Chapter 368: Best Not to Act Rashly
Not long after Zhu Chen left, another man walked over.
His gaze roamed wantonly over Lin Chuyue. "Hey, you're Lin Chuyue, right?"
"I hear you're Patriarch Xiao's ex-fiancée, but you've broken up now."
Lin Chuyue could sense the malice in his eyes. Her heart leaped into her throat. "Can I help you?"
"Can't I talk to you even if I don't need anything? I hear you're sisters with Patriarch Xiao's current fiancée."
"It's not unheard of for sisters to serve the same man. If Patriarch Xiao is done with you, how about I take you on?"
Lin Chuyue's face flushed red. 'How can this man be so shameless, saying something like that!'
She shot to her feet. "Sir, please stop talking like that!"
With that, she turned to walk away.
The man was far from polite. He took a swift step to block her path. "Did I say you could leave?"
"Don't go too far! I'm an invited guest, too. You have no right to touch me. If you don't back off, I'm calling security!"
"Go on, call them! See if security pays you any mind." The man pointed to himself. "Do you know who I am? I'm from the Ouyang Clan!"
Lin Chuyue's heart sank. Having lived at the Xiao Family estate for a time, she naturally knew of the Ouyang Family's existence.
They were both Hidden Clans, but the Ouyang Family was the strongest among them!
Xiao Ye, who had been keeping an eye on the situation, immediately noticed the Ouyang Family member's actions.
He slowly tightened his grip on his wine glass.
An almost imperceptible gaze, like a viper in the shadows, was fixed on him.
Xiao Ye knew the trap had been sprung.
The person who had been watching him had deliberately sent someone from the Ouyang Family to cause trouble for Lin Chuyue, all to test whether he would intervene!
Jin Mingzhu felt the muscles in his arm tense up. "Xiao Ye, stay calm."
'I didn't realize Lin Chuyue was so important to him.'
Jin Mingzhu pressed her lips together slightly. "Someone is watching us. It's best not to make any rash moves."
Xiao Ye's hand gradually relaxed. Of course he knew he couldn't be impulsive.
If Lin Chuyue's true importance was exposed, he would have no choice but to lock her away in the Xiao Family estate and never let her take a step outside. Otherwise, she would be in constant danger!
Just then, Zhu Chen finally noticed the situation with Lin Chuyue and rushed over to help.
"Is this how the Ouyang Family raises its sons? To harass a woman?"
"Zhu Chen, stay out of this. Or have you taken a liking to the Xiao Family's former fiancée too?"
"She's just used goods. Who knows how many times Xiao Ye's had his way with her. You can't possibly think she's some kind of treasure, do you?"
Zhu Chen was shocked by his vile words. "Shut up!"
"I won't shut up. What are you going to do about it?"
Jin Mingzhu clung tightly to Xiao Ye's arm, even resting her head on his shoulder. "I get it. You don't want to expose Lin Chuyue."
'Why else would you be paying so much attention but not going to her rescue?'
'Your only goal is to protect her!'
'That's the only thing that explains your behavior right now.'
Xiao Ye nodded. "Yes. I have to protect her."
The smile on Jin Mingzhu's face faded slightly. "Then you absolutely can't go over there. What's more, you need to act like our relationship is something special."
"Only then will the person pulling the strings believe you've moved on. Their target will become me, not Lin Chuyue."
Xiao Ye fell into thought. It was indeed a viable plan.
'But if Chuyue sees...'
Jin Mingzhu understood his hesitation. "If she loves you, she'll trust you. Besides, you're doing this for her own good."
"I'm sure she'll understand."
Jin Mingzhu took Xiao Ye's hand and placed it on her waist. "Come on."
Xiao Ye's hand slowly tightened. "Alright. I'm counting on you, then."
"There's no need to be so formal with me. I'm doing this willingly."
Jin Mingzhu continued, "If we want the person behind the scenes to believe it, then Lin Chuyue needs to see it."
"The more indifferent you act in front of Lin Chuyue, the more convinced everyone will be that you don't love her anymore."
Lin Chuxing had been staring daggers at the two of them.
Seeing that bitch Jin Mingzhu practically leaning into Xiao Ye's arms, she was so furious she grabbed her wine glass and marched right over.
"Miss Jin, let me propose a toast!"
As soon as she said this, everyone nearby turned to look.
It looked like a good show was about to start!
Jin Mingzhu leaned against Xiao Ye with a smile.
Xiao Ye's arm was wrapped tightly around her waist. They looked like a perfect couple.
The sight was becoming more and more of an eyesore to Lin Chuxing. "Miss Jin, did you not hear me? I said, I'm proposing a toast!"
"If it weren't for the fact that my fiancé is your business partner, you wouldn't have ended up as his date tonight."
Jin Mingzhu picked up her glass and finally stepped out of Xiao Ye's embrace, but then, even more provocatively, she took his hand.
If they were just business partners, how could they be so intimate?
"Miss Lin, I think you've misunderstood something. Xiao Ye and I... we don't have any partnership. I just wanted to come to this banquet, and he brought me, that's all."
"Miss Lin, don't be angry. Who Xiao Ye brings is his choice. You can't always force people to do what you want, can you?"
"You!" Lin Chuxing's eyes were practically spitting fire. She lifted her glass, pretending to take a drink, but actually intended to splash it all over Jin Mingzhu.
How could Jin Mingzhu not see through such a childish trick? She dodged it easily.
She fell back into Xiao Ye's arms with a wronged expression. "Xiao Ye!"
Xiao Ye played his part perfectly. He looked at Lin Chuxing, his brow furrowed. "What do you think you're doing? Apologize to Mingzhu right now!"
"You want *me* to apologize?" Lin Chuxing was about to lose her mind. 'In front of all these people, Xiao Ye is humiliating me like this?'
Lin Chuxing didn't need to think to know how many people would be laughing at her behind her back after today!
"Jin Mingzhu, you shameless hussy!"
"Enough!" Xiao Ye snapped. "If you don't want to be at this banquet, I'll have someone send you home. Don't make a fool of yourself in public."
"This isn't the Xiao Family estate, and it's certainly not a place for you to act wild."
Tears welled up in Lin Chuxing's eyes. The gazes of the people around them felt like knives, stabbing into her!
"Xiao Ye, you..."
"Alright, Xiao Ye, that's enough," Jin Mingzhu interjected, deliberately playing the peacemaker. "Miss Lin was just overwrought with concern. For my sake, just let Miss Lin stay."
Only then did Xiao Ye nod. "Fine. Lin Chuxing, you can stay, but don't pull any more of these classless stunts!"
"Or I'll have someone escort you back to the Xiao Family estate immediately!"
Jin Mingzhu turned her head with a beaming smile. "Miss Lin, I'm sure you didn't mean it."
"I don't need you to be sure of anything!" At this point, Lin Chuxing was nearly dizzy with rage, especially at Jin Mingzhu's smile.
It was clearly a blatant display of victory!
'On what grounds did this bitch get to humiliate her like this!'
From a short distance away, Lin Chuyue also witnessed this scene.
She could hardly believe it. Had Xiao Ye really found someone new so quickly?