Chapter Sixteen: Did I Waste Your Time Making Up Rumors About Me?

The banquet ended at ten o’clock in the evening. Outside, the sounds of car engines starting up came one after another, filling the air with lively bustle.

Gu Yao stayed inside, waiting until she sensed that most people had left before rising to check on the dessert situation in the banquet hall.

The banquet hall was on the fifth floor, the top floor. Instead of taking the elevator, Gu Yao chose to walk up the stairs. Along the way, she encountered a few guests descending, whom she carefully avoided.

Upon reaching the upper floor, the lively afterglow still lingered in the corridor.

In the distance, she saw the Lu family’s servants busily tidying up the aftermath inside the banquet hall.

Just as Gu Yao stepped forward to approach, a soft female voice suddenly called from behind:

“Gu Yao?”

Her foot halted involuntarily. She turned around to see three women standing there—Liu Yuan, Qi Hehe, and Zhao Yulin.

These women had all attended the same school as Gu Yao.

Qi Hehe had once been Gu Yao’s “good friend” at school, guiding her through the circles of noble young ladies to prevent them from bullying Gu Yao because of her background.

So Gu Yao had never imagined hearing the words “daughter of a housemaid” come from her very own mouth.

Now, the unspoken understanding between them was on the verge of tearing into open hostility.

“Is there something you need?” Gu Yao asked, her tone still gentle, mindful that this was the Lu family’s venue and their guests were present.

Qi Hehe smiled, her gaze scanning Gu Yao from head to toe before resting on her face. A flicker of jealousy surfaced deep within her.

Seven years ago, Gu Yao’s departure had been far from graceful.

After all, breaking ties with the Lu family’s young master was no small act of bravery.

Yet, why was she now even more radiant than before, her face blooming with an added allure?

Lost in thought, Qi Hehe refused to lose face. She flicked her hair, inadvertently flashing the new, custom-designed sapphire bracelet from the V family on her wrist.

“If there’s nothing to discuss, can’t we at least talk a little? We were so close back in school, yet you never reached out to us afterward.”

Her words carried a hint of grievance but lacked sincerity.

Gu Yao regarded her calmly, a faint smile playing at her lips.

“I lost all the old contacts a long time ago, and I’ve been busy since. There’s just no time.”

Qi Hehe nodded knowingly and stepped forward, switching the vintage clutch in her hand to the other.

“Oh? That’s fine, then you can just make it up,” she said with an uplifted chin and a bright smile.

“Speaking of which, you’ve been away from Ning City for so many years, and quite a few changes have happened in our circle. Young Master Lu has now become the CEO of Bolun, and Yuan Yuan has begun taking over the Liu family’s business. The two top students from our school are still standing at the pinnacle together—it’s truly enviable!”

She finished with a beaming smile, fixing her eyes on Gu Yao.

But after staring for a long time, Gu Yao’s face remained calmly composed, her gaze serene as if seeing through the filth in her heart.

Qi Hehe looked at her for a while longer, unwilling to accept her indifference.

Before she could say more, Zhao Yulin suddenly reached out and touched her arm.

Qi Hehe turned to see Zhao Yulin shaking her head, then casting a meaningful look toward Liu Yuan.

“By the way, Yuan Yuan, I heard that for the upcoming art exhibition you’re attending, Young Master Lu will also show up to support. Do you still have tickets? Could you give one to Gu Yao?”

Turning to Gu Yao, she explained softly,

“A lot of our classmates will be there to cheer on that day. Later in the evening, I’ll be hosting a gathering at Xingxiu. Let’s get together.”

“Gu Yao, it’s been a long time since you joined such a gathering, hasn’t it?” Zhao Yulin looked at Gu Yao, anticipating a change in her expression.

But before Gu Yao could reply, Liu Yuan looked at her hesitantly and spoke first.

“Sorry, Gu Yao, all the tickets have been given out. The last one was taken by Lu Zheng.”

As she finished, both Qi Hehe and Zhao Yulin wore faint, mocking smiles.

At this moment, Gu Yao truly understood what it meant when three women put on a show.

She hadn’t even said a word, yet the performance had already begun.

She smiled slightly, her expression growing increasingly indifferent.

“No need. I’m not interested in any art exhibitions, and besides, I don’t have time to waste on such trivial matters.”

“As for the gathering you mentioned,” Gu Yao looked at Zhao Yulin,

“If it’s just for empty chatter, I can only say your hobby is really lowbrow.”

Her words left the three women stunned, clearly unprepared for her fierce retort.

Qi Hehe’s face darkened first.

She had called Gu Yao over precisely to humiliate her, but Gu Yao’s emotions had never played into her expectations, which made her deeply uncomfortable.

Unable to maintain her composure, she gritted her teeth and looked at Gu Yao.

“Gu Yao, how can you say such vulgar things…”

Before she could finish, a sound of a door handle turning came from behind Gu Yao.

The three women froze, their eyes wide as two men stepped out from the room, casting hostile glances their way.

Seeing the two men, Liu Yuan’s grip on her small bag tightened instantly, the leather even creased under her fingers.

Gu Yao sensed this and turned her head to see Lu Zheng, hands in his pockets, his eyes dark and heavy as he approached.

The tall figure of the man seemed to swallow the light and shadow of the corridor.

Beside him, Ming Lang looked at the three women with a pitying gaze.

Liu Yuan was the first to speak, her voice betraying guilt.

“Lu Zheng, what… what are you doing here?”

But she immediately regretted her words.

Sure enough, the man’s cold glare fixed first on her.

“This is the Lu family’s home. If I’m not here, where else should I be?”

Lu Zheng walked behind Gu Yao, his gaze falling on the woman’s slender but upright back. Feeling the aloofness radiating from her, his voice grew colder.

“What, has my appearance delayed your slanderous gossip?”

His icy eyes shifted to Zhao Yulin, who stiffened but still tried to struggle.

“Young Master Lu, what do you mean? I haven’t slandered anyone.”

Lu Zheng ignored her, casting a casual glance at Ming Lang.

Ming Lang immediately understood and stepped forward to stand before Zhao Yulin, smiling but with no warmth in his eyes.

“Miss Zhao, as you just said about the art exhibition, Miss Liu’s paintings are only part of the show, and none are masterpieces. It’s not enough to make our Mr. Lu attend just for those paintings.”

His words were blunt.

Liu Yuan trembled, looking at Lu Zheng in disbelief.

At that moment, Ming Lang’s gaze turned to her.

A bad feeling rose in her heart.

“Besides, Miss Liu, you seem to have forgotten that Mr. Lu took your ticket because you lost Miss Lu Ning’s. You were the one who compensated her, and I was the one who collected that ticket. It has nothing to do with Mr. Lu.”

“Our Mr. Lu is an investor in the exhibition. He doesn’t need a ticket to get in.”

After speaking, Ming Lang quietly glanced at Gu Yao.

But all he saw on Gu Yao’s face was a detached expression, as if watching a play.

Ming Lang’s eye twitched involuntarily.

It seemed Lu Zheng’s pursuit of this woman would require lighting a few more candles in his heart.