Chapter 101: Gu Wenxuan’s Provocation

Before entering the gala, Gu Yining's invitation had already been collected by the reception staff, so she naturally no longer had it in her possession. 

Frankly, Gu Yining had no desire to engage with Gu Wenxuan, who was notorious for stirring up trouble wherever she went. The woman was spoiled and simply couldn't resist picking fights over the smallest things.

As Gu Yining rose to leave, Gu Wenxuan suddenly grabbed her by the wrist, sneering, "What? Did I hit a nerve? Trying to run away because you're feeling guilty?"

Gu Yining scoffed, finding the whole situation almost laughable. This woman seemed unable to go a single day without inviting disaster upon herself.

"Second Miss Gu, holding a grudge over losing one competition seems quite petty, doesn't it? If word got out among the influential people here that you, the second daughter of the Gu family, couldn't handle losing, imagine the scandal it would cause in the media," Gu Yining said coolly, offering a piece of advice. 

Knowing when to stop was something Gu Wenxuan clearly hadn't mastered.

"Oh, please. Whether it's because I can't handle losing or because you've been a thorn in my side, we both know the truth. Someone, come here!" Gu Wenxuan raised her voice on purpose, ensuring that everyone around could hear her. "This woman doesn't have an invitation and crashed the gala! Get her out of here!"

Several people gathered around, whispering amongst themselves, pointing at Gu Yining.

The security at this event was known for being highly professional, so the moment Gu Wenxuan called out, a couple of guards swiftly approached to assess the situation. One of them politely addressed her, "Second Miss Gu, what seems to be the problem?"

"This woman," Gu Wenxuan began with a dismissive wave toward Gu Yining, "I don't know how she sneaked in here. This is the most prestigious event in Lingcheng, yet you let someone like her through? Are you trying to turn this place into a circus? You'd better be careful, or you'll bring disgrace to this event."

Her intent was clear—she was out to make trouble for Gu Yining, no matter the cost.

The guards, however, were cautious. They knew better than to act rashly. If Gu Yining truly had an invitation, offending an important guest could have serious consequences for them.

"Second Miss Gu, would it be all right if we verified the situation?" one of the guards asked, keeping his tone respectful.

"Verify? Do you really need to? Look how guilty she looks right now! Not a single person in this hall knows who she is, so how could she possibly have an invitation?" Gu Wenxuan was relentless, pressing her advantage with all the arrogance of someone who had never been denied anything.

Gu Yining, still smiling serenely, waited until Gu Wenxuan had said her piece before speaking calmly, "Second Miss Gu, I'd like to remind you that defamation is a crime. You've accused me of entering without an invitation—do you have proof? Every invitation is recorded at the entrance, so why don't we have someone fetch the list?"

She leaned back slightly, as if inviting Gu Wenxuan to make a fool of herself. 

"You could have easily planted something to cover your tracks," Gu Wenxuan retorted, clearly unwilling to back down.

Gu Yining chuckled softly, shaking her head. This woman would twist anything to suit her narrative, and no matter how much Gu Yining explained, it would be a waste of breath.

"Why are you laughing?" Gu Wenxuan snapped, clearly rattled by the casual dismissiveness in Gu Yining's demeanor.

"I'm laughing," Gu Yining replied, her voice low and calm, "because I'll be sitting right here, not going anywhere. If you're so sure I snuck in, feel free to have me thrown out. But if I didn't, well, then no one here would dare lay a finger on me. And as for you, Second Miss Gu—someone who couldn't even win a perfume competition without stealing someone else's formula—I wouldn't expect much truth to come from your mouth."

With just a few words, Gu Yining effortlessly turned the tables on Gu Wenxuan.

Around them, the gathered crowd murmured in agreement with Gu Yining's logic. To the onlookers, it was becoming increasingly clear that Gu Wenxuan's arrogance and jealousy over losing to Leon in the perfume competition were driving her to act out unreasonably.

Realizing she was getting nowhere, Gu Wenxuan stomped her foot in frustration, gripping the hem of her gown as she stormed off in a huff. 

Just as the commotion subsided, a ripple of excitement spread through the banquet hall. 

All eyes turned toward the entrance as a tall figure in a sharp black suit strode into the room, his long legs moving with steady, purposeful grace. 

It was Fu Hannan, his presence as commanding as that of a cold and imposing ruler descending from the heavens.