Chapter 984: I Learned To Lie From You
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
At around six in the evening, Qiao Xi was still lazily leaning against the sofa and playing games. The family banquet officially began at seven. At this moment, people had started to arrive and would take their seats. It would only officially start when everyone was present.
Qiao Xi played the game unhurriedly without the slightest intention of leaving. The next second, Xia Yunlou called.
Xia Yunlou was very impatient, and her tone was filled with anger. “Do you know what time it is? Where are you?”
Qiao Xi’s fingers moved nimbly on the screen as she casually said, “Oh, I suddenly don’t want to go anymore.”
These words almost caused Xia Yunlou to vomit blood from anger. She gritted her teeth and shouted, “Qiao Xi! You’re fooling around! So many elders are waiting for you. What right do you have to not come?”
At this moment in the Xia family’s villa, everyone heard Xia Yunlou’s roar and looked over. Old Madam Xia asked with a gloomy expression, “Yunlou, Qiao Xi said she’s not coming? This girl really doesn’t know etiquette!”
“Aunt, didn’t she already agree? Why isn’t she coming?” Xia Mengyan asked.
Qiao Xi heard their voices and chuckled. “I just don’t want to go. I suddenly recall Madam Xia saying in public that Xu Anran is your daughter and I have nothing to do with you. Then why should I attend the Xia family’s banquet? Moreover, you don’t welcome me very much.
“I’m very close to the Yin family, so I have to keep a distance from the Xia family. If I attend the family banquet, it’ll cause Grandma and Uncle to misunderstand, so I won’t be going. I hope you have fun!”
At this moment, Xia Yunlou’s entire body was stiff, and her face was ferocious. She roared like a wild beast, “Qiao Xi!”
Seeing the gazes of the guests, Xia Yunlou immediately restrained her anger and lowered her voice. “Don’t forget that Mengyan is your good cousin. She has endured so many criticisms for you. Now that Mengyan has invited you to the family banquet, you’re unwilling? Even if you don’t care about me, you have to come for Mengyan’s sake!”
Qiao Xi nodded thoughtfully. “That makes sense.”
However, the next second, her tone was filled with innocence and difficulty. “But I can’t do anything about it! Today is also the day of the Yin family’s banquet. As the precious daughter of the Yin family, of course, I have to go back and see my grandmother! My grandmother dotes on me so much. If I don’t go back and see her, I’ll be unfilial. I believe everyone will understand.”
Xia Yunlou berated, “What nonsense are you talking about? The Yin family isn’t holding a family banquet at all!”
“You can say that Xia Mengyan is taking the blame for me, so why can’t I say that the Yin family is holding a family banquet? I learned how to lie from you!”
Xia Yunlou instantly choked. Qiao Xi already knew that all of this was a setup by the Xia family to use the power of public opinion to force her to return to the Xia family. She knew it clearly in her heart, but others did not.
Now, for the sake of not attending the family banquet, Qiao Xi fabricated the lie that the Yin family was holding a family banquet. At that time, as long as Yin Lianxin appeared to confirm her words, everyone would naturally not suspect anything.
The two of them were lying, but neither could refute the other.
“Madam Xia, don’t think that I can’t expose your lies. I have the Yin family behind me. What can you do to me?
“Madam Xia, don’t you know about the grudge between the Yin and Xia families? The two families haven’t been in contact for decades. If Grandma invites me home but I go to the Xia family’s residence, that’ll be truly unfilial! Any normal person would choose their grandmother over attending a banquet held by a mistress.”
Xia Yunlou’s face alternated between green and white. She gritted her teeth and said, “Qiao Xi, don’t go too far!”
“How am I going too far? I just don’t want to attend your family banquet. If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up.” As soon as Qiao Xi finished speaking, the person on the other end of the phone panicked.
“Wait!”
A few seconds later, an old and kind voice sounded on the other end of the phone. “Xi Xi! I’m your grandfather.”
Qiao Xi leaned against the sofa and turned off the game interface. She turned on the loudspeaker and threw her phone on the coffee table. Her tone was indifferent and distant. “If you have something to say, quickly say it. I’m still very busy.”
Xia Cheng was indeed stunned for a moment. He was suppressing his anger. When he spoke again, his tone was still very gentle. “Xi Xi, I know that you don’t have any feelings for the Xia family, but you’re very close to Yunqiu. After all, she’s your adoptive mother. We still have some of her designs and photos in the family. Don’t you want to take them back?”