Chapter 29: The Ice Queen’s Fierce Love
As the sole heir to the Tao Corporation, Tao Ning’s birthdays were always lavish affairs, a highlight of the social calendar.
This year, her eighteenth birthday, marking her official entry into adulthood, promised to be even more extravagant.
Although he was now toiling away in a foreign land, Tao Ning still remembered a key plot point: the spoiled heiress’s birthday cake would be ruined in a humiliating public spectacle, fueling her rage and intensifying her antagonism towards the female lead.
And in the original timeline, it was Xu Qiuyi who had inadvertently destroyed the cake, marking the beginning of their rivalry.
From Xu Qiuyi’s perspective, she had attended the party as a favor to the male lead, who had “saved her life.” She had refused to wear the dress he had provided, arriving in her regular clothes, intending to drop off her gift and leave.
However, the male lead, annoyed by her refusal to comply, had abandoned her, leaving her alone to navigate the sea of elegantly dressed guests.
Dressed in her everyday clothes, Xu Qiuyi had stood out, looking even less impressive than the waitstaff, drawing stares and whispers.
After delivering her gift, she had tried to leave.
Then, the cake, a multi-tiered masterpiece, had been wheeled in, accompanied by music. Someone, deliberately or accidentally, had bumped into Xu Qiuyi, sending her sprawling onto the cake.
Screams had filled the air, the elaborate cake ruined, the party effectively over.
Before she could even apologize, the male lead, who had abandoned her earlier, had reappeared, his face grim, and had said to Tao Ning, “Qiuyi didn’t mean to do it. Forgive her.”
The audacity of the statement had been infuriating.
Xu Qiuyi had wanted to strangle him. Tao Ning had wanted to explode.
The male lead, single-handedly igniting a feud between the two families, hadn’t even bothered to check the security footage. And this was the brilliant, decisive leader of the underworld?
“Such a talent for instigating conflict,” Tao Ning said, shaking her head. “He should be a diplomat.”
“What conflict?” Tao Yan, looking at her tablet, asked, puzzled. “You’re contemplating international warfare while choosing a cake?”
Tao Ning, carefully avoiding the cake design from the original timeline, selected a different one, equally beautiful. “This one.”
Tao Yan looked at the design. “Alright, we’ll order this one.”
“Okay.”
The event planner, sitting on a small sofa, smiled and quoted the price, then launched into a lengthy explanation of the baker’s prestigious credentials, having created cakes for royalty and world leaders, guaranteeing a truly impressive centerpiece.
Tao Ning tuned out the sales pitch, her mind reeling from the exorbitant price.
No wonder the original host had been so furious. It was like having a small apartment destroyed.
“That’s practically the price of gold,” she muttered. Serving the cake would be like distributing gold bars.
Tao Yan, considering this, said, “So, instead of cake, we give everyone… gold?”
Tao Ning: That’s… not what I meant.
Tao Yan, however, looked at her expectantly, as if ready to order a mountain of gold bars for distribution.
The image was too terrifying to contemplate.
Tao Ning quickly excused herself, leaving Tao Yan to discuss the details with the event planner, the decorations, the theme. If asked for her opinion, she would simply say, “Whatever. I’m fine with anything.”
It was late autumn, the night air chilly. Tao Ning, a coat draped over her shoulders, walked along the hallway, remembering that Xu Qiuyi’s birthday was shortly after hers.
They were close in age, their birthdays only a few weeks apart.
Xu Qiuyi’s birthday was in winter. According to Guan Ruolin, the weather had been unusually warm on the day she was born, almost like autumn, hence the name Qiuyi, “Autumn’s Intent.”
Comparing the two sisters’ names, Tao Ning concluded that Guan Ruolin had a… practical approach to naming her children.
Feels like autumn? Qiuyi. Needs to live till spring? Zhichun.
After getting some fresh air, Tao Ning went back to her room and went to bed.
The next day at school, Tao Ning, slumped over her desk, turned to Xu Qiuyi. “You’re coming to my birthday party, right?”
Xu Qiuyi, used to her daily inquiries, nodded. “Yes, I’ll be there. Why do you ask every day?”
Tao Ning sighed dramatically. “I was worried you wouldn’t come. I wanted to just have a small gathering, but Tao Yan exercised her veto power and booked Rose Manor.”
Lü Xinxi, struggling to memorize vocabulary words, muttered, “Oh, honey, your birthday isn’t just a birthday. It’s a major social event disguised as a birthday party. Everyone’s been waiting for it.”
Xu Qiuyi, intrigued, asked, “That sounds… tiring.”
Tao Ning said, “That’s why you have to come! Both of you! I’ll be bored to death otherwise.”
Jin Yue, ever the pragmatist, said, “Please. Your mom will be the one doing all the work. The woman who’s always too busy to even… Wait, you’re eighteen now, right? Officially an adult? Good luck with that.”
Tao Ning groaned, shifting her position on the desk.
Xu Qiuyi, having never seen her like this, turned to Jin Yue. “What’s wrong with turning eighteen?”
Jin Yue, more worldly and aware of the unspoken rules of their social circle, explained, “At eighteen, most heirs start taking on responsibilities within the family business. It’s a chance for people to… network, to make a good impression, to curry favor. If they need something from the Tao family later, they’ll have an ‘in.’”
Xu Qiuyi finally understood.
As if on cue, a student Tao Ning didn’t recognize approached her. “Miss Tao, I heard your birthday party is at Rose Manor. I’ve always wanted to… Would I be able to…”
Before she could finish, Tao Ning pulled out an invitation and handed it to her. “It would be my honor to have you attend.”
The girl, beaming, took the invitation and left.
Jin Yue shrugged. “See?”
Xu Qiuyi, watching Tao Ning distribute invitations like free tickets, couldn’t help but smile.
Tao Ning, seeing her smile, immediately stood up. “Are you laughing at me? Treating me like a zoo animal? Come on, you’re buying me lunch. I’m starving.”
Xu Qiuyi, still smiling, protested, “I wasn’t laughing,” as she was dragged away.
The students of Class A were used to this by now. They had initially thought Xu Qiuyi was incapable of genuine laughter, her occasional smiles mere formalities, often misinterpreting her reserve as arrogance. They had been wrong. She only smiled like this around Tao Ning.
The first time they had seen Xu Qiuyi laughing freely in class, her face lit up, they had wondered if they were hallucinating.
Rose Manor, Tao Yan’s private estate, was renowned for its exquisite architecture and beautiful gardens.
Few, however, had actually seen it. Technically, it belonged to Tao Ning. Tao Yan had purchased it before Tao Ning was even born, a gift for her newborn daughter.
Eighteen years later, Rose Manor opened its gates for the first time, hosting Tao Ning’s coming-of-age celebration.
It was a Saturday, and guests arrived in a steady stream, greeted by a breathtaking display of roses, their fragrance filling the night air, a scene of unparalleled romance.
Tao Yan had reportedly imported the roses from all over the world a month in advance, a team of experts ensuring they bloomed at their peak on this special night.
Perhaps it was fate, but Tao Ning, having grown up, also loved roses and hadn’t changed the manor’s name.
The banquet hall glittered with opulence, its high ceilings adorned with hundreds of crystal chandeliers, the tables laden with delectable treats, mostly untouched.
The air was thick with the scent of perfume and the murmur of conversations, everyone marveling at Tao Yan’s extravagance.
“I heard the Tao Corporation was struggling. Doesn’t look like it,” someone commented.
“That’s just Nangong propaganda. He keeps saying the Tao Corporation is about to collapse. I think the Nangong family is closer to imploding.”
“His siblings are all vying for power…”
“Just wait and see…”
The woman, considering this, agreed. Recalling the lavish decorations, the sheer scale of the event, she concluded that the Tao Corporation wasn’t struggling at all.
Turning to her two children, she instructed, “Make sure you talk to Tao Ning when she comes down. Make a good impression. She’s going to inherit everything.”
Similar conversations were taking place throughout the hall, polite smiles masking hidden agendas.
Her daughter, dressed in a small, elegant dress, nodded, her eyes scanning the room, filled with envy.
Her younger brother, however, complained, “Why do we have to do this? It’s embarrassing. The Li family isn’t exactly poor.”
Before his mother could respond, his father, walking over, patted his shoulder. “It’s not embarrassing. It’s called networking. Building relationships. If you do well, I’ll buy you that… Look, there’s Tao Yan. I need to talk to her.”
Spotting Tao Yan near the staircase, he grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and hurried over.
His daughter, also looking towards the staircase, asked, “Where’s Tao Ning? Why is Tao Yan alone?”
Many guests had asked Tao Yan the same question. Her official response was, “She’s not quite ready yet. She’ll be down soon. Thank you for your well wishes.”
In reality, Tao Ning, finding the noise downstairs overwhelming, was holed up in a private lounge, refusing to budge, her three friends keeping her company.
Tao Yan, never one to force her daughter, had simply reminded her to be present for the cake-cutting ceremony, which Tao Ning had agreed to.
When it was time for the cake, Tao Ning, however reluctantly, had to make an appearance. The guest of honor couldn’t be absent the entire evening.
Her arrival, of course, drew attention. The younger Miss Li, trying to approach her, was pushed aside by a crowd of eager guests, her frustration evident.
“Hey! You stepped on my foot!” she exclaimed.
The boy in the suit, however, slipped through the crowd like a fish in water, disappearing into the throng.
Miss Li, fuming, could only see the tops of people’s heads.
These same people, who had been so aloof, even gossiping about Tao Ning earlier, were now fawning over her, their earlier criticisms forgotten.
Tao Ning felt like she had stumbled into a duck farm, surrounded by a cacophony of quacking, three thousand ducks all wishing her a happy birthday.
Her face ached from smiling. “Thank you, thank you,” she said, her voice strained. If you all took a few steps back, I’d be even happier.
She could barely breathe, the air thick with a mixture of perfume and food, making her slightly nauseous.
Finally escaping the throng, she moved closer to Xu Qiuyi, whose scent, a subtle, natural fragrance, was a welcome relief. She was like a human air purifier.
“You’re a lifesaver,” Tao Ning said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m going to pass out.”
“Just a little longer,” Xu Qiuyi said, gently supporting her. She was worried Tao Ning, out of habit, might lean on her for support, which, while perfectly acceptable from Xu Qiuyi’s perspective, might not be appropriate for the heiress in such a public setting.
The cake, a towering masterpiece, was wheeled in, surrounded by a phalanx of waiters, ready to prevent any… mishaps.
Tao Ning had specifically instructed them to avoid a repeat of the cake-ruining incident from the original timeline. It wouldn’t be a good look for anyone involved.
The lights dimmed, focusing on the approaching cake, creating a magical, almost fairytale-like atmosphere.
Amidst the noise and excitement, Xu Qiuyi, taking Tao Ning’s hand, leaned closer and whispered, “Happy birthday, Ningning. May all your wishes come true.”
Her hand, intertwined with Tao Ning’s, was slightly damp. She was nervous.
Tao Ning turned to her, just as the lights brightened, the cake now before them. She gently released Xu Qiuyi’s hand.
Tao Yan called out, “Ningning, come cut the cake!”
“…Coming,” Tao Ning replied, her hand instinctively going to her ear.
She slowly walked towards the cake, accepting the knife, and made the first cut.
Surrounded by well-wishers, their voices a chorus of congratulations, Tao Ning, however, could only hear Xu Qiuyi’s soft whisper, a gentle breeze in the cacophony.
The after-effects of her momentary distraction were immediate. She was once again surrounded by a throng of well-wishers, unable to escape.
Her three friends, who had promised to act as her bodyguards, were nowhere to be seen, swallowed by the crowd.
Every man for himself, they had clearly decided, abandoning her to her fate.
“I heard Tao Ning invited a… less fortunate friend. Where is she?” Miss Li, unable to penetrate the crowd, had given up and retreated to a quieter corner, chatting with a boy from a similar background.
Not a Mingrui student, she didn’t know who Xu Qiuyi was, only that she was poor, lived in the slums, and had exceptionally good grades, consistently ranking first in the school.
The boy, after a moment of thought, his eyes lighting up, pointed. “The one in the white dress, with the beauty mark between her eyebrows.”
Miss Li, turning to him, asked, “You like her?”
The boy smiled. “Don’t be so quick to jump to conclusions.”
He was a sophomore at Mingrui and had only seen Xu Qiuyi a few times at school events.
Miss Li, scoffing, looked in the direction he had indicated.
The girl in question was talking to Jin Yue and Lü Xinxi, the atmosphere relaxed and friendly, not the subservient, fawning behavior Miss Li had expected.
Having been snubbed by Tao Ning earlier, Miss Li was looking for a target for her frustration, and the sight of Xu Qiuyi, seemingly accepted by the trio, only fueled her resentment.
She took another look, then scoffed. “So, she’s just a beggar in a fancy dress. Putting on airs.”
The four girls’ dresses were all by the same designer, their styles similar, a deliberate choice to persuade Xu Qiuyi to wear one. She had, however, insisted on returning it after the party. It was too expensive.
The boy beside Miss Li, unable to stand her comments any longer, excused himself and walked away. Just because you didn’t recognize her doesn’t mean everyone else is blind, he thought.
The three girls were talking, then the blonde one suddenly frowned, clutching her stomach, and gestured towards the upstairs area.
The other two immediately stood up, as if to escort her, but the blonde waved them off and walked away on her own.
A short while later, the green-haired girl was called away by a woman, something about her mother wanting to see her.
Xu Qiuyi was now alone.
She stood by the railing, the cool night air swirling around her, her dress billowing in the breeze. She was getting cold. She decided to go back inside.
A sharp voice interrupted her. “You’re Xu Qiuyi?”
Xu Qiuyi looked up. “Yes.”
Miss Li approached, her eyes scanning Xu Qiuyi, finding nothing remarkable. Why were those three heiresses so interested in her?
She hadn’t come here for idle chatter. Crossing her arms, she said, “Good. You’re Tao Ning’s… friend, right? Introduce me to her. I’ll… reward you.”
Xu Qiuyi replied simply, “No, thank you.”
The blunt refusal angered Miss Li. “You think you’re so special now, just because you’re clinging to Tao Ning? What do you even have to offer besides good grades? You’ll just end up working for someone like me. I could have my family blacklist you. Just like that.”
Xu Qiuyi looked at her, a smile playing on her lips. “Times change. Fortunes change. No one knows what the future holds.”
Miss Li glared at her. “Are you cursing my family?”
Xu Qiuyi, looking at her as if she were an idiot, stood up and walked away. “I’m not talking to you.” She didn’t waste her time on fools.
“You! Come back here!” Miss Li, feeling insulted, wanted to yell, but the crowd restrained her.
Xu Qiuyi ignored her, disappearing into the crowd.
Tao Ning, finally escaping the throng, found Xu Qiuyi walking along a path through the rose garden, towards a gazebo bathed in soft light, a beacon in the sea of flowers.
The gazebo resembled a giant pearl on a crown.
Tao Ning followed the path, her skirt brushing against the same flowers Xu Qiuyi had touched, and reached the gazebo.
Xu Qiuyi was looking out at the garden, her profile bathed in the soft light.
“You were supposed to rescue me,” Tao Ning said, sitting down beside her, her voice filled with mock reproach. “Where were you? And where are Yueyue and Xinxi?”
Noticing something amiss, she leaned closer. “What’s wrong? Who upset you?”
Xu Qiuyi shook her head. “No one.”
Tao Ning, unconvinced, asked, “Really?”
Xu Qiuyi looked at her with wide, innocent eyes.
Tao Ning, knowing exactly how to handle this, stood up. “Fine, I’ll check the security footage.”
“No, wait! I’ll tell you!” Xu Qiuyi quickly grabbed her arm, pulling her back down. She knew Tao Ning would actually do it.
Tao Ning, settling back down, waited.
Xu Qiuyi, after a moment of hesitation, said, “It’s just… Someone said… since you’re the only Tao heir, you’ll have to… marry someone suitable. Someone who can… manage the household while you run the business. And then… you’ll be too busy to… spend time with me.”
She was a terrible liar.
The usually eloquent Xu Qiuyi, who could address an entire auditorium without hesitation, stammered and stumbled over her words.
Tao Ning’s first reaction was confusion.
Something felt… off.
Xu Qiuyi seemed strangely flustered.
With that realization, Tao Ning, without thinking, resorted to her usual explanation. “That’s ridiculous. I’m gay. And he’s delusional. Don’t listen to him.”
Xu Qiuyi quickly looked down, her reaction surprising Tao Ning.
Tao Ning saw her lips twitch, as if suppressing a smile, before she looked up again, her expression carefully neutral. “R-really? You won’t… have an arranged marriage? Ever?”
Tao Ning replied, “The Tao family doesn’t do arranged marriages. My mom was the only heir, and she didn’t have one.”
Xu Qiuyi’s expression softened, a hint of… relief, even triumph, in her eyes. “I hadn’t considered that,” she said softly.
Tao Ning also hadn’t considered that Xu Qiuyi wouldn’t be surprised, that she almost seemed… pleased by the confirmation.
If she had said this to Jin Yue and Lü Xinxi, their reactions would have been explosive.
520, unable to stay silent, interjected, [Xu Qiuyi’s phone is under the table. She just recorded your conversation.]
Tao Ning replied, “I know.”
520: [And she just saved it to multiple cloud storage accounts using keyboard shortcuts. Her typing speed is impressive.]
Tao Ning: “I know.”
She had seen the subtle movements of Xu Qiuyi’s fingers under the table.
And that was precisely what she found so puzzling.
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