Chapter 6: An Opportunity Delivered to One's Doorstep

Qin Ze’s gaze was sharp as lightning, locking onto Song Xixi not far away in an instant.

He had finally caught this woman.

To think she dared to dump him—she really needed to be taught a lesson.

With that thought, he walked straight toward her. Wherever he passed, the crowd instinctively parted to make way for him.

Halfway there—

Zhang Xiuqing suddenly pulled Song Yanyan over to intercept him.

"Mr. Qin, it is truly our honor that you’ve come to attend Yanyan’s birthday banquet!" Zhang Xiuqing said, her face plastered with a sycophantic smile.

Song Yanyan looked at Qin Ze with bashfulness, a faint blush staining her cheeks.

Heavens, Qin Ze had actually come!

In person, he was even more handsome and dashing than in photographs, with an extraordinary presence.

This was the most eligible bachelor in Haicheng.

If she could be with him, she would become the most envied woman in the entire city.

She bit her lip gently and said in a dainty voice, "Mr. Qin, hello. Thank you so much for coming to my birthday banquet; I’m so happy."

As she spoke, she lowered her head, feigning shyness.

Qin Ze merely glanced at the mother and daughter indifferently, his brows slightly furrowed, his eyes filled with impatience.

These two were truly noisy.

He had originally intended to turn and walk away, but suddenly, he remembered the incident of being dumped by Song Xixi.

His brows knit together, and he stopped in his tracks.

The impatience on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a half-smile, his voice softening ever so slightly.

"So it’s Miss Song. You are exceptionally beautiful—unlike someone else."

Upon hearing this, Song Yanyan was overjoyed, completely ignoring who that "someone else" might be.

Her already rosy cheeks flushed even deeper, and she looked up, feeling flattered.

She hurriedly responded, "Mr. Qin, you are too kind. I... I am truly so happy. If you don’t mind, I... I would like to invite you to dance."

Qin Ze paused, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, and he reached out to take Song Yanyan’s hand.

As he led her toward the dance floor, he said, "How could I refuse an invitation from Miss Song?"

Song Yanyan clung tightly to Qin Ze, her body trembling slightly.

This scene naturally fell right into Song Xixi’s eyes.

Her heart tightened abruptly.

Although she maintained an indifferent expression on her face, her fingers clenched tightly.

Sure enough, everything had happened just as it did in the plot.

Ye Chunxi whispered in her ear, "Look at that green-tea sister of yours, she’s set her sights on the most valuable bachelor in Haicheng!"

Song Xixi curled her lips faintly and took a sip of the red wine she had just acquired.

It tasted inexplicably sour on her tongue.

It was much like the feeling in her heart.

She narrowed her eyes slightly, and it was a long moment before she said, "Let her be. I have no interest in worrying about her little schemes."

But despite her words, her gaze couldn’t help but drift back toward the dance floor.

Qin Ze and Song Yanyan were spinning in the center of the floor.

Song Xixi found the sight incredibly jarring, and her heart felt heavy, unable to find any joy.

A scumbag and a green tea together—it was a match made in heaven: "Fish finds fish, shrimp finds shrimp, and a turtle always picks a toad!"

They were a perfect fit!

As the dance ended, Song Yanyan flushed and pouted coyly, "Mr. Qin, I hate that it’s over. I hope I’ll have the chance to dance with you again later."

Qin Ze merely nodded slightly, his face still wearing that elusive, faint smile.

However, his eyes flicked toward where Song Xixi was standing.

This woman—she didn’t even have a reaction!

It seemed that in her eyes, he was nothing more than a meal ticket.

At the thought of this, he felt a suffocating tightness in his chest.

Zhang Xiuqing spotted Song Xixi and cast a downward glance.

She immediately plastered on a smile that looked kind but was actually full of mockery, and swayed as she walked toward her.

"Xixi, so you finally showed up," she said, deliberately raising her voice.

Many guests nearby had their attention drawn to them.

"Look at you, you rarely show your face to your own family, yet you decided to appear today. But now that you’re here, you really provide a stark contrast to Yanyan."

As she spoke, she looked Song Xixi up and down, her eyes filled with criticism.

"Look at Yanyan—for today’s birthday banquet, she’s arranged everything perfectly; she’s generous and poised. Then look at you, always with that cold, detached look. Who knows who you take after."

Song Xixi curled her lips.

This mother-toad was still using the same old tactics; she hadn’t grown at all.

She replied in a flat tone, "Mom, it seems you are very satisfied with my sister, but quite dissatisfied with me."

Upon hearing this, the smile on Zhang Xiuqing’s lips deepened.

"Oh, Xixi, don’t you wonder why, even though you are both my daughters, the difference is so vast?"

She paused deliberately, her eyes flickering toward the stage.

"Look at you, you arrive and hide in a corner; you don’t even take the initiative to greet people or build connections. How do you expect to establish yourself in this circle in the future?"

Ye Chunxi, listening from the side, couldn't hold back any longer.

Frowning, she said, "Aunt Zhang, Xixi doesn't want to cater to others, and there's nothing wrong with that. Why must you speak to her this way?"

Zhang Xiuqing glared at Ye Chunxi and said sharply, "Miss Ye, I am teaching Xixi; it is for her own good."

Then, she turned her gaze back to Song Xixi.

An exaggerated look of pity appeared on her face. "Xixi, you see, you were never as likable as Yanyan, so you must seize opportunities yourself. Look at Mr. Qin—so many noble heiresses in Haicheng would give anything for a chance to get to know him, and he came today specifically for Yanyan’s birthday banquet."

At this point, Zhang Xiuqing deliberately watched Song Xixi’s expression.

Seeing her face change ever so slightly, she felt immensely smug.

Song Xixi curled her lips into a faint, mocking smile. "Mom, you’re right. My sister’s ability to win Mr. Qin’s favor is her own skill. I have no intention of clinging to anyone; I am only concerned with how to survive."

Since this was an opportunity delivered to her doorstep, she might as well use it.

Hearing this, Zhang Xiuqing’s face suddenly turned ugly.

She had hoped to embarrass Song Xixi with those words, but she hadn’t expected the girl to be immune to them. Instead, she had turned the tables to mock her and Song Yanyan.

Just as she was about to retort—

Qin Ze strolled over slowly, looking at them with a half-smile.

His gaze lingered on Song Xixi’s face for a moment. "Mrs. Song, the banquet is quite lively. What’s this? Are you busy lecturing the Fourth Miss Song here?"

As soon as Zhang Xiuqing saw Qin Ze, she immediately switched back to her sycophantic expression.

"Mr. Qin, I was just concerned that Xixi is still immature, so I was giving her a few words of advice. I only hope she can improve herself."

Qin Ze’s eyes remained fixed on Song Xixi, a playful smile on his lips.

Song Xixi gave him a cold glance.

By now, the number of onlookers had grown.

Qin Ze let his gaze wander over her as he said in a deliberately casual tone, "Mrs. Song, the daughters of the Song family truly each have their own temperament."