Chapter 62.

The banquet hall was brightly lit. The men and women inside were all dressed neatly and looked elegant on the surface. Qian Yirong lowered her eyes to hide the undercurrent in her eyes. She was not qualified to sit at the card table yet. She needed to lie dormant patiently. When she had accumulated enough experience to sit at the table, it would be time for her to act.

Qu Xueer exchanged a few pleasantries with the Mu family along with her family members, then found an excuse to leave. She didn't like this kind of conversation where every word was filled with hidden meanings.

After separating from them, Qu Xueer quickly found Qian Yirong and Xu Baiqing in the corner. She knew that these two people would definitely find an opportunity to get together.

"You guys really made it difficult for me to find you." Qu Xueer said with some complaints.

"I don't like this kind of occasion." Xu Baiqing showed a flattering smile on his face and took Qu Xueer's hand.

"Forget it. I won't argue with you. However," Qu Xue'er said, and couldn't help but look Xu Baiqing carefully from head to toe. She sighed and said, "You really put a lot of thought into your outfit."

"In order to look good in this dress, I haven't eaten since this morning." Xu Baiqing sighed. It's not that she didn't want to eat, but she was stopped. She just wanted to look so frail in this dress that it made people feel distressed.

"Are you crazy..." Before Qu Xueer could express her opinion, Qian Yirong spoke out with distress, "Can't you even tell me?"

When they were chatting just now, Xu Baiqing didn't mention this at all, so Qian Yirong had no idea that she hadn't eaten anything since morning. Although she noticed that Xu Baiqing's face was a little pale, she just thought it was caused by her physical weakness.

"...Actually, I'm fine..." Although Xu Baiqing was touched by Qian Yirong's concern for her, compared with the difficulties she had faced before, being hungry was nothing.

"What do you mean it's okay? Come with me." Qian Yirong glared at her unhappily. Man is iron and food is steel. Xu Baiqing's health was not good to begin with. If she didn't eat well, it would cause greater harm to her body.

Qian Yirong pulled Xu Baiqing out through the small door. The birthday banquet had not started yet, and there were only drinks in the banquet hall. However, Qian Yirong had been to the Mu family before and knew where the Mu family's kitchen was. In order to prepare the dishes for the birthday banquet later, there must be food in the kitchen now.

Qu Xueer also followed behind the two of them. She was more familiar with the Mu family than Qian Yirong. After all, their families seemed to have a good relationship and often visited other families to maintain relationships. So after leaving the banquet hall, Qu Xueer immediately discovered Qian Yirong's destination.

Soon the three of them arrived at the bustling kitchen. Compared to the elegant and generous banquet hall, the kitchen was much more bustling with smoke and fire. Soon someone noticed the three girls coming to the kitchen.

"Miss Qu, why are you here?" Compared to the unfamiliar Qian Yirong and Xu Baiqing, Qu Xueer was a familiar face, so he spoke to her.

"My friend is a little hungry, you..." Qu Xueer turned around and looked at Qian Yirong and Xu Baiqing and asked them what they wanted to eat.

"Let's make a bowl of chicken noodle soup." Qian Yirong said after thinking for a while.

"No problem, I'll make it right away. Miss Qu and your friends, please wait a moment." The man breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that it was a simple meal. It was not something complicated. There were chicken soup and noodles in the kitchen. It would not affect the preparation of the birthday banquet dishes and it would be ready soon.

He led the person to the side hall and sat him down. Just as he said, a bowl of delicious chicken noodle soup was soon prepared. When Xu Baiqing smelled the aroma of the chicken noodle soup, his stomach rumbled involuntarily.

Xu Baiqing blushed, covered his stomach, and looked at the other two embarrassedly. Qian Yirong quickly pushed the chicken noodle soup in front of Xu Baiqing, and her dissatisfaction with the Qian family became even stronger.

"Eat quickly." Qian Yirong said with concern. The Qian family didn't allow Xu Baiqing to eat, and her health was not very good. It was really too much.

"It's okay, it's still early and quiet here." Qu Xueer also comforted.

Xu Baiqing felt warm in her heart and began to eat noodles quietly. As her stomach was filled, warmth seemed to emanate from her body, gradually warming up her body which had felt a little cold.

"Huh." After finishing the noodles, Xu Baiqing let out a breath. His pale face gradually turned red, and his complexion became visibly better.

"Are you full?" Qian Yirong asked, as if she was not satisfied and asked again.

"Yeah." Xu Baiqing looked at her with sparkling eyes.

Qian Yirong suddenly felt a little embarrassed when Xu Baiqing looked at her like this. This scene flashed through her mind and she subconsciously looked away. Seeing this, Xu Baiqing's smile deepened.

Qu Xueer was speechless. These two people were oblivious to what she was doing. Were they flirting? Had her presence become so weak? It would be better for her to spend less time with them in the future, Qu Xueer thought to herself.

"Although I don't want to disturb your affection, we have been away from the banquet hall for long enough. It's time to go back." Qu Xueer said softly.

There was no such thing as affection. Qian Yirong wanted to object, but Xu Baiqing had already agreed, as if to acknowledge Qu Xueer's words, leaving Qian Yirong speechless and she could only wait to leave with them.

The three of them slipped back into the banquet hall through the small door. Xu Baiqing still wanted to stay with Qian Yirong, but Qu Xueer noticed that the Qian family was looking for her and reminded them, "It seems they are looking for you over there. It seems we have to separate for the time being."

Xu Baiqing looked over when she heard that, then frowned. She nodded. Given the Qian family's current attitude towards Qian Yirong, meeting her would only cause inconvenience to Qian Yirong. She didn't want to cause trouble for Qian Yirong, so she could only separate from her temporarily.

"Then I'll go first, and we'll find a chance to go together later." Xu Baiqing said.

Qian Yirong nodded and watched her leave. Seeing her being held by Qian's mother, who seemed to be saying some blaming words, Xu Baiqing just listened obediently with a gentle attitude, which made Qian Yirong feel uncomfortable.

"Every family has its own problems." Qu Xueer sighed.

"I won't watch it anymore. I will be Bai Qing's supporter in the future." Qian Yirong said firmly.

Qu Xueer looked at her in surprise when she heard that. From her perspective, although Qian Yirong's attitude towards Xu Baiqing could be described as indulgent and doting, this was the first time she had clearly stated in such words that she would stand on Xu Baiqing's side.

Qian Yirong and Qu Xueer were not idle afterwards. They talked with several people who Qian Yirong had previously identified as good partners, and they reached a preliminary intention to cooperate.

As for Xu Baiqing, Qian's mother took her to introduce her to other people, and Xu Baiqing only needed to follow Qian's mother obediently and speak as she asked. Most of the times Xu Baiqing received greetings with a friendly attitude, but not everyone gave face to the Qian family and Qian's mother.

"This is my daughter Bai Qing," Qian's mother introduced.

"Isn't the daughter of your Qian family called Qian Yirong? Where did this girl come from? Could she be an illegitimate daughter?" A man who had always been at odds with Qian's mother said sarcastically.

Although the Qian family had held a banquet before to introduce Xu Baiqing, everyone had their own guesses about what exactly happened. Some knew the details, and of course there were also people like this person who made random guesses.

"Bai Qing is my biological daughter, what nonsense are you talking about?" Qian's mother said with an ugly expression.

"Who knows? I've never heard of such a person suddenly appearing. What's going on? I'm afraid only you know the answer." This person sneered at Qianmu's words. These words could be used to fool outsiders like them, but he shouldn't take them seriously.

"You..." Qian's mother was speechless. If she had explained the situation clearly at the beginning, things wouldn't have turned out like this today.

"Madam, if you are talking nonsense without any evidence, can I think that you are slandering me?" Xu Baiqing spoke up. She didn't want to become an illegitimate daughter for no reason.

"How did I slander you? Everyone says so." Unexpectedly, Xu Baiqing would suddenly speak. The man was panicked for a moment, then pretended to be calm and said.

"I haven't heard anyone else say this, I only heard Madam say this." Xu Baiqing looked at her sharply.

She didn't expect Xu Baiqing to be so serious. She quickly looked around, trying to find other people to help smooth things over, but these people avoided her gaze. She was sarcastic because she had a grudge against Qian's mother.

But they had heard that the Mu family treated Xu Baiqing unusually, so they would not offend him if they could, and naturally would not run into her trap at this time.

"What do you want?" Seeing that no one spoke for her, the lady asked gritting her teeth.

"Apologize." Xu Baiqing said lightly.

"...I'm sorry." The man moved his lips and spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito.

"What?" Xu Baiqing didn't hear and asked.

"Don't go too far." The man said angrily, obviously not wanting to say it again.

"I don't think my behavior is as excessive as yours, madam." Xu Baiqing looked at her and said.

"I'm sorry, that's enough." Seeing Xu Baiqing's attitude of getting to the bottom of the matter, the man could only speak.

"I have received your apology. I hope that Madam will not believe some groundless rumors next time." Xu Baiqing said.

Xu Baiqing's tough attitude was also noticed by the people around him. Although they did not show it, they admired Xu Baiqing in their hearts. Compared with the cowardice of blindly tolerating, this kind of reasonable and well-founded resistance is more worthy of praise.

Qian's mother was also very satisfied with Xu Baiqing's response, but she still had to say what needed to be said. She pulled Xu Baiqing aside and told her that some people and some things can be treated toughly, but the situation needs to be judged. Some people don't like people who are too strong.

Xu Baiqing listened and couldn't help thinking to herself, I care about other people's likes and dislikes, which makes her uncomfortable, so of course she will fight back. If she can endure hardship, she will only cry endlessly, and if she can be wronged, she will only suffer endless grievances. However, she would not show what she was thinking, but just obediently said that she understood.