Chapter 10: The Gathering Ends on a Sour Note!

When everyone saw Jiang Xinhui’s shocked expression, they immediately assumed that Fu Yue’s clothes were fake. A few of the girls who were usually mocked by her seized the chance to ridicule her:

“Fu Yue, you’re always obsessed with luxury brands, constantly talking about them. Do you truly appreciate their quality, or are you just addicted to the vanity of flaunting that logo? Only people who are empty inside try to cover it up with clothes and accessories.”

“Fu Yue, I might not be able to afford this 80,000 yuan outfit, but I’d never stoop to buying counterfeits. I’d be too scared of being exposed and embarrassed. If you can afford it, fine, if not—just let it go. Wouldn’t it be better to live with some dignity? Honestly, I’m exhausted just watching you!”

“Fu Yue, were you planning to scam Qiao Qiao out of over 80,000 yuan with a fake? Strictly speaking, that’s fraud. If Qiao Qiao really decided to pursue it and report you to the police, you might…”

“This outfit of Fu Yue’s is real.”

Before they could finish, Jiang Xinhui interrupted and clarified.

“Real?”

The girls who had just mocked Fu Yue were momentarily stunned, confusion quickly spreading among them.

“Xinhui, if it’s real, then why were you so shocked earlier?”

“That’s… that’s because…” Jiang Xinhui clutched her phone, looking like she wanted to say more but was hesitant.

Fu Yue’s eyes narrowed sharply, and a wave of terror flashed across her pale face.

Sensing something was off, a few nosy onlookers quickly gathered around Jiang Xinhui and keenly glanced at her chat history with the sales associate.

After reading it, they turned to Fu Yue, astonished, and questioned her:
“Fu Yue, this outfit was bought by Mu Silan?”

“Mu Silan? Isn’t he the CEO of the Mu Group? He’s infamous throughout Beijing as a womanizer! He’s got a wife and kids and is almost fifty! Fu Yue, why would your clothes be bought by Mu Silan? How do you explain that?”

Fu Yue’s mind went blank. Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.

“Fu Yue, are you being kept by Mu Silan?”

As soon as those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the room froze. Everyone stared at her, waiting for her answer.

Fu Yue, her secret exposed, stiffened completely. Her face turned ashen, filled with humiliation and rage, thoroughly embarrassed.

Seeing everyone’s eyes fixed on her, her entire body started trembling uncontrollably. After a moment of silence, she suddenly looked at Song Qiao and snapped viciously:
“Song Qiao, this is all because of you. Just wait—I’ll make sure you pay for this!”

With that, she shoved past the crowd, grabbed her Chanel handbag from the chair, and hurried out. But after only a few steps, someone called out to her.

“Fu Yue, do you still want this Chanel jacket? If not, I’m tossing it in the trash. None of us are lucky enough to wear something this expensive anyway!”

Mocked again, Fu Yue spun around, yanked the jacket back, and retorted indignantly:
“Even being a kept woman takes looks and skills.”

Then she stormed off quickly. As she passed Xie Yanli, she subtly furrowed her brows.

Fu Yue’s words indirectly confirmed that she was indeed kept by Mu Silan. After she left, everyone shook their heads and jeered:
“These days, even mistresses act so righteously. Society is really going downhill—no bottom line at all.”

“Exactly! I don’t know if she’s starved for love or just shameless—being a mistress to a man old enough to be her father!”

Perhaps because Fu Yue’s situation was so shocking, everyone kept gossiping about her until Shen Huaichuan returned, and only then did the discussion die down.

Shen Huaichuan had just gone to the bathroom and had no idea what had transpired. He assumed everyone was waiting for him and asked everyone to sit back down and continue the game.

Everyone returned to their seats, and surprisingly, the usually unruly Xie Yanli also calmly sat back in his place.

Next, one of the girls smiled sweetly and said,
“I’m about to get married soon—what about you all?”

Xie Yanli subconsciously glanced at Song Qiao, who stood up and slightly curled her lips:
“I’m also about to get married.”

As soon as she said that, the atmosphere in the room froze again. Everyone exchanged looks and whispered,
“Song Qiao is getting married?”

They all tacitly glanced at Xie Yanli, trying to read his expression—but his face remained emotionless. He simply tilted his head back and downed his glass of liquor in one gulp.

Jiang Xinhui, of course, knew about Song Qiao’s fiancé. She had deliberately prompted the girl earlier to make Song Qiao reveal this information. Her real goal was to remind Xie Yanli again and make him completely give up any unrealistic hopes about Song Qiao.

Sensing the awkwardness in the air, she quickly smiled at Song Qiao and said:
“Song Qiao, we’re all friends here. When you get married, be sure to send us an invitation so we can share in the joy.”

Song Qiao didn’t have a good impression of Jiang Xinhui and naturally didn’t want to see her at her wedding. As she was thinking of how to refuse her, Xie Yanli spoke slowly and calmly:
“That’s right. Those of us who are single should definitely go soak up some of that happiness.”

With that remark, Jiang Xinhui’s expression instantly darkened. Xie Yanli had seen through her little scheme and slapped her face in front of everyone.

It was only then that everyone realized Xie Yanli and Jiang Xinhui weren’t together, sparking another uproar.

Song Qiao felt a faint confusion in her heart. Back then, the two of them clearly…

But she quickly composed herself—just because they weren’t together now didn’t mean they weren’t together before.

Shen Huaichuan glanced at Xie Yanli, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes.

The atmosphere in the room became awkward and tense. After another round of the game, Shen Huaichuan checked the time and decided to call it a night and end the gathering.

Having been publicly embarrassed, Jiang Xinhui had no face to stay any longer. She exchanged a few polite words and left. Everyone else also said goodbye to Xie Yanli and took their leave.

In the end, only Xie Yanli, Shen Huaichuan, and Song Qiao remained. Song Qiao didn’t intend to stay late either, but her car was in the shop, so she could only hail a taxi. However, it was already late and taxis were hard to come by.

Shen Huaichuan grabbed her arm and said,
“Qiao Qiao, it’s too late for a woman to be hailing cabs alone. Let Yanli give you a ride home.”

Song Qiao instinctively looked at Xie Yanli. Between his fingers was a dim ember of a cigarette; the rising smoke blurred his sharp features, and a cold, unapproachable air radiated from him.

She subconsciously tightened her trench coat and thought to herself, I don’t want to be frozen to death by Xie Yanli’s icy glare. Better safe than sorry—I’ll just hail a cab.

Knowing Shen Huaichuan’s personality, she quickly thought up an excuse and smiled:
“No need, senior. I already called my fiancé earlier. He’ll be here soon. Parking’s tough around here, so I’ll go meet him up front. Goodbye, senior!”

Before Shen Huaichuan could respond, she briskly walked away.

Shen Huaichuan watched her leave, then turned to Xie Yanli and said:
“Xie Yanli, for heaven’s sake, if you keep dragging your feet with Qiao Qiao, you two are about to become parallel lines forever. If you stall any longer, all my hard work will go to waste—and worse, Qiao Qiao might think I’m the one secretly in love with her!”

Seeing that Xie Yanli still looked indifferent, he gritted his teeth and scolded:
“Xie Yanli, just go kiss her, hug her against the wall, tell her that even bitter fruit is still fruit—you just want a good ending with her. I don’t believe Qiao Qiao doesn’t feel anything for you!”

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