On the other side.
Jing Meng couldn't quite fathom Pei Shiyi's earlier actions, but she told herself not to overthink it. She headed straight upstairs and returned to her room.
Once inside, she removed the cast from her arm and intended to lie down to clear her head. To her surprise, her eyelids grew heavy, and she drifted straight off to sleep.
By the time she woke up, it was already six o'clock in the evening.
The banquet Pei Shiyi had mentioned was scheduled for eight, so Jing Meng quickly got out of bed and put on the haute couture dress she had purchased earlier. As she headed downstairs, she specifically chose a pair of silver heels, which accentuated her slender, graceful waist.
The moment Pei Shiyi saw her, a flash of admiration crossed his eyes. A faint, nearly imperceptible smile touched his lips, but when his gaze landed on her hair, he frowned slightly.
The butler, having served him for many years, immediately understood. Seeing Pei Shiyi's eyes lingering on Jing Meng's hair, he promptly called for a stylist to help her finish her look.
By the time the styling was complete, it was already six-thirty. With an hour and a half to go before the banquet started, Jing Meng sat across from Pei Shiyi. She glanced around the room and, seeing no sign of Pei Cheng, asked curiously, "Where is Chengcheng?"
"I have made other arrangements for him. Let's head over first." Pei Shiyi closed the book in his hand, his tone slightly cool.
Jing Meng was long accustomed to his hot-and-cold temperament. She submissively walked side-by-side with him out of the villa and into the car.
The driver soon reached the venue. Looking at the crowd dressed in their finest attire, Jing Meng felt a sudden, inexplicable wave of nerves.
"Relax. I'll be right by your side," Pei Shiyi said, sensing her emotions. He reached out and gave her a reassuring pat.
His warm, broad palm felt like a miracle, gradually steadying Jing Meng's racing heart. She stole a glance at him, hesitated for a moment, and then proactively tucked her hand into the crook of his arm.
Since she had agreed to play the part, she was going to do it right.
Pei Shiyi looked at the hand resting on his arm from the corner of his eye, a shallow smile spreading across his lips.
The two of them attracted everyone's attention the moment they appeared.
When Jenny saw that Pei Shiyi had actually brought a woman to a family banquet, the smile instantly vanished from her eyes, replaced by a gaze full of hatred directed at Jing Meng.
Pei Shiyi belonged to her!
Jing Meng felt the weight of the stare on her back, but she had no intention of acknowledging it. If she lost her nerve today, it would be Pei Shiyi's reputation on the line.
Pei Shiyi watched Jing Meng carry herself with such poise and grace, the amusement in his eyes deepening. This woman had given him a pleasant surprise since their first meeting, and now she was becoming more interesting by the second.
The two had only been together for a few moments before a crowd of people looking to curry favor with Pei Shiyi forced them apart.
As Pei Shiyi was swallowed by the crowd, Jing Meng stood in place and began to survey the venue.
At a cursory glance, the hall didn't seem particularly special, but a closer look revealed hidden details everywhere. The ornaments in the corners, the subtle decorations on the ceiling chandeliers, and the patterns on the walls... every inch of the place screamed of the Pei Family's power.
"As expected of the Pei Family..." Jing Meng couldn't help but whisper in admiration.
"What about the Pei Family?" Pei Shiyi appeared beside her at some unknown point, having heard her low murmur perfectly.
"You?" Jing Meng gasped in surprise, glancing behind him. "Are you finished?"
Pei Shiyi was about to answer when he saw two people approaching him with wine glasses.
He frowned slightly. "If you..."
"Go deal with your business, don't worry about me." Jing Meng flashed him a smile, signaling that he didn't need to stay with her, and walked away on her own.
Pei Shiyi watched her retreating back, his fingers tightening slightly around his wine glass, his jaw set.
On the other side, Jenny saw Jing Meng sit down alone in a remote corner. A ruthless glint flashed in her eyes as she spotted a waiter heading her way with a tray of wine.
She let out an arrogant chuckle, took a glass of red wine, and walked toward Jing Meng. As she drew near, she pretended to be careless and slammed her arm hard against Jing Meng's injured spot.
"Hiss!" Jing Meng gasped. She hadn't expected someone to suddenly strike her wound. Instinctively, she jerked her arm outward.
Splash!
The red wine Jenny had intended to throw onto Jing Meng ended up all over herself. The red stain blossomed like a garish flower on her meticulously tailored evening gown.
"What are you doing?!" Jenny's voice suddenly spiked, successfully drawing the attention of everyone nearby.
Jing Meng gritted her teeth against the pain. Once it subsided slightly, she narrowed her eyes at the other woman. "If I saw correctly, you're the one who bumped into me, right? And yet you're the one asking me? What's the matter? Does this lady have poor eyesight?"
Jenny hadn't expected Jing Meng to be so sharp-tongued, and she inwardly gnashed her teeth.
"Miss, even if you don't want to apologize, there's no need to make such malicious accusations, is there?" Jenny's expression shifted, but she forced herself to maintain an air of poise.
Jing Meng let out a cold sneer. "The frame-up attempt wasn't bad. Unfortunately, you picked the wrong person."
Hearing the murmurs of the surrounding crowd, Jenny felt a surge of embarrassment. Suddenly, she caught sight of a figure in blue approaching. Her arrogant expression instantly transformed into one of a pitiful victim who had been deeply wronged.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have bothered you," Jenny said, wiping away tears as she bowed deeply to Jing Meng.
Jing Meng found the sudden change in attitude utterly baffling. Out of caution, she stepped to the side, refusing to accept the bow.
"What is all this noise about?"
Just as Jing Meng was about to speak, a sharp, authoritative voice rang out from behind her. The expressions of everyone in the hall turned respectful.
Jing Meng froze.
In the Pei Family, there was only one person with such status: Old Madame Pei. Thinking of this, she narrowed her eyes and looked at Jenny again.
It seemed she was fated to clash with White Lotuses.
"You are Jing Meng?" Old Madame Pei walked over and scrutinized Jing Meng thoroughly.
She had heard that Little Six had brought a woman to the family banquet and that the usually mischievous little fellow had been full of praise for her. She had come over specifically to see what kind of woman could capture the interest of both father and son.
Her face was decent enough, but that stubborn temperament didn't suit Little Six. Moreover, she had previously been Pei Gong's fiancée. If a grandfather and grandson were to be engaged to the same woman one after the other, the Pei Family wouldn't be able to live down the embarrassment.
Seeing Old Madame Pei's displeasure, Jenny realized the matriarch didn't like Jing Meng. She immediately put on an understanding front. "Old Madame, please don't be angry. It was my own clumsiness that caused me to bump into Miss Jing. It has nothing to do with her."
Jenny was Old Madame Pei's preferred choice for a granddaughter-in-law. Seeing her so obedient and willing to swallow her grievances only made the Old Madame more dissatisfied with Jing Meng.
"I didn't expect that in addition to your questionable conduct, you would also use your position to bully others?" Old Madame Pei withdrew her gaze from Jing Meng and spoke coldly.
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