Qin Shuyi had come from the Jiang Family, so she returned there first to greet her aunt.
She planned to have a meal, stay overnight, and return to her own home the next day, which would also be more convenient for work.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she entered, she saw her aunt and uncle, Jiang Yuzhou, and Qian Youyou gathered in the living room.
Qian Youyou was pouting, and her aunt Zhou Tinglan’s expression didn’t look good either.
“What’s going on?” she asked after greeting everyone, puzzled.
Zhou Tinglan pushed an invitation toward her. “From the Tao Family, and they specifically reminded your uncle to bring all the family members.”
Qin Shuyi opened it.
It was a welcome banquet for Tao Wangxi, to be held seven days later.
“They said she hasn’t returned to the country for too long and has grown distant from everyone. Now that her health has improved significantly, they might as well host a banquet to liven things up.”
The Tao Family and the Jiang Family were not on the same level, and they had little business overlap or interaction in daily life. The sudden invitation made its target quite clear.
Zhou Tinglan’s tone was indignant, her beautiful face filled with anger. “To be honest, you are now Ling Jue’s official girlfriend. Even if she occupies the position of a childhood friend, she’s still the other woman. She hasn’t even returned to the country yet, but she’s already putting on the airs of the future Mrs. Ling, acting as if she’s summoning people. How shameless.”
Jiang Shiheng gently patted Zhou Tinglan’s hand, and she glared at him.
Jiang Shiheng could only helplessly rub his nose.
Qian Youyou clung to Qin Shuyi’s arm. “Can’t we just not go?”
Jiang Yuzhou shook his head. “Not really. They’ve already made their intentions clear. Not going would only make us look guilty.”
Zhou Tinglan sneered. “We’ll go. Of course, we’ll go. I want to see who’s the one who can’t stand to be seen.”
Qin Shuyi pressed her lips tightly together.
She leaned her head on Zhou Tinglan’s shoulder and said coquettishly, “Auntie~ I’m sorry~”
If it weren’t for her, her aunt wouldn’t be so angry.
Zhou Tinglan patted her head. “What nonsense are you talking? If we trace it back, it was for my birthday that we ran into Ling Jue. It was your uncle and I who brought you in front of Ling Jue. Should you be angry with us too?”
No one could have predicted that, from just that one meeting, Ling Jue would take a liking to Qin Shuyi.
The Crown Prince of the Ling Family was not an easygoing person. At a young age, he had taken charge of the colossal Ling Family, always acting decisively and ruthlessly. Once he set his sights on something, he never let go.
Women flocked to him, but this was the first time he had actively pursued one.
Zhou Tinglan had privately grumbled more than once that attracting such a formidable figure was no small matter. If Qin Shuyi hadn’t been open-minded and also liked Ling Jue’s face, allowing them to peacefully start a relationship, what awaited her might have been forced seizure—a situation ten thousand times worse than the current one.
Uncle Jiang Shiheng remained calm. “The Jiang Family has benefited a lot from you this past year. To be honest, we’ve taken advantage. You don’t need to worry. The Jiang Family and the Tao Family have no overlapping business interests, so they can’t affect us.”
He had never used Ling Jue’s name, but Ling Jue had never hidden Qin Shuyi. Their relationship was widely known, and because of his status as Qin Shuyi’s uncle, he had indeed gained many conveniences.
One cannot only reap the benefits without taking on the risks.
Moreover, in his opinion, the Tao Family was unlikely to target the Jiang Family.
After all, what good would it do to crush the Jiang Family, a relative? It might even provoke Ling Jue’s displeasure.
This invitation was likely just to meet Qin Shuyi and gauge the situation.
What angered Zhou Tinglan was precisely the Tao Family's arrogant attitude of holding themselves above others based on status.
As she spoke, Zhou Tinglan decisively declared, "When the time comes, I'll dress you up beautifully, dazzle their eyes, and make certain people understand what it means to feel ashamed of their own inferiority."
Qian Youyou raised her hand, "Me, me, me! I'll help my sister pick out a dress."
Jiang Yuzhou quietly joined in, "I can contribute my New Year's money to sponsor a new piece of jewelry for our sister."
No choice—his father was strict, and as a broke college student, that was all he had.
Qian Youyou glared at him with a look that said "traitor."
Everyone was supposed to start from the same line, but this guy had to jump the gun.
"I'll advance next month's allowance."
Qin Shuyi smiled faintly, pressing her lips together.
Her aunt rolled her eyes, "Alright, you two keep your pocket change for yourselves."
Jiang Shiheng watched with a gentle gaze as the group had already shifted the topic to dressing up, chatting animatedly.
Women from the Zhou family, regardless of age, seemed to share this trait—broad-minded, adaptable, and never making things difficult for themselves.
He had initially worried that Jiang Yuzhou and Zhou Tinglan wouldn't get along, but over the years, the arrival of Zhou Tinglan and her daughter had instead brought vitality to the household. Even the rebellious Jiang Yuzhou had grown much closer to him, his father.
Outsiders said he was captivated by Zhou Tinglan's beauty, but he knew this relationship was something he had fought for.
To this day, he had never regretted that decision for a moment.
…
"Ahhh!!! I'm so mad!!!"
Furious, Qian Youyou punched the head of a teddy bear.
Qin Shuyi, who had just taken a cup of yogurt from the fridge and was passing by: ?
There were still several days left before the Tao Family's banquet, so she returned to her own home the next day, bringing Qian Youyou along as an attachment.
Qian Youyou sprang up from the carpet, indignantly handing over her phone to complain, "Sister, look at this!"
The screen displayed a trending news headline: "White Moonlight Returns, Ling Family Crown Prince Sweetly Picks Her Up at the Airport, Wedding Bells Soon?"
Accompanying it was a photo of Ling Jue and Tao Wangxi gazing into each other's eyes at the airport—a picture-perfect couple, their connection seeming to transcend time.
They looked very well-matched.
Qin Shuyi wasn't surprised.
She even recognized the ring on Tao Wangxi's finger—the very one Ling Jue had personally gone to retrieve back then.
Even through the photo, it still gleamed with a vivid luster.
Qin Shuyi felt a sense of "as expected" and the relief of finally having the other shoe drop.
She forwarded the news to herself, then sent it from her own phone to Ling Jue, adding two words:
"Break up?"
They had agreed that during their relationship, it would only be the two of them.
He had broken his promise.
There was no reply from the other side.
At this hour, he was probably having dinner with Tao Wangxi, after all, it had been a long time since they last saw each other.
She turned off her phone.
Qian Youyou, convinced that her cousin was being cheated on, punched the air a few times, stomped her feet, and paced around the living room before finally grabbing Qin Shuyi's hand with determination.
"You shouldn't be the only one wearing the green hat. Come on, little sister will take you to see something good."
Whoever wants to be the honest one can have the role.
Qin Shuyi, who was actually feeling okay: "Huh?"