Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 85: Chapter 84: Banquet Turmoil (Part 2)_2

”What did you just go and say to that woman?” Zhang Jingjing hurriedly asked Luo Qianqian as she saw her return.

Luo Qianqian rolled her eyes and simply said, ”Stirring up trouble. Don’t you know the most interesting thing is to see two women fight over gossip? Later on, you just do this...” She then lowered Zhang Jingjing’s body and whispered instructions into her ear.

After hearing what Luo Qianqian had said, Zhang Jingjing’s eyes lit up, but within a second she looked at Luo Qianqian with suspicion. Luo Qianqian didn’t even glance at Zhang Jingjing as she picked up a plate and went off to find something to eat, since she hadn’t yet filled her stomach after being so busy earlier.

”You helped me, so you’re my friend. I’ll trust you. I know you wouldn’t do that to a friend,” Zhang Jingjing looked around calmly, then turned and walked away, acting as planned, with Luo Qianqian calm as a still pond.

Once the person was gone, Luo Qianqian rolled her eyes again: ”I never admitted to anything. I’m just doing it for fun. Haven’t you heard that onlookers love to see a big scene?” Saying so, she moved closer to He Wenyu and took two peeled shrimps from her plate, eating them carefree.

”Qianqian, help me out here. I can’t eat all of this, and I still want to have some lobster,” He Wenyu said as she peeled the shrimps. She meant to get angry when she saw her shrimp being snatched away, but couldn’t bring herself to be mad at the sight of Qianqian enjoying herself, as she had to look after her little sister after all.

”This isn’t a buffet, you know. If you can’t finish, just throw it over there,” Luo Qianqian said, pointing at a table guarded by servers that were constantly clearing empty plates, cups, and food that didn’t meet guests’ taste.

”Such a waste, huh,” He Wenyu reluctantly looked at the half-full plate, decided to buckle down and continued peeling, glancing up to see Zhang Jingjing, who had changed into a white strapless princess dress, descending from upstairs. Her hair, which was usually tied in a ponytail, now fell in a few curls behind her head, and the exquisite high-heeled sandals also attracted attention.

”Daddy, your daughter found a ring in the first-floor restroom just now. I wonder which lady lost it?” she said, showing a ruby ring the size of half a pigeon egg, intentionally blocking Ma Lina’s view while only giving her a glimpse of her back.

Those invited by the Zhang family were not the type to take advantage of others. If the ring did belong to someone, it would be rather embarrassing if it was revealed.

”Ah, a red ring? That beautiful auntie wearing the red dress seemed to have one. Could it be hers?” Luo Qianqian joined in, deliberately revealing her deceit with exaggerated shock to show she was putting on an act. Liu Yajing was taken aback and instinctively hid her own ring. Compared to the one on Zhang Jingjing’s hand, it was indeed insignificant.

”Auntie, have you lost your ring?” Zhang Jingjing said as she walked over to Liu Yajing with the ring, presenting it to her with a smile. After all, it wasn’t Liu’s ring, and Jingjing wasn’t the one to regret it; it was just her father’s money being spent, after all.

Seeing Liu Yajing’s hesitation, Jingjing feigned innocence and asked, ”Are you worried about getting spanked by mom for losing your ring? Don’t worry, this is the Zhang family’s place. No one loses things here.”

As she spoke, Zhang Jingjing stuffed the ring into Liu Yajing’s hand with an apologetic smile. ”Look, everyone’s here. This ring matches your outfit the best. How could it possibly belong to someone else? Are you afraid of getting scolded if someone finds out you lost it? Don’t worry, we Zhang family people are very discreet,” she said with a beaming smile, making sure everyone around nodded before she added contentedly, ”Keep it safe, okay? I won’t be here to find it for you if you lose it again.”

”Jingjing is getting more sensible by the day.”

”Director Zhang is such a lucky man.”

”To finders not takers, Director Zhang’s family education is commendable,” the guests said, surrounding Zhang Hongru with words of flattery. Looking at his younger daughter, who had been at odds with his wife recently, he felt quite pleased and laughed along with everyone.

”That’s okay now? I took the biggest one, which should have been given by dad just a few days ago,” Zhang Jingjing whispered to the foodies group of Luo Qianqian.

”You go get Xiao Yu some lobster meat, I’ll be right back.” Luo Qianqian put down her chopsticks, wiped her greasy mouth clean from eating, rinsed her mouth with the orange juice next to her, and walked towards Liu Yajing.

”Auntie,” Luo Qianqian said with an apologetic look at Liu Yajing, ”I’m sorry, Aunt Nana has already scolded me. Aunt Nana asked Jingjing to bring you this ring as an apology, saying that you also need something of a little value to elevate your status...”

Liu Yajing, still in doubt over the obviously expensive ring on her hand, looked up when she realized someone had come by her side, her brow slightly furrowing upon hearing Luo Qianqian’s words: ”An apology? What exactly did Nana say?”

”Did I say something wrong?” Luo Qianqian started crying, her eyes already veiling in mist: ”Auntie I was wrong, please don’t be angry. Jingjing said it was Aunt Nana who said it, said you should strike while the iron is hot to find a better match, so she gave you a ring that looks very expensive, considering it as Aunt Nana’s dowry for you.”

Liu Yajing, seeing the tears almost spilling from Luo Qianqian’s eyes and then looking at Ma Lina, who was laughing and covering her mouth among a bunch of men, including Zhang Hongru, believed Luo Qianqian’s words even more. In this circle, those with money are the masters. We all started from the same point. Isn’t it just that some have better luck and suddenly find a man willing to marry them, what’s there to be proud of? The veins on Liu Yajing’s forehead bulged as she got angrier, and Luo Qianqian got scared, thinking, ’She won’t cause a scene here, will she? That wouldn’t be fun if the misunderstanding got cleared up.’

Liu Yajing rubbed Luo Qianqian’s head, forcing a smile: ”Auntie’s not angry. It’s just getting late, and I should be heading home. Go find your parents.”

Luo Qianqian’s heart raced as Liu Yajing walked towards Ma Lina, beating faster as they got closer, feeling like it might pop out of her throat.

”Nana, I’m leaving now,” Liu Yajing said calmly, neither bursting into anger nor wearing a sorrowful face: ”You’re busy today; let’s get together another day.”

”Okay, shall I send you off?” Usually, this question was no issue, but in today’s context, with everyone dressed in evening gowns and only a coat outside, she had no car, and vehicles weren’t allowed in the villa area. It was Ma Lina’s car that had picked her up, and now she was asking this question.

Liu Yajing smiled lightly: ”No need, you enjoy yourself.”

”Alright, take care on your way,” Ma Lina said, as Liu Yajing often went home alone, so Ma Lina didn’t see any problem.

”Sure.” Taking her coat from the cloakroom, Liu Yajing stepped out of the Zhang family’s doorway, her red dress fluttering against the white snow of Christmas Eve.

”We should also be going,” seeing He Wenyu’s satisfied look after eating the food he had been looking forward to, she smiled and said to Zhang Jingjing.

”Okay, I’ll send you guys off,” Jingjing turned to look for Zhang Hongru: ”Dad, it’s snowing outside, can I and Uncle Wang take my friends home?”

”Sure, take some gifts with you,” Zhang Hongru gestured to the room behind, and Jingjing nodded.

Luo Qianqian and He Wenyu returned home just at 7:30.

Luo Shufan was still at the He Family complaining: ”Those two rascals didn’t bring me and came back so late, they might as well turn into snowmen.”