Chapter 21: 021 Matronly Style

Mo Zhixuan didn’t speak, he simply watched everything happening downstairs with great interest.

The voices of condemnation got louder and louder, and Zhou Keting’s face grew increasingly pale.

A pampered and spoiled young lady from a wealthy family, when had she ever encountered such hostility? In that moment, she could only turn her pleading gaze to Qian Jiayi, after all, it was for Qian Jiayi’s sake that she had spoken so rashly.

To the side, Qian Jiayi ignored Zhou Keting’s plea for help, even deliberately moving to maintain a safe distance from her.

What a fool, not filtering her words through her brain. Tonight’s attendees were all nobility and high-ranking officials; it would be bad if she implicated herself.

Seeing this, Chu Jin’s lips curved into a faint smile. She had thought their friendship was so solid, yet it turned out to be nothing more than this.

Just as Zhou Keting was feeling utterly disheartened, Zhao Yiling stepped forward gracefully, a dignified smile gracing her face, giving off the air of a family matriarch, "Ladies, I’m terribly sorry. My younger sister is too young and spoke recklessly. I hope you won’t take offense and give her a chance to correct her mistakes."

As she finished speaking, she slowly bowed, "I apologize to all the ladies here on her behalf."

Beautiful, dignified, magnanimous, and with a sense of the bigger picture—this was the impression the noble ladies got of Zhao Yiling for the first time.

As soon as Zhao Yiling’s words fell, looks of admiration immediately came from the crowd. It was never a significant matter to begin with, only that Zhou family’s young lady lacked tact, standing there like a stick, not knowing to apologize.

Now that someone with a sense of the bigger picture had stepped forward, they naturally were willing to let it go.

Otherwise, it would seem like they were being overly petty, especially since they were all figures of status.

Zhou Keting immediately cast a grateful look at Zhao Yiling, her face pale as she murmured softly, "Sister Zhao..."

At that moment, Zhao Yiling was her last lifesaver.

Zhao Yiling smiled lightly and, seizing the opportunity, grabbed Zhou Keting’s wrist with a caring sisterly demeanor, softly saying, "Come, Sister Zhou, quickly apologize to the ladies."

With a pillar of support, Zhou Keting immediately steadied herself, bowing deeply, "It was my fault for speaking without thinking, please forgive me, ladies."

The noble ladies all very generously chose to forgive Zhou Keting.

Meanwhile, voices of praise emerged from the crowd as well.

"Truly worthy of being a daughter of the Zhao family; such poise and grace are not something ordinary people can compare with."

The others nodded in agreement.

Not far off, Li Ruyu and Zhao Shendong both nodded in satisfaction. Li Ruyu’s gaze seemed to accidentally land on the railing of the second floor, her lips curling into a smug smile.

That was a rather good viewing spot.

If she wasn’t mistaken, just now Li Hanjiang had been standing there.

Qian Jiayi bit her lip in annoyance, regretting why she hadn’t offered a helping hand to Zhou Keting earlier.

Otherwise, she would have been the one receiving praise now.

Chu Jin raised an eyebrow slightly; it seemed Zhao Yiling did have some brains after all.

A farce had come to the most perfect conclusion.

Chu Jin casually picked up a glass of red wine, the red liquid looking quite attractive under the illumination of the crystal lights; she lowered her gaze and gently sniffed at the rim of the glass.

An ’82 Lafite; the Zhao family indeed spared no expense.

The atmosphere in the banquet hall remained oppressive, so Chu Jin began to walk towards the hotel’s back garden for some fresh air, knowing that it would be at least half an hour before the Zhao family patriarch would show up, according to the progression of the banquet.

Having left the banquet hall, Chu Jin walked towards the back garden. She hadn’t gone far when a mocking female voice came from behind her, "Chu Jin! Stop right there!"

Turning around, she saw a furiously angry Zhou Keting.

"What’s it?" Chu Jin’s lips formed a slight curve, "Miss Zhou feels she hasn’t lost enough face? Ready for another round?"

That curve was too bright and too flamboyant.

It made Zhou Keting’s eyes almost burst into flames. If it weren’t for this vile girl, how could she have lost face in front of those noble ladies tonight?

Accustomed to bullying Chu Jin, she didn’t think twice before raising her right hand, intent on teaching Chu Jin a harsh lesson.

Chu Jin slowly lifted her eyes, her red lips parting gently to exhale two words, "Idiot."

Then she raised her right hand, catching Zhou Keting’s descending wrist, and with a gentle twist, there was a ’crack’.

The sound of a dislocated bone.

Having done this, Chu Jin dusted off nonexistent dust from her hands, glanced sideways at Zhou Keting, and said indifferently, "If you don’t want your hand to remain useless, better save your energy and make a trip to the hospital!"

Then she turned and left.

Zhou Keting watched Chu Jin’s retreating figure with hatred, cradling her right arm with her left hand. The sudden excruciating pain twisted her features in an instant.

She couldn’t understand how someone who had been useless for 18 years could suddenly possess such explosive power.

If a wastrel could display such poise, then she truly had no place in Capital City from now on.

No sooner had Chu Jin turned around than she froze the next second.

Her gaze landed on the two figures walking towards her.

One was austere and commanding, his kingly aura impossible to resist.

The other was gentle and refined, as soothing as a spring breeze.

At this sight, Chu Jin immediately stopped in her tracks, turned swiftly, and walked briskly to the side, annoyed at herself for running into this person wherever she went.

She never should have gone to the back garden for a breath of fresh air!

Li Hanjiang stroked his chin, muttering to himself, "Do I really look that frightening?"

Why did this girl react as if seeing him was like seeing a ghost?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read