The two who just arrived greeted the other ladies who exchanged similar pleasantries with them.

"Oh, Miss Hw.a.n.g's family is affiliated to the government."

"Yeah."

Hw.a.n.g Meilin could feel her cheeks heat up from the attention. It wasn't usual for elites from the business cla.s.s to mingle from daughters of government officials. In the hierarchy of socialites, Hw.a.n.g Meilin was considered on a much higher level, although the daughters of merchants were wealthier.

"Jinxu even had friends from the government now. I'm impressed."

"It's because of her husband's background! You dummy! You didn't know?"

The other ladies who were not even close to Xue Jinxu were starting to bootlick her. She maintained her elegant silence as she took a sip from her ginger tea, but her brows twitched ever so slightly and interestingly several times at the direction the conversation was going. 'It's not leading anywhere! There's no depth! But it's entertaining. Good, just keep the light conversation going. Better than dead air.'

Xue Jinxu thought that if Teng Man Rui's left with her, she wouldn't know what to do to console her friend. She figured that she might have overdone it, to the point that she could already rub more salt to her wounds. She wouldn't want that to happen.

"How about you, Xiao Rui?" The ladies turned to the meek, quiet girl with strikingly good features who was pa.s.sively simply enjoying their company at her leisure. Everyone knew who Teng Man Rui is. It went without saying that Teng Man Rui is the most eligible bachelorette, the perfect daughter-in-law.

"Mhmm?" Teng Man Rui came back to earth from her daydreaming. She wasn't entirely listening.

"Don't you have plans of settling down yet?" A lady inquired named Bao Lian inquired.

"Hehehe." She shyly and awkwardly tried to brush the question off.

"No, haven't you heard? Her marriage is currently in the talks already. Their families' elders are arranging their marriage."

Gasps of surprise were heard all over the place.

"With who?"

"Teng Man Rui's chosen one. Seems that our Xiao Rui is also marrying for love! And her parents are supportive of it! How envious! That's two in a row already!"

Xue Jinxu abruptly turned her head towards Teng Man Rui. The latter, having sensed her friend's ferocious reaction, also turned her head towards Xue Jinxu. Their eyes met.

"Who's the guy in the gossips? Do you know?" Teng Man Rui asked the ladies, testing the waters.

The ladies looked eager. It seemed that they would land a piece of meaty gossip today. Would she confirm? If she would, then, they were the first to know in their circle.

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"You're getting married, Xiao Rui? Is this what it's all about?" Hw.a.n.g Meilin innocently asked. She cupped her chin with the heel of her palm, her elbow already resting on the table, as she leaned forward towards Man Rui.

"Yeah, is it true? Then congratulations in advance, Jie-jie." Kang Sola b.u.t.ted in cheerfully. "I think Li Qiang-ge-ge is a perfect match for you."

"Who? Do you mean the Zhu young master? You're mistaken. Nahh!" Bao Lian negated as she shook her index finger in the air. She was shaking her head too, almost too vigorously.

"HUH???!!!" Hw.a.n.g Meilin and Kang Sola almost exclaimed in synchrony.

"THEN TO WHO???!!" They both looked at Teng Man Rui who only bowed her head in annoyance as her brows furrowed together. She clasped the hem of her cotton dress with her hands that were already tightly balled into fists. She could antic.i.p.ate the next name that will reverberate in the sunny afternoon room, and she despised it.