Jiang Qing’s pretty little face turned slightly pale, and she nodded awkwardly towards Jian Xi, her expression full of embarrassnt. "Sorry, I didn’t realize Miss Jian was here."
Ha!
Putting on an act. Jian Xi simply didn’t believe she was truly unaware of her presence.
"My friend is just talking nonsense. This is your seat; how could I possibly compete with you for it?"
Listen to that. So gentle, so endearing. What a classic "green tea" performance. Especially when paired with her delicate deanor in that high-end, custom-made, snow-white dress, any man would see Jiang Qing as a kind-hearted and amiable beauty, particularly with Yaoyao serving as her foil.
"Since you know your place and that you can’t compete with , stop letting your friend spout nonsense here. You’re both making fools of yourselves. Get lost."
Jian Xi proudly tilted her chin up, showing no rcy to Jiang Qing, who had clearly co looking for trouble.
Jiang Qing was utterly stunned.
She had never imagined that Jian Xi—who had always been polite and courteous to her out of consideration for Si Yuhuan—would speak to her with such an attitude in front of everyone.
She couldn’t react for a long mont.
That Yaoyao flared up. "How can you be so domineering? Even if you’re Si Yuhuan’s wife, you can’t talk to our ngng like that! She’s Si Yuhuan’s favorite right now!"
"A mistress, you an?" Jian Xi asked with a smile that could infuriate soone to death.
Jiang Qing trembled, glancing around. She felt like everyone was sneering at her.
Her face turned livid, then deathly pale, her expression gradually contorting.
"Vulgar!" Yaoyao fud, her eyes bulging with anger like a goldfish’s.
Jian Xi’s lips curled into a smirk. "What? Am I wrong?"
She looked at Jiang Qing. "You knew I was here. You ca looking for , didn’t you?"
At a fashion show like this, seats are booked in advance, marked with the nas of the attending families or estates. Jiang Qing ca here and, instead of going anywhere else, specifically demanded a seat in the main front row. Who else could she be targeting if not ? This Yaoyao is just an idiot being used as a pawn.
Jiang Qing is either targeting or my mother, Jian Xi thought. Such vicious intent is unforgivable! In the past, she would have feigned magnanimity and virtue, refusing to stoop to Jiang Qing’s level. But now, reborn, Jian Xi refused to endure such grievances again. Today, she was determined to teach Jiang Qing a lesson.
"Jian Xi, you’re far too hostile towards ." Jiang Qing pursed her lips, looking aggrieved, and added, "Yaoyao, let’s go."
A strategic retreat, Jian Xi noted.
Yaoyao, however, got even more worked up. "With how much Si Yuhuan dotes on you, ngng, why can’t you sit in the main front row? This spot has the best view! We can pick out more things we like. Have you forgotten the black card Si Yuhuan gave you? It’s a global limited edition; you can swipe it as much as you want!"
She deliberately spoke very loudly, ensuring many people heard her clearly.
Instead of getting angry, Jian Xi laughed.
"What are you laughing at?" Jiang Qing’s lips tightened. She had a bad feeling; perhaps she shouldn’t have co today at all.
Jian Xi indeed did not disappoint her. The very next second, she called her exclusive bank account manager. "Hello, this is Jian Xi, Si Yuhuan’s wife. Please cancel the black card issued under his na."
Jiang Qing’s eyes widened in shock.
Jian Xi actually canceled her card in public! That was the black card Si Yuhuan had given her, the one with no spending limit!
Jiang Qing was so furious she nearly fainted on the spot.
Jiang Qing must be out of her mind, Jian Xi thought, to choose such a public venue to repeatedly stomp on my last nerve.
The wealthy ladies present tried to make themselves inconspicuous, not daring to listen in on the scandalous drama unfolding within the city’s richest family.
Jiang Qing’s lips trembled, and tears stread down her face in an instant. "Jian Xi, you’ve misunderstood! I truly don’t want to steal Yuhan from you. I’ve said it so many tis: he should treat you well. You are Mrs. Si..."
As she spoke, her sobbing intensified, as if she had suffered so terrible injustice, making it seem like Jian Xi was the one bullying her.
Yaoyao chid in indignantly, "She only beca Mrs. Si because she sched against Si Yuhuan!"
Everyone in Beijing’s high society knew the story of Jian Xi and Si Yuhuan. Jian Xi had shalessly pursued him for nearly ten years, finally succeeding in becoming Mrs. Si through her machinations, but Si Yuhuan didn’t love her. This was common gossip, usually discussed in hushed tones. But today, it was all laid bare, as if a paper window had been pierced, letting a harsh, stinging wind blow through, making everyone’s face ache.
Yaoyao, intimidated by the icy aura emanating from Jian Xi, took a few steps back and grabbed Jiang Qing’s hand. "Let’s go sit sowhere else."
The re sight of their faces made Jian Xi feel nauseous. She couldn’t possibly tolerate them strutting around the fashion show any longer.
She directly summoned the bodyguards. "Throw these two out."
The bodyguards promptly removed the pair from the third-floor venue.
Even outside, Yaoyao stood by the entrance, still grumbling.
Jian Xi could faintly hear Jiang Qing consoling Yaoyao, while simultaneously lanting how utterly humiliated she herself felt and how she’d never be able to face anyone again.
In short, Jiang Qing played the pitiful, persecuted victim to perfection.
A buzz of discussion rippled through the crowd. Even if most didn’t dare to speak loudly, there were always so loose-tongued gossips.
The gossip generally fell into two categories.
First, there were the sarcastic, passive-aggressive comnts:
"Wow, what a domineering woman! No wonder Director Si doesn’t want to go ho and looks for other won outside. If I were a man, I’d be a little scared of her too."
"Which successful man doesn’t have a few mistresses on the side? Director Si is actually quite devoted, only fancying that one. Honestly, so people should have stepped aside and made way for the more worthy one long ago. Why torture herself by clinging to a man like that? She’s just asking for misery."
Then there were those who sympathized from a woman’s standpoint:
"Why should the legally wedded wife, the true mistress of the household, have to give way to a howrecker?"
"Exactly! So won are so shaless, coming here like this. I really don’t know what goes on in their heads. Are they trying to flaunt their position? If it were , I’d slap them a few tis just to vent my anger!"
Just then, soone else chid in, "Don’t you all know? The one Director Si has always truly liked is *her*!" (implying Jiang Qing). "This current wife used underhanded ans to secure her position. Who the *real* howrecker is, well, that’s debatable!"
"Oh, is that so! No wonder I’ve never seen Director Si bring *his wife* to any important events!"
"Exactly! I’ve only ever seen Miss Jiang Qing by Director Si’s side. If you ask , they’re a talented man and a beautiful woman—a perfect match. They’re bound to end up together sooner or later."
Yaoyao quickly nodded in agreent. "Si Yuhuan said he will definitely marry our ngng!"
Jiang Qing didn’t deny it. She rely inclined her head, standing aside with a seemingly demure expression, though an endless hatred seethed in the depths of her eyes.
If Jian Xi dared to humiliate her like this today, she would find a way to pay her back tenfold, a hundredfold!
Little did she know, Jian Xi was thinking the exact sa thing.
Hearing that Jiang Qing might one day beco the next Mrs. Si—and supposedly the one Si Yuhuan truly cherished—this group of socialites beca even more desperate to curry favor with her. Of course, they were eager to build connections.
It would make things easier for them in the future. Perhaps their own husbands, pleased with these connections, would give them more money, allowing them to buy even more luxury goods.
Jiang Qing savored the feeling of these people fawning over her, treating her as if she were already Mrs. Si. It was as if the sting from Jian Xi’s earlier verbal barbs had been completely washed away.
Just as Jiang Qing was about to say sothing more, a team of bodyguards erged and made a clear ushering gesture towards her and Yaoyao. "Apologies, but please leave the fashion show."
"On what grounds?" This ti, it was Jiang Qing who growled.
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