Chapter 18: I Am Not Your Wife

Father Xu’s previously smiling face darkened instantly.

"What do you think you’re doing?"

He glanced around, and seeing that everyone’s eyes were fixed on Lu Yao and Zhao Zihang, he grew terrified that Lu Yao would make a scene. He hurried to her side and whispered a sharp reprimand.

"Pick up that glass and apologize to Young Master Zhao immediately."

Was this wretched girl trying to deliberately make him lose face at such an important event?

The indignation on Zhao Zihang’s face vanished instantly at Father Xu’s words. He stood there, looking leisurely and comfortable, and began to straighten his clothes.

"Mr. Xu, it seems your daughter doesn’t like me very much?"

Zhao Zihang had heard the rumors. The Xu family’s company had been facing financial difficulties for the past few months and was scrambling for investments everywhere. As it happened, he had just received a significant sum of capital from his own father. If Xu Shenghai’s adopted daughter had only been sensible, he might have been happy enough to throw that investment the Xu family’s way. But now, it seemed there was no need for that.

"Not at all, Young Master Zhao, you’ve misunderstood," Father Xu said, quickly fawning over him.

He then turned to look at Lu Yao, his face instantly twisting into a vicious glare. "Did you hear me? Pick up the glass and apologize to Young Master Zhao this instant!"

Watching Father Xu’s groveling, servile display made Lu Yao feel physically nauseated. She stared at him coldly and spoke.

"If I refuse, are you planning to hit me?"

After all, by acting this way in front of so many people, she was certainly causing him embarrassment. Why would he ever let her off easily?

"You!"

Father Xu was indeed infuriated by her words. He raised his hand, ready to strike her across the face, but was stopped by her next sentence.

"It seems I guessed correctly."

Father Xu had indeed intended to hit her, but her words caused his hand to freeze in mid-air.

The people around them began to whisper and point at Father Xu and Lu Yao.

"This Mr. Xu’s daughter really has some guts. To embarrass her own father in front of so many people—I don't think anyone else in the Hong Kong circle would dare."

"Psh, what do you know? She isn't even the real daughter of the Xu family. Didn’t you listen closely when Father Xu introduced her? She’s just an adopted daughter they’ve kept for fifteen years."

"Do you know what an adopted daughter is? She’s just there for entertainment and amusement. It’s normal for her to have a bit of a temper; after all, plenty of people in this circle like that type."

By the end of the conversation, many wealthy merchants were casting suggestive and mocking glances between Lu Yao and Father Xu. Perhaps Father Xu enjoyed that sort of thing himself, which was why he had raised his adopted daughter to have such a personality.

Father Xu had never lost face like this in front of so many people before. Today, Lu Yao had stripped away both his dignity and his reputation. Furious, his hand, frozen in the air, was about to descend upon her face when it was interrupted by an elderly voice.

"Mr. Xu, you certainly have a grand display of power."

Old Master Huang, leaning on his cane, walked in from outside the banquet hall with his grandson. His cloudy, aged eyes stared directly at Father Xu, filled with mockery and rage.

A flash of surprise crossed Father Xu’s eyes before he quickly regained his composure, as if he had long expected Old Master Huang to come looking for trouble. Far from being flustered, he acted as if nothing were wrong and stepped forward to greet him.

"My apologies, Mr. Huang. I ran into a few acquaintances near Young Master Xiang’s side, so I came over here first. Please don't be angry!"

Father Xu’s words were incredibly clever; he used "acquaintances" as an excuse. The implication was that the only reason he hadn't brought his people to the birthday banquet first was because he had run into friends here and wanted to greet them before heading over to offer his congratulations. He hadn't expected the old man to come storming over with his grandson, which truly took him by surprise.

If Old Master Huang believed a word of what Father Xu said, he would be a fool. They were all seasoned veterans of the game—there was no point in playing such transparent tricks. Old Master Huang knew exactly what Father Xu was up to.

Everyone attending Xiang Zhihua’s jewelry banquet today was a person of high status, or at the very least, a wealthy merchant. Father Xu thought that by bringing his daughter, he could hook a patron or investor more powerful than the Huang family.

How pathetic! He didn't even stop to consider if the Xu family was worth it. Every company here was a major player; other than the Huang family, who would be foolish enough to invest in his sesame-seed-sized company and his daughter?

Did he really think he could get away with that and avoid the old man's anger?

"I’m already halfway into the grave; being ignored by others is nothing," Old Master Huang said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "But Mr. Xu, how is it that I’m only just now finding out about your habit of going back on your word?"

You wanted to latch onto someone else to save your company. Did you ask for my opinion, old man? Thinking he could force him to swallow this insult—not a chance.

Father Xu hadn't expected Old Master Huang to humiliate him in front of so many people. His face flushed a deep red. The old man’s words were clearly intended to show everyone Father Xu’s true colors, ensuring he would find no backers or investors and would eventually be forced to beg the Huang family for help. Now, who would dare to associate with Father Xu?

"Mr. Huang, what are you saying? How would I ever dare to do that?" Father Xu, seeing through the situation and feeling a surge of panic and regret, hurried to apologize. "I really did just run into a few acquaintances outside the banquet, so I didn't get to you in time. Please don't take offense."

"This is my daughter, Yaoyao."

Not wanting to remain deadlocked on this topic and face further humiliation, Father Xu pulled Lu Yao, who had been standing to the side, in front of Old Master Huang and quickly changed the subject.

"Look at Young Master Huang—so dignified and talented. He and my daughter are clearly a perfect match."

Father Xu’s ability to lie through his teeth was truly second nature. Everyone present could see exactly what Huang Chen looked like: entirely unremarkable, with drool running down the corner of his mouth as he giggled foolishly at the crowd. No one in their right mind would associate the words "dignified" or "talented" with him. Yet, to curry favor with Old Master Huang, Father Xu spewed these insincere words. It was truly exhausting to watch.

"Wife! Wife!"

As soon as Huang Chen saw Lu Yao being pushed forward, his eyes lit up and he shouted at her, causing many in the room to snicker.

Lu Yao, on the other hand, merely frowned. "I am not your wife!"

She stated the calm, objective fact to everyone present, her eyes devoid of even a hint of disdain or disgust.