After completing her work for Shuangmu at the end of the year, Lin Mei had no more tasks. In the following days, she had a lot of free time. Because of this, she agreed to participate in the Zhao Corporation's annual gala with Zhao Jianghe.
There was also a bit of a rebellious streak in her decision. She hadn't been very interested in Zhao Jianghe initially, but because Xing Zheng had repeatedly warned her not to interact with him, she found herself interacting with Zhao Jianghe more frequently.
On the day of the Zhao Corporation's annual gala, Lin Mei wore a deep wine-red cocktail dress. As it was cold, she wore a shawl over the dress. Her specially styled curly hair, paired with exquisite makeup, gave her the demeanor of a delicate young woman. She was already petite, and this attire brought out her best features.
Zhao Jianghe walked over to Lin Mei and praised her, "Your outfit today suits you very well, you look very beautiful."
Zhao Jianghe offered his arm to Lin Mei, and she took it. They walked the red carpet together. Lin Mei had known about this segment before attending the gala. Zhao Jianghe had asked for her consent, considering it a mere formality. Lin Mei hadn't paid much attention to it, and Zhao Jianghe was very gentlemanly; after walking the red carpet, he separated from her.
However, their joint appearance still caused quite a stir. Although the Zhao Corporation wasn't as powerful as Rong Shi, it was still an established enterprise. A lean camel is still bigger than a horse. Zhao Jianghe's romantic life had always been a focus of media attention. Now that he had publicly brought a female companion, people naturally assumed she was his girlfriend.
Zhao Jianghe led Lin Mei to a corner and arranged for her to sit down. "Don't feel constrained, you can sit here. I'll come find you for the opening dance later."
Lin Mei nodded, "Okay, you go ahead and be busy."
She picked up a glass of champagne and took a small sip. Her peripheral vision caught sight of Xing Zheng and Jiang Chu Bi. She had already anticipated their presence, so she wasn't surprised.
Xing Zheng and Jiang Chu Bi were both dressed in black that day. Jiang Chu Bi was taller, and when standing next to Xing Zheng, their auras were quite well-matched. As soon as they appeared, Lin Mei heard discussions all around, revolving around the same themes: a well-matched couple, equal in strength...
Lin Mei downed the glass of champagne in one gulp. At this moment, Xing Zheng and Jiang Chu Bi were already surrounded by people. Given their status, many individuals wanted to associate with them.
Jiang Chu Bi was adept at handling such occasions. She could manage them with composure even without Xing Zheng speaking. Having such a wife by one's side would likely be a dream for many men. The value Jiang Chu Bi brought to Xing Zheng was far more than just the identity of a "wife."
The gala included an opening dance, to be performed by Zhao Jianghe and Lin Mei. Lin Mei had learned dance during her student days and had been taking yoga classes for years, making her body very flexible. Dance was her forte, and a simple opening dance wouldn't be a challenge for her.
She placed her hand on Zhao Jianghe's shoulder and embraced him. They began to dance to the melody. Zhao Jianghe hadn't expected Lin Mei to be so skilled. A flicker of admiration flashed in his eyes behind his glasses. "You dance very well."
Lin Mei smiled and said, "I studied for a few years."
Zhao Jianghe: "This doesn't look like just a few years of study. Is it like a foundational skill?"
Lin Mei: "You guessed correctly. I did study for quite a while. Later, my studies became demanding, and I danced less."
As they danced and conversed, their gestures were intimate, all of which Xing Zheng witnessed. Jiang Chu Bi stood beside Xing Zheng and saw his clenched jaw and his dark, brooding gaze, which filled her with trepidation. She was afraid Xing Zheng might lose control and erupt.
Fortunately, he managed to restrain himself. Despite radiating a palpable aura of suppressed fury, he didn't actually make a move. Seeing the couple separate in the center of the dance floor, Jiang Chu Bi's anxious heart finally settled.
Before she could even catch her breath, the man beside her suddenly pulled her waist forcefully, drawing her into the center of the dance floor. The crowd began to applaud as Xing Zheng and Jiang Chu Bi entered.
Zhao Jianghe also started clapping along. He said to Lin Mei, "It seems that Ah Zheng and Chu Bi's relationship has been very good lately."
Lin Mei clapped along with him a couple of times, smiling on the surface, but inwardly she thought, *Of course it's good. They were impatient in the office. How could it not be good?*
In the dance floor, they weren't dancing a standard ballroom dance but a tango. The man and woman's bodies were tightly pressed together. His palm traced the curve of Jiang Chu Bi's waist, the veins on the back of his hand clearly visible. With a sudden surge of strength, he pulled Jiang Chu Bi closer. She wrapped a leg around his waist, and their movements were perfectly synchronized, exuding intense tension.
Witnessing this scene, Lin Mei's mind flashed back to the previous incident she had seen in the office. Jiang Chu Bi must be the type of woman who knew how to please men. She was stunningly beautiful and uninhibited, unlike herself...
Lin Mei's face turned pale. She pinched herself. What was she thinking? She was actually comparing herself to Jiang Chu Bi in this regard. She wasn't genuinely trying to compete for favor with Jiang Chu Bi!
Although it wasn't Xing Zheng's main event today, his dance with Jiang Chu Bi stole the spotlight. Almost no one was discussing Zhao Jianghe anymore; everyone was talking about Xing Zheng.
Anyone else would have been unable to tolerate their own event being overshadowed. However, Zhao Jianghe didn't seem to mind. After Xing Zheng finished dancing, he even struck up a conversation with him. "Your dance with Chu Bi today was truly spectacular. It's a shame there aren't enough spectators here. It would surely be a sensation at your wedding."
It was evident that Zhao Jianghe was genuinely complimenting Xing Zheng, but Xing Zheng seemed unfazed. Facing Zhao Jianghe's enthusiasm, his demeanor remained indifferent. It was Jiang Chu Bi who smiled and replied to Zhao Jianghe on his behalf, "President Zhao is such a great flatterer. I'm almost embarrassed by your praise."
Zhao Jianghe smiled faintly, "There's no need to be embarrassed. You and Ah Zheng deserve it."
"President Zhao has been seen with Manager Lin quite a lot recently!" Jiang Chu Bi raised an eyebrow at Zhao Jianghe, curiously asking, "Could it be that something is going on?"
Zhao Jianghe replied ambiguously, "What do you think?"
Jiang Chu Bi laughed, "I understand. Then Ah Zheng and I won't be third-wheeling here. You two chat."
Xing Zheng had not spoken a word throughout the entire exchange, nor had his gaze ever landed on Lin Mei. Yet, even standing opposite her, Lin Mei could still feel the oppressive aura he exuded.
As soon as he left, Lin Mei unconsciously let out a long sigh. Zhao Jianghe asked with concern, "Were you very nervous?"
Lin Mei: "No, I'm just a bit hungry."
During the annual gala, Zhao Jianghe was busy with his social obligations, so Lin Mei sat alone at the buffet area, eating. With no one to bother her, she relished the peace.
After filling her stomach, Lin Mei went outside the banquet hall for some fresh air. She went downstairs and into the hotel courtyard. Just as she was about to remark on how quiet and deserted it was, she heard ambiguous sounds.
Her face flushed, and she was taken aback, not expecting to encounter such a situation while stepping out for some air.
As Lin Mei was about to turn back, she suddenly heard a man's voice: "I saw you dancing happily with him. Haven't done it for a while, have you forgotten me?"
Lin Mei's breath hitched. That voice... was it Zhao Jianghe?