Miss Si's feigned innocence went too far, and the aloof Mr. Bo was easily swayed.

Si Qingwan glanced indifferently at Si Yuan, whose face was pale.

"Ah Yuan, do you want to go and rest for a while?"

Si Yuan smiled and shook her head. "No need. Today is a big day for the Si family and Yingying. As a member of the Si family, of course I should be by your side."

Si Yingying rolled her eyes speechlessly. Damn Si Yuan, she really knows how to endure.

"Qingwan—"

Wang Congrong, dressed in a traditional Chinese cheongsam, and Mingche, dressed in a suit, walked in.

As soon as Xiang Mingche entered, he spotted Si Yuan in the crowd.

It seems like this is muscle memory that's formed over time, and I can't change it no matter what.

The two looked into each other's eyes, and Si Yuan gave Ming Che an extremely gentle and beautiful smile.

That smile caused a huge stir in Xiang Mingche's heart.

He originally intended to use the Liu family's banquet to make Si Yuan fall ill in front of others, thereby using this as an excuse to break off the engagement with the Si family.

Unexpectedly, she resolved the situation with ease.

Not only was A-Yuan not angry, but she also called to check on him after hearing that he was sick.

He knew that this was all because A-Yuan loved him very deeply.

Since he's determined to break off the engagement, he's bound to hurt A-Yuan.

But I can only apologize to her.

Seeing Xiang Mingche look away, Si Yuan's smile remained unchanged.

"What exactly happened between you and Xiang Mingche?"

Si Yuan turned and glanced at Si Aofu. "You'll find out soon enough."

Si Aofu: "..."

"Oh, Yingying, you've become even more beautiful the last few days I've seen you."

Wang Congrong held Si Yingying's hand warmly.

Si Yingying smiled shyly, "Aunt Wang is the one who still retains her charm."

As she spoke, Si Yingying glanced at Xiang Mingche, who smiled and handed her the gift. "Yingying, welcome back."

Si Yingying excitedly accepted it, "Thank you, Brother Mingche..."

Wang Congrong: "Mingche prepared this gift half a month ago. I hope Yingying will like it."

Si Yingying opened it and saw a five-carat diamond necklace. Her eyes lit up. "Wow, it's so beautiful! I love it!"

Wang Congrong smiled and said, "I'm glad you like it. It hasn't disappointed Mingche's good intentions."

Si Yingying responded, but her eyes kept glancing at the door, wondering why Ninth Master Bo hadn't arrived yet.

Si Qingwan took in this scene, her brows furrowed, and her expression turned somewhat unpleasant.

Soon, she smiled and looked at Wang Congrong, "Congrong, in the new year, it's time to put Ayuan and Mingche's wedding on the agenda."

Wang Congrong glanced at Si Yuan, still as poised as ever, "Of course, I like A Yuan, and I wish she could marry into the Xiang family and be with me right away, but... today is Yingying's big day, we can't steal the spotlight."

Wang Congrong glanced at Xiang Mingche, signaling him to say something.

Before Xiang Mingche could speak, Si Yuan's voice rang out, "Mother, Mingche and I have a very good relationship, and we don't need a marriage certificate. We can talk about marriage after Yingying's homecoming banquet."

Si Qingwan looked at Si Yuan with complicated emotions, but ultimately said nothing.

"Si Yuan—"

Gu Yinhe has arrived.

Unlike the others who greeted Si Qingwan and Si Yingying first, she went straight to Si Yuan as soon as she entered the room.

Although Gu Yinhe's actions seemed insignificant to her, to outsiders it appeared as if she was supporting Si Yuan.

"I didn't expect Si Yuan to be so capable, she actually has such a good relationship with the Gu family's little princess."

"Even if Si Yuan is a fake heiress, she was still raised by the Si family. She's very shrewd and sophisticated, so it's not surprising that she can make friends with someone like the Gu family's little princess."

"This little princess of the Gu family is quite something. She's fearless and doesn't take anyone seriously."

People were gossiping about it privately, but since Gu Yinhe arrived, there has been a significant decrease in the complaints about Si Yuan and her biological parents.

After all, no one dared to offend the Gu family's little princess.

Si Yuan was indeed somewhat surprised that the person from the Gu family was Gu Yinhe, but she was also very happy.

"Welcome to the Milky Way..."

Gu Yinhe smiled and nodded at her before greeting Si Qingwan.

Facing Si Yingying, she chuckled, "Oh, seeing you like this reminds me of a saying..."

Si Yingying thought she was about to be praised, and immediately asked, "What do you mean?"

"A toad dressed in gold sits in a high hall, looking dignified."

Even if Si Yingying wasn't very educated, she knew that hypocrisy wasn't a good thing.

His face immediately turned gloomy and ugly.

Si Qingwan's brows furrowed as well.

Gu Yinhe didn't care at all. "Just kidding to lighten the mood. Actually, I wanted to compliment Miss Si Yingying on how beautiful she looks today!"

Since Gu Yinhe had said that, Si Yingying didn't dare to get angry.

But she blamed all the problems on Si Yuan.

Gu Yinhe and Si Yuan are such good friends, so for her to humiliate her like this in public must have been Si Yuan's doing.

Si Qingwan naturally values ​​the Gu family. "Miss Gu, it's an honor that you could attend Yingying's homecoming banquet. I hope you have a great time today."

Gu Yinhe didn't have a good impression of any of the Si family members except for Si Yuan.

Especially this Si Qingwan, I always felt that she was hypocritical and not a good person.

"Madam Si, you don't need to be so polite. I'm only here because of Si Yuan, it has nothing to do with you."

Si Qingwan smiled slightly, "It's a blessing for A Yuan to have a friend like you."

Gu Yinhe was too lazy to engage in any pretense with Si Qingwan. "A Yuan, I'm tired. Take me to rest for a bit."

Si Qingwan: "A Yuan, take good care of Miss Gu the Second."

Si Yuan: "Yes."

Gu Yinhe walked to an empty rest area and sat down on the sofa without any ladylike manners.

"If I were you, I wouldn't be here today."

Si Yingying's return banquet was a humiliating and embarrassing banquet for Si Yuan.

Si Yuan handed her a glass of warm water. "If I didn't show up, wouldn't people gossip even more?"

Plain water?

"Um."

"No! I want milk tea."

Gu Yinhe doesn't like drinking plain water; she prefers flavored drinks or tea.

Si Yuan had no choice but to order takeout.

"That's still better than being humiliated to someone's face."

Si Yuan knew that Gu Yinhe was concerned about her, so she smiled sincerely and said, "It's alright, none of this can hurt me."

If you don't care, you won't get hurt.

Gu Yinhe stared at Si Yuan for a long while before concluding, "You really are a strange person."

Si Yuan smiled but didn't say anything.

The auspicious time has arrived, but Bo Yusen has still not shown up.

This greatly disappointed those who had heard rumors that Bo Yusen would be attending the Si family banquet.

"How could a third-rate family like the Si family possibly be able to get Master Bo to come to their aid?"

"Could this be fake news deliberately released just to save face?"

"If Si Qingwan dares to use Ninth Master's name to save face, she must have a death wish."

Si Yuan took out her phone and glanced at it. She had sent a WeChat message to Bo Yusen asking "Where are you?" but had not received a reply.

Even though the important person didn't come, the usual procedures still need to be followed.

Although Si Yingying felt it was a pity that Bo Yusen wouldn't be able to see her at her most radiant and beautiful, she was still very happy that so many people had seen her.

She lifted her skirt and walked arrogantly to the center of the stage, smiling as she gave everyone a princess-like bow.

"Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. My name is Si Yingying."

"Some people here know me, and many others don't. Next, I'd like to introduce myself with a video."

"Everyone, please look here..."

Behind the stage was a huge curtain, and Si Yingying plugged the USB drive into the computer.

Si Yuan looked at the USB drive that she had long ago switched, a smile on her lips, but no warmth in her eyes.

Si Yingying happily opened the PPT, and she was even prepared to receive applause and cheers from everyone.

"Ah~~~ Brother Mingche, faster, faster..."

"I love how rough you are with me. I want to stay with you like this forever~~~"

"Do you think Si Yuan would be furious if she saw us being so affectionate?"

"Brother Mingche, between me and Siyuan, who do you love more?"

"Little fairy, of course I love you the most~~~"