Chapter 23.1

In the blink of an eye, it was Mother Jin’s birthday. On that day, Su Qian dressed up very beautifully, specifically wearing an AMN haute couture dress to make a grand appearance.

Jin Lie looked at her excited look and raised his eyebrows, “Why are you even more excited than my mom?”

Su Qian gave the simplest reason: “Because I like to attend banquets.”

At the venue, Su Qian took out a carefully prepared gift for Mother Jin. Mother Jin opened it in front of everyone and was instantly overjoyed.

“It’s so beautiful, I really like it, thank you, Qianqian.”

Su Qian replied obediently, “No need to thank me, mom, as long as you like it.”

Mother Jin’s close friends were all envious.

“Su Qian is not only beautiful but also considerate, Ah Lie is really lucky.”

“Who can say otherwise, I don’t see anyone in this entire venue who looks better than her. She and your family’s Jin Lie are truly a match made in heaven.”

“My goodness, I can hardly believe it, Xin Yun was really played by your family’s Su Qian? She acted so well that it brought tears to my eyes!” A close friend laughed and requested, “Could Su Qian take a photo with me later?”

“Are you here to attend the banquet or to chase stars?”

Mother Jin couldn’t stop smiling, carefully put away Su Qian’s gift, and said proudly, “You only now realize how excellent my Qianqian is?”

Su Qian, arm in arm with Mother Jin, pretended to be shy. She gave Jin Lie a triumphant look—

See, I’m giving you face!

Jin Lie raised his eyebrows and looked away nonchalantly.

“Qingya, happy birthday!”

A few steps away, Mother Zhou and Zhou Bingyan walked over side by side. The latter glanced at Jin Lie affectionately as she passed him.

Mother Jin nodded, with a polite smile on her face, “Thank you.”

“Godmother, this is a gift I specially picked for you, I hope you like it.”

Zhou Bingyan glanced at Su Qian contemptuously and confidently handed the gift to Mother Jin.

Mother Zhou laughed and said, “Yanyan has almost lost all her hair picking this gift, she thinks about it every day when she eats and sleeps.”

“That must be some extraordinary gift, Qingya, open it and let us see.”

“Yes, indeed, I’m curious too.”

Under the expectant gaze of everyone, Mother Jin slowly opened the red velvet gift box. The ten-carat diamond ring on her hand shone brilliantly under the light, making the much-anticipated gift seem so insignificant in comparison.

“Another pair of jade earrings?”

“Didn’t this clash with Su Qian’s gift?”

“But Su Qian’s is obviously better…”

Zhou Bingyan’s smile gradually froze amidst the chatter, rigid until it cracked.

She stared at Su Qian in disbelief, how could she know what gift she was giving?!

Su Qian stood by, with a “what a coincidence” expression on her face, saying, “Miss Zhou really has a heart-to-heart connection with me. Even the gifts we give are so similar, it seems our tastes are quite consistent.”

She deliberately emphasized the word “similar”, and everyone present understood without saying. The pair of earrings from Su Qian were obviously of better quality and variety, which she had someone bid for at an auction at a high price. There was only one pair in the world.

As for what Zhou Bing Yan gave, it didn’t look bad, it was just relatively ordinary.

Mother Zhou’s face stiffened, and she could only laugh awkwardly, “What a coincidence. All the expensive things are given as gifts.”

The first gift was novel, the second became redundant.

Mother Jin casually handed the gift to a servant to put away, and politely said to Zhou Bingyan and her mother, “I’m going to greet the guests with Su Qian, you two make yourselves comfortable.”

Zhou Bingyan stared at their retreating figures, and gritted her teeth in hatred.

Su Qian accompanied Mother Jin to greet the guests. Her demeanor throughout was generous, calm, and elegant, winning the admiration of everyone.

Mother Jin was very satisfied, so happy that she couldn’t stop smiling, “Today, it’s all thanks to you for supporting me.”

“Mom, don’t praise me. Where do you need me to support you?” Su Qian said with a smile, “Wherever you stand, there is the scene.”

Mother Jin laughed so hard that her teeth were visible but not her eyes, “You really know how to talk.”

In the corner, Zhou Bingyan watched as Su Qian took all the limelight, so angry that she was almost fuming.

When she wasn’t there, the person next to Mother Jin was her, and the person next to Jin Lie was also her!

Now they’ve all been taken by Su Qian.

Seeing her gloomy face, Mother Zhou also looked very bad, “What did you do, even the gift you gave clashed with Su Qian’s?!”

“I’m already very annoyed, can you not mention this?!”

Su Qian definitely did it on purpose! She originally wanted to win a round of Mother Jin’s favor, but she ended up making a wedding dress for that wretched person. From just now until now, this breath has been suffocating in her heart, and it always reminds her in her ear that she lost, is it going to blow her up before she is willing?!

“Do you think only you are losing face?” Mother Zhou said unhappily, “You have to use your brain in everything you do. If one side doesn’t work, won’t you go the other way?”

“What other way?” Zhou Bingyan was impatient.

Now wherever she goes is a dead end.

Mother Zhou glanced around and suddenly lowered her voice, “Didn’t you see Jin Lie is there by himself now? Just remember one thing, no man in the world can resist temptation.”

“But…”

“There’s nothing to but about! If you want to marry Jin Lie, you have to figure it out yourself. Otherwise, you might as well focus your attention on others early.”

No matter what method she uses, as long as she gets the person, she doesn’t believe that Su Qian can bear it.

Falling in love with someone else is something Zhou Bingyan has never thought about. Jin Lie is not only her beloved, but more like an obsession. She can’t accept that the person she has been thinking about for so many years is with someone else.

Zhou Bingyan was moved by her mother’s words, picked up a glass of red wine and walked towards Jin Lie.

“Long time no see, have you been busy lately?”

Jin Lie turned his head to look at her and said lightly, “I’m fine.”

He was wearing a tailored suit, with his tie perfectly knotted. His deep-set facial features showed no expression, and his movements exuded a subtle aura of restraint.

Zhou Bingyan was fascinated by his face, and her heart pounding. She took a sip of her wine, feigning nonchalance.

“That day… did Su Qian see the message I sent you? Did she get angry and deliberately give the same gift as me to godmother?”

Jin Lie’s first reaction was when did Zhou Bingyan send him a message? After a slight pause, he remembered Su Qian’s excited little appearance when they set off today, and he understood immediately.

That little drama queen was not excited about attending the banquet, but about enjoying the feeling of crushing others.

She was as cunning as a lotus root. Jin Lie couldn’t help but curve his lips.

Zhou Bingyan: “What are you smiling at?”

“Nothing. I was the one who told her. Su Qian couldn’t think of what gift to give my mom, so I suggested she could buy jewelry. I was too busy later and forgot to tell you, sorry.”

His words were explaining on the surface, but he was defending Su Qian everywhere in secret. Zhou Bingyan found it harsh to her ears, her heart was sour and jealous, but Jin Lie’s simple “sorry” made her unable to get angry.

“……It’s okay.”

Jin Lie was holding a wine glass, occasionally greeting guests. Zhou Bingyan just silently followed him, as if she was his companion for the day.

This thought made her heart flutter uncontrollably. Just then, Su Qian finished accompanying Mother Jin and came over, and her gaze fell on this side.

Zhou Bingyan lowered her eyes, and with an “Oh!” she fell towards Jin Lie.

She thought that in public, Jin Lie wouldn’t let her lose face, he would definitely subconsciously support her or hold her. But things didn’t go as she wished, Jin Lie sidestepped, letting her lean directly on the chair next to the dining table.

Zhou Bingyan felt a lump in her heart, and said pitifully, “I sprained my foot, it hurts so much that I can’t walk.”

Jin Lie put down the wine glass and pulled out a chair, “You sit down first.”

“Thank you.”

Zhou Bingyan happily curled up the corner of her mouth, and glanced provocatively at Su Qian who was surrounded by a group of noble ladies.

“Brother Lie, my foot hurts.”

Jin Lie stood in front of her, and asked lightly, “You said you can’t walk?”

Zhou Bingyan nodded vigorously, “Yes, it hurts.”

“Wait a moment.”

Leaving this sentence behind, Jin Lie turned and left.

On the other side, Su Qian was laughing and chatting in the middle of a group of noble ladies, but her eyes were always staring at Jin Lie’s back.

The scoundrel didn’t come to help her, and he was flirting with that women in public, did he think she was dead?!