Xia Cheng had to take a gamble this time. He wanted to bet that the head of the Luo family wouldn't be able to tell that there was something wrong. Now, the Xia family was like fish on the chopping board. If they rejected the Luo family, it would be equivalent to completely offending them. Hence, they had to agree to the video call. Otherwise, they would not be able to explain it to the Luo family or the others. After all, as long as they thought about it carefully, they would be able to understand the truth.
Xia Cheng took the phone and heard the patriarch of the Luo family's dignified voice. "Chairman Xia."
Everyone pricked up their ears and discussed softly. "Yes! This is definitely the Luo family's head!"
"That's right. I attended a banquet before, and I heard the head of the Luo family saying something behind a screen door. He sounded exactly the same as this voice!"
Xia Cheng's voice trembled slightly. "M-Master Luo."
With that, Xia Cheng placed the phone in front of Xia Yunlou. He wanted Xia Yunlou to greet the head of the Luo family and quickly end the call.
However, before Xia Yunlou could speak, the dignified voice of the Luo family's patriarch sounded again. "Where's Yunlou?"
Everyone was stunned.
Wasn't Xia Yunlou in front of the phone camera? Since the Luo family's head could see Xia Cheng earlier, he could naturally see Xia Yunlou too! He had clearly seen her, so why was he asking for Xia Yunlou?
Xia Yunlou's face was pale as she gritted her teeth.
The entire venue was silent. Everyone looked at Xia Cheng and Xia Yunlou in surprise.
Xia Cheng's heart felt like it was being weighed on by a huge rock. He could not breathe and said while trembling, "Master Luo, Yunlou is right in front of you."
The head of the Luo family was over 50 years old and could be considered a junior of Xia Cheng. However, Xia Cheng had to be so humble in front of him, lest he incurred the patriarch's wrath.
The smell of blood surged in Xia Cheng's throat, but he still had to remain calm. He forced a smile. "This is my daughter, Xia Yunlou."
No matter what, their faces were exactly the same. After 24 years, no one would be able to tell the slightest difference. Thinking of this, Xia Cheng's heart gradually calmed down.
Just as everyone thought that the head of the Luo family did not get a clear look, an extremely cold voice suddenly came from the phone. "She's Xia Yunlou?"
This voice was filled with coldness and a trace of anger. The innate kingly aura scared Xia Cheng so much that his entire body trembled. He almost fainted.
The Xia family was shocked. Ai Sumei's body was limp as she was supported by Xia Ji. Xia Yunlou was naturally the most afraid. She stood on the spot and trembled.
At this moment, a woman who was exactly the same as her appeared in Xia Yunlou's mind, but she was different. That woman was smiling gently, while she had never smiled like that.
No! Impossible! She was Xia Yunlou, the daughter of the Xia family!
She kept comforting herself to prevent a breakdown, but the patriarch's gloomy voice still sounded again. "Chairman Xia, do you think my memory is bad? Do you think that I won't be able to recognize an old friend after 24 years have passed?"
The voice sounded calm and indifferent, but every word was so cold that Xia Cheng felt his scalp tingle.
The entire venue was silent as everyone held their breaths. At this moment, they were puzzled. What was going on?
After a few seconds of silence, Mr. Luo seemed to have come to a realization. His sharp gaze landed on Xia Yunlou. "You're not the real Xia Yunlou?"
Everyone gasped. What the Luo family's head meant just now was that this woman in front of him was not the Xia Yunlou from 24 years ago. He thought that the Xia family was lying to him.
The head of the Luo family only took a glance and was sure that she was not Xia Yunlou. However, she had always lived with the Xia family. If she was not the real Xia Yunlou, how could the Xia family not have noticed?
Xia Yunlou felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave. Her back was already drenched in a cold sweat. She shouted weakly, "I'm Xia Yunlou! I've always been her!"
The cold voice of the Luo family's head sounded. "Yunlou and Yunqiu took many photos on Xuan Island. They're still hanging in my wife's room. Moreover, many people on Xuan Island remember Xia Yunlou's appearance. Chairman Xia, are you sure you want to continue lying to me?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Mr. Luo explained, "I was still too young 24 years ago, so I've never seen Madam Xia. However, the elders on Xuan Island have all seen her. Our patriarch won't forget his old friend, so it can only mean that the person who went to Xuan Island with Miss Xia Yunqiu back then wasn't the current Xia Yunlou!"
The last sentence was like a huge rock smashing into a calm lake, causing ripples. The venue was silent. Everyone thought that it would just be an ordinary opening ceremony. They did not expect it to involve such a shocking piece of news.