Outside the Li family villa was a spacious garden, surrounded by exotic flowers and plants, meticulously maintained by dedicated gardeners. In the center lay a vast, flat lawn, where Old Master Li occasionally played golf to stay fit.
Li Moyan and Li Mochen, compared to their elder brothers, had more leisure time and sometimes played ball on the lawn. Li Mohan's favorite activity was reading on the grass when the weather was good. As for Li Mohan, he was mostly busy at the company and rarely at home, let alone venturing into the garden.
However, the garden tonight was specially prepared for him and Ye Huohuo.
The usually tranquil villa was now filled with distinguished guests. On the lawn stood an archway woven entirely from flowers. Beyond it, several long tables were laden with an array of exquisite pastries, delicacies, and fine wines.
The neon lights from all directions reflected off the glassware, casting a dazzling spectrum of colors, creating a mesmerizing effect. Men and women in elegant attire mingled and conversed, their faces adorned with polite smiles under the warm lights. This was the epitome of high society life.
Ye Huohuo wore a silver-white evening gown, chosen by Li Mohan. It was the first time in her life she had worn such an expensive dress, and she felt so nervous she could barely walk. The gown hugged her figure perfectly, with cloud-like pleats gathered at the waist, then cascading into a wide skirt around her knees. Scattered across the fabric were diamond-like embellishments that sparkled brilliantly.
The dress showcased Ye Huohuo's curves flawlessly. The fabric had a slight stretch, making it surprisingly comfortable, not as constricting as she had imagined. Its smooth, silky texture felt pleasant against her skin.
A professional hairstylist had styled her hair at Li Mohan's apartment, creating a half-up, voluminous look with a few strands artfully falling to frame her perfect collarbones. Her makeup was subtly applied, exuding an air of elegance and sophistication while retaining a touch of liveliness. From the moment she stepped out of the car, Ye Huohuo attracted considerable attention.
She slowly made her way into the venue. Her heels were not stilettos, but rather elegant wedge crystal shoes that looked chic and beautiful, and were surprisingly comfortable to wear. Even Ye Huohuo, who rarely wore heels, felt no discomfort. The fact that Li Mohan had considered such a detail brought a warmth to her heart.
She passed through the floral archway, searching for Li Mohan. Logically, he should have been there to meet her, but after scanning the crowd, she couldn't find him.
"Sister! Why are you so late? Mother and I have been waiting for you for ages!" As Ye Huohuo hesitated, a clear, sweet voice called out from her side.
Ye Huohuo turned her head towards the source of the sound. It was indeed Ye Xiaowan, accompanied by her mother, Qin Tong. Ye Xiaowan, a distinguished young lady, looked stunning in a red mermaid gown that accentuated her tall, proud figure. Qin Tong, beside her, wore a black, qipao-style dress that exuded grace and sophistication.
"Oh my, our Xiaowan has been a beautiful child since she was little. Truly, clothes make the person. Look at her in this outfit, she's like a princess from a fairy tale!" Qin Tong said with a loving smile, reaching out to put her arm around Ye Huohuo's shoulder.
Ye Huohuo's expression remained calm. She subtly shifted aside, gracefully evading Qin Tong's touch, and gave her a faint glance. "Madam, I don't know you!"
Originally, Qin Tong and Ye Xiaowan had tried their best to distance themselves from Ye Huohuo, fearing she might return and claim a share of their family fortune. After all, Ye Huohuo's father had been the head of the Ye family in its prime. If she were to return now and demand half the inheritance, it would be difficult to handle. They had secretly rejoiced when they saw Ye Huohuo at the mall previously and she had proactively distanced herself from them, believing their assets would be safe.
However, they never expected Ye Huohuo to have such incredible luck, attaching herself to the powerful Li family. They were now eager to establish a connection with her. Becoming in-laws with the Li family would bring countless benefits. Even a small gesture from the Li family would be enough to sustain the Ye family for a year.
Moreover, Ye family's business had been inexplicably declining lately, with every venture failing. Every project they invested in resulted in losses. Even their previously foolproof liquor business encountered problems when fake liquor was discovered in delivered orders. Not only did they face fines, but they also narrowly avoided losing their license to sell alcohol.
The Ye family, though appearing prosperous on the surface, was riddled with internal decay. Seeing an opportunity to latch onto the powerful Li family, they shamelessly rushed to offer their support.
However, they were taken aback by Ye Huohuo's complete lack of recognition, not even sparing them a glance. They had boasted to the surrounding socialites that they were the aunt and sister of the day's protagonist, only to be completely ignored. It was like offering a warm greeting to a block of ice. The ladies who had envied them earlier now wore mocking expressions, though they said nothing.
"Sister, what's wrong? It's me, Xiaowan. Don't you remember me? We played together since we were children." Ye Xiaowan's eyes welled up with tears, as if she had suffered a great injustice.
"Yes, you don't recognize your aunt? I even held you when you were little, bought you so many beautiful clothes, and your favorite dolls!" Qin Tong also put on a sorrowful expression. "This poor child, has she lost her memory?"
Their performance made some of the onlookers believe them. After all, who would randomly claim kinship with someone they didn't know in such a setting? Being denied would be incredibly embarrassing.
"Could it be that Ye Huohuo has snagged Li Mohan, the most sought-after bachelor in Haicheng, and is now disowning her relatives?"
"I think it's highly likely. I didn't expect this young girl, despite her age, to be so heartless as to abandon her own family."
"She must not want her relatives to benefit from her good fortune. I heard she used to tell fortunes under the overpass. She must have used some dark magic to get the Li family patriarch to agree to an engagement. Someone should really advise Old Master Li to get rid of her, lest this vixen harm their entire family."
"Exactly. I heard that ever since Ye Huohuo joined the Li family, misfortune has plagued them. First, the Old Master almost lost his life, then the Li Corporation was trending for neglecting a customer, causing their stock to plummet that day. I also heard that Li family's third son's film set almost had a fatal accident. It's been one disaster after another. I wonder what kind of bewitchment this girl has cast on the Li family, that they treasure her so much and got engaged after knowing her for only a few days."
"I think she's probably using sorcery to harm the Li family so she can inherit their vast fortune."
Words can spread like wildfire. In just a moment, Ye Huohuo became the target of public criticism. The conversations almost exclusively revolved around how she was harming the Li family and that she was a vixen. Though their voices were low, Ye Huohuo heard every word clearly. It seemed people always believed what they wanted to believe and only saw what they wanted to see.
A cold smile touched her lips. She was too lazy to bother with them. After all, their mouths were their own, and she couldn't control what they said. Getting angry over it wouldn't be worth it.
Qin Tong was actually distantly related to Qin Chu, a faraway relative from the Qin family in Longcheng. She was the kind of distant relative who would rarely interact, yet she always used the Longcheng Qin family to elevate her own status. Seeing that Ye Huohuo had no intention of acknowledging them, she flicked her eyes.
"Xiao Qing, if you don't remember Auntie, perhaps you remember your second senior brother. Auntie heard that the second young master of the Qin family in Longcheng, Qin Chu, is your senior brother, and he's also my nephew. So, by that calculation, we are relatives!"
Ye Huohuo remained silent, not even giving Qin Tong a glance.
"Everyone, please judge! With so many connections, how can you not recognize us!" Qin Tong said, wiping away tears as if she had been greatly wronged.
"Exactly! How can someone do this? They become rich and forget their family!" At this point, the surrounding discussions grew even louder.
"What family? My sister-in-law grew up in an orphanage. If she had any family, why would she live in an orphanage?" A lazy voice echoed from a distance.
Everyone turned to look in the direction of the voice, and for a moment, all the young ladies and married women stared with wide eyes.