Xu Wenqi couldn't wait to simply run away from the talk of the two families. Taking in a deep breath, she was ready to put on her best acting performance. She put on her most pitiful expression and coughed lightly to interrupt the bustling atmosphere.
Looking at the male lead with a shy expression, she spoke softly, "I'm so happy that A'Zheng and I will finally get together. I've been waiting for years for this day."
Mrs. Huo looked at Xu Wenqi tenderly and smiled at her.
"I've seen A'Qi grow up from a small girl to a young lady. I've also been waiting for the day we finally would become a family."
Xu Wenqi nodded with a rosy face and continued, "You know, I was so worried that A'Zheng would find someone else."
Huo Lizheng looked at her sharply and had the greatest impulse to drag her out.
Not giving him the chance to do so, she pinched her thigh, and crystal tears formed at the corners of her eyes.
Looking down sadly, she hung her elegant swan neck and said aggrieved, "A'Zheng, you are too bad. You looked so intimate with that woman."
'Heh, two can play at this game,' thought Huo Lizheng as he turned the corners of his mouth up and looked at Xu Wenqi lovingly.
"What woman? I only have A'Qi in my heart but I don't know if A'Qi has me in hers."
Xu Wenqi sneered inside and was simply too happy to start a yin and yang trade with him.
Looked confused, she asked, "What're you talking about?"
"Oh? You don't remember? Just the other day you said you were finally with my brother."
Mr. Huo frowned and his eyebrows furrowed hearing this. Xu Wenqi with that bastard child of his? Just as he was about to say something, Old Man Huo beat him to it.
Old Man Huo defended Xu Wenqi, making it seem as if the two were truly blood-related family members.
"You, don't speak nonsense! Where did my granddaughter-in-law get together with that kid?"
Xu Wenqi was excited that the scene was unfolding according to what she desired.
She bit her cherry lips and admitted sadly, "Grandpa Huo, I did say that…"
She sniffed.
"...it's just I was so angry that day because I saw A'Zheng with that woman in his arms. I thought he didn't want me anymore so I lied."
Xu Wenqi's glistening tears streamed down her face as she turned the fire onto Huo Lizheng.
Hearing the key point, Old Man Xu asked extremely dissatisfied, "What woman?"
Huo Lizheng answered swiftly, "A'Qi, Grandpa Xu, don't misunderstand. That woman is my secretary and she encountered some work issues that day. Naturally, as her immediate boss, I had to help her."
"But did you have to go so far as to accompany her yourself to the mall during work hours? And you even hugged her too. If I wasn't there..." trailed off Xu Wenqi dismayed.
The air was stale. Everyone at present could hear the implication of Xu Wenqi's word and none of the Xu family members had a good face.
While Huo Lizheng was still maintaining a friendly smile, his dagger-like eyes suggested otherwise.
He replied innocently, "We just have a boss-subordinate relationship. But I can't say the same for you and my brother? If I remember clearly, at the last banquet you two entered a room together."
Xu Wenqi nearly spat blood. Huo Lizheng truly hit the nail on that one. Hearing his words, the Xu and Huo family had even an uglier face.
'If it wasn't for the fact that you deceived the original 'Xu Wenqi' into the room, would I have ended up there?!' roared Xu Wenqi internally.
He continued, "And also, aren't you currently living in his house?"
The atmosphere directly plummeted below the freezing point. Based on his vigilant character, it wasn't a surprise that he knew about Xu Wenqi entering Shen Yue's house; Huo Lizheng watched his opponent's moves very closely. Using this piece of information, he was forcing her into a corner and it was getting harder to bring the tides into her favor. If the engagement ended due to Xu Wenqi's infidelity, the Xu family would definitely blame her for losing the marriage. However, if the engagement was ended due to Huo Lizheng, Xu family wouldn't be able to say anything.
Thinking of this, she pinched her thigh harder and cried even more. On the surface, she looked extremely pitiful.
"Don't you know by now I only did those things to make you jealous? If I didn't enter a room with him, would you have ever looked at me? If I didn't stay at his house for a few days, would you have ever looked at me? I've liked you for so many years and you never once paid attention to me!" sobbed Xu Wenqi. "In the end, you even went into the arms of another woman! How am I supposed to feel after so many years?!"
What Xu Wenqi said was not a lie. Everyone knew that the original owner had clamored to be with him since they were children. The "Xu Wenqi" they knew would always remain loyal and devoted to Huo Lizheng so the only possible reason why she would turn against him was most likely for attention and care. Although the method was very wrong, the intentions behind it made sense. As for Huo Lizheng, everyone was very aware of the fact that he never liked her so it was not impossible that he preferred his secretary over her.
Old Man Huo slammed the table with his hand, making Xu Wenqi jump slightly in fright. While Old Man Huo was displeased at Xu Wenqi's behavior, he did not have the position to criticize her. Instead, he turned to his grandson.
"You kid, I must've spoiled you too much. What wild thing are you doing every day? I gave you the company so you could focus on work, not to deal with messy stuff outside!"
Making a show of his anger, did Old Man Huo really care about Huo Lizheng having another woman outside? Clearly, not. Having affairs before and during marriage was simply too common in the upper echelon circle. However, having one covertly and having one openly were two different things. The entire circle would see the jokes of the Xu and Huo family if news leaked out that the president of the Huo Group was seeing his secretary and the heiress of the Xu Group was seeing the president's half-brother in retaliation. In the circulating gossip of the circle, everyone had speculated that the golden prince and princess of two families would tie the knot one day. Thus, if this incident got out, it would slap the faces of both families.
Old Man Huo scolded Huo Lizheng a good deal to firstly appease the Xu family and give them face. Huo Lizheng knew precisely what Old Man Huo was doing, rendering him silent to accept the "anger" of his grandfather. Seeing this play, Xu Wenqi couldn't help but lament on the cruelty of Old Man Huo.
'Tsk, for the sake of the marriage benefits, he would rather step on his grandson's face than give it up,' scorned Xu Wenqi.
unimportant note:
hnnnn i still haven't signed the contract yet T~T