"Guang, do you know the background of the woman beside you?"
She blocked their way again.
Xu Guang looked at her, a bit impatient, but the occasion kept him from showing it explicitly.
"I know her background better than you do. Do you have anything else to say?"
"You... do you also know that she is Shen Liao's kept woman?!"
The commotion drew quite a bit of attention.
Xu Guang frowned, feeling uncomfortable. No matter what, Jiang Lai was his partner now; her dignity was his dignity. What does Wang Nan Nan mean by this?
"Jiang Lai, speak for yourself!"
Shen Liao would arrive soon, and she couldn't believe Jiang Lai would deny their relationship!
No matter what, she couldn't let this woman get involved with Xu Guang.
Jiang Lai released Xu Guang's arm and looked at him calmly.
"Mr. Xu, you've seen my resume. Although I don't know who this Shen Liao she's talking about is, everyone here has an extraordinary status. If my presence affects your relationship, then it's better for me to leave to avoid damaging my own reputation, let alone getting you and President Shen, whom I've never met, involved."
Jiang Lai's words were firm and straightforward, with a hint of helplessness and anger in her expression, but she stood tall, her slender and graceful figure in the light like a wounded swan, eliciting sympathy.
Seeing this, Xu Guang's heart trembled.
No matter who it was, one couldn't help but feel sympathy and pity for this beautiful and delicate woman.
Moreover, having witnessed Jiang Lai's talent before, Xu Guang and she often had similar ideas in design, which was why he invited Jiang Lai to accompany him to the banquet.
After all, men are visual creatures; bringing such a talented and beautiful woman here was a point of pride for him.
But now, someone was trying to trample on his dignity.
Xu Guang coldly stared at Wang Nan Nan, his voice no longer as gentle as before.
"Miss Wang, have you never learned what it means to respect others? Or is it that the Wang Family's upbringing teaches you to accuse others without evidence?"
Wang Nan Nan's heart tightened, suddenly feeling a stinging heat on her face as if slapped.
She glared at Jiang Lai, who at that moment, sported a flamboyant smile, overtly triumphant and arrogant, almost driving Wang Nan Nan to scream.
Right, she had no evidence!
Shen Liao would never admit Jiang Lai's identity.
She dared to say it confidently, banking on Jiang Lai letting it slip.
Now, it was clear Xu Guang was angry with her.
The two were childhood sweethearts, and the Wang and Xu families had long considered a marriage alliance, only waiting on Xu Guang's stance.
And now Xu Guang was looking at her with a cold indifference, his gaze sharp and icy like daggers.
Jiang Lai!
This deceitful woman!
Shameless wench!
At this moment, on the second-floor railing, Li Yahan was nervously watching Shen Liao.
Everything happening below was completely different from what she had expected.
Jiang Lai came in.
And as Xu Guang's partner, no less.
Who was Xu Guang? Wang Nan Nan's secret crush.
What was going on?
How did things get to this point?
But fortunately, Shen Liao clearly saw Jiang Lai flirting with another man; she was sure Shen Liao wouldn't keep this promiscuous woman after the banquet was over!
Thinking this, Li Yahan gathered her courage and softly mumbled near Shen Liao's ear.
"When did Jiang Lai meet Xu Guang? It seems like they have quite a good relationship..."
Before she could finish, a cold, silent stare turned towards her, scaring Li Yahan into immediate silence, her hand slightly trembling over her purse, not daring to meet Shen Liao's eyes.
What's with him?
His gaze was terrifying, as if he wanted to tear her apart.
Was Shen Liao angry?
Yes, Jiang Lai dared to betray him. Shen Liao must be very angry now, and would probably drive Jiang Lai away in a rage, maybe even torment her.
However, Shen Liao was now fixated on the pair below, the woman who had been crying her eyes out in his room just a few nights ago, now holding another man's hand and appearing here without a hint of embarrassment or nervousness, claiming she didn't know him...
His lips pressed tight, slender white fingers clenching the cup, his tall figure exuding a slight chill.
Downstairs, Xu Guang went to drink with business partners, while Jiang Lai stood nearby eating dessert. The air conditioner's breeze was a bit chilly, making her backless dress feel a bit inadequate.
"Buzz buzz."
The phone vibrated twice.
Shen Liao: [Come upstairs.]
Jiang Lai feigned nonchalance, looking up briefly. She had already felt that gaze that wished to devour her, yet she could still act casual.
Even as she met Shen Liao's gaze from upstairs, she remained unfazed, even raising her glass to him with a sweet smile.
Jiang Lai didn't reply to his messages, playing the part of diligently following her current patron for drinks and conversation throughout.
The entire banquet went on until the auction began. Shen Liao's face remained sour throughout, though the auction process was swift. As the items were all donations without any too expensive or rare, bidders didn't push it; as long as it looked decent on the surface.
Shen Liao acquired a set of jewelry, the priciest item of the day, reportedly donated by a foreign collector, made of gemstones and once worn by a Queen of Europe. The initial bid was 13 million, and Shen Liao secured it for 20 million.
Jiang Lai quietly observed the whole time.
With no money for philanthropy, she simply helped Xu Guang hold up the paddle. The current item up for auction was a gemstone mask made of over a hundred pink diamonds and three sapphires. Since it was a modern craft easily purchasable, its starting bid wasn't high, opening at three million.
Xu Guang directly bid four million, and the hammer fell twice without any further bids, just as everyone thought it would soon be sold, when someone from the front row raised a paddle.
"Five million."
The paddler was Shen Liao's secretary.
Xu Guang was puzzled, thinking that for charity, winning one item would suffice. Why would President Shen be interested in this one too?
"Six million."
"Seven million."
"Eight million!"
"Ten million."
At this point, Xu Guang fell silent.
Ten million far exceeded the mask's value; he had just been trying to win something casually, not expecting such a rival.
His assets couldn't compare to Shen Liao's. Continuing to bid was trivial to Shen Liao but challenging for him.
So Xu Guang remained silent, the mask going to Shen Liao for ten million.
Thereafter, no matter what Xu Guang bid on, Shen Liao would outbid him by a slightly higher price.