Leng Xuexi started speaking but imdiately regretted it. In this kind of setting, she had no standing to intervene, especially when the situation was still unclear. Speaking rashly might only provoke trouble.
But she could not endure such insults to her brother.
"Who were you just calling a bastard?"
Leng Xuexi asked calmly.
Leng Xingshuang snorted coldly, "What does it matter to you who I was insulting?"
"I asked you, who were you calling a bastard just now?" Leng Xuexi asked with restraint once again.
Leng Xingshuang hesitated for a mont, then retorted bluntly, "Leng Yunyang! I called Leng Yunyang a disgraceful bastard. So what?"
Leng Xuexi instantly felt her heart sink.
It really was her brother.
Seeing Leng Xuexi frozen in place, Leng Xingshuang flashed a triumphant smirk. "Speechless now, aren’t you? Get lost."
Leng Xingshuang reached out to shove Leng Xuexi’s shoulder, and caught off guard, Leng Xuexi was about to stumble backward. At the critical mont, a pair of hands extended from behind to steady her shoulders.
Leng Xuexi snapped out of her daze and turned to see a youthful face, beautiful like sculpted jade, re inches away.
Her face turned bright red in an instant.
Gu Bichen withdrew his hands and said calmly, "Apologies."
"No, I should be the one thanking you," Leng Xuexi said softly.
Leng Xingshuang, seeing the two of them behaving coyly, was furious and exclaid, "Bichen, you’re helping her?"
Gu Bichen furrowed his sword-like brows tightly, his jade-like face now shrouded in icy sternness. "Stop making a scene."
Leng Xingshuang, incredulous, protested, "Bichen, I ca here for you. And now you’re telling I’m making a scene?"
Gu Bichen took a deep breath and softened his tone, "Xingshuang, listen to . Don’t disgrace yourself in front of outsiders."
By "outsiders," he was clearly referring to the four onlookers enjoying the drama.
Leng Xingshuang pointed at Leng Xuexi, "Then she needs to apologize to ."
To Leng Xuexi, this girl’s arrogance was simply inconceivable. Clearly, it was Leng Xingshuang who had spoken rudely first and even struck out, yet now she was demanding an apology from the victim. The world had truly turned upside down.
Gu Bichen grew increasingly troubled by her behavior. What was wrong with this child?
Leng Xingshuang stubbornly insisted, "She must apologize to ."
Leng Xuexi, with pride and dignity, responded, "That’s impossible."
Leng Xingshuang scrutinized her gaze briefly before narrowing her eyes. "Where are you from?"
Jing Zhan blurted out quickly, "From Qingzhou, and she’s classmates with Young Master Gu."
Qingzhou?
Leng Xingshuang’s frown deepened.
Leng Yunyang was also from Qingzhou. Could it be...
Suppressing her anger, Leng Xingshuang asked through gritted teeth, "Are you from the Leng family in Qingzhou? What is Leng Yunyang to you?"
Leng Xuexi responded firmly, "Leng Yunyang is my brother."
Leng Xingshuang sneered, "Well, that explains why you defended him just now. Birds of a feather, it seems."
"Oh, Xingshuang, there you are," Leng Nanzhu rushed over in a hurry. "Grandfather is looking for you. Co with right away."
"Get lost." Leng Xingshuang pushed him aside and pointed at Leng Xuexi. "Who invited her here?"
The banquet’s butler, Leng Jiao, approached. He was in his thirties, the son of the previous butler, and had always been diligent and ticulous in his service.
"Uncle Qiao, who invited her here?" Leng Xingshuang inquired.
Leng Jiao replied in a composed and respectful tone, "Miss Xuexi was invited by the master himself."
Leng Xingshuang choked on her words but spat out angrily, "Why? Why would Grandfather invite her? Who does she think she is?"
Leng Jiao smiled gently, "Simply because she is Young Master Yunyang’s sister. Miss Xingshuang, the master wishes to see you. Please follow ."
Leng Jiao gave a pointed look at Leng Xingshuang, his gaze calm yet subtly warning.
Leng Xingshuang bit her lip and hesitated before deciding to follow Leng Jiao.
There would be ti to settle the score with Leng Xuexi later.
"Miss Xuexi, so you’re Young Master Yunyang’s sister. Even though you’re not related by blood, this bond of mutual dependence must be as strong as any family tie. Considering Young Master Yunyang’s status, it seems you’re set to beco the Leng family’s young lady one day. You know the saying, don’t you? When one person rises, their companions rise as well."
Jing Zhan’s sarcastic remark abruptly stopped Leng Xingshuang mid-step.
Leng Xuexi frowned and cast a wary glance at Jing Zhan.
What was her intent in deliberately provoking trouble again and again?
Leng Jiao turned to glance at Leng Xingshuang, his gaze cautioning her.
Leng Xingshuang took a deep breath. Fine, she would endure for now.
Jing Zhan added fuel to the fire, "Miss Xuexi is gentle and composed, graceful and courteous. Staying in the modest city of Qingzhou was truly a waste of her talents. With her elegance, she can easily secure a top spot among Jingzhou’s socialites. As for Young Master Yunyang, though I haven’t t him, since you’ve grown up together, one can infer his caliber from yours. No doubt he’s an exceptional figure, surely comparable to Mr. Leng Yuan in his youthful days."
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