Chapter 51: Jiang Xiaoxiao, I Can Make You Even More Humiliated

She had spent so much money and effort on her clothes and makeup. Were these people blind? What was so beautiful about Jiang Ciyou in that shabby dress? Yet, deep down, Jiang Xiaoxiao knew that Jiang Ciyou truly was beautiful—so beautiful it made her want to throw acid in her face.

Jiang Xiaoxiao suddenly regretted hosting this birthday party together with Jiang Ciyou. But soon, she adjusted her mood. Jiang Ciyou, enjoy your moment of triumph while you can. Tonight, your reputation will be utterly destroyed.

After the three of them descended the stairs, the lights in the hall blazed on. The guests gathered round, offering their congratulations to both young ladies on their birthdays. Jiang Xiaoxiao had invited many friends today. They clustered around her, showering her with flattery, quickly pushing Jiang Ciyou out of the center of attention.

On the other side of the hall, Yao Shulan and Jiang Jinhui were entertaining the important guests. Jiang Ciyou, for her part, was happy to have some peace and quiet. She deliberately kept her distance from the crowd. Making her way to the buffet, she took a glass of champagne from the sparkling tower and sipped it lightly. Then she picked up a small mousse cake and found a sofa where she could relax and enjoy her dessert.

Though Jiang Xiaoxiao was surrounded by people, her gaze kept drifting toward Jiang Ciyou. She was pleased at first, seeing her isolated and alone. But soon, she noticed that young, handsome men were approaching Jiang Ciyou one after another, either seeking conversation or inviting her to dance. Although Jiang Ciyou politely refused each invitation, the stream of admirers did not cease.

Irritation smoldered in Jiang Xiaoxiao’s heart. She couldn’t understand it: in terms of status, she was the true heiress of the Jiang family; in terms of attire, she was decked out in custom couture worth millions—was she really no match for Jiang Ciyou, who wore no makeup at all?

A cunning thought came to Jiang Xiaoxiao. Suddenly, she called out loudly in Jiang Ciyou’s direction, “Sister!”

Jiang Ciyou heard her and looked over.

Jiang Xiaoxiao flashed her a radiant smile and called out with innocent sweetness, “Sister, could you bring me a glass of champagne?”

Jiang Ciyou set aside her cake, took a glass of champagne from the nearby tower, and walked over.

Before the party began, Yao Shulan had specifically reminded them that tonight, they were to act like affectionate sisters. Since Jiang Xiaoxiao wanted to play the part, Jiang Ciyou would oblige.

As Jiang Ciyou approached with the champagne, she overheard Jiang Xiaoxiao and her friends mocking her without restraint.

A girl in a mermaid-cut dress covered her mouth and giggled, “Xiaoxiao, that dress she’s wearing looks just like the bargain bin find you got at the duty-free shop last time!”

Jiang Xiaoxiao glanced arrogantly at Jiang Ciyou. “Exactly. Clothes like that are no better than something from a street stall to me, so I just handed them off to her.”

“She actually wore your cast-off dress to such an important event? Isn’t she ashamed? She was once the eldest daughter of the Jiang family—doesn’t she have a single decent outfit?”

“She’s no Jiang family heiress. My parents cut ties with her long ago. She just refuses to leave our house. These days, even the housekeeper is above her.”

The onlookers cast scornful glances at Jiang Ciyou.

“She just can’t let go of the Jiang family’s wealth. Shameless.”

Jiang Xiaoxiao’s gaze was full of provocation. “It doesn’t matter. It’s just like keeping a pet dog—look how obedient she is. She does anything I tell her.”

The people around Jiang Xiaoxiao burst into laughter. Their voices were hardly quiet, as if they meant for Jiang Ciyou to hear every word.

Jiang Ciyou’s expression didn’t change. She walked calmly up to Jiang Xiaoxiao, champagne in hand.

Jiang Xiaoxiao was confident that, in this setting, Jiang Ciyou would never dare embarrass her. Otherwise, Yao Shulan would never let her off. So she felt free to humiliate Jiang Ciyou even more.

“Sister, my shoes are dirty. Clean them for me, will you?” she said, extending a foot in front of Jiang Ciyou. She also reached out to take the glass of champagne, planning to sip it while watching Jiang Ciyou polish her shoe, even hinting for someone nearby to record the scene on their phone.

Jiang Ciyou said nothing. She appeared to obediently offer the glass. But just as Jiang Xiaoxiao’s hand was about to take it, Jiang Ciyou cradled the glass in both hands and, with measured grace, poured the champagne in a straight line onto the floor.

The champagne spilled in a perfect line and was quickly absorbed by the carpet. At that moment, Jiang Xiaoxiao’s foot was already extended.

As Jiang Ciyou made the ritualistic motion, half the glass of champagne splashed over Jiang Xiaoxiao’s foot.

Jiang Xiaoxiao nearly screamed. Today, she was wearing custom-made crystal shoes from Milan, adorned with thousands of hand-stitched crystals, two months in the making and worth a fortune. Now, thanks to Jiang Ciyou, they were ruined.

“Jiang Ciyou, what are you doing?” Jiang Xiaoxiao was furious, never expecting Jiang Ciyou to humiliate her in front of everyone.

Jiang Ciyou placed the empty glass on a nearby waiter’s tray, her manner natural and poised, as though she’d merely toasted with a friend. She ran her fingers through her wavy hair, lazy and nonchalant like a cat just woken from a nap. Her voice carried a note of aloofness and languor. “I’m offering you a drink. Drink up, don’t waste it.”

With that, Jiang Ciyou turned and walked away.

For a moment, everyone was baffled. Then someone beside Jiang Xiaoxiao whispered, “Xiaoxiao, that move she made—it’s how people honor the dead.”

Realization dawned on the crowd. Jiang Ciyou’s act of cradling the glass and pouring a line onto the floor was exactly the gesture used in ancestral rites and tomb offerings.

“She’s cursing you to die?”

The guests looked on in alarm and disbelief. Who would have thought that Jiang Ciyou, a mere parasite, would dare behave so brazenly toward Jiang Xiaoxiao, the true heiress?

Jiang Xiaoxiao’s face turned pale with rage. Not only had her priceless shoes been ruined, she had been publicly humiliated in such a manner.

“Jiang Ciyou, stop right there!” Jiang Xiaoxiao rushed after her, blocking her path.

“How dare you! Do you have any idea what your place is? If it weren’t for me begging Mother, you wouldn’t even be here celebrating this birthday with me. It’s bad enough you’re not grateful, but you do this to me?”

Her friends chimed in to support her. “That’s right! Xiaoxiao, she ruined your expensive shoes; make her lick them clean!”

“It’s your birthday, and she curses you? She should kneel and apologize!”

“She dares challenge you in public, Xiaoxiao—teach her a lesson!”

A crowd had started to gather, watching the scene unfold.

Yet Jiang Ciyou’s smile never faltered under their pressure. She spoke slowly, “Jiang Xiaoxiao, I’d advise you not to push your luck. I can make you look even worse tonight. Do you want to find out how?”