Mrs. Huang also saw Mrs. Song from afar. She noticed that Song wore a simple yet elegant solid-colored suit skirt, which, compared to her own opulent attire, made her appear exceptionally refined and thus even more influential.
Mrs. Huang was pleased with this effect and intended to drag Song over for photos with reporters to compare them.
However, Mrs. Song, having seen through her intentions, did not fall into her trap and instead entered through a side entrance with Qin Xinhong.
Seeing this, Mrs. Huang was not upset but even more excited, believing Song was afraid to compete with her and would be overshadowed.
"Madam, isn't this display a bit excessive?" At this moment, Aunt Lan, her personal maid, seized an opportunity while guests were scarce and whispered in Mrs. Huang's ear.
Mrs. Huang ignored her, "What's excessive? This is exactly the effect I want!"
Song dared not compete with her, but she insisted on it!
Aunt Lan hesitated, wanting to persuade her further, but Mrs. Huang turned and entered the banquet hall. Aunt Lan had no choice but to fall silent.
Just then, an extended Lincoln with the Qi family's license plate slowly stopped at the entrance.
Qiao Qiao, wearing a goose-yellow embroidered gauze dress, was the first to alight. She then moved to the other side of the car to help Guo Shaofen out. Reporters, stationed beyond the red carpet barriers, immediately began taking photos and chattering.
"Old Mrs. Qi actually brought Qiao Qiao to the banquet? Wasn't it said she wasn't their biological daughter?"
"The Qi family seems determined to recognize Qiao Qiao as their own."
"They have no choice but to insist she's biological. I heard the Qin and Qi families are planning a continued alliance. If they don't acknowledge her, how can they form the alliance?"
"Among the marriageable and unmarried men of the Qin family, only the Seventh Master Qin is considered normal, right? The other two are either homosexual or mentally challenged. Who will they form an alliance with?"
"..."
The reporters' discussions were loud enough to reach Guo Shaofen's ears. Her expression darkened, and she faced the reporters directly, saying, "Whether Qiao Qiao is of the Qi family's bloodline or not is something we Qi family know better than you. What? Are you forcing us to conduct a paternity test here and now?"
As soon as she spoke, the reporters' chatter subsided significantly. A few daring reporters still chimed in, "Then go ahead and do it for us to see!"
Qiao Qiao's face was covered in a thick layer of foundation, concealing her already poor complexion.
She had endured a lot to be able to perform a paternity test on the spot, so she wasn't afraid. Instead, she hoped they would do it right then and there, solidifying her position as a Qi family daughter.
Once that happened, the Qi family could no longer treat her as they had before, summoning her when needed and dismissing her when not.
"Qiao Qiao, you're here too." At this moment, Han Yitian arrived with her group of socialite friends.
"Old Mrs. Qi, hello." They all stepped forward and politely greeted Guo Shaofen.
Guo Shaofen responded with a forced smile, nodding to each of them. Looking at their ostentatious attire, she understood their intentions clearly.
At upper-class banquets, no one attended purely for the meal. Besides networking and establishing business connections, guests would deliberately bring their unmarried daughters to see if they could ascend to a better family through marriage.
"I heard the Qin family patriarch intends to choose a girl from the female guests present today to marry Seventh Master Qin," Han Yitian said loudly, deliberately addressing Guo Shaofen after seeing her confront the reporters.
Han family's business relied on the Qi family's support, so she seized this opportunity to make herself known.
"Doesn't Seventh Master Qin already have a girlfriend?" a young lady friend replied.
"Ah, you don't know about that. Although Seventh Master's girlfriend is quite famous, her background is poor, and she's not a suitable match for the Qin family. The Qin family patriarch disapproves and wants to find someone of equal standing," another young lady friend said conspiratorially.
"The only one here who could be a suitable match for the Qin family is Qiao Qiao." Han Yitian surveyed the sisters around her, finally looking at Qiao Qiao, "Qiao Qiao, we can't compete with you. The position of the Seventh Mistress of the Qin family is rightfully yours."
Hearing these words of affirmation, Qiao Qiao felt happier than if she had been fed honey. She unconsciously lifted her chin.
She had sacrificed so much for this day.
"Wow~ Qiao Qiao, if you marry into the Qin family, don't forget us, your little sisters."
"Marrying Seventh Master Qin, you'll be the mistress of the Qin family. How fortunate!"
"We're so envious of you!"
Each sentence from the young ladies made Qiao Qiao feel as if she were floating, as if she could marry Qin Beiting the very next day.
"Please stop teasing me," she said, feigning shyness. "Although Seventh Master Qin appears cold, he's actually very gentle and considerate in private. I'd be very happy to marry him."
"You'd certainly be happy, but I doubt Seventh Master Qin would be willing to be a rebound, taking responsibility for the child in your belly!" A clear, cold voice suddenly came from behind.
Upon hearing this familiar voice, the sweet blush on Qiao Qiao's face froze instantly.
They all turned to see Yu He, who had appeared at some unknown time.
Her long hair was pulled back tightly, and she wore a stiff, black, high-necked retro suit dress. On her, it exuded a high-fashion aura.
"Rebound? A child?"
"Qiao Qiao is pregnant? She doesn't look that old. Is her private life that messy?"
"Pregnant and still wants to marry Seventh Master Qin? Did Liang Jingru give her the courage?"
"The Qi family is truly bold! Trying to marry off a broken shoe to the Qin family."
"They've already done the fake daughter act, what else is the Qi family afraid of doing?"
"Qiao Qiao isn't even worthy of carrying the shoes for the anonymous divine physician, yet she wants to marry Seventh Master Qin. A toad dreaming of eating swan meat, she's gone mad!"
...
The reporters chattered amongst themselves, raising their cameras and aiming them at Qiao Qiao's belly, snapping photos.
Guo Shaofen was also shocked by this news. Her venomous gaze swept over Qiao Qiao, and she whispered, "Is it true?"
If Qiao Qiao was indeed pregnant, the Qi and Qin family alliance would be completely ruined!
Seeing Yu He, Qiao Qiao's resentment and anger surged. If it weren't for Yu He, how could she have ended up in such a degraded state before?
And now she had publicly revealed her pregnancy!
Qiao Qiao wished she could skin Yu He alive.
However, the experiences of the past period had made her grow considerably. She knew she couldn't act impulsively in front of everyone now.
"Yu He, I know you were upset when I left you to return to the Qi family, so you deliberately set me up in the herbal medicine market, and I accepted that. But you can't insult my reputation and chastity like this..."
She transformed her resentment into tears and spoke with teary eyes.
Yu He looked at her with an expression that seemed to say, "Keep going, I'm curious to see what you'll invent."
"Wow, what a pure white lotus!" A bright male voice came from behind. Qiao Qiao, who was about to continue her performance, trembled upon hearing this familiar voice and could no longer speak.