Yan Xi raised an eyebrow. How did she not know she had sold the painting to Yan Xiao?
After Yan Xiao finished speaking, she cast a provocative glance at Yan Xi and then proudly said to Mu Qingxiang, "Grandmother, I know you like Jing Yan's landscape paintings the most. But she is very mysterious, and it's incredibly difficult to buy her paintings. I had to pull many strings to get this representative work."
Yan Xiao had said a lot, but her central message was that Jing Yan's paintings were hard to acquire, yet she had found a way to get one to make Mu Qingxiang happy.
Mu Qingxiang did indeed like Jing Yan, but she was very clear about Yan Xiao's true intentions.
Mu Qingxiang glanced at Yan Xi and Fu Yanting. Today was her birthday banquet, and she couldn't dismiss Yan Xiao's goodwill outright.
She said faintly, "Miss Yan is thoughtful. However, I haven't been sleeping well lately and don't have much energy to appreciate Chinese paintings."
Yan Xiao hadn't expected Mu Qingxiang to be so uncooperative.
She was trying so hard to please her, and Mu Qingxiang was being ungrateful.
Yan Xi, who had been silent, heard Mu Qingxiang's words and stepped forward, affectionately linking her arm with Mu Qingxiang's. With a proud smile, she said, "Grandmother, then you must have the calming tea I bought for you. That tea not only helps with sleep but also has the effect of beauty and maintaining youthfulness."
"Really? You're such a thoughtful girl." Mu Qingxiang and Yan Xi played along in unison.
Fu Yanting stood by, not interrupting them.
The more smug Yan Xiao had been moments before, the more embarrassed she was now.
She glared furiously at Yan Xi, thinking, "This bitch is everywhere."
If Fu Yanting hadn't been unconscious at the time, how could she have become the young madam of the Fu family?
Not only was she ungrateful, but she was also pushing her luck.
Yan Xiao's gaze, like a venomous snake, fixed tightly on Yan Xi.
Soon, the banquet began.
As the old madam of the Fu family, Mu Qingxiang had made significant contributions to the family and was a strong woman in the business world.
Many guests who had deep connections with Mu Qingxiang were present today. Ordinary businessmen who wanted to curry favor with the Fu family and attend her birthday were stopped at the door by bodyguards.
They couldn't get in at all.
It was only because of Yan Xi's presence that Kong Yalan and Yan Xiao were even qualified to attend such a banquet.
As the banquet commenced, Mu Qingxiang took the stage to give her speech.
Originally, the backdrop displayed images of Mu Qingxiang's youth, as she fought for the Fu family's empire. Suddenly, a commotion erupted from the audience.
The backdrop changed its style.
It started displaying highly revealing photos.
The woman in the photos was not Mu Qingxiang but a young woman.
Everyone felt a sense of familiarity with the woman, but they couldn't recall where they had seen her before.
When Yan Xi saw the photos on the backdrop, her face changed drastically.
Her complexion turned pale, and she hid in a corner, afraid of the pointing fingers and scrutinizing eyes.
The woman in the photos was her.
But Yan Xi had never taken such pictures.
She had no idea where they came from.
A sense of inexplicable fear washed over her.
"Now, in the eyes of the Fu family, you are a promiscuous woman who has lost her virtue. Yan Xi, if I were you, I'd be sensible, propose a divorce, and leave here. At least, you could preserve a shred of dignity for yourself."
Hearing the voice, Yan Xi knew who it was without looking up.
She glared at Yan Xiao and asked irritably, "You took these photos, didn't you?"
Although it was a question, Yan Xi was quite sure that only Yan Xiao was capable of such a despicable act.
"So what if I did? Fu Yanting has also seen those photos. Who do you think he'll believe, you or his own eyes? If I were you, I'd leave voluntarily to avoid everyone being embarrassed in the end."
Yan Xiao felt no guilt for her actions.
Instead, she became even more triumphant.
She wanted Yan Xi to be humiliated and then kicked out of the Fu family.
Back then, she was the one who was engaged to Fu Yanting.
Why should Yan Xi be allowed to stay by Fu Yanting's side forever?
When Fu Yanting was still in a vegetative state, Yan Xiao could accept it.
Now that Fu Yanting had woken up, Yan Xi's mission was complete, and it was time for her to step down.
It was Yan Xi's own fault for not being sensible. If she had divorced Fu Yanting earlier, Yan Xiao wouldn't have done these things.
"Yan Xiao, you are truly despicable. How could you do something like this? The person in those photos isn't me at all. Tell me, who is she?" Yan Xi's hands trembled with rage.
How could there be such a shameless person in this world?
Yan Xiao had committed such a disgraceful act, yet she could stand here and speak so brazenly.
Yan Xi, furious, raised her hand and slapped Yan Xiao.
The slap was hard, demonstrating the extent of Yan Xi's anger.
Yan Xiao covered her stinging cheek, but her mood was exceptionally good. Yan Xi's fury was merely because she knew her position as the young madam of the Fu family was unstable. Yan Xiao could understand Yan Xi's feelings.
However, Fu Yanting was never meant for Yan Xi; it was just Yan Xi's wishful thinking. Although she understood Yan Xi, she did not pity her.
From the moment she had usurped the position of the Fu family's young madam, she should have known that such a day would come.
"Who it is doesn't matter anymore. What matters is that Fu Yanting believes it's you, and that's enough," Yan Xiao said smugly, seeing how angry Yan Xi was.
"Yan Xi, you brought this upon yourself. If you had been sensible and divorced Fu Yanting the moment he woke up, none of this would have happened today."
"I was the one engaged to Fu Yanting, and in the end, I will be the one to firmly hold the position of the Fu family's young madam. You were merely a substitute who served him during his illness. Don't think too highly of yourself."
Yan Xi's heart raced, and her legs trembled.
Back then, the Yan family had threatened Yan Xi with Yan Yi's life, forcing her to marry Fu Yanting.
Now, seeing Fu Yanting awake, Yan Xiao had started to set her sights on him, pressuring Yan Xi to divorce him.
"Who gave you the right to be the Fu family's young madam?"
Yan Xi hadn't spoken, but Fu Yanting's cold voice cut through the air.
Hearing Fu Yanting's voice, Yan Xiao shivered.
She had done all this targeting Yan Xi, but she hadn't expected Fu Yanting to find her here.
How much of what she had just said to Yan Xi had he overheard?
Yan Xiao still harbored a trace of fear towards Fu Yanting.
At this moment, hearing Fu Yanting's voice, Yan Xiao felt as if she had seen a cold-faced demon, her hair standing on end.