harleyscars Chapter 18, 6th time: Something's not right with this family.
Chapter 18, 6th time: Something's not right with this family.
It's time for this cannibalistic mother and child to pay the price.
"An engagement is supposed to be a matter between the two of us, it would be really strange if one of the main characters didn't come. Today I'll..."
Before I could finish speaking, Wen Xu felt his tongue was getting stuck and he kept babbling on and on.
Wenxu's speech was always clear; even when nervous, she had never stuttered like this. She remembered the condition Suyi had given her—the one that caused her to lose her voice when nervous—and couldn't help but yell at Suyi in her mind.
"Su Yi! Are you messing with me?! Isn't this a violation of your principles?"
"I didn't do anything. This is the reality show's own protection mechanism. You're destined to have a love-hate relationship with Lu Heng. If you try to run away directly, you'll likely trigger the interception mechanism. You should be grateful that this time you only made him stutter instead of bringing disaster upon him."
Su Yi felt much better after hearing Wen Xu's shout. He could have let Wen Xu wander around like a headless fly, but he chose to warn Wen Xu and let him know who was in charge.
Wen Xu's reaction drew disdain from Xia Ziling, who feigned a smile and said, "Xu Xu, there's no need to be so nervous. We're not going to eat you."
Several girls chuckled along, including Tang Lin, who was wearing a navy blue low-cut dress that revealed a large expanse of her snow-white skin.
"That's Xuxu for you, as cute as a little dumpling. Lu Heng was captivated by Xuxu the first time they met, as she almost ran into his arms."
"You're mistaken. I accidentally slapped the book on his face."
After hearing Wen Xu's words, Tang Lin could only chuckle awkwardly. Wen Xu simply ignored her. It was truly the first time in her life she had been blind to ask Tang Lin for courage. At that time, she had already seen that Tang Lin only sided with the side that was advantageous to him. She always reflected on herself, thinking that she couldn't keep her friends because she wasn't strong enough. Friends kept by material things would also be lost when those things were gone.
Unfortunately, each time she was reborn, she could only make some changes, with limited impact on the next rebirth. So, starting this time, she would change her relationship with Tang Lin. It's said that the best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, and the second best time is now.
Of course, she didn't intend to completely remove Tang Lin from her circle of friends. Tang Lin would collude with Lu Heng sooner or later, so this was bait she left for Lu Heng.
Wen Xu's hand was gently squeezed by Su Yuelan, who gave her a reproachful look.
"My daughter Xuxu has always been obedient. I always have to force her to go out to play. She's just not used to today's occasion."
Wen Xu slowly took Su Yuelan's hand in hers, who was sitting to her right. Su Yuelan had the same round, large eyes as Wen Xu. Anyone looking into those eyes would assume Su Yuelan was a gentle and kind woman, but she also had her stubbornness. For example, today, she was undergoing cancer treatment but took painkillers and forced herself to come, and Wen Xu couldn't persuade her otherwise.
Su Yuelan wore a light blue cheongsam with two orchids embroidered in Suzhou style hanging on the hem, which made her look elegant and also made her complexion appear even whiter.
"Xuxu is so pretty because she takes after her mother, but her taste in clothes... However, Xuxu is like you, she looks good in anything, even if she wears the same outfit as a teacup."
In front of each person was a cup of black tea poured into a bone china teacup, with an orchid at the bottom. Many people present showed a contemptuous smile.
Su Yuelan looked at Wen Xu's black tracksuit and couldn't understand it either, but she still explained, "Our Xu Xu is just..."
Wen Xu interrupted Su Yuelan, "It was my own choice to dress like this. Wearing a skirt is too inconvenient. Stockings are the same; they're not good for venous blood circulation."
The others were a little taken aback by Wen Xu's frank attitude.
"Xuxu's words are quite interesting; she's just like her father, isn't she? Why didn't her father come today? Aheng said he invited your whole family."
"His dad is busy with work..."
At the same time as Su Yuelan's murmur, Wen Xu's louder voice rang out, "I don't have a father."
The banquet hall fell silent. The socialites, who had been gathered by Xia Ziling to mock Wen Xu, covered their mouths with their hands upon hearing this. Most of them lacked the ability to live independently; although they might not like their fathers, they absolutely couldn't live without them.
"Having a mother but no father is a long story, but I have indeed severed ties with my biological father long ago. I know nothing about him. And don't even mention me, Lu Heng's father didn't come either, did he?"
Xia Ziling's smile was starting to falter, and Wen Xu narrowed his eyes, smiling like a cat.
In all her many lifetimes, Wen Xu had only met Lu Yuanxin once, at her wedding to Lu Heng. Lu Yuanxin was absent from many occasions where he should have been present, with Lu Heng always saying he was busy with work. Wen Xu clearly remembered that Lu Yuanxin had promised to attend a celebration banquet for Lu Heng's first Rui Niu Award, an important award given to leading young entrepreneurs. They had reserved time for Lu Yuanxin to give a speech, but he didn't come. That was the first time Wen Xu had seen Lu Heng lose control in front of others. Before he even got away from the crowd, he called Lu Yuanxin in the hallway to ask why he hadn't come. Lu Yuanxin told him not to contact him about such a small matter.
Something's wrong with this family.
Wen Xu had no intention of removing Xia Ziling's disguise now. Even if the couple were truly estranged, they had already established an inseparable relationship of interests, and it would take a trigger for them to explode.
"All day, every day, therapist, mother, maid"
A cell phone suddenly rang in the quiet hall. The socialites looked at each other in surprise. Wen Xu raised her hand and said it was hers, and that it was an important call that she had to answer.
Wen Xu went into the lobby and answered Chen Lei's call.
Before she could even speak, Chen Lei loudly began gossiping, "What are banquets for rich people like? Are there any...unmentionable special programs?"
"You'll see next time you come in person."
"No, no, no, I can't stand those people's hypocritical back-and-forth."
Chen Lei was actually very curious about what the scene was like today, but Wen Xu asked her to help find out information, so Tang Lin had no choice but to do it.
"Wu Ren Company is backed by the Bishu Group. Legally, the two companies are indeed unrelated, but tracing the source of the money reveals that the money Wu Ren Company earns is laundered in the Cayman Islands and ultimately flows to the Bishu Group."
Bishu Group was founded by Lu Yuanxin.
Last time, Chen Lei helped Wen Xu find out that it was Lu Heng who recommended Wu Ren Company to Wen Zeyu's drinking buddies. At the time, Wen Xu had a vague suspicion that Lu Heng had his own way of connecting with Wu Ren Company. Unexpectedly, pulling out the radish brought out the mud, which actually involved Bishu Group.
Wen Xu told Chen Lei not to tell anyone about this and to prioritize her safety while continuing the investigation. Wen Xu wanted to give her a few more instructions, but the call was cut off. She looked at the weak signal on her phone. Could it be because the signal was particularly bad in the suburbs, and she lost contact on her way here?
Wen Xu could only put away her phone, but when she turned around, she saw a figure in black disappear at the end of the corridor. Could it be that Xia Ziling sent someone to listen to her phone conversation? But she had been careful to hide her company name and personal name, so even if someone overheard, she would have a way to explain.
On her way back, she silently repeated what Chen Lei had told her, and suddenly she remembered the clue from this incident.
Big rat, big rat, don't eat my millet.
Big rat, my millet, that millet.
Why make things so complicated? Is it a pun that's a bit off?