"You actually behave like this, so uncultured," Mrs. Cheng exclaimed with surprise and anger, standing up and accusing Hua Yan, who remained calm.

"If I lack manners, then as a woman of stature, openly insulting the friends your children have invited also speaks volumes about your own upbringing. Moreover, your current demeanor seems more like throwing a tantrum."

Mrs. Shangguan gave Hua Yan a cold glance, soothing Mrs. Cheng not to get angry. She leisurely remarked, "Respecting elders is a fundamental aspect of good family education. Do you think you understand how to respect elders?"

"That also depends on whether the elder deserves respect at this age, doesn't it? Today seems to be the first time I've met you all, but your hostility and insults towards me seem utterly baseless."

"If you've been divorced by your husband, you should focus on living your civilian life instead of trying to exploit Qingqing's innocent approach to her brothers. Wanting to climb into their beds can only result in being treated as a plaything. So, I hope you won't appear in front of our families in the future." Mrs. Shangguan's tone was calm, but her words were more insidious than Mrs. Cheng's.

"I think, madam, you might suffer from delusions. It's advisable for you to see a psychologist. As for your concerns, they seem like a joke to me. Bye-bye, I'm not in the mood to indulge in your madness." With these words, Hua Yan contemptuously glanced at the two women with twisted faces and left the room.

The middle-aged male servant guarding the door saw Hua Yan coming out, his face twitching, his gaze complex as he watched her leave. At this moment, he didn't know how to comment on this girl. Her words in the room just now were rough, unlike those of a wealthy young lady, yet they made sense. And her demeanor, confident and elegant, made people naturally inclined towards her. As a servant of the Shangguan family for decades, it was the first time he had seen someone stand firm under the sharp gaze of the lady of the house.

As Hua Yan walked on the road, she pondered how to deal with Cheng Qingqing in the future. While waiting for a car outside, she heard someone approaching from behind. Turning around, she saw Shangguan Ning.

"Are you here because of your mother's business?"

Shangguan Ning saw that Hua Yan was unharmed and her emotions were fine, so he relaxed and said, "No, I'm here to apologize to you on their behalf."

"Oh? Apologies work, then what do we need the police for?"

"I'll drive you back." Shangguan Ning was rendered speechless by Hua Yan's words and could only change the subject.

"No need, the car is here." Hua Yan intercepted a passing car and left without looking back.

This woman is becoming more interesting. Is she still the weak and simple-minded Hua Yan? How would Cheng Jie react if he saw her so confident, radiating brilliance all over her? Shangguan Ning smirked and turned back to entertain the guests in the banquet hall.

Upstairs, Mrs. Shangguan and Mrs. Cheng were discussing Hua Yan.

"This woman is quite eloquent," Mrs. Shangguan poured two cups of tea and handed one to Mrs. Cheng.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"She's just a low-class thing without manners," Mrs. Cheng spoke of Hua Yan as if she were a threat to be eradicated.

"But I noticed the few pieces of jade jewelry on her were quite valuable," even though her jewelry could only rival one or two pieces from theirs.

"I wonder whose bed she climbed into to get those."

Navigating between several guests in the banquet hall, Shangguan Ning saw someone who rarely attended such events. He wondered why he was here. Could it be that Cheng Jie helped to invite him? I heard that the Cheng family is currently cooperating with him. A visitor is a guest, and it's good to know him.

"Mr. Gao, we appreciate your presence at my mother's birthday banquet."

"Mr. Shangguan, you're too modest." Gao Ruqing had just returned from Myanmar and knew that Hua Yan would be here tonight. However, after looking around, he couldn't find her. "Could you please inform Miss Hua's whereabouts?"

"Miss Hua?" Shangguan Ning momentarily didn't understand which Miss Hua Gao Ruqing was referring to. Of course, he didn't think Gao Ruqing was looking for Hua Yan, as the gap between the two of them was as vast as that between the sun and a speck of dust.

"Miss Huayan, could it be that she didn't attend the banquet tonight?"

After pondering for a moment, Shangguan Ning still couldn't figure out why Gao Ruqing knew Hua Yan, and why his tone when mentioning her was more respectful than when speaking to himself. "Miss Huayan did attend the banquet, but she left early due to some urgent matter. If I may ask, how do you know Miss Hua Yan?"

"We are business partners, and I even had to beg her to cooperate with me. I have some urgent matters to attend to, so I must leave. Please forgive me for the abrupt departure, Mr. Shangguan." Gao Ruqing felt compelled to leave due to the urgency of the situation.

"Mr. Gao, no need to apologize. Matters are important. We'll have more opportunities in the future."

Gao Ruqing left in a hurry, while Shangguan Ning went upstairs to inform Cheng Cheng of this discovery. Upstairs, the Shangguan and Cheng families were gathered together. At that moment, Mrs. Cheng was telling Cheng Qingqing about Hua Yan's acquisition of the jade hairpin.

"This hairpin must be worth at least two to three hundred thousand yuan on the market. She's willing to spend quite a sum," Mrs. Cheng complained.

"Mom, why does this hairpin look like it's made from the same jade as the one I gave you, with the jadeite in it?" Su Konger said in surprise to Mrs. Shangguan.

"Are you sure?" Mrs. Shangguan was also surprised.

"Mom, my grandmother is very knowledgeable about this. I've learned most of it from her since I was a child. I can't be wrong."

"It must have been given to her by someone else. Otherwise, how could someone from her family afford such a valuable item in their current situation?" Cheng Cheng speculated.

"You might be wrong," Shangguan Ning interjected.

"Why?" Mrs. Shangguan asked, displeased.

"Just now, Gao Ruqing came by specifically to find Hua Yan."

"You mean the stone gambling master, also known as the biggest player in the national jade industry, Gao Ruqing?" Cheng Cheng couldn't believe it.

"Yes. According to Gao Ruqing, these jades might belong to Hua Yan herself, including the one my sister-in-law gave to mother."

"Huayan lives above a jade jewelry store. Could it be that she owns that store herself?" Cheng Qingqing suddenly said, surprising everyone.

"You mean the 'Twilight Pavilion' on H University Street?" Su Konger asked.

"Yes, that's the one."

"I did buy my hairpin from that store. Come to think of it, the owner of that store mentioned having a daughter in her twenties, and it seems like her daughter runs the store."

"Qingqing, you didn't know that Hua Yan is the owner of that store?" Cheng Cheng asked.

"I didn't know. Hua Yan never talks to me about her family affairs. But now I realize that the owner and Hua Yan look nothing alike. It's ridiculous that some female classmates at school even said that Hua Yan is the owner's mistress, which is truly laughable. Anyway, now that everything is out in the open, I'm going to find Hua Yan."

"She left because of something urgent," Shangguan Ning said. The others reacted with different expressions, remaining silent. Cheng Cheng, however, understood the situation better than Cheng Qingqing. He figured Hua Yan must have left because of an insult. Unfortunately, he got too engrossed in telling her stories earlier and forgot to inquire about it. He feared she might not treat him kindly in the future, for reasons he couldn't articulate, but he just knew.

Cheng Cheng, feeling frustrated, left promptly upon receiving a task, without lingering.