Chapter 38: Candidates for Huo Yanchuan's New Bride
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A woman’s mocking voice rang out.
Tang Ruan withdrew from her wandering thoughts and looked up.
Several young women stood before her, some familiar and some strangers.
The girl who had spoken was wearing a yellow strapless evening gown.
Tang Ruan recognized her at a glance.
Ji Tianqing, the heiress of the Ji family.
Huo Yanchuan’s rabid fangirl.
Ever since Tang Ruan had become engaged to Huo Yanchuan, Ji Tianqing had made some sarcastic remark whenever she saw her.
Back then, Tang Ruan had thought Ji Tianqing was young and had not bothered arguing with her.
But somehow, word of Ji Tianqing’s taunts had reached the ears of her elders. Afraid that she would say something reckless, anger the Tang family, and drag the entire Ji family into trouble, they had sent her abroad that very night. Apparently, she had only been allowed to return a few days ago for the Ji matriarch’s eightieth birthday.
It seemed that several years overseas had done nothing to improve her.
Tang Ruan expressionlessly shifted her gaze away.
This was the Huo estate, and today was the welcoming banquet for the eldest young master of the Huo family. Making a scene would benefit no one.
Seeing Tang Ruan treat her as though she were invisible, Ji Tianqing’s face flushed crimson.
She was ignoring her again!
Ji Tianqing linked her arm through that of the girl in the blue dress standing in the middle and introduced her ingratiatingly. “Sister Wang, this is Tang Ruan, Young Master Huo’s former fiancée.”
Wang…
Tang Ruan glanced over discreetly and happened to meet the other girl’s faintly inquisitive gaze.
Those eyes froze for a moment before curving into a smile. “Miss Tang, how do you do?”
As the saying went, one did not strike someone who was smiling.
Tang Ruan returned her smile and asked casually, “Miss Wang, are you not from South City?”
Among the prominent Wang family heiresses in South City, she had never seen this face before.
“I’m from River City.”
“Are you related to Young Master Wang Chengzu?”
Wang Yurou’s voice remained gentle and perfectly composed. “He is my older male cousin.”
The corners of Tang Ruan’s lips moved slightly as she maintained basic courtesy. “Miss Wang, are you going inside? That path leads directly to the rear courtyard.”
As she spoke, she pointed toward a flagstone path on the right.
The main road required a slight detour, while this path led straight to the rear courtyard where the welcoming banquet was being held.
“Are you very familiar with the Huo family, Miss Tang?” Wang Yurou’s voice was soft, and not the slightest trace of displeasure could be detected.
Tang Ruan was just about to answer when Ji Tianqing cut in first. “Tang Ruan, you’ve already broken off your engagement with Young Master Huo. Stop putting on airs like the mistress of the house!”
“You and Young Master Huo are already a thing of the past. Sister Wang is the daughter-in-law Aunt Zhang has set her heart on.”
Wang Yurou cast Ji Tianqing an reproachful look. “Tianqing, nothing has been decided yet. Don’t say things like that.”
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Ji Tianqing deliberately glanced at Tang Ruan and snorted.
At last, Tang Ruan understood.
This Miss Wang was the new bride-to-be whom Huo Yanchuan’s mother had chosen for him.
The Wang family of River City… was indeed an excellent marriage alliance.
Huo Yanchuan’s mother truly cherished her son as though he were the apple of her eye. She knew that even after the eldest young master returned to the country, Huo Yanchuan had no chance of competing for the position of future family head, yet she still wanted to find him a wife from a powerful family, afraid that he might be bullied in the future.
It seemed the eldest young master’s path within the Huo family would not be an easy one.
“Miss Tang, could you tell me a little more about Huo—”
Tang Ruan spotted Lin Jie at the entrance and immediately rose to her feet. “Excuse me.”
With that, she walked straight past the group.
Wang Yurou seemed not to have expected Tang Ruan to ignore her in front of so many people, and she was momentarily stunned.
“Sister Wang, Tang Ruan actually ignored you!” Ji Tianqing stamped her foot in displeasure.
How dare Tang Ruan?!
Did she still think she was Young Master Huo’s fiancée?
Wang Yurou patted her shoulder. “It’s all right. Miss Tang may have had something urgent to attend to.”
“Hmph! What urgent matter could she possibly have?” Ji Tianqing pouted unhappily.
Wang Yurou soothed her helplessly. “All right, Tianqing. Don’t be childish.”
Her gaze swept toward the entrance. “Who is the girl beside Miss Tang?”
Ji Tianqing glanced over and replied casually, “Her name is Lin Jie. She’s been Tang Ruan’s lackey since they were children.”
“She’s even more unpleasant than Tang Ruan. Sister Wang, don’t pay any attention to her if you run into her later.”
Sister Wang was gentle and kind. How could she possibly stand a chance against a shrew like Lin Jie? She would certainly be bullied terribly.
Wang Yurou said, “All right.”
She studied Lin Jie several times, deep in thought. It was only when Ji Tianqing urged her onward that she withdrew her gaze and followed the others toward the rear courtyard.
Lin Jie had naturally seen Ji Tianqing as well.
“Did Ji Tianqing start trouble with you again?”
“It’s nothing.” Tang Ruan did not want to waste too much time on such a trivial matter.
Lin Jie wore an exasperated expression. “Ruanruan, could you stop being such a pushover?”
It had been understandable when Ji Tianqing was young and ignorant, and Tang Ruan had chosen not to argue with her.
But Ji Tianqing was twenty-two now. She was an adult!
Was Tang Ruan supposed to keep indulging her simply because she was younger than them?
Tang Ruan stuck out her tongue. “All right, all right. We have more important things to deal with.”
She linked arms with Lin Jie and led her inside.
Just then, a commotion erupted at the entrance.
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“Why won’t you let us in? Who do you think you are?”
“Sir, please present your invitation.”
“Invitation? What invitation?”
“Every invited guest receives an invitation and may enter upon presenting it. Without one, I’m afraid we cannot let you pass.”
…
Tang Ruan and Lin Jie followed the sound.
When Lin Jie saw the two people being stopped by the security guards outside, her face turned pale. She seized Tang Ruan’s wrist with her other hand. “Ruanruan, let’s go!”
But the two people at the entrance had already seen her. Waving toward her, they shouted, “Xiaojie! Daughter…”
“That’s my daughter, and the young woman beside her is Miss Tang Ruan.”
“Let us in at once!”
The man’s voice was loud, and with so many people already gathered at the entrance, he immediately attracted numerous gazes.
Although the guards did not recognize the couple, they knew Tang Ruan.
If Tang Ruan spoke up, they could make an exception and let them in.
The guard hesitated before looking toward her. “Miss Tang, what do you think…”
Lin Jie’s grip on Tang Ruan’s hand tightened unconsciously.
Lin Xuefeng and Lin Wen gazed at Tang Ruan with hopeful anticipation, waiting for her to say something that would persuade the guards to let them enter.
The eldest young master of the Huo family had only just returned to the country, and his position was not yet secure. They had to seize this opportunity to make an impression on him.
Even if they could not establish a connection with the eldest young master, building relationships with the other guests would still be an entirely worthwhile investment for the Lin family in its current state.
Tang Ruan glanced at the two of them and said calmly, “I don’t know them.”
The moment they heard this, the guards no longer had any reservations. They immediately raised their hands to block the pair, their expressions strictly professional.
“If you wish to enter, please present your invitations.”
“Without invitations, you’ll have to leave.”
Lin Xuefeng had never expected Tang Ruan to say she did not know them. He complained indignantly, “Ruanruan, how could you say you don’t know us?”
She used to call him Uncle Lin, always so polite and well-behaved.
How long had it been since they had last met? How could she have become so heartless?
When Tang Ruan ignored him, he turned his attention to Lin Jie instead. “Xiaojie, say something for us!”
Lin Jie did not even spare Lin Xuefeng a glance. She tugged at Tang Ruan. “Ruanruan, let’s go.”
She had not forgotten how, that night, she had called Lin Xuefeng in tears to complain, hoping he would discipline Lin Wen. Yet not only had he offered her no comfort, he had kept urging her to stay obediently by Wang Chengzu’s side and do as she was told.
He had said that only by doing so could she save the Lin family.
For the sake of the Lin family, they had chosen without hesitation to sell her off.
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