Chapter 74 The whole audience was in uproar
Pei Qinyue glanced at the waiter carrying the champagne tray, then at Xia Lili. He was now like a frightened rabbit, and he acted according to whatever instructions Xia Lili gave him.
Xia Lili stood up, stopped the waiter serving champagne, picked up a glass of champagne from the tray, and then suddenly twisted her ankle and her upper body hit the champagne tray directly.
“Crash—”
A whole tray of champagne glasses shattered to the ground, splashing wine and glass fragments everywhere.
Everyone looked towards Xia Lili.
Pei Qinyue looked at Xia Lili in shock. He didn't expect this girl to be so bold!
The hotel's trained waiter immediately apologized and checked Xia Lili's injuries. Xia Lili quickly shook her head and said to everyone, "I'm sorry, I didn't stand firmly just now."
The waiter was quite surprised that the lady didn't put the blame on herself after making such a fool of herself in public.
However, an unexpected person appeared.
Lin Jiaojiao supported Xia Lili and said to the crowd, "I'm sorry, this is Miss Xia's first time attending such an event, so she's a bit unfamiliar with it."
She was graceful and said to Old Lady Bai in a clear voice, "Old Lady Bai, please don't blame Miss Xia. She didn't mean it."
A dark light flashed in Lin Jiaojiao's eyes. Xia Lili, who came to the birthday party by relying on connections, caused such a big disaster, which would definitely make the old lady unhappy. It was said that Old Lady Bai was the most superstitious.
Xia Lili looked at Lin Jiaojiao who suddenly appeared, and almost wanted to list her as one of the suspects.
——"Oh, isn't it just a broken plate of wine? It's a good thing it was broken! May you have peace and happiness for years to come!"
The smile on Mrs. Bai's face didn't change at all: "Even if Lili broke our family heirloom jade, I would still smile and say it's okay."
Lin Jiaojiao's smile froze when she heard this, and she was extremely shocked.
Did Xia Lili and Old Lady Bai know each other? Judging from her tone, Old Lady Bai was even very polite to Xia Lili?
Old Mrs. Bai adjusted her reading glasses and stared at Lin Jiaojiao with a puzzled look: "But who are you?"
When Lin Jiaojiao was asked this question by Old Lady Bai in front of so many people, her face turned red.
"Mrs. Bai! I'm Lin Qide, and this is my granddaughter, Lin Jiaojiao."
A well-mannered old man in a Tang suit came up quickly.
Mrs. Bai looked at Lin Qide and thought for a while. "Oh, now I remember. You helped Sheng Tang draw advertising pictures last year, right? They were pretty good!"
"Yes, yes, yes." Lin Qide smiled flatteringly: "I am also holding a birthday banquet in Xuanji Water Palace today. When I heard that it was your birthday today, I brought my son and granddaughter to toast you~"
Lin Jiaojiao's father, Lin Zhi, quickly handed over his business card with both hands. "Lin's Textiles, Lin Zhi."
Tang Mingqian asked his assistant to take the business card and politely shook hands with the father and son next door.
"Let's put the toasts on hold for now. As the birthday boy at today's banquet, our whole family should toast our lucky star first."
Old Lady Bai said to Xia Lili, who was separated from the guests who were toasting, "Come, Lili, come here quickly."
Xia Lili was pulled by Qin Songxue and Old Lady Bai to join their family.
Tang Mingqian introduced her to the guests in a clear voice: "Everyone, this is a distinguished person from our Shengtang Group, the savior of my wife and my daughter, Miss Xia Lili. I ask that you all take good care of her from now on."
Old Mrs. Bai nodded quickly: "Yes, yes, this person is a lucky star."
A male waiter then brought back a tray of champagne, while a female waiter brought a glass of orange juice.
Xia Lili felt that the two people's eyebrows and eyes were familiar, and she recognized them at once. The boy was Xiao Luo and the girl was Leng Xiaohe.
Great! It looks like the police have taken control of the venue, so we can drink these drinks safely.
The waiter who came to clean up the broken wine glass and spilled liquid on the ground was also one of the police officers from their police station.
Xia Lili gave Pei Qinyue a nervous look.
"Come on, Lili." Qin Songxue handed the orange juice to Xia Lili: "If you don't like drinking, then drink orange juice, it's the same."
Annie also presented Xia Lili's painting. Xia Lili clinked glasses with Mrs. Bai and her family. "I painted a koi fish. I wish you good luck, longevity, and health. I also wish the prosperous Tang Dynasty many years of abundance."
Mrs. Bai quickly unfolded the painting. Although the koi fish on the scroll weren't as skillfully painted as a master, they were vivid and lively, very appealing. "I want to put this painting in my bedroom! I want to share in Lili's koi luck!"
"Hey, Mr. Lin, you're also a painter." Old Mrs. Bai looked at Lin Jiaojiao's grandfather and said, "Could you please comment on our lucky star's koi painting?"
Lin Qide took a look at Xia Lili's painting and immediately burst into praise, "Oh my, this koi is absolutely stunning! It's not meticulously drawn, but it's incredibly vivid. The swaying of the fish's tail and the flow of the water are just perfect. It's obvious she's talented!"
"The Yangtze River's new generation pushes the old generation forward. If Miss Xia can practice for a few more years, we old painters will be nervous!"
Xia Lili was so overwhelmed by the praise from her grandfather, the artist Lin Jiaojiao University was so proud of. She said, "Old man, you're too kind."
Seeing that her grandfather praised Xia Lili to the sky, Lin Jiaojiao remembered the sarcasm she and Tan Man had shown towards Xia Lili at the club door, as well as the sense of superiority she had displayed in front of Xia Lili when she was in college. Her face was so red that it was almost burning, and she really wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
After Mrs. Bai and her family toasted to thank Xia Lili, the guests took turns toasting Mrs. Bai and wishing her a happy birthday. They also tactfully toasted Xia Lili and handed her their business cards: "Miss Xia, if you need any help in the future, please feel free to contact us!"
After the guests finished wishing her a happy birthday, Xia Lili had already collected a stack of business cards that was almost as high as a mountain.
Qin Songxue smiled and asked Annie to help Xia Lili get the business card: "Lili, if you need any help in the future, just go to the person on the business card. Don't worry about any debts of favor, Sheng Tang will help you."
Xia Lili nodded obediently.
At this moment, the carved door of the Dragon Palace Hall was suddenly pushed open, and a noise came from the door.
Everyone's gaze involuntarily gravitated towards him—Li Qihan, dressed in a perfectly trim police uniform, his shoulders sharp as blades, striding in with several officers trailing behind him. His brows were stern, his steps steady and commanding, instantly quieting the noisy banquet hall.
"The police have received a confirmed tip-off that someone poisoned the banquet." His voice was deep, each word clear and without any unnecessary emotion. "The club is now completely sealed off. Everyone must remain where they are and cooperate with the investigation. Please do not leave without permission."
As soon as he finished speaking, the whole audience was in an uproar.
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