The next day when Ye Jiaorui woke up, just like the last time, Fu Yan had already left.
She got up and went to the bathroom, only to find her neck clean this time. She instantly thought of how she had told him last night not to bite her neck, which had resulted in her being coaxed into calling him "husband" several times...
That jerk was really a dog!
A blush slowly appeared on Sheng Congzhi's face.
**
Ye Family.
Early in the morning, a stylist came to do Ye Jiaorui's hair and makeup.
After she was made up, she put on a gown and high heels, and donned the emerald necklace that was a Ye Family heirloom.
"My Jiaojiao looks so beautiful," Sheng Wanrou said with satisfaction.
At the banquet later on, her daughter was sure to dazzle everyone!
Ye Jiaorui asked, "Is sister Zhizhi really not going?"
"Why do you care about her?" Sheng Wanrou now felt annoyed whenever she heard that name, "Today is Old Mr. Lu's birthday banquet, and all the distinguished people of Yun City are invited. What right does she have to go there? It would be downright embarrassing!"
Even Ye Jiaorui was only able to attend because of Fu Dongting's reputation.
Sheng Congzhi was only an adopted daughter, and besides, she was secretly married to Fu Yan. The Fu Family would never allow her to show her face publicly.
"Jiaojiao," Sheng Wanrou instructed her carefully, "today will be your first public outing with Dongting. Remember, if there's anything you don't understand, ask him, and make sure you get along well with him, in hopes of marrying into the Fu Family soon."
Ye Jiaorui nodded shyly, "I understand."
...
At 11 a.m., Fu Dongting arrived at the Ye Family's home on time.
Wearing a tailored suit, he looked handsome, gentle, and elegant. The Ye Family was very pleased with him.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two set off in a car.
"Dongting, is sister Zhizhi really not coming to the birthday banquet today?"
"She's not coming."
Ye Jiaorui felt relieved but still purposely asked him, "Is my little uncle too busy to take her? It seems doctors are quite busy, often working overtime even on weekends…"
Fu Dongting replied succinctly, "I have no idea."
Fu Yan lived on his own, and Fu Dongting neither knew nor wanted to know about this little uncle's business.
Upon arriving at the hotel and just stepping out of the elevator, suddenly his phone rang.
Fu Dongting answered the call.
Whatever was said on the other end, he responded urgently, "I'll be right there."
After hanging up, Fu Dongting explained, "Jiaojiao, something urgent has come up, and I have to go. You go ahead into the banquet."
With that, he turned and left.
Ye Jiaorui had no choice but to enter the banquet hall alone, but who would have thought...
"Please show your invitation."
Invitation?
Ye Jiaorui didn't have one.
She explained, "I came with Dongting, but he had to leave due to an emergency..."
"Sorry, no invitation, no entry."
Ye Jiaorui asked, "Don't you recognize me?"
Staff member: "May I know who you are?"
Ye Jiaorui: "!!!"
Yes.
Compared to those grand families of Yun City, the Ye Family could at most be considered nouveau riche, nowhere near the scholarly household of the Lu Family.
But she'd been back at the Ye Family for half a year, had taken on several endorsements, regularly appeared on popular variety shows, not to mention Sheng Wanrou had been constantly introducing her to high society...
Are these people blind?
Can't they recognize her?
At that moment, a familiar voice rang out—
"Lu Huaichen, can you explain this?"
Sheng Congzhi emerged from the elevator and surveyed the grand scene before her with nonchalance.
"What a coincidence," said the young man with a head of radiant silver hair, forcing a smile, "today just happens to be my grandfather's birthday, so I thought I might as well bring you to the birthday banquet."
Sheng Congzhi chuckled, "Why didn't you tell me in advance?"
Lu Huaichen maintained a calm facade, but inside he was panicking, "I was just... so excited to see you that I forgot for a moment."
Sheng Congzhi curved her red lips but said nothing.
Lu Huaichen feared her anger the most and quickly tried to soothe her with sweet words, "Now that we're here, why not meet my grandfather? Don't worry, my grandfather is very approachable..."
"I don't have a gift," Sheng Congzhi interrupted.
Lu Huaichen was prepared, "I have already arranged a gift for you, and besides..."
The future granddaughter-in-law is the best birthday present of all!
Ye Jiaorui's voice suddenly interrupted them, "Zhizhi, what a coincidence! So you're here too."
Sheng Congzhi glanced at her with a cool demeanor.
Compared to her warm enthusiasm, Sheng Congzhi's attitude was as if the two were strangers.
Thus, Lu Huaichen frowned, "Who are you?"
Ye Jiaorui hurriedly introduced herself, "Young President Lu, hello, I am Zhizhi's sister, my name is Ye Jiaorui..."
"Oh," Lu Huaichen said thoughtfully, "you're the long-lost daughter of the Ye Family that was just found?"
Ye Jiaorui smiled and nodded.
The next second.
"She's not that pretty," Lu Huaichen sized her up, his tone sharp and arrogant, "whether in looks or temperament, you're far from Zhizhi! Are the Fu Family blind? Passing over a real pearl and choosing you, a fish-eye bead?"
Ye Jiaorui's cheeks instantly turned red.
"Zhizhi, let's go," Lu Huaichen tilted his head to signal.
"Zhizhi, sister!" Ye Jiaorui called out shamelessly, "Brother Dongting is held up and will come later, can you take me inside? I don't have an invitation, and I can't get through on the phone..."
Sheng Congzhi stopped in her tracks, retorting sarcastically, "Who is your sister? Do I know you?"
Ye Jiaorui was incredulous, "Zhizhi, sister, how can you be like this..."
"How am I?" Sheng Congzhi's eyebrows arched elegantly, a slight lift revealing even more devilish charm in her smile, "I'm just a celebrity from the entertainment industry, I'm not influential enough to bring you into the Lu Family's birthday banquet. Want to get in? Find whoever brought you here."
Lu Huaichen even instructed the staff, "Today is my grandfather's birthday celebration, but it's not just about wishing him longevity. My eldest brother is approaching a milestone birthday, and my second brother is also twenty-seven, so you all need to be vigilant. Don't let just any Tom, Dick, or Harry in. Did everyone get that?"
The crowd responded in unison, "We got it."
Ye Jiaorui was so angry she nearly bit through her lip.
What was Lu Huaichen implying?
Was he lumping her in with those women trying to opportunistically cling to the high and mighty?
This was outright bullying!
...
The banquet hall was already filled with people.
Men and women had dressed to the nines, especially the young ladies in various couture gowns, radiant and lively as a flock of warblers and swallows.
In comparison, Sheng Congzhi, dressed in a sky-blue bespoke dress, seemed somewhat casual.
But with her naturally photogenic structure, plus the face that, even behind sunglasses, dazzled with beauty, she nearly stole the spotlight as she entered the hall, catching the attention of many.
"Brother Chen!"
Fu Yuting, dressed in a light green gown, sprinted over.
"Yuting?" Lu Huaichen was surprised, "When did you return to the country?"
Fu Yuting, however, turned her gaze to the woman beside him, her eyes filled with hostility, "Brother Chen, who is she?"