Lady Gu Is Too Weak To Fend For Herself Chapter 1694 Don't Smile At Other Men In The Future

Upon hearing those words, the guests rose one by one, staring at Yin Lianyi and Xia Chunyu with complicated looks on their faces. In the end, they steeled themselves and departed. Moments later, just a handful remained in the massive banquet hall.

Xia Chunyu's fury made her eyes redden as her voice sharpened. "Grandma, they've all gone to Qiao Xi's banquet. My birthday banquet is ruined!"

Yin Lianyi balled her fists, shaking with rage. Qiao Xi had clearly planned this!

One by one, guests flocked to Hua Xia Hotel, filling the banquet hall to the brim. Qiao Xi had foreseen this moment, maintaining a serene expression.

Once this banquet wrapped up, Qiao Xi's fame would sweep the capital. With members of the four great families gone, those rushing from First Class Residential swarmed forward, eager to apologize to her.

Yet Qiao Xi stayed shielded in Gu Zheng's arms, ignoring them entirely as she headed straight to the underground parking lot.

Xia Jingan trailed Qiao Xi to the parking lot, asking in a somewhat sorrowful voice, "You're not going back to the Xia family's residence?"

"If I go back now, they'll definitely look for trouble with me. Why should I invite trouble to myself?"

Qiao Xi's response made Xia Jingan refrain from pressing. He cautioned her once more, "I believe there'll be many rumors about you in the capital soon. If you have any difficulties, feel free to look for me."

Qiao Xi grinned and nodded. "Alright."

Watching Xia Jingan depart, Qiao Xi shut the car door, and the vehicle eased out of the parking lot.

Gu Zheng grasped Qiao Xi's hand, sliding a ring onto her slim, pale finger. The ring wasn't overly lavish, yet its design was intricate and distinctive.

"Mrs. Gu, you're already married, but you're unwilling to wear a ring. You must think that the rings at home are too exaggerated, so you don't want to wear them. That's why I specially custom-made this one." Gu Zheng gazed at her tenderly.

Qiao Xi truly wasn't fond of rings, but this one's diamond avoided excess flashiness. Still, it gleamed brilliantly like a star.

Gu Zheng had stayed mostly silent all day. Now slipping the ring on her, he clearly felt displeased seeing the capital's heirs crowd around her with gifts.

"Xi Xi, you didn't even look at me much tonight. You smiled more at other men." Gu Zheng inched closer to her. Those jealous words struck Qiao Xi's heart like a surge of electricity.

His slender fingers glided through her hair and across her cheek, finally resting on her lovely lips. Then, he leaned in and captured her lips fiercely. A hint of frenzy tinged his breath.

She pulled back instinctively, but he held her steady. His powerful arms pinned her securely, intensifying the kiss until Qiao Xi gasped for air. Her body turned limp and weak.

"Oh… Don't…" Qiao Xi's alluring voice mewed like a kitten's.

"You can't smile at other men in the future, much less neglect me." Gu Zheng broke off the deep kiss, brushing his lips against the corner of her mouth. His voice grew husky, laced with allure. The air began to warm.

Her lips tingled slightly; no mirror needed to know they had swollen. She shot Gu Zheng a resentful glare and huffed in anger. "How overbearing of you!"

The following day, buzz about the Xia family gripped the entire capital.

Qiao Xi, true daughter of the Xia family, enjoyed backing from Gu Zheng, the three major families, and Xia Jingan. Yet Old Madam Xia skipped her banquet to attend the adopted daughter's birthday celebration. The scandal raced across the internet, causing the Xia family's shares to plummet two percentage points overnight.

Inside Xia Corporation's headquarters, executives wore faces full of worry.

"Young Master, what should we do?! We lost so much money overnight. If this goes on, the Xia family will be doomed!"

Xia Jingan let out a cold laugh. "Since Old Madam Xia chose to side with Xia Chunyu, we should have expected this outcome. It's normal for the shares to fall."

Just as his words landed, Yin Lianyi and Xia Chunyu shoved the door open and strode inside.

"Get out!" Yin Lianyi commanded with an icy expression. The executives hurried out, leaving only the three in the room.

Once the meeting room door clicked shut, Yin Lianyi spoke deliberately, "Jingan, what did you just say? Are you blaming me?

"Although Chunyu was adopted, she has lived with the Xia family for so many years. However, Qiao Xi chose to hold a banquet on the same day as Chunyu. Isn't that blatant disrespect toward Chunyu?"

A vicious glint burned in Yin Lianyi's eyes. She had truly misjudged Qiao Xi. Never did she anticipate that Qiao Xi could summon such a horde of prominent figures to the banquet. She had taken Qiao Xi home at first to protect the Xia family's reputation, yet Qiao Xi's uproar had severely damaged it.