Zhou Yi gave an arrogant snort, then said coldly, "Mrs. Qi, I hope you are well."
Yi Qingju sat down and smiled, "Hello, Miss Zhou."
When Yi Qingju had initially stepped on Zhou Yi's dress, she had apologized immediately, and later Qi Xiaoran had also compensated Zhou Yi with a new dress.
But that incident had ultimately led to Zhou Yi being mocked in the circle for a while. Given her arrogant personality and Yi Qingju's persona of being a pristine lily, it was unsurprising that Zhou Yi disliked her.
"Sorry, sister, I forgot to tell you Zhou Yi is here too," Yu Mu said apologetically, and then enthusiastically pushed the plate of butter cookies towards Yi Qingju.
Zhou Yi: ?
'Sister, what the heck!? Aren't you supposed to be on my side?'
'And elder sister, you're so much older than her, how can you call her sister!?'
She communicated with Yu Mu through her eyes.
Yu Mu first gave an apologetic look to her friend.
'Sorry, she's too beautiful, I've switched sides.'
Then she said viciously, 'A woman remains a girl until she dies! What do you know?'
Zhou Yi felt like killing someone.
Yi Qingju thanked her and thought this was quite different from the confrontational atmosphere she had imagined.
Just as she took a bite of the sweet cookie, a burst of laughter and chatter came from nearby.
Yi Qingju turned to look and saw a group of girls dressed like flowers approaching, arm-in-arm.
Zhou Yi's brow immediately furrowed, "You invited others too?"
She looked at Yu Mu.
Yu Mu also looked confused, "I didn't."
Then she stood up, "Why are you all here?"
The one leading the group smiled, "Yu Mu, you're so stingy, not inviting us to your gathering."
As she spoke, she tilted her head and looked at the composed Yi Qingju sitting there drinking tea.
"So that's Mrs. Qi. We haven't really talked before, but now that I see her up close, she really is beautiful. No wonder she has that person so infatuated."
Yi Qingju nearly spat out her red tea.
Infatuated how?
Yu Mu turned and rolled her eyes.
Ah, she had seen through it now - these people must have caught wind of some gossip and came seeking Yi Qingju.
Zhou Yi exchanged a glance with her, then retorted, "No wonder Qi Xiaoran doesn't like you. After all, this world needs you to set off its beauty. He's not doing charity work."
Yi Qingju: Her mouth is so poisonous.
The girl who spoke seemed used to Zhou Yi's venom and only rolled her eyes without responding.
She led the group over and said to Yi Qingju, "Mrs. Qi, why are you attending our little gathering? Don't you need to be at the company?"
Before Yi Qingju could reply, someone else chimed in, "Her company is under the Qi Group. Since Mr. Qi is so caring, he'll naturally favor her."
The smile on Yi Qingju's lips turned cold as she realized these people didn't need her to join their conversation - they could put on a show all by themselves.
Things were truly different from the past when she didn't receive such treatment.
With many emotions, Yi Qingju posted on her friend circle amid their chatter.
'If you bloom, the butterflies will come,' with a sad broken-hearted puppy emoji.
Xiao Jiji: [.....so cringeworthy it's trendy]
"Sorry, you're right, I just remembered there's something at the company. I'll leave first."
Before Yu Mu could stop her, she said, "Miss Yu, if you don't mind, why don't you come to the Qi residence for dinner this Saturday?"
"Miss Zhou too." She smiled frankly, her gaze sincere, not at all like an empty formality.
Yu Mu stared at her in a daze, her eyes almost sparkling as she nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, yes!"
Zhou Yi turned her head, not responding.
She was from the Zhou family - how could she go eat at the home of their family's sworn enemy?
The group who had been speaking grew displeased.
"Mrs. Qi, what do you mean by this? You're leaving as soon as we arrive."
The little sparrow was trying to act like a phoenix, really thinking herself someone important?
Yi Qingju was about to retort when she suddenly recalled Qi Xiaoran's words: 'I've got your back.'
She smiled sweetly instead, her voice gentle, "If you're unhappy, go air your grievances with Qi Xiaoran."
The group fell silent.
Zhou Yi burst out laughing, "Hahahahaha, brilliant! Hahahahaha, what's wrong, why aren't you saying anything? This is a great opportunity, go ahead and try getting close to Qi Xiaoran, see if he'll notice you."
Yi Qingju turned and left.
One of the women with an ugly expression on her face suddenly said, "Did anyone notice the necklace she was wearing around her neck looked familiar?"
Her seemingly random remark, while abrupt, successfully shifted everyone's attention.
Girls care a lot about these kinds of things.
They tried recalling, as they hadn't really gotten a clear look from their angle earlier.
But Zhou Yi, who had been sitting directly across from Yi Qingju, furrowed her brow and said in a complicated tone, "The Kiss of Sunset...?"
As soon as that name came out, the atmosphere fell silent, then someone exclaimed, "How's that possible!? Wasn't that the token of affection Qi's father gave to his mother? How could Qi give it to Yi Qingju!"
They had originally thought Qi Xiaoran was just momentarily interested in Yi Qingju. After all, men, especially those in high positions, might have more eccentric tastes.
Who would have thought a woman capable of raising pigs would be so rare?
But the priceless Kiss of Sunset, especially since it was his mother's memento, how could he have so easily given it to Yi Qingju?
"This is simply... inconceivable."
They couldn't help but wonder the same question in their minds.
What charm did Yi Qingju possess?
Yu Mu was probably the calmest one present.
"What charm? Just looking like that is already a gift from the heavens. I ask those ladies present, which one of you can surpass her based on appearance alone?"
...
[I wish I hadn't come, all dressed up for nothing. No point showing off now.]
As she walked away, she kept talking, but the turtle remained unresponsive for a long time.
[Xiao Jiji? Did you fall asleep?]
Still no response. Yi Qingju instinctively felt her waist.
Empty.
"Oh no, I brought a handbag today... dang it!"
Yi Qingju ran back the way she came.
As she passed by an artistic bush trimmed into the shape of rabbits, she faintly heard voices coming from behind.
"That Zhou Yi is so arrogant, she infuriates me."
Hearing that name, Yi Qingju stopped in her tracks and pricked up her ears.
Please, no one can walk away unscathed from gossip!
"Don't bother with her, she's just all talk. Everyone knows the Zhou family's future belongs to her brother - she won't get a single thing."
"She can only be arrogant for now. Thinking she's some high and mighty lady - who doesn't know her mother was a mistress, used to be a prostitute? The uncultured child of a wild hen. We should be more tolerant."
They were laughing boisterously when a rustling sound came from nearby. They hurriedly stopped laughing and looked over.
Yi Qingju looked at them, brushing some leaves from her hair. "Oh, sorry, I interrupted your conversation."
They hadn't expected Yi Qingju to return and didn't know how much she had heard.
"When I was still an ordinary commoner, I often heard that the children of high society were graceful and well-mannered."
Hearing her ominous words, the leader frowned, "What do you mean?"
Yi Qingju shrugged, "Nothing, really."
"I just wanted to say—"
"Don't teach a father his own mistake - you're insulting me by mocking others."
"Yi Qingju!!" They raged.
"Your mouth is full of filthy words. I can tell you know what it's like, you must have done it before too," Yi Qingju said with a shocked expression.
Their faces showed disgust. Coming from respectable backgrounds, when had they ever suffered such indignity?
Seeing their reaction, Yi Qingju waved her hand dismissively. "See, doesn't it feel terrible to be insulted? Now you know how it feels."
"Isn't it unpleasant?"
"You should cultivate better speech habits. Not everyone is as kind-hearted as me to come and give you a reminder."
"...?" They had never encountered someone who could twist right and wrong in such a way.
After speaking, she turned to leave.
Incensed, someone stepped forward, intending to push her.
But suddenly, a clear and haughty female voice came from the bushes outside, "Yi Qingju, your husband is here to pick you up."
