The commercial conference followed a similar flow to typical meetings. However, by noon, the head of the rumored "sh" research company had yet to appear, fueling speculation among those present.
Lunch was a casual, all-you-can-eat buffet. Most attendees preferred to mingle and chat, as this was a valuable networking opportunity. Naturally, some introverted young entrepreneurs could be seen scattered around, seeking a less conspicuous way to pass the time.
"How is it?" Mr. Gu asked Xia Qingtian, who had been by his side all morning. "Are you getting used to it?"
Commercial conferences could be rather dull without a specific objective, especially for Xia Qingtian. Simply avoiding falling asleep in such a setting was an achievement.
"It's alright. The sushi is average, but the ingredients are quite fresh," Xia Qingtian replied, swallowing her food. She picked up a glass of cherry wine. "Most of the drinks are low-alcohol fruit wines, probably because there are more meetings in the afternoon. They taste pretty good."
"I have a bottle of excellent white wine at home. I'll open it for you next time you visit." Mr. Gu chuckled indulgently at Xia Qingtian's indirect answer.
"You can save it," Xia Qingtian said, a slight smile touching her lips. She took a sip of cherry wine and then frowned slightly. "On second thought, this cherry wine isn't low-alcohol at all."
Mr. Gu wasn't discouraged by Xia Qingtian's blunt refusal. He simply smiled faintly.
There was always time for the future.
Meanwhile, in a corner of the venue, a heavily made-up woman was discreetly observing Xia Qingtian. She had noticed Xia Qingtian the moment she entered the hall and had barely taken her eyes off her since.
"Ningning, what are you looking at?" a man in his fifties asked her. He was stout, dressed in a dark suit, with his hair neatly parted and combed, giving him the air of a prominent local entrepreneur.
"Nothing, just saw someone I knew," the heavily made-up woman replied in a sweet voice. "Mr. Su, isn't that the daughter of the Xia family?"
"Who?" Mr. Su followed her gaze and let out a short laugh upon seeing Xia Qingtian. "Yes, that's her, Xia Honglang's precious daughter."
"Why isn't she with Mr. Xia?" the woman inquired curiously.
"The eldest Miss Xia is being difficult and wants to enter the entertainment industry. Mr. Xia treasures his daughter immensely. Apparently, there's some variety show filming today. Mr. Xia asked us beforehand to pretend we don't know her today," Mr. Su said with a smile. "Every family has a willful child. It's a small favor."
"Is that so..." The heavily made-up woman's smile was a little stiff. "Mr. Xia really dotes on his eldest daughter."
"Heh, Ningning, are you envious?" Mr. Su glanced around, saw that no one was paying attention, and placed a hand on her backside, patting it. "Don't worry, your godfather will spoil you."
"Mr. Su~ you're so annoying~" The woman stiffened, suppressing her discomfort. She playfully hit Mr. Su's arm. "You have so many business partners here, don't mess around."
Mr. Su chuckled, pleased to see a blush of feigned shyness on the woman's face.
This indicated that the woman was still quite innocent, he thought.
It was quite considerate of Wanqing Entertainment. With just a few words, they had sent this newcomer over. He wasn't interested in the dating show, but he was quite pleased with the woman who had been delivered to him. Although he hadn't fully "consumed" her yet, he wasn't in a hurry. He found the allure of a woman who was playing hard to get, the process of her half-hearted resistance, to be quite enjoyable. Mr. Su had long passed the age of impatient youth. Now, he valued the adoring looks from women and their genuine submission more. That was what he desired.
Therefore, he had specifically brought the woman out to experience the world today. After all, this was the Z City Commercial Conference; everyone present was of considerable standing, and ordinary people wouldn't even have the qualification to enter. This was also a testament to his influence.
At this moment, a friend came over to greet him, and Mr. Su began to chat. The woman, however, looked in Xia Qingtian's direction, her eyes burning with jealousy. They were the same age, in the prime of their youth, and their birthdays were only months apart. Why was Xia Qingtian always supported, while she had to flirt with old men older than her own father, vying for scarce opportunities?
She had wanted to enter the entertainment industry originally, but Xia Qingtian, that rich heiress, had snatched away all her opportunities with just a flick of her finger. Xia Honglang had outwardly disapproved of Xia Qingtian entering the industry, but in secret, he had paved countless paths for her! It was enough to drive her mad with envy, making her want to drag Xia Qingtian down with her.
As this vengeful emotion reached its peak, the heavily made-up woman's gaze sharpened. Upon seeing Mr. Gu next to Xia Qingtian, a scheme began to form in her mind. After excusing herself to Mr. Su, the woman walked directly towards Xia Qingtian.
It was only when the woman stopped in front of Xia Qingtian and met her gaze that Xia Qingtian recognized her.
"Mo Jianing?" Xia Qingtian looked Mo Jianing up and down, her lips twitching slightly. In her two lives, this was the first time she had ever seen Mo Jianing dressed like this. The makeup she wore was entirely unsuited for her, and the strong scent of perfume mixed with cosmetics was particularly vulgar. This ensemble and makeup made her look at least ten years older!
Despite the thick foundation and dated makeup, it couldn't hide the weariness and faint fine lines on Mo Jianing's face, a testament to how difficult her life had become. It was only natural. In her previous life, Mo Jianing could have made a fortune using Xia Qingtian's voice alone, and with Song Junhan investing heavily in her career, she would never have lacked money. Her maintenance would have been meticulous, preventing any signs of aging. Now, with Song Junhan driven out of Z City and still in hiding, Mo Jianing's efforts had amounted to nothing. At this point, even making a living was difficult, let alone having spare money for self-care.
"Qingtian, long time no see. Shall we catch up?" Seeing the surprise in Xia Qingtian's eyes, Mo Jianing felt an unspeakable humiliation. If it weren't for that wretched Xia Qingtian, how could she have ended up like this?
"I'm sorry, I'm on duty right now." Xia Qingtian had no time for a reunion with Mo Jianing. She simply nodded politely and turned her gaze to Mr. Gu beside her.
Having spent so much time with Xia Qingtian, Mr. Gu naturally understood her intention. "Qingtian, go confirm the time with the CEO of Hua Heng."
"Certainly, Mr. Gu." Xia Qingtian said to Mo Jianing, "Please excuse me," and quickly walked away.
Watching Xia Qingtian slip away from her, Mo Jianing clenched her fists by her side. Although she desperately wanted to expose Xia Qingtian's pretense publicly, she knew it wasn't the right time. She had finally made steady progress, having just signed a supporting role in a web series that was about to begin filming. She couldn't cause trouble for her benefactor.
Mo Jianing turned to Mr. Gu with a gentle smile. "Mr. Gu, thank you for looking after Qingtian. I'm her best friend, Mo Jianing, and I'm currently an artist under Wanqing Entertainment."
"Best friend?" Mr. Gu scrutinized Mo Jianing. "An intergenerational friendship?"