After spending the entire day preparing to meet Madam Shen, Lu Xinyi hadn’t eaten much, but she had taken plenty of drinks earlier. It didn’t help that she felt being scrutinized by strangers. She could feel that someone’s eyes were set on her, watching her every move.

It was probably her imagination, but she could almost feel those eyes watching her from afar. Lu Xinyi listened silently to Shen Xue and Xiao Lan while they waited for their food to be served.

“You are reduced to Xinxin’s chaperone?” Xiao Lan teased Shen Xue when she met the two at one of the balconies near the ballroom.

She had started calling Xinyi as Xinxin when she found her friend playing with her two Akita dogs like a little girl. Who wouldn’t feel moved at the sight of it? Lu Xinyi had a bright smile, clearly enjoying her day with her pets.

“Me? A chaperone?” Shen Xue scoffed. “I’m just doing a favor for my brother, and besides, everyone knew that I’m the most eligible bachelor here.” There was a smug expression on his face as he adjusted his coat.

“Except that you don’t have a woman with you.” Xiao Lan pointed out.

“You wicked witch! I have a girlfriend!” Shen Xue paused as if hesitating to continue. “But she’s in the future!”

“Ah, at least you still have a hand to accompany you every night,” Xiao Lan retorted with a grin.

“Geez, do you really have to talk about it while I’m here?” Lu Xinyi pinched the bridge of her nose and took a deep breath.

What the hell was wrong with these people?! They had forced her to become a proper lady, and yet they were talking like this?

“Big Sis, I’m innocent! See? It was Xiao Lan who started it.” Shen Xue felt wronged. He didn’t imply anything bad but was chastised by his Big Sis.

Seeing that it might take time before their meals are served, Lu Xinyi excused herself to use the restroom. Xiao Lan had offered to accompany her.

“It looks like you’re having a good time. Did Grammie give you her approval?” Xiao Lan asked while reapplying her lipstick.

“Yeah, it was great. I mean, I was worried at first, but Shen Yi being there beside me helped me a lot. I’m really glad she didn’t outrightly reject me. But Shen Yi pretended that he was a block of ice the whole time so…”

Snorting at her friend’s comment, Xiao Lan carefully rearranged back her underskirt and fluffed down the rest of her dress, making sure that everything was on their right places.

Just as they finished their business, Lu Xinyi sighed before stepping out the room with Xiao Lan, murmuring some gossips she heard earlier. She abruptly stopped when she noticed her aunt, Sun Ruying, and her cousin, waiting for her at the hallway near the ballroom.

“What do you want?” Lu Xinyi grimaced. She’d hoped Shen Xue was looking for them by now. She couldn’t possibly make a scene in this important event that her husband’s family was hosting.

Sun Ruying pulled on Lu Xinyi’s arm, making her winced in pain.

“You slut! What are you doing here?! You don’t belong here. Do you have no shame at all? You paraded yourself as a mistress of some rich man that spoils you.” Sun Ruying berated her harshly, her eyes ablaze as she glared at her niece. Since Lu Xinyi was the daughter of her half-sister, Sun Ruying didn’t feel the need to talk to her kindly.

“Xinxin!” Xiao Lan exclaimed when she saw her friend being cornered by the Sun family. Why couldn’t they give Lu Xinyi a break?!

Lu Xinyi didn’t let her aunt intimidate her and met her eyes straight on. Her hand gestured Xiao Lan to leave and ask for someone’s help before the situation gets worse.

Her Aunt Ruying had always been like this since she was young, throwing insults whenever she gets a chance to humiliate Lu Xinyi and her mother. Sometimes Lu Xinyi thought that she was luckier to be an only child than to have a half-sister like her Aunt Ruying.

Lu Xinyi ignored her aunt’s harsh words. She had been accustomed to her aunt and her cousin’s mean words and maltreatment ever since her mother died. She tilted her chin upwards, infuriating the older woman further.

Did her aunt have some guts to attack her while they were within the Shen’s territory? Lu Xinyi hoped her aunt wouldn’t try to do it because she knew her husband’s temper by now. Shen Yi would do something to get even to those who would dare to bully her.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Auntie. I was invited to this charity gala, and I received an official invitation.” Lu Xinyi refused to be embarrassed, especially at this place.

“Liar! I saw you the other day with another man! Shopping with you, buying you expensive gifts. Are you going to deny all of it? Didn’t you say you wouldn’t leave that Gong guy just for money? And yet here you are, trying to fit in, selling your body to a rich businessman for the sake of money.” Sun Ruying looked at her niece with contempt and resentment.

“This coming from a woman who seduced my mother’s supposedly fiance? You, who had―”

Of course, Lu Xinyi knew the truth about who fathered Sun Qiyan. She would never doubt that this mean woman had spared no efforts to seduce the man that was set to be married to her mother. If it wasn’t for Sun Ruying, Sun Meixiu wouldn’t meet Lu Xinyi’s father anyway.

Before Lu Xinyi could finish her words, Sun Ruying slapped her hard on the face.

“Lu Xinyi! Is this how you should talk to your elders? Your mother surely didn’t teach you some manners!”

Lu Xinyi’s face was burning in pain. She lowered her head, her eyes filled with disdain and hatred.