Chapter 14: Announcing the Relationship on Stage

Qin Zi Mo, to keep Qiao An steady, could only tacitly agree.

Qiao An didn't believe, "Did you get it wrong? Could she be lying to you? The Song Group, that's truly one of Kyoto's top aristocratic families, assets are about a hundred billion! She, Song Huan Yan, is the Song Family heiress?"

Qin Zi Mo said, "I went to her house myself this morning to pick her up; how could I be mistaken?"

Qiao An fell silent, her heart pounding wildly.

Qin Zi Mo couldn't bother to argue about Qiao An's earlier pretension of being a top aristocratic family in front of him, and said, "Your family can't provoke the Song family either. So Qiao An, be obedient, keep your hands to yourself, just listen to me."

Having said that, Qin Zi Mo tried to leave.

Qiao An grabbed him, "Are you lying to me? You said you were only pretending to be close to her to take everything, but actually you want to be with her and ditch me, right?!"

Qin Zi Mo was very headache‑stricken; he needed to understand that Qiao An has such a crazy personality, so why hadn't he been lured by her before?

Now he still had to soothe her, saying, "There's nothing like that, don't overthink. But Qiao An, making a scene won't help; you stole the boyfriend of the Song Family heiress, which wounds their family's face, and the Song family won't let your family off. It might even put your family in jeopardy because of you."

Qiao An bit her lip and finally said, "I understand, I won't cause trouble."

Qin Zi Mo then let out a huge sigh of relief.

Qiao An, however, looped her arms around his neck, tugging his belt, "Then I want you to prove that you love me! Otherwise, we'll all be destroyed together!"

Qin Zi Mo had no choice; to fully keep Qiao An steady, he could only… continue to compromise with her.

When the two came down from the Rooftop, they went separate ways; Qin Zi Mo entered the banquet hall first, and the banquet was about to start.

Song Huan Yan also entered the banquet hall, standing with her parents, while Sang Wan and Tang Chenge stood beside her.

The Qin Family's seats were originally in the Main Seat area, but apparently they were changed; now the Qin Family sits in a corner, quite far from the Main Seat area.

Yet even so, from a distance one could see Song Huan Yan surrounded like the moon among stars, radiant with beauty.

Beside Qin Zi Mo's table were the guests he invited, all directors, producers, investors he had worked with, as well as company staff.

As soon as he sat down, someone eagerly said, "Congratulations, Qin Yingdi! Why weren't you accompanying Miss Song when she entered just now?"

Qin Zi Mo felt a pang of guilt and said, "I went to the restroom."

The person replied, "Wow, I didn't expect Miss Song to actually be the Song Family heiress! You two kept it so well hidden, so low‑key! Qin Yingdi, your luck is truly extraordinary, being able to become engaged to the Song Family heiress!"

Qin Zi Mo twitched his lips and said, "Then please enjoy the food and drink later."

The person nodded repeatedly, "Definitely, definitely!"

Qin Zi Mo could feel that anyone who knew him and knew today was his engagement looked at him with utmost envy.

Only, how did all these people already know Song Huan Yan's identity?

Li Peilan leaned over, whispering, "What took you so long? Just now Yan Yan entered with great fanfare; her parents and older brother personally went to greet her, so… everyone knows."

Qin Zi Mo could only nod, his mind tangled.

At this moment Qiao An finally rushed into the banquet hall; after all, there were still a few minutes before the official start.

Banquets have auspicious times and will start on schedule.

But even if she's late, it doesn't matter; she's not the protagonist.

However, in her haste she accidentally bumped into someone.

"You walk…" Qiao An hadn't finished scolding when she suddenly saw the man… handsome!

So handsome!

That face is miles away from Qin Zi Mo's.

The man lightly steadied her, his voice pleasant, "Are you okay?"

Qiao An instantly changed expression, showing a hint of shy cuteness, shaking her head, "I'm fine."

The man's deep eyes shifted a little lower toward her collarbone, then he nodded, "Good then. The banquet is about to start, go in, don't be late."

After saying that he lifted his foot and walked away first, but his gaze at her carried an… indescribable tone.

Qiao An quickly replied, "Oh. Okay."

Once she took her seat, the banquet officially began.

The country's top‑rated famous host acted as MC, speaking elegant blessings on stage.

Then they invited the Song family members onto the stage to give speeches.

The Song family went up together to offer birthday wishes to Song Huan Yan.

Tears of joy welled in Song Huan Yan's eyes; the scene was warm, and the audience clapped enthusiastically.

Afterwards, Song's father publicly announced that he would gift twenty percent shares of the company as a birthday present to Song Huan Yan.

Ning Shuyue and adopted son Song Qicheng also presented gifts to Song Huan Yan, and the guests kept applauding.

Finally came the official polite words, urging guests to eat and drink well; then the Song family stepped down, and the feast began.

Today's banquet ingredients were also extremely high‑grade.

Song Huaiguo led his wife and children in toasting at the Main Seat area.

On Qin Zi Mo's side, there were only people constantly flattering him, envying him to the point they wished they could replace him.

Qin Jiao Jiao's eyes blurred at the dishes presented; she couldn't even name them, just kept eating greedily.

Her bear‑like son was noisy, pointing at this dish to eat, pointing at that dish to eat.

Qin Zi Mo, however, kept looking toward the Main Seat area; after the birthday wishes were given, when would the engagement… be announced?

Could it be that they'll wait until the banquet's end?

Li Peilan whispered, "Zi Mo, how much is the twenty percent share the in‑laws just mentioned?"

Qin Zi Mo's thoughts circled; after a moment he said, "If we take a thousand billion as the base, that's two hundred billion."

Li Peilan's eyes widened, she almost couldn't catch her breath, and hurried, "You must win over Yan Yan, from now on devote yourself wholeheartedly to her! This is a blessing our ancestors have sought for eighteen generations! If you ruin it, you'll have disgraced all our forebears!"

Qin Da Hai also said, "Your mother is right!"

Qin Zi Mo nodded.

Amid a table of luxurious dishes, he had no appetite at all; every second he hoped Song Huan Yan would suddenly come over, saying the breakup was just teasing him, but actually to give him a surprise.

Coax him again, take his hand onto the stage and announce the engagement!

But, the idea sounds fine; it's just that nothing's happened yet.

After the Song Family finished the toast, they also took their seats to dine.

At this moment, the guests around Qin Zi Mo started asking, "Qin Yingdi, isn't this your engagement banquet with Miss Song? Why has it turned into her personal birthday banquet, with no engagement announcement? Miss Song hasn't come over either?"

The question left Qin Zi Mo with a dull expression, so he simply pretended not to hear.

Qin Jiao Jiao switched seats with Qin Da Hai and whispered, "Brother, didn't you say your sister‑in‑law was going to surprise you? Why isn't there an announcement, and why isn't she coming? She can't really be breaking up with you, can she?"

Qin Zi Mo was in a foul mood and wanted to deny it, but he was also uneasy; as time ticked by, Song Huan Yan just sat in the Main Seat area, eating elegantly and aristocratically, showing no sign of coming over.

He said nothing.

Qin Jiao Jiao suddenly said, "In that case, brother, just go up on stage and propose to her! Didn't you buy the Engagement Ring?"

Speaking of that Engagement Ring, it really made him feel ashamed.

Qin Zi Mo still said nothing.

Qin Jiao Jiao added, "Even if she breaks up with you, you going up would still publicly announce your relationship. People like her care about face; she might not be able to come up on stage and openly admit that she just dumped you today. If she does admit it, then she's in the wrong—breaking up on such a wonderful day, isn't that bullying?"

Qin Jiao Jiao's words stirred Qin Zi Mo.

Now it seems this is the only way to force a duck onto the shelf.