Chapter 189

Chapter 189 - 189 182 Jealous Xie Shang radiates a powerful aura Chapter 189: 182: Jealous Xie Shang radiates a powerful aura (first update) Chapter 189: 182: Jealous Xie Shang radiates a powerful aura (first update) The seating arrangement at the birthday banquet was meticulous, with Xie Yanli and her daughter being placed at the first table to the left of the main table.

“Miss Fang.”

Sitting to the right of Fang Jiyin was a gentleman, the son of a certain entrepreneur, who was trying to strike up a conversation with her.

Fang Jiyin felt hardly in the mood to entertain small talk; as soon as Xie Shang appeared, her attention shifted entirely to him.

“How come the fourth brother has arrived?”

Qin Qi didn’t have that kind of clout.

Xie Yanli guessed, “It must be because of that Wen surnamed fellow, right?”

Fang Jiyin bit her teeth, her eyes brimming with anger as she stared at Wen Changling, “Like a lingering bad spirit.”

How did she suddenly become Qin Qi’s illegitimate daughter?

Xie Yanli remembered the Wen family’s girl from Wind Town who had caused the death of her younger brother. It was just unbelievable, did all of those with the surname Wen know how to cast spells or what?

The atmosphere at the main table was slightly chilly.

A table of business elites and high-ranking executives; Xie Shang’s seniority was among the lowest there, but he possessed a commanding presence that, even without speaking, made him hard to ignore.

The most closely associated with the Xie Family at the table was Chen Qiuchan. Chen Qiuchan and Xie Jingxian were fishing buddies who occasionally fished together.

Xie Shang was conveniently seated to the right of Chen Qiuchan.

“I haven’t seen your grandfather for a while,” Chen Qiuchan exchanged pleasantries with Xie Shang, “How is the old gentleman’s health?”

“He’s well.”

“I heard he’s been raising birds lately.”

Xie Shang did not touch his chopsticks, just sitting leisurely. There were both wine and tea on the table. He picked up the teacup, took a sip, and when he raised his eyes, his gaze naturally swept across to the opposite side. After a brief pause, he looked away and answered the elder’s question, “Yes, he has a few.”

“Do they talk?”

“A little.”

Xie Jingxian had been teaching the birds to talk every day; they could already say ‘Ji Fu’.

After the conversation about birds, Chen Qiuchan brought up calligraphy and painting. He had recently acquired a fine painting and, knowing that Xie Shang had good handwriting, he wanted to ask him to inscribe some words on it.

Xie Shang was responsive, refilling his tea cup several times, his attention fully focused on Wen Changling. Wen Changling pretended not to recognize him, not even giving him a proper glance.

She was seated between Shi Lihong and Jiang Chengxue.

When she was nearly full, she wanted a drink and noticed her cup was empty. The drink was on the table, and just as she was about to reach for it, someone else took it.

“Cup,” said the person to her left.

Wen Changling passed her cup over.

To her left was Jiang Chengxue, who filled it up with a drink for her.

“Thank you.”

Jiang Chengxue placed the drink bottle on the ground, near Wen Changling’s feet.

At these types of evening banquets, the food seemed to be there just for show, with nobody really digging in. Wen Changling spun the lazy Susan and used the public chopsticks to pick up some food.

The chopsticks had just touched the taro.

“That one’s spicy.”

Wen Changling wasn’t very good with spicy food.

She withdrew her chopsticks and gave Jiang Chengxue an inquisitive look.

Someone was toasting him; the person must hold a lower position as he stood up while he remained seated, casually mentioning he was avoiding alcohol and could only drink a little, symbolically sipping a bit.

He set down his cup, “Is your cat’s throat better now?”

Suddenly the conversation turned to cats.

The volume was just enough for Wen Changling to hear clearly.

She said, “It’s better now.”

Jiang Chengxue turned the sweet and sour pork ribs in front of her.

She looked up at him, “Have we met before?”

“Why do you say that?”

Feeling.

Wen Changling felt an inexplicable familiarity with Jiang Chengxue.

Jiang Chengxue’s right hand rested on the chair, her skin overly pale under the light, and her dark pupils looked casually and indifferently at the person opposite her. She nonchalantly met Xie Shang’s gaze before turning to Wen Changling, “Before Yàn Hé Táng, we had not met.”

After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere at the table warmed up considerably.

President Yan of Huaqi Technology took the initiative to chat with Xie Shang, “Lawyer Xie,” he introduced the lady sitting next to him, “this is our director of legal affairs at Huaqi, Director Meng.”

The director of legal affairs at Huaqi Technology, Meng Duolan.

She nodded to Xie Shang with polite formality.

Having had a few drinks, President Yan’s face flushed with the warmth, his spirits somewhat elevated, “Her father and you used to be colleagues.”

Her surname is Meng.

She must be Meng Wenting’s daughter.

Xie Shang didn’t say anything special.

President Yan began to connect people enthusiastically, “You both studied law, there might be possibilities for cooperation in the future.” He patted Meng Duolan’s arm, “Director Meng, why don’t you offer a drink to Lawyer Xie.”

Meng Duolan frowned slightly and remained seated.

President Yan looked displeased, “Director Meng.”

The rule that pretty young female employees should accompany drink is an unwritten one at some business dinners.

Very low-class, fully exhibiting the baseness of some men.

Had it been any other time, Xie Shang wouldn’t have bothered with this, and would have just refused. But there was a man across from him that was extremely annoying, which made him very uncomfortable.

When he’s uncomfortable, his temper isn’t that great.

Xie Shang’s gaze was faint as he looked at President Yan, “Why don’t you toast yourself?”

President Yan was taken aback for a moment and then forced a smile, “Yes, yes, my oversight.” He poured himself a full glass of liquor and stood up, “I’ll toast to Lawyer Xie.”

Xie Shang’s eyes had a forbidding coldness, “I don’t drink.”

President Yan stood awkwardly with his glass raised, neither able to proceed nor retreat. Meng Duolan sitting next to him watched Xie Shang with focused attention.

Everyone was puzzled; the man who had just been elegant and agreeable, why suddenly seemed so imposing.

He Dongzhou nudged Xie Shang with his elbow, Don’t make it too obvious.

In the end, it fell to He Dongzhou to smooth things over, though he too was a sly fox. He poured himself a glass of water, “Xie Shang is not good with alcohol. I’ll drink for him, President Yan won’t mind, right?”

President Yan chuckled, “Don’t mind at all.”

He Dongzhou drank half a glass of water while President Yan downed one of liquor.

Some laughed and watched the show.

Wen Changling got up and went to the restroom.

She placed her bag on the washstand. She was looking for her lipstick in the bag when the room card Dai Qiu had given her fell out.

She picked up the room card.

A pair of apricot-pink high heels stopped in front of her, “You are impressive,” said the owner of the shoes with derision, “barely dumped by my fourth brother and you’ve already clung onto a high-level executive father.”

Wen Changling wiped the water stains off the room card with a tissue. It bore the room number and surname; it was a room booked under Qin Qi’s name. She put the card back into her bag.

“Your fourth brother?” She turned on the tap to wash her hands again, looked up at the angry eyes of Fang Jiyin reflected in the mirror, “How did he become yours?”

“I saved his life, I’m his aunt’s daughter. We grew up together, spent Mid-Autumn Festival and Spring Festival together. The connection between him and me will never be broken, no matter what.”

Wen Changling shut off the water and turned around to face Fang Jiyin. Her gaze was like a well in the dead of night, with no ripples to be seen, “Are you sure it was you who saved him?”

This calm tone set a chill up Fang Jiyin’s spine.

Instinctively averting her gaze, she couldn’t meet nor handle Wen Changling’s questioning and stuttered, “You, you’ve already got a new target, don’t seduce my fourth brother anymore.”

Wen Changling finished applying her lipstick in the mirror, “You shouldn’t come to warn me. You ought to go and persuade Xie Shang, and tell him not to come seducing me.”

She had recently come to understand something very deeply: She didn’t handle Xie Shang’s seduction well at all.

She collected her things into her bag and turned to leave.

Xie Shang was waiting outside.

“Changling.”