CHAPTER 382: CHAPTER 382: UTTERLY FASCINATED

"Lu Xiangxiang, shut your mouth," Zhou Ling quickly interrupted her. "You’re living under my roof now, dependent on others, and you should have the self-awareness that comes with your situation. My dad agreed to take care of you because of his promise to my aunt, not me. Also, today he couldn’t resist your incessant begging, which is the only reason I brought you to this entrepreneurs’ annual meeting to broaden your horizons—don’t take it for granted. Let me tell you, if you cause any trouble today, you’ll be packing up and kicked out of my house once we get home, got it?" Zhou Ling knew that Lu Xiangxiang was complicating matters and naturally didn’t dare let her continue causing trouble. She lowered her voice to warn Lu Xiangxiang, but the people nearby could still overhear.

She didn’t want to embarrass Lu Xiangxiang in such a setting, but Lu Xiangxiang was too outspoken. If she didn’t intervene in time, it would only get worse. Zhou Ling knew very well what kind of a person Lu Xiangxiang was—a foolish girl who thought with her chest not her brain. One couldn’t expect her to listen sensibly in moments of irritation, otherwise, with her privileged Red Third Generation status and the good cards she was dealt, how could she end up so disgracefully defeated?

Fearing that Lu Xiangxiang would ignore her, Zhou Ling’s tone became very harsh. Lu Xiangxiang was so intimidated by Zhou Ling’s threats that she dared not speak, although her eyes still glared with intense anger. However, in the end, she managed to suppress it because she understood what Zhou Ling’s words meant; if Zhou Ling wanted her out of the Zhou family house, Lu Xiangxiang wouldn’t last the night. She had seen far too well what her cousin was capable of.

"I am truly sorry for the spectacle," Zhou Ling said to Ye Hua and Xu Xiuxiu only after seeing Lu Xiangxiang quiet down, her smile impeccable. "With the early spring chill still lingering outside, why don’t you both head into the venue and warm up?"

"Alright." Ye Hua glanced at the people waiting behind him and nodded.

Xu Xiuxiu, of course, had no desire to linger at the door causing a scene. However, before she entered, she shot Lu Xiangxiang a meaningful look. Lu Xiangxiang, already enraged, felt provoked by Xu Xiuxiu’s serene smile and wanted to rush up and tear it apart, but when she felt Zhou Ling’s intense gaze, she reluctantly looked downward.

"Lu Xiangxiang, to save me the embarrassment, you should head back home today," Zhou Ling said, pulling her aside with a tone full of impatience. "As for my dad, I’ll explain things to him when we get home." Right now, she didn’t care about what Lu Xiangxiang might think; she was more worried about how she would apologize to Ye Hua later.

"Cousin..." Lu Xiangxiang reluctantly reached out, trying to persuade Zhou Ling not to send her home. She had just bragged about getting rid of Xu Xiuxiu, but now she was the one being sent away, which she found deeply unsatisfying. Why should Xu Xiuxiu, a village woman from a poor valley, matter at all?

"Lu Xiangxiang, stop being ungrateful," Zhou Ling said with an extremely cold tone, frowning. Honestly, she had wanted to get familiar with Ye Hua today, but then that embarrassingly huge blunder happened. All her prior plans had gone to waste, and she was so angry she wanted to slap Lu Xiangxiang again, that fool.

"Hurry back! Xu Xiuxiu is a formidable woman. I know you feel resentful, but what can you do about it? She is one of the partners of Tangshui City Resort. Haven’t you heard of Tangshui City? It’s a top-notch tourist destination in Z City, prominent even in F Province or nationally, with the most comprehensive luxury goods shopping and a theme park comparable to those abroad. Do you realize how incredibly profitable that is? Even if my dad were here, he would have to show her some courtesy; and yet you dare to bawl her out. Who do you think you are?" Zhou Ling’s status as a socialite was not only supported by her family and looks but also required a clever mind.

Xiuxiu was someone whom they couldn’t mess with. Realizing this, but still foolishly attempting to challenge her was simply a suicidal move. However, seeing Lu Xiangxiang’s reluctant expression, Zhou Ling had to soften her tone and earnestly speak to her, hoping that she would take her words to heart.

"Cousin, just let me in! Can’t I just go in and not provoke her?" Having finally seized an opportunity and also encountering Xu Xiuxiu, she really couldn’t bear the thought of just leaving.

"Xiangxiang, it’s not that I don’t want to help you, but the key is that the situation earlier was too ugly. There will be many successful people inside later, and I’ve received news that Soup City will be personally commended by city leaders this year. As the saying goes, ’A gentleman’s revenge is not too late even after ten years.’ Entering now would only make it awkward for yourself, why bother?" Zhou Ling earnestly comforted Lu Xiangxiang.

Lu Xiangxiang was reluctant but eventually, she nodded in agreement.

"You go back first in our family car, and I’ll have the driver come back to pick me up later." Relieved that she had finally persuaded Lu Xiangxiang, Zhou Ling relaxed. Then she adjusted her makeup, put on a proper smile, and confidently walked into the entrepreneurs annual meeting.

...

After Ye Hua and Xu Xiuxiu entered the venue, they greeted familiar acquaintances. Due to their collaborative relationship, they seamlessly offered polite smiles upon meeting others. Soon after, the entrepreneurs’ annual meeting began. Representatives from provincial and city leaders went on stage to speak about last year’s development and changes and also roughly announced the plans for this year, expressing the government’s hope for strong support from the entrepreneurs present.

Ultimately, Xu Xiuxiu and Ye Hua drew the annual meeting to a close with Soup City receiving commendations from provincial and city leaders.

When Xu Xiuxiu came to the entrepreneurs’ annual meeting in the morning, Song Yuanhuan knew. Although she was dressed lightly, considering it was a formal occasion, he just frowned and didn’t say anything. However, soon afterward, drizzle began to fall from the sky. Concerned that Xu Xiuxiu, dressed in minimal clothing, might catch a cold, Song Yuanhuan entrusted Song Chengguang with looking after his younger siblings and drove himself to pick her up from outside the entrepreneurs’ meeting.

But what he didn’t expect was that, sitting in the car and watching people continuously coming out, he saw Xu Xiuxiu’s figure. Just as he got out of the car intending to pick her up, he unexpectedly ran into Lu Xiangxiang, who had emerged from nowhere.

"Yuanhuan." Lu Xiangxiang initially planned to follow Zhou Ling’s advice and go straight home by car, but ultimately, she couldn’t bear to leave just like that; she sat in the car planning to wait for Zhou Ling to return together. Unexpectedly, this led her to see the man of her dreams. At this moment, forgetting all the earlier admonishments from Zhou Ling, she excitedly ran up to Song Yuanhuan, gazing at him with infatuated eyes.