CH 18

Jiang Mu Yang, who was exchanging pleasantries his friends, looked over and immediately saw Bai Zhen Zhen. Coincidentally, Jiang Mu Yu also discovered Bai Zhen Zhen and Huo Xiang at the same time, thus the brother and sister duo both headed to the entrance.

With a fake gentle greeting of “Sister Zhen Zhen”, Bai Zhen Zhen’s eyes landed onto Jiang Mu Yu.

“Ah, Sister Mu Yu.” Bai Zhen Zhen pasted on a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, before turning to Jiang Mu Yang, “Senior, happy birthday!”

“Thank you.” Jiang Mu Yang was obviously elated to see Bai Zhen Zhen arriving.

But as his gaze slowly fell on Bai Zhen Zhen and Huo Xiang’s tightly clasped hands, he couldn’t help but be surprised.

“Zhen Zhen, the two of you…”

“Oh, I almost forgot,” Bai Zhen Zhen smiled at Huo Xiang, before turning back to the Jiang siblings, “Let me reintroduce you to my boyfriend, Mr Huo Xiang.”

Jiang Mu Yu was straightforward, immediately laughing mockingly: “No way, Sister Zhen Zhen, you actually got together with your secretary?!”

“Why? Does Ms Jiang have any opinion on that?” Huo Xiang retorted, gripping Bai Zhen Zhen’s hands tighter, “So you women are allowed to marry up, but us men are prohibited from being kept?”

Not only was the Jiang siblings stunned by such shameless words, even Bai Zhen Zhen couldn’t bear to listen on.

— What kind of description was that?!

“Just joking!” Huo Xiang immediately changed his stance, “Look at your expressions, the two of you really don’t have a sense of humor!”

Jiang siblings: “…”

Bai Zhen Zhen: “…”

“However, Sister Zhen Zhen, aren’t you the CEO of a listed company? How could you date your own secretary? If this is found out by your company’s Board of Directors, can you still keep your position in the company?!” Jiang Muyu snickered.

From her tone, it could be seen that she had never believed that Bai Zhen Zhen had the capabilities to be a CEO of a company, thus her face was full of contempt when she spoke, believing that she had seen through the false lies.

“Ms Jiang doesn’t have to worry about this. After all, I own 60% of the company’s shares.” Huo Xiang gently smiled at Jiang Mu Yu, “Oh, I forgot to tell you. I’m the chairman on the Board of Directors for the company, and the company is also one of the subsidiaries under my family’s corporation.”

Bai Zhen Zhen almost laughed out loud.

It wasn’t an issue of her acting skills, but the tale spun by Huo Xiang was simply too ridiculous!

Jiang Mu Yu naturally didn’t believe him. She had a mocking expression on her face, but continued to play along: “It turned out that Mr Huo is someone with a strong background! My apologies for being disrespectful! May I know what your corporation is called?”

Bai Zhen Zhen also stared eagerly at Huo Xiang.

Indeed, what was it called?! She also wanted to be employed there.

Huo Xiang lifted his chin: “In a few days, I have an interview arranged. When that time comes, you will find out.”

Saying so, he dipped his head towards Bai Zhen Zhen: “Zhen Zhen, it’s tea time now. Let’s go eat.”

Bai Zhen Zhen was defeated by Huo Xiang’s wit and hypocrisy. Suppressing a smile, she asked Jiang Mu Yang: “Senior, can we go in for some food?”

Jiang Mu Yang, who had been silent for a long time, came back to his senses.

He tried to squeeze out a gentle smile and said to Bai Zhen Zhen: “Of course. Pardon my oversight for not inviting you in first.”

Saying so, he gestured for them to enter.

Huo Xiang let go of Bai Zhen Zhen’s hand and embraced her waist. The two exchanged glances before walking into the venue, beaming.

****

After a short greeting, Jiang Mu Yang excused himself and silently walked to a corner.

Jiang Mu Yu followed him, quickly pulling on his hand to stop him, asking: “Brother, what’s wrong?”

Jiang Mu Yang couldn’t help but look back at Bai Zhen Zhen, saying: “Nothing. I just didn’t expect that the next time we reunited, she would have someone else by her side…”

A trace of jealousy flashed in Jiang Mu Yu’s eyes.

“I personally don’t think that there’s anything outstanding about that Ms Bai; her looks are also just average.” Jiang Mu Yu continued, “And it’s clear that that boyfriend of hers is not a decent person, the two of them talking about being a listed company’s chairman, CEO whatnot. They were biting off more than they could chew, struggling to fill in the gaps in their lies.”

She added on a last minute thought: “Birds of a feather flock together, they’re truly compatible with each other.”

“Mu Yu, you don’t understand her.” Jiang Mu Yang paused, his lips curling up gently, “She is the most wonderful girl that I have ever seen.”

Jiang Mu Yu’s expression nearly collapsed.

She forced herself to continue smiling, and gripped her brother’s hands tighter.

“I don’t want to understand her! No matter what, she isn’t good enough for my brother!” Jiang Mu Yu acted coquettishly, taking the opportunity to hug her brother’s arm, “Brother, there are so many other better fishes in the sea, can’t you just forget about her?”

Jiang Mu Yang’s eyes glazed over with a layer of sadness.

“Yes, there are so many other fishes in the sea…” He sighed, turning around to stare in Bai Zhen Zhen’s direction, “But I’ve been swimming around in circles. The moment I saw her again, I was back to square one…”

Jiang Mu Yu’s face completely collapsed at this point.

She couldn’t say anything.

At that moment, her expression when she looked at her brother made one feel a sense of suffocation arising from the deep despair written all over her face.

“Maybe I will forget her one day.” Jiang Mu Yang smiled somewhat self-deprecatingly, before looking away from Bai Zhen Zhen.

Seeing Jiang Mu Yu’s cold face, he reached out to poke her nose: “What are you dazing out for! You’re not young either; it should be time for you to find a boyfriend too!”

Jiang Mu Yu came back to her senses, showing an innocent and brilliant smile: “I don’t want to find a boyfriend, I want to be with Brother for the rest of my life!”

“You, really! You’re really like what mom describes you as — a clingy bootlicker!” Jiang Mu Yang was both annoyed and amused.

Jiang Mu Yu shook his arm and acted cute.

However, the moment she lowered her head, she threw a frigid look at Bai Zhen Zhen.

****

On the other side, Bai Zhen Zhen didn’t notice the hostility emanating from a certain direction.

She was still casually listening to Huo Xiang boasting.

“Zhen Zhen, I promise you, if I suddenly become a millionaire one day, you will become that millionaire’s wife.” Huo Xiang said seriously.

Bai Zhen Zhen deliberately pretended to be touched: “Thank you for still remembering me at that time.”

“Of course!” Huo Xiang gave her a firm look, “As the saying goes, never forget where you came from. I won’t forget about the one who accompanied me when times were tough, even when I become rich.”

Bai Zhen Zhen finally couldn’t stand it anymore. She squeezed out a smile that was uglier than a crying face: “I beg you, it’s broad daylight right now. Stop dreaming.”

Huo Xiang: “…”

As the two of them conversed, a pair of flamboyantly-dressed girls strutted seductively towards them.

One of them staggered suddenly and the wine glass in her hand tilted, coincidentally splashing red wine onto Bai Zhen Zhen’s dress.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” The instigator cried out in panic.

Bai Zhen Zhen subconsciously looked at the woman.

Though she had said “sorry”, there was no surprise or guilt on her face. Her actions were clearly intentional.

“What’s wrong with you? The path is so wide, yet you insist on squeezing past us, and even spilling wine on my girlfriend?” Huo Xiang roared in anger.

“What’s the matter?” Jiang Mu Yu strided over after hearing the fuss.

She had just reached when she exchanged looks with the two girls who had spilled the wine.

“Oh, Ping Ping, why were you so careless, to have spilled wine on Sister Zhen Zhen…” Jiang Mu Yu pretended to rebuke them.

Ping Ping was the one who had pretended to stumble just now, purposely spilling red wine.

She replied with an innocent look: “Mu Yu, I didn’t mean it! Why don’t you ask your friend how much did the dress cost, and I will compensate for it.”

“That’s not necessary!” Jiang Mu Yu quickly spoke up before Bai Zhen Zhen could, saying “It’s merely a dress. Our Sister Zhen Zhen is a CEO of a listed company, how could she not spare the money for a new dress!”

Saying so, Jiang Mu Yu and the girls burst into a derisive laughter.

“Right, Sister Zhen Zhen?” Jiang Mu Yu looked towards Bai Zhen Zhen, “Or could it be that you’re not actually a CEO, and this dress is rented and has to be returned? If so, Ping Ping definitely wouldn’t undercompensate you!”

“These few ladies, what kind of attitude are you showing?”

Huo Xiang was about to flip out, but Bai Zhen Zhen stopped him.

She smiled calmly, addressing Jiang Mu Yu: “Sister Mu Yu is right, it’s just a dress. I don’t care about it.”

Finishing her words, she turned towards Huo Xiang: “Let’s go back, I want to change clothes.”

Under Jiang Muyu’s complicated gaze, Bai Zhen Zhen walked out of the party with her head held high.

Huo Xiang hugged her shoulders until they exited the hotel doors. Once through the doors, he couldn’t hold back his burning question: “Why didn’t you let me stand up for you just now?”

“Do you think you’re the only one who can stand up to them?” Bai Zhen Zhen gave him a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, “If I wanted to stand up to them, I would be fiercer than anyone else.”

“Then why did you…”

“I don’t want to have too much to do with that woman.” Bai Zhen Zhen said, “In her mind, I’m her rival. The more I confront her, the more she will hate me. When that happens, her methods will only get more and more vicious, making it difficult for me to anticipate it in the future.”

The sense of justice and heroism in Huo Xiang’s bones was suddenly aroused.

— Huo Xiang: “These people are simply bullying the weak! I can’t wait to become the world’s richest man and protect my female lead!”

— System: “… You’re sure it’s to protect the female lead?”

— Huo Xiang: “Otherwise?!”

— System: “Hmm…”

Huo Xiang grabbed Bai Zhen Zhen’s wrist, a pair of lively eyes looking at her firmly and sincerely.

“Zhen Zhen, let’s get married!”

Bai Zhen Zhen was startled.

She thought about it, feeling that maybe Huo Xiang was right. She estimated that those people would not let her rest in peace for every day she remained unwedded.

Thus, after sinking into deep thought for a few seconds, she nodded her head.

Seeing that she had agreed, Huo Xiang was ecstatic.

However, before he could continue to speak, Bai Zhen Zhen frowned again.

“But…”

Huo Xiang looked at Bai Zhen Zhen nervously, afraid that she would take back her words again.

“But what?”

“I can only give you three thousand dollars after compensating for this dress.” Bai Zhen Zhen said sincerely, “And it’s also on an installment basis, with the first month being one thousand dollars and the subsequent months being two hundred dollars, lasting a year. Of course, if you feel that it’s too little…”

“Not too little! I accept!” Huo Xiang answered with tears.

But his heart was full of curses.

— What kind of female lead was this?! How could she be so calculative?!