This year’s Chengrong Group Spring Banquet was held at a hotel in Central District.

Since Du Chengrong said he would announce the competition results at the Spring Banquet, Xia Xiaolan had to attend.

Being involved to this extent, not daring to attend a single meal would be like covering one’s ears while stealing a bell.

“Xia Ziyu will appear at the Spring Banquet.”

While others might keep a low profile during pregnancy, Xia Ziyu wasn’t that type of person.

Having become Du Chengrong’s fifth mistress, how could she maintain a low profile?

Du Zhaohui felt quite awkward – this topic reminded him of his foolish moves. Too embarrassing, better to skip over it quickly.

“Ah Hua, have you found anything about Du Zhaoqi’s recent movements?”

“Young Master—”

Xia Xiaolan shook her head, “No need to rush now. Wait until Chairman Du announces the results. Regardless of who wins or loses, Du Zhaoqi will only have time for other matters then. We can keep a close eye on him at that time.”

Ye Xiaoqiong wasn’t as important as this competition. Du Zhaoqi had invested so much to win these 5% group shares; his attention was entirely focused on who would win or lose.

Xia Xiaolan let Du Zhaohui go to the hotel first.

Nobody bothered changing clothes – the notion of respecting clothes before people would never apply to Du Zhaohui. Everyone in the company knew he was the Young Master.

And recently, he was the Young Master riding high!

At the hotel, Du Zhaohui received an enthusiastic welcome, with many people gathering to talk to him.

They actively sought connections with Du Zhaohui, flattering him.

Xia Xiaolan made a gesture suggesting they split up, successfully slipping away with Little You.

“You’re Miss Xia, right? Chairman Du instructed us to arrange a seat for you.”

The event host led Xia Xiaolan to the front two tables. One table seated some of Du Chengrong’s friends, while the adjacent table was for Du’s family members.

Earlier, people had dismissed Xia Xiaolan as Du Zhaohui’s decorative female companion, not taking her seriously.

Now they were all suspicious.

What background did she have to be seated there?!

Being just the Young Master’s companion definitely wouldn’t qualify.

Because even the Young Master wouldn’t sit at that table. While not everyone at the table was a super tycoon, they all had their achievements. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be invited as friends to the company’s Spring Banquet – what qualifications did Xia Xiaolan have to sit in such a position?!

The guests at that table were also surprised, as none of them knew Xia Xiaolan.

But they wouldn’t question it publicly.

Only those lacking sophistication would do that.

Their proper approach would be to make conversation and figure out Xia Xiaolan’s identity.

Soon, a female guest at the same table initiated a conversation with Xia Xiaolan.

At the adjacent table sat the Du family members who had arrived earlier.

Liu Keying was very vigilant.

She initially thought Xia Xiaolan was Du Zhaohui’s companion.

It would be unseemly for Du Chengrong to compete with his son for a woman, though Liu Keying felt Xia Xiaolan looked somewhat familiar.

Liu Tianquan’s eyes remained fixed on Xia Xiaolan until she was seated.

Liu Keying became annoyed:

“Brother, you still have the mood to look at women right now? What’s this woman’s background? I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere before…”

“I know her. Her name is Xia Xiaolan, from Pengcheng. Du Zhaohui used her to establish connections with Pengcheng’s mayor!”

Liu Tianquan was very irritated.

Wasn’t his judgment better than Du Zhaohui’s?

He had wanted to build relationships with Liu Yong and Xia Xiaolan early on, but they were both very guarded against him. Later, when he was called back to Hong Kong to take over the Du family’s smuggling business, matters in Pengcheng naturally fizzled out.

Liu Tianquan didn’t want to care about people like Liu Yong and Xia Xiaolan who rejected his overtures anymore, but since he had become mortal enemies with Du Zhaohui, he had to keep track of Du Zhaohui’s movements in Pengcheng.

Consequently, he also knew who Du Zhaohui was close to.

While he wasn’t entirely clear about how much influence Xia Xiaolan had on Chengrong Plaza’s establishment, Liu Tianquan did know that Du Zhaohui and Xia Xiaolan were close.

Along with that, he also knew Xia Xiaolan’s backing.

Liu Keying looked curious, and Liu Tianquan didn’t keep her in suspense:

“I watch her not because she’s beautiful. Although her surname is Xia, she’s Pengcheng Mayor Tang Hong’en’s stepdaughter. Through her connections, Du Zhaohui got the green light in Pengcheng!”

Such people, having risen through nepotism themselves, assume everyone else’s success comes the same way.

They ignore others’ efforts and hard work, attributing all success to “having connections.”

Hearing her brother’s words, Liu Keying immediately gritted her teeth:

“No wonder I disliked her at first sight.”

Anyone who helped Du Zhaohui was naturally her enemy!

The Second Mistress sat at the same table, calmly drinking tea while listening to the Liu siblings’ conversation.

After the Liu siblings stopped allying with the second branch, they cut off their own eyes and ears. The Second Mistress had also recognized Xia Xiaolan and knew she and Xia Ziyu were cousins, but Liu Keying and Liu Tianquan didn’t know.

The Second Mistress certainly wouldn’t remind Liu Keying.

However, she also didn’t understand why Xia Xiaolan was not only attending the company’s Spring Banquet but was seated at the adjacent table – that was a premium seat at the banquet.

While she was puzzling over this, her son Du Zhaoqi strode over.

“Mother!”

“Darling, will you sit next to me?”

The Second Mistress glanced at the adjacent table, and Du Zhaoqi reassured his mother: “It’s fine. Miss Xia earned that seat through her ability. I see that Father truly values Miss Xia’s capabilities. It’s a pity she has a fiancé, otherwise, Father might have matched her with Big Brother.”

Liu Keying and Liu Tianquan were all ears.

Had something happened that they didn’t know about?

But Du Zhaoqi wouldn’t say more.

Liu Keying wanted to go crazy.

This was the aftermath of falling out of favor. Previously, when Du Chengrong loved spending time with her, she naturally understood his thoughts.

Now that Du Chengrong had new favorites, Liu Keying rarely saw him once in half a month – how could she have any chance to communicate with him?

Du Chengrong’s movements.

What Du Chengrong was thinking.

Du Chengrong’s views of others.

She had no way to know any of it anymore. She had become blind and deaf, a failure mocked by the media. After some time, would she have to become invisible like the Third Mistress to survive in the Du family?

No, she was different from the Third Mistress. She still had her brother Liu Tianquan to rely on.

Liu Keying’s grip on her cup tightened involuntarily.

She would not allow herself to follow in the Third Mistress’s footsteps!

At the Du family table, undercurrents surged.

Xia Xiaolan was very popular at the adjacent table. When others showed goodwill, she couldn’t coldly reject them. It wasn’t bad to make more acquaintances in Hong Kong – though these people were Du Chengrong’s friends, not all of them were involved in the underworld.

“What are you all discussing? Seems engaging?”

Du Zhaohui broke free from the enthusiastic flattery and sat down next to Xia Xiaolan.

It seemed the adjacent table was where Du Zhaohui should have been sitting, but he was never one to follow rules strictly.

Before Xia Xiaolan could respond, there was a commotion at the entrance. Du Chengrong had arrived, with a young woman on his arm, dressed luxuriously in jewels and finery, making a grand entrance.