Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
At around six in the evening, Qiao Xi was still lazily leaning against the sofa and playing games. The family banquet officially began at seven. At this moment, people had started to arrive and would take their seats. It would only officially start when everyone was present.
Qiao Xi played the game unhurriedly without the slightest intention of leaving. The next second, Xia Yunlou called.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Xia Yunlou was very impatient, and her tone was filled with anger. âDo you know what time it is? Where are you?â
Qiao Xiâs fingers moved nimbly on the screen as she casually said, âOh, I suddenly donât want to go anymore.â
These words almost caused Xia Yunlou to vomit blood from anger. She gritted her teeth and shouted, âQiao Xi! Youâre fooling around! So many elders are waiting for you. What right do you have to not come?â
At this moment in the Xia familyâs villa, everyone heard Xia Yunlouâs roar and looked over. Old Madam Xia asked with a gloomy expression, âYunlou, Qiao Xi said sheâs not coming? This girl really doesnât know etiquette!â
âAunt, didnât she already agree? Why isnât she coming?â Xia Mengyan asked.
Qiao Xi heard their voices and chuckled. âI just donât want to go. I suddenly recall Madam Xia saying in public that Xu Anran is your daughter and I have nothing to do with you. Then why should I attend the Xia familyâs banquet? Moreover, you donât welcome me very much.
âIâm very close to the Yin family, so I have to keep a distance from the Xia family. If I attend the family banquet, itâll cause Grandma and Uncle to misunderstand, so I wonât be going. I hope you have fun!â
At this moment, Xia Yunlouâs entire body was stiff, and her face was ferocious. She roared like a wild beast, âQiao Xi!â
Seeing the gazes of the guests, Xia Yunlou immediately restrained her anger and lowered her voice. âDonât forget that Mengyan is your good cousin. She has endured so many criticisms for you. Now that Mengyan has invited you to the family banquet, youâre unwilling? Even if you donât care about me, you have to come for Mengyanâs sake!â
Qiao Xi nodded thoughtfully. âThat makes sense.â
However, the next second, her tone was filled with innocence and difficulty. âBut I canât do anything about it! Today is also the day of the Yin familyâs banquet. As the precious daughter of the Yin family, of course, I have to go back and see my grandmother! My grandmother dotes on me so much. If I donât go back and see her, Iâll be unfilial. I believe everyone will understand.â
Xia Yunlou berated, âWhat nonsense are you talking about? The Yin family isnât holding a family banquet at all!â
âYou can say that Xia Mengyan is taking the blame for me, so why canât I say that the Yin family is holding a family banquet? I learned how to lie from you!â
Xia Yunlou instantly choked. Qiao Xi already knew that all of this was a setup by the Xia family to use the power of public opinion to force her to return to the Xia family. She knew it clearly in her heart, but others did not.
Now, for the sake of not attending the family banquet, Qiao Xi fabricated the lie that the Yin family was holding a family banquet. At that time, as long as Yin Lianxin appeared to confirm her words, everyone would naturally not suspect anything.
The two of them were lying, but neither could refute the other.
âMadam Xia, donât think that I canât expose your lies. I have the Yin family behind me. What can you do to me?
âMadam Xia, donât you know about the grudge between the Yin and Xia families? The two families havenât been in contact for decades. If Grandma invites me home but I go to the Xia familyâs residence, thatâll be truly unfilial! Any normal person would choose their grandmother over attending a banquet held by a mistress.â
Xia Yunlouâs face alternated between green and white. She gritted her teeth and said, âQiao Xi, donât go too far!â
âHow am I going too far? I just donât want to attend your family banquet. If thereâs nothing else, Iâll hang up.â As soon as Qiao Xi finished speaking, the person on the other end of the phone panicked.
âWait!â
A few seconds later, an old and kind voice sounded on the other end of the phone. âXi Xi! Iâm your grandfather.â
Qiao Xi leaned against the sofa and turned off the game interface. She turned on the loudspeaker and threw her phone on the coffee table. Her tone was indifferent and distant. âIf you have something to say, quickly say it. Iâm still very busy.â
Xia Cheng was indeed stunned for a moment. He was suppressing his anger. When he spoke again, his tone was still very gentle. âXi Xi, I know that you donât have any feelings for the Xia family, but youâre very close to Yunqiu. After all, sheâs your adoptive mother. We still have some of her designs and photos in the family. Donât you want to take them back?â