.
Xie Ran had the floor cleaned and the banquet resumed as usual. He kept glancing at Su Xingnuo, noticing she continued to chat with unrelated guests and hadn’t approached Mr. Li yet, his earlier expectation fading.
What was he thinking? Hoping a woman could secure a project for the company was wishful thinking.
Shen Qingya stayed by Xie Ran’s side, suppressing her resentment as he kept staring at Su Xingnuo.
“Brother Xie Ran, I’m so tired. Will you take me to the lounge?”
She gently rubbed her abdomen, frowning slightly as if truly exhausted.
Xie Ran, concerned, supported her.
“I’ll take you. You need to rest more while pregnant.”
Shen Qingya smiled, following him to the lounge.
Meanwhile, Xie Zhi and Feng Chunlan, impeccably dressed, walked toward the center of the banquet hall.
Su Xingnuo frowned, thinking immediately that Xie Ran had sent them. But soon dismissed it—he wouldn’t risk disrupting the banquet.
She turned her face away, pretending not to see them.
After escorting Shen Qingya back, Xie Ran returned to entertaining guests. Suddenly, he spotted Xie Zhi and Feng Chunlan.
He hurried over, dragging them to a corner.
“How did you get here? I told you to stay at home.”
Xie Zhi, defiant, spoke as soon as she entered and saw Su Xingnuo.
“If she can come, why can’t Mom and I? Brother, your company is about to go public. In such events, it’s inevitable that Mom and I attend. We’re here to support you.”
Xie Ran clenched his fists. As long as they didn’t embarrass him, that was enough.
“Don’t worry. Mom and I know the rules. We won’t embarrass you,” Xie Zhi assured him.
Xie Ran had no choice but to let them roam freely, just instructed them not to speak recklessly, then turned away.
After he left, Xie Zhi’s eyes sparkled as she watched the guests—clearly not ordinary people.
Feng Chunlan glanced at the wine bottles on a table as they walked.
A young waiter in a tailcoat pushed a cart of drinks.
Feng Chunlan stopped him.
“Hello, how much for these bottles?”
The waiter froze, surprised someone would ask the price.
He thought for a moment.
“This is a No.1 dry red, $400. The ‘Xishi Jiaya’ is around $300. Other bottles are similar, all above $200.”
Feng Chunlan hesitated, then pointed at a bottle.
“So this one costs over $2,000?”
The waiter forced a smile.
“Yes, Madam.”
Suddenly, Feng Chunlan seemed to make a decision. She raised her hand and whispered,
“Take me to your hotel manager. I am Xie Ran’s mother.”