Hong Ping’s voice wasn’t loud, but every word struck the heart, and Mrs. Hong grew increasingly angry as she listened.

She looked down on her sister-in-law’s nephew, indeed because she despised the lack of family background and culture, but how could her daughter be the same? How could they be compared!

Firstly, her Lingling was a girl, and in the future girls don’t need to support the family, so why compare family backgrounds? As long as she can bear children at home and take good care of the family, that’s enough. What’s more, her Lingling is pretty and cultured, which is far better than many girls nowadays.

Mrs. Hong glanced at Hong Ping, didn’t argue with her words, and only said, "You’ve studied a lot and went to college, I can’t argue with you. I won’t say anything further; besides, how do you know the other party doesn’t fancy Lingling? I’m not expecting anything from you, just don’t interfere if your sister ends up with that boy from the Ruan Family’s big house." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Hong Ping didn’t expect that after saying so much with such earnestness, the response she’d get would be just this, feeling as if an old blood was stuck in her chest, neither going up nor down, nearly causing her to suffocate.

Her nature is soft and gentle, unable to say anything harsh, so upon hearing this, she just fell silent, sitting at the table with an unpleasant expression.

After all, they are her flesh and blood; Mrs. Hong, although biased towards Hong Ling, loves her elder daughter too. Moreover, today is her big day, so she turned to comfort her, but Hong Ping had already been hurt by her previous words, barely saying anything afterward.

Mrs. Hong found herself talking to a cold face and gradually spoke less.

Later, Hong Ling came in, noticed their off expressions, but didn’t mind, and in good spirits, walked over briskly to ask Hong Ping, "Sis, Hao brother booked the whole dance hall and invited us all to join tonight. Are you coming?"

"Hao brother?" Hong Ping lifted her head.

"Yes, it’s Jiaojiao’s big brother," Hong Ling couldn’t help blushing while speaking about Ruan Hao.

Seeing her love-struck appearance and recalling Mrs. Hong’s words, Hong Ping was truly uncomfortable. She didn’t understand the position her sister and mother had placed her in to disregard her so.

"Sis?" Seeing Hong Ping unresponsive for a while, Hong Ling called again.

Hong Ping diverted her gaze: "No." Her tone was somewhat cold.

Hong Ling looked at her, blinked inexplicably, though finding her attitude somewhat aloof, she didn’t overthink it, and turned to tell Mrs. Hong, "Mom, I might return late tonight, or maybe not at all... If it’s late, I might just stay over at Jiaojiao’s place."

Hong Ling thought simply, considering the Ruan Jiaojiao’s house is a villa and so large, if they return late, for convenience, they might take her home with them as well.

Thinking she might share a place with Ruan Hao tonight, Hong Ling couldn’t hide her delighted joy.

Mrs. Hong glanced at Hong Ping’s expression, dared not respond loudly, merely mumbled a vague "Hmm."

Nearing noon, the guests who finished lunch began leaving the hotel gradually; Ruan Jianguo drank quite a lot and was helped by Ruan Jie and Ruan Chi into the family’s exclusive rest room in the hotel.

Ruan Jiaojiao initially intended to go over and help take care, but seeing Shu Jiao closely follow him, she changed her mind, turning instead to Hong Ping’s resting room nearby.

She gently knocked on the door.

Inside, Hong Ping had just helped a drunken Ruan Jun lie down.