This banquet is so private that Grandfather's main purpose is to persuade the Shen family not to cancel the marriage.

The gentle tone suppresses any retorts.

In the hall, my parents are dealing with Old Master Qi while I step out for some fresh air.

As I turn the corner, I come face to face with Jiang Ying.

Her fair and pretty face still carries unwillingness and stubbornness.

She bites her lip, tears welling up in her eyes. "Miss Shen, are you feeling proud?"

I ignore her and try to walk past her.

However, she grabs my arm tightly. "Qi Yu would rather die than break off the engagement with you. Are you feeling proud? For the sake of you, he is willing to mistreat me and deny me any position. Is this your clever plan? Pretend to call off the wedding, so Qi Yu, who loves you but can't have you, can easily make you the rightful Mrs. Qi. Is that it?"

I look at her and see that, from the dream, she is not a simple and innocent person. Even those few plots were all orchestrated by her intentionally or unintentionally.

But now, I can only feel sorry for her.

I ask her, "Standing here now, questioning me like this, what identity do you have? What qualification?"

Her face turns pale, tears streaming down. She cries with a pitiful look, "Yes, I have no qualifications. I am a hidden substitute, a despised lover. But do I deserve it? I love him, is there something wrong with that? Just because I have no money, no power, no family, no background, I cannot be a suitable match for him, so I deserve this humiliation from all of you?"

Humiliation?

I roll my eyes in silence. Qi Yu, you really are a perfect match for your own mess.

"Let go!" I say coldly, trying to free my wrist from her grasp.

However, in the next second, Jiang Ying, for some reason, stumbled and crashed into the handrail behind her, and fell down the stairs.

I stand frozen in place, my limbs cold and uncontrollable.

In the dream, the image of Jiang Ying falling down the stairs, covered in blood, rushes into my mind.

I snap back to reality and see Jiang Ying, who has fallen down a few steps, lying on the ground without any blood.

"Shen Shuyi! What are you doing?"

Qi Yu enters the room and sees the scene before him. His gaze sweeps over me, filled with undisguised anger and disgust.

Jiang Ying tugs at his pants leg and shakes her head. "It's not her fault. I just wanted to apologize to Miss Shen. It's all because of me that you've had such an unpleasant quarrel. But it seems like Miss Shen... doesn't want to listen to me."

Qi Yu, with a cold face, helps her up and says sharply, "What are you apologizing for? Who let you take matters into your own hands? You haven't done anything wrong to her."

He looks at me and says, "It's actually you, Shen Shuyi, who has gone too far. You should apologize to Jiang Ying."

I walk down the stairs, laughing uncontrollably. I raise my chin and say, "Didn't she say I humiliated her? I just fulfilled her wish. Let me warn you, next time you come near me, it won't be as simple as falling down the stairs."

Qi Yu grabs hold of me and pulls me closer, disappointed. "Shen Shuyi, you weren't like this before. When did you become so unreasonable?"

I nod. "Yes, yes, you're right. I'm extremely malicious. Both of you should stay away from me. Go as far away as possible."

Jiang Ying leans towards Qi Yu, slightly trembling, and looks at me with a timid expression. She adds, "I'm sorry..."

I glance at her and turn around to leave.

Halfway through, I can't contain my anger.

I turn back, raise my hand, and slap Qi Yu twice.

The sound of the two slaps echoes loudly in the spacious hall.

Qi Yu touches his face, looking at me with disbelief.

I pause for a moment and then say, "Are you fucking crazy? I've only gone abroad, not died. Whyare you getting engaged to someone else? And why do you think I should apologize to her? She's the one who caused all the trouble in the first place!"

Qi Yu's expression changes from disbelief to anger. He grabs my wrist tightly and says through gritted teeth, "Shen Shuyi, watch your words. You have no right to insult Jiang Ying. She has always been innocent and kind."

I yank my wrist out of his grip and retort, "Innocent and kind? Is that what you call someone who deliberately tried to sabotage our relationship? Don't be so blind, Qi Yu. She's been playing you this whole time."

Jiang Ying interrupts, tears streaming down her face. "No, that's not true. I never wanted to sabotage your relationship. I just... I just wanted you to notice me, to see how much I love you."

Her words only infuriate me further. "Love? Is this how you show love? By causing misunderstandings and trying to break us apart? You're delusional."

Qi Yu's face turns red with anger. "Enough! I won't tolerate you insulting Jiang Ying anymore. She has been nothing but kind and understanding. You, on the other hand, have changed. I don't know who you've become, but I can't be with someone who treats others with such disrespect."

I feel a mix of anger and hurt. How could he believe Jiang Ying's lies so easily? "Fine, if that's how you feel, then maybe we shouldn't be together. But mark my words, Qi Yu, you'll regret this decision."

Without another word, I storm out of the hall, leaving Qi Yu and Jiang Ying behind.

As I walk away, I can't help but wonder how everything went so wrong. Was it all just a misunderstanding, or did Qi Yu truly fall for Jiang Ying's manipulations? Either way, I can't let myself be dragged down by their toxic relationship. I need to focus on myself and move forward, leaving them both behind.