Chapter 226 - A Good Show

Xiong De had no choice but to add one more seat and join the group. Sitting on these group of tables cl.u.s.tered around Xiong Zhi were all the ultimate powerhouses he had painstakingly invited.

He could not really tell them to disperse and return to their proper seats. He would sound disrespectful if he did so, and would likely offend the parties. He just sincerely hoped that his daughter would not notice Xiong Zhi.

Although that was an impossible wish, since Xiong Zhi was in a very prominent position, shining beautifully in her silvery dress.

The lights dimmed as the faint background music prepared for Xiong Wuyue's entrance began to reverberate within the walls of the huge hall. Under the spotlight, the birthday celebrant began walking down the stairs from above into the hall.

Xiong Zhi watched intently as the orchestra began to play. 

Xiong Wuyue wore a gorgeous gown in a dark shade of red, darker than the color of the dress she had worn the other day. She looked like a fully blossomed princess about to receive blessings from the king, ready to give her hand in marriage to the prince. What a beautiful sight.

Every gaze were directed at her. 

"What a beautiful daughter you have. She deserves her title," William praised Xiong Wuyue in appreciation. Xiong De just smiled in satisfaction, he was pleased by the praise.

"I agree. My cousin is truly beautiful. Like a rose," Xiong Zhi faintly murmured. "Be careful though, every rose has its thorns." 

William heard her and turned to look at her with curiosity. 

"Is it the same as you?"

Xiong Zhi did not tear her gaze away from the woman whom she hated with all her being.

"No. I'm not a flower, but a Venus flytrap. I bite," Xiong Zhi amusedly retorted in a quiet voice, yet her eyes looked with hidden ill intent at the woman who was now basking in glory and admiration from the guests.

"Oh," William was slightly surprised. He just came to know today that the Young Miss of the Xiong Family was quite a feisty one.

Xiong Zhi seemed to realize what she had said.

"But I only bite those who harm me. You don't have to worry anything about it," Xiong Zhi smiled politely at William. She did not really want him to get scared off with her mumbling. Let him think she was jesting around, then.

WIlliam grinned at Xiong Zhi, still with curiosity. 

Then, he turned to look at the beautifully dressed birthday celebrant shining under the spotlight.

'Looks like the Young Miss Xiong Zhi and the second branch's Young Miss Xiong Wuyue do not get along well. Maybe, hopefully, there will be a good show tonight.' His thoughts showed through his playful smile. He had always loved excitement.

Xiong Wuyue was basking in the host's continuous praise when her eyes suddenly caught the group of people sitting nearest to her. 

How could she not, when all the big shots, her father, and the noticeable foreign man, William Grand, were all there? She was firstly stunned to see this group of people gathered together in one spot, their tables unusually close. 

But when she saw the three beautiful women in that gathering, especially the woman in the silver dress, Xiong Wuyue's blooming smile froze in place.

Xiong Wuyue met Xiong Zhi's eyes. The latter smiled coldly at her, raised her glass elegantly, and drank a toast to her. But Xiong Wuyue knew that all those actions were clearly mockery, challenging her. Xiong Wuyue's face paled as she controlled her suddenly turbulent emotions, forcefully holding herself back from erupting.

'This f***ing bitch...! How could she be here?!'

Her last memory of her was after an intense physical fight. The memory of Linfeng turning his back away from her, and Xiong Zhi's smug smile that said she had won.

'This bitch!'

Their relationship could never be fixed with just words, nor would it disappear even if a long time passed by. Their ugly relationship was beyond repair.

There was no way that this bitch obediently came to her birthday just to congratulate her. Xiong Wuyue was certain, the bitch was here to humiliate her! That mocking smile and that raised glass was an indication that she was here to destroy her party, a gesture of challenge. That tramp! She came here to ruin her day!

"Young Miss?" The host had been calling Xiong Wuyue a few times now but did not get any response.

Xiong Wuyue finally heard him. She looked at the host with a pale face and trembling hands. She clenched her hands to hide them, and took a deep breath.

"Yes?" She smiled innocently. She was an actress. She had a difficult time controlling her emotions, but this day was just too important to her, so she exerted her acting skills to the maximum to not show any signs outwardly and lose face, which was definitely what the bitch wanted to see.

The powerhouses were here, and William Grand was here. Not to mention, her birthday celebration was under live coverage. She could not make any mistake. She would not give that bitch that satisfaction either.

The host briefly stopped. He had asked her a question, but it seemed she did not hear it. Or was it too difficult to answer? But this was in the script, after all.

His quick mind smoothly salvaged the situation. He laughed merrily. "Pardon me for asking in circles. This is the real question, if you are given one wish—just one—and that wish of yours would be granted immediately. What then would your wish be?"

This was supposed to be the scene where the celebrant would shine and show her quick wits and kind personality. But this short lapses from Xiong Wuyue lessened the impact. The talented host had to take this as a mistake or a deliberate joke done on his side, so the guests would hopefully not take notice of them.

Xiong Wuyue calmed down as this was one of the rehearsed episode where her brilliance was to be shown to the guests. She had practiced already, so she soon fell into the rhythm.

She smiled charmingly.

"That's a difficult question. Honestly, I would be really glad if there's a wish like that." Xiong Wuyue set up the mood first.

"Hmm, I wonder. I spent half of my childhood here in the country, and the other half, in States. I've been living a good life that my father—" Xiong Wuyue looked at her father and smiled lovingly at him, "—worked hard for, so that I can have such a blessed life that I am having now."

These words made the audience look at the father and daughter pair with a warm smile. They were rich and powerful too, but not all of them were like Xiong De who had such a good relationship with his daughter. Not all of them have such a kind and filial daughter. Their own daughters were mostly spoiled.

Xiong Zhi almost choked on her drink. Of course, nothing showed outside.

'What? Worked hard for?'

In the beginning, the second branch of the family had been leeching off from the main branch. Yes, they were working too, since they need to manage their own shares. But if the companies they were managing make mistakes, they could still go on and depend on the main branch. They would never be afraid of bankruptcy, as long as the main branch remained standing, because the main branch was there to hold them up. That was why the greedy side branches developed their greed to eat the main branch. The power of the main branch was such that one was guaranteed success in every way.

And what was with Xiong De's appearance of 'I have suffered but it's worth it'? Xiong Zhi had the urge to splash her drink on that slimy face.

What they have right now in their possession was not because of their hard work, but because they were born with it. They did not suffer for it. They did not build their power from scratch. They should be thankful for their surname Xiong.

Xiong Zhi wiped her mouth gently. If Old Xiong was here watching these pair's acting, he too would frown at such a disgusting play.

"I grew up with everything I need. So you see, it's been long before I came to know the word 'wish', since everything I want will always be given to me by my lovely father." Xiong Wuyue once again gazed at Xiong De with a grateful smile. Xiong De smiled embarrassedly but with palpable pride for his daughter. Anyone who looked at them would feel warm.

Except the people who knew their real faces.

Xiong Zhi agreed with the latter part of Xiong Wuyue's speech. Xiong De was actually— even if she did not really want to admit it—truly a good and doting father towards his daughter. That greedy man treated everybody insincerely, but not his daughter. He gave everything to her. 

But not knowing the word 'wish'?

As long one was human, one would have their own selfishness.

Xiong Zhi could still hear Xiong Wuyue's words back then.

"Hypocrite." She blurted out this word softly, unconsciously in a faint voice. The two people near her, Song Xuantin and William Grand, were the only ones who had heard her.

They both glanced at Xiong Zhi, then turned to look at the front. They both came from families specializing in business of the art of acting.

And both of them were not buying this.