Chapter 31: Making a Complete Fool of Oneself

Gradually, the whispers among the crowd grew louder. Tan Li, assuming that all eyes were on them and that she was the subject of admiration, struck a deliberately dignified pose. Little did she know, the more affected her behavior, the more people mocked her.

Xia Rusheng watched the scene with composure, though she was laughing inwardly. No matter how many years Tan Li spent in high society, she could never shed her small-minded nature. Back at home, she had noticed Tan Li’s obsession with hoarding expensive and gaudy trinkets; today, she had draped herself in all her most valuable jewelry. She didn’t seem to realize that while she saw it as status, everyone else found it an eyesore.

Before long, the hushed whispers turned into stifled laughter. Tan Li finally sensed that the atmosphere was off. The looks of derision directed at her were all too familiar—she had endured them during her first few years in high society, and she had become hypersensitive, even fearful, of such gazes.

Subconsciously, she followed the crowd’s line of sight toward the large screen behind the stage. When she saw the massive photograph of Shen Yi, her heart skipped a beat, and her foot slipped, nearly causing her to tumble to the floor.

It finally dawned on her why everyone was staring: they were treating her like a joke. She was merely a stepmother trying desperately to steal the spotlight at the birthday and engagement banquet of the first wife’s daughter. In reality, there was no place for her on this stage; everything she had done was nothing more than wishful, self-deluded vanity.

Tan Li felt as if she were standing on the edge of a blade. She felt incredibly exposed, yet leaving now would only invite further humiliation.

"What's wrong?" Xia Rui asked, noticing her deathly pale complexion and reaching out to steady her, fearing that her discomfort might affect the child she was carrying.

Tan Li forced herself to remain calm, shaking her head with a stiff, artificial smile. "I’m fine. I just lost my footing and startled myself."

Xia Rusheng glanced at her sideways, her voice indifferent. "Then, Auntie, you should stand carefully. If you happen to fall again and hurt the child, please don't try to pin it on me. I can’t afford to take responsibility for that."

Under the watchful eyes of the guests, Tan Li had to maintain her dignified facade and could not retaliate. She was forced to swallow the insult, her face twisting as if she had just swallowed a fly.

Hearing the subtext in Xia Rusheng’s words, Xia Rui felt a pang of guilt, but Xia Rusheng gave him no chance to argue. Stifled and frustrated, he delivered a few brief remarks before leading the Xia family off the stage.

After Old Master Lin delivered the final closing speech, the banquet officially began. Xia Rusheng ignored the Xia family, acting instead as the lady of the house as she linked arms with Lin Yichen and began moving through the crowd to offer toasts.

"Chairman Xia, you’ve truly raised a fine daughter. It seems Fengcheng Investment is set to soar to new heights." The Xia family was not spared the guests' backhanded compliments. In their eyes, the Xia family had struck gold by aligning themselves with the Lin family. Many were envious, and their well-wishes were invariably laced with bitterness.

The implication was clear: Xia Rui was merely relying on his daughter to climb the social ladder, a second-rate businessman finally getting a boost from his daughter’s reflected glory.

Xia Rui was already in a foul mood, and this veiled mockery only fueled his anger. Yet, he had to suppress it; even though it was his daughter’s birthday and engagement, this was the Lin family’s domain. To them, he was nothing more than a guest.

In the distance, Lu Si’ang swirled a glass of red wine, his gaze darting between the Xia and Lin families.

Just as he was enjoying the spectacle, Xia Yu’s artificially sweet voice sounded in his ear: "Brother Si’ang, why don’t I see Sister Sining or Sister Jiayu?"

"They went abroad for a vacation while the break is still on," Lu Si’ang replied. He knew she was deliberately trying to strike up a conversation. He looked at her with a mocking smirk; she was certainly pretty in a delicate way, but her heart was far too venomous—and worse, she was both venomous and stupid. A woman like her was not his type.

"Oh, I see. You must be bored all by yourself. Why don’t we go sit over there and chat?"

Lu Si’ang curled the corner of his mouth again, letting out a soft laugh. Where on earth did she get the idea he was bored?

However... he did have a rather boring idea in mind.

Lu Si’ang took a glass of wine from a passing waiter and handed it to Xia Yu. "Miss Xia, I heard you’ll be coming of age in a few months. Allow me to offer my early congratulations."

A blush spread across Xia Yu’s face. She took the glass and downed it without hesitation, then said sweetly, "Thank you, Brother Si’ang. You must come to my coming-of-age ceremony."

"Of course. I’ll be sure to bring you a grand gift," Lu Si’ang said with a mischievous glint in his eyes, staring unblinkingly at her face.

Xia Yu, convinced that Lu Si’ang was finally interested in her, was overjoyed. In the past, when she trailed behind Lu Sining, she had often tried to approach him, but he had always been cold. She never expected him to take the initiative today, even staring at her so intensely that she began to feel shy.

"It’s a deal, then. Brother Si’ang, you can’t go back on your word!" Xia Yu played the part of the adorable girl with increasing enthusiasm. With Lu Sining absent, she didn't have to act timid and could freely display her charm.

Lu Si’ang had no idea what was running through her head. He simply watched her face intently. Sure enough, within ten minutes, Xia Yu’s face began to flush, followed by the rapid emergence of red blotches that made her appearance increasingly grotesque.

Xia Yu began to feel the discomfort—first a slight heat, then an unbearable itch and swelling. But in front of Lu Si’ang, she struggled to maintain her cute persona, forcing herself not to scratch.

Watching her struggle to contain her discomfort, Lu Si’ang’s smirk widened. "Miss Xia, are you feeling unwell?"

"N-no, not at all..." Xia Yu had barely suppressed the urge to scratch when his question made the itching on her face feel even more intense.

Lu Si’ang’s penchant for mischief reached its peak. He pulled out his phone, opened the selfie camera, and held the screen up in front of her. "Are you truly sure you’re feeling quite well—"

"Ah—!" Before he could finish, a piercing shriek echoed through the banquet hall.

Xia Yu covered her terrifying face and bolted for the shadows, knocking over several waiters and guests in her flight and throwing the entire hall into chaos.

Xia Rusheng looked toward the commotion immediately. She didn’t see the fleeing Xia Yu, but she did see Lu Si’ang raising his glass in a distant salute, his expression clearly one of self-satisfaction. Xia Rusheng, having no fondness for this playboy of the Lu family, simply looked away, ignoring him entirely.