Chapter 120 - 119: Twisting Black and White

Chapter 120: Chapter 119: Twisting Black and White

The mother and son entered the hotel ballroom arm in arm. Just as they stepped through the main doors, the noisy ballroom suddenly fell silent, and all eyes turned to them.

Gu Qingyin was a little surprised, but she didn’t let it show. Lowering her voice, she asked, "What are they looking at? Do they give everyone who walks in such a formal welcome?" ’That’s a bit too courteous!’

Amusement flickered in Huo Xingye’s eyes as he said with a straight face, "It’s because you’re too beautiful and captivating."

Gu Qingyin didn’t believe him, of course, but that didn’t stop her from feeling pleased. And when she was pleased, she couldn’t resist a jab. "Look at you, knowing what to say now."

’Before, he was quiet as a clam, and let’s not forget the whole imprisonment thing. Tsk, tsk. Just thinking about it makes me cringe in disgust.’

Huo Xingye felt an arrow pierce his heart, but he couldn’t argue. He could only say sheepishly, "People grow."

Before they could say much more, the host of the banquet arrived—President Liang of Jixiu Home Furnishings.

The name Jixiu Home Furnishings might sound like a simple furniture store, but it was actually a publicly traded company. Having made its fortune in furniture, it had since expanded into renovations and other related sectors, developing an almost fully integrated service chain. Lately, it had set its sights on breaking into real estate. This banquet was an attempt to create such opportunities.

"President Huo, what an honor!"

President Liang was all smiles, and with his slightly chubby build, he looked incredibly friendly and amiable.

He was over fifty, clearly of an older generation than Huo Xingye, but the two interacted as peers. This was partly out of reverence for the Huo Family’s power and partly in recognition of Huo Xingye’s own abilities.

Huo Xingye wore a faint smile. "You’re too kind, President Liang."

President Liang chuckled and exchanged a few pleasantries, then steered the conversation toward Gu Qingyin. "This young lady looks unfamiliar. Might I ask where you’re employed?"

Gu Qingyin smiled. "I’m just unemployed. I can’t compare to you, President Liang."

President Liang smiled, but a subtle, well-hidden flicker of disdain entered his eyes.

Most people might have missed it, but the mother-son duo facing him were both sharp as tacks and noticed it instantly.

Huo Xingye frowned and explained, "She’s from the Huo Family."

Hearing this, President Liang showed a perfectly measured amount of surprise. He looked at Gu Qingyin again. "The young lady from the second branch of the Huo Family?"

"No," Huo Xingye said. "She’s from my house."

President Liang’s expression froze for a moment. As expected, his mind went down the wrong path. ’Is Huo Xingye planning on getting married?!’

The people around them only pretended to be busy, but they were all straining their ears to listen in. Quite a few of them had the same thought as President Liang.

’They were secretly shocked, but also couldn’t help lamenting. Huo Xingye was about to be tied down? It was so sudden! To think they’d specifically brought their younger family members here today—all for nothing!’

Some, too unwilling to accept this, began to harbor devious thoughts.

As the saying goes, with a good enough shovel, any foundation can be undermined. People get divorced, after all. Who said you have to stick with just one person for your entire life?

’What if Huo Xingye ended up fancying their daughter instead?’

But even undermining a relationship requires good timing. You can’t just march over with your shovel while the wall is newly built and its owner is doting on it. That would be asking for a beating, wouldn’t it?

Therefore, the first priority was to gather intelligence.

Before long, President Liang led Huo Xingye away, while Gu Qingyin went to the dessert station to sample a few things that caught her eye.

The people nearby finally saw their chance. After exchanging glances, they all headed for Gu Qingyin.

Gu Qingyin had just picked up a king crab leg and was looking for a place to sit and crack it open when she turned to see five young women in gorgeous evening gowns closing in on her. As if afraid she might run, the five of them approached in a semicircle.

Gu Qingyin glanced at the crab leg in her hand, knowing she wouldn’t be eating it anytime soon. With a regretful click of her tongue, she set the leg down on a nearby table and grabbed a slice of cake on her plate instead.

"Why’d you put it back? Don’t you know how to crack open a crab leg?" a woman’s voice, laced with obvious mockery, sounded from behind. "Why don’t you go ask President Huo for help?"

’Honestly,’ she thought, ’the voice was quite gentle. If not for the mockery, it would have sounded lovely—just like the voice of a high-society lady in a television drama.’

Lost in thought, Gu Qingyin took a bite of her cake.

Silence fell. The woman who had tried to pick a fight looked a bit embarrassed. Luckily, her companions weren’t complete fools and picked up where she left off a few seconds later.

"President Huo is busy with business. How would he have time for something like that?" The next voice to speak was crisper, tinged with a sense of lofty superiority. "To think there are still people who don’t know how to crack a crab leg these days. People would die laughing if they heard."

Gu Qingyin took another bite of cake, wondering to herself, ’Are these two really the well-bred young ladies of high society? They don’t seem very bright.’

"We’re talking to you, are you deaf?" another young woman piped up impatiently. "Just as expected of someone from a no-name family. You don’t have any manners at all."

After speaking, the young woman glared at Gu Qingyin’s face, her eyes practically overflowing with jealousy and resentment. ’Vixen!’

Gu Qingyin swallowed the last bite of her cake, wiped her mouth with a napkin, and finally spoke. "Do you know my name?"

The young women paused. They only knew she was Huo Xingye’s companion, but they didn’t know her name.

"Who cares what your name is!"

Gu Qingyin couldn’t agree more. "Likewise, I don’t care who you are, and I have no desire to chat with you." She raised a finger and tapped her temple with an exasperated look. "I really can’t carry on a conversation with people of low intelligence."

The young women’s faces darkened. They had been pampered by their families their whole lives. When had anyone ever insulted them so directly?

"You! How rude!"

"Vulgar!"

"You’re not worthy of Huo Xingye!"

...

’Just as I’d expect from a bunch of prim young ladies,’ she thought. ’They just repeat the same few insults, without a single curse word among them.’

Gu Qingyin rolled her eyes. "I don’t need to be worthy of him." After a pause, she added bluntly, "You’re the ones who are truly unworthy of him. Stop trying so hard. You... don’t have a chance."

The young women hadn’t gained any ground since approaching her, and now they were being shot down by someone they looked down on. The one with the weakest fortitude completely broke.

"Say one more word! I’ll rip your mouth apart!"

Seeing the woman charge at her, Gu Qingyin timed it perfectly and took a step to the side. Unable to stop her momentum, the young woman plunged headfirst onto the dining table.

A series of loud CRASHES and CLATTERS rang out. The young woman slid wretchedly off the table and crumpled to the floor. She sat there stunned, reaching up to touch the cake and wine dripping from her hair. Two seconds later, she burst into tears, wailing.

Her friends who had come with her exchanged glances, disdain clear in their eyes. None of them wanted to help the girl on the floor. Then, as if by unspoken agreement, they all turned on Gu Qingyin.

"You’ve gone too far! How could you push her?"

Gu Qingyin was utterly baffled. ’Did they all take a masterclass in twisting the truth?’