Not long after returning and without much rest, everyone received an invitation from Wang Haoyang, president of the Wang Corporation, for a banquet to celebrate his beloved daughter Wang Bingjie's eighteenth birthday.
The banquet was held at the most luxurious hotel in the city, and virtually all the politicians and entrepreneurs from Yunbei City's upper society were invited. Xiao Wenqiang and Mao Wenjing attended as family members with Mao Genhong and Xie Qiao.
Meanwhile, Zheng Xiao and Xie Yinuo, having co-founded a company during their university years which was currently developing at a rapid pace, had received separate invitations.
Upon arriving, Xie Yinuo was chatting with them when he spotted a friend from a game and, excusing himself, quickly disappeared.
"I thought Brother Yinuo would have become more composed after starting his own business, but it seems his personality is still so lively," Xiao Wenqiang said with a smile.
"That's not bad, it keeps his innovative thinking active." Zheng Xiao and Xie Yinuo's collaboration was in game development; Zheng Xiao was primarily responsible for business negotiations and operational aspects, while Xie Yinuo focused on technical research and innovation.
As the two were chatting comfortably in a corner, Chen Xiaoyan suddenly ran over. She looked at Zheng Xiao, hesitating to speak, and then pulled Xiao Wenqiang out of the banquet hall.
"What's the matter? You're being so mysterious," Xiao Wenqiang asked with some helplessness.
"Mao Qingyan, something big has happened!" Chen Xiaoyan whispered into her ear, "I just overheard Wang Bingjie's father talking to her. He said he's going to announce a marriage alliance with the Zheng family today. He also mentioned that he's already privately communicated with President Zheng, and after celebrating Wang Bingjie's coming-of-age ceremony, the final segment will be the announcement of her upcoming engagement to Zheng Xiao!"
"Oh? There's this development?" Xiao Wenqiang found it hard to keep up with the plot. The original book didn't seem to mention Zheng Xiao and Wang Bingjie's engagement.
"How can you be so calm? Isn't Zheng Xiao in love with you? Now he's getting engaged to Wang Bingjie, aren't you worried?" Since their last heart-to-heart, Chen Xiaoyan had genuinely come to consider Xiao Wenqiang a friend, so she rushed to tell her as soon as she heard this.
"Xiaoyan, thank you for telling me this. But Zheng Xiao is an adult, and he has his own thoughts. If he doesn't want to marry Wang Bingjie, no one can force him."
"Oh well, it's up to you!" Seeing Xiao Wenqiang so unconcerned, and with Wang Bingjie starting to call her frantically, Chen Xiaoyan didn't say any more and left.
After parting with Chen Xiaoyan, Xiao Wenqiang walked alone along the garden path, slowly contemplating what had just happened. She and Zheng Xiao had indeed been very close over the years, but neither had ever crossed that line, so she couldn't interfere with his romantic life now.
Suddenly, someone rushed around the corner and collided with Xiao Wenqiang. Looking down, she saw it was Mao Wenjing.
Normally, Mao Wenjing would have uttered a few scolding words, but this time, despite seeing Xiao Wenqiang, she ran off without a word, looking around as she fled, seeming rather furtive.
Driven by an inexplicable impulse, Xiao Wenqiang quietly followed her and discovered that Mao Wenjing was meeting with Zheng Ze. They seemed to be plotting something together. As the plot of the original novel resurfaced in her mind, she silently took out her phone, opened the camera, and began to record.
It was half an hour later when she returned to the main hall. Wang Bingjie's coming-of-age ceremony had already begun, and the cake had even been cut. At this moment, the guests were mingling with their glasses, holding drinks. In banquets like this, food was never the main focus.
Xiao Wenqiang found Zheng Xiao in a corner, not wanting to socialize and only wishing to enjoy the food. Before she could speak, Xie Qiao suddenly approached, her phone in hand, and said anxiously to Zheng Xiao, "Zheng Xiao, your mother was supposed to come with me today, but I couldn't get through to her earlier. I just received a text saying she's feeling unwell with her heart. She's not answering now. Do you want to go home and check on her? I'm worried something might happen."
Zheng Xiao had gone to Xie Yinuo's house first this morning and played for a while before getting a ride with him, naturally to avoid coming with Zheng Dajun and Zheng Ze. Hearing this news, he was anxious to get home, but he couldn't see Xie Yinuo anywhere in the crowded hall.
At this point, Mao Wenjing, who had appeared out of nowhere, produced a set of keys and said, "This is Zheng Ze's car key. He's been pulled away by Uncle Zheng for drinks. Shall I ask if you can borrow his car to go back?"
In the original novel, *The Perfect Life of the Fake Heiress*, Zheng Xiao, for some unknown reason, had insisted on driving Zheng Ze's Bugatti sports car during the banquet, resulting in a car accident due to brake failure, which led to his legs being broken.
Now it seemed the reason for his inexplicable urge to leave was his concern for his mother, Wu Yueli, being in distress. Therefore, the most crucial thing now was to prevent him from driving Zheng Ze's Bugatti.
Xiao Wenqiang intercepted Zheng Xiao's hand as he reached for the car keys and smiled reassuringly at him, saying, "Brother Xiao, try calling Auntie again to confirm by phone. I'll call Brother Yinuo and ask him to take you! It's really not safe for you to drive in such a hurry."
Zheng Xiao paused for a moment, then finally nodded and took out his phone to contact his mother. However, her phone remained off.
Xiao Wenqiang also called Xie Yinuo. After a while, he finally answered. Upon hearing about Zheng Xiao's urgent need to return, he said he would be right back.
Seeing Zheng Xiao's anxious state, Xiao Wenqiang suggested again, "Brother Xiao, do you have a landline at home? Or do you have the number of your housekeeper? You could ask them."
With the widespread use of mobile phones nowadays, landlines had long been discontinued at home. However, Zheng Xiao still had the number of the cleaning lady. He had simply been too flustered earlier.
"Let's go, let's go! Luckily, I haven't been drinking." At this moment, Xie Yinuo rushed in and quickly drove away with Zheng Xiao from the banquet.
Xiao Wenqiang noticed Mao Wenjing's disappointed expression and secretly tried to talk to Zheng Ze, but their eyes never met. Without a doubt, in the original novel, it was Zheng Ze and Mao Wenjing who conspired to set a trap for Zheng Xiao, leading to his paralysis.
She wondered what role Xie Qiao played in today's scheme. Was she an accomplice, or was she also being manipulated?
Although Zheng Xiao had left, the banquet continued. The program reached a crucial moment as Wang Haoyang led his beloved daughter, Wang Bingyan, to the microphone on stage.
"Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend my daughter Bingjie's coming-of-age ceremony. Please enjoy the food and drinks. From today onwards, my little girl has finally grown up!" Wang Haoyang patted Wang Bingjie's hand with pride and said with a loving gaze, "Today, there is also a happy occasion to announce to everyone – to further strengthen the cooperation between our Wang family and the Zheng family, we plan to form an even closer bond through marriage. That is, our Wang family will be entering into a marriage alliance with the Zheng family. Come, Old Zheng, say a few words!"
Zheng Dajun also stepped forward and said into the microphone, "I've watched niece Bingjie grow up. She's not only kind but also very beautiful. More importantly, she's an excellent student. She and our Zheng Xiao were even classmates at Yunbei City First High School! Zheng Xiao, your turn!"
Zheng Xiao was naturally not present. After calling out for a while, only Zheng Ze walked up and quietly whispered into Zheng Dajun's ear, "Dad, Zheng Xiao had some urgent business and drove my car out! How about we postpone the engagement announcement for today?"