After taking the photos, Ning Yitao got into the car arranged for her and took out the camera to start a live broadcast.
"Wow!! Wife is so beautiful today. Come and give me a hug."
"Mua~ Mua~ Mua~ No wonder she's the great Ning. She looks amazing even with a simple outfit."
"Woohoo, baby, go be a star. I'd be willing to support you even if you're just a pretty face."
"Damn it. This must be her way to the banquet. Is she really going to have a propitious wedding with that sickly guy? Nooo."
"Don't be a jinx, dude above!!"
Ning Yitao didn't open the live - stream page, so she had no idea that netizens were desperately trying to stop her from going to the banquet.
She was indeed on her way to the banquet when suddenly Ning Hong called. In a sarcastic tone, she said, "I've already signed the agreement to sever our relationship. Come and get it from me now. If you're late, you won't get it. Then..."
"Shut up."
Ning Yitao hung up the phone before she could reply.
Calling her at this time without a driver or a makeup artist, wasn't Ning Hong just hoping to see her rush into the banquet in a mess and without any grace?
Of course, Ning Hong didn't want to enter the banquet with Ning Yitao. Standing beside her would only make her feel ashamed.
She deliberately left Ning Yitao alone. Having been teased by her for days, it was time for Ning Yitao to learn who not to mess with.
The Yun family, who had prepared for a long time, never expected that Ning Yitao would show up at the dinner like Cinderella transformed into a princess by magic.
As the banquet hall doors were pushed open—
The long earrings swayed gently with her graceful steps, making her skin look like congealed fat. Ning Yitao walked into the hall gracefully. Her golden evening dress sparkled under the lights, like an angel descending to earth. Everyone gasped in admiration.
The moment Ning Yitao appeared, she caught everyone's attention. She was truly beautiful. Some people noticed the latest - style evening dress she was wearing, and whispers and discussions broke out all around, wondering whose daughter she was.
Although Yun Fanghai didn't know why she had changed so much, he still stepped forward and explained, "This is the little daughter of the Yun family who has been wandering outside for years. She was just found a few years ago. Today is the announcement of her engagement to the young master of the Duan family."
"A convenient excuse for a daughter who was lost," Ning Yitao said coldly, looking at him with disdain.
On the surface, everyone smiled and offered their blessings, but in their hearts, they knew it well. The Yun family didn't want their own daughter to suffer, so they found a substitute. This way, they could save their daughter and enjoy the benefits brought by the Duan family.
After Yun Ruichu noticed Ning Yitao's arrival and saw that she had captured everyone's attention, she instantly felt jealous.
How dare this girl from the countryside dress more beautifully than her? It was intolerable. Yun Ruichu stared at Ning Yitao menacingly.
Ning Hong also saw Ning Yitao at the door. She looked shocked. "How is this possible?" She was filled with doubts.
But to maintain her awkward noble - lady etiquette, she resisted the urge to go up and question Ning Yitao directly.
Yun Ruichu stormed off to find her clique to make trouble for Ning Yitao. Ning Hong, of course, knew what she was up to but didn't stop her.
She turned around and mingled with a group of noble ladies. Then she followed them into another room. This was the upper - class world she had always dreamed of entering. She wasn't going to waste this opportunity to deal with Ning Yitao.
Ning Hong thought it didn't matter if Ning Yitao stole the show at the beginning. A girl with no knowledge of etiquette would surely be at a loss when standing alone.
But unexpectedly, Ning Yitao sat down gracefully in the ladies' lounge area.
Even though her own daughter had changed so much recently, Ning Hong didn't care at all. She just wanted to get rid of this mess quickly.
If she could complete this task, save Yun Fanghai's daughter, and help his company, maybe he wouldn't look down on her anymore.
The Yun family was a nouveau - riche family, and many people present didn't really care about them.
But ever since they knew that the Yun family was going to marry into the Duan family, Ning Hong and Yun Fanghai had felt a change in people's attitudes. After all, the Duan family was a major force in City A. But all these came at the cost of sacrificing Ning Yitao.
But to them, so what?
Ning Yitao was sitting alone in the lounge area, leisurely eating, when suddenly it went dark in front of her.
She looked up and saw a wall of people. Three girls stood in a row, blocking her way.
The leader was Yun Ruichu. Pointing at Ning Yitao, she said sarcastically, "You country bumpkin. If you can't afford the latest style, just admit it. Why are you wearing a fake? You're so shameless."
Her little follower Du Yuanyuan chimed in, "Poor people are just poor. They don't even know they're buying a fake. They don't even check if they can afford this brand. It's so ridiculous."
Their commotion attracted the attention of the people around. When they realized it was Ning Yitao, their interest grew. Who didn't like to gossip about a high - profile figure?
Seeing that Ning Yitao ignored her, Yun Ruichu was sure she was too ashamed to speak. Her confidence soared.
Noticing the attention from the crowd, Yun Ruichu deliberately played the good - cop role and said, "Don't say that about her. After all, she's going to live with her sickly husband in a few days. She'll have to take care of a paralyzed husband on their wedding night. The Duan family isn't marrying a wife; they're just hiring a nurse."
Another follower, Du Xiaoxiao, said, "Ning Yitao, I can already imagine you taking care of that ugly and helpless sickly guy. You'd better enjoy your single life these days."
Du Yuanyuan continued, "I've also heard that her sickly husband is impotent. Will she go out and find other men out of loneliness in the future?"
A few envious people in the crowd also joined in and insulted Ning Yitao.
This gave Yun Ruichu even more confidence, and she let out another round of mockery.
Ning Yitao still remained silent, as if they weren't even there. Or rather, they weren't worth her effort. She didn't want to seem petty by dealing with them.
But since they kept pestering her, she wouldn't hold back anymore.
She continued to sip her tea slowly. Netizens watching the live - stream were becoming keyboard warriors as they saw the three arrogant girls.
Just when they were wondering why the great Ning didn't fight back, Ning Yitao let out a soft laugh and curled her lips wickedly. She looked up nonchalantly.
The three girls suddenly froze and all stared into Ning Yitao's eyes.
"Look around you," Ning Yitao said casually. The three girls seemed to wake up from a dream.
Suddenly, three high - pitched screams overlapped, almost blowing the roof off the banquet hall.
Everyone saw the three girls "dancing" on the spot, each in a different way.
Yun Ruichu, lying on the ground, slowly and stiffly turned her head and saw the tail of a three - or four - meter - tall cobra python pressing on her.
She covered her mouth tightly, afraid that another sound would attract its attention and get her swallowed whole. Her face was as white as a sheet, and her forehead was covered in fine sweat.
Du Yuanyuan was doing high - frequency high - knee lifts frantically, slapping her clothes desperately. She almost exposed herself, but she didn't stop.
She saw countless rats crawling on her. Du Yuanyuan was about to cry. She ran around the hall in a panic, trying to shake off the swarms of rats, but it was impossible.
Du Xiaoxiao knelt on the ground, retching continuously. She was vomiting slugs. Looking at those worms, she couldn't help but retch even more, and more slugs came out. Her whole body was shaking, and even breathing was painful.
Unable to bear the fear, she broke down in tears.