"Beautiful," Qin Ningyi replied without hesitation, his gaze lingering on Huo Rou.
Huo Rou found Qin Ningyi's intense stare a little hard to bear. Although she had been the subject of many curious glances on their journey, none had made her feel so awkward.
"There's a party later. Why don't you join us?" Qin Ningyi suggested, noticing the black rose corsage on Huo Rou's waist.
A party?
Huo Rou wasn't fond of such occasions and was about to refuse.
"Mom, come on, please come with us. I've only finished half my homework," An An chimed in, offering his support. "If you don't stay with me, what if I encounter bad people?"
The image of An An falling into the water flashed in Huo Rou's mind, and Qin Ningyi busy with social obligations, unable to help.
With that thought, Huo Rou's brow furrowed, showing her wavering resolve.
Qin Ningyi added fuel to the fire, "It's a charity auction. There won't be much socializing. You just need to sit in the audience."
"It will be over quickly. Afterward, we'll take An An out for a big meal."
"What big meal?" Huo Rou only caught the tail end of his sentence.
Qin Ningyi hadn't expected that after all his persuasion, Huo Rou's attention would only be captured by food.
"A friend's place. They make excellent sour and spicy dishes. An An will probably love it."
"Mom, let's go! That sounds delicious! We can go to the party and then go eat," An An looked up at Huo Rou, a hint of mischief in his eyes revealing his plan. "If you don't go, you'll have to cook for yourself."
"Fine, I'll go then." Huo Rou poked his forehead, seeing through his subtle threat.
An An winked at Qin Ningyi, as if seeking credit.
It seemed the three of them had conspired beforehand. Qin Fei Wan had dressed her in a dress whose color and design were fit for an evening gown, and Qin Ningyi had seized the opportunity to invite her to the party. Finally, An An had used the promise of dinner as leverage.
It wasn't that she couldn't cook for herself, but it seemed she just needed a compelling reason to attend, and they had provided it.
When Qin Ningyi and Huo Rou appeared at the party, they immediately drew everyone's attention. Qin Ningyi, who usually attended such events alone, had brought a woman other than Qin Fei Wan! And with her was a "little Qin Ningyi" who looked exactly like him! This further solidified the rumor that Qin Ningyi had a son. If Qin Ningyi hadn't been so private and forbade the dissemination of his personal photos, this would have been headline news.
Qin Ningyi, accustomed to such events, was immune to the gazes. He was surprised to see that Huo Rou also seemed unfazed by the attention.
"Mr. Qin, it's an honor to have you here."
"Mr. Li, you flatter me," Qin Ningyi turned and put an arm around Huo Rou as he stepped forward. "This is my wife, Huo Rou." His smile held a hint of possessiveness. As Huo Rou was about to say something, his grip tightened, pulling her closer.
"When did you get married? Why didn't you invite us for a drink?" Mr. Li asked, his eyes flashing with admiration as he looked at Huo Rou.
"We didn't have a grand ceremony." Qin Ningyi steered the conversation away with a few words.
Mr. Li's wife then approached and, upon seeing Huo Rou's dress, expressed her admiration. "Mrs. Qin, whose design is this? It's beautiful."
"Qin sister made it. It should be..." Huo Rou looked at Qin Ningyi, as she hadn't asked about the dress's origin.
"This is a new design from Wan's upcoming collection, still in the refinement stage. My sister liked it so much she gave one to Ah Rou first," Qin Ningyi answered Huo Rou's unspoken question.
"Fei Wan's designs are always so unique. I'll have to commission one when the new collection is released," Mrs. Li said, admiring the dress from head to toe.
Suddenly, the party lights brightened, and the bracelet on Huo Rou's wrist reflected a shimmering wave. It immediately caught Mrs. Li's eye.
"Mrs. Qin, may I see this bracelet?" Mrs. Li was an avid jade enthusiast, and all her jewelry were jade pieces.
Huo Rou wasn't offended by the abrupt request. She could tell Mrs. Li genuinely admired it and meant no harm. However, the bracelet was a perfect fit, and it was a little difficult to remove. So, she placed it on Mrs. Li's hand.
"I'm sorry, it's a bit difficult to take off for you to see," Huo Rou explained.
Mrs. Li examined it up close, her eyes brimming with envy. She smiled and said, "Such an expensive bracelet, even if you dared to take it off, I wouldn't dare to accept it. My Old Li wouldn't pay me such high compensation."
Her playful words suggested a good marital relationship. Mr. Li, hearing her remark, turned and said dotingly, "What have I ever refused you?"
"Then this might cost us a project. Can you be as generous as Mr. Qin, spending a fortune?" Mrs. Li patted his arm playfully. "This bracelet must be worth at least a hundred million." Mrs. Li looked at Qin Ningyi, subconsciously believing that such an expensive item must have been a gift from him to Huo Rou.
Qin Ningyi took a closer look at the bracelet on Huo Rou's wrist. He hadn't seen it before, and she seemed to have started wearing it recently. "Something like green glass, a hundred million?" He admitted his ignorance in this area, as no one in his family, except his ostentatious brother, was interested in such things. Qin Fei Wan only had a passing acquaintance with brands out of necessity for her fashion design.
Huo Rou waved her hand dismissively. "It shouldn't be that expensive. A friend gave it to me; he does this for a living. The raw material cost should be reasonable."
This remark caused a flicker of embarrassment on Mrs. Li's face. She had complimented the wrong person. But what was Huo Rou's background that a friend would casually gift her such a quality jade bracelet? Mrs. Li could sense Huo Rou's modesty. Even with raw material prices, unless her friend owned a mine, this piece would still be worth at least a hundred million.
Hearing about the bracelet's value, An An also came over, curious, and pulled Huo Rou's hand to examine the bracelet repeatedly.
"Don't be ridiculous. This looks like a fake. How could it be worth a hundred million?" a sharp, high-pitched voice sneered.
Qin Ningyi's brow furrowed instantly upon hearing the shrill, high-pitched voice. Why was it that among women, Huo Rou's voice could be so naturally melodious, sweet, and charming, while others' voices were so grating?
The speaker was Chen Qinqin, the daughter of one of Yu Chang's top ten wealthiest individuals. She was known for her extravagant spending and her penchant for comparison. She pointed at Huo Rou's bracelet, her face full of disdain. "Auntie Li, what kind of eyesight do you have? Don't you see so many cracks in this bracelet? Even if it's an A-grade imitation, it's not worth that much."
"Cracks?" Mrs. Li looked in the direction Chen Qinqin pointed, a hint of confusion on her face.