Dad's face darkened too. "Nonsense! Go change immediately! Don't embarrass us here!"
"I said I won't change!" Jiang Xue's voice turned shrill.
Seeing an argument about to erupt, I quickly stepped in to mediate.
"Dad, Mom, please don't be angry. Xiaoxue probably just wanted to try a different style. I think it looks quite special," I said with a smile. "Besides, the Lin family will be here any minute. There's no time to change now. Let her keep it like this; it's fine."
The more magnanimous I appeared, the more unreasonable Jiang Xue seemed.
Although furious, Mom and Dad, needing to save face, could only swallow their anger for the moment. They shot Jiang Xue a fierce glare, warning her not to say anything out of line later.
Jiang Xue snorted coldly and turned her head away.
I knew the storm was coming.
And I was the one holding the switch.
The Lin family arrived right on time.
Chairman Lin and his wife, accompanied by Lin Qingqian and a group of bodyguards, entered the banquet hall.
Lin Qingqian lived up to her name – beautiful, elegant, every movement exuding the grace of a young lady of fine upbringing.
When she saw Jiang Chen, a perfectly shy blush appeared on her cheeks.
Jiang Chen, however, greeted her like an emotionless puppet, stiff and awkward.
The parents, on the other hand, hit it off immediately, quickly falling into the rhythm of exchanging pleasantries and compliments.
Jiang Xue and I, as mere "extras," were seated with Lin Qingqian.
Lin Qingqian was well-mannered. She initiated a conversation with us, gentle and polite.
"Yueyue, Xiaoxue, we'll be family from now on. Please be kind to me," she said with a smile.
I returned an equally proper smile. "Qingqian-jie, you're too polite. It's us who should be asking for your guidance." Jiang Xue remained cold-faced and silent.
The atmosphere grew awkward for a moment.
I decided to add more fuel to the fire.
"Qingqian-jie," I asked with feigned innocence, "how did you and my brother meet? I heard from him that you two were very close back in university."
As soon as I said this, both Jiang Chen and Jiang Xue's faces changed.
Jiang Chen looked guilty.
Jiang Xue looked jealous.
Lin Qingqian smiled bashfully. "It wasn't anything special, just ordinary classmates. Your brother was very popular at school, the student council president. I was just a small staff member under him." Her words were modest, but the admiration in her eyes was unmistakable.
"Is that so?" I turned to Jiang Chen, putting on a look of "admiration." "Brother, you're amazing! So Qingqian-jie admired you even back then! You two are truly destined!" Then I deliberately looked at Jiang Xue and said, "Xiaoxue, don't you agree? Brother and Qingqian-jie are practically a match made in heaven!"
I emphasized the words "match made in heaven," making them ring out clearly.
Like a needle, they pierced straight into Jiang Xue's heart.
Her expression was beyond ugly. It was a twisted mask of jealousy, resentment, fury, and despair.
Her hands under the table clenched into fists, her nails digging deep into her palms.
I could practically hear the roar inside her mind.
**[Truth: "Shut up! Shut up! Jiang Yue, you bitch!**
**Shut up! What a match made in heaven! He's my brother!**
**He can only be mine!"]**
Perfect.
The emotions were simmering nicely.
Now, for the climax.
Midway through the banquet, it was time for the main event. Following the schedule, the protagonists – Jiang Chen and Lin Qingqian – were to go on stage to give speeches and receive everyone's blessings.
Jiang Chen walked stiffly onto the stage. Holding the microphone, he mumbled a few platitudes.
When it was Lin Qingqian's turn, she was far more composed and eloquent, her words full of hope for the future.
Thunderous applause erupted from below.
Mom and Dad beamed, grinning from ear to ear.
Right then, I raised my hand.
"Host," I called out in a clear, innocent voice, "may I say a few words?"
All eyes focused on me once again.
The host paused, looking towards my dad.
Dad, unsure of my intentions but seeing my obedient expression, nodded his consent.
I walked onto the stage and took the microphone from the host.
First, I bowed politely to the guests below with a smile. "Today is the joyous occasion of my brother and Qingqian-jie's engagement. As a sister, I am truly, truly happy for them."
"My brother has been my idol since childhood. He is outstanding, handsome, and responsible. I've always felt that only the very best girl in the world deserves him."
"Today, seeing Qingqian-jie, I feel I've found the answer."
My heartfelt words delighted the Lin family immensely.
My parents also looked pleased and relieved.
Jiang Chen and Jiang Xue's faces, however, grew increasingly grim.
I shifted my tone and looked straight at Jiang Xue.
"The happiest person today shouldn't be me. It should be my other sister, Jiang Xue."
I reached out towards Jiang Xue, smiling warmly. "Xiaoxue, your bond with your brother is the deepest in our family. You've been inseparable since you were little. I know you wish for your brother's happiness more than anyone else. Now that he's found his happiness, shouldn't you come up here and say a few words of blessing?"
I was pushing her straight into the fire.
All eyes turned towards Jiang Xue.
She was trapped. To go up or not?
If she went up, what could she say?
Offer hypocritical blessings to that "pair"?
She couldn't do it.
Not go up?
That would be an insult to the Lin family, an insult to everyone present.
She would become the biggest joke of the day.
Jiang Xue's face flushed, then paled, alternating rapidly.
She looked towards Jiang Chen with a pleading gaze.
Jiang Chen avoided her eyes.
He couldn't, and dared not, stand up for her in this setting.
Utter despair flashed in Jiang Xue's eyes.
Under the collective stare of the crowd, Jiang Xue finally shuffled reluctantly onto the stage.
She took the microphone from me, her hands trembling violently.
She looked down at Jiang Chen and Lin Qingqian below. Her gaze was like a poisoned dagger.
Dead silence filled the banquet hall.
Everyone waited for her to speak.
I watched her with keen interest.
Come on, Jiang Xue.
Show me how you plan to perform.
Will you choose to keep up the act and offer those insincere blessings?
Or will you choose to tear off the mask completely and turn this engagement banquet into a farce?
I was looking forward to it.
Jiang Xue took a deep breath and finally spoke.
Her voice held an eerie calm.
"I..."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over Jiang Chen, over Lin Qingqian, and finally landing on my parents' faces.
"I bless my brother, Jiang Chen," she enunciated each word clearly, "May he... get what he wishes for, and be forever... 'happy'."
She bit down hard on the word "happy," dripping with sarcasm.
The people below sensed something was wrong.
Chairman Lin frowned.
Dad's face darkened again.
I "perfectly timed" stepping forward, grabbing another microphone, and "smoothly interjected" with a smile.
"What Xiaoxue means is, she hopes brother can be with the person he truly loves and find genuine happiness! That's just how kind-hearted our Xiaoxue is, always thinking of brother!" My words, seemingly meant to explain to her, were aouring oil on the flames.
"Be with the person he truly loves"?
Wasn't that directly implying Jiang Chen didn't love Lin Qingqian, and that this arranged marriage had ulterior motives?
Sure enough, Lin Qingqian's face instantly changed.
Chairman Lin's face turned as black as a pot.
Jiang Xue, "interpreted" by me like this, was utterly enraged.
She was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, exploding instantly.
"Jiang Yue! Shut your mouth!" she shrieked, shoving me away violently.
"What do you mean, kind? I'm not kind at all! I hate her! I hate Lin Qingqian! I hate everyone who tries to steal Brother Chen away from me!" She had lost it.
She pointed a trembling finger at Lin Qingqian, screaming hoarsely, "What right do you have to marry him? You don't understand him at all! You don't know what he likes to eat, you don't know he's afraid of thunder, you don't know he hugs a pillow when he sleeps! Only I know these things! Only me!"
She whirled towards Jiang Chen, tears streaming down her face, "Brother Chen! Tell them! Tell them you love me! Tell them you don't want to marry her! Tell them!"
The entire hall was frozen in shock.
Everyone was dumbfounded by this sudden eruption.
This was no longer a farce.
This was a scandal.
A colossal scandal that would utterly disgrace both the Jiang and Lin families.
Dad's face had shifted from black to purple.
Mom simply rolled her eyes and fainted from rage.
Jiang Chen stood on the stage, pale as a statue, completely immobile.
Chairman Lin shot to his feet, pointing an accusing finger at my dad and cursing, "Jiang Hai! Are you fucking playing me?! Is this your precious daughter?! Is this the upbringing of your Jiang family?!"
Lin Qingqian was also crying. She pointed at Jiang Chen and Jiang Xue, trembling all over, "You... you're despicable! Disgusting!"
With that, she turned and ran out.
The Lin family followed, storming out in fury.
The meticulously planned engagement banquet had, thus, completely descended into a laughingstock.
And I, standing amidst the wreckage on the stage, looking at the chaotic scene before me, at Jiang Xue's face twisted with madness, at Jiang Chen's desolate, broken figure.
I smiled.
A genuine, heartfelt smile.
Jiang Xue. Jiang Chen.
And my dear parents.