His father was standing right in the center below the stage.

Kouko turned his head and spotted Gu Yanqing speaking elegantly on stage.

Kouko opened his mouth happily and before Qiao Wanqing could react, Kouko joyfully shouted, “Daddy!”

At this moment, besides Gu Yanqing’s speech, there was no other sound in the room.

Even the music had stopped.

So when Kouko shouted “Daddy,” although it wasn’t very loud, it sounded very abrupt.

People sitting at the front tables heard it, and even Gu Yanqing, who was speaking, heard it too.

This “Daddy” in the midst of such a formal and serious speech from the boss was really out of place.

Before anyone could process what happened, they burst into laughter.

Gu Yanqing paused his speech, smiled, and said, “The one who just called me ‘Daddy’ is my son, Gu Mingcong. I apologize for his lack of manners, and I apologize if he caused any embarrassment.”

Originally, Kouko was supposed to be named Gu Siqiao, and all the paperwork was done.

However, this name was too embarrassing for Qiao Wanqing.

Every time she thought about it, she found it hard to say aloud.

So, Gu Yanqing found a way to change his name to Mingcong, which is in the same generation as Yuan Yuan.

Qiao Wanqing didn’t expect Kouko to call out like that.

She politely smiled at her tablemates and quietly said to Kouko, “Daddy is speaking right now. Can you wait to call him ‘Daddy’ later?”

Kouko seemed to partly understand.

At least he didn’t call out “Daddy” again and remained still, seeming to earnestly listen to Gu Yanqing’s speech.

Qiao Wanqing sighed with relief.

Bringing a child to such an occasion really led to unexpected situations.

After Gu Yanqing finished his speech, he announced the start of the banquet, and everyone began to dine.

During the meal, the atmosphere became lively again, and the performances prepared by various departments of their company began.

Qiao Wanqing had never attended such a company event before.

She thought that, being a large company about to go public, the performances might be as exciting and impressive as those on TV.

After all, she had experienced many formal and exciting performances during school celebrations, annual parties, and even graduation ceremonies.

However, she soon realized she had overestimated their sense of propriety.

These senior white-collar professionals, who usually worked behind computers, had little talent for performing.

Their attempts at formal performances were quite awkward for them.

Since singing and dancing weren’t their strong suits, they decided to throw caution to the wind and performed quirky skits, mostly with men cross-dressing.

There were sketches like palace dramas, blind date comedies, and even bizarre dance routines mixed with comedy sketches—definitely not classy or sophisticated.

However, the upside of these quirky performances was that they entertained everyone while they ate, keeping the atmosphere lively.

It avoided situations where some were embarrassed by the performance while others focused solely on eating.

During the anniversary celebration, Gu Yanqing usually led several senior executives to go from table to table, toasting the employees to acknowledge their hard work and dedication to the company.

Some daring employees took the opportunity to pour him a drink, knowing that it wouldn’t be taken badly.

After all, it was their only chance to get their boss to drink with them for the year.

Qiao Wanqing heard them continuously toasting Gu Yanqing and knew he probably wouldn’t be leaving standing straight today.

She thought being a boss wasn’t as easy as it seemed.

As the “boss’s wife,” quite a few people came over to toast her or use Koko as an excuse to get close to her.

She didn’t recognize any of them, but she smiled politely anyway.

By the end of the evening, her face felt stiff from smiling so much.

Some even struck up conversations and asked for her WeChat.

Qiao Wanqing worried that her WeChat moments were filled with rural life snapshots.

While Gu Yanqing probably wouldn’t mind, it wouldn’t look good.

It would be impolite to block them, so she claimed she rarely used WeChat and didn’t have any contacts added.

Qiao Wanqing wasn’t used to so much attention and struggled to keep up with everyone who came to talk to her.

Just as she was thinking of an excuse to step away and check on Kouko, who seemed happily playing with another girl, she noticed Gu Yanqing returning after finishing his rounds of toasts.

“Are you done drinking?” Qiao Wanqing asked him.

“Not yet. Just taking a break. Could you get me a bowl of soup, Wanqing?” Gu Yanqing replied, looking a bit sluggish, likely having had quite a few drinks.

Qiao Wanqing quickly served him a bowl of lean pork and bitter bamboo shoot soup, which she had just finished drinking herself.

It had ingredients like Codonopsis pilosula, wolfberry, and lotus seeds, giving it a fresh taste.

It was still piping hot, perfect for him at that moment.

“How many tables left?” Qiao Wanqing asked, a bit worried about him since she knew Gu Yanqing wasn’t much of a drinker.

“Just halfway through,” Gu Yanqing replied, leaning closer. “Could you massage my right temple? It’s throbbing a bit.”

In the midst of the banquet hall, Qiao Wanqing reached out and massaged his temple.

She heard gasps from their table and neighboring tables.

Gu Yanqing calmly let Qiao Wanqing finish before addressing the table, “I’ve had a bit too much to drink. My apologies for any inconvenience.”

Their table consisted of company executives and important partners, all big names in the business world.

Upon hearing his words, they waved off his concern.

Gu Yanqing smiled faintly and leaned in to whisper in Qiao Wanqing’s ear, “How’s it feel showing affection in front of everyone?”

“…You must be enjoying it.”

“Aren’t you?” Gu Yanqing raised an eyebrow.

“Uh, just a little.”

As they whispered, a couple approached with their glasses raised.

The woman, holding hands with her husband, smiled warmly at Qiao Wanqing. “Miss Qiao, hope you’re doing well.”

She wore a loose dress, her belly slightly showing—a clear sign of pregnancy.

Qiao Wanqing looked at the woman, puzzled for a moment, before recognizing her as Xia Yuchu.

Xia Yuchu was friends with Gu Yanqing, and the original owner of Qiao Wanqing’s body had used their connection to get closer to Gu Yanqing and gain some advantage.

Her husband…

Qiao Wanqing took a closer look and recognized him.

When she first crossed over, she had encountered him briefly but didn’t remember him well.

Gu Yanqing later informed her that he was an employee of his company and knew some details about their relationship, leading to subsequent developments.

This man… now it seemed, was Xia Yuchu’s husband.

The original owner had never met Xia Yuchu’s husband before, hence the lack of recognition.

Qiao Wanqing knew that perhaps the debt she feared the most was finally due.

Although she had nothing to do with it, after all, it was trouble caused by the original owner.

Borrowing someone else’s body meant she had to bear this mess.

Lost in her thoughts, Qiao Wanqing felt Gu Yanqing grab her hand.

His hand was warm, almost scorching in the cool air-conditioned room, which helped calm her confused heart.

“Miss Xia, long time no see,” Qiao Wanqing greeted Xia Yuchu politely with a smile.

Xia Yuchu chuckled softly. “I didn’t expect you and President Gu to actually become a couple. Congratulations.”

With that, she raised her glass to Qiao Wanqing.

Although it was meant as a congratulation, the mocking undertone was clear.

It was the company’s anniversary celebration, and she was friends with Gu Yanqing.

Xia Yuchu’s actions were probably out of genuine annoyance at how Qiao Wanqing had used her in the past.

What could Qiao Wanqing do? She felt hopeless.

But even though she knew she was in the wrong, she couldn’t back down now.

Otherwise, Xia Yuchu would only become more arrogant.

Qiao Wanqing took the glass, only to find it filled with red liquid, obviously wine.

She had no choice but to bravely lift it and smile at Xia Yuchu. “Thank you for your blessings, Miss Xia.”

She wanted to say that today’s success with Gu Yanqing was also thanks to her, but that would be too provocative.

After all, Xia Yuchu was pregnant.

Qiao Wanqing understood that being a mother was not easy, and it was indeed the original owner’s fault.

There was no need to deliberately provoke her for the sake of a fleeting satisfaction.

As she was about to drink, Gu Yanqing, who had been silent, stopped her.

He calmly looked at Xia Yuchu and said, “Yuchu, you’re pregnant. Why are you drinking?”

“This is blueberry juice, not wine,” Xia Yuchu raised her glass, tilting her chin slightly towards Qiao Wanqing, clearly inviting her.

Gu Yanqing took her glass. “Like her, you shouldn’t be drinking.”

Whether “like her” referred to not being able to drink alcohol or being pregnant, that was hard to say.

But now that it had come to this, no one dared to let her drink anymore.

Xia Yuchu’s face darkened.

Qiao Wanqing thought Xia Yuchu might drink in her place.

She anticipated that Gu Yanqing might face a barrage of wine later.

Just as she was pondering what to do, Gu Yanqing returned her glass and then lifted his own glass of coconut juice, handing it to Qiao Wanqing. “Between acquaintances, this gesture is enough.”

“… ” Indeed, Gu Yanqing wouldn’t let himself be at a disadvantage.

In this subtly awkward atmosphere, just as Qiao Wanqing was handed the glass, kuoko who had been taken to play around came running over.

The fruit platter had just been served, featuring various fruits, including a red dragon fruit.

It wasn’t clear who gave him the red dragon fruit, but Qiao Wanqing saw the red marks on his face, around his mouth, and even on his suit jacket, which he had partially removed, leaving only a vest and a white shirt collar covered in red stains.

Qiao Wanqing watched as he went from a dignified and cute little prince to a thoroughly dirty little kitten.

She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

The child ran up to her, holding up his equally red-stained hands, and whined, “Mommy, dirty, Koukou dirty~”

“… “

You know you’re dirty!