Birthday banquet

The day of the Tao Family's birthday banquet soon arrived: May 13.

On the top floor of the lavish hotel, crystal chandeliers cast a dazzling white light, and the gleaming floor reflected the guests coming and going.

The Tao Family had invited either companies they wanted to work with or wealthy people whose favor they hoped to gain.

Holding a glass of red wine, Tao Father said, "I heard the Mu Family's youngest son also attends Shengyuan. If the Mu Family honors us by attending this banquet, it would truly be a privilege for our family."

Tao Niannian glanced around. "Why isn't my sister here? Is she still angry with me and refusing to celebrate my birthday?"

Tao Mother snorted. "She wouldn't dare. We can overlook her usual willfulness, but today is your birthday. As your older sister, she has to be here!"

Tao Jingcheng reassured her. "Exactly, Niannian. Li Zhaoxi still owes you an apology, so she'll definitely come. Don't worry. Our eldest brother has already gone to pick her up. They should be here any moment."

Speak of the devil: Tao Jingxing appeared at the banquet. But he was alone. Forget Li Zhaoxi—not a soul had come with him.

Tao Mother looked displeased. "Where's Li Zhaoxi? Is she throwing another tantrum? Doesn't she know what day it is?"

Tao Jingxing looked upset. "When I got to school, Li Zhaoxi said she was coming with her classmates and didn't need me to pick her up."

"Friends?" Tao Niannian feigned surprise. "I've never heard of my sister having any friends at school. Those classmates of hers do nothing but fight and skip class. What if they're leading her astray?!"

Feeling utterly humiliated, Tao Father snapped, "That little brat!"

Tao Niannian tried to soothe him. "Dad, my sister has just been deceived. When she gets here, we should talk some sense into her so she doesn't go down the wrong path."

"You're the one who never makes me worry, Niannian."

Li Zhaoxi entered in an off-white casual suit, a stark contrast to Tao Niannian's red dress.

Li Zhaoxi calmly swept her gaze over the Tao Family and smiled. "I could hear Dad cursing me from way over there. If I wasn't welcome, you should've said so earlier instead of making me come all this way."

Tao Mother scolded her. "Li Zhaoxi, you knew perfectly well what day it was, yet you deliberately upset everyone. Can't you be more sensible and learn from your sister instead of always making us worry?"

Xie Yunshu stepped forward. "I don't like the sound of that, Mrs. Tao. Xixi seems like a very sensible, well-behaved girl to me. You, on the other hand, started berating her the moment you saw her. Isn't that going a little too far?"

Tao Niannian frowned. "Who are you? What gives you the right to interfere in our family's business?"

Xie Yunshu smiled. "Your father knows who I am. Let him tell you."

Looking confused, Tao Niannian turned to Tao Father, who looked visibly nervous. "That's Chairman Mu's wife."

Tao Niannian's eyes widened. "What? Mrs. Mu?! Why would Mrs. Mu arrive with Li Zhaoxi?"

Tao Jingcheng scoffed. "Maybe it's a coincidence. How could a country bumpkin like Li Zhaoxi possibly know someone as important as the Mu Family?"

Tao Jingxing's brows knitted tightly. "Li Zhaoxi, get over here and stop embarrassing yourself. The Mu Family isn't someone our family can afford to offend."

Tang Yun had been examining the surroundings, but those words immediately displeased him. "Does your family have to control everything, including who she makes friends with? She came with us, so naturally she's staying with us."

Tao Mother frowned. "And who are you?"

"I'm from the Tang Family of Yan Jing. Look us up when you have time."

"The Tang Family... of Yan Jing?!"

Tao Jingxing's pupils trembled in shock. Apparently, he knew how influential the Tang Family of Yan Jing was. Compared to them, the Tao Family was like dust beneath the clouds.

Tao Father said nothing either, his expression unreadable.

When had Li Zhaoxi gotten to know the Mu Family?

Li Zhaoxi only wanted this birthday banquet to end as soon as possible. She had a more important banquet waiting to begin.

"Isn't this supposed to be a birthday banquet? Everyone's here now. When does it start?"

Suppressing his doubts and displeasure, Tao Father walked onto the stage and raised the microphone. "Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend my daughter Tao Niannian's birthday banquet. I hope you enjoy yourselves tonight, and I wish my daughter Niannian everlasting joy and happiness. Your mother and father will always love you!"

Deeply moved, Tao Niannian ran onto the stage and hugged Tao Father. The rest of the Tao Family watched from the side, their eyes reddening with emotion, while applause rose from the guests.

Only the Mu Family and Li Zhaoxi remained expressionless. Yan Wen even rolled his eyes, unable to stand it any longer.

Gao Yuyang whispered, "Don't be sad. We'll celebrate your birthday for you later."

Li Zhaoxi managed a smile. "Thank you, but you don't have to go to the trouble. It's just a birthday."

"How can you say that? A birthday is the most important day in a person's life. It's proof that they came into this world."

Li Zhaoxi looked toward Tao Mother, who was taking Tao Niannian around to meet the wealthy families. She remembered her adopted daughter's birthday but not her biological daughter's. Had her birth ever truly been wanted?

Yan Wen changed the subject. "Come take a look around with us."

Li Zhaoxi smiled and nodded, casually showing them around. "They hold Tao Niannian's birthday banquet here every year, so I know the layout well. If there's anywhere you want to go, just ask me."

Yan Wen asked, "There are still three hours until the Family Severance Banquet. Let me ask one more time: are you sure you won't regret it?"

Li Zhaoxi shook her head and smiled. "My only regret is not seeing this family's true colors sooner. I'll never regret cutting ties with them for as long as I live."

"Then I can rest easy. Everything's already arranged."

"Thank you. I couldn't have done this without you."

"All I did was ask my mom to help organize the banquet. I didn't really help with anything else."

Tao Mother temporarily left the banquet. Spotting Li Zhaoxi, Tao Niannian walked over. "Li Zhaoxi, how does it feel? Your parents are celebrating my birthday and have forgotten yours. That must really hurt, right?"

Li Zhaoxi irritably stepped back. "Tao Niannian, just enjoy your birthday. Why are you coming over to bother me?"

Tao Niannian looked at Li Zhaoxi, then at Yan Wen, Tang Yun, and Gao Yuyang. With contempt, she said, "Tell me, what tricks did you use to latch onto someone as important as the Mu Family? If Mom and Dad find out you slept your way into their good graces, they'll beat you to death, won't they?!"

Tao Niannian made no effort to lower her voice. More than half the people at the banquet heard what she said, and quite a few began pointing at Li Zhaoxi and passing judgment.

Yan Wen shot back, "You must have had a very limited life, Miss Tao, if sleeping with people is the only way you know to make friends."

Xie Yunshu said, "Miss Tao, I suggest you learn some gratitude. The Tao Family raised you for twenty years. Instead of repaying them, you're plotting to harm their biological daughter. You'll get what you deserve for this."

Tao Jingcheng had just finished a conversation and was looking for Tao Niannian when he spotted her surrounded by Li Zhaoxi and a group of people, seemingly being bullied.

That was how it looked to him, anyway.

Tao Jingcheng strode over and shoved Li Zhaoxi aside, shielding Tao Niannian behind him. Li Zhaoxi nearly fell, but Tang Yun reacted quickly and caught her.

Tao Niannian said pitifully, "Jingcheng, Mrs. Mu said I stole someone else's place and that I'm ungrateful. Didn't Mom and Dad say I was their own daughter? Why would Mrs. Mu say I stole someone else's place?"

Tao Jingcheng glared angrily at Xie Yunshu. "Mrs. Mu, Niannian hasn't done anything to you, has she? As an elder, do you think it's appropriate to humiliate someone younger than you in front of all these people?"

"Li Zhaoxi, are you just going to watch them bully Niannian? How did our family raise such an ungrateful wretch?"

Li Zhaoxi laughed in anger and rolled her eyes. "Your family? Raised me? Aren't you afraid lightning will strike you for saying that? When has your family ever raised me?!"

"You little brat!"

Tao Father, Tao Mother, and Tao Jingxing hurried over, and the guests instinctively parted to let them through.