Jian Meiyi's face darkened.
Gasps of shock rose from the guests at the dinner party. Could this late-arriving lady be the Crown Prince's official girlfriend?
So Jian Meiyi was also at the dinner party, no wonder Huo Zhenyang insisted on her attendance. Jiayi lifted her head and glanced at the man who bound her so tightly she couldn't move, she could only play along, "I'm sorry for being late."
Huo Zhenyang's dark, intense brows twitched, his voice low and indulgent, "It's alright, girls always need time to dress up." Raising his voice, he announced, "Alright, let's start the feast."
The man's indulgence filled every female guest with envy, and almost confirmed it—this girl was indeed Huo's true girlfriend.
And as for Jian Meiyi, she was just a self-deluded volunteer! How mortified she must feel for having been so affectionate towards Huo just moments ago!
"Pssh, I thought a big star would be so classy, turns out she's so LOW!"
"Does she think Huo is like those sugar daddies she used to cling to? Not letting go?"
…
"If Miss Jian would grace us with her presence, Jiayi and I would be delighted to accompany you to the end. Please," Huo Zhenyang said lightly.
Jian Meiyi had never faced such public humiliation before, her complexion turned even uglier, and she also felt the mocking gazes of many on her, eventually, her face reddened bit by bit.
"Meiyi, let's go back, to avoid further embarrassment." Xue Jingchuan, part of the same social circle and having worked with Jian Meiyi on a few projects, also disapproved of her haughty pride, but still stepped forward to persuade her.
Jian Meiyi came back to her senses with a sneer, "Xue Jingchuan, tell me, is this woman really Zhenyang's girlfriend?"
Xue Jingchuan hesitated for a moment; Huo Zhenyang had only known this woman for a few days, how could she be...? It was very likely just a ruse to drive Jian Meiyi away.
But such hesitation only deepened Jian Meiyi's suspicion. She turned to look at Jiayi and suddenly her eyes brightened. Charging over, she said sarcastically, "Miss Jiayi, since you're Zhenyang's girlfriend, you should know that he easily gets allergies from drinking cocktails, right? How could you let him drink the same cocktail as you?"
Jiayi, wanting to quickly show off her closeness with Huo Zhenyang and get rid of Jian Meiyi, casually handed Huo Zhenyang a glass of wine. Now caught off guard, she listened as Jian Meiyi gloated:
"Also, Zhenyang really dislikes when women wear their hair up; he prefers long hair draped over the shoulders. Miss Jiayi, your style seems to run completely counter to Zhenyang's preferences!"
Jiayi didn't reply. Jian Meiyi was trying to tell everyone that she was just a puppet, not really Huo Zhenyang's girlfriend. What woman doesn't know her own man's basic likes and dislikes?
Huo Zhenyang's brows knitted together tightly, just about to speak, but the girl beside him calmly began, "There's no helping it, Zhenyang always indulges me. Sometimes he'd rather suffer an allergy and dislike something than ever voice objection."
Huo Zhenyang, intrigued, looked down and enjoyed how the little thing in his arms threw cold water on others. His usually stern lips curled into a curve, showing no intention of stopping her, letting her take the lead, and even cooperatively lifted his cocktail, took a sip, then pulled Jiayi closer, whispering affectionately, "As long as you like it."
Jian Meiyi was stunned, and once more, low laughter reached her ears.
She had been humiliated again, a victim of her own devices!
Jiayi gritted her teeth. Fine, she'll push a little harder, sparing no effort to let her give up once and for all today. If Huo Zhenyang is pleased, he might just help her find her family right away.
With that thought, she walked over and said softly, "Miss Jian, it's getting late. If you're busy with auditions these next few days, we won't keep you." Turning her head to look at the man behind, she sweetly smiled and cooed, "Zhenyang~, shall we have the driver take Miss Jian home?"
Even Jiayi felt a bit nauseous as she said this.
However, Huo Zhenyang hummed in satisfaction, "Good. Butler Luo, listen to Miss Jiayi."
"You—", does this woman really see herself as the lady of the house?
Jian Meiyi, unable to contain her anger, wondered how this woman dared to send her away? Who did she think she was!
That day, she was utterly humiliated, and she wasn't about to let this woman off unscathed.
Glaring fiercely at Jiayi, she casually grabbed a tall wine glass filled with red wine from the table next to her and threw it at Jiayi!
A shadow beside Jian Meiyi darted forward and stood in front of Jiayi.
"Pfff—" Not a drop of red wine was left as it poured all over Xue Jingchuan.
Jian Meiyi saw Jiayi was unharmed and, in a fit of rage, threw the glass and charged over to raise her hand for a slap. Suddenly, a shadow fell before her, her wrist stung with pain, and she was lifted up by someone.
The guests present held their breaths.
"Get out of my sight." The man's voice was extremely sinister, as if coming from hell, "I won't say it a second time. Otherwise, I will make you disappear completely from the entertainment industry, and those sugar daddies of yours won't be able to save you."
Huo Zhenyang had already strode over at some point, his face layered with a chilling frost.
"Miss Jian, if you don't leave now, I'll have to call security," the butler Luo seconded Huo Zhenyang.
Jian Meiyi felt a chill run through her, her body softened, and she stepped back several paces, finally casting a resentful glance at Jiayi before running off.
Huo Zhenyang's gaze shifted, and though he didn't see that little thing, he heard her voice drifting from a nearby corner.
"Are you all right?" Jiayi's tone was full of apologies as she offered a clean, damp cloth to Xue Jingchuan to wipe his clothes.
"I'm fine," Xue Jingchuan's peach blossom eyes twinkled as he let the girl wipe the red wine off his body.
His shirt looked expensive and was now ruined by the red wine, and it was uncertain if it would even come clean.
Seeing his magnanimity, Jiayi felt even more embarrassed, "Why don't you go inside the villa, take it off, change into something else, and I'll wash it for you? Dry it and have Auntie Li bring it over."
Xue Jingchuan couldn't help but smirk. The girl, who had just retorted Jian Meiyi like a little lion, was now like a white rabbit. He slightly smiled, suddenly leaned in close to her ear, and asked curiously, "…have you really become Mr. Huo's woman?"
"I…" Jiayi didn't know who she was in the past, but at least she wasn't good at lying now; her cheeks turned red, and she fiddled with her skirt hem.
"You know, with him, some things… most women can't handle," Xue Jingchuan teased intentionally.
"…" Jiayi's face grew even redder.
"What are you thinking about? I meant his personality!" Xue Jingchuan laughed.
The scene of the handsome young man flirting with the blushing, delicate little rabbit was very pleasing to the eyes of the onlookers.
Yet Huo Zhenyang's eyes darkened inexplicably, and he strode over, grabbed Jiayi's slender wrist, and headed straight for the nearby villa.
"Hey, Zhenyang, why are you walking so fast, I haven't finished talking to your girlfriend—," Xue Jingchuan called out.
"What… what are you doing…" Although Jiayi didn't see the man's face clearly, she could feel the anger emanating from Huo Zhenyang.
"Don't forget, you are my woman now. In front of so many guests, what do you mean by flirting with my friend?" Huo Zhenyang's voice was very low and ice cold, as if coming from a cellar.
"Butler Luo, attend to the guests! Miss Jiayi's dress is dirty; I will take her back to the villa to change," he announced.
The man's voice echoed over the outdoor banquet, and he led the girl in the black dress away without looking back.
The female employees present showed envy and resentment on their faces, some blushing. Changing clothes and Huo himself offering to help; how much could he dote on this woman, to the heavens?
Xue Jingchuan watched the man's stern figure leave, a playful smile on his face.
The villa was empty; with the butler Luo and Auntie Li attending the banquet next door.
Huo Zhenyang, without a word, dragged Jiayi straight to the second floor.
"Let go—let go!" Jiayi's palm hurt; she struggled to break free but was no match for the man's strength.
Once they reached the bedroom on the second floor, seeing that the girl was still trying to break away and run out, Huo Zhenyang simply picked her up horizontally, threw her onto the bed with a clang, and kicked the door shut with his foot!