National Heartthrob Falls in Love with Me

"Xiao Xia, I'm going to marry your brother-in-law soon, so you should set your heart at ease. Third Young Master Liu is a good man; you'll surely take to him."

Qiao Xia sneered coldly as she looked at Qiao Lan. Truly fitting for an actress, her acting skills were impressive indeed.

Everyone also recalled the rumors targeting Qiao Xia that Qiao Lan had spread a while back.

The crowd murmured among themselves, pointing and speculating.

"So, she's the Qiao Xia who tried to seduce her own brother-in-law, how shameless."

"Our Qiao Lan is really kind-hearted, still setting her up with boyfriends. If it were me, I would have kicked her out long ago."

"She's so desperate to marry into a wealthy family that she's even aiming for Third Young Master Liu. Does she want to be devoured so completely that nothing remains?"

"Craving for vanity is just terrifying..."

Seeing everyone cursing Qiao Xia made Qiao Lan even more complacent, "Your brother-in-law is indeed outstanding, but after all, he is your brother-in-law."

Qiao Xia couldn't hold back any longer, "Qiao Lan, stop pretending. I can't believe that in such a crowd, there isn't a single person who knows that just a few days ago, I, Qiao Xia, was Li Hui's fiancée. I was too lazy to argue with you and didn't want to say anything, but why do you have to be so aggressive!"

Qiao Lan hadn't expected Qiao Xia to reveal the truth under everyone's gaze. With Qiao Xia's character, wasn't she supposed to swallow her teeth and blood? How had she suddenly spoken out the truth? Indeed, several people knew the truth, but none wanted to offend anyone.

Qiao Lan's face flushed red, "You have no shame, I am Li Hui's fiancée. I've always regarded you as my sister and wanted to be tolerant, so I never said anything, but don't get the wrong idea."

Qiao Xia sneered disdainfully, "Who is shameless and presumptuous? You know very well."

"You unfilial granddaughter, I will beat you to death. Today is your sister's big day, and here you are, spouting nonsense!" Grandma Qiao swung her cane at her, which Qiao Xia deftly dodged. She was no longer the foolish Qiao Xia who stood still and took a beating.

There was a desolation in Qiao Xia's heart; her own family members were stabbing her relentlessly.

"Grandma, people have hearts made of flesh; heedless ranting can bring divine retribution," Qiao Xia said mockingly.

Grandma Qiao indeed favored Qiao Lan and was aware of the stakes. Qiao Xia was no longer useful; the Li family looked down on her, and it was best for Li Hui and Qiao Lan to be romantically involved. In the end, it was going to be a marriage alliance between the Qiao family and the Li family.

In fact, she disliked her granddaughter Qiao Xia.

The guests exchanged glances and whispered among themselves; the scene was becoming truly spectacular. None had anticipated that a visit to the Qiao family's banquet would reveal such explosive news—a love triangle between sisters over one man.

Liu Yitian didn't care about the Qiao family's internal strife; he was wholly fixated on Qiao Xia, finding her increasingly intriguing and to his taste.

"Could this be true?" Amidst a hushed silence, someone uttered these words, and the crowd's one-sided cursing of Qiao Xia shifted the atmosphere.

"I think she's delusional about marrying Li Hui."

"I also think she's sick. How could Qiao Lan do such a thing? She insists she's Li Hui's fiancée, but Li Hui has never acknowledged it."

"But the way she speaks, it doesn't sound like a lie."

"If it's true, then that's really big news."

Fang Xiaoxia said, "Qiao Xia, I know you want to marry my son, but should you really say such ridiculous things at your sister's engagement party?"

Qiao Xia turned pale, her frail frame standing defiantly erect against the cold arrows coming from all directions.

"Aunt Fang, you and my mom are good friends. You can lie to yourself about my relationship with Li Hui, but last time you said, I was no longer the Miss Qiao and no longer deserved your precious son. If I married your son, how would you introduce your daughter-in-law to your friends in the future? I'm an orphan, powerless and no match for him; better to leave him to Qiao Lan, right? I have a recording of these words; do you need me to play it?" Qiao Xia enunciated each word with chilling coldness.

Fang Xiaoxia's face changed drastically, pointing at Qiao Xia: "You're talking nonsense; I've never said those things."

The surrounding looks of curiosity and derision made Fang Xiaoxia extremely uncomfortable.

The guests also pondered—if Qiao Xia's account was true, with Qiao Lan snatching love and the Li family despising the poor and loving the rich, what kind of families were they? It involved sisters from the same family, and it would be embarrassing to talk about.

Lv Mengxi said in a fury, "You jinx, what nonsense are you spouting? You must be crazy to think about marrying Li Hui."

Qiao Xia smiled, her beauty radiant and her signature smile seemingly shielding her from the countless sharp swords and daggers, "So, Aunt Fang, do you want me to play the recording?"

She actually didn't have a recording, but she was certain that Qiao Lan and Fang Xiaoxia wouldn't dare to risk it, as they cared too much about their faces.

At the same time, she felt profoundly sad; why had she ended up in such a pitiable state, bruised all over?