"Yes, it's the Huo family you thought it was," Qin Zhenzhen said, seeing He Yajing's face suddenly change. She suddenly understood a truth: sometimes, it's necessary to use one's power to suppress others. After all, there are too many sycophants who flatter the powerful and trample on the weak! He Yajing's expression was complex, first shocked and then sincerely afraid. "Miss Liu, are you really Miss Liu?" He Yajing still couldn't believe it. If she was the sixth miss of the Huo family, why didn't Shen Xinrou tell her? Huo Qingyan dragged her chin, her beautiful face smiling. "Yes, that's right, I'm the sixth miss of the Huo family you thought I was. If you don't believe me, you can ask anyone." He Yajing trembled violently, with only one thought in her mind: she had offended the sixth miss of the Huo family! "Yes, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. I was just trying to stand up for Xinrou. I really didn't mean any harm," she explained, thinking of the relationship between Shen Xinrou and the sixth miss of the Huo family. "No one is bullying her, so why are you standing up for her?" "I..." He Yajing couldn't find the words for a moment. She never thought that she had just tried to please Shen Xinrou, but had offended the sixth miss of the Huo family. What should she do now? It was all because of Shen Xingkong. Why didn't she remind herself that the person sitting next to her was the sixth miss of the Huo family? If she had told her, she wouldn't have been so impulsive. Shen Xingkong just couldn't stand that she had taken the limelight for Shen Xinrou and had vented her anger on her! That damn Shen Xingkong!
After giving Shen Xingkong a fierce glare, she left in a fit of anger.
"Shen Xingkong, just you wait and see. I'll teach you a lesson!"
"I think you're right," said Mingzhu suddenly.
"What?" Xingkong looked at her, confused as to what she meant.
"We're both adopted daughters, and there's no difference in our status. And if we really compare, she's not as good as you," Mingzhu said, a little embarrassed.
She had been brainwashed before, thinking that Shen Xingkong was just a freeloader in the Shen family, and that she should be grateful and deferential to Shen Xinai and Shen Xinrou. But now that she thought about it carefully, what had she done wrong? She didn't want to be mistaken for someone else's child. So she didn't owe Shen Xinai anything, let alone have to constantly sacrifice herself for her.
Moreover, Shen Xinrou's identity was indeed not as glorious as Shen Xingkong's. She was an illegitimate child. It was because of the Shen family's generosity that her aunt was allowed to bring her to the Shen family and give her the same treatment as Shen Xinai.
Compared to Shen Xinai and Shen Xinrou, Shen Xingkong was just a poor little thing.
"I apologize for bullying you with Shen Xinai in the past."
"I accept your apology." Xingkong raised her glass and clinked it with Mingzhu's. "Just don't be a brat in the future."
"You're the brat," Mingzhu also raised her glass and clinked it with Xingkong's, looking embarrassed.
"Mingzhu, now you know how annoying it is to be a brat," Qin Zhenzhen smiled and sipped her drink.
"Qin RouRou, you're asking for a beating!"
"Hey, look, Xingkong, she's acting up again!"
Xingkong watched the two playing and couldn't help but smile. Meanwhile, Shen Xinrou and Qiao Yunxing had finished their opening dance and were walking down from the stage. They were immediately surrounded by reporters.
"Xinrou, can you tell us how you're feeling right now?" asked one of the reporters.
Shen Xinrou leaned against Qiao Yunxing, looking shy. "It's because Yunxing is spoiling me too much. I just told him that I came to the banquet today as his girlfriend, and I didn't have a chance to perform on stage. So he recorded the opening dance for me, and I'm really happy."
"Wow, I'm so envious. Qiao Shao is spending a lot of money just to make a beautiful woman smile. Does that mean good things are coming soon?" asked another reporter.
Shen Xinrou looked a little embarrassed and glanced at Qiao Yunxing. "Can we discuss this topic later? Tonight is a charity banquet, and it's not appropriate to talk about personal matters."
Of course, the reporters wouldn't miss such a good news opportunity. They chased after Qiao Yunxing and asked, "Qiao Shao, with such a big gesture, does it mean that the Qiao family has recognized Xinrou's identity? When will your wedding be held?"
Qiao Yunxing's face darkened for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. "Xinrou is right. It's not appropriate to discuss personal matters tonight."
Shen Xinrou bit her lip, unable to hide her disappointment. She had arranged for the reporters to ask this question, but he still refused to speak up. Qiao Yunxing, why are you so cowardly? Why won't you stand up to your family for me?
"I can't talk about my own affairs, so let's talk about others. Shen Xinrou, what do you think about your sister's situation?" The reporter asked.
Shen Xinrou looked over, thinking that the reporter was referring to Shen Xingkong.
"I'm not sure why Yajing suddenly brought up Xingkong tonight. After all, she's not from the entertainment industry and isn't used to this kind of occasion. I'll explain it to her later, and I don't think she'll blame me. As for my sister, Shen Xinai, what happened to her?" Shen Xinrou said.
"She was first identified by the police as a drug user and drug dealer, and then it was confirmed that she was involved in campus violence, forcing a classmate to jump off a building and blaming others. What do you think about this?" The reporter corrected Shen Xinrou's misunderstanding.
"This...there may be some misunderstandings in this. Xinai...I don't know what to say." Shen Xinrou's face changed instantly, full of sadness.
"If it's a misunderstanding, then why did Mrs. Shen use the presidential pardon for her?" The reporter continued to press.
"I'm sorry, I'm not very clear about that." Shen Xinrou said.
"Then may I ask if you losing several resources recently is related to this matter?" The reporter asked again.
"I'm really sorry, I can't answer that question." Shen Xinrou apologized.
"You are enjoying the halo brought by the Shen family, but you know nothing about their affairs. Isn't that too cold-blooded?" The reporter accused.
"I...it's not what you think. I've been filming recently, so I'm not very clear. I heard that there were some conflicts between Xinai and Xingkong, but I didn't expect it to be so serious." Shen Xinrou's face turned pale and she looked very aggrieved.
"So you agree with the Shen family's idea that Shen Xingkong framed Shen Xinai?" The reporter continued to provoke.
"I'm sorry, they are both my sisters, and they have the same place in my heart. Please let me go and don't delay other people's performances." Shen Xinrou said, trying to end the conversation.
The reporter wouldn't let go of Shen Xinrou. "There have been rumors that you knew about the engagement between Qiao Shao and Liang's granddaughter, but still secretly seduced Qiao Shao, which forced Shen Xinai to cancel her marriage with him. Is it true?"
Shen Xinrou's face turned even worse. She anxiously grabbed Qiao Yunxing's arm and shook her head repeatedly at the reporter. "No, I didn't."
"Enough!" Qiao Yunxing finally couldn't take it anymore. He angrily shouted at the reporter, "This is our private matter, you have no right to interfere."