Du Zhaohui was serving as a groomsman today, and Lu Yunshi was one of the bridesmaids. It was rare for Miss Lu to be so concerned with Xia Xiaolan that she would make time to cause trouble.
But Xia Xiaolan wasn’t easy to scheme against. He Shi’en, that little traitor, was smitten by the pretty older sister. Today Xia Xiaolan dressed professionally, and He Shi’en found her to have a unique charm – she looked beautiful no matter how she dressed!
Yu Li also stayed close to Xia Xiaolan. As her assistant, she would have her own designated table when the formal banquet began.
He Shi’en was the groom’s brother-in-law. The He family wasn’t giving any shares to He Zhitong upon marriage – everyone knew He Shi’en would inherit the family business. People were surprised to see him eagerly following Xia Xiaolan, known as the owner of ‘Qihang Capital’.
Perhaps the earlier tabloid reports were false.
They had explicitly suggested that Qihang’s owner was involved with both Tang Yuanyue and Du Zhaohui. Seeing Xia Xiaolan today, she was indeed alluring.
But He Shi’en’s closeness to her dampened other people’s wild speculations – what child would be so foolish? If Xia Xiaolan truly had something with Tang Yuanyue, wouldn’t He Shi’en be beating this vixen with a stick rather than being so friendly with his brother-in-law’s lover?
Yu Shihua was also among today’s guests.
She brought two friends, both of whom Xia Xiaolan had met at the spring banquet – they were Du Chengrong’s friends.
Hong Kong was small – Du Chengrong’s friends were also Tang family guests.
“Young Xia has moved from real estate to investment companies – truly young and capable.”
He Shi’en and Yu Shihua sang her praises in harmony, elevating Xia Xiaolan. Word was that even Du Chengrong highly regarded her abilities – those messy rumors must have been spread by bored troublemakers.
Not only was Lu Yunshi disappointed, but Xia Ziyu, who arrived later, was even more so.
Following Du Chengrong’s advice, she had dressed modestly. When Du Chengrong saw Xia Xiaolan, he went forward to greet her, addressing her not as “Little Xia” but as “Director Xia.”
Such respect surprised the guests.
Those present weren’t just thousand-year-old foxes, but eight-hundred-year practitioners.
Somehow, Xia Xiaolan had mysteriously entered their social circle.
Xia Ziyu nearly ground her teeth to powder.
But could Xia Ziyu stop it?
No!
If Du Chengrong hadn’t made her CR Investment’s executive director, she wouldn’t even have qualified to stand nearby and listen to their conversations.
Xia Ziyu discovered she could barely understand what Xia Xiaolan was discussing with these people.
Something about the Asia-Pacific economic situation.
…Who didn’t know whose background? Both grew up in rural Anqing County – what was there to pretend about?
He Shi’en couldn’t understand either.
But he would need to understand eventually. His parents were pleased to see him shamelessly listening to the uncles discussing economic situations instead of fooling around with other young second-generation heirs.
Little did they know He Shi’en just found Xia Xiaolan knowledgeable – not understanding the content didn’t stop him from being entranced by the pretty older sister’s voice.
Yu Shihua suddenly linked arms with Xia Ziyu:
“Fifth Lady, let them discuss business – let’s go sit over there. I’m simple-minded, only knowing how to profit from small business, not understanding the stock market.”
Yu Shihua’s meaning was clear – since Xia Ziyu didn’t understand either, better not stand there awkwardly.
Xia Ziyu wanted to scratch Yu Shihua.
CR Investment was profiting from stocks while Xia Xiaolan’s Qihang Capital was losing money. If she didn’t understand stocks, did Xia Xiaolan?
Yet Xia Xiaolan could chat and laugh with Du Chengrong’s crowd while she had to be dragged away by Yu Shihua.
Xia Xiaolan glanced at her – Xia Ziyu felt it was mockery and ridicule.
She clutched her purse, her face pale with anger.
Yu Shihua dragged Xia Ziyu aside and pressed her into a seat.
“Vivi, last time you helped bid on my brand and personally covered over two million. I’m grateful for your kindness and want to repay you.”
Xia Ziyu forced a smile, “Sister Yu, you’re too formal. It was nothing.”
If she wanted to thank her, she should speak up for her in front of Du Chengrong, not pull her aside!
But Yu Shihua lowered her voice:
“Mr. Du went to see Liu Keying again a few days ago. You know about this, right?”
Xia Ziyu’s smile was slipping.
Yu Shihua sighed, “Earlier, we didn’t know why Mr. Du suddenly drove Fourth Lady out of the Du mansion. Even I thought their marriage was over. Who knew there’d be such a turn of events – Fourth Lady had something to make Mr. Du change his mind. Vivi, I’m truly helping you, I can’t bear to see you kept in the dark… Fourth Lady is pregnant again.”
“Impossible—”
Xia Ziyu blurted out.
Liu Keying had long fallen from favor and even moved out of the Du mansion. Xia Ziyu herself had kept Du Chengrong close, and in his pursuit of novelty, he hadn’t had time for his other women.
Pregnant? How?
Unless Liu Keying found someone else… no, impossible. To pin it on Du Chengrong, they would have needed to be intimate.
Xia Ziyu’s face darkened. She thought of the most likely occasion – after her miscarriage when Du Chengrong questioned those who had caused it in front of her, finally determining Liu Keying was responsible. He went to confront Liu Keying, to settle accounts – was it a confrontation, or a final intimacy?
Xia Ziyu trembled with rage.
She knew Du Chengrong was heartless, but this was too much. While she was grieving her lost child, Du Chengrong was being intimate with the very person who had killed her unborn baby!
And now, knowing her discord with Xia Xiaolan, he was deliberately promoting Xia Xiaolan – where did that leave her?
Xia Ziyu’s lips trembled as she thanked Yu Shihua profusely:
“Sister Yu, thank you. Thank you for telling me this – otherwise, wouldn’t I have been foolishly kept in the dark?”
Yu Shihua patted her hand, “Mr. Du does care for you, don’t act rashly. Mr. Du is very passionate, sometimes favoring the new, sometimes the old – best to get used to it early. Let me be frank with you, all love is hollow. Take care of your health and bear Mr. Du’s children – that’s your future security.”
Xia Ziyu’s heart turned bitter.
She was desperate to get pregnant, but how could she when Du Chengrong wouldn’t touch her?
That shameless Liu Keying, using pregnancy to turn the tables again.
So Du Chengrong bringing her to the wedding wasn’t forgiveness, but because Liu Keying’s pregnancy was too early for public appearances?
Calculating the timing, Liu Keying couldn’t be more than three months along…
As the wedding ceremony was about to begin, Yu Shihua left Xia Ziyu to touch up her makeup in the restroom. Du Zhaohui was outside.
Yu Shihua stopped:
“Zhaohui, I’ve done what you asked, but be careful. Don’t think your father is easily fooled in his old age – I think he might have other plans.”
If not told, Xia Ziyu wouldn’t panic, and without panic, how would she make mistakes?
Du Zhaohui grinned: “Now I believe you were my mother’s good friend. I didn’t lie – my Fourth Mother is pregnant again, and this good news should be shared with my Little Fifth Mother. By the way, I found a lawyer who now lives in Canada, also a former friend of my mother—”
Yu Shihua’s face changed drastically:
“…My abilities are limited. I won’t get involved in this matter, sorry!”