In the auction hall, Tang Wan’s seat was in the front, and since everyone was speaking in hushed tones, she could naturally not hear them. She just bowed her head to look through the auction items list, noting down the codes of several she was interested in.
"The person sitting in the Jiang Family’s seat is the girl from Pingjiang’s Tang Family, right? She’s really pretty, no wonder the old lady Jiang likes her."
"She’s so quiet and gentle, it looks like she doesn’t talk much."
"She just walked past me, and I looked carefully, she really is beautiful, with a lively spirit. They say the water and soil of Pingjiang nourish people, and it’s true without a doubt."
Everyone had their own motives, and actually, by looking at Tang Wan, they harbored different thoughts. Even if they had doubts, they wouldn’t voice them in public, fearing to give others something to talk about and offending the Jiang Family.
So when Jiang Shuyan and her group entered, all they heard were words of praise.
"Ha—see, that’s skill," Zhuang Rao sneered. "Does she even deserve to sit there? She just takes it as her due right."
"Come on, let’s sit down," Jiang Shuyan found a seat and prepared to sit.
"That seat was supposed to be yours, what right does she have to sit there, wait and see!" Zhuang Rao said as she walked toward Tang Wan.
Many people knew Zhuang Rao, a famously brazen woman. Seeing her heading towards Tang Wan, everyone turned to look.
Tang Wan was originally looking down at the auction catalog when the corner of her eye caught someone standing in front of her. She raised an eyebrow and thought, why is it her again?
"What, surprised to see me?"
Zhuang Rao had previously bullied her at the craft store, and Tang Wan did not retort, making Zhuang Rao think she was someone she could push around. She wasn’t bold enough to act out in public. With many prestigious guests around, she would definitely cower even more.
Thinking about mixing in Beijing?
Today I’ll make you notorious.
So she deliberately raised her voice, fearing others wouldn’t notice their conflict.
"Is this a seat you should be in?"
"Don’t think that just because the old lady likes you, you’re really somebody. That seat wasn’t originally yours, either."
Zhuang Rao talked nonstop, but Tang Wan ignored her entirely, prompting those around them to start discussing.
"What’s she doing? Picking a fight on purpose?"
Subconsciously, everyone tends to sympathize with the underdog. Tang Wan, with her gentle and soft appearance, in contrast to Zhuang Rao’s fiery temper, naturally seemed at a disadvantage.
Zhuang Rao’s original intent was to embarrass her but found that the people were not discussing Tang Wan, but her unreasonable behavior instead.
"Alright Zhuang Rao, let’s go. Sister Tang, I’m sorry," Jiang Shuyan played the good person, tugging Zhuang Rao away.
However, Zhuang Rao’s goal wasn’t achieved and being called out for causing a scene made her even more infuriated.
"Tang Wan, don’t think that by not talking and playing the victim, you can gain people’s sympathy!"
Before she left, she raised her hand to knock the auction catalog out of Tang Wan’s hand, but with a "slap," the catalog did not fall, and Tang Wan’s fingers clamped tight instead.
"Countryside wild girl!"
Jiang Jiu was standing on the side, observing the situation. The auction hall was too noisy and far away for him to hear the dialogue, so he did not approach immediately.
Just as he saw Zhuang Rao raise her hand, he started moving forward, just in time to see Tang Wan standing up.
Jiang Shuyan, dragging Zhuang Rao, had already walked a few steps back when a female voice called from behind:
Soft yet filled with firmness and resilience.
Zhuang Rao, who had felt like her punches hit cotton, got irked but didn’t expect Tang Wan to stand up for herself and snorted coldly as she turned to face her.
"What, you have something to say?"
"Today I learned that not everyone has manners. Some people, dressed up so brightly, yet cannot hide their disgusting, lowly, filthy hearts."
Zhuang Rao’s pupils shook, having bullied Tang Wan before and seeing her previously remain silent and not react, was taken aback by her sudden confrontation.
"Countryside wild girl?" Tang Wan lightly sneered. "Miss Zhuang, are you saying your family has been born and raised in Beijing for three generations? Where does this sense of superiority come from!"
"Challenging me repeatedly, do you really think others don’t have temperaments?"
"I see your behavior, likely often bullying others by leveraging power. If you have the capability, why not challenge those who are actually powerful? Bullying me, what skill is that? Or is it, you can only feel superior by doing this to me?"
"Sister Tang, don’t be mad..." Jiang Shuyan, seeing them argue, felt pleased inside.
After all, once a dispute escalates, and things blow up, there are no winners; she could benefit from this, crafting an image of a good person.