Chu Beihe looked at Jiang Xuxu's shocked expression, his face remaining as stoic as ever. He simply said, "Previously, I revealed your identity to the Song Family. It was because of this that the Song Family questioned the Jiang Family, which indirectly led to you running away from home."
Therefore, he needed to take responsibility.
Jiang Xuxu: "..."
Just a moment ago, she had actually thought he had discovered her snatching two wisps of his Golden Light.
So, it was only because of this?
Was this big shot, Chu Beihe, really that easy to fool?
He actually believed such an obvious excuse?
Chu Beihe, of course, knew that this was merely an excuse Jiang Huai had used to get him to come and support her. But even if it was an excuse, as long as it could convince him, it didn't count as being fooled.
Yesterday, although she hadn't explicitly asked him to keep her identity a secret, he had indeed informed the other party that she was the daughter of the Jiang Family without her consent.
Based on that point alone, Chu Beihe would not evade his responsibility.
His obsessive-compulsive nature also included a certain stubbornness regarding the truth of things.
Jiang Xuxu originally wanted to say he didn't need to be responsible, but her gaze inadvertently drifted toward his left arm.
She had seen it very clearly just now. The moment Guan Ruirui accidentally bumped into the big shot's arm, the Black Qi that had been clinging to her body had visibly faded under the impact of the Golden Light emanating from Chu Beihe.
That Golden Light was like a ball of fire, capable of instantly dissipating any dark evil that approached him.
Jiang Xuxu kind of wanted it.
Thinking of this, she stopped saying polite things about him not needing to be responsible. "Then, if I have problems in the future, can I still come to trouble you?"
"No."
Jiang Xuxu: ???
Didn't he just say he would take responsibility?
As if seeing the confusion in her eyes, Chu Beihe offered a rare explanation. "You have already moved back to the Jiang Family. Therefore, my responsibility was fulfilled just now."
Jiang Xuxu: "..."
It turned out the big shot's responsibility was a one-time deal.
She had miscalculated!
As the rumors suggested, Chu Beihe truly disliked these kinds of social occasions. After speaking with Jiang Xuxu, he quickly made an excuse to leave.
Jiang Xuxu thought to herself that if she wanted to get close to this big shot, she would definitely need to put in some extra effort.
Fortunately, she wasn't in a hurry.
Just as she was about to turn and leave, a clear, high-pitched female voice suddenly drifted from behind her.
"Young Master Chu is famous in our circle for being unapproachable. You'll regret it if you set your sights on him."
Jiang Xuxu turned around and saw the girl who had mocked Guan Ruirui earlier.
The girl was about her age, with very striking and elegant features. Her glossy black hair was pinned up, revealing a graceful swan neck. She looked at Jiang Xuxu with a half-smile, though there was no malice in her words.
Jiang Xuxu asked, "Do you like Chu Beihe?"
Generally, women who proactively "warned" other women to stay away from a man were his admirers.
To her surprise, upon hearing Jiang Xuxu's question, the girl looked as if she had just heard a terrifying ghost story. Her expression was one of genuine horror.
"I'd only like that Great Demon King if I thought I had lived too long."
Jiang Xuxu raised an eyebrow.
This was already the second time she had heard someone call him that. It seemed this nickname wasn't exclusive to Jiang Huai; it was public consensus.
"Thank you for the advice. I'll approach him depending on the situation."
The implication was: Thanks for the warning, but I'm choosing not to listen.
Li Qingzi gave Jiang Xuxu an odd look, then waved her hand dismissively.
"Whatever, do as you please. I only spoke up because I saw how decisively you cut ties with your foster parents just now. I thought you were someone with a clear head, which is why I meddled."
Saying that, she reached out her hand and smiled. "Li Qingzi. Li Properties is my family's business."
Jiang Xuxu never went out of her way to be cold to those who harbored no ill will toward her. Moreover, the girl before her had a very poised and straightforward attitude that Jiang Xuxu quite liked.
She reached out and shook the offered hand. Jiang Xuxu's gaze fell upon the cluster of dark pink at the girl's brow. With a slight smile, she said, "You've had some Rotten Peach Blossoms lately. You should pay attention to those who make you feel a sense of debt."
For people she liked, Jiang Xuxu never hesitated to offer a warning.
Li Qingzi: ???
Li Qingzi hadn't expected her to change the subject so abruptly. "You... you actually believe in that stuff?"
She had assumed Xuxu had only brought up such things earlier to expose the Guan Family's ugly intentions.
Jiang Xuxu replied, "I don't just believe it; I study it. If you need to guard against backstabbers, you can also come to me."
Li Qingzi: "..."
This eldest miss of the Jiang Family seemed a bit strange.
On the other side, the Guan Family.
The three members of the Guan Family returned home in total silence.
Along the way, even when no one else was around, Bai Shuqin kept her hand clamped tightly over her mouth. She was terrified that she would lose control again and blurt out her true thoughts.
Guan Qishen had not gone to the Jiang Family because of a business dinner. He expected the family wouldn't be back so soon, yet to his surprise, just as he stepped through the door, Guan Baocheng and the others followed right behind him.
As soon as they entered, he saw his father's vicious expression, his sister's red and tear-streaked eyes, and his mother, who was strangely covering her mouth.
"Dad, Mom, what's going on..."
Before he could even finish his question, Guan Baocheng, who had just stepped inside, suddenly turned around and delivered a brutal slap to Bai Shuqin's face.
"Ah!"
Caught off guard, Bai Shuqin was knocked straight to the floor.
Guan Ruirui, who had been wallowing in her own grievances, was stunned. Guan Qishen's face changed instantly, and he rushed forward. "Dad! What are you doing?!"
Guan Baocheng ignored his son's interference and moved as if to kick Bai Shuqin. His face held a level of cruelty that was never usually seen.
"It's all because of you, you useless woman! You've completely destroyed the reputation I built over so many years! You've made the entire Guan Family the laughingstock of the circle! I could strangle you right now!"
Guan Qishen's expression shifted drastically. He couldn't understand why his usually gentle father had suddenly become like this. Weren't they supposed to go to the Jiang Family dinner to seek a chance to salvage their cooperation?
How had they become the laughingstock of the circle?
Beside them, Guan Ruirui was also terrified to see her father acting this way. She sobbed, "Dad! Don't be like this, you're scaring me..."
It would have been better if she hadn't spoken. The moment she did, Guan Baocheng's fury shifted toward her.
"I haven't even settled the score with you yet! You and your mother clearly knew that Guan Xuxu was the eldest miss of the Jiang Family, yet you kept it from me! I actually thought you were sincerely helping me win back the Jiang cooperation, but in the end, you two were the culprits!"
Guan Baocheng's roar made Guan Ruirui tremble from head to toe.
Seeing this, Bai Shuqin struggled to her feet and pulled Guan Ruirui into her arms. She no longer covered her mouth, but opened it and screamed, "Guan Baocheng! How can you yell at Ruirui like that?! She is your biological daughter!
You're the one who is useless, and now you're blaming us?! Why didn't I see you lose your temper just now? You acted like a coward out there, but you're only brave enough to come home and take it out on us! You wimp!"
The moment those words came out, even Guan Qishen was shocked.
Were these... were these really things his mother would say?
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