Chapter 867 Eagerly Trying to Please My Ningxi

Xia Ningxi didn't know what to say to her.

They could only stand by and remain silent.

Fu Mingyan seemed to have found an outlet for her anger, and she rambled on and on, saying a lot of unpleasant things, leaving Zhou Fenglin speechless.

But Zhou Fenglin didn't want to give up so easily, with so many guests watching.

Seeing Ling Xiao beside her, Zhou Fenglin laughed: "You're with Mr. Ling now, aren't you? That child should be taken to the Ling family and have the Ling family surname. Old Master Huo wouldn't be so stupid as to let a child with a different surname inherit the Huo family's property."

After a pause, Zhou Fenglin smiled and asked Ling Xiao, "Mr. Ling, I see that you and Ning Xi have a very good relationship. When do you plan to get married?"

"This is my private matter," Ling Xiao said politely.

Zhou Fenglin: "We're all family. What's this about private matters? Although I'm not related to Ning Xi by blood, I'm still her stepmother. We're family. It's not unreasonable for me to tell you that the wedding date is set."

“I’ve never heard of you before, and I suppose Ning Xi isn’t familiar with you either. Although she’s rich and powerful now, you don’t need to feel inferior or try to curry favor with Ning Xi.” Ling Xiao adopted a condescending attitude and began to reprimand her.

Zhou Fenglin's face turned green. "Mr. Ling, you're joking! How could I possibly try to please her?"

"You invited her to the birthday banquet just to take this opportunity to curry favor with her?" Ling Xiao feigned surprise, his face full of suspicion.

Zhou Fenglin felt worse than if she had swallowed a fly. She never expected that Ling Xiao, a grown man, would have such a foul mouth, comparable to that bastard Li Yancheng.

Xia Ningxi is really lucky. Even after leaving Huo Nanxiao, she still has men protecting her. If Wanwan and Luoluo could also have people who genuinely protect them, why would their family have to put up with Xia Ningxi's attitude?

The more Zhou Fenglin thought about it, the more he hated Xia Ningxi, wishing he could tear her to pieces.

Zhou Fenglin said, "Xia Ningxi is a member of the Xia family, and will always be a member of the Xia family. I asked her to return to the capital to attend her stepmother's birthday banquet. How could she refuse?"

"We're all family, so let's not stand on ceremony. I'm very pleased that Mr. Ling wants to protect Xia Ningxi, but please remember that this is the Imperial City, not Ling City, nor is it your Ling family's territory!"

She left angrily after throwing down a sentence.

The other guests all looked at Ling Xiao, curious about his reaction.

They thought Ling Xiao would be furious and fight with the Xia family to stand up for Xia Ningxi, but Ling Xiao just smiled contemptuously and suddenly didn't take Zhou Fenglin seriously. He treated almost everything she said as a joke.

There's really no need for someone of his status to argue with Zhou Fenglin; it's pointless and would only lower his own standing.

Xia Ningxi remained calm, unperturbed by honor or disgrace.

The two looked exactly like a couple who understood each other perfectly, each more composed than the other, exuding an aura of unapproachability, looking down on any ant.

The guests who were waiting for Xia Ningxi and Zhou Fenglin's family to fight were disappointed that they could not see a violent brawl.

Similarly, they also noticed the difference between Xia Ningxi and Xia Wanwan.

One is composed and noble, the other frivolous and vulgar—the difference is like heaven and earth.

Xia Wanwan, who was already unlikable, became even more detestable in comparison to Zhou Fenglin, all because she had such a low-class and unsavory mother who hated her.

Despite it being the Xia family's home turf today, their situation is extremely difficult.

Even the onlookers who were completely oblivious to the dispute noticed something amiss.

Helian Jue sipped his wine, listening to the discussions not far away, and said to Fu Xiyu, "Is this going to be quite a scene today? Have the Xia family lost their minds? How dare they invite Xia Ningxi here?"

“They are a family, why can’t Xia Ningxi come?” Fu Xiyu retorted.

Helian Jue: "Xia Wanwan's family has done something dishonorable, which is enough to make them unable to hold their heads up in front of Xia Ningxi for the rest of their lives."

“It’s all in the past, and the parties involved haven’t said anything,” Fu Xiyu said, dissatisfied.

Helian Jue looked at him thoughtfully, his mind unspoken.

Ji Feibai: "The Xia family really shouldn't have invited Xia Ningxi. Everyone is treating them like monkeys right now."

Jin Mingxi: "They're quite bold. It seems they want to take advantage of Xia Ningxi, but they didn't expect Ling Xiao to come along."

"The Ling family is the richest family in Lingcheng, and Ling Xiao is the eldest son, so his status and position are quite extraordinary. Xia Ningxi is very lucky, with a constant stream of suitors around her." Ji Feibai couldn't help but sigh.

A beauty of Xia Ningxi's caliber is not uncommon. Others may have good looks but lack talent, but Xia Ningxi has both good looks and talent, and is a member of a world-class medical team. She is a top talent and would be highly sought after anywhere.

Wealthy and prestigious families prefer to marry this type of person.

Ling Xiao probably took a liking to Xia Ningxi because of her status and was interested in her, which is why he treated her so well.

"There was news a while ago that they were together. Did you guys see it?" Ji Feibai was very gossipy.

Jin Mingxi nodded: "I saw it. I heard it happened at a charity gala. Nan Xiao was there too, and the scene was quite awkward. Nan Xiao didn't speak to anyone for three days after he came back because of this. I guess he was angry."

"It seems Ling Xiao is serious." Ji Feibai was full of surprise.

Jin Mingxi also found it somewhat believable: "I also feel that his attitude towards Xia Ningxi is unusual."

Everyone was engaged in a lively discussion, talking amongst themselves, completely unaware that Huo Nanxiao and Xia Wanwan had already approached.

Every word they said reached Huo Nanxiao's ears, and he couldn't pretend he knew nothing.

"Nan Xiao, you're hurting me." Xia Wanwan's hand was being squeezed very tightly by him, and she frowned in pain.

Huo Nanxiao released his grip and walked towards the princes.

Ji Feibai quickly got up and poured him a drink: "You're back. Did you go to greet Xia Ningxi? As soon as Ling Xiao appeared, everyone at the banquet was scrambling to curry favor with her."

"And then?" Huo Nanxiao asked coldly.

Ji Feibai said, "Ling Xiao and Xia Ningxi's relationship is definitely not ordinary. Could it be that these two have been together for a long time?"

These words struck a nerve with Huo Nanxiao!

They knew each other and got together a long time ago, and not only that, they even got married!

What angered Huo Nanxiao the most was not that Xia Ningxi had secretly remarried, but that this second husband had become her only one.

As a man, Huo Nanxiao understood better than anyone why Ling Xiao had come to the Imperial City with Xia Ningxi.

He wants to use this opportunity to get a permanent position so that his identity can be made public.

In the future, no matter what news the Ling family releases about Xia Ningxi, no one will be shocked; instead, they will take it for granted.

"Why are you so concerned about her?" Huo Nanxiao scolded Ji Feibai.

Ji Feibai: "I'm curious. Aren't you curious? Or did you already know they were together? By the way, you were meeting with Ling Xiao in Lingcheng all along. No wonder you're so calm."

"Eat yours." Huo Nanxiao's eyes held a deep, unfathomable look.

Ji Feibai: "Why are you angry? It's a great thing that they're together. You don't need to worry about Xia Ningxi changing her mind or her turning around and causing trouble for you and Xia Wanwan."

"I think she's living a pretty carefree life. She can live quite comfortably without you. Who knows, she might even be able to attend their wedding soon."

Ji Feibai became more and more excited as he spoke, but then Huo Nanxiao stuffed a whole apple into his mouth, choking him up and leaving him unable to utter a single word.

He choked for a while before recovering, his resentment surging. He pulled the apple out of his mouth and asked Huo Nanxiao fiercely, "What are you angry about? Aren't I telling the truth? Their marriage is inevitable, why are you getting angry? If you're so capable, then stop them from getting married!"

"Young Master Ji is joking." Xia Wanwan quickly interrupted him with a glint in her eyes. "Mr. Ling is an independent person. We outsiders have no right to interfere with who he wants to marry. The same goes for Ning Xi. Nan Xiao won't care who she marries."

Ji Feibai said, "Not necessarily."

"I believe in him." Xia Wanwan held Huo Nanxiao's hand, her tone very firm.

My palms were sweaty from that handshake.

Huo Nanxiao looked down at her. Xia Wanwan, who was pretending to be calm, was already soaked in sweat, and her palms were trembling uncontrollably.

She was afraid. She was afraid that Huo Nanxiao would rush to Ling Xiao's side in a fit of anger and snatch Xia Ningxi back, and she was even more afraid that Huo Nanxiao would abandon her and remarry Xia Ningxi regardless of everything.

Therefore, Xia Wanwan did not want anyone to mention Xia Ningxi in front of Huo Nanxiao, even if these people were Huo Nanxiao's friends.

The young men looked at Xia Wanwan with strange eyes; they could all tell she was putting on a brave face.

But apart from Fu Xiyu, no one else had any empathy for Xia Wanwan, nor did they care whether Xia Wanwan would be sad. They only knew that Huo Nanxiao's divorce from Xia Ningxi was due to Xia Wanwan's scheme.

Huo Nanxiao could have had a complete and happy family, with harmony, a son and a daughter, and the whole family could have lived happily together forever. But now the entire Huo family has long been torn apart.

The Huo family's reputation plummeted, with the elders using Huo Nanxiao as a negative example, and Xia Wanwan becoming the talk of the town.

Huo Nanxiao was the pride of the capital city, possessing immense wealth. He shouldn't have been dragged down by Xia Wanwan, but because Xia Wanwan was better at pretending than Xia Ningxi, he was forcibly dragged down from the position of the legal wife by Xia Wanwan.

Everyone's watching Xia Wan's evening gown.

Huo Nanxiao did not answer Xia Wanwan's question immediately, but he inadvertently pulled his hand away from Xia Wanwan's grasp. It was a very subtle action that was so small that it was almost negligible, but everyone noticed it.

The expressions on everyone's faces became even more complicated.

Xia Wanwan was stiff all over, too nervous to say a word. She bit her lip and remained silent, her eyes reddening.

Fu Xiyu quickly tried to smooth things over: "Enough, Fei Bai, what nonsense are you spouting? Nan Xiao is already married, he couldn't possibly have wronged Wanwan. Besides, today is the Xia family's day, you know what you should and shouldn't say! If you really don't know what to say, go outside and get some fresh air."

Ji Feibai found it very funny. He actually understood everything, but he didn't deliberately expose it.

Everyone knows that Xia Wanwan deliberately schemed against Huo Nanxiao, pretending to be pitiful and weak, and even threatening suicide from time to time, which is why Huo Nanxiao agreed to marry her.

But such a marriage could not last, and Huo Nanxiao knew this better than anyone else.