He wanted to say something more to her, but at that moment Wei Wenjuan wheeled himself over in his wheelchair. After all, Qin Sui and Li Xiaoya had been talking for too long, and Wei Wenjuan couldn't wait any longer.
"May I ask which family's young master you are?" Wei Wenjuan inquired.
"I'm Qin Sui, my father is Qin Haoming."
Wei Wenjuan was startled.
How did Xiaoya come to know such a prominent figure?
"I've long heard of your reputation," Wei Wenjuan finally showed some semblance of a noble young master. "I've heard that most luxury brands from abroad need to consider your father's opinion if they want to enter the Hua Country market."
Qin Sui put on a standard polite smile of the upper class: "Those are just exaggerated rumors."
"Thank you so much for today, Young Master Qin," Wei Wenjuan quickly said.
Qin Sui could sometimes be quite irritating. But when he properly played the role of a young master from a wealthy family, his words were very appropriate and made people feel at ease.
He said, "You're too kind. I merely cleared away the clouds obscuring their vision, allowing them to see clearly the appearance of the distinguished guests."
The smile on Wei Wenjuan's face immediately became more genuine.
He asked, "May I ask how Young Master Qin and Xiaoya became acquainted?"
Qin Sui said, "Fate."
Indeed, wasn't it fate?
If Sheng Yuxiao hadn't injured his leg, he would never have gone to Li Family Village.
"Qin Sui, why don't I see your father?" A middle-aged man in a suit strode over, his words quite familiar and affectionate.
Qin Sui called out, "Uncle Lu." "Father was unexpectedly held up today, so I came with my mother."
"Oh? Where's your mother then?"
"We separated upon arrival."
"Ah, then she should be having tea with your aunt by now."
Qin Sui nodded slightly, then immediately introduced Wei Wenjuan: "Mr. Wei, this is Mr. Lu, the host of today's banquet."
This Mr. Lu had actually been secretly observing Wei Wenjuan and Li Xiaoya.
Qin Sui generally didn't pay much attention to people, but he had been talking to them for a long time... yet they were unfamiliar faces.
So Mr. Lu came over on his own initiative.
And Qin Sui's act of introducing him to the others also indicated that Qin Sui was quite close to them.
Thus, Mr. Lu immediately put on a friendly smile: "Lu Kaixuan, from the IT industry. May I ask the esteemed guest's name..."
"Wei Wenjuan," this time Wei Wenjuan added on his own, "Just returned to the country not long ago."
This last sentence served as a very good hint.
Lu Kaixuan slapped his forehead: "So you're the second young master of the Wei family! I've heard your name so often, but it's my first time meeting you in person. It's truly an honor."
These were all just pleasantries.
It might even have been for the sake of the young man called "Qin Sui" standing before him that these pleasantries were exchanged. But Wei Wenjuan hadn't heard such flattering words in a long time.
His agitated heart was once again soothed.
It turned out that stepping out wasn't as painful and difficult as he had imagined.
Thinking of this, Wei Wenjuan couldn't help but turn his head to look at Li Xiaoya.
It's good, it's really good, he thought.
The two exchanged a few more polite words, then Lu Kaixuan made an arrangement: "The little miss of the Wei family is young and doesn't have much to talk about with us. Why don't you go play with the other children?"
Lu Kaixuan clapped his hands, asking a waiter to take Li Xiaoya over.
Qin Sui didn't speak up to stop this, he just glanced at Li Xiaoya's expression.
She still wasn't scared at all.
Just like when he first came to Li Family Village and walked into that dilapidated house to meet her.
Li Xiaoya just turned her head to look at Wei Wenjuan one more time.
Rather than others worrying about her, she was more concerned about her second uncle.
Then she followed the waiter away.
"Li Xiaoya," Qin Sui suddenly called out.
Li Xiaoya, who had already walked a few steps away, had to stop and turn back, looking at him puzzled.
Qin Sui said, "Call me 'brother' again."
Qin Sui had never been one to tease others, so these words coming from his mouth made even Lu Kaixuan take another look.
Li Xiaoya met Qin Sui's eyes. There wasn't much emotion in Qin Sui's eyes, he didn't look like a gentle "brother".
But Li Xiaoya obeyed and called out: "Brother Qin Sui, see you later."
The corner of Qin Sui's mouth curved up slightly.
He knew she was smart.
"Alright, go on then."
Calling him brother one more time was just to emphasize their relationship to others.
This way, when the waiter led her away, he would naturally know to keep an eye on her and not let others bully her.
Li Xiaoya really walked away this time.
She was very reassured that Qin Sui would help her watch over her uncle.
With just one look earlier, both parties had quickly reached an understanding.
"May I ask if your surname is Li?" the waiter asked.
Li Xiaoya nodded.
"Alright, then I'll address you as Miss Li." The waiter opened the door in front of them, leading her into a small entrance hall.
A movie was playing inside, and several young but lavishly dressed children all turned their heads to look at her.
"Who is she? Never seen her before."
"This is Miss Li," the waiter said with a smile, taking off Li Xiaoya's down jacket and hanging it up, as the indoor heating was quite strong.
"Li?"
"Never heard of any Li family."
These children weren't very old, but they already talked like adults.
Immediately, someone came up to Li Xiaoya: "Hey, what's your father's name?"
Li Xiaoya was silent for a moment, then said, "I don't have a father."
"Then what's your mother's name?"
"Wei Wenyu." When saying her mother's name, Li Xiaoya's tone became much more confident.
"Never heard of her, have you guys?"
"No."
"I haven't either."
"Where did she come from?"
"I know! I know! I heard her call Qin Sui 'brother' earlier."
"But that's not right, I've seen Qin Sui's sister before, she's very fierce, not like her..."
"My name is Li Xiaoya," she interrupted their discussion, then sat down on a single armchair to the side.
She didn't have many friends back at Shitou School, so she didn't mind not having friends now either.
She understood a principle from a very young age: some people are very exclusive. If you can't fit in, then don't try to fit in.
She would just be herself, just be Li Xiaoya.
"What a strange name."
"How can someone be called 'little duck'?"
They exchanged glances, and a boy stood up from among them, walked up to Li Xiaoya and said, "Hey, you can't sit here."
"Why not?" Li Xiaoya met his gaze, unafraid.
The boy turned back mockingly and asked the others, "Do you think she's really stupid or just pretending to be?"
A little girl timidly said to Li Xiaoya, "If your parents are very powerful, then you can sit there."
Li Xiaoya suddenly understood.
She thought to herself that the big city and the small village didn't seem to be much different after all.
They all followed the same rules.
Li Xiaoya asked, "What if I myself am very powerful?"
The little girl was stunned for a moment and asked, "What do you mean by you yourself being powerful?"
Li Xiaoya said seriously, "I'm very good at fighting."
Walking countless mountain paths, chasing pigs, carrying firewood... she had done many things that ordinary children couldn't do.
She was very strong.
The boy was so angered by her words that his nose almost twisted: "How good are you at fighting? Can you beat me?"
Li Xiaoya asked, "If I hurt you, do I have to pay you compensation?"
The boy became even angrier, clenching his fists: "Compensation? No need for compensation! I'll hit you, just don't cry!"
With that, the boy lunged at Li Xiaoya.
The waiter was stunned and hurriedly stepped forward to break it up.
The boy turned back and cursed at him fiercely: "Don't move! If you move, I'll have my dad fire you!"
At this moment, a child suddenly shouted: "Ah! I remember now! I've heard the name Li Xiaoya before! My brother said his work was modeled after her!"
But no one was listening to him.
Li Xiaoya looked at the boy and frowned, saying, "What's so great about threatening others?"
The boy immediately lunged at her again.
Li Xiaoya didn't dodge or avoid, she just punched the boy right in the eye socket.
Hmm... if the fight got intense enough.
His father would definitely be very angry.
And since he talked so big, his father must be extremely powerful.
Wei Lin's intervention probably wouldn't be enough... At that time, his father would probably demand to see grandfather to deal with this matter, right?
Thinking this, Li Xiaoya grabbed the boy's collar and pushed him to the ground, then straddled him and started hitting him.
The scene immediately descended into chaos.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Wei Lin finally arrived late, but when he reached the door and looked inside...
"How come it's just you left? Where are the others?" Wei Lin's face darkened slightly. "If you've lost them, can you bear the responsibility?"
"No, no, sir. The young master and young miss have already gone inside," the driver hurriedly explained.
"They've gone in?" Wei Lin was stunned. "Without using the invitation?"
"No, the young master from the Qin family took them in."
"The Qin family's young master?" Wei Lin frowned, wondering if this was another acquaintance from the show.
Wei Lin took out the invitation and strode into the banquet hall.
Before he could start searching, he suddenly saw a waiter running out in panic, shouting, "A fight broke out! A fight broke out! The young master of the Mu family and Miss Li are fighting!"
Miss Li?
Which Miss Li?
Wei Lin's heart skipped a beat. Could it be Li Xiaoya?
She's already gotten into a fight?
As anger began to rise in Wei Lin's heart, it was quickly suppressed.
Wait, a fight could be a good thing. Now that the initial intimidation hadn't worked, wouldn't Li Xiaoya have to rely on him to get out of this situation?
However, he wondered about the background of this young Master Mu.
Mu, Mu...
Could it be that Mu?
