CHAPTER 612: 236 WATCHING THE EXCITEMENT_3

"Pfft..." Yan Lu spat out a mouthful of tea.

But at this moment, no one paid attention to her breach of etiquette.

Everyone was staring at the figure that had walked in last, their brows furrowed tightly.

Mrs. Wen said displeasedly, "Second Mrs. Yu, today is a gathering for us women. Why did you bring a young man here? This is surely against protocol, isn’t it?"

Indeed, it was a young man, around seventeen or eighteen years old, with rosy lips and glistening white teeth—a soft and delicate appearance, strikingly handsome, his features resembling Mei Qingdai.

From her earlier shout, everyone had already figured out their identities.

The elder sister-in-law and nephew of Mei Qingdai’s birth family.

Don’t underestimate the Mei family’s humble origins, but there’s one thing you can’t deny—the members of the Mei family are genuinely stunning in appearance.

A dynasty of opera performers, trained daily in singing, reciting, acting, and acrobatics, their postures exude an indescribable charm, the kind sought after in the entertainment industry for the "pretty boy" archetype.

Lady Mei seemed rather apprehensive. Mei Qingdai glanced at her briefly, prompting Lady Mei to straighten her back and force a smile on her face.

Mei Junzhe, on the other hand, exhibited composure. His slightly effeminate features blended surprisingly well amidst this group of women, an unexpected sight.

"Junior Mei Junzhe from the Mei family greets all the ladies and young misses."

His etiquette was impeccable, far better than his timid, petty-minded mother.

But that voice...

Even his speech sounded like opera, tickling everyone’s ears.

Mei Qingdai smirked in satisfaction and finally turned to Mrs. Wen: "I never stated that men were not allowed here. That’s on me for not clarifying sooner. I hope Mrs. Wen can forgive me."

Mrs. Wen’s face darkened slightly as she shot a glance at Mei Qingdai’s smug look, which irritated her even further.

A mere opera singer dares to ride roughshod over her? Is it the Yu family that has grown too brazen, or has the Wen family’s influence waned?

Remembering the Four Seasons Army in Yu Fusheng’s hands, she had no choice but to swallow her frustration.

Lady Jing and Mrs. Xiang, unlike Mrs. Wen, lacked the leverage to retaliate; they could only join in the flattery, uttering a few polite praises about Mei Junzhe.

Mei Junzhe lowered his gaze and seated himself with his mother. His placement, just below Mrs. Wen, had already surpassed the positions of the Jing and Xiang families.

Mei Qingdai surveyed the room and asked a nearby maid, "Where are my sister-in-law and Ruohuan? How can the main figures of the banquet be absent as it’s about to begin?"

"Sister-in-law." A gentle voice sounded from outside the door.

Everyone looked toward the entrance, where they saw Wei Zhuhua entering alongside a slightly plump, richly dressed middle-aged woman.

Mei Qingdai narrowed her eyes. Her gaze fell on the woman—a face that seemed vaguely familiar, though she couldn’t immediately recall her identity.

"And you are?"

The woman responded with a smile, "Yao Huia."

No one in the circle knew who she was.

Just then, Ms. Gao, who had been silently observing, suddenly remarked, "Mrs. Xu from the Cultural Creation Conference?"

Everyone’s expressions shifted as they turned to look at the woman.

Strictly speaking, even though the Cultural Creation Conference was a highly reputable, publicly traded education group in Hua Country and recognized by all, Mrs. Xu wouldn’t qualify to be part of this upper-crust circle.

But she had connections—Madam Gu of the Gu family was her aunt. Although their familial relationship spanned three generations, it was rumored that Madam Gu valued this grandniece highly. Otherwise, the Xu family wouldn’t have been able to solidify its position in the education sector so securely.

Madam Gu’s status was unparalleled. To put it bluntly, if not for the Yu family’s significant influence, even Old Madam Yu wouldn’t deserve to wait on Madam Gu.

To use an unflattering analogy, the Yu family was akin to nouveau riche who suddenly gained prominence and looked down on everyone else.

On the other hand, the Gu family was a legacy of scholarly prestige, a millennia-old aristocracy, flourishing with talent across various fields. Its contributions to the nation’s development were remarkable, and every prominent member could leave an indelible mark on history.

Especially in the scientific age, when the Gu family ventured into research, their authority became unchallengeable.

Old Madam Yu, despite being so prideful, wouldn’t dare to retaliate if Madam Gu pointed at her nose and scolded her.

This was the Gu family’s stature and influence.

Mrs. Wen suddenly clenched her fingers, her gaze shifting from Wei Zhuhua to Yao Huia, and then to Mei Qingdai and Mei Junzhe beside her.

Mrs. Wen curled her lips slightly—she thought she might have figured out Wei Zhuhua’s intentions.

When the snipe and clam quarreled, the fisherman stood to profit.

She unhurriedly picked up the celadon teacup.

Mei Qingdai frowned. "The Cultural Creation Conference? What’s that supposed to mean?"

It seemed unworthy of attending this banquet. What was her sister-in-law thinking?

Yao Huia sneered. "So this is how Second Mrs. Yu treats her guests? Good to know. When I return and Auntie asks about it, I’ll be sure to mention that the doors of the Yu family are so high that the Gu family can’t even set foot inside."

With that, she turned around to leave.

Mei Qingdai looked bewildered. "Gu family? What Gu family?"

She loved jewelry and fancy clothes, spending her days immersed in fashion and opera, so she was utterly clueless about the tangled web of relationships among the major clans.

Especially the Gu family, which had no intersection with the Yu family. She hadn’t bothered to learn about it.