CHAPTER 392: 377TH BIRTHDAY BANQUET GATHERING

At the banquet, everyone was engaged in their own conversations, immersed in lively discussions. Ye Binyi was chatting with Jia Wenxiu and Hua Jun, leaving Tian Sangsang and Li Qiong’er as the only two people at the dining table.

"I never thought you’d become so beautiful." Li Qiong’er’s appearance couldn’t be classified as stunning, and she still fell short of being delicate. Who would’ve imagined that the once-dark and plain girl would now bloom like fine porcelain? It stirred a hint of jealousy in her.

Tian Sangsang felt a twinge of bitterness in her heart. What’s the use of being beautiful? Could it make her mother-in-law spare her a glance? When she wasn’t beautiful, she was ostracized. Now that she was, she became the subject of gossip. Perhaps being ordinary would have been better.

"It seems like you’re not having it easy in the Jiang Family either. Your mother-in-law hasn’t said a word to you since this started," Li Qiong’er said with a touch of satisfaction. "So, Guan Kunling didn’t come with you to Beijing?"

"Are you hoping she did?" Tian Sangsang asked with a smile, unperturbed. "Don’t worry. Kunling isn’t interested in your husband."

"But Lu Chi is very interested in her," Li Qiong’er said through gritted teeth.

"That’s your own lack of ability. Don’t blame Kunling for it."

"Of course, I lack ability." Li Qiong’er let out a bitter laugh. "How could I possibly compete with a dead woman?"

Tian Sangsang’s breathing faltered. She deliberately probed, "Kunling is alive and well. Don’t curse her."

"Oh? Jiang Jinghuai never mentioned it to you?" Li Qiong’er stared at her. "He has a sister named Jiang Jiaqi, who looks a lot like Guan Kunling, except their personalities are quite different. Jiang Jiaqi used to be Lu Chi’s fiancée. When Lu Chi saw Guan Kunling, he essentially saw Jiang Jiaqi all over again. He wants to rekindle that old flame! You’d better advise her not to come to Beijing. Lu Chi is coming back, and you shouldn’t underestimate his obsession—he’s terrifying."

Tian Sangsang lowered her gaze slightly. No wonder Jiang Huai treated Guan Kunling differently. No wonder Lu Chi was so fixated on Kunling. It all made sense now. The laughable part was that she had to learn about her husband’s family from others. Yet, as Li Qiong’er spoke about Lu Chi, she didn’t resemble a wife in love. Gone was the passion-filled persona of old; she spoke with the detachment of an outsider.

"Yes," Tian Sangsang took a sip of tea. "Lu Chi is indeed terrifying. Ji Yao’er once told me so."

Li Qiong’er’s eyes widened, trying to discern something from her expression. She spoke sorrowfully, "How are you connected to Yao’er? Her fate was so tragic—pregnant by an irresponsible man, only to encounter a car accident. I didn’t even get to see her one last time."

"Unfortunately, I did," Tian Sangsang said, her chest tightening at the memory. "The scene was horrifying. I watched as she was struck by a car, bleeding out like red wine pouring everywhere. Tell me, how cruel must the person who hit her be? Or rather, the one who premeditated it?"

Li Qiong’er stared at her coldly. "What do you know?"

"All I know is that Yao’er kept calling out ’brother-in-law’ before she died."

"Impossible!" Li Qiong’er suddenly became agitated. "Don’t spout nonsense!"

"Why would I make such claims?" Tian Sangsang replied indifferently. "The unborn child will exact its own retribution. You’ve been pregnant before; you should understand that feeling. Besides, you’re overreacting, Mrs. Lu. What are you thinking? Yao’er and you were close. Calling out ’brother-in-law’ as she died is entirely reasonable."

Li Qiong’er quickly restored her composure, hiding her shock deep inside. She didn’t want to lose control in front of so many people. Still, could Yao’er’s death truly be connected to Lu Chi???

**

The two fell silent afterward, until a voice came from behind Tian Sangsang—it was Hua Jun’s mother.

"Miss Tian, may I have a word with you?"

Li Qiong’er lowered her eyes, the darkness in her gaze deepening. Why was Tian Sangsang involved with the Hua Family? Looking in that direction, she noticed Jia Wenxiu nodding slightly at her.

Her hand reached into her bag, grazing against a cold, hard object. Her mind became active with schemes. So be it. Helping her with this favor wouldn’t matter. After all, it wasn’t she who would suffer a loss. She merely wanted to enjoy the spectacle.

Tian Sangsang placed down her teacup and left her bag behind as she followed Hua Jun’s mother to the side.

She was unsure of Hua Jun’s mother’s intention, but she remained composed and serene. "Aunt Hua, what can I do for you?"

This demeanor—neither servile nor overbearing—with no trace of a rustic background at all. Hua Jun’s mother thought to herself how great it would be to have Tian Sangsang as her daughter-in-law. She longed for an obedient daughter-in-law like this one, whose potential she could fully develop under her guidance.

"Miss Tian, my son mentioned that you’ve acquired our garment factory in the Beijing suburbs. I assume you’re planning to develop yourself here?"

Tian Sangsang didn’t shy away. "Yes. I plan to open a small store here in Beijing under the Yipin Xiangju brand."

"That’s wonderful! In the future, even we won’t have to rely on those scalpers anymore to buy your products," Hua Jun’s mother said with a smile. Her brows carried a charm not often found in younger women. "If you’re short on machinery or anything, just let my son know. As they say, helping someone means helping to the end. My son doesn’t do much besides studying and lounging around. Whatever you need, he’ll get it for you—especially since you’ve already helped him in such a big way."

Although Hua Jun’s mother intended to build a good rapport with her, Tian Sangsang had no wish to become too entangled with the Hua Family. She smiled faintly. "How could Hua Jun be considered idle? If it weren’t for his assistance recently, I would’ve taken countless detours. Our cooperation was mutually beneficial. If he helps beyond that, I’d truly feel indebted."

"Miss Tian, there’s no need to be so formal," Hua Jun’s mother said with a laugh. "He was thrilled to help."

Tian Sangsang kept her expression neutral. "Please, call me Sangsang, Aunt Hua."

At that moment, a woman approached them.

Hua Jun’s mother nodded and then turned her attention warmly. "Come, Sangsang, let me introduce you. This is my friend, Director Li Aihua from the Culture Bureau. She wants to ask for your help."

Tian Sangsang immediately looked over. Vice Director Li was a woman in her forties, with a moderate figure, a slightly round face, and well-maintained skin, though there were freckles. She smiled gently, "Aunt Li, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Please let me know what I can do for you."

The term "Aunt Li" instantly put Li Aihua at ease. It seemed this young lady was approachable. Looking at Tian Sangsang’s smooth, elastic, and flawless skin, Li Aihua felt a surge of envy. For someone unused to asking for help, her expression stiffened slightly. "Sangsang, I wonder if you have any products to remove spots?"

Tian Sangsang had a good idea of her purpose for coming.

"At Yipin Xiangju, we have developed an anti-spot essential oil with remarkable results. Currently, we offer three types at the store: Lemon Essential Oil, Rose Essential Oil, and Orange Blossom Essential Oil."

Li Aihua’s eyes lit up. She exclaimed, "I’ve heard so much about the amazing products from Yipin Xiangju, which is why I came to find you. To be honest, I’ve wanted to get rid of these marks on my face for a long time. Is your essential oil effective? I’d like to buy one from you."