Chapter 1260: Orchid Robbed Halfway
“I don’t know what Li Rui is thinking, how could he bring such women to the banquet,” said another n.o.ble lady. “Really, I feel like I’m being contaminated by standing on the same gra.s.s patch as them for even one second.” Of course, they all thought that the two were brought here as Li Rui’s partners. Given the rumored licentious temper of Second Young Master Li, it was possible.
Gu Jinxiu glanced at Jin Ying. “This Xia Yingluo really changes men at great speed. She talked to Du Zheng for so long, I don’t know what she’s trying to do.”
Everyone knew that Jin Ying had a crush on Du Zheng.
Hearing that, Jin Ying tensed up and her expression became unnatural. “Du Zheng is so clean and proper, he’s not so licentious as Li Rui. He won’t be seduced by such a woman.”
Du Keke also nodded. “Yes, Yingying. Don’t worry, my brother has a lot of self-respect.” She was Du Zheng’s cousin. The Du family’s core powerful members didn’t give birth to any daughters, so when there were banquets like this, they often brought along their female cousins. Du Keke knew that her birth background wasn’t very good. Compared to Jin Ying and Gu Jinxiu, she still had a big gap from these official rich n.o.ble ladies. Thus, she was extremely solicitous to them. “Why don’t we go over and teach the two s.l.u.ts a lesson and tell them to stop being arrogant here?”
This was exactly what Jin Ying wanted. “Okay, it’s best if we can catch their mistake and chase them out.” She didn’t want them to seduce her Du Zheng.
Gu Jinxiu didn’t mind. She felt like Xia Yingluo was an eyesore and couldn’t wait to see Xia Yingluo embarra.s.s herself. A few of them followed behind Xia Yingluo and Jin Ling’er, wanting to see what they would do.
Xia Yingluo and Jin Ling’er were unaware. They chatted happily and walked towards the hall where Old Mister Shan Kouya and the other elders were.
The hall was located at a tranquil and secluded spot. It had a simple and unadorned j.a.panese style, where mountains, stones and flora and fauna were hidden from view.
Xia Yingluo pulled Jin Ling’er along and they both tiptoed towards the hall. They only took a few steps when they b.u.mped into an attendant. The things in the attendant’s hands were almost knocked over by her. He looked up at them and immediately apologized. “My apologies.”
It was obviously them who had knocked into him, but the attendants of the Du family were just so respectful.
Xia Yingluo gestured “hush” with her fair fingers and asked in a low tone, “Is Grandpa Shankou inside?”
The attendant replied politely, “Yes.”
Xia Yingluo looked down at the things he was carrying and asked, “What are these?”
The attendant said, “Old Mister Shan Kouya is discussing ikebana with Mr. Li and the rest inside. They have instructed me to take a few flower timber here for them to perform flower arrangement.”
“Wow.” Xia Yingluo exclaimed softly. Her eyes lit up and she said to Jin Ling’er, “You’re in good luck. Grandpa Shankou rarely performs flower arrangement in front of people, unless he’s in an extremely good mood. Many famous people can’t even witness it.”
Even though Jin Ling’er didn’t know ikebana, she was also happy after seeing Xia Yingluo so excited.
Xia Yingluo looked down at the flowers the attendant held in the special utensils. Suddenly, she smiled mischievously. “Give me the orchid.”
The attendant was confused. “Miss?”
“Just give it to me if I say so,” Xia Yingluo said with her missy temper. “If Grandpa Shankou asks, just tell him it was robbed.”
The attendant was put on the spot. “These flowers were specially requested by the Old Master. The orchid is the most expensive one amongst them. If you do that, the Old Master would blame us and it might not be too suitable.”
“What’s not suitable? Stop dilly-dallying.” Xia Yingluo took out a pearl from her limited edition little bag and gave it to the attendant as a little fee. “I’m Jennifer, Li Lei’s daughter. I’m also very close to Grandpa Shankou. Don’t worry, I’m just playing a small joke with him, he won’t blame you.” Jennifer was her English name and was also the name that the media used when mentioning Li Lei’s daughter. The benefit of using this surname was that she didn’t have to explain to others why her surname was Xia, and why she didn’t follow her father’s surname Li nor her mother’s surname Xia. She could also enjoy a low-key life outside of the media’s eyes and avoid being disturbed.
At the Du family’s banquet, most of them only knew she was called Jennifer.
As expected, the attendant had also heard of the name Jennifer. His att.i.tude changed from one of politeness to respect. “So you are Ms. Jennifer. My apologies, I didn’t recognize you. Please don’t take offense.” Even though there were many prestigious guests at the banquet, everyone knew that the main guest was Li Lei’s family.
Xia Yingluo smiled sweetly. “It’s alright, now give me the orchid.”
Without hesitation, the attendant handed one stalk of the expensive orchid to Xia Yingluo.
Xia Yingluo batted her eyelashes at him. “Don’t tell Grandpa Shankou that I robbed it.”
The attendant bowed and then entered the hall with the remaining flowers.
Jin Ling’er saw that he was far away and pulled down Xia Yingluo’s sleeves. “Hey, what are you doing?”
Xia Yingluo said happily, “I’m greeting him. I’m going to give Grandpa Shankou a surprise.”
Her voice just landed when she heard a voice come from nearby. “What a coincidence, Xia Yingluo. Long time no see.”
Xia Yingluo frowned and an ominous premonition rose in her. She turned around and, as expected, saw Gu Jinxiu. Gu Jinxiu was surrounded by a few n.o.ble ladies, who were looking aloofly at her. “I didn’t think Li Rui would treat you so well to bring you in such a banquet.”
Xia Yingluo said coldly, “What does it have to do with you?”
Gu Jinxiu sneered. She turned and glanced at another lady. “Jingjing, she said it’s none of my business.”
Du Jingjing was unhappy and glared at Xia Yingluo. “How are you talking to Sister Jinxiu? If it’s none of her business, it’s my business! Let me tell you, this is my family’s territory! This place is used to serve the most prestigious guests, when did it allow any random person to barge in?”
“Du Jingjing?” Xia Yingluo thought about it. When did the Du family have such a person? “I’ve never heard of you.”
“Of course not.” Du Jingjing stuck out her chest. “Frog under a well.”
“Who are you calling frog under a well! Our Yingluo is—” Jin Ling’er was angry and wanted to continue talking, but Xia Yingluo stopped her.
Xia Yingluo grinned at Du Jingjing and the rest, playing with the orchid in her hands absent-mindedly. “When has my reputation been rumored as such? Let me guess, I’ve only met Gu Jinxiu before… could it be that Ms. Gu slandered me in front of everyone?”
Gu Jinxiu saw that she had found out her ill intentions and was secretly annoyed, but she still kept a light face. “I only said the truth. Why, you don’t want the truth to be said? Aren’t you a poor student in Imperial Entertainment, didn’t you disrupt Pei Yan’s engagement banquet and drink at a bar with Li Rui?”