Chapter 609: 609, putting on a brave front?

“You don’t have a choice! It is high time for men to marry and women to be wed. You’re turning 24 soon, it’s time for you to get married.”

“Why aren’t you urging my brother? He’s already close to thirty!” Huo Zhexi grumbled.

Mingzhu laughed with brilliance, “If you were as outstanding as your brother, I wouldn’t be pushing you to get married.”

Zhexi: “…”

Suddenly, his phone rang, and he immediately picked it up, “I’ll step out for a bit.”

“Leaving again? Can’t you behave for once?” Mingzhu was furious.

“I’ll be right back!” Zhexi cheerfully bounced off.

Su Wanwan shook her head and started eating.

She was extremely hungry, prioritising filling her stomach first. There were performances on stage, which probably meant the beauty contest would proceed without her involvement.

Thinking this, she picked up a pig’s foot and began to devour it.

Suddenly, a murmur of conversation rose. Wanwan raised her head, so startled that the pig’s foot in her chopsticks dropped.

She turned her head to look.

Indeed, Mingzhu had an equally unpleasant look on her face.

Because Huo Zhexi had surprisingly brought Bai Ruwei with him.

Compared to all the women in attendance today, Bai Ruwei’s ensemble was overly simple.

A straightforward black dress cinching her waist, a pair of black high heels, a touch of light makeup, with no extravagant accessories.

At first glance, she seemed indeed… out of place.

Especially with her blatantly anxious expression, her head down, utterly lacking confidence.

When they took their seats at the table, Huo Zhexi grinned and announced, “This is Xiaowei, my girlfriend.”

Mrs. Huo barely glanced at her before shifting her gaze to Mingzhu, “Mingzhu, what’s going on?”

Isn’t this that waitress from last time?

Bai Ruwei kept her head down without uttering a word.

Mingzhu stared at Bai Ruwei.

She could not stand Bai Ruwei’s unrefined demeanor and spoke rudely, “Zhexi, what’s the occasion today? Why did you bring her?”

“Today is Valentine’s Day. What’s wrong with bringing my girlfriend?” Zhexi lifted his chin, showcasing a look of defiance.

Just as Mingzhu was about to lose her temper, her husband held her back.

Huo Juncheng laughed, “Now that you’re here, let’s eat something first.”

With the Ming Family dominating the guest list, it wouldn’t be prudent to cause a scene and become a laughingstock for the relatives.

Zhexi immediately smiled as well, and gently reassured Xiaowei, “See, my parents are welcoming you as long as you show up.”

Bai Ruwei bit her lip and stayed silent.

“Big brother,” Xing Siqing couldn’t help but pipe in, “Isn’t she the waitress from the restaurant last time? So you are really together?”

“None of your business.” Zhexi glared at Siqing impatiently.

Siqing stopped talking.

But Mingzhu’s look turned even gloomier.

Suddenly, a thunderous applause erupted.

On stage, the host announced, “Next up, let’s welcome the princess of Ming family, Ming Hailan, to perform a piano solo for us. ‘Sometimes, When it Rains’. Let’s give her a warm round of applause!”

After the resounding applause, Hailan took the stage in an elegant, mint-green dress. She gracefully took her seat at the grand piano and began to play.

As the melodious sound of the piano filled the room, Siqing spoke up again, “It’s clear that Granny Ming is playing favorites!”

Huo Qinyu was taken aback, “Siqing, what are you talking about?”

“Am I wrong?” Siqing pouted, “Every year, they say that every female in the family can compete for the Charm Goddess. But each year, a woman from the Ming family wins. Mom, haven’t you noticed? Whoever performs on stage every year ends up being crowned the Charm Goddess! You’ll see, tonight’s Charm Goddess will definitely be Hailan. They have her playing the piano now just to score extra points!”

“That’s enough. No one talks as much as you do,” Qinyu interrupted her impatiently.

She didn’t harbor much desire for that Charm Goddess award. She knew her daughter’s temperament well.

Participating in the pageant each year was mainly a formality.

Given that the Huo family and the Ming family were related by marriage and both dealt in the jewelry industry, even if they didn’t win, it wasn’t bad to maintain a closeness within the family.

Moreover, as a daughter of the Huo family, Huo Qinyu was also a member of the Mingli Association, and did their share in supporting the foundation.

But then Siqing chipped in again, “I’m just upset on behalf of my future sister-in-law.”

“What do you mean?” Wanwan asked.

Siqing earnestly expressed, “Because you look beautiful today, if there was a vote for Charm Goddess, I believe you would definitely be the winner!”

Su Wanwan: “…”

Hehe.

Are you really that kind-hearted?

While speaking, Ming Hailan’s piano performance on the stage had just ended.

She rose, elegantly holding up her skirt, politely bowed to the audience, then picked up the microphone by her side, “Today is not only the tenth anniversary of the Mingli Association, but also a Valentine’s Day in the west, so next, I want to invite Sister Siqing to perform a program with me.”

The spotlight swept over the Huo family’s table.

“I’d better not. I don’t play any musical instrument.” Xing Siqing hurriedly declined.

“Sister Siqing, don’t be modest. There happens to be a violin here. If you don’t perform with me, who else could?”

As if it was rehearsed in advance, Xing Siqing immediately said, “Violin? Let my sister-in-law show you all a hand then?”

As soon as sister-in-law was mentioned, everyone turned their attention.

It was Huo Jingshen’s first time to bring Su Wanwan to a family gathering tonight, which was already a hot topic. Hearing that she was going to perform, naturally many people were excited to see it happen.

Su Wanwan looked at her with a slight frown, “There are so many guests here today, and I’m not very good at playing the violin. It’s better not to embarrass myself.”

Xing Siqing almost burst into laughter.

Not very good? How fake!

You must not be able to play at all!

She laughed and said, “My sister-in-law, you are too modest. I’ve heard that you’re talented and have won first prize at the school party. Since today is Valentine’s Day and big brother is here, why not cheer everyone up with a performance.”

After saying that, she started to cheer, “Does everyone want to listen to my sister-in-law play the violin?”

The people who loved to watch the excitement echoed, and some even started to clap.

Su Wanwan sneered in her heart.

This little slut.

She’s all of sudden so polite to me, turns out she was laying trap and expecting me to jump in?

Huo Qinyu who was beside her spoke up, “Siqing, can you stop making a fuss?”

“Mom, how am I causing a fuss? Today is Valentine’s Day, and it’s my sister-in-law’s first meeting with Grandma Ming, after receiving such a warm invitation from Hailan, it would be a disappointment not to accept.”

Heh.

She would disappoint everyone if she didn’t accept?

Su Wanwan smiled, simply stood up and said, “Alright, since Miss Ming invited me so warmly, and it happens to be Valentine’s Day today, I’ll perform a piece. But I hope you all understand, I may not play very well and I hope nobody will laugh.”

Xing Siqing was overjoyed inside, she exchanged a glance with Ming Hailan on the stage, and shouted loudly, “A big round of applause to welcome her!”

All people immediately clapped their hands.

Mrs. Huo frowned and asked her grandson in a low voice, “Ashen, can Wanwan play the violin?”

After all, Su Wanwan had always given her the impression of being pretty, lively, and active since she married into the Huo Family!

There didn’t seem to be any connection with her and talents at all!

Huo Jingshen elegantly held his wine glass, “She probably can.”

“Huh?” Mrs. Huo was stunned, “What do you mean by probably?”

Huo Jingshen still had a calm expression, “If she couldn’t, would she dare to go on stage?”

Mrs. Huo thought, well, my grandson made a fair point.

But when Su Wanwan got on stage and a waiter handed her a delicate violin, she put the violin on her right shoulder.

The crowd immediately burst into laughter.

Mrs. Huo covered her presbyopic eyes, feeling unbearable to watch.

She didn’t care if her daughter-in-law had any talent or not, as long as the young couple had a good relationship, there was no need to fake it, right?

It looks like they are determined to make a fool of themselves tonight!

The people at the table felt somewhat embarrassed.

Xing Siqing covered her mouth, trying to hold back her laughter.

Only Huo Jingshen kept an inscrutable smile, looking somewhat pleased with himself.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” Su Wanwan took the violin down again, and smilingly said to the audience below the stage, “I was too nervous.”

Ming Hailan held back her laughter, and whispered softly, “Sister-in-law, don’t be nervous, every one here tonight is a relative, they definitely won’t laugh at you.”

However, she was scornful inside her heart.

So laughable!

She didn’t even know the posture to hold a violin, she really was an unsophisticated person, moreover, she loved to fake it. Isn’t she afraid of embarrassing herself?

With so many elders present today, this time, she really made a big fool of herself.