No reconciliation, no forgiveness! Mr. Pei leaves with nothing.

Will everything change?

It was as if a demon resided in her heart. The voices within her made her wonder if she would be the one with Mr. Pei now if she had let go of everything and hadn't had so many concerns.

To become her Mrs. Pei?

"Alright, stop thinking about it. Quickly put on this dress that the lady sent and show it to your mother. See if my daughter is the most beautiful, and if she can outshine that lady."

Song Qingran: "Mom, Senior Jiang is really beautiful, and I don't want to compare myself to her. We should just live our own lives. As for Brother Yuanzhou, I'll find some time to talk to him about it."

“Being pretty doesn’t put food on the table. My daughter is the top student in the city, not much worse than those rich heiresses. You can only blame yourself for being born into the wrong family. Otherwise… you wouldn’t have suffered so much with your mother.”

"Okay, Mom, stop talking." Song Qingran closed the door, but she didn't see a figure standing in the corner. Lu Yuanzhou heard everything and clenched the things he was carrying tightly.

Ultimately...

She never let him go.

The family dinner that was scheduled for noon was moved to the evening because Jiang Hua slept in late last night and couldn't get up.

Jiang Hua, who didn't get up until 11 o'clock, leisurely did her skincare routine, put on a face mask, lay in bed, and played a game on her phone. Pei Zhan also rarely got up so late, wearing gray casual pajamas, and was the last to come out of the study.

There was a knock on the door. "Big brother, sister-in-law, are you... not up yet?" It was Huo Ling's voice.

Last night, it seems like it really took a long time.

"Almost there, I'll be downstairs in a bit."

"Well then, I'll go downstairs first."

When it was almost time, Jiang Hua removed the face mask and saw the hand reaching out from the bedside. She reached out and took his hand, using the leverage to pull him up. Without wasting any of the remaining essence, she smeared it onto his hand. "I changed the family dinner at noon to the evening at the last minute. Do you think she'll be furious?"

No matter what, Xia He is an elder. Jiang Hua had already blacklisted her because of her disrespectful words to her mother. She doesn't acknowledge all elders, especially such blind and stupid people.

"You don't need to care about anyone's opinion. I'll handle external affairs, and you'll handle internal affairs. You can meddle in the Huo family's internal matters if you want, or someone will take care of them if you don't."

"I don't want to get involved in your family's mess. Just leave me alone." Jiang Hua walked past him and went downstairs.

...

Xia He was already sitting in the car, ready to leave for Master Huo's mansion. Unexpectedly, the family banquet was changed at the last minute and moved to the evening. She was so angry that she trembled. "That Jiang Hua, she is deliberately trying to go against me."

Song Qingran had no idea what was going on. She was wearing an expensive custom-made white dress that looked ethereal. Her hair was styled in a slightly wavy style, and the necklace around her neck was also very expensive. Indeed, clothes make the man, and dressed like this, she did look like a wealthy heiress.

Seeing that she was angry, Song Qingran comforted her, "Aunt Xia, it's okay. Don't be angry, getting angry is bad for your health. Mr. Pei must have had something come up that delayed things, otherwise he wouldn't have suddenly changed the time."

"Or we should call Mr. Pei and ask if he's sick."

Aunt Zhong smiled and remarked, "I didn't expect Miss Song to care so much about the young master."

Song Qingran paused for a moment before smiling slightly and saying, "Mr. Pei, you've been very kind to me, so this small act of concern is only what I should do. Mr. Pei also suffers from headaches on rainy days; I wonder if he's feeling better now."

"Headache? Is that so?" Xia He was unhappy that he married Jiang Hua. She was angry, but she was helpless and could only let him be. She never expected that he would know so much about such a stubborn ailment.

Song Qingran: "Yes, I heard it from Brother Xiang Nan."

“He always just endures it and it passes. I don’t know if Mr. Pei is better or not. I wonder if his headache has flared up again, which is why the family dinner was changed at the last minute.”

Back at the Junlin Mansion, Xia He was worried and immediately called the Huo family's private doctor...

Three people are having a meal at Jinsha Shallow Bay.

At this moment, Kagel spoke up: "Master, Dr. Yan has arrived and says he needs to perform an examination."

Pei Zhan glanced at Jiang Hua and said, "Let him in."

Kagel: "Yes."

Dr. Yan, carrying a medical kit and accompanied by his assistant, entered the lobby. "Mr. Huo, please finish your meal first. I'll give you a check-up shortly to assess your basic condition."

Kagel: "Isn't it for the lady's examination?"

Dr. Yan was also taken aback. "Didn't Madam already have a follow-up examination at the hospital last time? Her condition was quite good. As long as she stays emotionally stable and takes the medication as prescribed, there shouldn't be any problems."

"I came here because Madam Xia said you have a headache problem, and she was worried about you, so she asked me to come and see you."

Huo Ling, standing to the side, asked, "Does Big Brother have a headache?"

Jiang Hua lowered her head and drank her soup without saying a word, appearing completely indifferent.

When Kagel spoke up, he said, "Master does have it, but the situation is not serious. Please go back and tell him that there is no need to worry."

Pei Zhan: "There's no need for the examination, I'm fine."

Dr. Yan: "In that case, I won't bother Mr. Huo any longer."

Just as Jiang Hua put down her spoon, the maid came to Pei Zhan's side with the phone. "Sir, it's your call."

Pei Zhan frowned: "Hang up." His tone was slightly cold.

After Jiang Hua finished eating, she got up and went to lie down on the sofa.

Huo Ling: "Was that a call from Mom?"

"Or maybe we should accept it."

Pei Zhan ignored him, and the maid, seeing her master's expression, also hung up the phone.

Unexpectedly, the call went directly to Huo Ling's phone.

Seeing the incoming call, Huo Ling couldn't refuse, so she had no choice but to answer.

"Hello, Mom. Is something the matter?"

Huo Ling pressed the speakerphone button.

Xia He's worried voice came from inside: "Where's your older brother?"

Huo Ling glanced at him, then got up and went to the sofa to find her sister-in-law's older brother. "My brother isn't here; he just went upstairs."

"How could your brother suddenly have a headache? If Qingran hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known..."

Startled, Huo Ling quickly picked up her phone, turned off the speakerphone, held it to her ear, and walked to a quiet place to end the call. She knew she absolutely couldn't mention Song Qingran's name in front of her sister-in-law; it was a taboo.

Jiang Hua overheard these words, but she remained calm and indifferent as always.

Not to mention, Xia He and Huo Ling didn't know, and even Jiang Hua, who had been married to him for two lifetimes, didn't know that Pei Zhan had a headache. It seems that Song Qingran really understands her husband better than she, his legal wife.

Pei Zhan explained to her, "That's not true..."

Jiang Hua lay on the sofa and looked at him. "Even if there is, what does it have to do with me? I'm not a doctor. Even if I told you, your illness won't get better overnight."

She looked away and said casually, "When you have time, go to the hospital for a checkup. If you're really dying, remember to tell me so I can find another family to remarry."

That's a thoughtless remark.

The banquet began in the evening.

The entire Huo family was waiting for the guests to arrive so that the banquet could begin.

Song Qingran stood nervously behind Xia He, looking at the people below the hall. She remained silent, not daring to make a sound. She had never seen so many important figures before. The aura emanating from these people was calm and composed. Whether it was their temperament or their speech, they all carried the aura of top-tier wealthy families.

She suddenly seemed insignificant among them, and she remained silent, trying her best not to be intimidated.

After all, anyone sitting here today could decide the life or death of the capital. They hold high positions and are far above ordinary people.

"Many years have passed, and you all haven't changed at all. Huo Qin, come here and let me see you. When I left the capital, you were just a tiny little thing. I never imagined that you would grow up so much over the years."

Huo Qin didn't move, only giving her a perfunctory glance before looking down and continuing to play with his phone.

The woman beside him glared at him, her eyes gesturing that Xie Meiling was Huo Qin's biological mother. The Xie and Huo families were all formed through marriage, and their unruly personalities were cultivated by her. Xie Meiling only had one son, who was also a domineering figure in the capital, so... she favored him more.

Huo Qin put away his phone. "Second Aunt, she hasn't changed at all."

"Is that so?" Xia He smiled, but the smile froze the next second.

Huo Qin: "Second Aunt, I didn't expect you to age so much after you got sick. You should really take care of your health."

Xia He: "It's really kind of you to worry about me."

After saying this, Huo Qin looked at Xia He, a perfunctory yet sarcastic smile curving his lips.

Seeing the atmosphere become tense and not wanting to make things too awkward, Xie Meiling changed the subject, "The car should be here soon, Huo Qin, go and see Third Grandfather and Fourth Grandfather."

"Okay, I understand." Huo Qin had long since wanted to leave, so he lowered his head and turned to leave.

The butler rushed into the inner room: "It's here, it's here... the car is here."

This is the first time that the collateral branch has attached great importance to this family banquet, using only the highest-standard dishes.

"Are you nervous?" Jiang Hua rested her hand on the car window, looking at the scenery outside, while he gently held her other hand. "Why should I be nervous? It's not like I've never been before."

When Jiang Hua was a child, she had attended many important banquets with her father and was used to being the center of attention. She had long been accustomed to it; it was just having a meal with a group of complete strangers and chatting about random things. Apart from being bored, there was nothing else to it.

Kagel: "Master, Madam."

"arrive."

As the car came to a smooth stop, the door opened, and Jiang Hua stepped out, lifting her skirt. She was dressed in a red, slightly Chinese-style outfit; the top was buttoned up to her neck, embroidered with exquisite gold thread patterns, and she wore a long red horse-face skirt that reached her ankles—a look of opulence and wealth. Jiang Hua was already beautiful and radiant; her eyes were lined with eyeliner, slightly upturned, giving her a sharper, more commanding gaze. Her noble aura, even a single glance, made her seem unapproachable.

Her long hair, styled in an updo, added to her dignified and gentle demeanor, truly befitting the role of the matriarch of the Huo family. On her ring finger, she wore the ring symbolizing the matriarch of the Huo family. The gemstone on her slender finger was large and easily visible, making her very conspicuous. In front of the entire Huo family, everyone was captivated by Jiang Hua.

She stepped forward gracefully and naturally took Pei Zhan's arm.

Huo Ling followed behind Jiang Hua as they approached, and the others quickly made way for them…

Upon entering the inner hall, there was already someone sitting there. The moment Jiang Hua and Xia He made eye contact, Song Qingran's figure caught their eye out of the corner of their eye, but they didn't give her a second glance.

Xia He raised her hand, picked up the teacup beside her, took a sip, and looked at Jiang Hua with disdain in her eyes. Seeing Jiang Hua's attire today, she was momentarily dazed, as if she saw Jiang Qingcheng from back then. Her fingertips trembled imperceptibly, but she quickly regained her composure and said, "Such a big shot. Arriving so late, making the entire Huo family wait for you."

"Today, I will teach you another rule: you must not be late for the Huo family banquet, and you must not act arbitrarily, understand?"

Jiang Hua: "Even if I arrive late, you'll still have to wait, don't you think?"

Xia He: "..."

"Alright, we've kept you all waiting for so long, let's not delay any longer and begin the meal."

Xia He's face instantly darkened, a surge of unvented anger stuck in her chest, leaving her with nothing but a cold expression.

After everyone was seated, Huo Ling sat next to Jiang Hua, followed by Xia He. The seat next to Xia He was empty. When Song Qingran was about to sit down, Jiang Hua spoke up, "When did the Huo family's banquet become so easy that a complete stranger could just casually enter the Huo family's gate?"

The stranger, speaking with a pointed remark, was referring not to anyone else, but to Song Qingran. He stopped pulling out his chair. Upon hearing this, Song Qingran's face flushed. She stood to the side, at a loss, feeling as if needles were piercing her as she watched the disdainful and mocking gazes of the crowd fall upon her.

The words stuck in his throat, and he couldn't utter a single sentence.

Xia He: "Qingran, I invited her. How come... you can't even tolerate a little girl?"

Jiang Hua smiled faintly: "Since this is a family dinner, there's no reason to bring outsiders. Don't you even understand this rule?"

"I thought you would know better than I do."

"Remove this lady's seat and arrange another table for her. Treat her well; after all, she is a guest, and we can't neglect her."

"Today is a family banquet, not a banquet for guests. It is against the rules for unrelated people to appear at the Huo family."

Jiang Hua looked at Xia He, smiling as she said, emphasizing each word, "Aren't you right?"

She used to talk about rules all the time, but now Jiang Hua's words left her speechless. She could only glare at her with gritted teeth, wishing she could see right through her, her eyes blazing with anger.

The surroundings were silent, yet the air was thick with the smell of gunpowder.

Jiang Hua: "What, do I have to do this little thing myself?"

Even when beating a dog, one should consider its owner. After all, this person was brought by Xia He herself, and the servants standing by dared not make any rash moves.

Pei Zhan: "Do as instructed."

As soon as the voice fell, the maid stepped forward and removed the extra empty seat and the extra set of tableware. After doing all this, an older maid walked to the stunned Song Qingran and said in a firm tone, "Miss, the mistress has spoken. Please come this way with me."