Chapter 10: Did You Not Know This Is My Room?

Yan Feng was caught in a dilemma.

With determination, he downed the last of his white liquor.

As soon as he finished, another glass was handed to him.

One drink after another.

He was already feeling under the weather today, his headache only easing by the evening.

Now, after several rounds, that splitting headache returned with a vengeance.

By the time he reached the eighth glass, Yan Feng could no longer hold on.

Swaying, he was on the verge of collapsing.

He wasn't a heavy drinker, and Jiang Ciyou knew this better than anyone.

But she herself could handle her alcohol quite well.

"Just two more glasses; I'll take them," she declared confidently as Yan Feng set his glass down.

Without waiting for a response, she strode over to the table, lifted a glass, and tipped it back in one fluid motion.

Then she grabbed the final glass.

The onlookers were astonished.

It wasn't uncommon for women to drink, but doing it so gracefully was a rarity.

Her slender fingers made the ordinary wine glass seem like a work of art.

As she tilted her head slightly, her elegant neck revealed a glimpse of smooth skin, resembling a proud swan.

Her drinking was unhurried and poised, exuding an effortless charm, almost as if she were serenely enjoying a private celebration.

When Jiang Ciyou set her glass down, applause erupted around her.

Her expression remained composed, though a faint blush colored her cheeks, making her appear even more vibrant, like a Damascus rose under the sun.

"The wine is finished, Mr. Bo; I trust you've cooled down now?" she said, her words layered with implication.

Bo Jinxiu's expression remained inscrutable, even colder than before.

After a long pause, he finally smirked, "Mrs. Yan and Young Master Yan seem quite the affectionate pair."

With that, he turned away, seemingly disinterested.

The others quickly moved to toast, and the moment passed.

Jiang Ciyou helped Yan Feng leave and returned to her seat.

He felt nauseous, his stomach churning violently, nearly on the verge of vomiting.

"I need to use the restroom," he managed to say.

As Jiang Ciyou sat there, lost in thought, her gaze unintentionally drifted to the main table.

In her daze, she suddenly felt a cold splash across her chest.

A full glass of red wine had been poured over her.

"Oops! I'm so sorry! I was just trying to toast and tripped over the carpet by your side!" Jiang Xiaoxiao feigned innocence.

Jiang Ciyou looked up, a flash of anger igniting in her eyes.

Jiang Xiaoxiao was clearly being malicious.

Just moments before, she had seen Jiang Ciyou commanding attention at the main table, being praised for her authenticity.

This was all about making her look foolish.

After her little stunt, Jiang Xiaoxiao turned to her mother. "Mom, what should we do? I got my sister's dress dirty!"

Yao Shulan glanced at Jiang Ciyou with indifference. "Your sister has taken so much from you over the years. It's just a dress; she won't hold it against you."

With that, she grasped Jiang Xiaoxiao's arm and led her away.

As they left, Jiang Xiaoxiao looked back, smirking at Jiang Ciyou in a taunting manner.

Watching her mother's retreating figure, Jiang Ciyou felt a pang of sadness.

The betrayal from her parents hurt far more than the pain inflicted by Yan Feng or Xia Ling.

The night of the paternity test results three years ago was etched in her memory. Yao Shulan had slapped her twice, fury in her eyes. "You're the daughter of that woman? I raised my enemy's daughter all these years! Why don't you just die!"

Even now, the memory left her chest aching.

People around her began to murmur, glancing and commenting.

"That's so excessive! That little brat did it on purpose."

"Right? Jiang Jie, is she really your sister? How can she be so vicious?"

"And Mrs. Jiang, how can you be so biased? She's been raised for twenty years; isn't there any bond at all?"

Jiang Ciyou's background had quickly become the topic of gossip among the wealthy women in the room.

The younger socialites were outraged on her behalf.

A few had just added her on WeChat and were nearby chatting when they witnessed the scene.

One chimed in, "Don't worry, let's get you cleaned up!"

"With all that wine, there's no way to clean it up properly. Xinyi, go get Jiang Jie a fresh outfit!"

Jiang Ciyou looked up to see it was the red-haired girl who had stood beside the matriarch during the gift-giving earlier.

Her casual outfit—a bright orange tank top paired with loose blue jeans—stood out amidst the formal wear.

Jiang Ciyou felt a fondness for this Miss Bo.

She didn't refuse the offer, realizing her dress was thoroughly soaked, the red wine glaring against the white fabric.

"Thank you, Miss Bo," she replied, following Bo Xinyi to the elevator.

They ascended and walked down a long corridor, which provided a clear view of the banquet hall below.

As Jiang Ciyou glanced back at the main table, she noticed Bo Jinxiu was no longer there.

Soon, Bo Xinyi opened a door. "Jiang Jie, wait here. I'll grab you some clothes."

Jiang Ciyou nodded and stepped inside.

Before long, Bo Xinyi returned, holding a yellow tank top and wide-leg blue jeans.

"I just got back from England, so this is all I have—no formal dresses."

Bo Xinyi looked a bit apologetic.

"This is great, thank you," Jiang Ciyou replied sincerely.

Bo Xinyi smiled. "I'll step out for a bit. Change and come back down. Don't worry; this room is rarely used and has a fingerprint lock. No one can come in."

After closing the door behind her, Jiang Ciyou pulled the curtains and approached the sofa to change.

Just as she was halfway through, she heard a noise at the door.

Unexpectedly, it swung open.

In a reflex, she grabbed her half-removed dress to cover herself.

Turning instinctively, her startled gaze met the cold, piercing eyes of a man.

Upon seeing the woman in the midst of changing, surprise flickered in his gaze before his expression turned steely.

He stepped inside, facing Jiang Ciyou, and quickly closed the door behind him.

As she recognized his face, Jiang Ciyou felt a wave of relief.

"Mr. Bo?"

Bo Jinxiu's gaze locked onto her face, his voice devoid of emotion, icy: "Did you not know this is my room?"