The matter between Lan Lan and Xu Zhou Yue had long since reached Liang Yu Feng’s ears. Hetae was a partner of Xinhui, and whenever Liang Yu Feng visited Hetae, he would hear gossip about Lan Lan. Some people said they had seen Lan Lan drinking with Xu Zhou Yue, and that Xu Zhou Yue often stayed in her office for a whole day.
Although there was a working relationship, such behavior was still too ambiguous.
Liang Yu Feng had a busy week, and since Lan Lan had not contacted him proactively, he chose to give her the cold shoulder.
In the blink of an eye, it was the day of the charity gala. Having previously attended events publicly with Zhou Bing, the media had already assumed Zhou Bing was Liang Yu Feng’s fiancée. Therefore, Liang Yu Feng still brought Zhou Bing to the event that evening. The moment they stepped out of the car, they became the focus of media attention.
Zhou Bing was wearing a champagne-colored strapless evening gown that day, her fair shoulders exposed and her skin glowing with a delicate luminescence. Liang Yu Feng’s tie was the same color as her dress, indicating careful coordination by a stylist. The scene of a handsome man and a beautiful woman drew constant flashes from the reporters.
Although Zhou Bing had attended such occasions before, she had never been the focus of media attention. Feeling a bit flustered, she instinctively looked towards Liang Yu Feng. However, Liang Yu Feng had caught sight of Lan Lan and Xu Zhou Yue not far away. When he saw Lan Lan stepping out of Xu Zhou Yue’s car, his arm unconsciously tightened around Zhou Bing, which the media interpreted as him protecting Zhou Bing.
As soon as Lan Lan alighted from the car, she saw Liang Yu Feng and Zhou Bing surrounded by a throng of reporters. The petite woman nestled in the tall man’s embrace – who wouldn’t say they were a perfect match?
Seeing Lan Lan looking in that direction, Xu Zhou Yue smiled and said, “You’re not jealous, are you?”
“With such a prominent Mr. Zhou standing beside me, why would I be jealous of another man?” Lan Lan laughed, her expression revealing no hint of concern.
For a moment, Xu Zhou Yue couldn’t tell if she was acting or genuinely indifferent to Liang Yu Feng. He merely felt that this woman was indeed different from others, which explained why she could captivate Liang Yu Feng to such an extent, even making him defy Xu Zheng Xi.
Xu Zhou Yue put his arm around Lan Lan, and they walked past the registration, openly allowing the media to take photos. After descending the red carpet, Xu Zhou Yue did not release Lan Lan, and upon entering the banquet hall, his embrace seemed to tighten.
Lan Lan knew very well that Xu Zhou Yue intended to provoke Liang Yu Feng, and she shared the same sentiment. Therefore, she did not resist. As expected, the moment they entered, Lan Lan felt a gaze fixed directly upon her.
At the auction, Lan Lan and Xu Zhou Yue happened to be seated in the same row as Liang Yu Feng and Zhou Bing. Even if they tried to ignore each other, their eyes would still meet from time to time.
Although Lan Lan could feel Liang Yu Feng’s displeased gaze, she did not restrain herself. Instead, she escalated her public display of affection with Xu Zhou Yue, whispering secrets into his ear every now and then. Xu Zhou Yue thoroughly enjoyed this, his actions becoming increasingly intimate, each gesture seeming to deliberately provoke Liang Yu Feng, as if determined not to stop until he erupted.
The one who suffered the most from their rivalry was Zhou Bing. She already harbored a sense of apprehension towards Liang Yu Feng. Even when Liang Yu Feng was not outwardly agitated, his demeanor would chill her. Now, with Liang Yu Feng angered, she was even more at a loss. The aura of coldness emanating from him made her feel as if she had fallen into an ice cave, trembling uncontrollably.
Liang Yu Feng seemed to be competing with someone, clearly caring deeply yet refusing to admit it, sulking there and tormenting her.
“Do you like this emerald necklace?” Xu Zhou Yue pointed to the item on stage and said to Lan Lan, “I’ll bid for it and give it to you.”
This scene was precisely what Liang Yu Feng saw.
Before Xu Zhou Yue could place a bid, Liang Yu Feng raised his paddle. The necklace, with a starting bid of 150,000, was driven up to 300,000 by him.
With such a large increment, everyone’s attention turned to him, yet he remained unmoved, determined to win.
Men’s competitive spirit often arose inexplicably. Xu Zhou Yue, perhaps provoked by Liang Yu Feng, also raised his paddle, “350,000.”
Lan Lan looked at the emerald necklace. It was indeed quite beautiful, but was an increase of 50,000 too much?
This was their Renminbi, not Vietnamese Dong.
Before she could say anything, Liang Yu Feng raised his bid again, “500,000.”
Lan Lan: “……”
Did Liang Yu Feng’s money grow on trees? An increase of 150,000 at once – who was he trying to spite?
Before Lan Lan could finish her thoughts, she heard Xu Zhou Yue say, “450,000.”
The relationship between Liang Yu Feng and Xu Zhou Yue was no secret; their rivalry was well-known. Now, as they alternated their bids, even those genuinely interested in the necklace would not join in.
Thus, the venue became a one-on-one duel between the two of them. They seemed to be locked in a battle, continuously bidding, until the necklace’s price was driven up to three million by Liang Yu Feng.
Zhou Bing, standing beside him, felt suffocated. Every time Liang Yu Feng bid, her heart would skip a beat. What normal person auctioned like this? He might as well have gone to fight Xu Zhou Yue directly…
Lan Lan, beside Xu Zhou Yue, was not as tense as Zhou Bing. She simply felt sorry for the money. While the necklace was good, three million was too high. She advised Xu Zhou Yue a few times, “How about we give up? That necklace is worth at most 500,000.”
Was it worth becoming such a fool for the sake of a spat?
Liang Yu Feng saw Lan Lan whispering to Xu Zhou Yue. He then gestured to the host. The host prompted once, and Lan Lan stopped Xu Zhou Yue. He did not bid further, and the necklace was successfully acquired by Liang Yu Feng for three million.
After the auction, Liang Yu Feng had his assistant handle the payment. When the necklace was brought out, it happened to coincide with Lan Lan and Xu Zhou Yue passing by.
Liang Yu Feng took the necklace, took it out of the box, and fastened it around Zhou Bing’s neck.
Zhou Bing dared not move, feeling as though Liang Yu Feng might strangle her. The cold necklace sent shivers down her spine, raising goosebumps all over her body. It was only when Liang Yu Feng whispered “Smile” in her ear that she managed a happy smile.
The media, of course, did not perceive anything amiss. Such a scene was precisely what their cameras were meant to capture.
Seeing this, Lan Lan’s heart was as calm as still water. The word “jealousy” had always been absent from her world; even if it were present, she would never let envy cloud her reason.
From the beginning to the end of the auction, Liang Yu Feng had not spoken a single word to Lan Lan. Even when Lan Lan went to the terrace alone midway, Liang Yu Feng did not follow.
Lan Lan thought that Liang Yu Feng must have been disgusted by her. If that was the case, she would go all the way and ensure there was no possibility between them.
Therefore, after the auction ended, Lan Lan proactively invited Xu Zhou Yue to spend the night at the hotel upstairs. She chose to say this when Liang Yu Feng and Zhou Bing were passing by.
Seizing such a golden opportunity, Xu Zhou Yue naturally would not miss it. He glanced in Liang Yu Feng’s direction, his fingers tracing Lan Lan’s shoulder, and said with a suggestive smile, “Since you’re being so proactive, wouldn’t it be unchivalrous of me to refuse?”