Everyone wanted to see Tang Xiaomin get angry and make a fool of herself.
Tang Xiaomin looked at Nangong Shanshan and Lu Zelei beside her with a playful gaze.
"That's not right. Didn't Miss Nangong say that everyone attending today is unmarried? Why is Lu Zelei here? Could he be a 'male best friend'?"
The term "male best friend" sounded nice, implying a platonic relationship.
But put crudely, it referred to a man in an ambiguous relationship.
At that moment, Lu Zelei's expression soured, and he explained.
"Miss Nangong only invited me to perform as entertainment, Miss Tang. Please don't overthink it."
Tang Xiaomin nodded and smiled.
"I thought so. Someone of Miss Nangong's status wouldn't possibly be friends with someone in the entertainment industry like you."
"You!"
Tang Xiaomin's words hurt Lu Zelei's pride. He hated it most when these so-called upper-class individuals looked down on him.
"Does Miss Tang have some prejudice against the entertainment industry? I recall your brother, Tang Ye, is also in entertainment."
Lu Zelei fired a broadside, but so what?
Tang Xiaomin smiled calmly.
"Precisely because he's in that circle, we broke off ties long ago. After all, it's quite embarrassing to be associated with a brother like that."
Lu Zelei's face turned ashen.
He never imagined that Tang Xiaomin would drag her own brother down so readily just to retort to him.
She was indeed not an ordinary woman, and quite ruthless.
As Lu Zelei was about to say more, Nangong Shanshan interrupted him.
"Today is about everyone having a good time. Let's not let this minor issue cause any unpleasantness, Miss Tang, wouldn't you agree?"
Tang Xiaomin nodded and remained silent.
Lu Zelei turned to greet others, but his expression remained grim.
Was this how it ended? It seemed too simple.
Just as Tang Xiaomin felt something was amiss, a commotion arose in the crowd.
"Ye Die is here."
"What's going on? Why is she here all of a sudden?"
"Is she here to cause trouble for Tang Xiaomin?"
In the blink of an eye, Ye Die strode towards Tang Xiaomin.
"Ye Die previously tried to frame Tang Xiaomin by self-harming, but Tang Xiaomin outmaneuvered her instead. They have a deep animosity between them."
"Are they going to fight?"
"I bet Ye Die wins a dollar."
...
Tang Xiaomin glanced at Nangong Shanshan and saw a sly smile on her face.
It seemed Ye Die was her trump card for today.
As expected, she only dared to scheme from behind the scenes.
Just as everyone was speculating whether Ye Die would strike first with her hands or feet, an unexpected scene unfolded.
As Ye Die passed Tang Xiaomin, she paused and glanced at her, then quickly walked towards Nangong Shanshan.
Nangong Shanshan looked stunned. Just as she was about to turn away, Ye Die grabbed her hair and yanked her back, slapping her twice across the face.
"Bitch, you deliberately invited me here, and you want to use me as your pawn again?"
*Slap, slap!*
Another two slaps.
"Do you think you're so clever, scheming behind people's backs? Does it make you happy?"
"How does it feel to be hit like this!"
Ye Die's sudden outburst caught everyone by surprise, and the entire venue erupted in a uproar.
However, seeing Ye Die's disfigured face and her current frenzied behavior,
not only did no one dare to help, but they instinctively backed away.
Suddenly, someone pushed Lu Zelei, causing him to stumble forward.
When he turned his head, he saw Tang Xiaomin giving him a faint smile.
...
Seeing a man rush forward, Ye Die glared at him with hateful eyes.
"What, are you going to stand up for this bitch?"
Who was Ye Die?
She was the most esteemed young lady of the Ye family in Shanghai and the most doted-upon cousin of Ye Fengxing.
Even without much thought, Lu Zelei wouldn't dare to cross Ye Die.
But now, in front of so many people, if he retreated, how would others see him?
He had no choice but to put on a brave face, perhaps even gaining Nangong Shanshan's favor.
Lu Zelei boldly stepped forward and said sternly,
"Miss Ye Die, let's talk properly. Could you let her go first?"
Ye Die looked at the man before her with contempt, then shoved Nangong Shanshan towards him.
Lu Zelei instinctively caught Nangong Shanshan.
"Are you alright?"
Nangong Shanshan's face was red on both sides; anyone could see she wasn't alright.
Ye Die said dismissively, "Who do you think you are, daring to protect Nangong Shanshan? Or have you been deceived by her few words and are willingly taking the blows for her?"
"Ye Die, you're crazy!"
Nangong Shanshan glared back at Ye Die, unwilling to back down. Lu Zelei pulled her behind him.
"I simply can't stand seeing you bully people like this. If any woman present were being beaten by you, as a man, I would step forward."
Many people secretly admired him. Although Lu Zelei's makeup was flamboyant, he was quite manly.
To outsiders, it looked as if Lu Zelei was protecting Nangong Shanshan, and indeed, he was.
Ye Die had been confined to her home all these days. Only recently, after the issues were settled, was her confinement lifted.
Unexpectedly, Nangong Shanshan had someone call her and tell her about this banquet, and specifically mentioned that Tang Xiaomin would also be present.
Without a second thought, she knew Nangong Shanshan wanted to use her as a pawn again, and she wouldn't comply.
"Well said, you lapdog. Since you want to stand up for that bitch Nangong Shanshan, I'll grant you your wish and let you play the hero saving the damsel."
As soon as Ye Die finished speaking, she unleashed a fierce kick, striking Lu Zelei in the face.
Lu Zelei was immediately sent flying several meters away and then crashed heavily to the ground.
"Ouch..."
"Lu Zelei!"
Nangong Shanshan shrieked and rushed forward to check on Lu Zelei's injuries.
Good heavens, a bright red shoe print now marred his face; it wouldn't heal in less than a week.
This Ye Die was truly going too far.
Nangong Shanshan immediately dialed Ye Fengxing's number and explained the situation.
On the phone, Ye Fengxing stated that he would come over immediately.
While Nangong Shanshan was pleased, her heart was also pierced.
Whenever something involved Ye Die, Ye Fengxing would never stand idly by.
"Ye Die, I never notified you. I don't know what you're talking about."
Nangong Shanshan and Ye Die were sworn enemies; how could she possibly have notified Ye Die to ruin her own bachelorette party?
Ye Die did not believe Nangong Shanshan's explanation.
In her mind, Nangong Shanshan was a despicable person who only knew how to scheme from behind the scenes.
"Hmph! Others might not know you, but I do. If you didn't notify me, who else could it have been?"
"It must have been Tang Xiaomin! It's definitely her! Don't be fooled by her again; she's incredibly cunning!" Nangong Shanshan said agitatedly.