Chapter 223 - A Rumor

As Xiong Wuyue wished, the day she had been waiting for finally came. 

In a rather small section in one corner of the daily news was the featured article anticipating the eighteenth birthday party of the Young Miss of the second branch of the Xiong family.

With Xiong De's utmost effort, Xiong Wuyue's birthday became the talk in the entertainment circle and in some companies. 

Though, a massive majority of the whole country and of Asia was still mainly talking about the official heiress of the Xiong family. In analogy, ninety-nine percent of the whole Asia fussed over the events from the official heiress' birthday banquet while a measly one percent talked about Xiong Wuyue's upcoming banquet. Had it not been for Xiong De's efforts, the latter's birthday would have gone unnoticed.

It was said that Xiong De, the third master of the third branch of the Xiong family was preparing for a big party. There was also a rumor that Xiong Wuyue would officially debut in the entertainment industry starting this day.

In the past, Xiong Zhi had watched Xiong Wuyue's sensational birthday celebration on the television. She found the channel by chance and got interested when she heard it was a surnamed Xiong's birthday. She was not invited and just came to know about her cousin's birthday through this piece of news. She had not minded it though. After watching for a couple of minutes, she had gotten bored and turned to a different channel.

This time though, she would happily participate in Xiong Wuyue's birthday, even without an invitation. As the part of the main branch of Xiong family, she could just invite herself in and no one would dare bar her entrance. It should be their honor instead.

Xiong Zhi had been waiting for this day. She touched the crescent moon hanging on her neck lovingly. It was time for her to have some fun.

Her usually cold face faintly showed the slightest hint of a mocking smile.

She glanced at the box she had prepared containing her magnificent gift to Xiong Wuyue, and took out her phone.

She dialed a number.

"Heyooowww~" Song Xuantin meowed in a waxy tone, sounding very sleepy. It was around seven in the morning.

"Come with me."

"Huh?"

"Come with me," Xiong Zhi repeated.

"Ehhh? Come to where? When? How? What are we going to do? Gosh, Zhi, can you complete your sentence once in a while? It is very early in the morning and you are already making my brain overwork~" the sleepy voice complained in a pout.

"You plan to enter the entertainment industry, am I correct? Let's make an appearance for you as a starter. Make sure that you wear your most gorgeous dress. Dress up yourself, as if you are on a date with Gu Zhen," Xiong Zhi patiently added more details in consideration for Song Xuantin's extra slow brain in the mornings.

"Hold on. Is this one of Ms. Xiao Mei's assignment for us? And you did not answer any of my questions. Seriously, Zhi, where are we going?"

Xiong Zhi's lips curled up in a rather ominous smile while looking at the prepared gift.

"Well, to a party. Gracing the party with your presence tonight will make for a good exposure. I already reported it to Xiao Mei."

She caressed the box with a malicious glint in her narrowed eyes.

"We are going to attend to my dear cousin's most awaited birthday." 

*****

Time passed and evening came. The city lights started to spread their brilliance on the horizon.

As the two girls made their way to the banquet, a lot of explaining happened. Song Xuantin's mind was already in a jumble as she stepped out of the car into the parking lot.

She wore a gorgeous night red gown that revealed her enticing curves. Her swan-like slender back was completely bare, making one's eyes unable to tear away from it. Her exquisitely curled dark hair was coiled up in a messy bun. Her alluring phoenix eyes appeared heavily lidded and lazy.

She looked absolutely seductive and charming as a fox.

Song Xuantin's phoenix eyes were a bit sleepy and full of blame as she looked at the young woman who came out of the car after her.

Unlike Song Xuantin, Xiong Zhi wore a silvery off-shoulder long dress that elegantly dr.a.p.ed on her body closely, hugging her voluptuous curves while still appearing regal. Her smooth shoulders were exposed, along with most part of her upper back. It showed off her long swan-like neck. Her hair was half held up by shiny white pearls. The rest freely dr.a.p.ed down her shoulders. 

A beautiful crescent moon adorned her chest. She looked very graceful, classy, and aloof. 

One appeared seductively charming, the other was of fairy-like nobility.

These two beautiful women of different temperaments would surely make everyone in the banquet steal glances off them. 

But the words that came out of the red lips of the seductive woman totally did not match her temperament at all.

"You woke me up at seven in the morning to attend a party at seven in the evening?! Gosh, Zhi! It will be your fault if I end up falling asleep here!"

Xiong Zhi simply ignored her. There was no one in the parking lot so she allowed Song Xuantin to vent as much as she wanted.

"Sigh. Too bad, Gu Zhen could not come here," Song Xuantin continued whining as she felt that her meticulous dress-up was wasted without her man appreciating it.

"I did not invite him in gate crashing with us because if I do so, for sure, you will only give your entire attention to him tonight," Xiong Zhi mechanically explained. "We have to advertise you tonight. Don't worry, Xiong Wuyue definitely invited the media for coverage of her party. Everyone will still see your beauty, it certainly would be shown in every magazine, or maybe entertainment news. I can guarantee you that. Who knows, Gu Zhen might see it."

"Gu Zhen will not waste time on magazines or any fashion articles. He was most likely playing in his computer," Song Xuantin sourly said, totally sure of her words.

Xiong Zhi glanced at her thoughtfully.

"Did you mention to him that you'll come here?"

"Yeah. I messaged him that I am going to accompany you on your cousin's birthday. Why?" Song Xuantin curiously asked. She wanted to hear her answer, simply because Xiong Zhi usually do not ask random questions.

"I see." Xiong Zhi nodded.

"What do you mean 'I see'?"

"I bet Gu Zhen is watching the live coverage of Xiong Wuyue's birthday right now," Xiong Zhi murmured in a low voice, yet Song Xuantin still heard her.

"Why did you say so? Is something going to happen today? Or is there any gaming company that would come today?" Song Xuantin laid out her guesses one by one, her eyes widened in curiosity. Gu Zhen was not the type of person who would watch such a boring stream like this.

"..." Xiong Zhi looked at her. She did not answer her but asked another question instead.

"How's the progress between the two of you?"

Song Xuantin stopped for a moment and tilted her head to think about it.

"Hmm... We became friends. We're a lot closer than before. He still doesn't remember me though. But, that is actually better."

Inside the elevator, Xiong Zhi pressed the floor number of their destination.

"The two of you had met before?"

"I told you that he is my first love, for almost nine years. We were preschool classmates," Song Xuantin said. She seemed unwilling to talk about it too much. She was afraid her mouth would not stop talking and spill everything else right at this moment. Today was not the best time for telling a story.

"You already knew 'love' at that age?" Xiong Zhi was stunned. She only came to know what love was when she was about to die. She was already twenty-three years old at that time. And Son Xuantin was only around six years old when she first fell in love? That was too precocious! 

"Well, it's, uhm, puppy love before. But of course, it grew as time passed by." Song Xuantin was still reigning in her mouth from telling the whole story.

Xiong Zhi was rendered speechless, her face blank with eyes looking at the other that said 'If you say so. WTF.'

People can fall in love at that age? What had she been doing at that time? She was probably locked up at the mansion and was busy listening to her private teachers' tireless education. There was nothing worth remembering as those days were all boring and fruitless.

"Anyway, will I train under Big Sis Mei during summer? I need to fly to U.S. since my family wants to check on me," Song Xuantin forcefully averted the topic.

"Yeah. You can talk it out with Xiao Mei."

"Sigh. I am kind afraid of Big Sis. She is really strict and I can't run my mouth with her around. I can't even reject Big Sis Mei's assigned tasks." Song Xuantin's mouth had no stop button. She was not afraid of Xiong Zhi or Lu Yin Ze's intimidating aura. But she was afraid of people like Xiao Mei. Gentle persuasion with a smiling face was so terrible!

"It would have been better if Lu Yin Ze is here," she added.

"He is busy," Xiong Zhi said. She got a message from Lu Yin Zhe saying that he would be busy this weekend and probably the week after that. He said that he was fully occupied by the Lu Empire. What was more, he was busy checking out his old house too.

But Xiong Zhi felt that there was another reason than that. 

Maybe it was connected to the box?

Besides, Xiong Zhi had no plans to invite Lu Yin Ze here.

She brought Song Xuantin here since she wanted to use the opportunity tonight. Xiong De invited all the big shots of the entertainment industry here today. Unfortunately, the Lu family was not involved in any of the entertainment industry.

Ting.

The elevator opened. 

Flashes of camera and a crowded media were standing on both sides of the red carpet.

"Hold on... T-that Lady!"

"Oh My! The Young Miss of Xiong is here!"

"She is really attending!"

The journalists' microphones were all simultaneously directed to her as they bombarded Xiong Zhi with questions.

"Young Miss Xiong Zhi! What can you say about becoming the newly appointed heiress of the Xiong Empire?!"

"Young Miss Zhi! Are you close to the Guan family? Can you give us an idea why Master Guan approved of you buying the shares of the Guan Empire?!"

"How about Master Lu?! What can you say about the generous gift from Master Lu?"

"Is it true that your fiancée is Second Young Master Lu Yin Ze?"

"Or is it one of the Young Masters from the Guan family?"

"What can you say about becoming the prospective daughter-in-law for both of the families?!"

The journalists' unceasing shouts resounded loudly in the hallway.

Xiong Zhi who had cared for any of the questions, slightly frowned at the last question. Song Xuantin went closer to her.

"Don't mind them. Let's go."

Xiong Zhi nodded and was about to ignore them but one question made her halt in her steps.

"Is it true that your fiancée is Young Master Gao Huan of the Guan family?"

Xiong Zhi raised her chin and faintly looked at that reporter.

She read the other's initials through the reporter's badge.

"Who paid you?" Her being suspected as the daughter-in-law of one of the two families was within her expectations. But being specific about it, not even mentioning the first young master who was likely be the heir of the Guan Empire and directly went to mention to Guan Gao Huan made Xiong Zhi suspicious of this certain journalist.

This made her speculate unpleasant thoughts.