Lin Xingwan felt her emotions surge like waves. This time, she had learned her lesson and didn't press further, waiting for Xue Manting to reveal everything that had happened.
"Actually, at my birthday banquet, Qiao Ruosheng and Xuan Chang'an ended up together. Qiao Ruosheng was drugged, and her consciousness was completely muddled. Xuan Chang'an did indeed sleep with Qiao Ruosheng. Later, the Qiao family, to cover up the scandal, reported that Xuan Chang'an had saved her. That rich second-generation heir, by his clumsy actions, inadvertently gave Xuan Chang'an such a huge advantage. He harbored resentment towards Xuan Chang'an, and Xuan Chang'an's expulsion from school was largely due to him. He even went to great lengths to tarnish Xuan Chang'an's reputation."
After speaking, Xue Manting sighed, "Qiao Ruosheng went to apologize to Xuan Chang'an, but unexpectedly, he had already gone to another province to work. Qiao Ruosheng took leave and went to that province to find him. When they returned, Xuan Chang'an was actually with Qiao Ruosheng. At that time, Xuan Chang'an even went back to school for Qiao Ruosheng, and they agreed to attend the same university. Qiao Ruosheng even told me that she was pregnant with Xuan Chang'an's child. She said she was only telling me, but later the whole school found out. Qiao Ruosheng thought I betrayed her, but why would I betray her?"
"It's likely Qiao Ruosheng told someone else," Lin Xingwan guessed.
Xue Manting shook her head, "No! Xuan Chang'an told others. He came to me later and asked me to act out a play with him because Xuan Chang'an had been diagnosed with cancer... Due to malnutrition since childhood, Xuan Chang'an's health was already poor. Later, I had my family investigate, and Xuan Chang'an had a hereditary illness. This means that Xuan Chang'an's father, grandfather, any son of the Xuan family, would not live past twenty-five. Some with weaker constitutions wouldn't even reach twenty. When Xuan Chang'an found out, he didn't want to hurt Qiao Ruosheng, so he asked me to pretend to like him and snatch him away. The spread of Qiao Ruosheng's pregnancy was also Xuan Chang'an's doing. He deeply loved his child and even hoped it would be a daughter, as a daughter would be healthy. Qiao Ruosheng, with the Qiao family's resources, also learned the baby's gender – it was a boy. If Qiao Ruosheng gave birth to this boy, the ultimate outcome would also be tragic. Xuan Chang'an didn't want his child to suffer like him, to not live long. He also didn't want Qiao Ruosheng to live in pain and grief after his death. So, Xuan Chang'an deliberately shifted his affections and started dating me. To make Qiao Ruosheng give up and have an abortion, Xuan Chang'an and I performed many acts in front of Qiao Ruosheng. Unexpectedly, during a trip, Qiao Ruosheng begged me to return Xuan Chang'an to her. I refused. Since I had decided to make Qiao Ruosheng give up, I couldn't just let our plan fall through. So, when I pushed Qiao Ruosheng away, she fell into the waterfall. As I tried to jump in to save her, Xuan Chang'an had already jumped. He used his last bit of strength to save Qiao Ruosheng and then sank into the depths. After this incident, Xuan Chang'an died, Qiao Ruosheng suffered a miscarriage due to grief, and then went abroad. When she returned to the country, she plotted and framed our Xue family everywhere. Our Xue family was once the head of the four great families, but due to Qiao Ruosheng's schemes, our Xue family went bankrupt and barely survived. I always remembered Qiao Ruosheng as my friend, so I don't resent her all these years. After all, our Xue family, this great tree, indeed needed some pruning. A stable life for hundreds of years, for a great family, is a way of silent death. And this slow death is the most terrifying. In the years since the Xue family's decline, those fair-weather friends and ungrateful people have revealed their true colors, so we don't need to expend much energy on them."
After Xue Manting finished speaking, seeing Lin Xingwan's silence, she explained, "I once promised Xuan Chang'an not to tell anyone about this. But I'm tired. I don't want to deal with this anymore because Qiao Ruosheng isn't worth it. She even tried to kill me and my father. Such a malicious woman doesn't deserve to be my best friend."
"Then why, all these years, have you not wanted to tell Qiao Ruosheng the truth?" Lin Xingwan asked.
Xue Manting gave a bitter smile, "I tried to explain to Qiao Ruosheng a few times, but she simply didn't believe me. There's nothing I can do. My fate with her is over. In this life, we can only be enemies."
Friends can never walk together forever, so don't embark on the journey with friends; find friends on the road.
Zhou Jinbai had been following Lin Xingwan and the others. He spoke, "It's inconvenient for me to show myself tonight, but I will be staying in the room. Just call me if anything comes up."
Lin Xingwan nodded, knowing that in Yan Jing, Zhou Jinbai was not just Zhou Jinbai, but Dongfang Junze of the Dongfang family. His every word and action could stir up trouble. Therefore, the best approach was to prevent anyone from guessing his stance.
Lin Xingwan watched Zhou Jinbai walk towards the Xue family's residence. Meanwhile, Xue Manting said, "Tonight's Xue family banquet has prepared a lot of delicious food and many important figures. Let me introduce you."
"I do know several bosses in the entertainment industry, how about I..." Su Mo Yao finally found an opportunity to interject, but before he could finish, Xue Manting cut him off. "What, does our Xue family not have the capability to introduce resources to Sister Lin? Mr. Su, why aren't you with your fiancée? You've been following me. Those who don't know would misunderstand that you and I are a couple. I'm looking for a suitable husband tonight, so don't hinder me, okay?"
After speaking, Xue Manting snorted coldly and directly linked arms with Lin Xingwan, heading towards the liveliest part of the evening's banquet. Su Mo Yao was filled with helplessness. It seemed his engagement to Qiao Ruosheng truly bothered this woman. However, thinking that his goal had not yet been achieved, Su Mo Yao would not break off his engagement with Qiao Ruosheng.
Now that the Xue family was gaining power, the Qiao family was in danger. If he could secure a share of the Qiao family's assets through his status at this moment, he could take this opportunity to infiltrate the Qiao family and swallow them whole. By then, he could not only break off his engagement with Qiao Ruosheng, but the Qiao family would belong to him. Su Mo Yao did not think his actions were immoral. The world was inherently cruel, a place where the strong preyed on the weak and only the fittest survived. Even if he were to show kindness and not devour the Qiao family, another large snake would swallow them. Why should he be a stepping stone for others?
Inside the banquet hall, it was already crowded. Xue Manting's father had become an object of flattery, with many people lining up to chat with him. Qiao Ruosheng and her father, Qiao Zheng, found themselves in an awkward situation. The Xue family had sent them an invitation to the banquet. If they refused to attend, it would be seen as cowardice and withdrawal, and in the complex world of wealthy families, the Qiao family would be subject to all sorts of gossip. However, attending proved to be worse than not coming.
Those who had once fawned over them now treated the father and daughter as if they were invisible. Since their arrival at the banquet, only four or five people had spoken to them. It was important to note that both Qiao Zheng and Qiao Ruosheng had lived lives surrounded by praise and admiration for years. This stark contrast now left a deep anger in their eyes.
"Dad, can we just watch the Xue family rise again? Given what we've done to them, if the Xue family recovers, our Qiao family will become like the former Xue family. I don't want to live a life of barely surviving!" Qiao Ruosheng's beautiful eyes flashed with jealousy. Just then, Xue Manting and Lin Xingwan appeared in her line of sight. The two walked hand in hand, looking very intimate, and even from a distance, they were attracting a large crowd's attention. "Fair is the lady, desirable is the gentleman." passersby stopped to gaze. Xue Manting and Lin Xingwan together had become a beautiful scenery.
"Who told you to provoke Dongfang Junze for no reason? Ruosheng, Ruosheng, you were always very smart before. You knew who to provoke and who not to. Can we afford to provoke the Dongfang family? Our Qiao family's fortune is insignificant before the true dragon. If we want to survive, we must apologize to Dongfang Junze and pledge loyalty to the Dongfang family, otherwise, our Qiao family will truly be finished." Although Qiao Zheng was unwilling in his heart, he knew that as long as he survived, there would be opportunities later. The most important thing now was to preserve everything for the Qiao family. As for dealing with the Xue family, they would have to find other chances.
"Apologize? If my apology were useful, I would have done it long ago." Qiao Ruosheng knew very well that her plan was flawless. The current change was actually due to the existence of this woman, Lin Xingwan. Therefore, as long as she could eliminate Lin Xingwan, the Qiao family would become the head of the four great families in the future.
"Ruosheng, Dad knows you're angry, but when you're under someone else's roof, you have to bow your head." Qiao Zheng looked at his daughter helplessly. He felt sorry for Qiao Ruosheng for the humiliation the Xue family had inflicted on her in the past. However, despite his sympathy, at this critical juncture of survival, he still chose to prioritize the overall situation.
"Dad, I know what I'm doing." Qiao Ruosheng said irritably. Unexpectedly, Xue Manting and Lin Xingwan had already arrived beside them.
"Oh, what wind has blown you two here? I thought you'd be hiding at home like turtles. I didn't expect you to take such a risk. Why aren't others chatting with you? Seeing you two looking so lonely as I walked from afar, it's truly pathetic." Xue Manting's face wore a smug, mocking smile, especially when she looked at Qiao Ruosheng, all traces of past affection gone.
"Xue Manting, no matter how pathetic I am, I won't end up like you, a mistress, Su Mo Yao's secret lover. You've been developing in the entertainment industry's cesspool for years, who knows how many men you've been with. What right do you have to mock us?" Qiao Ruosheng felt her anger burning hotter as she looked at Xue Manting's repulsive face.
"How many men I've been with is my business, but soon, you'll be worse off than me," Xue Manting sneered. Qiao Ruosheng then shifted her gaze to Lin Xingwan, "I heard that the artists at Dingfeng Entertainment had an incident yesterday. Although it was a misunderstanding, Miss Lin should be careful. What if something bigger happens in a few days? Xue Manting is a jinx. Everything and everyone associated with Xue Manting eventually meets with misfortune." Qiao Ruosheng was indeed troubled by Lin Xingwan's association with Xue Manting. If it weren't for Lin Xingwan, she would have dealt with Xue Manting long ago.
Lin Xingwan also understood the implication in Qiao Ruosheng's words. She smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, Miss Qiao. We've been looking for the culprit from yesterday. If I find out who tried to frame our Dingfeng Entertainment like this, I will skin them alive." Don't be fooled by Lin Xingwan's delicate and beautiful appearance; she was actually a person who held grudges. Did Qiao Ruosheng dare to threaten her, and she wouldn't dare?
As expected, Qiao Ruosheng's expression faltered at Lin Xingwan's words. Although Qiao Ruosheng hid her emotions well, that moment of panic was enough for Lin Xingwan to see clearly. Since this woman dared to scheme against Dingfeng Entertainment, tonight, she would definitely give her a grand gift.
"I have other things to do, so I won't disturb you any longer." Just as Qiao Ruosheng finished speaking, Lin Xingwan directly said, "Wait—" Qiao Ruosheng looked at her inquiringly, "Does Miss Lin have anything else to say to me?"
"It's nothing much, really. I just want to invite you to watch a play. It's a very short play, you can leave after watching it." As Lin Xingwan spoke, a gentle warmth spread across her face. If it weren't for the ferocity in her eyes, Qiao Ruosheng might have thought Lin Xingwan was a harmless little lamb.
"Watch a play? What play?" Qiao Ruosheng instinctively felt they had fallen into a trap tonight and couldn't help but say, "Actually, I have no interest in watching plays. I'd better leave now."
"Stop! Qiao Ruosheng, this is our Xue family's territory. You can come and go as you please? Are you not taking our Xue family seriously? My sister Lin invited you to watch a play, it's your good fortune. Even if you don't want to, you have to finish watching the play before you can leave!" Xue Manting had a fiery temper and couldn't be bothered with Qiao Ruosheng's pretense. Her words were sharp and unpleasant. Of course, she was doing it on purpose!
Qiao Ruosheng's face turned extremely ugly. Just then, a deep male voice echoed through the entire hall: "Distinguished guests, esteemed friends, welcome to tonight's Xue family banquet. To enrich tonight's entertainment program, we have specially prepared a wonderful performance for everyone." As soon as this voice finished speaking, the entire hall plunged into darkness. A few seconds later, a massive crystal screen on the wall lit up.