Fang Tian's face turned ashen. She stared intently at Quan Jiu, "Who exactly are you? This is between me and Yun Lan Ge. What right do you have to interfere?"
Quan Jiu smiled faintly, "Just consider me... someone who can't stand injustice."
Wang Feifei pinched Quan Jiu's hand under the table, winking mischievously.
Quan Jiu continued to look at Fang Tian, "Where there's one instance, there are bound to be others. I suspect your Fang Tian Embroidery shop has plagiarized more than just one design from Yun Lan Ge. If you go back now and clean up the mess, you might even have to pay less."
Wang Feifei quickly whispered, "Why are you reminding her? Someone like that deserves to be ruined."
Quan Jiu chuckled and lowered her voice, "She came with the Yun mother and daughter. All the cars outside are private vehicles. This is the outskirts, and she'll have quite a bit of trouble getting back."
The fewer cars there are, the more anxious she'll be, won't she?
Wang Feifei suddenly understood, then her eyes lit up with admiration: As expected of Jiu Jiu.
Fang Tian, her conscience guilty, no longer cared about saving face and left in a hurry.
However, just as Quan Jiu had said, she hadn't driven there. All the cars parked outside were private vehicles. And because the location was so remote, she couldn't even get a taxi.
The Yun mother and daughter would certainly not give her a ride. Fang Tian was desperate and helpless. In the end, she could only walk and try to hail a taxi. It wasn't until she had walked the nearly four kilometers of private asphalt road and reached the main road that she managed to get a car. By the time she returned to Fang Tian Embroidery shop, two hours had passed. The lawyers sent by Yun Lan Ge had already collected the evidence and were waiting inside.
Of course, that was all in the past. At the banquet at that time, Fang Tian's hasty retreat was enough to explain everything. Yun Shu felt both humiliated and angry, but she also knew that if she were to flee like Fang Tian, these people present would surely mock her.
She could console herself by thinking that she had been deceived, and that would make it easier to save face.
Yun Shu comforted herself, suppressing the urge to leave. But when her gaze fell on Quan Jiu, the dress she wore felt like a thorn piercing her eyes, making her heart bleed with hatred.
Especially with Brother Chu, his eyes seemed glued to this slut. Humph, what was so good about that seductive face? It was disgusting.
Just as she was seething with anger, compliments erupted all around.
A person sitting at the same table as Quan Jiu looked curiously at the clothes Quan Jiu was wearing, "I didn't know before, but now, with the comparison, one can truly tell the genuine from the fake at a glance. This genuine Yun Lan Ge embroidery, even up close, looks like the real thing. Just as Teacher Bai Jing said, it's embroidered according to the texture of plum blossoms and plum trees. It's truly magical."
Another woman said, "I knew that fake one looked different in texture from Madam Jiang's. I thought I just didn't know enough, so I didn't dare to speak. Turns out it was fake."
"It's too detestable. I've bought clothes from Fang Tian Embroidery shop before. I don't even know whose clothes she copied. I definitely won't dare to wear them anymore."
Various discussions buzzed incessantly. Yun Shu gripped her chopsticks tightly, her eyes wide with anger, as if she could devour someone.
"Since Miss Quan likes Yun Lan Ge's embroidery, are you interested in participating in next month's International Fashion Week event? This year, the Embroidery Bureau is organizing the event. Not only will there be various renowned brands and fashion designers attending, but there will also be activities themed around national style embroidery, including competitions, fashion shows, exhibitions, and press conferences. It will be very lively."
It was Bai Jing's voice.
Yun Shu listened intently and soon heard another irritating voice.
Quan Jiu nodded slightly, grateful, "Yes, I haven't participated in such events before."
She hasn't even been to Fashion Week? What's there to be so proud of? Yun Shu couldn't help but sneer upon hearing this.
Bai Jing at the next table smiled, "Alright then, I'll mail you some tickets later."
A sinister smile gradually appeared on Yun Shu's face. Fashion Week, huh? You'd better be there. I'll make sure you know what it means to be utterly humiliated.
...
While the dishes were being served, Quan Jiu took out her phone and saw several messages. One was from Wang Feifei, another from the event planning manager of Yun Lan Ge, and a third message was from the grandfather next door.
Quan Jiu nudged Wang Feifei's shoulder and whispered, "I'll tell you more when there's a chance later."
"Tonight is the chance," Wang Feifei said, putting a longevity peach into Tu Tu's bowl. "I'm staying at your place tonight."
"Okay."
Quan Jiu first opened the message and, upon seeing its content, her face immediately lit up with joy. She quickly replied, "Grandpa, the children and I sincerely want to live with you. I'm so happy you're willing to come."
Chu Rong, who was discussing business cooperation with his partners, suddenly received a text message notification. The corners of his lips curved slightly. He opened the message and, after a moment, replied, "Then I'll let you know in advance after I've tidied up."
Quan Jiu couldn't help but be happy and said to the two children, "Mi Mi, Tu Tu, Grandpa next door will be living with us soon. Aren't you happy?"
Mi Mi and Tu Tu both paused their actions.
Tu Tu looked at Mi Mi: Sister, aren't we exposed now?
Mi Mi blinked her eyes and continued to diligently eat the meatballs.
Quan Jiu then opened the last message, "Young Madam, are you still not attending the A City International Fashion Week next month? The organizers have sent the tickets and repeatedly invited you. We hope you can grace us with your presence."
"Attend," Quan Jiu replied simply with two words.
...
After lunch, considering they were once family, Quan Jiu did not leave with the other guests as they dispersed. The main reason was that Chu's parents genuinely doted on the children.
After temporarily entrusting the two children to Chu's father and mother, Quan Jiu and Wang Feifei went for a stroll in the garden, casually discussing why she had appeared there today.
"...In summary, Chu Rong is the person from the woods. I only realized how familiar the place was when I was almost there. But it was too late to turn back then."
Wang Feifei listened, dumbfounded, "Should I say you two have a fated connection or a destined one?"
Quan Jiu gave a wry smile and sighed, "Whatever it is, I'm living just fine without him, even happier than before. What's there to be so attached to him for?"
Wang Feifei nodded emphatically, "That's right, it's great that you can think like this. However, since he already knows your identity and the existence of Mi Mi and Tu Tu, will he try to snatch the children away?"
Quan Jiu pondered for a moment before saying, "Although he is heartless towards me, he is a man of his word. Since he promised me he wouldn't snatch the children, I believe him. It's just..."
"Just what?" Wang Feifei immediately asked nervously.
Quan Jiu said with some frustration, "He doesn't want a divorce. I don't understand him. He doesn't love me, yet he talks about fulfilling his responsibilities as a husband and father. Is that necessary? I'm giving him freedom, but he's unwilling."
Wang Feifei frowned and thought for a moment, murmuring an analysis, "Is this the legendary case of wanting to have your cake and eat it too? He's the one who's heartless and unrighteous, and he's also the one who wants to take responsibility. I think he's just psychologically twisted."
Quan Jiu couldn't help but laugh, "Perhaps I was possessed before. Eight years! Chasing after him, enduring so many cold shoulders and angry glares, and I still managed to persist."
Wang Feifei replied with a look of camaraderie, "That's exactly what I mean. Speaking of which, how did you fall for him? Just because of his looks?" Although she disliked Chu Rong's demeanor, she had to admit his appearance was handsome.
"No, the first time I met him was on my birthday. I was standing outside a shop window, craving a birthday cake, and then he appeared. I don't know why, but he bought me a cake. He was smiling so warmly then, and I just fell for him like that."
After speaking, Quan Jiu gave a self-deprecating smile, "I was young and foolish. A single smile made me infatuated for ten years. Now..." Even a hundred smiles wouldn't move me. Ten years of one-sided effort finally made me realize that feelings are the hardest things to force. The more you give, the more you ultimately lose.
"Young Madam..."
As they were talking, a familiar voice called out. Quan Jiu turned her head and was surprised, "Wang Xiao."
Wang Xiao looked at his sister somewhat bewilderedly, then took two steps forward, "Young Madam, it's been a long time."
Wang Feifei disliked Chu Rong, and that made her feel annoyed with her own brother as well. Her brother was a witness to everything Jiu Jiu went through back then. Humph.
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be twenty-four hours by your boss's side?" Wang Feifei shot him a glare.
Wang Xiao's gaze shifted between the two women, and he finally decided to ask his sister, "You know each other? How did you meet? This is the Young Madam of Chu Group."
"Ex," Wang Feifei corrected him. "Jiu Jiu is about to divorce your boss, so why are you still calling her Young Madam? Call her Jiu Jiu from now on. We met five years ago, we're best friends, understand? If you dare to cause trouble for my best friend, I won't recognize you as my brother."
Wang Xiao thought for a moment and exclaimed, "The Young Madam is the friend you made when you were studying abroad?"
"So, fate is a strange thing," Wang Feifei said, pulling Quan Jiu along. After taking a couple of steps, she turned back to Wang Xiao, "I'm warning you, don't say anything you shouldn't."
Wang Xiao stood there helplessly.
After they had walked a short distance, Quan Jiu said, "Actually, your brother took good care of me back then. He often accompanied me shopping for clothes, and even bought my birthday gifts. I'm very grateful for his care during those two years."
Wang Feifei, however, became increasingly angry as she listened, "So, he didn't fulfill his responsibilities as a husband when they got married, and he even had his secretary buy his wife's birthday gifts. Now that their relationship has broken down, he's talking about fulfilling his responsibilities. Heh, what a comedian."
"Forget it, it doesn't matter anymore," Quan Jiu said softly. As soon as she finished speaking, her phone received a call.