Turning back at the two impolite voices, Xia Qingtian saw the faces of two young women. They were quite good-looking, but the signs of cosmetic surgery were a bit too obvious, making them appear stiff. It was hard to even describe their specific expressions, but the condescension and disdain in their eyes were undeniable.
"She is..." someone nearby seemed to want to remind them, but was quickly silenced by a signal from another person.
No one from the Xia family had been seen in previous years. At least, after Yue Qiyan's death, the two families had completely cut off contact.
The Yue family's situation was also quite delicate now. Xia Qingtian's sudden arrival made it uncertain what attitude the Yue family head would have.
These people were all shrewd observers. Rather than them guessing and making a mistake, it was better to let the two attention-seeking fools test the waters themselves.
After all, these two had entered the Yue family on someone else's invitation, and were not daughters of any formidable families.
Let them take the lead. Once the Yue family members made their stance clear, others could follow suit without offending anyone.
Xia Qingtian understood perfectly what these people were thinking.
Relying on someone to help her out of this situation was less likely than her handling it herself.
"Still not leaving? Do you need to be kicked out before you'll give up?"
"You're at least a... seventh or eighth-tier celebrity?" The two women scrutinized Xia Qingtian from head to toe and sneered, "Sorry, my sister and I have been studying abroad and don't know much about the domestic entertainment industry. Do you have any representative works? What awards have you won?"
"If you're trying to crash this party to catch a wealthy husband, it's really unwise. High society really values background. Just having a pretty face and some fame isn't enough."
"It's not impossible to find a sugar daddy, but you have to choose wisely. Today is the Yue family head's seventieth birthday. It's best for everyone if you're smart."
"Everyone here has an invitation. What relation are you to the Yue family, and who gave you the right to drive away guests of the Yue family?" a clear, cold female voice rang out, drawing everyone's attention.
Xia Qingtian also turned to look and immediately saw a tall, beautiful woman.
She was wearing a sheath-style sleeveless long dress, paired with white round-toe high heels, giving an overall simple impression. The pearl necklace around her neck was elegant and dignified. Her slender, delicate arms, adorned with a high-clarity diamond bracelet on her wrist, complemented the small diamond tassel clutch she held.
The diamond tassel earrings on her ears also enhanced her facial features and long neck.
Her dark hair was tied back and elegantly styled.
Her striking features, enhanced by subtle makeup, made it hard to look away.
She was a rare beauty.
Xia Qingtian always had a good impression of beautiful women, especially those who knew how to use their beauty to add proper embellishments; she felt a particular fondness for them.
"Who are you?" Seeing someone interfering, the two women who wanted to make a show of themselves looked displeased.
Just a minor celebrity, how could she have a formal invitation? She was probably here, like them, using the invitation of some young master from a prominent family.
Only local yokels in China would be impressed by a celebrity; they could easily meet Hollywood stars abroad.
If it weren't for their plan to develop their careers in China later, they wouldn't bother with these people.
"I have no obligation to explain who I am to you." The beautiful woman took out her invitation from her clutch. "What? Are you going to kick me out too?"
Seeing the woman produce her invitation, the two troublemakers showed a hint of displeasure.
Anyone arriving at this time and able to produce an invitation was likely a collateral member of the Yue family or from an allied family, neither of whom they could afford to offend.
It was truly infuriating; they were just born into better circumstances, so why were they acting so high and mighty!
"We weren't talking to you. You are a guest of the Yue family, so you can stay. We are targeting people who are trying to disrupt the Yue family's banquet." The two women were not foolish enough to provoke collateral members of the Yue family or allied families at a Yue family banquet. They could still handle a minor celebrity: "If she can also produce an invitation from the Yue family, then of course we'll apologize to her, but only if she can produce it."
"Where is your invitation?" The beautiful woman put away her invitation and turned back to Xia Qingtian.
"Mine? It seems to be in another bag." Xia Qingtian thought for a moment. She had changed bags today to match her dress, and the invitation should be in that bag.
In any case, she had no intention of leaving the Yue family today, so she hadn't paid much attention to the invitation.
Of course, she hadn't expected to encounter such an insolent person today.
"Tch." The two troublemakers snickered when they heard Xia Qingtian say that, rolling their eyes to the heavens.
Seeing such exaggerated movements from two faces with such obvious signs of cosmetic surgery, Xia Qingtian found it somewhat surprising.
"If you don't have it, just say so. 'In another bag'? How ridiculous~"
"Yeah, just get lost. We can pretend we never saw you. Don't embarrass yourself further."
The two women flicked their hands at Xia Qingtian dismissively.
Just then, Yue Chengfeng walked over quickly, went directly to the beautiful woman who had helped Xia Qingtian, and said in a low voice, "Why are you walking so fast? Here, your car keys. You're always misplacing things."
"Thank you. I really don't know what I'd do without you," the beautiful woman chuckled as she took her car keys from Yue Chengfeng.
Yue Chengfeng then took her hand and brought her to Xia Qingtian's wrist. "Qingtian, this is who I told you about, the person I wanted to introduce you to."
Xia Qingtian's gaze shifted from Yue Chengfeng to the beautiful woman, and even if Yue Chengfeng hadn't said anything, she could tell there was something going on between them.
"This is Yu Zixuan, the daughter of the Yu family. She's also... she's also a close friend and rival in my jewelry design business." Yue Chengfeng looked at Yu Zixuan with sparkling eyes. "Zixuan, this is my niece, the most pampered little princess of the Yue family, Xia Qingtian."
Upon hearing each other's names, Xia Qingtian and Yu Zixuan's eyes held a flicker of surprise.
"Yu... Zixuan?" Xia Qingtian reacted first, extending her hand and smiling brightly. "When should I start calling you Auntie?"
"Xia Qingtian, I've wanted to meet you for a long time," Yu Zixuan said, extending her hand and smiling meaningfully at Xia Qingtian.
"Heh heh." Yue Chengfeng smiled with relief seeing Xia Qingtian and Yu Zixuan getting along so well. Then he asked, "What were you talking about just now? It seemed quite lively."
"Nothing much," Xia Qingtian withdrew her hand after shaking Yu Zixuan's, and glanced sideways at the two troublemakers. "Someone wanted to check my invitation."