"I won't keep you from schmoozing with the Mayor."
Bai Xue genuinely approached Gongze Yu, not aiming to schmooze, but merely fulfilling her duty as a local entrepreneur visiting their governmental guardian was essential.
"Mayor Gong."
"Bai Xue."
Bai Xue's eyebrows twitched slightly. This was her first meeting with the mayor. How did he know her name, moreover, why his gaze held a familiar undertone?
Su Yan spotted his best buddy Qiao Tian, a great business partner.
"Oh, here I was about to rescue our distressed Young Master Su. Seems that there's no need after all." Despite being his best buddy, he had to comment sarcastically.
The corner of Su Yan's mouth twitched. His great reputation was truly ruined!
He bent over clutching his chest, "Already my heart is riddled with wounds. If you add a few more, I may surely die!"
Qiao Tian burst into loud laughter.
"Impressive, Young Master Su is still in the mood to jest!"
He thought he would look grim with a face indicating constipation!
"Everyone is entertaining themselves at my expense, why shouldn't I have a bit of fun myself? It's a bonus!" Since he was now playing the court jester for others, might as well amuse himself with a tad of abandon!
"Bai Xue is indeed a formidable woman! In such a short time, she has tamed you, our proud Young Master Su!" Qiao Tian marveled.
The old Young Master Su didn't act like this. If one offended him, a single cold glance from him would be lethal!
Everyone treated him with reverence, simply a god among men. Anyone daring to show him any less respect would meet a tragic end. Now though, he was even smiling amid all the mockery!
This made him genuinely admire Bai Xue.
"Can we stop mentioning that woman?" The mere mention of Bai Xue made Su Yan grit his teeth. He wanted to tear her apart like a ferocious beast.
"Alright, let's not mention her, let's not!" Qiao Tian grinned.
His laughter was unbearably dazzling to Su Yan, inciting the urge to give him two black eyes.
"Young Master Su, will it be okay if you left your wife alone for a bit?" Qiao Tian glanced towards Bai Xue, not far away.
"Whether I leave her here or throw her into a pack of wolves, it won't matter!" Su Yan retorted unhappily.
"Then let's leave, there's a business deal I want to discuss with you."
They quietly left.
Having exchanged pleasantries with Gongze Yu, Bai Xue turned around to find Su Yan, but he was nowhere in sight. This reminded her of their wedding day and made her feel stifled.
After some small talk with a few business associates, she made an excuse to get some fresh air outside.
The hotel garden had a few blooming osmanthus trees. The faint, sweet scent of the flowers eased Bai Xue's stifled mood considerably.
Suddenly, she saw someone standing under the osmanthus tree.
The man stood under the osmanthus tree covered with falling flowers. The moonlight shone on him, resembling an enchanting painting of a handsome man admiring flowers.
Not wanting to disturb his poetic moment, Bai Xue turned to leave.
"Bai Xue." The man called her and began walking towards her.
She turned around, a reserved smile on her face. "Mayor Gong."
"Please, call me Gongze Yu." He implied she should use his name.
"That's not appropriate." They weren't close, and he was the mayor, a newcomer. If he didn't want to tarnish his reputation, he would refrain from getting too close to others, especially her.
Bai Xue's reputation in the business world wasn't exactly favorable. This wasn't due to her character, but more so for the fact that people in the business world, accustomed to a male-dominated sphere, took offense when a young woman like herself emerged victorious, leaving a bitter taste.
There were numerous versions of how Bai Xue became successful - but to sum it up, everyone believed her success was dependent on her physical assets!