Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Noble Lady vs. Reborn Foster Daughter (Part 14)
The red cloth used to cover the item gracefully fell to the floor, revealing the object carried by two bodyguards in front of the guests.
A chorus of exclamations arose.
Yet Yuan Xu’s face turned ashen the moment he saw what had been hidden beneath the red cloth.
The gift presented by Cheng Yiru was none other than a White Jade Guanyin Statue!
Cheng Xizhi had been busy preparing a birthday gift for her father, which Yuan Xu knew well, and he was aware of just how much effort Cheng Xizhi had put into this gift. He had stayed by her side, watching her run to the master sculptor every day, personally overseeing every detail and refusing to settle for anything less than perfect.
But now, Cheng Yiru’s presentation of a Guanyin statue made Xi Xi’s nearly two months of hard work seem like a joke. She had pondered over how to surprise her father, only to be preempted by someone else.
With Cheng Yiru’s impressive presentation, if Cheng Xizhi were to offer the same gift, it would only be perceived as bland and uninspired.
Cheng Yiru continued to speak, “… This White Jade Guanyin Statue was completed in half a year by a master overseas, and I especially asked the venerable Master Huijing to consecrate it. I wish for my father’s fortune to be as vast as the Eastern Sea and his life as enduring as the Southern Mountains!”
The guests lavished praise upon Father Cheng for having such a filial daughter, and Father Cheng himself was grinning from ear to ear.
Cheng Yiru smiled triumphantly; she was of course aware of what Cheng Xizhi’s gift was. In her previous life, it was a White Jade Guanyin that had brought Cheng Xizhi great acclaim, and this time, she had deliberately outpaced her by presenting the White Jade Guanyin first.
Cheng Xizhi, can you still hold your gift with confidence now?
Yuan Xu looked at Cheng Xizhi with some concern, surprised to find that she didn’t seem to mind too much.
Cheng Xizhi was communicating with the system: “It was my oversight. I forgot that Cheng Yiru possessed memories of her previous life. She obviously wants to use this to humiliate me thoroughly.”
The system hadn’t anticipated this either: “Host, you must quickly think of a solution.”
At this point, only Cheng Xizhi’s gift remained to be presented.
Rumors had it that Cheng Zhensheng’s most…cherished…daughter was this youngest one, and the guests at the event were all secretly speculating what gift Gu Shengyin would bring.
Cheng Yiru sneered internally: Cheng Xizhi, what will you do? If you bring out the White Jade Guanyin you’ve prepared, it will surely disappoint everyone. If you change to something else at the last minute, I don’t believe you can come up with anything decent in such a short time.
She was feeling quite pleased with herself, waiting to see Cheng Xizhi make a fool of herself.
All eyes were on Gu Shengyin, but she remained silent.
The atmosphere became somewhat awkward, and Cheng Zhensheng also sensed something amiss. Smiling, he said, “What’s the matter? Does my Xi Xi not want others to see the gift she’s prepared for Dad and wishes for Dad to see it alone later?”
If Gu Shengyin hadn’t really prepared a gift, a simple agreement with his words would have dissolved the awkwardness.
This obvious attempt to smooth things over nearly made Cheng Yiru grind her teeth in frustration.
Before Gu Shengyin could speak, Cheng Yiru said with a smile, “Little sister, you can’t be so selfish, ah! We’re all eager to see what great thing you’ve secretly prepared for Dad!”
Mrs. Cheng looked somewhat displeased with Cheng Yiru.
Cheng Yiru knew her remark had been abrupt, but she couldn’t help herself. Why was it that Cheng Xizhi, even when she made a mistake, had so many people rushing to her aid? Today, she intended to embarrass her in front of the prestigious guests of Hua City.
Gu Shengyin gazed at Cheng Yiru with an inscrutable look, and for some reason, it made Cheng Yiru feel a tinge of fear. She had the feeling that something was beyond her control.
Gu Shengyin finally spoke, “Since my sister is so keen to see, then I shall embarrass myself in front of everyone.”