Chen Chunyao had also heard about Xie Shu's arrogance and domineering, so she couldn't help but shake her head and sneer.
"That Xie Shu is really brainless. She can't compare with her elder sister."
"However, considering their humble family background, the sisters have reached such a high position. They've really turned a losing hand into a winning one."
Xie Yu did come from a really bad family.
Her father was a gambler. The family was penniless, and he didn't do any productive work. Whenever he had some money, he'd take it to the gambling table. When he was out of money, he'd resort to all kinds of tricks to deceive people.
Some said that Qi Shifeng first met Xie Yu outside a dance studio.
Xie Yu was being dragged by her gambler father, who was trying to pull her out of the dance studio.
"The family can't even afford to eat, and you're still dancing here. Are you trying to kill me?"
At that time, Xie Yu had just come of age. Her gambler father "married" her off to a forty - something bachelor in their hometown for 200,000 yuan.
Of course, Xie Yu refused. She borrowed money from her classmates and ran away to continue pursuing her dancing dream.
But she was finally caught by her gambler father.
That day, Qi Shifeng happened to pass by.
He saw the young girl's bruised but stubborn face.
Maybe it was love at first sight. He stepped in and had someone rescue Xie Yu. He paid off the 200,000 - yuan betrothal gift for her.
He also sent her gambler father to prison.
After that, all the money Xie Yu needed on her dream - chasing journey was paid for by Qi Shifeng.
But some said it wasn't like that.
Xie Yu was a poor student sponsored by the Qi family. They had known each other for a long time. It was when Qi Shifeng presented awards to these poor students that he fell in love with her at first sight.
...
No matter how they got to know each other.
Anyway, Xie Yu's fate was indeed changed because of Qi Shifeng.
The first time Xu Tingyu met Xie Yu was at her own coming - of - age ceremony.
At that time, she had just won a gold award, and her future was bright.
The Xu family's business was booming, and the family was harmonious.
Everyone who saw her would say that she was the apple of her parents' eye and a天之骄女 (a natural beauty with a promising future).
At that time, the Qi family had already started discussing a marriage alliance with her family.
But since she was still young, every time they talked about it, it was in a joking manner.
Of course, the Qi family members had to attend her coming - of - age ceremony.
The elders of the Qi family, like the old master Qi, all gave her gifts.
Qi Ye also gave her a very beautiful gemstone necklace.
Qi Ruixi was abroad at that time and didn't know her yet.
As for Qi Shifeng, he was still a bit of a scoundrel at that time and far less steady than he was now.
Not only was he late, but he also brought a few people with him.
One of them was Xie Yu.
However, there were so many people that day that no one cared how many people the second young master of the Qi family had brought.
Xu Tingyu wasn't familiar with him at that time. She was surrounded by the crowd and completed the ceremony. Then she changed into a simple dress and sneaked into the garden to see the goldfish she had raised.
Just as she was feeding the fish, she heard some voices.
It was Xie Yu and Qi Shifeng.
"I'm so envious of her. She's a young lady surrounded by stars. Her coming - of - age ceremony is so lively."
"I didn't even have a piece of cake on my eighteenth birthday. I hid in the basement doing leg - stretching exercises. I didn't even dare to turn on the light for fear that my dad would catch me and marry me off."
At that time, Xu Tingyu didn't know Xie Yu.
She just thought these words were so pitiful that she couldn't help but secretly turn her head to look.
Then she saw Qi Shifeng.
The young and arrogant figure had his back to her. His voice was flippant but also full of reassuring determination.
"I'll celebrate your birthday for you next year."
She didn't know what was said later.
Because she believed in "not looking or listening to what's improper".
She silently finished scattering the fish food in her hand and quickly returned to the banquet.
Later, she went abroad for further study and didn't see Qi Shifeng or Xie Yu for two years.
The next time she saw Xie Yu, Xie Yu was already engaged to Qi Shifeng.
By that time, she had long forgotten about Xie Yu.
She had been arranged by the Qi and Xu families to have dinner with Qi Shifeng twice.
To be honest, she was attracted to him.
A man as good - looking as him would be her future husband and could also help her father solve some business troubles.
Her family was very satisfied, and she couldn't find any faults.
Moreover, from the first time they met, she had been attracted by his star - like eyes and had fallen into them and never come out.
At that time, Qi Shifeng wasn't as rude to her as he was later.
When they had dinner, he would pull out a chair for her, and he would also secretly take her for a ride on his heavy - duty motorcycle.
In her well - behaved life, there were few moments when her heart raced like this, except during competitions.
When the night wind blew through her skirt, it also blew this man into her heart.
Later, she learned about Xie Yu's existence by chance.
She and Qi Shifeng went out for dinner. A waiter knocked over some sauce, staining half of her skirt.
But Qi Shifeng didn't care at all. He just grabbed the waiter's hand and asked her why she was there.
The waiter ran out crying, and Qi Shifeng chased after her and never came back.
Xu Tingyu was very confused that day.
She was the one whose skirt had been soiled, so why wasn't she the one crying and being comforted?
It didn't take her much effort to find out about Xie Yu.
To be exact, Qi Shifeng didn't try to hide it much.
While dating his fiancée, he didn't let go of Xie Yu.
No one could accept this.
Xu Tingyu couldn't accept it even more. So she went home and asked her father if it was okay not to have the marriage alliance with the Qi family.
Xu Jianmin was stunned at first, then asked her with a smile if she had heard some idle gossip.
That was when she realized that everyone actually knew about Xie Yu's existence.
She didn't say a word, but all her thoughts were written on her face.
Xu Jianmin felt sorry for his daughter and said, "As far as I know, they're not in a romantic relationship. But if you don't agree, then forget it."
At that time, Xu Jianmin doted on her so much. If she wasn't happy, then they could just cancel the engagement.
But later, Zhang Qiu found out about this and came to her privately.
"You're being really naughty. Everyone knows about your engagement. If you cancel it now, what will others think of you?"
"Moreover, your father said that the woman and him aren't lovers, nor is he keeping her. She's just a student sponsored by the Qi family."
"You should stop being so jealous. Taking that kind of low - class person seriously will only make you look bad."
"Also, your father has been working so hard for the company. If you cancel the engagement now, do you know how much money the Xu family will lose? Others will think there's something wrong with the Xu family."
...
After this scolding, Xu Tingyu finally chose to be obedient.
Because even the old master Qi had explained to her in person that Xie Yu and Qi Shifeng didn't have any other relationship. They were just ordinary friends.
If they had said that Xie Yu and Qi Shifeng had nothing to do with each other, Xu Tingyu might not have believed it and would have insisted on canceling the engagement.
But they didn't completely deny it, nor did they try to hide it. They just openly said that they were ordinary friends, and she believed it.
She just didn't expect that although they weren't in a romantic relationship, Xie Yu was the white moonlight in Qi Shifeng's heart.