Chapter 108: President Gu said this? My husband chose it for me.

Gu Pingsheng was not the only one who had developed ulterior motives because of the banquet the Hua family was about to host.

Qing Qi was even more restless than him.

When the Qing family received the invitation, he was entangled in bed with Lin Huixi. When a call from home brought up the matter, he instantly went limp.

"She is still alive?"

The Qing family was also taken aback by this. After all, the news had been covered up for three whole years. Now that a banquet was suddenly being held for Hua Qianjiao, the underlying implications were indeed worth pondering.

"No matter where you are, come back immediately," said Mrs. Qing.

Her husband had suddenly produced an illegitimate son outside who was about the same age as her own. Although Mr. Qing had declared that this would not shake Qing Qi's status as the heir, worldly affairs were unpredictable; who knew what might happen? In Mrs. Qing's view, only if her son married a wife from a sufficiently powerful family would he truly be secure.

Qing Qi did not hide the conversation from Lin Huixi while on the phone, so she heard every word. She scratched his back, clearly unsatisfied. Since Hua Qianjiao had fallen into the sea, Qing Qi had not touched her for several months. Although things had returned to normal afterward, the frequency was clearly lower than before. This left Lin Huixi feeling unfulfilled, forcing her to seek out other men.

"Alright." After hanging up, Qing Qi tried to get up, but was held tightly from behind by Lin Huixi. "Qing Qi~~"

Qing Qi paused. He was uncomfortable stopping at a moment like this, but, "There is some trouble at home. I will come back later."

With that, he left. Watching his retreating figure, Lin Huixi gritted her teeth in frustration. What a mood-killer. Moreover, it had been so long and there was still no sign of a pregnancy. Since Qing Qi was no longer as infatuated with her as before, she had to think of other ways. Half an hour after Qing Qi left, Wu Qiming appeared in her bed. Seeing the hickey on her neck, his interest was piqued immediately.

When Qing Qi returned home, he found his father's illegitimate son there as well, and his mother's expression was grim. Upon inquiry, he learned that his younger half-brother had also received an invitation from the Hua family.

Jing Garden.

Because Wen Zhixia loved the snow, Xu Qichen had specifically instructed the servants to clear only the pathways before the snow melted. The rest was left untouched, and he had even had them build several snowmen, creating a unique and charming landscape.

When Wen Zhixia looked out the window and saw the servants busy at work, she felt a sudden itch to join them and went downstairs in a thick coat. Seeing her approach, a servant handed her gloves. "Sir said that if you come out to play in the snow, you must wear your scarf and gloves well to avoid catching a cold."

Wen Zhixia was not surprised that Xu Qichen could peer into her small whims; he was meticulous to a fault.

Wen Zhixia was skilled at building snowmen, her movements more adept than those of the two servants. Once she had satisfactorily completed the basic shape, she began using black stones for eyes. A basket nearby was filled with carrots of various sizes, kept ready for noses. Most of the servants in Jing Garden had come out, adding a lively and human touch to the snowy winter day.

Xu Qichen stepped out of his car and saw her playing happily, her cheeks flushed a rosy red, a thin layer of sweat on her forehead. Perhaps noticing his gaze, she scooped up a handful of snow and tilted her head at him with a gentle, smiling gaze. "You're back?"

Xu Qichen walked over, intending to wrap her scarf properly, but she tossed a handful of snow at him. The snowflakes drifted down, framing her laughing eyes. A servant nearby silently handed him a snowball, but Xu Qichen waved it away. He beckoned Wen Zhixia over, touched her cold fingers, and put his own gloves on her. "You haven't recovered from your cold yet, and you're still greedy for the chill. Have you forgotten how miserable you were when you had a fever at night?"

Wen Zhixia pursed her lips and muttered softly, "Nanny."

Xu Qichen raised an eyebrow, his expression clearly saying: *Say that again.*

"Regarding the advertising agency you wanted to open, the staff has been recruited, and it can open this week," he said, using the handkerchief he carried in his suit pocket to wipe the sweat from her forehead.

Wen Zhixia looked up. "So fast?"

"The world is driven by profit, as you often say." As long as the capital is in place, nothing is a major problem. Over the years, the money she had earned as an independent investor in securities and stocks was enough to support her in opening two advertising agencies of the same scale, so she had been very generous with funding the new venture.

That evening, after dinner, Xu Qichen watched her take her medicine and then handed her a piece of candy. Wen Zhixia opened her mouth, and the sweetness dispelled the bitter taste of the medicine. "If I take this, I should be fine by tomorrow, right?"

Xu Qichen flipped through the report in his hand. "Listen to the doctor. When he says you can stop, then you can stop."

"I think you're getting revenge on me," Wen Zhixia said. Because she used to constantly nag him to take his medicine, the tables had now turned.

Xu Qichen raised an eyebrow, his refined demeanor suddenly tinged with a hint of playfulness. "It's a wonder it took you this long to realize."

Wen Zhixia: "..."

She took the report from his hand and shot him a playful glare. After looking at it for a few seconds, she paused. "This report..."

"The data is problematic." Xu Qichen didn't mind her looking; he simply picked up the conversation naturally.

As for those who tried to be clever and mess with the data, Wen Zhixia didn't know whether to call it courage or stupidity.

On the day of the Hua family banquet, the scene was truly grand. Many people came specifically to uncover the purpose behind such a sensational event. Falling into the sea three years ago and returning three years later—the Hua young lady was truly blessed by fate.

When Qing Qi arrived, some came to inquire about the situation. Most people assumed that since the Hua and Qing families were betrothed and Qing Qi was Hua Qianjiao’s fiancé, he must have seen her already and known the purpose of the banquet. However, when faced with questions, Qing Qi was clueless. This caused the expressions of those present to shift slightly. Being a fiancé who hadn't even seen his resurrected fiancée—what did that imply?

Faced with the speculating crowd, Mrs. Hua had to step in to deflect the questions, though behind the scenes, she gestured for Qing Qi to go find Hua Qianjiao and show some concern. Mrs. Hua had always been satisfied with Hua Qianjiao as a daughter-in-law, but she was helpless that her own son didn't care at all, spending his days fooling around with Lin Huixi.

Qing Qi paused, his fingers brushing the velvet box in his pocket. He had come with sincerity today. He wanted to use this opportunity to marry Hua Qianjiao. Aside from stabilizing his position, there was another reason—he had realized that when he learned she was missing and likely dead, his heart felt like it had a hollow space. Over the past few years, he had thought a lot and realized he probably did like Hua Qianjiao; he had only felt a sense of repulsion because he had been forced to take responsibility for her. He was happy that she wasn't dead. He had brought a ring, and this time, without anyone forcing him, he decided to marry her. He thought that if Hua Qianjiao knew this, she would be very happy.

However, when he found a Hua family servant and stated his identity, wanting to see Hua Qianjiao, the servant's expression was peculiar. "The young lady is still getting ready. Young Master Qing should wait in the hall; our young lady will be there soon."

Qing Qi frowned. In the past, he was the one who had people stop Hua Qianjiao from getting close to him, and he had never put up barriers when she wanted to see him. Now, she was having people block him?

"Go ask your young lady's wishes. Does she want to see me now?"

The servant glanced at his confident tone. "Sorry, I have other things to attend to."

With that, the servant left. This was the Hua residence, not the Qing residence. If the young lady said she wasn't seeing anyone, she wasn't seeing anyone. Did a man who was about to become an *ex*-fiancé really think he owned the place? Being ignored by a servant, Qing Qi's brow furrowed tightly.

Half an hour later, most of the guests had arrived. Gu Pingsheng stood in an absolutely prominent position. His mere appearance drew several executives to come over with their wives and daughters to greet him. Young, wealthy, handsome, and accomplished—coupled with the vague rumors that Gu Pingsheng and that "Little President Wen" had divorced—many in the crowd began to harbor other ideas. They spoke of business, but their true intentions lay elsewhere, frequently steering the conversation toward their own daughters of marriageable age. Those without daughters didn't forget to introduce goddaughters or close relatives, with every word hinting at a desire to climb the social ladder.

When Mr. Hua saw Gu Pingsheng, who appeared like a star surrounded by the moon, his eyes flickered. He had given orders not to invite anyone from the Gu Xia Group, so how had Gu Pingsheng appeared here? Mr. Hua summoned a servant and asked her to find Hua Qianjiao to send a message to Wen Zhixia to give her a heads-up.

Gu Pingsheng picked up a glass of red wine, swirling it with his well-defined fingers before sniffing it under his nose and taking a small sip. He calmly took in Mr. Hua's actions.

Outside the Hua residence, in a business car that had just pulled up, Wen Zhixia, who was preparing to get out, glanced at her phone as it suddenly lit up. She opened the message from Hua Qianjiao. After a quick glance, her fingertips paused slightly, her eyes lowered, and she put the phone away.

Xu Qichen turned around. "Everything alright?"

Wen Zhixia pursed her lips and smiled faintly. "Nothing."

Xu Qichen did not suspect anything. After she stepped out of the car, he draped his coat over her shoulders, wrapping her up tightly. "Don't catch a cold. Take it off once you get inside."

Wen Zhixia did not refuse. After all... she was truly afraid of the cold. To attend this banquet, she had to wear an evening gown, and in the dead of winter, even with a small lambskin coat over it, it was still freezing. Her gown had been custom-made by Xu Qichen’s people; it wouldn't steal the host's spotlight, but it was enough to perfectly showcase her beauty. Everything was just right, enough for her to leave a deep impression on her first appearance in three years, which would facilitate her company's future development.

Amidst the clinking of glasses, Gu Pingsheng’s eyes would occasionally scan the entrance, but as couples walked in holding hands, Wen Zhixia was nowhere to be seen. Gu Pingsheng’s expression tightened. Could it be... had he overthought it?

Seeing that the banquet was about to begin, Gu Pingsheng summoned Zhou Anbei. If Wen Zhixia didn't show up, there was clearly no reason for him to stay.

Just then, a stir rippled through the crowd. When Wen Zhixia entered the hall, arm-in-arm with Xu Qichen, Mr. and Mrs. Hua, who were already aware of Xu Qichen’s identity, stepped forward to greet them. As soon as the name of the Xu family from the capital was mentioned, the crowd immediately began to whisper.

A century-old hidden powerhouse—such family background and foundation could not be matched by emerging wealthy families, unless it was a major industry leader like the currently powerful Gu Xia Group. Only then would one be qualified to speak on equal terms.

Others focused mostly on Xu Qichen before turning their gaze to Wen Zhixia, but Gu Pingsheng was different. When Wen Zhixia appeared on Xu Qichen’s arm, his gaze could no longer look away.

Wen Zhixia wore a pale gold, shimmering sheer off-the-shoulder gown. Her gentle, shoulder-length hair fell naturally, and dazzling diamond rings adorned her fingers, sparkling brilliantly. Her elegant, slender figure made the gown look like a dream. She nodded and smiled, like a violin nocturne playing quietly in the middle of the night.

In that instant, Gu Pingsheng’s eyes felt as if they had fallen into an abyss. The wine glass he held did not reach his lips, and his Adam's apple bobbed. She had cut short the long hair he loved so much, yet she was still so beautiful that he couldn't tear his eyes away.

"The woman beside Xu Qichen... why does she look a bit familiar?"

"Could she be some second or third-rate starlet?" a woman said sourly. "Look at that vixenish air; she's so alluring."

Wen Zhixia’s temperament had nothing to do with being a vixen, but her stunning appearance had indeed drawn the attention of many men, leading to no small amount of jealousy among the women.

"That person... is that Wen Zhixia?"

Someone suddenly said it, and immediately, many gazes intentionally or unintentionally drifted toward Gu Pingsheng. After all, who would know better than Gu Pingsheng whether that was the Little President Wen?

"I heard long ago that they had split up, but no accurate news ever came out. Now that Little President Wen is appearing with Mr. Xu, does this count as confirmation?" a man whispered to his companion.

The man looked profound but said nothing, though his heart was pounding.

"Leaving Gu Pingsheng one moment and climbing high to reach Xu Qichen the next—this Little President Wen’s methods really make us women feel ashamed." After all, most women would consider it a blessing from a past life just to land one of them; how could it not be enviable?

The surroundings were filled with praise for the handsome couple. This only made Gu Pingsheng’s eyes grow darker. Beside him, Zhou Anbei looked at Gu Pingsheng with unease.

"The banquet is about to start. Go call Jiaojiao out," Mr. Hua said to a servant, then walked inside, laughing and talking with Wen Zhixia and Xu Qichen. But when Gu Pingsheng’s figure appeared before them, Mr. Hua couldn't help but pause.

Gu Pingsheng’s deep, intense gaze was fixed on the arm Wen Zhixia had linked with Xu Qichen. He blocked their path, abrupt and lacking any decorum. This was the first direct confrontation between Gu Pingsheng and Xu Qichen. Both were equally young and outstanding, equally graceful and distinguished; one was restrained and steady, the other sharp and brilliant. Either one, appearing alone, would attract a crowd of followers, but when the two stood in opposition, the air was instantly thick with the smoke of a silent battle, and the surrounding atmosphere froze.

Xu Qichen smiled and took the initiative to extend his hand. "Mr. Gu."

Gu Pingsheng’s fingers twitched slightly as he saw the ring on Xu Qichen’s ring finger, which looked like a pair with the one on Wen Zhixia’s hand. His eyes narrowed. He did not engage in a ritualistic handshake with Xu Qichen, but instead looked intently at Wen Zhixia. "Where is your ring?"

Where were *their* wedding rings?

Wen Zhixia raised her hand, her porcelain-white fingertips adorned with a brilliant diamond ring. She lifted her hand slightly, the diamond and her slender finger complementing each other—elegant and noble. Her lips parted: "Are you talking about this one, Mr. Gu? My husband chose it for me. Is it pretty?"

Her use of the word "husband" was like a giant boulder crashing into a calm lake. The splash was violent and high, raining down on the onlookers. Only Mr. and Mrs. Hua knew about the relationship between Wen Zhixia and Xu Qichen, but now, the entire crowd knew, and everyone was shocked to the core. They had thought Wen Zhixia was merely clinging to the Xu family; no one expected that she had transformed into the "Mrs. Xu" that countless people didn't even dare to dream of.

"Husband?" Gu Pingsheng’s long, narrow eyes narrowed. His temper was restrained, but the depths of his gaze were stained with coldness and anger.

"Mr. Gu, Mr. Xu, Zhixia, the banquet is about to begin. Whatever you have to discuss, it won't be too late to sit down later." Mr. Hua looked at Wen Zhixia and added, "Zhixia, Jiaojiao hasn't come out yet. Could you go check on her?"

He intended to rescue Wen Zhixia from the current scene, and Wen Zhixia did not refuse his kindness. Gu Pingsheng took a step to follow, but Xu Qichen extended an arm and said lightly, "Mr. Gu, please stay."

Wen Zhixia went to Hua Qianjiao’s room. Hua Qianjiao was just coming out and told her about the servant sending Qing Qi away, her words filled with laughter.

"I just saw Ye Lanzhou. Didn't you see him either?" Wen Zhixia helped her adjust her skirt and asked.

Hua Qianjiao touched her nose. "I... I'll wait until I've annulled the engagement with Qing Qi." She hadn't figured out how to face him yet.

Upon hearing this, Wen Zhixia said, "That's fine, too."

Things always had to be solved one by one, methodically, so as not to cause confusion in the haste. Mr. Hua saw his daughter’s silhouette on the stairs and beckoned to her with a microphone.

Below the stage, Qing Qi watched as the radiant and lovely Hua Qianjiao slowly stood up from her seat. Because she had been well cared for since childhood, Hua Qianjiao naturally carried an exquisite air of being pampered daily. Her brows and eyes held an "innocence of knowing one's own privilege," always giving people a sense of being "unmatured." It wasn't the "looking past everything" that Wen Zhixia had, but rather the ease of someone who obtained everything effortlessly.