Shua!
The originally lively banquet suddenly fell silent.
Eyes widened in astonishment turned to Wu Lingyun. No one expected her to lash out at Yu Mengzhi at this moment!
Moreover—
Wasn't Wu Lingyun Chen Jinzhao's cousin? Why would she verbally insult Yu Mengzhi?
Jiang Donghui's expression changed slightly. He wanted to step forward to mediate, but it was too late. Beads of cold sweat broke out on his forehead, his anxiety palpable.
Yu Mengzhi was also taken aback, not understanding why Wu Lingyun was acting this way. "I don't know what you're talking about. If it's purely about Qin Fengwu, I can only tell you—your cousin Chen Jinzhao is more outstanding than him."
Wu Lingyun raised her eyebrows. She hadn't expected Yu Mengzhi to respond so calmly.
She then sneered, "Are you joking? Big Brother Qin is the spiritual leader in that circle, someone who can rally everyone with a single call. He is destined to rule the world, and no one can compare to him."
Though not a single word mentioned Chen Jinzhao, her words were all about him.
The core point of her entire statement was—
Chen Jinzhao was inferior to Qin Fengwu.
Chen Jinzhao didn't get angry, but Yu Mengzhi did. She immediately refuted Wu Lingyun's words, "Saying that only reveals that you don't understand Chen Jinzhao. It's true that Qin Fengwu is outstanding, but his excellence is built upon his powerful background. If he lost the Qin family's halo, how would Qin Fengwu compare to your cousin? You are so naive, even laughably so."
Wu Lingyun couldn't remain calm. After all, she was just a young girl in her early twenties, two years younger than Chen Jinzhao.
"You're talking nonsense!"
"Big Brother Qin's achievements are not due to his family background, but his own true capabilities!" Wu Lingyun argued fiercely, even becoming agitated.
Yu Mengzhi turned to look at Chen Jinzhao, a hint of helplessness in her eyes.
Chen Jinzhao hadn't planned to argue with Wu Lingyun initially. However, Wu Lingyun's relentless provocation and public belittling of Yu Mengzhi crossed Chen Jinzhao's bottom line.
And that bottom line could not be trampled upon!
"Everything you said is correct," Chen Jinzhao said to Wu Lingyun.
Comparing himself to Qin Fengwu was pointless; it wasn't a beauty contest. Chen Jinzhao continued, "Qin Fengwu is more outstanding than me. Does this answer satisfy you?"
Wu Lingyun was stunned by Chen Jinzhao's composure.
The next moment.
Chen Jinzhao's expression suddenly turned stern, and he said word by word, "No matter how you see me, I don't care. But you should not point fingers at my girlfriend, who will be my wife in the future."
"You must apologize to her!"
Wu Lingyun was instantly dumbfounded.
Yu Mengzhi also looked at Chen Jinzhao in surprise, thinking his actions were a bit excessive. She tugged at Chen Jinzhao's sleeve, urging him to calm down, but Chen Jinzhao seemed oblivious.
Jiang Donghui immediately stepped between them. Despite his best efforts to persuade them, he couldn't quell Chen Jinzhao's anger.
"What are you doing? Don't think that just because you're my cousin, I'll obey your orders!" Wu Lingyun was also stubborn. As a descendant of the Wu family, how could she concede to Chen Jinzhao in public?
"I said nothing wrong, and I will not apologize!"
"What can you do to me?"
A cold glint flickered in Chen Jinzhao's eyes, sharp like a blade, stinging Wu Lingyun's eyes.
"I'll say it again, apologize to her."
His voice grew colder.
Jiang Donghui watched helplessly as the two clashed, unable to do anything but stand by, anxious.
Wu Lingyun gritted her teeth, "I won't!"
Under the immense pressure from Chen Jinzhao, she hardened her resolve and said, "Even if you beat me to death, I won't back down."
Chen Jinzhao retorted, "Do you really think I wouldn't dare?"
He genuinely didn't mind giving this girl a lesson in front of everyone and curbing her arrogance!
Jiang Donghui instantly realized Chen Jinzhao wasn't joking and immediately urged Wu Lingyun again, "Lingyun, you were in the wrong this time. Hurry up and apologize to Ms. Yu."
"This is your future cousin-in-law."
Wu Lingyun still refused.
Helpless, Jiang Donghui whispered a few words into her ear, which made Wu Lingyun's expression change slightly.
Chen Jinzhao also said to Jiang Donghui, "You don't need to trouble yourself trying to persuade her. For a pampered princess like her, if she isn't taught a lesson, how will she learn to restrain herself?"
"Whatever happens, I'll take responsibility. It has nothing to do with you."
Jiang Donghui hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself.
Wu Lingyun seemed to have figured things out by this point. Gritting her teeth, she said to Yu Mengzhi, "I apologize for what I said earlier. I hope you can forgive me."
As this statement was made, the crowd erupted in shock.
The dignified little princess of the Wu family was forced to bow down to Yu Mengzhi?
One had to know.
Yu Mengzhi was, at best, a businesswoman, and a very low-level one at that, considered the weakest among them.
After a brief silence, the whispers began.
"She probably apologized just for Chen Jinzhao's sake. After all, Yu Mengzhi is Chen Jinzhao's girlfriend, and Chen Jinzhao is the Wu family's little princess's cousin."
"But honestly, Chen Jinzhao is really ungrateful. Does he really think his status as a cousin is that important? He probably doesn't know that the Wu family's little princess's father—Chen Jinzhao's uncle—also married into the Wu family. How important can a son-in-law of the Wu family be?"
"Exactly. He'll definitely have it coming to him in the future."
"..."
Yu Mengzhi vaguely heard their words and couldn't help but sneer internally.
These people probably didn't know Chen Jinzhao's true identity. If they did, their attitudes would likely change.
Such was human nature.
Yu Mengzhi accepted Wu Lingyun's apology calmly and said to Chen Jinzhao, "I think that's enough. Besides, she's your cousin."
Chen Jinzhao nodded. "Then you continue with your business negotiations. I'll go sit over there for a while."
From beginning to end, Chen Jinzhao hadn't paid much attention to Wu Lingyun's attitude, causing a hint of grievance to rise within her. She thought to herself that Chen Jinzhao was also a hateful man. She was his blood relative, yet he forced her to bow down for an outsider.
She silently vowed to make Chen Jinzhao regret this!
When she regained her senses, Jiang Donghui had already moved to a corner of the banquet hall and was sitting opposite Chen Jinzhao.
"Brother Chen, do you mind if I sit here?" Jiang Donghui asked.
Chen Jinzhao shook his head.
Jiang Donghui poured Chen Jinzhao a glass of wine and then said, "Brother Chen, please don't hold anything against Lingyun. She's been pampered by the Wu family since childhood, which is why she developed these habits."
"I apologize to Brother Chen on her behalf."
Chen Jinzhao gave Jiang Donghui a meaningful look. "Is she worth you doing this? You're a smart person, you should know her heart isn't with you, yet you're completely devoted to her. This won't end well."
After the recent incident, Chen Jinzhao understood something—
Wu Lingyun's hostility towards him stemmed from Qin Fengwu, meaning Wu Lingyun harbored feelings for Qin Fengwu.
As for Jiang Donghui, he was merely a third wheel.
Jiang Donghui's expression became stiff. After a moment, he drank the wine with a bitter smile.
"I think she's worth it, so she is."