This request also left Xia Qingtian a bit bewildered. Was it that she didn't want to leave?
Although she did have a nose for gossip, this was hardly the time to get entangled in someone else's love triangle. Her every move was being watched by many.
She couldn't give them a reason to mock her.
Xia Qingtian offered a polite smile, nodded slightly, and was about to leave when she felt the hand at her waist significantly tighten.
Xia Qingtian turned her head to look at Gu Yaoyang, her eyes questioning him, [What do you mean by this?]
[Want to slip away alone?] Gu Yaoyang raised an eyebrow slightly, his eyes answering her, [Don't even think about it.]
[?] Xia Qingtian's mouth twitched. [Be reasonable! Why drag me into your romantic entanglements as a scapegoat? Let go!]
[I won't!] Gu Yaoyang physically demonstrated his stance.
[You!] Xia Qingtian was momentarily speechless, so she simply reached out and began prying open Gu Yaoyang's hand around her waist, finger by finger.
After finally prying Gu Yaoyang's hand off, Xia Qingtian turned back to him with a triumphant smile, [You guys chat, this young lady is done serving you~]
As Xia Qingtian was about to walk away, Yu Linwan's voice stopped her in her tracks: "That's enough!"
Xia Qingtian shivered slightly at Yu Linwan's sharp tone.
"What's the point of you two exchanging loving glances in front of me?" Yu Linwan gritted her teeth, pointing a finger at Xia Qingtian. "Don't get too cocky. Do you really think someone who shows herself off like you can enter the Gu family? Dream on!"
Yu Linwan seemed to have been utterly enraged, speaking without restraint. Furthermore, her extremely loud voice attracted many curious glances.
"Don't think I don't know what you're scheming!" Yu Linwan clenched her fists. "The Gu family will not accept you! Absolutely not!"
"When did you become able to represent the Gu family?" Gu Yaoyang said with a cold sneer. "Gu Yaoqing hasn't even been designated the next family head, and you're already acting like the mistress of the Gu family? Aren't you a bit too eager?"
Hearing Gu Yaoyang's words, Yu Linwan finally realized her loss of composure, though she was simply too angry to control herself.
"No, that's not what I meant, Yaoyang! Don't be swayed by her!" Yu Linwan hurriedly said, "I meant..."
"Ms. Yu," Xia Qingtian interrupted Yu Linwan's words. "I am an artist signed under Gu's Entertainment. It's normal to see my boss attending my maternal grandfather's birthday banquet and to come say hello. Please don't misinterpret my relationship with Mr. Gu."
"The Gu family is an old and established family in Kyoto, always kind to others. The Yu family also has a long-standing marriage alliance with the Yue family. I hope Ms. Yu will be mindful of her words and actions, and not damage the friendship between the three families."
Xia Qingtian looked coldly at Yu Linwan. "You, Ms. Yu, cannot bear the consequences of such accusations."
Yu Linwan, hearing Xia Qingtian's words, also faltered, having no ground to retort.
Xia Qingtian looked indifferently at Yu Linwan, her gaze surprisingly similar to Mr. Gu's beside her.
This synchronized expression made Yu Linwan both angry and jealous.
After issuing her warning to Yu Linwan, Xia Qingtian turned to Mr. Gu and said, "I hope Mr. Gu enjoys the rest of the evening. I must take my leave."
This time, Mr. Gu did not try to stop her.
Too many people were watching. Mr. Gu's every word and action could no longer represent him as an individual, but rather the Gu family.
Xia Qingtian's every word and action also represented the Xia family and the Yue family.
They could not afford to overstep and give Xia Qingtian cause for gossip.
Seeing Xia Qingtian leave, Yu Linwan gnashed her teeth fiercely before turning to Mr. Gu and saying, "Yaoyang, listen to me, she..."
"Please exercise discretion," Mr. Gu cast a cold glance at Yu Linwan before turning to walk in another direction. Before leaving, he uttered two words that pierced Yu Linwan's heart: "Sister-in-law."
Yu Linwan, standing frozen, turned deathly pale. Waves of inner turmoil washed over her, making her miserable.
Why, why couldn't anyone understand her pain?
Seeing that there was no more drama to be had, the guests resumed their casual conversations, treating the incident as a trivial, inconsequential interlude.
However, this small interlude was accurately relayed to the head of the Yue family.
"The Yu family is becoming more and more presumptuous," the Yue family head said as he adjusted the buttons of his Tang suit in front of the mirror. "How is Qingtian?"
"Miss Qingtian displayed the demeanor of the eldest lady from years ago, resolving the situation perfectly." The butler's expression was full of relief, though his smile was a bit strained due to a hangover from the previous day, and his complexion was not good.
Hearing the butler's assessment of Xia Qingtian, the Yue family head's expression softened considerably. "And the one from the Gu family?"
"Dignified and extraordinary, a perfect match for Miss Qingtian," the butler mused after a moment of thought.
"Who asked you about that? Never mind..." The Yue family head turned and adjusted the hem of his Tang suit. "Have someone invite him over. I want to have a word with him personally."
"But Patriarch, the time..." the butler started, wanting to say more, but upon seeing the Yue family head's gaze, he nodded firmly. "Yes."
Soon, Mr. Gu was escorted before the Yue family head.
"Patriarch Yue, I wish you longevity like the pine and crane, and endless blessings," Mr. Gu offered his birthday felicitations.
"Please, have a seat," the Yue family head gestured with his hand, and someone immediately stepped forward to serve tea. "Do you know why I invited you here?"
"Is it about Miss Xia?" Mr. Gu asked, looking at the Yue family head. "Regarding the previous matter..."
"Qingtian is grown now; she has her own ideas and opinions. I am old, and with one foot in the grave, I don't intend to interfere," the Yue family head waved his hand. "I am here for that mine."
"The mine?" Mr. Gu was slightly taken aback, seemingly not expecting the Yue family head to bring up the matter so directly.
"I originally intended to invite you for a detailed discussion after the banquet, but..." the Yue family head clapped his hands twice, and immediately servants brought in a waiter, bruised and swollen, being held captive. "This person attempted to poison my tea, but was discovered and stopped in time."
"Some accidents occurred at the Yue residence yesterday. If I recall correctly from Cheng Dong, Mr. Gu personally invited Dean Hao, so you likely know something about it."
"I've often heard that Mr. Gu is omniscient. I didn't believe it at first, but... as one ages, one inevitably becomes more suspicious," the Yue family head chuckled lightly, looking at Mr. Gu. "When one gets old, one tends to ramble. Mr. Gu, please don't take offense."
"Patriarch Yue believes that some unwelcome guests have infiltrated today's banquet," Mr. Gu stated, looking at the Yue family head.
"The facts are evident," the Yue family head waved his hand, and the servants dragged the bruised and swollen waiter out. "I know my life is being targeted. I have lived this long, and I am indifferent to life and death. However... I worry about the Yue family behind me, and those unaccomplished children."
"Does the Yue family head mean to transfer that hot potato to me?" Mr. Gu understood the Yue family head's intention.
"That was the original plan, but now, I've changed my mind," the Yue family head revealed a faint smile. "That mine, I want to give it to Qingtian."
"!" Mr. Gu was momentarily stunned.
This was an option he had never encountered before. In the past, before the Yue family head could make arrangements for the mine, he had "accidentally" passed away. Even if he had made arrangements to sell the mine to himself or entrust it to others, the results were always unsatisfactory.
Give it to Xia Qingtian?
This was a first.