Chapter 234: Chapter 226: The Consequences of Underestimating Qiao Jing
The pair of trousers that Zhan Qipei had intentionally torn were restored to their original condition in no time.
Qiao Jing did not notice the subtle glances of the people around her, and after mending the clothes, she stood up.
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âThank you,â Zhan Qipei said, staring at the damaged part of the trousers.
Without halting her steps, Qiao Jing returned to her room with the blouse she had sewn, âNo need.â
That afternoon, Qiao Jing received a message from Master Han.
âMiss Qiao, Iâm hosting a charity auction, are you interested?â
âIâd rather not go,â Qiao Jing replied, her slender fingers tapping on the keyboard.
She had never been interested in events that required her to make a public appearance.
âThe money from the auction will be donated to children in mountain areas and at the welfare institutes,â Master Han immediately responded to Qiao Jingâs message, touching on the point that mattered to her.
Qiao Jing looked down at the message from Master Han and agreed without a second thought, âFine.â
âI will have someone send the invitation to your house, remember to take it.â
Qiao Jing did not reply to the message, instead returning to her busy work at the research institute.
âAre you going to the auction?â Zhan Qipei asked upon returning home in the evening, noticing the invitation on the table.
âYes,â Qiao Jing replied after glancing at the red invitation.
Zhan Qipeiâs eyes brightened, âIâve also received an invite. Letâs go together.â
âEither way is fine,â Qiao Jing responded indifferently,
Several days later.
Qiao Jing stood in front of the hotel where the charity auction was being held.
Reporters wielding cameras were standing around the luxurious hotel entrance.
To attend todayâs auction, Qiao Jing had finished her ongoing tasks half an hour early and rushed over from the research institute.
It was only after standing at the entrance that Qiao Jing remembered Zhan Qipei had planned to come with her.
âIâve arrived early; no need to wait for me,â Qiao Jing sent a message to the other party.
The other party immediately replied to her message, âAlright, our seats are arranged together.â
Qiao Jing put away her phone, ready to enter.
As she approached the entrance, the security stopped her, âHello, please show your invitation.â
Qiao Jing was taken aback, then slowly furrowed her browsâshe seemed to have forgotten the invitation at the research institute.
After finishing her work, she had hurried to the auction venue and forgotten about the invitation.
Seeing that Qiao Jing couldnât produce the invitation after a while, an odd expression emerged in the doormanâs eyes, âMiss, if you donât have an invitation, please donât attend the auction, alright? This high-society auction isnât a place for the poor or country bumpkins like you.â
After saying this, the doorman measured Qiao Jing with an overtly scrutinizing gaze, momentarily stunned by her stunning face but it did not prevent him from looking down on her as he continued to speak.
âThe guests invited to the auction are all high-class individuals. You dare to come dressed so shabbily? Not even wearing makeupâare you here to be a joke? Or perhaps youâre here to seduce the wealthy?â
What the doorman did not know was that the clothes he considered shabby, just the blouse alone, were worth a year of his salary.
âShut your mouth.â Qiao Jingâs eyes were as deep as a pool of black water, and her emotionless tone inexplicably sent chills down oneâs spine.
The doorman was also intimidated by Qiao Jingâs gaze, growing timid.
The reporters seemed to smell gossip nearby and approached with their cameras.
âWhatâs going on?â
âWhy isnât she going in?â
Two reporters asked.
Qiao Jing naturally wouldnât answer their questions and took out her phone, intending to contact Han Zhiyu.
Seeing the journalists arrive, the gatekeeper decided to retaliate against Qiao Jing for her earlier attitude towards him and began blustering, âJournalist friends, look at this woman. She doesnât even have an invitation and sheâs here to attend the auction. I tell her off and she tells me to shut up! You guys be the judges! Iâm just a gatekeeper, I get paid to do my job, right? And she still wonât leave!â
The journalists exchanged glances.
âReally? Then Iâve got to report this.â
The journalist who said this received a cold look from Qiao Jing, and he silently turned off his camera.
âExactly, report it, let more people know that someone like her exists! I think she came here to hook up with wealthy men inside,â the gatekeeper added fuel to the fire.
The journalists immediately began to gossip.
âWomen like her are so disgusting.â
âLook at how sheâs dressed, itâs so shabby. No wonder she would do something like this, probably ran out of money.â
Qiao Jing overheard these words, while at the same time, her call got through.
âIâm sorry, Miss Qiao, I was just dealing with the auction matters, what can I do for you?â Han Zhiyuâs voice came through, tinged with an apology.
âI forgot my invitation, how do I get inside?â Qiao Jing said, her voice neither too loud nor too soft, but just loud enough to be overheard by the gatekeeper.
Convinced that Qiao Jing was pretending to be more than she was, the gatekeeper said sarcastically, âI think you didnât forget it, you never had one, right? Calling anyone wonât help! The organizer is Master Han!â
The journalists got ready to film the scene once more.
Qiao Jing noticed out of the corner of her eye. She moved swiftly, went up to one of the journalists, and turned off his camera, âIf you want to keep your camera, donât film.â
âOuch, what can you do to me? Smash my camera? You couldnât afford to pay for it!â The journalist got angry and tried to turn on his camera again right in front of Qiao Jing.
But his actions paused when another person came out.
Seeing Han Zhiyu emerge from the hotel, the gatekeeper began to complain, âMaster Han, this woman doesnât have an invitation and wants to come in. I canât drive her away; should I get some people to throw her out?â
âShut your mouth! She is a distinguished guest!â Han Zhiyu rebuked the gatekeeper for his lack of perception and turned to approach Qiao Jing. âMiss Qiao, come with me, the auction is about to start.â
The gatekeeper and the journalists had been hoping to see a spectacle but instead were surprised.
Master Han himself came out to greet someone!
Who on earth was this woman? To be treated so courteously by Master Han, putting aside his auction work to greet her?!
âApologize.â Qiao Jing stopped in front of the gatekeeper.
The gatekeeperâs comment about her trying to hook up with someone had touched a nerve.
The gatekeeper was taken aback, sweat forming on his forehead, and he quickly bowed deeply. âIâm sorry, Iâm sorry, my bad just now. It was my fault for being judgmental. Please be magnanimous and donât hold it against me! I have elderly and children at home, and I rely on this job to support my family! Please donât ask Master Han to fire meâŚâ
Qiao Jing, having received the apology, didnât bother to listen to the rest of the gatekeeperâs plea and left him with a cold, âYou will bear the consequences.â
Han Zhiyu followed Qiao Jing into the hotel. Before entering, he looked back at the gatekeeper.
The gatekeeper immediately understood the implication in Han Zhiyuâs gaze: he was about to lose his job.