Attending such a grand banquet at a prominent family's estate was usually a matter of business and an exchange of benefits. The invited guests would typically send a representative. However, for a family of Lu's standing, bringing the entire family of three signified their respect for the host and was considered an honor.
The Ye family, on the other hand, held far less sway in the North City compared to the Gu family. Yet, they showed up with their entire entourage of six, including the elders and children. One might mistake them for a family on the brink of bankruptcy, desperately seeking a free meal at someone else's event.
They clearly lacked the most basic etiquette and manners for attending a banquet, yet they aspired to associate with the Lu family? They were surely destined to become the laughingstock of the entire city.
"The number of guests at our Ye family's annual meeting is none of the Gu family's business. Madam Gu, you're meddling a bit too much," Yu He said with a light laugh.
"The Ye family's annual meeting?!"
Qin Meimei scoffed, "Are you still dreaming? Do you even know where you are? This is the Gu family's annual meeting!"
"I think it's you, Madam Gu, who is confused," Yu He retorted, glancing at the placard at the entrance. "If you can't see the writing clearly, Madam Gu, perhaps you should put on your reading glasses."
Everyone turned to look at the entrance placard. Boldly inscribed on it were the words "Shi Xun Annual Meeting."
Shi Xun was the name of Ye Qichen's domestic branch company.
Qin Meimei and Gu Tianlei's faces turned ashen. They had been busy greeting guests since their arrival and hadn't noticed the lettering on the placard. In that instant, they were unsure if the placard had been switched or if it had always been there.
If it had been there all along, and all the guests had seen it...
Qin Meimei's expression darkened. Making such a novice mistake was truly embarrassing.
"Oh dear, such large letters, Madam Gu, and you can't see them? I'm old, and I can see 'Shi Xun Annual Meeting' from this distance. Are your eyes alright? Perhaps you should see a doctor?" Old Mrs. Ye said with exaggerated concern.
"Grandma, my teacher says it's impolite to expose someone's shortcomings in public; it makes them feel ashamed. You know she has poor eyesight, so don't mention it," Ye Zizheng earnestly reminded her.
"That's right, you're a good listener to your teacher. You'll get a bit more allowance this month," Ye Qichen praised, ruffling Ye Zizheng's hair.
Yu He thought: *Having fun at their expense, are you?*
Lu Chenyu's heart did a little leap of joy upon seeing the placard. So his goddess hadn't changed the venue without informing him.
"Didn't you just say this venue was rented by your Gu family?" he asked Qin Meimei coldly, speaking his mind directly.
He wanted to support his goddess.
"So, we didn't come to the wrong place after all. Why would Madam Gu say such a thing?" Madam Lu also chimed in to support her son.
After speaking, she gave Yu He a reassuring look, signaling that the Lu family was backing them.
"This is preposterous!" Even Lu Enhua spoke up.
Yu He suddenly found all of them quite endearing.
"I was wondering why the Gu family of three was acting like hosts and stealing the spotlight at the Ye family's annual meeting."
"Indeed, I thought the Gu family had completely fallen on hard times, reduced to being servants for the Ye family."
"Qin Meimei just claimed she rented the venue. Look at that slap in the face."
"I heard earlier that Qin Meimei was fighting with Young Master Ye over this venue. It seems she couldn't secure it, so she resorted to forceful occupation."
"So arrogant."
"Her domineering behavior in North City isn't new. The Ye family is truly unfortunate to have crossed her."
"Won't anyone do something about her?"
The guests in the ballroom whispered amongst themselves, murmuring in discussion.
Gu Tianlei wished he could find a hole to crawl into after this public humiliation. He couldn't understand how Qin Meimei, who usually handled things flawlessly, could make such a basic mistake.
"How did you manage this?" he couldn't help but scold Qin Meimei.
Qin Meimei's face turned as dark as ink. Even Gu Tianlei was questioning her competence, and her temper flared.
"What exactly is going on here? Who played a prank and switched the placard?" she demanded sternly.
Her assistant, seeing Qin Meimei's anger, was also flustered and immediately called the lobby manager to find out what happened.
"Th-this has been here all along? It is indeed the Ye family's company annual meeting. Does Madam Gu have a problem?" the lobby manager asked, utterly bewildered.
From the moment he received the notification, it had always been the Ye family's company annual meeting.
"There's a big problem! Your store manager signed this venue contract to me! Are you all incompetent? How do you do your jobs if you don't even know when the client for the venue collaboration has changed!" Qin Meimei exploded.
"Get your store manager down here!"
Her perfectly planned annual meeting couldn't be ruined!
"I apologize, the store manager is currently entertaining distinguished guests and is unavailable to meet with you," the lobby manager replied.
Qin Meimei's face turned grim. "Say that again!"
Yu He, sensing the time was right, spoke up, "No matter how many times you say it, it won't change the fact that you failed to secure the venue."
She then exchanged a look with Ye Qichen, who understood and walked into the ballroom. "I apologize for keeping you all waiting. The Gu family's little performance of usurping the host was an opening act prepared for you. Please, continue. The Shi Xun Annual Meeting officially begins..."
"Not everyone has arrived yet. How can the show begin?"
Suddenly, a deep and magnetic voice interrupted his announcement.
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Yu He's eyelashes fluttered slightly.
The voice came from the elevator, and as everyone turned to look, they realized the elevator doors had opened at some point.
A man with a face so handsome it defied description, exuding an air of noble grace, stepped out of the elevator with steady strides.
Yu He watched the man approach, a slight smile playing on her lips.
Several female guests gasped softly, "Lord Qin!"
"Even Lord Qin is here."
"Was he invited?"
"Then he must have immense influence!"
Seeing Qin Beiting was like seeing a lifeline for Qin Meimei, and even more so, the store manager of Di Sheng was following behind the lifeline.
She instinctively felt that Qin Beiting was here to support her.
She eagerly stepped forward, "Lord Qin, the store manager..." Da Feng Novel Network.
"Don't move!"
Before she could get close, a group of uniformed police officers suddenly emerged from the stairwell, quickly subdued Qin Meimei, forced her to the ground, and handcuffed her.
"What are you doing! Let me go!" Qin Meimei struggled.
"Qin Meimei, you are suspected of instigating murder, kidnapping, and plotting to take someone's life. Please accompany us." The leading officer stated.
"Gu Tianlei, the annual report disclosed by Gu Corporation contains false entries and misleading statements. Gu Corporation's stocks have been forcibly suspended and delisted by the stock exchange, with a penalty of permanent delisting. Please return with us to cooperate with the investigation."
Another police officer showed his badge to Gu Tianlei and waved his hand. Two officers immediately handcuffed Gu Tianlei.