Chapter 363: How could you say she has no parents?

Jiang Lai looked at the staff member, composed and calm, saying: "I think you brought me to the wrong seat; this is Ji Lao's seat, not mine."

The staff member immediately began apologizing, saying they had made a work mistake and forgotten to change the seat card.

Jiang Lai said no need to change it; this relatively front-and-center seat is currently beyond her seniority, and she asked where her own seat was.

The staff member was completely bewildered; no one had told her, and she was just following orders.

Jiang Lai saw that she had been pushed forward as a shield, saw no need to make things difficult, and only said: "You can go ask."

The staff member walked away with a pale face.

Shen Lao felt sorry for Jiang Lai being targeted, anger rising on his face; someone, to soothe Shen Lao and also to give Jiang Lai a favor, proactively offered to give up their seat.

"There's nothing to refuse or not refuse; these people can't even arrange a seat properly, it's simply improper." Some remarks aren't suitable for Jiang Lai to say, but Shen Lao's age and seniority put him in a position to say them.

As soon as Shen Lao finished speaking, the people around fell silent instantly.

This wasn't just a simple seating arrangement issue; it was an unspoken identity balance within the circle.

The oversight of the seat and seat card seemed like neglect of many trivial matters, but actually someone hadn't truly taken Jiang Lai's ability and weight into account.

Regardless of whose little schemes were behind it, today there must be an explanation and a proper arrangement.

Jiang Lai stood beside Shen Lao, neither humble nor arrogant; the junior assistants Xiao Qian and Shen Bingrui in the back row were about to burst with anger.

Xiao Qian angrily said: "How come? My senior sister's forty-plus research papers aren't good enough for anyone's eyes? My senior sister's papers have been cited over four thousand times—still not good enough for anyone's eyes? The four-year self-developed chip project breakthrough that even won awards—is that all fake?"

Her voice was neither loud nor soft, reaching most people's ears; among those present, who would dare say they had never cited a paper by Jiang Lai? Even if they hadn't, their disciples surely had.

Just when everyone was unsure what to do and the matter didn't concern them, Gu Hai arrived, his secretary holding Jiang Lai's seat card in hand, first taking responsibility for the situation.

A voice came from behind; Jiang Lai turned around.

The moment Gu Hai saw her, he froze.

"Sorry, Dr. Jiang, it was an oversight by the staff below, already reprimanded." The secretary smiled, gestured, and said, "Dr. Jiang, this way, please; I'll take you there."

Even the Gu District Chief had come; this matter had to be settled one way or another, and Jiang Lai didn't say much more, turning and going to her own seat under Gu Hai's astonished, dazed gaze.

Ji Lao's original seat was empty, the seat card removed.

Jiang Lai sat down; from the morning opening ceremony to the afternoon frontier technology seminar's end, she faintly sensed someone watching her, with scrutiny and also complexity.

She attended the meeting wholeheartedly.

Those who secretly watched her, however, were not calm on the surface.

Before the business banquet began, Gu Hai called his elder brother: "Ke Zhongyu's girlfriend Jiang Lai, I've seen her in person—have you?"

After a moment of silence on the line, Gu Sen: "I've seen her; she came to attend the seminar?"

Gu Hai: "Mm."

Gu Sen: "Pretty impressive."

Gu Hai: "Yes, pretty impressive."

He had intended to use this opportunity to test the newcomer's spirit, but who knew Jiang Lai wouldn't buckle under pressure—instead she gave him a direct blow.

That face…

In the midst of Gu Hai's recollection, Gu Sen suddenly exclaimed: "Oh no, Zhi Yan went to find you, Gu Hai—watch him! Don't let him cause trouble!"

Gu Hai furrowed his brows, nodded in agreement.

After hanging up, he had his secretary check the banquet's situation, see who had come, and incidentally see whether Gu Zhiyan was present.

Not long after, the secretary returned saying: "Young Master Gu is here, and Chief Ke is also here."

Gu Hai exclaimed in surprise: "He wasn't supposed to come?"

But Ke Zhongyu hadn't contacted him; presumably he took another route, preferring to give this favor to someone else rather than the Gu family.

Thinking of Jiang Lai, he seemed to understand as well; Gu Hai couldn't help sighing: "What a sin, I don't know what kind of fate this is—cannot be torn apart."

The secretary, half-understanding, asked: "Do you want to go over?"

Gu Hai shook his head: "I can't wade into this muddy water."

The secretary said yes.

……

Shen Lao was old and usually disliked such business banquets, but he left his grandson behind, giving him countless instructions.

"Being ostracized by the circle is something many people experience; you should help Jiang Lai more. Many things she, as the party involved, cannot say or do, otherwise her actions will be magnified, and verbal and written attacks are not unheard of—especially regarding the Ji Lao incident, since no one knows who reported it, everyone defaults to blaming her, and she won't receive any genuine goodwill."

Shen Bingrui patted his chest and assured: "Don't worry, Grandpa, I'm here."

Shen Lao: "This time, if you say the wrong thing or do the wrong thing, I'll cover for you—don't be afraid."

Shen Lao got into the car, gazing ahead, couldn't help muttering: "Old Cui, old Cui, you say you wouldn't live to this age if not to bother Jiang Lai—if she'd entered my school, today this wouldn't have happened; these people love to bully those without parents."

The car drove off, and Shen Bingrui immediately turned back; Jiang Lai and Xiao Qian were still waiting for him.

The three walked from the main hall to the banquet hall.

Such a business banquet differed from the specially held reception in A City; attire requirements were low—just neat and formal—and most people wore their daytime outfits.

A banquet that broke free from the formal daytime report atmosphere, focusing on private technical exchange and business discussion, emphasized ease and freedom; even though round tables divided fields, companies, and guest tiers, one could switch tables midway.

Upon entering, Jiang Lai saw Ke Zhongyu seated in the guest area, his expression indifferent, calm and composed, his gaze intentionally seeking someone.

When their eyes met, Ke Zhongyu rose and walked straight toward Jiang Lai.

Ke Zhongyu's action also drew many eyes; shortly after, one saw Ke Clan's Chief Ke sitting with Dr. Jiang at the same table.

During the meal they didn't whisper to each other, but once seated together they gave the impression of being a well-matched pair.

"Are you adapting?" Ke Zhongyu asked.

Jiang Lai nodded: "Gradually adapting."

She didn't mention the seat card and seat issue; left and right, it had already been properly settled.

What truly made her uncomfortable was that, from this morning until now, there had always been many scrutinizing glances—initially just because of her, now there was one more because of Ke Zhongyu.

However, with Ke Zhongyu sitting beside her, she felt quite at ease.

Just as he was thinking, a familiar face appeared at the banquet.

When she spotted Gu Zhiyan, he also saw her, and after greeting an acquaintance, he walked straight over.

Jiang Lai sighed.

She knew coming to B City wouldn't be peaceful.

She really didn't like B City.

Gu Zhiyan sat down, and Jiang Lai thought he would, as in A City, speak without restraint to make things difficult for her.

Even as the Eldest Son of the Gu Family, he at least knew what occasion this was; messing up would harm his uncle and the Gu family's interests.

Throughout the banquet he said nothing, but his gaze would occasionally flick over to Jiang Lai.

Ke Zhongyu once wanted to gouge out his eyes, but unfortunately Gu Sen rushed over in a hurry.

With the elders presiding, and given the occasion, things hadn't yet reached the point of flying into a rage.

But whenever Gu Zhiyan made the slightest move, Ke Zhongyu's icy gaze would first gouge at him.

Gu Sen, caught in the middle, wanted to quickly take his reckless son away once the banquet ended.

Gu Zhiyan had finally found a chance to meet Jiang Lai; how could he miss it?

He still wouldn't give up, wanting to obtain a letter of forgiveness for Lin Shutong to get a suspended sentence.

Once a child's wings are hardened, a father can't control him—let alone Gu Zhiyan, who is young and strong; how could Gu Sen possibly hold him back?

Outside the banquet hall.

Gu Zhiyan approached Jiang Lai, no longer overbearing as before, and said somewhat gently: "Jiang Lai, Shutong already knows her fault; she has admitted guilt and written a self-criticism, it was just a crime of passion—give her one chance, okay?"

The high-and-mighty Gu lawyer lowered his head for love.

Gu Sen immediately objected: "Gu Zhiyan, everyone must pay for their actions, whether first offense or crime of passion—intentional murder is a grave sin!"

Gu Zhiyan had no time for his father; he could no longer give Lin Shutong marriage, nor let her spend three years in prison.

The more his family forbade him from doing something, the more he insisted on doing it—how could he always be the one to compromise?

Gu Zhiyan looked at the woman he once likened to an ant trying to shake a tree; now the roles were reversed, he felt like the ant trying to shake the tree, a suffocating feeling in his chest.

When Jiang Lai didn't respond, Gu Zhiyan again activated his high-and-mighty Young Master mode: "Jiang Lai, what do you want? Name your terms."

Ke Zhongyu: "I'm here—what conditions do you have that could move her? No power, no influence, no money."

Gu Zhiyan's neck veins bulged: "Ke Zhongyu!"

Jiang Lai solemnly said: "I will never write a letter of forgiveness; I have no duty or obligation to forgive someone who tried to kill me and hurt my boyfriend."

Gu Zhiyan: "She did it only because she cares about her family! If it weren't for Ji Lao's accident, she wouldn't have acted so impulsively!"

Jiang Lai realized Gu Zhiyan really had a problem—if you said he had analytical ability, he only analyzed half and left the other half unexamined.

Even if Ji Lao was the one she reported, the root of this matter was Lin Shutong and Ji Lao themselves.

Gu Zhiyan: "Jiang Lai, you're an orphan with no parents, no relatives, so you don't understand why she did this, but having read so many books you at least understand……"

"Gu Zhiyan!"

Before he could finish, his father cut him off harshly, Gu Sen's anger rising to his throat: "How could you say that about her!"

Gu Zhiyan turned to look at his father: "I'm stating the facts—what's wrong with that……"

Smack!

Gu Sen slapped Gu Zhiyan across the face with full force, leaving a palm print and even making his tall stature stagger.

Jiang Lai was somewhat surprised.

Ke Zhongyu remained indifferent.

"How could you say that about her! How could you call her an orphan, say she has no parents, no relatives!" Gu Sen trembled, voice shaking: "She's your own sister!"

As soon as the words fell, the surroundings fell silent.

Like an omen before a storm.

Gu Sen also hadn't expected himself to blurt it out, unable to keep his mouth shut.

Jiang Lai stood frozen in place.

Ke Zhongyu furrowed his brows.

Gu Zhiyan's ears rang, suspecting he'd suffered auditory hallucinations from the blow, he asked in disbelief: "Dad, what nonsense are you spouting?"