Qian Feng was so angry he felt like spitting blood. "Of course not Bai Qing, ah ah… how can I not make myself clear to you! Yes, yes, yes, you didn't provoke Bai Xi, but do you know how Bai Qian and old Madam Bai treated Bai Xi and Bai Han before?"
Shen Mingxun had warned him not to speak of it, so he could only hint, not state it directly, or the consequences would be even more severe.
Zhou Wen was becoming increasingly impatient. "How could they have treated them? Wasn't Bai Xi living quite well when she was in the Bai family? As for Bai Han, he was born with an illness; no one wanted to get close to him."
When he had pursued Bai Xi back then, she had eaten well, dressed warmly, and had excellent academic results in the Bai family, clearly well-cultivated by them.
It was just that the Bai family had cultivated Bai Xi's academic achievements but not her character. A woman who was betrothed to him yet shamelessly ran off with a rogue man – could the Bai family be blamed for that?
As for Bai Han, every time they visited, they saw the Bai family members bringing him good food into his room, yet he would go mad and scream, terrifying everyone. What more did they expect from the Bai family?
Qian Feng listened to Zhou Wen's words, feeling that Zhou Wen's eyes were blinded by this "white lotus." "Do you know Bai Qian was arrested for instigating servants to abuse Bai Han…"
Even Bai Xi's so-called departure from home might have been fabricated by the Bai family.
When Zhou Wen had been pursuing Bai Xi, he had used his identity as the director of the Security Bureau to communicate with Bai Qian, and had even helped them. He knew Bai Xi's academic achievements and general appearance, and felt that this young lady did not disgrace the status of the future matriarch of the Zhou family.
Later, when that incident happened, he had simply thought he had misjudged her. Now that Bai Xi had returned, the entire situation was filled with strangeness.
Zhou Wen, however, said dismissively, "That's all a smear by Bai Xi. She's targeting the Bai family everywhere because she knows I'm marrying Bai Lian, making servants falsely accuse Uncle Bai. Speaking of which, Uncle, can you torture those servants to make them change their testimony and release Uncle Bai?"
Hearing this, Qian Feng nearly went blind with anger.
He was in…
Bai Lian tightened her grip. "Wen Gege, it's so tight."
Zhou Wen flustered, and the tie completely loosened.
Bai Ji was not wearing bandages today but a rose-red veil, concealing the disfigured part of her face, giving her a dazzling allure. "Mr. Zhou, Lian'er is carrying your child, you must be careful."
Mother said that they were now relying on Bai Lian and the child in her womb to cling to the Zhou family.
Zhou Wen quickly replied, "Yes, yes, yes!"
Today, he was determined to announce to everyone in M City that he, Zhou Wen, was a responsible man, willing to spend a fortune on a birthday banquet for his future wife, so that Bai Xi would know and regret it thoroughly.
Although he hadn't specifically sent Bai Xi an invitation today, he had sent one to Tong Yao. Given Tong Yao's personality, she would definitely tell Bai Xi about such an event. Therefore, he had a premonition that she would still come today, coming for him, which was also why he had been momentarily distracted.
With that thought, he retied the tie and pulled Bai Lian out of the front hall.
Bai Lian wore a gentle and demure smile, but when Zhou Wen's back was turned, a look of resentment flashed across her face.
Zhou Wen had changed.
Ever since Bai Xi returned, Zhou Wen had become different from before. A few days ago, she had deliberately hinted to Zhou Wen that she was over three months pregnant and could have… intimate relations.
But Zhou Wen was completely unmoved.
What she found even more unacceptable was that Zhou Wen not only acted this way but even stopped kissing her or letting her help him relieve his desires. Before, he used to like kissing her so much.
All his kindness, all his intimacy, seemed to be an act for someone else!
Most importantly, Zhou Wen had previously promised to plan a grand wedding for her after the baby stabilized in three months.
But when she proposed the idea of an earlier wedding to Zhou Wen yesterday, he had brushed it off, saying it was difficult to organize due to her pregnancy, and that everything was for her health and the crystallization of their love.
She wouldn't believe a single word of it. It was all because of that little slut, Bai Xi.
Why, why no matter how many ways she tried to get people to deal with her, she wouldn't die!
It was fine, she didn't believe her luck could always be this good!
With that thought, a dark glint flashed in Bai Lian's eyes.
In the grand hall of the Zhou family villa, many M City celebrities had gathered.
These M City celebrities raised their wine glasses to congratulate Bai Lian, and did not forget to flatter Zhou Wen.
"Mr. Zhou is not only a young talent but also so affectionate; he is truly endowed with both ability and virtue."
"Mr. Zhou hosting such a splendid birthday banquet for his future wife truly makes us single dogs envious."
"Mr. Zhou is handsome and rich, and his future wife is gentle and virtuous. They are truly a match made in heaven!"
"…"
Under the admiration of everyone, Bai Lian and Zhou Wen were quite pleased. However, while Bai Lian smiled and chatted with the guests, Zhou Wen's attention was elsewhere, absent-minded.
The guests noticed Zhou Wen's inattentiveness and casually asked, "Mr. Zhou, what are you looking at?"
Zhou Wen froze slightly.
Bai Lian smoothly smoothed things over, "Wen Gege is just checking if all the guests have arrived."
Zhou Wen immediately agreed, "Yes."
Just then, a commotion erupted at the entrance. "What is this?"
"How could someone be like this?"
"This person must be here to cause trouble!"
"Miss, you can't go in like this, it's not appropriate…"
Before they could finish speaking, the person was taken down.
At this moment, all attention was drawn to the villa's main entrance, and discussions began, speculating about what had happened.
The next second, Bai Xi, dressed in red, appeared at the main entrance of the Zhou family villa.
Her striking red, form-fitting long dress, with no excessive adornments but exceptionally lustrous fabric, perfectly showcased her figure and skin. She looked elegant yet dazzling, almost instantly capturing everyone's gaze.
Zhou Wen's eyes lit up, his heart filled with undisguised excitement, but he maintained as much composure as possible on his face, though his slightly sweaty palms betrayed his emotions.
Bai Lian, holding his hands tightly, naturally felt it. Her gaze towards Bai Xi was filled with resentment and jealousy.
Old Madam Bai and Bai Ji, however, frowned slightly.
Why was it her who had arrived?