But there appeared Hua Lunxi, wearing a black tailcoat, on the second floor.

His demeanor was respectful and protective as he assisted a mysterious woman; without a doubt, the guests all guessed that this woman must be the second heir.

What surprised the guests at the scene was that this female heir was also pregnant, judging by her belly, it seemed to be six or seven months along.

She was extremely beautiful, with movements that carried the delicate softness and touching gentleness unique to Eastern women, bright eyes, white teeth, and a subdued yet elegant smile.

Dressed in a black, sophisticated gown that lacked flamboyance but exuded a restrained, calm, and understated elegance, it accentuated her fair skin, glowing like pearls and jade, and that faint smile on her face, emanating maternal tenderness, made her feel approachable and likable.

Her appearance contrasted sharply with that of Yiren, who was domineering and proud, exuding an aire of a lofty female heir, dazzling but also creating a sense of inaccessibility; however, this female heir’s warm and generous maternal gentleness gave the guests a favorable impression from one of curiosity and skepticism.

They found her more approachable than Yiren, like a refreshing spring breeze.

What was even more surprising to the guests was that behind Ye Lu followed two adorable children with naive smiles, a little boy in a black suit and a little girl in a white princess dress.

Like little princes and princesses from a fairy tale, beautiful and cute, their large, bright eyes sparkled, endearing themselves to the onlookers, utterly charming.

Foreigners have a particular weakness for adorable children, and faced with this pair of cute and beautiful Eastern kids, they could not help but cast their gaze upon them, revealing a tender smile.

For a time, the atmosphere at the banquet relaxed, and the guests all showed a welcoming attitude towards the appearance of Ye Lu and her children.

Yiren’s haughty expression had turned somewhat ugly; she had subtly sensed the change in the guests’ emotions, from confusion and anticipation of a spectacle to warmth and smiling welcomes. As the proverb goes, first impressions are very important, and clearly, Ye Lu’s entrance had earned quite a bit of goodwill.

In upper-class society, being welcomed or not is of utmost importance for someone new to the scene.

Hmph, this damn woman Ye Lu indeed knows how to use children to curry favor.

Hua Lunxi, smiling, exchanged a look with Ye Lu, and their affectionate, intimate gestures as siblings made people grin, sensing the touching family bonds. It seems the brother is quite doting on his sister, and this female heir was not rejected.

As they slowly descended the stairs, they won a round of applause.

Even Hua Yueqi showed a smile and applauded with satisfaction. Yiren glanced sideways and suddenly, her eyes froze over with frost, turning back, she coldly gazed at Ye Lu surrounded by all the attention.

Well played, Hua Lunxi, bringing this woman back at such a critical moment to compete with me for the position of heir.

Don’t harbor any foolish fantasies; even if both are daughters of the Hua family, her status is still vastly different from this woman’s, she shouldn’t dream of surpassing me in birth or social standing.

In a moment, she will see how she can make Ye Lu uncomfortable and let this woman face utter embarrassment in her first public appearance in North American high society.

After coming downstairs, Hua Lunxi led Ye Lu onto the stage, smiling as he introduced her to everyone, saying that this is his other sister Ye Lu, also his uncle’s daughter.

It was then that a voice, elegant and seductive yet tinged with a hint of sarcasm, rang out, it was Yiren.