Xu Tingyu sat there, a chill creeping up her spine. She couldn't help but tremble.
What did Qi Ye mean by saying all these things?
Judging from the meticulousness of his elaborate scheme, he wouldn't introduce these people to her for no reason.
Just as the domestic news had just broken out about her "custody battle" with Qi Shifeng, he had brought her so prominently into the Chinese community.
Did he think that bringing her here would ensure everything was under control, or was he trying to fuel the public - opinion war?
This man was really a master at manipulating people's hearts.
Moreover, the people in his circle had dug out every detail of others' pasts and deliberately told her. What was the point?
Was he reminding her not to forget what Qi Shifeng had done to her family?
She didn't want to think any further. She just stared at him silently, her back straight as if there was an invisible ruler on it.
Qi Ye didn't seem to need her response. He simply introduced the people present one by one.
As she had expected, none of these people were ordinary.
Most of them had gone abroad to develop after they reached adulthood and still had intricate connections with the country.
Xu Tingyu sat there, and out of the corner of her eye, she could see that these people were all looking in her direction.
It wouldn't take long for the news about her and Qi Ye to spread back to the country.
By then, would Qi Shifeng believe that all this was her plan, just to take Youyou away and be with Qi Ye?
She didn't dare to think deeply.
One thing was for sure. Whether Qi Shifeng believed it or not, with things turning out like this, there was no way for her and Qi Shifeng to get back together.
The label of being entangled between the two brothers would always be on her.
Put nicely, it was because she was so charming that everyone loved her. Put bluntly, she was a femme fatale.
It was nothing less than killing someone and ruining their reputation.
What he wanted was for her to be disgraced and cornered, so that she would have no choice but to regard him as her only salvation.
The people around were bustling, and glasses were clinking.
She, who seemed to be the center of attention, felt as if she had been thrown into a muddy pit. The mud welled up, covering her nose and mouth.
She couldn't shout or struggle.
Seeing that she had been silent and her face was getting paler, Qi Ye reached out and touched her face.
"What's wrong? Are you not feeling well? Hungry? I'll get you something to eat. I remember you like cakes. I'll get you a piece."
His fingertips brushed against the corner of her mouth and then quickly withdrew, but there was a hint of ambiguous affection.
Xu Tingyu looked up at him, feeling that the man in front of her was both strange and terrifying.
He was like a devil in hell with a gaping mouth, about to swallow her whole, yet still pretending to care about whether she was feeling unwell.
But she hadn't forgotten Youyou, who was still running a fever. She didn't dare to really anger the man.
"If there's a strawberry cake, get me one. Thank you."
She even managed a smile.
In Qi Ye's eyes, as long as she was willing to smile at him, he would be completely submissive.
So even though there was no strawberry cake prepared at the banquet, he immediately arranged for someone to buy one.
In such small matters, he spared no effort to satisfy her.
While waiting for the cake, Qi Ye brought her a glass of juice.
She took it but didn't dare to drink it.
In fact, she had noticed the food area earlier, and there was no strawberry cake there.
She deliberately asked for a strawberry cake.
It wasn't to prove how much this man cared about her, but to avoid eating.
Since this man had brought her here for these people to see, she had to stay sober and not let herself lose composure in any way.
She was thinking that what if this man added something to the food.
In full view of everyone, she would be doomed.
So, of course, she refused to drink the juice. But she didn't dare to let the man notice, so she lied, "I'm trying to keep in shape. I'll save the sugar for the strawberry cake."
She always paid attention to her diet, and the man knew that, so he didn't force her.
Just then, someone came to talk to Qi Ye. Xu Tingyu took the opportunity to stand up and said that she needed to go to the restroom.
Without Qi Ye's order, Zhang Wan had already stepped forward. "Please follow me."
She smiled gracefully, using polite words and a respectful attitude. But in Xu Tingyu's eyes, she was no different from a ghost.
However, she couldn't resist such a "ghost" because she still had the idea of winning her over.
On the way to the restroom, Xu Tingyu received countless looks and smiles.
She didn't smile or say hello. With a cold face, she looked as if someone owed her a huge debt.
When she came out of the restroom, she didn't want to go back to the main hall. So she said to Zhang Wan, who had been waiting, "I'll go get some fresh air."
Zhang Wan didn't dare to stop her and silently followed.
The two walked out into the corridor.
It was already late, and it was much quieter outside.
Xu Tingyu wanted to go to the balcony.
Just as she passed by a room, she suddenly heard people talking about her.
"See that Xu Tingyu? She's really capable. I was at her wedding back then. I thought she was so lucky to marry Qi Shifeng."
"Who would have thought that it wasn't luck but her skills. After divorcing the second young master Qi, she got together with the eldest young master Qi."
"Now I even suspect that the reason she divorced the second young master Qi back then was because she had an affair with the eldest young master Qi. This is so exciting."
"No, I always thought the eldest young master was a very rational person. What's he thinking now? Bringing her here. Is he going to break with his family?"
"Who knows? Anyway, there's bound to be a big change in the Qi family. Is it really worth it for a woman?"
"I just want to know whose child they're fighting over, the eldest young master's or the second young master's. I'm so curious."
"No matter whose it is, you should know that few men are willing to raise another man's child."
"Why not? At least the second young master has that rumor with Xie Yu. But look at the eldest young master. He's been so clean - living for so many years. For her, what's a child?"
"You're right. A child, no matter whose it is, is still of the Qi family blood. They can just raise it elsewhere."
"Then it's still Xu Tingyu who's lucky. Both men are so handsome and rich. She won't lose out no matter which one she's with."
"That's why she's so proud. Look at the way she walked just now, looking down on people. People are invincible when they have no sense of shame."
"You feel the same way, right? I thought she was so arrogant but didn't dare to say it."
...
Xu Tingyu paused for a moment and then continued walking without saying a word.
Lucky? It was really ridiculous. If being fought over by two men was considered lucky, what about all the hardships she had endured?
Moreover, from the way they talked, they seemed to be on Qi Ye's side.
It was as if it was a great loss for him to find her and bring her here to make their relationship public.
Zhang Wan had wanted to go in and stop them, but seeing that Xu Tingyu didn't react, she didn't interfere.
Who would have thought that after walking a few steps, Xu Tingyu suddenly turned back, rushed into the room, picked up the wine on the table, and randomly splashed it on the people in front of her.