The protagonist under the spotlight is wearing a sexy black evening dress, the white skin contrasted nicely against the white light and made people's eyes brighten from the sight. Not only was her clothes and figure beautiful, her delicate face was something everyone here is familiar with.
"I-I….Sister Su?!!" Wen Jiexi almost screamed as she held Li Lingmeng's arm.
"Wait, wait, Little Xi! If you keep grabbing my clothes like that you're going to tear it!" Li Lingmeng pulled her clothes, trying to calm Wen Jiexi. With Wen Jiexi's strength, her clothes might soon get torn into rags! And she had no desire to expose herself in public like that! And she was surprised too!
"Calm down, I told you this is a party to celebrate the birthday of the Su family's granddaughter, didn't I?" Xue Molin patted Wen Jiexi's shoulder and no matter how you looked at it, her face was one of a person gloating at another's misfortune.
"Sister Xue, you knew all along." Wen Jiexi looked at Xue Molin, Chu Heling and Li Lingqing, and immediately realized that these three knew all along! They had just wanted to see her reaction! These villains actually kept such a big secret from her! And Sister Su also kept it from her! Sister Su is the biggest villain of them all!
"Wow, it turns out that Goddess Su is so awesome! How dominating! With her status, she can call the wind and summon the rain in the entertainment circle!" Li Lingmeng laughed and said. (T/N: call the wind and summon the rain = to cause trouble and big things to happen easily.)
"Pfff- If she heard you say that, she would definitely glare at you. She really hates it when others think she relies on her family's status to rise to the top. Everything she has accomplished she has done so with her own two hands! The role model of our generation!" Chu Heling smiled and pinched Li Lingmeng's cheeks.
"Ai, hehe." Li Lingmeng chuckled embarrassedly. Really, it's not her fault that she subconsciously connected Goddess Su's status with her accomplishments. En, looks like her thinking is a little to ridgid, she will need to self reflect later.
"However, Little Xi is the actual amazing one here. You gotta have some skill to be able to hook up with someone that cool." Li Lingmeng gave Wen Jiexi a thumbs up and smirked.
"D-Don't say such nonsense!" Wen Jiexi blushed and hmphed.
At this moment, Su Chenyu took the microphone from Old Man Su's hand. Unlike when facing everyone else, the old man actually smiled at Su Chenyu. Although the smile was somewhat dull, it at least let everyone see how much importance they attach to Su Chenyu.
"Thank you very much for coming to this banquet. I am Su Chenyu. I don't think I need to introduce myself, so I'll let everyone return to enjoying the party." The cold voice sounded out and only said a few words but those few words made everyone feel intoxicated as they wanted to drown themselves in that silky smooth voice. However, they dared not to act presumptuously towards this woman as the woman on stage is not someone they could afford to offend.
Even with her reputation as the nation's Goddess, very few people tried to actively kidnap the woman into their beds. However, without expectation, every single one who did try either went bankrupt or ended up in jail. Thus, everyone collectively decided to never try to chase after this elusive Goddess. Now, it turns out she was actually the heir to the powerful Su family.
Su Chenyu couldn't care less what the other people were thinking and she didn't feel the need to show off her family's prowess.
What she was looking for was her little fellow, she really wanted to see the surprised expression on her Little Sheep's face~ Su Chenyu scanned the crowd for her target and finally found the person she was looking for on the edges of the crowd.
And the Little Sheep was hiding behind Li Lingmeng, Xue Molin and the others. Under the dim light, she could clearly see the little fellow's face was red. She also seemed to be glaring right at her, as if complaining about the fact that Su Chenyu had kept such a big secret from her.
But Su Chenyu is innocent. How did she know that the banquet Little Sheep talked about was her own birthday party? She didn't know~
Li Lingqing: A certain someone is so shameless, who the heck would like a shameless person like her?
After the opening remarks finally ended, the banquet started up again but no one moved too far away from the stage. They talked to one another, but every single one of them had their eyes on the stage. It seems no matter how old you are, or who you are, everyone wanted to eagerly ruch up there and become acquainted with Su Chenyu. They wanted to win the attention of the beauty and maybe even marry her home.
"Little Xi, it really is Goddess Su! Should we go say a few words? It's your Sister Su, right?" Li Lingmeng said eagerly.
"Why would I say anything to her? She's too busy right now, let's not bother her." Wen Jiexi pouted and then looked up at the dazzling person up on the stage. She suddenly felt very insecure. How was she worthy of being with someone as amazing as Su Chenyu? She turned her head sadly towards the food bar and decided to eat her feelings away.
Li Lingmeng glanced at her friend. Was Jiexi unhappy? Li LIngmeng hurriedly followed after Wen Jiexi, but Xue Molin and the others stayed put.
"I think Sister Chenyu still has a long way to go?" Chue Heling sighed and shook her glass of juice gently.
"Are you saying our Little Su is just too amazing? Aiya~ Let's not meddle any further and sit back to watch the show." Xue Molin took a bite of her food and said differently. There was a light enthusiasm of one awaiting a good show in her eyes but no one seemed to have noticed the flash of sorrow that appeared in her faze.
On the stage came another beautiful woman who walked lazily up towards Su Chenyu. The woman held up a glass and toasted towards Su Chenyu,
"Little Yu, congrats."
"Auntie." Su Chenyu nodded to the woman.
This woman is the younger sister of her father, named Su Wenqian. Unlike her father who went to the military, she stayed behind and became one of the leaders of the business world. Most of the family's wealth was managed by her and since she never married, she regarded Su Chenyu as her own daughter and Su Chenyu respected this aunt of hers very much.
"Aiya, Qianqian is here! Why didn't you speak a word on stage just now." Su Chenyu's mother, Long Junzhu, the woman who was wearing the cheongsam just now, came over. When speaking of facing the Su family, everyone knew not to mess with the people surnamed Su so they naturally targeted this woman instead.
However, they would've never expected that this lady to be the eldest daughter of the head of one of the largest triads in the country. Those who tried to mess with her often went missing or their families were suddenly relocated. Who would've thought that the madam of the military family was actually the daughter of a criminal warlord? This was not scientific, how could black and white, good and evil, get along? Could it be an agreement between families? However, no matter how much people speculated, they all knew that the husband and wife were very loving towards each other. After so many years, they have only given birth to one daughter, Su Chenyu. And it's not because the madam couldn't give birth anymore but because Long Junzhu said that giving birth to a child is too painful, and it will ruin her figure (this is the main reason why) if she had too many children. And so Su Wenchang, who is secretly a slave to his wife's every whim, obediently agreed and did not force her to have a second child.
"Junzhu, everytime I see you pretending to be an upright and righteous person, it makes me want to laugh." Su Wenqian took a sip of her wine and teasingly said.
"Heng, I had no other choice, how else am I supposed to save face for my Little Yu over here? Although this kind of occasion really is not suitable for me. I'd rather be in the arena and practicing my fighting moves." Long Junzhu pouted. Now if only her daughter would practice with her they would be able to do some mother-daughter bonding. Unfortunately, Su Chenyu just didn't like to fight or any aspects of it.
"If you want a fight, you can just ask my brother. After some fighting, you guys can conveniently continue fighting on the bed as well." Su Wenqian smiled. She had never expected that her boring old brother would actually build a small secret door in their training ground that would actually lead to a big room with a special double bed and big bathroom as well. And every time the two of them had an 'exchange of moves' they would disappear into the room. Then the next day, her brother would come out refreshed while hugging a red-faced and embarrassed Long Junzhu.
"That shameless bastard!" After being called out by Su Wenqian, Long Junzhu's face flushed and she stared fiercely at a certain bastard who was happily chatting with a group of people.
"Byt the way, Little Yu, your bracelet…." Su Wenqian changed the subject with a smile. She was more curious about the person Little Yu took a fancy to.
"Yeah, yeah, if I remember correctly, it's that little girl from the Wen family, right?" As a die-hard fan of Su Chenyu, Long Junzhu had watched every episode and had seen the lavender bracelet on Wen Jiexi's wrist. She grabbed the nearby Su Wen cheng's arm in excitement,
"Oi, Oi, Oi! Get over here, we're about to welcome a female-in-law into the family!"
"What's a female-in-law? Don't you mean daughter-in-law?" Su Wencheng looked helplessly at his wife who had invented new words.
"What, you got something to say?" Long Junzhu said, holding Su Wencheng's ear and raising her eyebrows.
"No, nope, of course not. But our little girl actually fell in love with another girl…." Su Wencheng started but was quickly interrupted by Long Junzhu.
"As long as Little Yu likes her, I don't care. Not to mention, with today's technology, it's not difficult to have children even if they're the same sex. Even if you tried to stop it, do you think we'll listen?" Long Junzhu snored.
Su Wencheng scratched his nose silently. Alright, fine, it's true that his daughter has stopped listening to him since ten. Anyhow, the family is open-minded enough, whoever Little Yu likes will be welcomed with open arms.
"But… if the other party objects…"
"What is there to object to? Our Little Yu is good-looking, good-tempered, and extremely accomplished. She may be an idiot when it comes to home economics, but she is still someone you would show off proudly in public! Why would they not want her? And if they refuse, just kidnap the other party!" Long Junzhu made no attempt to hide her hot temper.
Are you complimenting our daughter or insulting her? It's like you're describing a vase, someone who's only good for her looks! And kidnapping is a crime! Didn't we agree to make sure both sides consent willingly before giving our blessings. Su Wencheng clutched his forehead tiredly, he really didn't know what to do with this temperamental wife of his.
And so, the husband and wife decided they need to take a good look at their future daughter-in-law. If she was indeed a good person, then they need to make a good impression on her and 'persuade' her to enter the family.
Thinking like this, Long Junzhu started dragging her daughter by the arm as she scanned the crowd. She wished she could whisk her daughter away and straight towards this daughter-in-law of hers.
"Mom, you're going to scare her with this attitude." Su Chenyu said softly.
"Yes, Junzhu, let me go with Little Yu instead, I'm afraid you're not suitable for this~" Su Wenqian said with a light smile.
"Hey, hey, she's my daughter-in-law, why are you joining in on the fun for?" If Long Junzhu wasn't aware where they were, she would've jumped up and down in anger. Heng, when she was younger she always got the things she wanted and would even steal if she had to. So would she willingly give up her mother-in-law position and the first meeting with the daughter-in-law? As if!
Sparks flew between the two. From a distance, people would think they were best friends but in fact they were actually always at odds with each other.
Meanwhile, Su Chenyu squirted slightly in the direction of her little sheep. Now that the lighting was better she could see more. Clearly she had seen Wen Jiexi not too long ago but where was she now?
She swept her gaze over the crowd, completely ignoring the people below who quickly smoothed their clothes when her eyes moved over them. No matter how much the people below tried to capture their attention, they were but mere insignificant bugs to her.
Finally, she found the little fellow hiding near the food bar with the little princess of the Li family, who is also Jiexi's assistant. She wouldn't have found Wen Jiexi either if the little foodie hadn't popped out from behind the pile of food every now and then to grab some food. It seems Jiexi was hiding from her? Why? Did her wife feel wronged?
Su Chenyu raised her eyebrows slightly, it seems that she's going to have to coax and comfort the little fellow. However, just as she moved to step off the stage, Su Wenqian gently grabbed her arms.
She looked strangely at her aunt when Su Wenqian pointed her chin subtly in one direction. Her eyes moved and her gaze landed on a young man in a tidy suit, with handsome facial features and tall straight frame. If he enters the entertainment circle, that face alone would attract a large number of fans.
This person is none other than the heir of the Feng family, the family second only to the Su family, young master Feng Xiaoliang.
If Su Chenyu is the dream lover of the men in high society, then Feng Xiaoliang is the dream lover for all the women. The perfect Prince Charming.
However, she knew that this well-dressed person was actually a man who used cruel and vicious methods to rise to the top. Most other families may or may not know about this, but almost all the major families knew about the cruelty of the Feng family.
The Feng family has a wolf's ambition, that is to say they have always aimed to overtake the Su family and dominate the upper class. They are desperate to expand power and do so by any means. From kidnapping to smuggling, they would do anything to gain power. If you stood in their way, they would get rid of you with anything they could use.
In the previous generations they didn't make any big moves towards the Su Family, but in this generation, they've started to make their move. When they saw that there was only one heir to the Su family, they became enthusiastic and overwhelmed with joy. As long as they could obtain Su Chenyu, they could obtain the entire Su family! And so, rumors circulated that Su Chenyu would one day become a fiancee of the Feng family. Of course, this was just wishful thinking from the Feng family.
Ever since Feng Xiaoliang was five years old, he began to scheme against his only family. When he was ten, his second brother suddenly got in a car accident and became a vegetable. The third brother somehow became a lunatic and the fifth brother's legs were crippled and he now sits in a wheelchair. The seventh brother fell down the stairs while holding his tenth brother who was only a baby then. The baby died on the spot and the five-year-old seventh brother landed on his head and became a retard. Only the daughter of the Feng family grew up perfectly fine. However, other than the eldest son, Feng Xiaoliang, all the other sons were either dead or disabled. Either way, they ended up with miserable fates.
It's a pity that the Feng family is indifferent to all this inner family killing. In their opinion, only the strongest survive and therefore they had no use for dead or disabled children. And the women in the eyes of the Feng family were nothing but child-bearing machines. Even if the woman was properly married in, if their child died, the Feng family would only give a bit of inheritance and money to the child's mother as consolation.
As for the children of mistresses, as long as they inherited the genes of the Feng family, they were welcomed into the family. In the end, they only need one heir. Whoever survives in the end is the winner.
The obvious winner in this generation is Feng Xiaoliang. At the age of 20, he was appointed as the next successor of the Feng family. Yes, they used any means to survive, but the means were just too cruel. And the Su family disdained the Feng family's treatment of women as only a tool for childbirth.
Although they came to their house to propose many times and spoke nicely to her, the young Su Chenyu could tell she was only a means to an end for them. Even at a young age, she could see the calculation and disdain in the Feng Family Patriarch's eyes and even more so from Feng Xioaliang's eyes.
It can be said that because of the Feng family, Su Chenyu was able to reach her current fame today because of them. Their contribution to her motivation to succeed is indispensable.
Seeing the seemingly perfect man in front of her but knowing the insidious man inside, Su Chenyu felt nothing good towards him at all.
"Little Yu, long time no see." Feng Xiaoliang had a soft smile on his face, his eyes full of infatuation and love. He looked just like a little boy who had seen the person he loved, silly and obsessed.
Because of his appearance, the other men beside them curled their lips and left silently with resentment and envy in their eyes. Whether it's status or appearance, none of the men could compete with Feng Xiaoliang. Furthermore, the women all casted jealous gazes towards Su Chenyu.
Feng Xiaoliang seemed very satisfied by this outcome. He fiddled his tie and loosened it to reveal the healthy bronze skin of his neck. He knew exactly what to do to attract women and his subtle move of seduction caused many women's eyes to glitter.
"Mr. Feng, if I remember correctly, we saw each other just last week. Also, I am not that familiar with Mr. Feng. Please do not call me Little Yu so casually." Su Chenyu showed no response to his provocation and replied indifferently.
She was tired to death by this Feng Xiaoliang. Every week, he would appear in front of her house with a bouquet of roses. He played the perfect role of an infatuated man in love. She had people watch him before and learned that he only arrived at her house just when she was about to come home. Yet, this man pretends to have waited outside for hours. Did she think she was a silly woman with only romance on the brain? Who would be fooled by such an act?
And so, she was naturally brusque towards such a two-faced liar.
Feng Xiaoliang froze at Su Chenyu's reply and a trace of awkwardness flashed in his eyes. However, his face just became more gentle and affectionate, a bit of sadness between the handsome brows as he looked as Su Chenyu. He made it seem as if Su Chenyu was the one who was ruthless and that even though he had pursued her for so long, he was coldy rejected by her.
"Little Yu, I don't know why you will never accept my feelings, but I really like you."
The originally heroic looking man now appeared to have revealed a little weakness. If men saw this, they would only see a hard-pressed man who cannot win the object of his affection. However, a woman's reaction to this moment of weakness is much more different. This change only intensified their maternal love, and made them swoon even harder. If it weren't for Su Chenyu's identity and if looks could kill, their glares would've killed Su Chenyu ten thousand times over.
Feng Xiaoliang glanced around in satisfaction. He had decided to come out into public today just so he could force Su Chenyu to accept him in public. As long as she gave an answer, even an ambiguous answer, the Feng family could use it to make it seem that Su Chenyu was just shy but will marry him eventually. After a few more exaggerated rumors, the lie will become truth, won't it?
And not to mention, Su Chenyuu is the goddess of the nation, so she must cherish her reputation immensely. If she rejected him coldly, it would only put a stain on her spotless image. And a stain in the entertainment circle was only a weapon for their enemies to use.
"Hahaha, what does Patriarch Su think of my eldest son? Xiaoliang talks to me everyday about Little Yu." The man who spoke is a middle-aged man who was somewhat similar to Feng Xiaoliang. Unlike Feng Xiaoliang, he deliberately covered up his evil deeds and made one think he was a very contradictory person. He was the current Patriarch of the Feng Family, Feng Lun.
"Brother Feng must be joking. The juniors must solve their own problems, so we will not butt in. We will instead support whoever Little Yu chooses in the end." Su Wencheng said lightly.
"Is that so…." Feng Lun narrowed his eyes and then smiled encouragingly at Feng Xiaoliang.
"Xiaoliang, didn't you prepare a surprise for Little Yu? Why don't you hurry up and take it out."
"Yes, father. Little Yu, this is a surprise I specially prepared for you, I hope you will like it." Feng Xiaoliang said affectionately to Su Chenyu, then clapped his hands, and the lights suddenly went dark.
The crowd exclaimed loudly. The ground opened up and soon a platform was raised and a three-tiered exquisite cake with many candles inserted was revealed. The amount of candles should be around 25, which is the same as the age Su Chenyu was turning today.
Beside it were lush rose bushes with a strong floral fragrance that formed a big heart. The cake was placed in the center of the heart and there was a little step-up near the heart that would allow people to enter the heart. This clearly expressed Feng Xiaoliang's intention.
Then they all watched as Feng Xiaoliang knelt down on one knee towards Su Chenyu, raising his hand in front of Su Chenyu as he stared affectionately at her,
"Little Yu, I like you…no, I love you. I hope you can accept my love, for although I am not perfect and there are still many areas for growth and improvement, I hope you can accept me. I am willing to change myself for you. I know it's rather abrupt for me to say this, but….I feel a sense of alarm as I see you reach greater heights, as if you will be stolen away if I do not tell you the truth. I want to stand by your side and show you my heart, I hope you will step into this rose garden with me and accept my true, undying love."
Feng Xiaoliang finished and the crowd was quiet before a few people began clapping. Soon more and more people were infected by the energy and the entire venue was filled with thunderous applause.