With a single sentence, Guan Baocheng made his relationship with Jiang Xuxu clear to everyone present.
His voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough for the surrounding guests to hear. Their eyes immediately filled with a bit more politeness and warmth when looking at Guan Baocheng.
The foster parents of the Jiang family's eldest daughter weren't they effectively the Jiang family's benefactors? Benefactors of the Jiangs were certainly people to be befriended.
Even without looking around, Guan Baocheng could feel the friendly gazes from all directions and knew he had achieved his goal.
What he didn't notice was Jiang Yucheng's face, which darkened the moment he heard those words.
Jiang Yucheng had been planning to have the security guards quietly escort the Guan family out the moment he noticed them. He hadn't expected this man to be bold enough to approach them directly before he could make the arrangements.
They were all veterans of the business world; the moment they came face-to-face, the other party's motives and schemes were clear as day.
Old Master Jiang's expression remained unchanged, a smile still hanging on his face. At first glance, the old man seemed incredibly kind and easy to talk to.
"So, these are Xuxu's foster parents. Speaking of which, Xuxu has you to thank for taking care of her all these years."
"Think nothing of it," Guan Baocheng said with an overly polite air. "You're too kind, Elder Jiang. If we had known Xuxu was a child of the Jiang family, we would have sent her back much sooner."
"Oh?" Elder Jiang looked up with a mild-tempered gaze before suddenly turning to Jiang Yucheng. "The Guan family raised Xuxu, making them honored guests of our house. Yucheng, take them upstairs and entertain them properly. We mustn't neglect our manners."
Jiang Yucheng had wanted to get rid of the Guans for a while now. Upon hearing this, he immediately stepped forward. Guan Baocheng, however, understood the hidden meaning behind the old man's words perfectly.
If he were taken upstairs now, how could he use the presence of the other guests to squeeze benefits out of the Jiang family?
He hurriedly spoke up, "Speaking of which, the Guan Corporation had just finalized a partnership with the Jianghai Group a few days ago. I know Elder Jiang probably wanted to give us a hand for Xuxu's sake, and I came here today specifically to express my gratitude. If my subordinates have done anything wrong during the negotiations, I hope the Jianghai Group can be magnanimous."
Guan Baocheng knew better than to openly humiliate the Jiang family in such a setting. He only mentioned that they had finalized a deal, omitting the part where the Jiangs had unilaterally canceled it. By providing a convenient excuse for the cancellation blaming it on his subordinates he was signaling that since the air was cleared, the cooperation should continue.
Jiang Yucheng saw right through him. Guan Baocheng was banking on the occasion to thoroughly bind the Guan family to the Jiangs.
With the guests watching, even if Jianghai Group didn't follow through with the deal, other corporations looking to curry favor with the Jiangs would likely extend an olive branch to the Guan Corporation.
Jiang Yucheng was not about to tolerate such behavior.
"You must be joking, President Guan," he said in a low, cold voice. "The cooperation between Jianghai Group and the Guan Corporation was canceled long ago. As for why, I believe your wife and daughter are well aware of the circumstances."
Guan Baocheng hadn't expected Jiang Yucheng to be so blunt. Hearing him mention Bai Shuqin and Guan Ruirui, he cursed his wife and daughter in his heart. However, he maintained a panicked and surprised expression, speaking earnestly, "President Yucheng, there must be some misunderstanding. I am truly sincere about wanting to work with the Jianghai Group."
As he spoke, he turned to look at Jiang Xuxu, who had remained silent. "Xuxu, say a word for your father."
Seeing him try to drag Xuxu into this, Jiang Yucheng's face sank as he stepped in front of her. "President Guan, Xuxu is my daughter."
Beside them, Bai Shuqin couldn't help but speak up as well. "Xuxu, it wasn't easy for our family to raise you. Please, say something."
These few sentences were calculated to put Jiang Xuxu over a slow fire.
After all, this was the Guan family who had raised her. It was often said that the debt of upbringing was greater than the debt of birth. If Jiang Xuxu showed even a hint of coldness toward the Guans in this setting, her reputation in high society would be completely ruined.
After all, who would like someone who abandoned their foster parents the moment they recognized their wealthy biological father?
Guan Ruirui had been waiting for this moment. Surprised that her father had reacted even faster than her, she stepped forward with a pleading look. "Sister, Mom and Dad always treated you like their own daughter. You can't just ignore us now that you have your real father."
As the gazes of every guest in the hall converged on them, Bai Shuqin began to sob. "I know you've returned to your biological family, but Baocheng, Ruirui, and I are your family too. I don't believe I ever let you suffer while you grew up, so why have you become like this?"
The Guan family members spoke one after another, prompting the surrounding guests to whisper among themselves. The veteran businessmen remained silent, but some of the more "righteous" juniors had already lost the good impression they initially had of Jiang Xuxu. Some even spoke up to condemn her.
"Even if she's been taken back by the Jiang family, the Guans still raised her. Doesn't Miss Jiang think it's wrong to treat her foster parents this way?"
"I think President Guan's family seems quite respectable. There's really no need for Miss Jiang to avoid them like the plague."
Jiang Yucheng's expression was grim. Just as he was about to retort, he felt a tug on his arm.
It was Jiang Xuxu. She gently pulled him back and stepped forward. Her exquisite, cold face showed no trace of emotion as she glanced at the people who had just condemned her. Then, her almond-shaped eyes shifted toward the Guan family.
Without a word, she began to remove the sleeve cover from her right hand.
The crowd watched in confusion as she pulled it off and raised her pale, slender arm. There, on her upper arm, was a prominent, ugly scar.
Jiang Xuxu looked at Bai Shuqin and spoke coldly.
"When I was seven, Guan Ruirui accidentally fell into the water. When Mrs. Guan arrived and saw that I was standing safely on the bank, she shoved me into the water. You said that because your daughter suffered, I should suffer as well. This scar was caused by a sharp stone on the bank when you pushed me. You should remember that."
At those words, the members of the Jiang family whipped their heads around to glare at Bai Shuqin. The guests in the hall were also struck with disbelief, unable to even grasp the logic behind such an action.
Bai Shuqin's eyes flickered with guilt, but she forced herself to stay calm. "That... that was because you accidentally fell yourself. How could you say I pushed you?"
Jiang Xuxu remained unruffled and continued, "When I was ten, Guan Ruirui was injured and needed a blood transfusion. Even though the hospital had sufficient stock, you grabbed the nurse and insisted she draw my blood for Guan Ruirui. You said it was because we were sisters, and that she would recover faster if she used my blood."
The guests were speechless. What kind of bizarre logic was that? Even an elementary school student knew that as long as the blood type matched, the source didn't matter. They began to wonder if Mrs. Guan suffered from some sort of cognitive impairment.
Jiang Yucheng, however, was already shaking with rage. These were things that even a private investigation would never have uncovered.
But Jiang Xuxu's next words left the entire room stunned.
"When I was little, I didn't understand why every time Guan Ruirui met with misfortune, you would make me experience the same bad luck or demand that I stay by her side to care for her. Later, I found out the truth.
It was because Guan Ruirui was born with a weak fate pattern and naturally attracts calamities. You only raised me because you valued my fate pattern you wanted to use my life to ward off calamities for her."
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