Feng Feng and Shen Su had known each other for many years. Due to work, they had attended many similar events together. Shen Su had always been at ease in such settings, able to mingle with everyone and fit in. It was rare to see him so focused on just one person.
And that woman happened to be to his liking. Shen Su was not the type to remain chaste and deny himself pleasure.
Feng Feng recalled that her casual relationship with Shen Su had started at a work banquet. Perhaps tonight, the same scenario would unfold with this woman.
Feng Feng was lost in these thoughts, so much so that she didn't really listen when Zhang Lan chatted with her.
Fortunately, they had some personal connection, and Zhang Lan didn't mind. He simply asked, "Are you not feeling well?"
Feng Feng seized the opportunity to say, "Perhaps I've been too tired from work lately."
As a colleague and someone who had known Feng Feng for many years, Zhang Lan knew how dedicated she was to her work. He smiled and offered some advice, "You need to take care of yourself. Working hard is good, but health comes first."
Feng Feng replied, "You're right, Senior."
The address amused Zhang Lan, and he chuckled, "It's rare to see you joking. Are you free this weekend? I've invited some friends from the business association to go hiking to stay fit."
Feng Feng hadn't participated in outdoor activities for a long time. Moreover, seeing the scene tonight, she knew she'd be lost in thought if she stayed home over the weekend. Therefore, she decided to go hiking with Zhang Lan.
Zhang Lan added Feng Feng to a WeChat group. Feng Feng then discovered that they organized hiking trips every month, with people of all ages. It was indeed a way to socialize.
After discussing the hiking arrangements with Zhang Lan, Feng Feng's attention shifted away from Shen Su. Naturally, she didn't notice Shen Su had been staring at her the entire time.
The reception ended at half-past ten. Apart from a brief greeting with a leader, Feng Feng hadn't spoken another word to Shen Su. Afterward, Feng Feng picked up her handbag, ready to drive home.
Upon reaching the parking lot, Feng Feng encountered Shen Su again, or more precisely, him and that woman from earlier.
They were walking towards a parking spot, chatting and laughing. Feng Feng's gaze swept over them and she immediately recognized Shen Su's Cayenne, a brown one.
Feng Feng calmly withdrew her gaze, pretending not to see them, and opened her car door to get in.
While fastening her seatbelt, Feng Feng glanced in the rearview mirror and saw the woman getting into Shen Su's car. The Cayenne then drove towards the exit of the underground garage.
A man and a woman leaving together from such an occasion; there was no need to speculate further about what might happen.
Although Feng Feng was usually calm, she couldn't help but feel affected by such a situation. Before going to sleep that night, she shared the evening's events with Lin Mei and Lan Lan on WeChat. Both Lin Mei and Lan Lan agreed that Shen Su had done it deliberately to provoke her.
Feng Feng thought the same, but she wasn't sure if Shen Su would go all the way with the act, as he was never one to restrain his desires.
Feng Feng didn't have any particular aversion to such matters. If she hadn't known about it, it would have been fine. But to have it happen right before her eyes made her feel uneasy and even a little angry.
Lin Mei: 【Why don't you send him a message to ask?】
Lan Lan: 【Don't ask. Asking means you've lost. Just go about your business tomorrow as usual and pretend you don't know.】
Feng Feng's thoughts were similar to Lan Lan's. She had already been quite proactive. If this continued, it wouldn't be beneficial for their future relationship. Whoever was more anxious would lose control of the situation.
Lin Mei: 【But President Feng is curious about who that woman is. It's better to clarify.】
Lan Lan: 【Isn't it simple to find out? You ask Xing Zheng, I'll ask Liang Yufeng. One of them is bound to know.】
Lin Mei: 【...As expected of President Lan.】
The benefit of their overlapping social circles became apparent at this moment.
Lin Mei and Lan Lan split up their tasks and quickly found out the identity of the mysterious woman.
The information they gathered was similar. Both Xing Zheng and Liang Yufeng said that the woman was a distant cousin of Shen Su. Although called a cousin, their age difference was not significant, only a few months younger than Shen Su. Years ago, she had also been in Nanjiang and often hung out with Shen Su and Xing Zheng. Later, she went abroad for development.
Recently, she had returned to Nanjiang due to work. She was also in the financial industry, and Shen Su had introduced her to many contacts.
After clarifying this matter, Feng Feng understood. No wonder Shen Su had spent the entire evening with her; he must have been introducing her to contacts.
However, Shen Su hadn't introduced her to anyone, which Feng Feng guessed was to avoid suspicion.
Of course, there was another possibility: Shen Su knew she would be there, so he deliberately brought the woman along without introducing her, acted intimately, and perhaps used it to provoke her.
Lan Lan's thoughts were exactly the same as Feng Feng's: 【You haven't contacted him for a week?】
Feng Feng: 【Yes.】
Lan Lan: 【Heh, men.】
Lin Mei: 【President Feng is truly patient.】
Lan Lan: 【That's right. Don't contact him over the weekend either. By the way, who did you say you were going hiking with?】
Feng Feng: 【Zhang Lan, the one who's two years ahead of me.】
Lan Lan: 【I remember. I used to have a crush on him.】
Lin Mei: 【...Be careful if Liang Yufeng sees your chat history.】
Lan Lan: 【Do you think I'm afraid of him? @Feng Feng, have Zhang Lan cooperate with you tomorrow and show off a bit.】
Feng Feng thought about it carefully. Lan Lan's plan was feasible. Feng Feng and Zhang Lan had no romantic spark between them; they were old acquaintances. If she explained, Zhang Lan would be happy to help.
After Lin Mei and Lan Lan finalized their plan and put down their phones, Xing Zheng had just coaxed Jing Chu to sleep and returned to the bedroom.
Xing Zheng asked Lin Mei, "Is Feng Feng asking about Shen Su's cousin because she's jealous?"
Lin Mei replied, "This is called reconnaissance. What is Shen Su thinking? President Feng is already so proactive. Who is he putting on airs for?"
Xing Zheng hadn't paid much attention to the matter recently. "How is he putting on airs?"
Lin Mei explained their recent situation. After listening, Xing Zheng laughed, "I think Feng Feng is also putting on airs."
Lin Mei naturally sided with her friend, "President Feng has never pursued anyone before. It's already very difficult for her to be like this. Her experience can't compare to Shen Su's. If Shen Su continues to be so reserved, President Feng will find someone else."
After hearing Lin Mei's words, Xing Zheng remained silent for a long time. He narrowed his eyes and looked at her, his gaze becoming increasingly direct.
After many years of marriage, Lin Mei still couldn't withstand Xing Zheng's intense stare. "You... why are you looking at me like that?"
Xing Zheng cut to the chase, "Tell me, what message do you want me to pass to Shen Su?"
Lin Mei: 【...I didn't. You're thinking too much.**】
"Oh, really?" Xing Zheng raised an eyebrow. "I thought you wanted me to subtly let Shen Su know that someone is pursuing Feng Feng, and if he doesn't hurry, he'll be snatched away again."
Lin Mei gave a dry laugh, "You are friends, so it's not impossible to remind him."
Shen Su, after showering, sat at the bar drinking and lost in thought when his phone suddenly rang.
He immediately picked it up and saw the name "Xing Zheng" on the screen, his eyes gradually dimming.