Chapter 33

But everyone’s jaws nearly dropped in shock.

Everyone knew that Bo Jinxiu didn’t care for any of the socialites in the capital because he was secretly devoted to one woman. For her, he had even remained celibate, living like a monk. To avoid his father’s arranged marriage, he had even moved to Rongcheng, a small city a thousand miles away from the capital.

Indeed.

Bo Jinxiu had lived in Rongcheng for three years, half for the Heaven Resort project and the other half because his father had arranged a marriage with Xue Qin, the only daughter of one of the prominent families in the capital, the Xue family.

“Girlfriend? How could you have a girlfriend? Are you betraying me?”

Bo Jinxiu’s lips curled slightly, but his eyes remained cold. “My having a girlfriend has nothing to do with you.”

“Bo Jinxiu, I am your fiancée.”

“I never acknowledged that.”

“You know very well that my father values me the most. He has already proposed privately to my family; it’s just not publicly announced.”

Bo Jinxiu’s lips curled disdainfully. “If it’s decided by my father, then you can marry her.”

The girl looked at the man in disbelief. “Bo Jinxiu, you have no heart.”

As the argument seemed about to escalate, Xue Tao hurriedly intervened. “Qin Qin, your marriage is not yet confirmed, so stop causing trouble.”

Xue Qin, furious, said, “Brother, who are you really helping? Are you going to let your brother-in-law keep other mistresses outside?”

Brother-in-law?

He wouldn’t dare think of Bo Jinxiu as his brother-in-law.

Xue Tao walked up to Bo Jinxiu. “Ah Xiu, she is my sister. Do me a favor and don’t make things difficult for her.”

After saying that, Xue Tao turned to Jiang Ciyou, his eyes showing admiration. “Oh, it’s Reporter Jiang. We met at the Royal Golf Club last time.”

Jiang Ciyou responded gracefully. “I happened to be here for dinner. I heard it’s Mr. Xue’s birthday today, so I came over for a piece of cake and to share in the celebration.”

Xue Tao was pleased. “It’s an honor for Reporter Jiang to grace us with your presence.”

Everyone in the room, all of Bo Jinxiu’s childhood friends, looked at Jiang Ciyou with meaningful glances, speculating about Bo Jinxiu’s intentions for bringing her here. Was he unable to tolerate the Second Miss Xue’s harassment or had he truly decided to move on from Miss Shen and not be a chaste gentleman?

Regardless of the reason, as the Crown Prince’s acknowledged girlfriend, just those three words could guarantee her a life of wealth and honor.

Xue Qin, however, was seething with anger.

At the old lady’s birthday banquet, Bo Jinxiu had ignored her entirely. She had even given up an opportunity to study abroad just to see him, traveling all the way to this small city. To her dismay, he had brought a woman and publicly declared her as his girlfriend.

Such a slap in the face! If the socialites in the capital found out, she would surely become a laughingstock.

Sitting on the sofa, Xue Qin glared at Jiang Ciyou, who was sitting at the table, enjoying mahjong with a group of men. Jiang Ciyou smiled charmingly, adeptly socializing, and Bo Jinxiu was sitting beside her, doting on her and even peeling fruit for her.

The Crown Prince himself had never behaved like this for any woman.

Jealousy and anger burned fiercely in Xue Qin’s heart.

In the end, she couldn’t hold back. Taking advantage of Bo Jinxiu’s brief absence to answer a phone call, she grabbed a piece of cake and walked towards Jiang Ciyou.

Everyone in the room was occupied with their own activities and didn’t notice her.

She took step after step until she reached Jiang Ciyou’s back. Raising her hand, she intended to smash the cake onto Jiang Ciyou’s head.

But the woman at the mahjong table seemed to have eyes on the back of her head.

At the very moment the cake was about to land, she suddenly stood up, and her shoulder bumped right into Xue Qin’s elbow. Her arm was knocked upward, and a huge piece of cake ended up smothering her own face.

Xue Qin’s face and hair were completely covered in cake.

Furious, she shouted, “You vixen, you did this on purpose!”

She then tried to grab Jiang Ciyou’s hair.

Jiang Ciyou, having practiced sanda, easily evaded her attempts. Xue Qin ended up crashing into the table and tripping over a bottle on the floor, looking quite disheveled.

The men playing mahjong looked at each other, hesitant to intervene. One was the birthday girl’s sister, and the other was the Crown Prince’s girlfriend. Helping either would offend the other. Besides, Xue Qin was notoriously arrogant in the capital.

They decided to just watch the show.

It was clear that Xue Qin was no match for Jiang Ciyou. While Jiang Ciyou appeared to be merely dodging, she clearly had some skills, and her movements even had an air of grace.

In contrast, Xue Qin’s attacks were becoming increasingly frantic, and she had a big bump on her forehead.

At this moment, Bo Jinxiu walked in.

Jiang Ciyou quickly moved behind him, her face showing a hint of grievance. “Ah Xiu, Miss Xue seems to be drunk.”

Her voice was sweet and plaintive, with a touch of coquettishness, as if she were pouting.

The people around couldn’t help but feel their hearts soften.

But it completely infuriated Xue Qin. “Vixen, are you calling him ‘Ah Xiu’ too? Today, I’m going to rip your mouth apart.”

Xue Qin charged at Jiang Ciyou, attempting to slap her.

Bo Jinxiu intercepted her arm. “Xue Qin, don’t go too far, or don’t blame me for not giving your brother face.”

The atmosphere suddenly grew cold.

Xue Qin was trembling with anger. “Ah Xiu, can’t you see she’s bullying me? Look at my face, and here, here.”

Xue Qin pointed at the bump on her forehead and the cut on her knee from the bottle, tears of grievance flowing.

Bo Jinxiu merely turned to Jiang Ciyou. “Are you hurt?”

Jiang Ciyou shook her head, looking as docile as a cat. “I’m so scared. I want to go home.”

Bo Jinxiu took her hand. “Alright, let’s leave now.”

With that, Bo Jinxiu led Jiang Ciyou out.

Xue Qin sat on the floor, crying loudly.

Xue Tao shook his head from the sofa, having purposely refrained from intervening when Xue Qin approached.

But Xue Qin was no match for Jiang Ciyou, whether in strategy or skill. It was a clear and crushing defeat.

It was evident that Jiang Ciyou had handled Xue Qin with ease, like walking a dog.

That woman was not simple.

Outside the private room, Jiang Ciyou tossed her wavy hair and glanced at the man with a hint of challenge in her eyes.

“Were you satisfied with my performance?”

Bo Jinxiu chuckled. “You turned the birthday girl’s sister into that state at a birthday party and are asking if I’m satisfied?”

Jiang Ciyou shook her head, clicking her tongue. “You’re really something. For a high-society young lady, a friend’s sister—if you don’t want to tear things apart, you need a vixen to shift the blame for the broken engagement onto someone else and thoroughly dishearten Miss Xue so she’ll stop pestering.”

The interests between these prominent families were complex, and they needed to maintain face for both sides.

Since the engagement was already set, if Bo Jinxiu wanted to call it off, someone needed to take the blame.

She was naturally the best candidate.

That way, even if the Xue family had grievances, they would only direct their anger at her as the “vixen,” rather than at Bo Jinxiu, the person involved.

Bo Jinxiu chuckled lightly, saying nothing.

She seemed to be thinking too much.