Hidden identities of the AI Heiress
Chapter 896 - Chapter 896 Chapter 896 Qiao Yun Arrived

Chapter 896: Chapter 896: Qiao Yun Arrived Chapter 896: Chapter 896: Qiao Yun Arrived Xu Qiao’s smile stiffened, and she immediately thought of the incident after Tianqi’s assessment ended: when she bad-mouthed Qiao Yun to the elder Mrs. Li.

Jiang Shaocheng wouldn’t have mentioned it if she hadn’t already forgotten.

Now being questioned, of course, she couldn’t admit it, her eyes evasive as she said, “I didn’t say anything.”

Jiang Shaocheng’s face turned as black as the bottom of a pot, “If you didn’t do anything, why wouldn’t the old lady answer my call?”

Xu Qiao said unexpectedly, “Today is our daughter’s important day; can’t you talk about whatever it is another time? Why bring up this matter for no reason?”

Jiang Shaocheng took a deep breath, lowering his voice to reprimand, “Can’t you see that not a single person from the Li Family has come!”

Xu Qiao was startled–she knew she’d forgotten something, and it was the Li Family!

“It was you who personally promised Mrs. Huo that the Li Family and we are relatives, that they would definitely attend the banquet. You’ve said it, and now not a single person has come; who knows how the Huo Family will view us.”

Xu Qiao said uneasily, “It can’t be that serious, right? Perhaps they will come later. Even if they don’t give us face, they still have to give face to the Huo Family.”

Jiang Shaocheng, still frustrated, was about to say a few more words to her when a servant came to inform him that Mrs. Huo and Huo Lin had arrived. He no longer had time to lecture Xu Qiao, instructing her instead to inform Jiang Jing to join him in welcoming the guests.

…

Fu Yun wore a figure-hugging evening dress today. Despite not looking very well, she still carried herself with an aristocratic air.

By her side, Huo Lin, suited and booted, bore a cold expression, carrying an innate sense of authority.

Their appearance sparked a small climax at the venue.

Everyone who had accepted the invitation had come for Huo Lin.

It was well known that Huo Lin seldom attended banquets, and the fact that he had shown up this time showed that he took Jiang Jing seriously.

Jiang Jing approached first, naturally taking Fu Yun’s arm. Her voice softened, “Aunt Fu, you’re finally here. How are you feeling? Are you okay?”

Fu Yun appeared affectionate, her voice gentle, “It’s always Jingjing who knows how to care for others.” She glanced reprovingly at Huo Lin, “Unlike you who are always so busy. Now I have a goddaughter, and I’m not short of your attention anymore.”

Huo Lin slowly said, “As long as you’re happy.”

Fu Yun rolled her eyes; she was tired of hearing that line.

Jiang Jing’s voice was intimate, “Auntie Fu, Mr. Huo certainly cares about you.”

Fu Yun pretended to scold, “What’s with this ‘Mr. Huo’? It’s so distant. Call him ‘brother’ quickly.”

Jiang Jing shyly lowered her head and softly called out, “Brother.”

Huo Lin’s expression was unchanged as he responded with a cool hum.

Fu Yun instantly beamed with joy; it had been a long time since she had been this happy.

Seeing Jiang Jing getting along harmoniously with them, Xu Qiao and Jiang Shaocheng each breathed a sigh of relief.

The Jiang Family relatives, who had come with them to greet the Huo Family, threw envious glances at Jiang Jing.

Just then, Huo Lin asked, “Have Han Zhou and Qiao Yun arrived yet?”

Jiang Jing’s face changed; Huo Lin had been silent the whole time until he asked about Qiao Yun.

What was the meaning of this?

Xu Qiao hadn’t expected Huo Lin to pay such close attention to these two. She diverted the conversation with a glance and replied dismissively, “They should be arriving soon, I guess.”

Huo Lin remained silent, staring at them intently.

Jiang Shaocheng suddenly broke into a cold sweat and changed the subject, “It’s about time, shall we start the ceremony?”

Huo Lin suddenly smiled, “Aren’t the Li Family and you relatives? How could they not come to such an important event? Are you really relatives?”

Only then did Jiang Shaocheng and Xu Qiao realize the gravity of the situation; this young master Huo was not easily fooled.

At that moment, a servant rushed over, “Sir, I’ve seen Mr. Li, and there’s a young lady with him.”

Huo Lin’s eyes softened a bit at the news.

Jiang Shaocheng hurriedly said, “Well, what are you waiting for? Go invite them in immediately.”

“Yes, sir.”

The servant then hurried to the entrance to welcome them.

…

At the hotel entrance.

Li Hanzhou and Qiao Yun got out of the car.

She glanced at her cellphone and murmured, “They’ve all arrived; let’s go in quickly.”

“Okay.” Li Hanzhou smiled, took Qiao Yun’s hand and they walked into the hotel together.

Qiao Yun came this time to honor Qiao Se’s invitation; she had come over with Qiao Xun, as she had been wanting to see the Su family people for the first time.

So, they agreed to meet at this hotel.

The Su family and the Lu family people were already in the private room when she and Li Hanzhou arrived late.

But she didn’t expect to be stopped just as she walked into the hotel, where the attendant respectfully said, “Master Li, Miss Qiao, my master has been waiting for you for a long time. Please come with me, the banquet is about to begin.”

Qiao Yun was startled for a moment, then it dawned on her.

This hotel seemed to be where Jiang Jing was holding the banquet.

Li Hanzhou also realized this, and he raised his eyebrow, “Tell Jiang Shaocheng…”

After the servant had left with a look of panic, Li Hanzhou continued to lead Qiao Yun toward the private room.

Qiao Yun glanced at him with her eyes and said bluntly, “Is this okay?”

Li Hanzhou smiled, “Why wouldn’t it be?”

Qiao Yun muttered, “Aren’t you relatives?”

Li Hanzhou said, “Relatives who bring trouble are hardly relatives at all.”

“That’s true, too.”

Qiao Yun nodded and returned the grip on Li Hanzhou’s hand.

…

The attendant returned quickly, and not finding Li Hanzhou, Jiang Shaocheng said sternly, “Where are they?”

The attendant answered truthfully, “Sir, they… they are not here for this banquet but have made their own dining arrangements here.”

Jiang Shaocheng felt a thorn in his back.

The attendant added, “He also told me to relay a message to you…”

“What message?”

The attendant hesitated, “He said, not everyone can be considered their relatives.”

Jiang Shaocheng felt as though he had been slapped hard across the face.

With so many people present today, who didn’t know that the Jiang family and the Li family were relatives? Li Hanzhou’s words were a public disavowal of any relation with the Jiang family.

Li Hanzhou was definitely doing this on purpose.

Fu Yun frowned and asked Jiang Jing, “Aren’t you and the Li family relatives?”

Jiang Jing remained relatively calm, quickly thinking of ways to respond in her mind.

At that moment, Huo Lin spoke with seeming nonchalance, “I had thought that hosting a banquet would be an opportunity to invite Qiao Yun, but it seems I have misjudged.”

He disliked being deceived, and if it couldn’t be done, it should not have been promised in the first place.

Jiang Jing’s face turned deathly pale, her smile stiffening on her face.

What did this mean? Wasn’t this banquet held for her? What did it have to do with Qiao Yun?

The relatives of Jiang Jing, all cunning, understood immediately that this banquet had an ulterior motive.

Xu Lu looked toward Jiang Jing with uncertain astonishment, her eyes seeming to inquire: Didn’t Huo Lin value you, his sister, very much?

The smug look previously in Jiang Jing’s eyes suddenly turned into utter embarrassment.

Jiang Shaocheng felt even more humiliated.

Huo Lin straightened his cuffs, his gaze toward Fu Yun much softer, “Mom, since the person I wanted to see hasn’t arrived, I’ll leave first. You enjoy yourself.”

Fu Yun, not giving it much thought, simply said, “Go on with what you need to do. I never agreed to this banquet in the first place, and Jingjing thought the same, right?”

Jiang Jing felt as if she had been slapped harshly on both cheeks.

The left cheek came from Huo Lin.

The right cheek came from Fu Yun.

She had just been telling everyone that Huo Lin insisted on holding the banquet, but now the truth told her…

She was never the main character!!

—

In the next chapter, the press conference begins, and trouble ensues, continuing until the conclusion. I haven’t thought about an extra story, so there may not be one.