"My blockhead second brother finally got a clue and is actually interested in chasing girls now."

"Your second brother wants to pursue Huayan?" Shangguan Ning couldn't help but frown. However, Cheng Qingqing was too happy to notice.

"Very clever, Ning gege, you guessed it right."

Shangguan Ning glanced thoughtfully at Cheng Xiang and Huayan, who were smiling and chatting while Cheng Xiang wiped jam off her mouth when she accidentally got some on her. Why did their flirtation seem so conspicuous? His prey shouldn't be given away to someone else.

Noticing their parents and the elders from the Cheng family coming downstairs, Shangguan Ning's eyes gleamed. He took Cheng Qingqing and walked over to them.

Cheng's mother had been restless upstairs in the rest area, and now she came down, eagerly searching for her younger son.

Finally, Shangguan's mother spotted them and exclaimed in delight, "Danrong, look over there, isn't that your son? And it looks like he's sitting next to a beautiful girl... Looks like your obsession is finally cured."

Following Shangguan's mother's indication, the others also saw Cheng Xiang sitting with a girl, and their familiarity made them suspect that the two had known each other for a long time.

"But that girl seems familiar to me..." Shangguan's mother suddenly furrowed her brows in thought.

"Aunt, Uncle, hello," she said to her parents before turning to her mother and adding, "Happy birthday, Mom! Wishing you even more beauty."

"Aunt, happy birthday! Wishing you beauty that surpasses all others, kindness that spreads far and wide, and gentleness that knows no bounds, lasting for hundreds of years!" Cheng Qingqing also smiled brightly, praising Shangguan's mother both publicly and privately.

"You sweet child, if I were to be beautiful for another hundred years, I'd turn into an old witch," Shangguan's mother said happily, while also giving her husband a flirtatious look. The others couldn't help but laugh. Shangguan's father blushed and scolded his still charismatic wife.

"Qingqing, is the girl with your second brother the one you introduced? What's her name? And whose daughter is she?" Cheng's mother asked, observing the well-dressed girl with several exquisite pieces of jewelry, guessing she might be a wealthy family's daughter. They had asked their daughter last night, but she had kept it a secret, leaving them anxious.

"That's my classmate and good friend, Huayan," Cheng Qingqing boasted proudly, unaware of Shangguan's mother's thoughtful gaze toward Huayan.

"But you haven't told us which family she's from," Cheng's mother pressed again.

"I... I'm not sure about that," Cheng Qingqing said, cutely sticking out her tongue.

Cheng's father nearly choked on his sip of red wine upon hearing this, hastily covering it up and admonishing, "You brought someone without even knowing much about her. That's too reckless."

"I might know who she is," Shangguan's mother suddenly spoke up, catching everyone's attention.

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"We better sit down and talk." Shangguan Mu now held a strong disdain for those married into the family, suddenly recalling that it was half a year ago when Cheng Jie divorced his wife. With her family bankrupt and the Cheng family's rejection, she couldn't help but suspect if that woman deliberately approached the innocent Qingqing, aiming to latch onto them.

After all, someone like Huayan, who had been living a life of luxury since childhood, wouldn't easily adapt to plummeting from heaven to hell.

"She's Huayan, the former Mrs. Cheng Jie, whom Cheng Jie divorced."

"What?" Cheng Qingqing couldn't believe it.

"What? She..." Cheng's mother couldn't imagine her son having a laugh with a divorced woman. Suddenly, she felt repulsed.

"Auntie guessed right. That woman is Cheng Jie's former wife, but she should still have connections with the Cheng family." Cheng Cheng appeared like a ghost, a few words causing people to associate Huayan's cunning. Being divorced and still treated kindly by the Cheng family; everyone knew that the Cheng family didn't spare anything they didn't want. How could they be so kind to a discarded woman?

Shangguan Ning was pleased that others revealed these news. As long as there was family opposition, it would be nearly impossible for Cheng Xiang to be with Huayan.

On the contrary, being independent in his career, even if he truly wanted to be with her, he could withstand the pressure from his family.

"Go and bring Cheng Xiang here alone," Cheng's father ordered coldly. Cheng Cheng happily complied with the order. Cheng's mother was now trembling with anger, feeling some resentment towards her once doted-on daughter. In an instant, she realized her daughter's innocence might have been manipulated by others. Yet, shortly after, she softened a bit towards Cheng Qingqing.

Guests came to wish Shangguan's mother a happy birthday, sensing the awkward atmosphere, they refrained from leaving after exchanging pleasantries.

"Huang Ying, I'm sorry for what happened at your birthday party," Cheng's mother apologized.

"We're sisters; it's our responsibility to look out for each other. We should never let our younger siblings be deceived by women. Qingqing, remember to keep your distance from Huayan. You're too kind and easy to be manipulated by her," she cautioned Cheng Qingqing.

"Mom..." Cheng Qingqing was still confused, not understanding how things suddenly turned out like this. It was her first time hearing that Huayan had been married before.

Meanwhile, on Huayan's side, Cheng Xiang was narrating thrilling stories of his adventures as a police officer, unaware of Cheng Cheng's approach. He immediately attributed Cheng Xiang's unusual behavior to Huayan. His suspicion of Huayan's scheming deepened.

"Xiaoxiang and I are going to wish Auntie a happy birthday," Cheng Cheng announced.

"Okay, Huayan, can you walk? Come with us," Cheng Xiang warmly invited Huayan to join them. Huayan, still lost in Cheng Xiang's thrilling tales, suddenly felt several unfriendly gazes upon her. Looking at Cheng Cheng's disdainful gaze, she felt a pang of discomfort.

"Big brother, Huayan is my friend. Don't look at her like that," Cheng Xiang's actions lessened Huayan's anger slightly. She thought to herself, why bother being angry with irrelevant people? Getting angry would be futile. She also noted that Cheng Xiang was not a bad person to befriend.

Cheng Cheng knew his younger brother's temper. In order not to provoke him, he immediately turned away, ignoring Huayan.

"Huayan, sit here. I'll be back soon," Cheng Xiang instructed her like a child, making her chuckle. She wondered if she was so easy to bully.

"Sure, go ahead."

After waiting for a while, Cheng Xiang still hadn't returned. Huayan turned her head and happened to see Cheng Xiang and Cheng Qingqing being led upstairs by Cheng Cheng and a woman. Both Cheng Qingqing and Cheng Xiang looked worried when they glanced at her.

Sitting in this small living room, Huayan saw two noble ladies sitting inside. She had already guessed that one of them was Shangguan Ning's mother, the guest of honor at tonight's banquet.

"My daughter doesn't know her limits. Sorry for the trouble, Miss Huayan. And please, in the future, keep your distance from my younger son, Cheng Xiang. After all, you two are different people." It turned out that this lady was Cheng Qingqing's mother. She was worried that Huayan had ulterior motives for Cheng Xiang and wanted to climb onto their family.

Huayan smiled coldly, "I make my own decisions, and I don't need others to dictate to me. You'd better not think too highly of yourself!"

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