“Yes, that’s me,” Qin Muye replied with a respectful yet proud smile. Unlike how relaxed she was when she talked to the Tan family, she was showing off the arrogance and elegance that one from a prestigious family would have.
That was how she responded to Jiang Jiamao when he asked her whether she was the young lady of the famous Qin family.
Jiang Jiamao then turned to look at Ming Yeqing. Seeing that he was accompanying this young lady, it must mean that he came from an important family as well.
“This young master here is Yeqing from the Ming family,” Tan Jinqi smiled and introduced Ming Yeqing to Jiang Jiamao.
Ming was a rare family name, and there was only one Ming family that was famous in the entire nation.
Ming Yeqing only greeted them with a smile and didn’t say anything.
“Mr. Tan, Brother Jinqi, did something happen?” Qin Muye asked.
Jiang Jiamao’s heart immediately skipped a beat.
W…wait, don’t tell me that Tan Wenci has invited the Qin family to celebrate his daughter’s birthday? Since when did the two families get so close? And why the heck are you using such a small hall when the Qin family is coming?
Tan Wenci smiled and pointed at the stanchions. “What do you guys think about these stanchions that we’ve prepared?”
“They’re amazing!” Qin Muye complimented them. “It shows how important this birthday is. Mr. Tan, you’ve even so thoughtful that you didn’t block the entrance to the next hall.”
Qin Muye had watched the whole incident from the beginning. She completely understood what was going on.
The father and son duo from the Jiang family could only stay quiet.
“Uncle…” It was only then that Wei Zhiqian walked through the door and greeted them.
Tan Wenci raised his eyebrows immediately at Wei Zhiqian’s entrance.
Uncle? Who’s your uncle? Aren’t you supposed to be Mo Mo’s uncle?
It was as if Wei Zhiqian could tell what Tan Wenci was thinking about and smiled.
Come on. I’m showing you some respect since there are outsiders here. Wouldn’t it be weird and embarrassing for you if I suddenly addressed you as if you were my brother?
“Is something wrong here?” Wei Zhiqian asked as he turned to look at Jiang Jiamao and Jiang Siyong.
His face was saying that he thought the father and son from the Jiang family had been causing trouble for the Tan family.
Jiang Jiamao had the nerve to argue with Tan Wenci, but there was no way he would dare get on Wei Zhiqian’s bad side.
Never did Jiang Jiamao think in a million years that the Tan family would actually invite Wei Zhiqian to Tan Mo’s 18th birthday party.
“No, no, of course not.” Jiang Jiamao smiled awkwardly. With Wei Zhiqian present, they could only endure the humiliation.
If they were to anger Wei Zhiqian, then the consequences would be huge.
All they could do was to remain quiet and swallow their pride, just like what they had tried to do to the Tan family a few minutes ago.
…
Inside her room at the hotel, Jiang Yongyan had heard about what had happened outside. She stood up furiously and yelled, “Today is my important 18th birthday! Why are they doing this?”
“Calm down, my dear. It’s just Wei Zhiqian and Qin Muye. It’s not like the whole Wei family and Qin family are here,” Mrs. Jiang comforted her daughter. “There’s no way they could fit so many people in such a small hall. You’ll shine brighter than the Tan family’s daughter tonight. You’re the main character here today, and no one can beat you at it.”
Jiang Yongyan turned to look at herself in the mirror. Instead of thinking that she was as pretty as a princess that night, she believed herself to be prettier than one.
She tilted her head proudly and scoffed to herself, Who does the Tan family girl think she is? I’m going to shine the brightest tonight!
“My daughter is so pretty,” Mrs. Jiang complimented her as she looked at her daughter’s reflection in the mirror. “Thank God I got your dress made by a famous tailor. It was a bummer that I couldn’t get an appointment with the lead designer of the Goddess Brand. Or else I would’ve had them make a dress for you…”
“It’s okay. I can wear that at my wedding.” Jiang Yongyan smiled, her expression showing that she could not wait for that day to arrive. “We should be able to make an appointment then. I want my wedding dress to be something that people will remember forever.”
It was then that Jiang Siyong entered the room and told Jiang Yongyan it was time for her to make an appearance.
“Are the guests all here?” Mrs. Jiang asked.
Jiang Siyong’s expression turned sour immediately.
“What’s wrong?” Mrs. Jiang asked again after getting no response from her son.
Jiang Siyong explained what had happened a few minutes ago to his mother and sister.
Since the stanchions that had been set up by the Tan family were too conspicuous, all the guests that had arrived thought that the Tan family hall was where the Jiang family was holding their party.
The people who were helping the Jiang family were spending all their time guiding the guests back to the hall that the Jiang family had booked.
It was a total mess.
Seeing Jiang Yongyan’s expression darken again, Mrs. Jiang quickly asked, “How many guests have the Tan family invited?”
“What guests? There’s literally no one,” Jiang Siyong mocked. “Even that hall is too big for them. Other than the Tan family, the only people that have come are Wei Zhiqian, Qin Muye, and Ming Yeqing. It’s like they were mocking themselves by setting the stanchions up. Look at us. Even without those useless things, we have a lot of guests lining up outside waiting to come in while there’s literally no one heading into the next hall.”
“That’s it? Then why are they trying to compete with us?” Mrs. Jiang smiled. “It’s so embarrassing!”
“But, isn’t it weird? Why didn’t they invite more guests?” Jiang Yongyan asked as she slowly paced toward the hall. She couldn’t walk faster because of her long dress.
“They only became successful recently after all,” Mrs. Jiang answered arrogantly.
Families with old money like the Jiang family would always look down on families that had only gotten successful in recent years.
To the former, the Tan family was no more than nouveau riche.
“There’s no way they have much connections because of that,” Mrs. Jiang continued. “If they wanted to have more guests, they could’ve invited all the minor clients they’ve had in the past, but it’s clear they think that these clients are not up to their standards now. Yet, on the contrary, they don’t know any people who are of higher standings.”
“But wasn’t there a rumor that the Tan family got successful because the Wei family helped them?” Jiang Yongyan asked.
“I mean, the fact that even you have heard of these rumors could only mean that they’re fake. It’s something that the Tan family told the public to increase their stock price,” Jiang Siyong scoffed. “The Wei family has been keeping a low profile for quite some time now. Why would they suddenly help the Tan family. Even if Wei Zhiqian is here today, it’s most likely that he has some personal ties with the Tan family. I don’t even think the rest of the Wei family even know who the Tan family is. See, all the Tan family had to do was tell everyone that they had ties with the Wei family, and everyone would do business with them to please the Wei family. That’s how the Tan family became successful.”
After finishing his speculations, Jiang Siyong raised his head proudly, thinking that he had analyzed the story perfectly.
In his head, he believed that the Tan family’s guest list showed how insignificant the family was.
“Those people did business with the Tan family because of the Wei family, so they wouldn’t lose anything. But, as time passed, they realized that the Tan family was nothing to the Wei family. That’s why no one has come to their daughter’s 18th birthday party.”
