The banquet today was for the 50th birthday of the original host's fiancé Yan Yuheng's father. All the necessary procedures had been completed, with only the birthday cake left to be cut.
Everyone was mingling in groups, their conversations creating a lively atmosphere. It was at this moment that Zhao Yuming arrived late with Xiao Yanyan, bringing her to pay their respects and apologize to Father Yan.
All eyes in the room were fixed on the pair, as they were such a stark contrast. Zhao Yuming was dressed in an expensive suit and wore a custom-made foreign watch, exuding an air of confidence and composure.
Xiao Yanyan, on the other hand, wore a faded white dress and canvas shoes. A few black coffee stains marred the hem of her dress and shoes, making her appear timid and out of place.
This was the first meeting between the male and female protagonists. Xiao Yanyan had finally bought herself a cup of coffee, something she had been reluctant to splurge on before. Before she could even take a sip, she was nearly hit by Zhao Yuming's car. The coffee spilled everywhere, and the shock left her trembling.
She had blocked the car, demanding an explanation and an apology. Despite the driver's earnest attempts to placate her with compensation, she paid him no mind.
Zhao Yuming found this woman to be so pure and unpretentious, her defiance of authority incredibly endearing. He felt he was in the wrong and should compensate her for her clothes, but he was in a hurry for the banquet.
He stepped out, pulled Xiao Yanyan into his car, and her infatuation with his handsome face instantly silenced her. She followed him to the banquet without fear of being kidnapped, believing that a man of such distinguished demeanor could not be a bad person.
"Xinxin, what are you spacing out about? Weren't you looking for your older brother just now? Let's go take a look."
Jun Jiuli turned to see Yan Yuheng approaching. He was the second person favored by the female lead. She could now see the protagonist's brilliance through her previously unappealing appearance, and her eyes were practically glued to Xiao Yanyan.
At 188cm tall, Yan Yuheng required Jun Jiuli to look up at him, as she was only 165cm, which greatly annoyed her.
"Why go over there? Are you interested in that girl?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? I just thought your brother might need your help."
"If he needs help, he'll come over himself."
Yan Yuheng didn't press the issue, as it wasn't his place to interfere with his future brother-in-law's companion. He merely felt a stir in his heart and didn't want the girl to be so embarrassed.
As expected, Zhao Yuming walked over with Xiao Yanyan. Jun Jiuli was surrounded by her original host's circle of female friends and a few young gentlemen of the same age.
"Little sister, let me introduce you. This is Xiao Yanyan, my companion for today. Take her to the lounge to change clothes and get ready. I'll buy you a gift."
"Brother, I've never seen you so invested in anyone before. Is she your girlfriend?" Jun Jiuli asked deliberately, raising her voice.
To elevate Xiao Yanyan's status and ease her embarrassment at the banquet, neither of them denied their relationship, merely blushing and remaining silent.
Jun Jiuli intimately linked arms with Xiao Yanyan. "It looks like she's my future sister-in-law," she said with a chuckle, leading her upstairs.
The surrounding guests now had an impression of Xiao Yanyan, labeling her as Zhao Yuming's girlfriend.
The reason the female lead wasn't criticized for playing the field and thriving in the entertainment industry was that she only engaged in ambiguous relationships and casual encounters without official commitments. Her fans gushed about her being a goddess, so sought after by wealthy suitors. Many naive young girls aspired to be like her, learning from and imitating her every move in hopes of attracting wealthy men.
She wasn't truly at fault; she was just a small actress unable to refuse them, not intentionally stringing them along.
Jun Jiuli felt that standing beside Xiao Yanyan, even the lighting seemed to favor the latter, making Jun Jiuli appear like a gaudy accessory to the pure and adorable protagonist.
"Tsk tsk tsk, where did young master Zhao find such a beauty? She doesn't even pale in comparison to Zhao Xinming standing next to her."
"It really does seem so. Zhao Xinming suddenly doesn't look so pretty anymore. My sister even said not to stand too close to her for photos, but now it doesn't seem like much."
"Are your eyes deceiving you? Zhao Xinming is clearly more beautiful. That timid woman looks more like a maid."
"Looking closely, it seems that way. Huh, what just happened? Does someone naturally come with a filter?"
"Haha, don't be so dramatic. Everyone makes mistakes in judgment sometimes."
Xiao Yanyan's eyes lit up as she looked at the row of dresses hanging on display, unable to resist touching them. They had been prepared by the Yan family in advance, just in case of any unexpected needs during the banquet.
"Choose whichever you like. I don't know your preferences."
"Can I really choose? I don't have that much money," Xiao Yanyan asked nervously, tugging at the hem of her dress.
"It's fine, my brother will pay."
"That's very kind of you. These dresses must be very expensive. Actually, your brother and I..."
"I'm not interested in your affairs, but if you want to be my brother's girlfriend, you can't embarrass our Zhao family."
"But I... I him..."
"Alright, stop dawdling. Are you or are you not my brother's girlfriend? Are you going to make him lose face at an occasion like this?"
Xiao Yanyan clenched her fists, giving herself a pep talk. She was determined to perform well today and not let the kind man lose face. After observing Jun Jiuli's attire, she chose a similar style. She glanced at Jun Jiuli a few times while selecting, and only when she received no reaction did she dejectedly head to the fitting room.
Shui Wa was overjoyed, eagerly anticipating the spectacle. The original host had a perfect, voluptuous figure, while Xiao Yanyan was currently a dried-up bean sprout...
After she emerged, the makeup artist applied her makeup. Xiao Yanyan could hardly believe the beautiful woman in the mirror was herself. She realized she could be this beautiful too, and her confidence soared as she stood tall. The stylist subtly suggested the dress wasn't suitable for her, but she pretended not to understand and refused to change. She believed these people were deliberately trying to harm her, seeing these dresses as perfectly fine. She thought people in high society were all wicked and had encountered such tactics in novels before, suspecting they were admirers of Zhao Yuming who were jealous of her.
She carefully examined herself in the mirror, twirling a few times, before happily asking Jun Jiuli to accompany her out. In the original plot, the original host had diligently dressed her up at her brother's request, ensuring a stunning debut that earned her an invitation from a genius director, thus entering the entertainment industry. However, even without the original host, she believed she could still establish a connection with Li Mochen.
When they returned to the banquet, Zhao Yuming looked at Jun Jiuli with displeasure. He then thoughtfully became Xiao Yanyan's escort, staying by her side, afraid that someone might take advantage of her. Xiao Yanyan, naive as she was, mingled indiscriminately. She took compliments from those who fawned over her as genuine, unaware that they were all trying to curry favor with Zhao Yuming. In a short while, she had accumulated a stack of business cards, making those watching inwardly cringe.
"Xinxin, who is that by your brother's side?"
"My brother's girlfriend. Mom, you don't need to worry. My brother is all grown up and can manage his own affairs."
"She doesn't seem to be from our circle, and her behavior is a bit unrefined."
"As long as he likes her, that's all that matters. Our family doesn't need him for an arranged marriage."
"You're right. We can teach her slowly later. This rascal hasn't even brought his girlfriend to meet me."
Shui Wa remarked, "A mother's love poured into a dog's mouth."
Jun Jiuli replied, "Don't worry, tonight I'll deliver a nightmare grand feast to the cannon fodder."