Xiong Miao quickly turned around, only to be enveloped by a tall shadow.
Looking up, she saw Zhan Yeling's handsome face, its icy expression radiating chilliness.
Upon seeing Zhan Yeling, Ling Xiaoxiao's previous arrogance immediately faded, a flicker of panic in her eyes.
However, she quickly concealed her complicated emotions, switching to a guise of fragile innocence, "Yeling, I... I just care too much about you..."
"You care about the status of the Zhan family, don't you?" Zhan Yeling glanced at her dismissively, then turned his attention to Xiong Miao.
He walked over to her, took her hand, pulled her up, and began heading towards the banquet exit.
Xiong Miao followed him, bewildered and unresisting.
Outside the hotel, a cool breeze swept past. The autumn wind, carrying a cold chill, made her already cold body even colder.
She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to retain some warmth. "Mr. Zhan, can I go home now?" She believed she had fulfilled her part of the agreement.
"In love with each other, huh?" He arched an eyebrow, his voice so enticing it could make her ears pregnant. His ambiguous smile was both charming and mysterious.
Under his intense gaze, Xiong Miao's face turned hot. Initially feeling chilly, his heated gaze warmed her entire body. "I was just bluffing, Mr. Zhan. Don't take it seriously."
She was mortified realizing he'd heard her boastful claim to Ling Xiaoxiao.
Whether he understood her explanation or not, she wasn't sure. All she heard was a soft chuckle.
Was he mocking her? Or did he not believe she had made those remarks simply to preserve her dignity?
Xiong Miao's ears turned as red as boiled shrimp. "Mr. Zhan," she said, "I hope you and Ling Xiaoxiao get married soon and live a long, happy life together."
After saying this, she lowered her head and quickly disappeared into a nearby computer repair shop. Zhan Yeling's handsome face instantly darkened, as if black ink could drip from it.
"Mr. Zhan," his chauffeur called out, as the black Rolls-Royce pulled up beside him. Sensing the chilly aura radiating from Zhan Yeling, the driver wisely stayed silent to avoid causing more trouble.
Once inside, the black car sped off into the neon-lit night. When Xiong Miao emerged from the repair shop with her fixed laptop, Zhan Yeling was nowhere in sight. He must've left. It was probably for the best to avoid more awkwardness.
As she waited at the roadside for a taxi, she heard someone call her name. "Xiong Miao."
As she turned around, she saw a man in a silver-grey suit, his tall figure striding towards her.
"Professor Zhan, the banquet isn't over yet. Why did you leave so early?" Seeing Zhan Zifeng, Xiong Miao gave a faint smile.
Zhan Zifeng's face always had a warm and gentle expression, like a comforting spring breeze that could dispel anyone's bad temper.
"I had planned to see off Zhan Yeling, but it seems I was too late," Zhan Zifeng said, stopping a step away from Xiong Miao.
"How did you end up with my younger brother?"
"I..." Xiong Miao was at a loss for words. She couldn't exactly say that it was all just a deal for today.
"No matter what the reason, stay away from Zhan Yeling. He's ruthless and bloodthirsty. You'll get hurt," Zhan Zifeng warned her.
Three people had warned her to keep her distance from Zhan Yeling today.
But Zhan Zifeng was the only one who seemed genuinely concerned for her.
His words provided a small comfort to Xiong Miao's heavily burdened heart.