Chapter 222: Causing Trouble

Chapter 222: Stirring Up Drama

Ye Xiaoxiao smiled faintly. "Wasn’t I invited here to play my part in their charade? Everything I just said was the truth."

Bai Mengan cut in, "Yeah, they dare to do it but won’t admit it. I never expected Hao Yanyan to be so scheming—slipping money to Uncle and Auntie. Isn't that ripping off your play?"

Ye Xiaoxiao: "..."

"Of course, this is completely different from your situation. You cut ties because the Hao family abandoned you first."

Bai Mengan’s words were cutting enough to hit everyone.

If someone had thinner skin, that comment alone would be enough to end a friendship.

Ye Xiaoxiao scooped up a handful of sunflower seeds from the table and dumped them into Bai Mengan’s hands. "Shut up and eat."

Meanwhile, Hao Chengbing tracked down He Qiaoxiang.

He Qiaoxiang was busy entertaining her relatives when Hao Chengbing beckoned her over, annoyed.

"What is it? Can’t you see I’m busy?"

Hao Chengbing gave her the side-eye. "Did you give Yan Yan cash to hand over to the Ye family and cut ties?"

He Qiaoxiang was clueless what he meant.

"Who fed you that crap? But if Yan Yan did that, I’d be over the moon. I don’t want her associating with the Ye family. She’s got one mom and dad, period."

Hao Chengbing still eyed her skeptically. "So it really wasn’t you? Then did you know Ye Jianguo and his wife are in the capital right now?"

He Qiaoxiang’s smile faded. "What’s that supposed to mean? Are you planning to bring them here now? Or have you already invited them behind my back?"

Hao Chengbing couldn’t bring himself to recount everything that had just happened. Instead, he resignedly warned her, "Just be polite to Xiao Xiao later. Even if you hear something upsetting, don’t lose your temper."

He Qiaoxiang waved him off impatiently. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. I get it. I’m not a monster. Today’s my daughter’s big day—as long as you don’t bring certain people back to ruin it, I won’t pick fights."

Hao Chengbing left, still uneasy, his questions unanswered.

If it wasn’t his wife, could it really have been Yan Yan’s idea?

But Yan Yan had always been obedient. She wouldn’t do something like this.

While He Qiaoxiang remained oblivious to the murmurs at the banquet, Zhao Hongxia got wind of the rumors.

Zhao Hongxia’s sister-in-law, Xu Jianwen’s aunt, dragged her aside.

"Is this girl you hooked Jianwen up with even trustworthy? I heard she bribed her adoptive parents to keep them from attending the wedding.

Seriously, you should’ve thought twice about marrying into the Hao family. There are plenty of young girls around Jianwen."

Zhao Hongxia, busy hosting relatives as the mother of the groom, remained cheerful despite the comment.

"Come on, don’t stir up trouble now. If you had concerns, you should’ve said so earlier. The kids are already married—this is just Monday-morning quarterbacking."

Xu Xia frowned. "I’m just looking out for you. The young ones’ grudges don’t matter, but don’t let it tarnish our family’s reputation."

Zhao Hongxia reassured her, "It won’t, it won’t. But where did you hear all this?"

Xu Xia replied, "Xiao Xiao said it herself to Hao Chengbing. How’s that a lie?"

To be honest, Xu Xia still likes Xiao Xiao better.

That girl is fair-skinned, tall, and slender, with a pretty face. Any child of hers would surely be good-looking.

Zhao Hongxia initially didn’t think much of it, but upon hearing that Ye Xiaoxiao was also attending the wedding, she immediately grew anxious.

“Why is she here? Did she come to cause trouble on purpose? No one in our family invited her.”

Zhao Hongxia marched off to confront Ye Xiaoxiao.

Xu Xia stopped her. “You’re not planning to start trouble, are you? If we didn’t invite her, the Haos must have. She couldn’t have gotten in without an invite.

And it’s not just Xiao Xiao—the Lu kid’s here too. If you go looking for trouble now, you’ll only bring trouble on yourself.”

Zhao Hongxia: “But we can’t just let her spread lies.”

Xu Xia gave her sister-in-law a look of exasperation. “How do you know it’s a lie? What if it’s true?”

Their voices got a little louder, catching Xu Jianli’s attention.

“Mom, Aunt, what are you talking about?”

Zhao Hongxia turned to her younger son and snapped, “Go sit at the table with Ye Xiaoxiao and keep an eye on her. Don’t let her run her mouth.”

Xu Jianli: “Sister Xiaoxiao is here!”

Zhao Hongxia warned, “Today’s your brother’s wedding. Don’t you dare take their side.”

Xu Jianli: “Sister Xiaoxiao isn’t like that.”

Zhao Hongxia: “Just go. You’re always dying to be near her—why stall now?”

Xu Jianli ignored his mother’s attitude. As long as he could go see Sister Xiaoxiao, he was happy, so he hurried off.

The banquet hall had over thirty tables, with a long red carpet running down the middle and tables spaced far apart on either side.

As Xu Jianli made his way toward Ye Xiaoxiao, he happened to run into a few of Xu Jianwen’s friends.

“Jianli, it’s your brother’s wedding. You should sit with us and have a few drinks.”

One of the guys suddenly grabbed Xu Jianli’s arm.

For health reasons, Xu Jianli had never drunk alcohol, even at home.

So he refused outright. “It’s my brother getting married, not me. You can go toast him later.”

“You’re a grown man—don’t tell me you’re afraid of a drink. How about a smoke? A real man smokes.”

The dishes hadn’t been served yet, so the table only had a few bottles of liquor, candies, and cigarettes. The man picked up a cigarette from the tray and handed it to Xu Jianli.

“I don’t smoke.”

Xu Jianli was annoyed, but the man, Huang Zhi, was his brother’s childhood friend, and their families were close. He couldn’t just curse at him.

Deng Xuefeng smirked at Xu Jianli’s discomfort and said to Huang Zhi, “I know you’ve been gone awhile and are dying to cut loose, but why hassle the kid? Save it for the groom later.”

Huang Zhi pulled his hand back, lit the cigarette himself, and took a drag.

The puff of smoke made Xu Jianli recoil, so he took a step back.

"Your brother's former fiancée looked like an angel. I notice today's bride isn't her—is this one even prettier?"

Huang Zhi had been away in another city and wasn’t familiar with what had happened in the neighborhood over the past couple of years, so he spoke freely without restraint.

Seeing Xu Jianli didn’t respond, he continued, "Your brother really hit the jackpot. If he didn’t fancy her himself, why not let him hook the rest of us up with her? He shouldn’t keep all the luck to himself."

Xu Jianli’s face turned cold. Even if the other man was joking, his tone was too casual and disrespectful.

Deng Xuefeng also frowned. "Huang Zhi, you’re not even drunk yet—are you already spouting nonsense?"

Huang Zhi smirked carelessly. "I’m not drunk. I just can’t forget that young girl. Since Jianwen didn’t like her, why not let me have a little fun with her..."

"You disgusting pig!"

The moment Huang Zhi finished speaking, Xu Jianli swung a punch at him.

The man, who had just been acting like a refined scoundrel, now held his face in shock.

"You dare fucking hit me!"