He wholeheartedly believed that Xie Ziyuan was a golden phoenix in the sky, but little did he know that she was just a pheasant painted with lacquer.

"You won't let this go until you give me an explanation!" She stood up angrily and pointed at Ding Huizhu's nose, cursing.

Xie Ziyuan's complexion had been poor ever since the selection banquet for Shen Linyuan began. Now, with a pale face, she looked at the domineering Madam Huo with a hint of impatience.

It took her more than a decade to finally win over Madam Huo's favor. But once she discovered that Madam Huo was not as useful as she had imagined, the other party turned on her without any regard for her feelings or self-esteem.

She calls herself a wealthy socialite, but she's not even as good as a shrew from the streets.

"Auntie, there's probably some misunderstanding here." Xie Ziyuan pursed her lips, ultimately deciding against a confrontation.

"Could you please help me explain this to Yun Tang? Today's coming-of-age ceremony is very important to me, and I hope he can be by my side."

Other matters can be planned for later; the Huo family cannot simply leave today.

They had already spread the news of the impending marriage between the Huo and Xie families, but today the Huo family abandoned her once again, which will only make her a laughing stock.

Xie Ziyuan didn't understand why things had turned out this way, and she also harbored a lot of resentment towards Shen Linyuan.

Didn't he say he wanted to repay her? Didn't he say she was his goddess? In the end, he turned a banquet into this mess, unable to even defy his own father. What a useless piece of trash!

Looking at Xie Ziyuan's pleading eyes, Madam Huo felt disgusted for the first time in her life.

She used to admire Xie Ziyuan's detached and indifferent temperament, but now, where is Xie Ziyuan's detachment and indifference? Isn't she just good at playing the victim?

"Yun Tang's condition for accepting the proposal is that today's banquet can be successfully held. But look at these few people, what kind of people are they?"

Madam Huo had never felt so humiliated in her life.

She always valued her status, and the banquets she hosted and attended were always of a very high standard, so as not to tarnish her status.

She had already spent a lot of money on Xie Ziyuan's birthday party last time, but the party didn't happen, and she was kicked out for standing up for Xie Ziyuan.

All the humiliations I've never experienced in my life were brought to me by Xie Ziyuan.

Xie Ziyuan's heart skipped a beat when she met the disgusted look in Madam Huo's eyes.

Feeling a growing sense of loss of control, she clenched her fists, struggling to maintain her composure: "Auntie, today was just an accident. You know my abilities better than anyone..."

Madam Huo brushed off non-existent dust from her clothes: "Then let's wait until you really have the ability to rally the entire elite circle of the capital to celebrate your birthday."

Ultimately, isn't it still the Shen family that's helping us now?

Xie Ziyuan's heart sank.

Ding Huizhu was both shocked and furious: "Zhao Linxiang! What do you mean by this! The marriage agreement was made a long time ago, how can you go back on your word?"

She and Zhao Linxiang were best friends in their teenage years. Although they occasionally had disagreements, they never really fell out.

Ding Huizhu never expected that Madam Huo would kick her while she was down at this time. In her anger, she spoke with condemnation.

Madam Huo gave Ding Huizhu a strange look. Now that she was more sober, she felt that Ding Huizhu was simply insane.

She ignored the hidden treasure in her home, instead doting on her adopted daughter and insisting on surpassing her biological daughter.

"What do you mean by breaking your promise? If Ziyuan is successful, the engagement will naturally continue." She didn't want to be too absolute, after all, Xie Ziyuan was quite capable in alchemy.