Grandmother Fu was against Fu Baili and Zhao Youyou being together. Now that Zhao Youyou was attending Grandmother Fu's birthday banquet, Su Ci felt that she could enjoy the show.
Su Ci noticed Fu Baili's gaze returning to her. She frowned, "Why are you looking at me?"
Fu Baili's handsome face tightened, and his tone was firm, "You're gloating." The girl's eyes sparkled brightly, as if she were anticipating something bad to happen.
A bit of irritation rose in his heart.
Was she that obvious? Su Ci raised an eyebrow, "I don't know what you're talking about."
This was the first time Fu Baili had encountered a girl like this—proud, sharp-tongued, and utterly infuriating.
He gave her a cold glance and walked over to Zhao Youyou.
With the annoyance gone, Su Ci happily indulged in some small pastries.
Zhao Youyou had been brought here by Fu Baili's people. Today was Fu Baili's grandmother's birthday, and if she wanted to be with Fu Baili, she had to gain the old lady's approval.
She didn't want to put Fu Baili in a difficult position between her and his family.
Zhao Youyou was wearing a white strapless long gown that Fu Baili had sent over, which added a touch of elegance to her. With her clear and delicate features, her appearance drew the attention of many, who were guessing which family's daughter she was.
Zhao Youyou held her breath quietly.
After being reborn, she had changed her previous habits of heavy makeup and staying up late, focusing on skin care. Coupled with her natural good looks, she had even become the school beauty at her high school.
So, when she saw herself in the evening gown during her styling, she was also a bit stunned by her own beauty.
She was confident that tonight, at the banquet, she would be the most dazzling and beautiful companion.
Zhao Youyou noticed the gazes of the surrounding guests—some were puzzled, some curious, some appreciative—but none were truly amazed by her.
Zhao Youyou felt a bit disappointed.
In the book, every time Zhao Youyou attended a banquet with Fu Baili, she always stunned everyone, especially when she stood beside the male lead, Fu Baili, which inevitably made the other young ladies envious and jealous.
However, she didn't know that Su Ci was present.
With Su Ci's breathtaking beauty in front of them, Zhao Youyou's clear and delicate appearance instantly paled in comparison. She was pretty, but not enough to leave a lasting impression.
Fu Baili strode forward, "You're here? Don't be nervous. My grandmother is over there. I'll take you to greet her."
Zhao Youyou nodded and naturally wrapped her arm around Fu Baili's, a move that caught the attention of the surrounding guests.
Was this Fu Baili's companion? Which family's daughter was she?
"Grandmother, Youyou has come to wish you a happy birthday." Fu Baili led Zhao Youyou to Grandmother Fu's side.
Zhao Youyou acted appropriately, politely saying, "Grandmother Fu, I wish you longevity and eternal happiness."
She held a gift in her hand and presented it to Grandmother Fu, "This is my birthday gift for you. I don't know if you'll like it."
Seeing Zhao Youyou's arrival, Grandmother Fu's smile, which had been pleasant while talking to Su's Mother, changed slightly.
Her smile faded, "It's kind of you. Baili, have someone take your friend to get some food."
Grandmother Fu had no intention of accepting Zhao Youyou's gift.
"Grandmother, I'll have the butler take care of the gift," Fu Baili tried to help Zhao Youyou out.
"No need," Grandmother Fu said slowly, "Young people don't have much money. They rely on their parents. No need to spend on me."
Zhao Youyou looked aggrieved at Fu Baili, her fingers gripping the birthday gift so tightly that they turned white from the force.
Fu Baili couldn't bear to see his girlfriend feeling wronged, "Grandmother, I'll take her to get some food first."
Grandmother Fu disagreed, "Your parents are over there. Go and greet the guests with them. Many of them are business partners of the Fu family. You'll take over the company in the future, so you should get to know them early. As for your friend, I'll have someone take care of her."
Fu Baili frowned. He didn't feel at ease leaving Zhao Youyou alone, fearing she might be bullied.
Zhao Youyou was very understanding, "Go ahead. I can manage on my own."
She knew that if Fu Baili insisted on staying with her, Grandmother Fu's impression of her would only worsen.
Fu Baili whispered, "Alright, I'll come find you after I'm done."
After the two parted ways, Grandmother Fu sighed to Su's Mother, "Your daughter, Su Ci, is raised well. She's obedient and sensible. Unlike my grandson, who doesn't see clearly."
Grandmother Fu no longer had the face to suggest that Su Ci and Fu Baili get closer.
Su's Mother, who always doted on her daughter, was pleased to hear her praised.
Zhao Youyou was attending such a grand banquet for the first time. If not for Fu Baili, she wouldn't have had the chance to witness the lives of these wealthy families.
With Fu Baili not by her side, she felt a bit nervous.
However, Zhao Youyou reminded herself that she had already lived through another life. She couldn't afford to be short-sighted and panic like she did in her previous life.
Zhao Youyou straightened her back, wearing a gentle smile, afraid of being looked down upon by others.
Just as she was about to head to the rest area, she suddenly bumped into someone, and the other person's red wine spilled directly onto her waist.
"You..." Zhao Youyou looked over and realized the other person was wearing the same evening gown as hers.
"You bumped into me first," Wang Xiaoqin said, her wine glass now empty, all the liquid spilled on Zhao Youyou's gown.
Zhao Youyou was worried about drawing attention, so she lowered her voice and said aggrievedly, "It was you who suddenly walked over."
The other person was deliberately bumping into her.
Wang Xiaoqin placed her wine glass on a nearby waiter's tray and took a tissue to wipe her hands. "Do you have any evidence?"
Not only was this woman wearing the same gown as her, but she was also walking with the Fu family's young master. Wang Xiaoqin found her very disagreeable.
Zhao Youyou bit her lip, "Why are you setting me up?"
She wasn't stupid. The other person's eyes clearly showed hostility toward her.
Wang Xiaoqin examined Zhao Youyou's attire. Besides wearing the same gown as her, the other woman's outfit was plain and her demeanor wasn't impressive. She didn't seem like a daughter of any prominent family.
"What are you talking about? You accidentally bumped into me and now you're trying to frame me? Which family's daughter are you? Your upbringing isn't very good." Wang Xiaoqin was a good girl in front of her elders, but that didn't mean she was kind-hearted.
Zhao Youyou's face turned red. The people present were all influential figures.
Even though her family had won the lottery and received five million in prize money, they were still just a middle-class family. Compared to these wealthy young ladies and young masters, they were nothing. If not for Fu Baili giving her an invitation, she wouldn't even have the qualification to enter the banquet.
Now, being questioned about her identity felt like a stab in the heart, and Zhao Youyou's face turned red with embarrassment.
Wang Xiaoqin gave her a meaningful look, "Take a good look at yourself. You're only worthy of a ruined gown."
Zhao Youyou's eyes turned red with anger. She clenched her hands and retorted, "Don't go too far." She had no idea where she had offended the other person.
In the restroom, Su Ci, who hadn't gotten to see the drama between Zhao Youyou and Fu Baili, instead witnessed Zhao Youyou being bullied.
The book had mentioned multiple times that at banquets, Zhao Youyou was the target of other young ladies. Whenever she appeared, there would always be a supporting female character trying to cause trouble for her.
With the male lead, Fu Baili, by her side, any supporting female character who caused trouble for Zhao Youyou would end up humiliated and suffer.
Su Ci sipped her juice, watching the drama of two women fighting over a man with boredom.
She wondered if Zhao Youyou's protagonist halo would work this time and how this supporting female character would be humiliated.
In the next moment, Su Ci's gaze accidentally fell on the supporting female character's wrist. She saw that the other person's life value was a thin red line, barely visible.
Was this person about to die?
Su Ci narrowed her eyes and summoned Fu Gui, "Tell me, how did this person die?"
Rich quickly informed her: [Master, she died from an asthma attack.]
Su Ci was momentarily stunned. Died from an illness?
If the person had died in an accident or due to someone else's actions, she might have been able to save them. But she wasn't a doctor and had no ability to prevent or treat asthma.
It was a pity. She couldn't get this golden cotton candy.
The distance was too far, and Su Ci couldn't see the numbers marked on the other person's wrist. "How much longer does she have to live?"
Fugui's cute voice, though, spoke the cruelest words: [Master, she has ten minutes left to live.]
Su Ci's brows furrowed tightly; time was running out.
Opposite her, the female cannon fodder was still arguing with Zhao Youyou, showing no signs of an impending medical emergency.
Su Ci bit on her straw, deep in thought.
The quarrel between Zhao Youyou and Wang Xiaoqin had caught the attention of many guests.
Zhao Youyou's eyes were red as she searched the crowd for Fu Baili. He was chatting with someone else and hadn't noticed her situation.
Her white dress was stained with red wine, the mark on her waist particularly noticeable. Zhao Youyou tried to cover the stain with her hand, "I don't want to argue with you."
It was clear that the other party was deliberately making things difficult for her.
Zhao Youyou glared angrily at Wang Xiaoqin and headed towards the restroom.
With so many people around, Wang Xiaoqin didn't continue her aggressive behavior. Seeing Zhao Youyou walk towards the restroom, she followed.
In the restroom, Zhao Youyou used wet paper towels to wipe her dress.
The fabric was soaked, and the wine stain had spread, becoming even more obvious.
Zhao Youyou felt a wave of helplessness. This was her first time suffering such a silent humiliation.
At that moment, Wang Xiaoqin pushed the door open and entered.
She placed her handbag on the sink, took out her makeup powder, and started touching up her makeup. "No matter how much you wipe, the dress is still dirty. Someone like you, with your background, only deserves to wear a dirty gown."
Zhao Youyou kept her head down, vigorously wiping the wine stain on her dress, not uttering a word.
After finishing her makeup, Wang Xiaoqin looked provocatively at Zhao Youyou's reflection in the mirror. "Similarly, someone like you isn't worthy to stand by Fu Baili's side."
Zhao Youyou's hand paused. She realized that the other party was targeting her because of Fu Baili.
Taking a deep breath, Zhao Youyou couldn't help but reprimand her, "As long as he likes me, I can be with him. Please don't measure a person's worth with money. Even if you have wealth, it doesn't make you superior. In the face of life, everyone is equal."
Wang Xiaoqin seemed to find this amusing, giving her a contemptuous look. "You can save those words for the people outside in the banquet hall." She then pushed open the bathroom door and went in.
Zhao Youyou looked at her disheveled reflection in the mirror, biting her lip.
The other party was just lucky to be born into a wealthy family. Why did she look down on her?
Zhao Youyou felt resentment growing in her heart.
As she was about to turn and leave, she inadvertently noticed the medicine in the handbag on the sink. She recognized its purpose instantly, as her cousin suffered from the same condition.
Zhao Youyou glanced back; the partition door was closed.
Her heart raced as she bit her lip, then she reached into the handbag and took out the medicine.
Su Ci had already called for an ambulance. Glancing at the time, she had only six minutes left. She wasn't sure if the ambulance could make it in time.
After hanging up, as she turned around, Su Ci saw Zhao Youyou coming out of the restroom.
The other woman looked disheveled and was hurrying.
Su Ci narrowed her eyes, watching Zhao Youyou hurry past.
She remembered that the female cannon fodder had also gone to the restroom.
Opening the restroom door, Su Ci saw the female cannon fodder standing at the sink, frantically searching through her handbag. Her appearance was also quite abnormal.
“My medicine, my medicine is gone,” Wang Xiaoqin gasped, her breathing rapid, and she collapsed to the ground, convulsing.
"Medicine..."
"Medicine..."
Wang Xiaoqin started coughing violently.
Su Ci quickly stepped forward, helping to search through her handbag. "There's no medicine in your bag. Did you drop it somewhere?"
Wang Xiaoqin's forehead and neck were covered in sweat, her lips trembling, unable to speak.
"Hang on, I've already called the ambulance," Su Ci supported her, leaning her body forward to help her breathe more easily.
"Medicine..." Wang Xiaoqin gestured for Su Ci to help her find the medicine.
Su Ci looked at the life gauge on her wrist, only two minutes remaining.
Su Ci frowned, "Where did you put your medicine?" There was none in the bag.
Wang Xiaoqin's breathing was rapid.
Su Ci calmed down and thought of Zhao Youyou, who had just walked out of the restroom. Did she take the female cannon fodder's medicine?
But just now, she had seen Zhao Youyou's hands empty, with nothing in them.
The restroom was empty except for the trash can and the hand soap on the side.
Only one minute and thirty seconds remained.
The ambulance hadn't arrived yet.
Su Ci looked at Wang Xiaoqin on the ground. Indeed, the heroine's aura was powerful. The female supporting characters who opposed Zhao Youyou in the book didn't end well.
For the first time, Su Ci witnessed a life slowly slipping away before her eyes.
Su Ci thought of her own heart attack, where people around her were indifferent, and she lay on the cold ground waiting for death.
Wang Xiaoqin looked up at Su Ci, "Save... save..."
Su Ci looked at the life gauge on her wrist, only one minute left. She pursed her lips, her dark eyes calm yet powerless.
As she lowered her head, trying not to look at the other woman's painful, twisted face, her gaze fell on the trash can next to her. Under the paper towels, a small bottle was visible.
Su Ci immediately reached into the trash can, pulling out the small bottle hidden under the paper ball.
Seeing the name on the bottle, Su Ci's eyes lit up.
"Open your mouth," Su Ci removed the cap and placed the nozzle in Wang Xiaoqin's mouth.
Wang Xiaoqin grasped Su Ci's hand, pressing the spray and taking a deep breath.
Su Ci watched as Wang Xiaoqin's life gauge instantly changed from a thin red line to five yellow bars.
Su Ci breathed a sigh of relief. After Wang Xiaoqin calmed down a bit, she stood up, "I'll go see if the ambulance has arrived."
Zhao Youyou came out of the restroom and ran into Fu Baili.
Seeing the large wine stain on her dress, Fu Baili instinctively frowned, "How did your dress get dirty?"
Zhao Youyou recounted the events to him, "With my background, I really shouldn't be here."
"You're my girlfriend. No one has more right to attend this banquet than you. Don't worry, I'll help you get justice," Fu Baili said, ignoring the curious glances from the guests. He half-hugged Zhao Youyou, "I'll have someone take you to change clothes. After the banquet, I'll drive you home."
Zhao Youyou obediently agreed.
At that moment, the sound of an ambulance was heard outside.
The guests were astonished.
Zhao Youyou's heart tightened, feeling inexplicably nervous.
An ominous premonition crept into her mind.
Soon, she saw the medical staff enter, heading towards the restroom.
Zhao Youyou bit her lip, her face pale with panic.
"What's wrong?" Fu Baili noticed her unusual behavior, showing concern: "Are you not used to this environment? I'll have someone take you to rest."
Before falling for Zhao Youyou, Fu Baili was a proud son of heaven, always the one receiving care. He never knew how to care for others.
But after being with Zhao Youyou, he changed.
In Fu Baili's eyes, Zhao Youyou was as delicate as a pure little rabbit. Just a moment of his absence had left her being bullied.
He had to constantly care for her, sheltering her under his wings.
Zhao Youyou shook her head.
Then, she saw the medical staff carrying someone out, and it was the young lady who had provoked her.
Zhao Youyou's face turned pale instantly.
The other party had targeted her, and she had only slightly retaliated.
She hadn't expected the other person to have a medical emergency.
Zhao Youyou was nervous, worried that the other party would know she had thrown away the medicine.
But then, Zhao Youyou remembered that there were no surveillance cameras in the restroom. Besides the wealthy young lady herself, no one else had seen her throw the medicine away.
The other party had provoked her first, and she had only played a small trick. She wasn't wrong.
Thinking this way, Zhao Youyou's anxious heart settled down.
Su Ci saw the female cannon fodder being taken away by the medical staff before coming out of the restroom.
The female cannon fodder's medicine had appeared in the trash can, clearly not accidentally dropped.
The female cannon fodder wasn't stupid; she would probably figure out what had happened. After that, the feud between the female cannon fodder and Zhao Youyou had nothing to do with her.
"Ci Ci."
At this moment, Su's Mother urgently found Su Ci. Seeing the sudden appearance of ambulance personnel, Su's Mother's first thought was to find her daughter, fearing something had happened to her.
"Mom, I just went to the restroom," Su Ci said, holding Su's Mother's hand.
Su's Mother breathed a sigh of relief. "I've finished talking with Grandmother Fu. Let's go."
The gift had been delivered, and the greetings had been exchanged. There was no need to stay any longer.
Su Ci nodded. She had just received a golden cotton candy, which she intended to give to Lu Zhe. She also wanted to leave.
On the way back, Su Ci did not travel with her mother in the same car. She told her mother she had something else to do.
Su's Mother watched as her daughter got into another car. She could guess that her daughter was going to see Lu Zhe.
Regarding her daughter's relationship with Lu Zhe, Su's Mother could only turn a blind eye. Lu Zhe had practically saved their entire family, and in both emotion and reason, she found it difficult to continue playing the role of the stern parent.
Su's Mother sighed, hoping that Lu Zhe could live a little longer, a little longer.
Su Ci was unaware that her mother had already figured out her plans.
She had an appointment to meet Lu Zhe at the house he was renting.
Su Ci was still wearing her evening gown from the banquet, her feet clad in delicate high heels. Although they were custom-made and more comfortable than ordinary heels, her feet were still rubbed red.
Su Ci sat on the sofa, taking off her shoes and walking barefoot on the floor, waiting for Lu Zhe to arrive.
After an unknown amount of time, the door opened.
Su Ci lazily lifted her eyes to see Lu Zhe standing at the door, dressed in a black suit.
Lu Zhe had not attended Grandmother Fu's banquet, but he had gone to another business reception with Lu Chen today.
Lu Chen, knowing his son's poor drinking ability, had taken him to several banquets to help him improve.
Over time, Lu Zhe's drinking capacity had indeed improved a bit, at least he no longer passed out after a single glass.
Su Ci leaned back on the sofa, looking up as Lu Zhe strode towards her with his long legs.
Lu Zhe had a great physique and maintained a daily fitness routine. After a period of military training, his muscles had become even more solid. Now, dressed in a slim-fitting black suit, his figure appeared even more striking and outstanding.
Su Ci licked her lips, thinking, "Hmph, I really want to strip him naked."
