This Fiancé, She Would Never Trade Him Away—even in Death!

At the same time, at the Sheng Family residence.

"What?! Change fiancés?!?"

Sheng Xia stared in disbelief at the impeccably dressed woman in a tailored suit before her.

The woman's indifferent voice was ruthless. "I've received word that Gu Yijin is not the Gu Family's biological child. I will not allow you to marry him."

"How is that possible... I don't believe it... If he isn't the Gu Family's child, then who could he be?"

"He was the child born out of wedlock by the Gu Family nanny's daughter. The real young master of the Gu Family was thrown into an orphanage, and only now has the truth come to light. Once tomorrow's banquet is over, the Gu Family will bring that child back."

Sheng Xia collapsed onto the carpet as though her soul had left her body.

Gu Yijin was the fiancé she had been most proud of. He was handsome, of good character, gentle and considerate toward her, unlike those playboy young masters in their circle.

The sisters around her all envied her for having such an excellent fiancé, and she had always taken great pride in it.

They had originally agreed to marry after graduating from university. She had only just begun to look forward to marriage and accepted the family-arranged match, yet now she was suddenly being told to change fiancés?

"You mean you want me to marry that real young master?"

"The only person you can marry is the Gu Family's heir."

"No! I won't marry anyone but A-Jin. So what if he isn't the Gu Family's real young master? His kindness to me, his love for me—they're all real!"

"I have no interest in discussing love with you. I'm merely informing you that you are to keep your distance from Gu Yijin at tomorrow's banquet. Do not do anything you shouldn't."

The woman lifted her suit sleeve to glance at her watch, her brows knitting slightly. "I'm leaving. I'll give you one night to think it through."

Sheng Xia gritted her teeth and said with hatred, "Of course. A heartless woman like you would never understand any of this. All you see is the company, family interests, money, status, and power. You don't understand love at all!"

The woman paused by the door.

"Do you need me to remind you? This marriage was decided by Mom and Dad before they died, not by me."

"After Mom and Dad died, if I hadn't managed the company, what would you have eaten or drunk? Where would the money you squander come from?"

"I still have banquet matters to deal with. I'm warning you—not to make trouble for me tomorrow."

Even after being accused by Sheng Xia like this, her voice remained as calm and cold as ever.

The door slowly closed, and the sound of high heels gradually faded away.

With nowhere to vent her anger, Sheng Xia could only pick up the lamp beside her and hurl it away.

She absolutely refused to marry some useless trash who had grown up in an orphanage!

Even if Gu Yijin was not the Gu Family's true young master, the education he had received was something a useless orphanage brat could never compare to.

How could a child raised in an orphanage compare with a true favored son of heaven? She believed Gu Yijin would not lose to that so-called real young master.

This fiancé, she would never trade him away—even in death!

The next night, at the Sheng Family's manor villa.

A red carpet had been laid outside the castle-like row of villas, stretching all the way beyond the manor gates.

Media reporters had long since set up their cameras, waiting to interview the guests arriving for the banquet.

People from all walks of life were watching this event, and naturally, the media would not let such a chance for traffic slip by.

A technology project released by a Sheng Family subsidiary had achieved tremendous success. This banquet appeared to be a networking event, but in truth, it was a celebration banquet.

The Sheng Family intended to announce Sheng Corporation's achievements to River City's upper society and win over more partners.

That night, nearly every prominent figure in River City with any status had come, and luxury cars filled the area outside.

Ruan Mingyi and Shen Qingling had also arrived. After getting out of the car, they saw camera flashes flickering nonstop in the distance. Prominent figures from every field appeared one after another on the red carpet; even people who appeared on television's financial channels were present.

Shen Qingling suddenly realized this was no simple banquet.

"Why are there so many people from the business and political worlds at the Sheng Family's banquet? This isn't an ordinary wealthy family banquet, is it?"

Shen Qingling looked at the dazzlingly glamorous woman beside him.

Today, Ruan Mingyi wore fifteen-centimeter Jimmy Choo patent leather red-soled heels. Her crimson velvet gown burst outward from the waist into a three-meter train.

Her vividly beautiful face was as intoxicating as Red Wine, her full red lips curving faintly upward. Gold powder traced a rising wing at the corners of her eyes, and when she smiled, her upturned eyes were utterly seductive.

The skin revealed by her deep V-neck was white as snow. A Van Cleef & Arpels diamond brooch gripped the fabric that seemed on the verge of slipping down, while the pigeon-blood ruby at her collarbone was dazzling enough to blind Shen Qingling.

Ruan Mingyi casually swept aside the curls hanging at her collarbone, and her rose-gold tassel earrings immediately chimed with a soft, fragmented sound.

"Of course. I heard from my father that the Sheng Family's company is undergoing a transformation. Sheng Corporation is investing heavily in technological development, and many people have seen the prospects in this field and want to cooperate with the Sheng Family. So, to be precise, this is a business networking event."

"But for me, all that is irrelevant. Those who don't care can just treat it as an ordinary banquet."

"What, are you nervous?"

In Ruan Mingyi's eyes, this was Shen Qingling's first time attending a banquet like this. As a university student who had yet to enter society, he would surely be somewhat uneasy.

But she did not know that Shen Qingling had grown up before cameras. Cameras, flashbulbs, banquets filled with clinking glasses—these had all been part of his former everyday life.

The entertainment industry's glittering extravagance was hardly inferior to that of these wealthy families. Why would he be nervous?

Shen Qingling gave a faint smile. "I'm fine."

Ruan Mingyi merely assumed he was too proud to show weakness. She did not laugh at him, only said gently, "If you're nervous, hold my hand tightly. Today, you're my male companion. We're one, and besides, you look so handsome today—I don't want other women to steal you away."

Shen Qingling was so handsome today that even passing dogs would turn to look at him.

When he had finished styling himself that afternoon and emerged in his suit, Ruan Mingyi's affection points immediately rose. The astonishment in her eyes could not be concealed at all.

Ruan Mingyi did not know whether beauty lay in the eye of the beholder, or whether Shen Qingling was simply outrageously handsome. She only felt that Shen Qingling was the most handsome and most distinguished man she had ever seen.

"I'm not that casual a man. Don't worry."

Shen Qingling raised a hand to adjust his cufflinks. Subtle dark-blue patterns shimmered across his black suit. It was a rare fabric woven from the nacre of black butterfly shells; when he walked, it was as if he wore the waves of the midnight sea upon his body.

That single movement alone made Ruan Mingyi's legs go weak.

He was clearly still a university student, yet he carried the poised, practiced nobility and calmness of someone who belonged in high society.

It was strange.

It was captivating.

She loved it.

Ruan Mingyi looped her arm through Shen Qingling's and stepped onto the red carpet, allowing the media to aim their flashes at her.

In truth, the flashes in the reporters' hands had not stopped from the moment Ruan Mingyi and Shen Qingling arrived.

Although such wealthy family banquets never lacked beautiful people, there was only one pair like Ruan Mingyi and Shen Qingling, appearing together and dazzling everyone blind.

Moreover, both of them were exceptionally striking. Shen Qingling's attire and bearing made him no different from an ordinary wealthy young master—he even looked more like a genuine heir born into an influential family.

His skin carried the cool sheen of jade. The lines from his brow bone to the bridge of his nose seemed carved by ice edges, and beneath those sharp brows were a pair of cold, distant eyes. When he did not smile, he was unexpectedly oppressive.

After standing there for a while, the two of them left. A reporter tried to interview Ruan Mingyi and Shen Qingling, but she directly refused.

Once inside the manor, dedicated staff came to receive them. Shen Qingling casually surveyed the estate and gained a deeper understanding of the Sheng Family's strength.

The Original Work said that the Sheng Family had once been evenly matched with the Gu Family, but after the new heir emerged, the Sheng Family would surpass the Gu Family.

It seemed this new heir of the Sheng Family was no ordinary person.

Both were children of the Sheng Family, so how had Sheng Xia turned out so foolish?

Shen Qingling could not understand it.

Once Ruan Mingyi and Shen Qingling formally entered the banquet hall, they attracted quite a few gazes.