Chereads / The CEO Husband's Secret / Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: Rivals Confrontation**

Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: Rivals Confrontation**

Meng Ning was displeased and regretted coming to the reunion.

After finishing the call, Zeng Jing handed the phone back to Meng Ning with a playful attitude, "Meng Ning, you don't mind, do you?"

Then she looked at the others and said, "The leading man will be here soon. We're all classmates, so what if he's a small-time employee? Anyone who can get into Shengyu Group can't be that bad. Don't say anything inappropriate later."

Everyone had different thoughts. Nowadays, just because someone did well in school doesn't mean they're successful.

So what if he's in a big company? He's still an employee.

Gu Changming hadn't spoken the whole time. He also wanted to meet the man who had married Meng Ning. Losing to a mere employee left him feeling quite resentful.

Meng Ning felt trapped. Once you're in society, you can't just act on your own whims.

Moreover, the class teacher was there, making it hard for her to leave.

Mr. Li noticed Meng Ning's awkwardness and smiled to ease the tension, "Xiao Ning, when choosing a partner, character is the most important. It's all about finding the right person. The one who suits you is the best."

"Yes," Meng Ning responded softly. She never cared whether Fu Tingshu was rich or not, but she was very anxious about what would happen when he arrived.

Not to mention her ex-boyfriend Gu Changming was there, and the classmates' sarcastic comments worried her that Fu Tingshu might feel belittled.

Qin Huan whispered to Meng Ning, "I can find an excuse for us to leave together."

This reunion was like a mirror, reflecting the different facets of society. Those who were doing well were flattered, while those who weren't were distanced and ridiculed. It was a harsh reality.

Meng Ning shook her head. Since Mr. Li had spoken, she had no choice but to tough it out through the reunion.

Meng Ning made an excuse, "I'm going to the restroom."

A classmate laughed, "Meng, there's a restroom in the private room. Don't use that as an excuse to leave."

Meng Ning frowned and went to the restroom. She immediately called Fu Tingshu back.

He answered quickly, "Meng Ning, what's wrong?"

Meng Ning asked, "Where are you now?"

"On my way to Mingyue Tower," Fu Tingshu's deep voice came through the phone. "I'll be there in about ten minutes."

Meng Ning hurriedly said, "We're almost done here. You don't need to come. Qin Huan can give me a ride home later. It was just a prank by my classmates. Don't worry about it."

"It's fine, I'll pick you up on my way home," Fu Tingshu replied with a warm smile. "Don't worry."

Even without being there, the experienced Fu Tingshu could guess what might happen at the reunion. If he didn't go, Meng Ning might find herself in a difficult position.

Listening to his gentle voice and the reassuring "don't worry," Meng Ning felt much more at ease.

"Drive slowly and be safe," she said.

"Okay."

After hanging up, Meng Ning took a deep breath and returned to her seat.

Zeng Jing immediately asked, "Meng Ning, how long until your husband gets here? He's not backing out, is he?"

"He'll be here in a few minutes." Meng Ning knew exactly what these people were thinking. They were worried she was hiding Fu Tingshu, afraid to let him meet everyone.

Meng Ning was open and honest, unbothered by vanity. She and Fu Tingshu were legally married, and there was nothing to hide.

Once she figured this out, Meng Ning felt calm.

Everyone was eagerly awaiting, frequently glancing at the door. Gu Changming felt increasingly irritable.

About ten minutes later, the private room door suddenly opened.

Everyone perked up, only to see a waiter come in to change the plates.

They looked away, but then a warm, mellow voice came from the doorway.

"Meng Ning."

Everyone turned again, and there stood Fu Tingshu.

Fu Tingshu was dressed in a suit, having just finished work. The well-tailored suit accentuated his handsome, elegant features and impeccable demeanor. His presence was extraordinary.

As Fu Tingshu stood there, everything around him seemed to fade.

A female classmate couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, he's so handsome."

"Even more handsome than Takeshi Kaneshiro."

"No wonder Meng Ning was defending him earlier and was reluctant to bring him. If my husband was this handsome, I'd keep him at home too."

Seeing Fu Tingshu for the first time, Gu Changming's sense of superiority vanished instantly. His sixth sense told him that this was a formidable opponent.

Gu Changming was an elite on Wall Street, having turned down high-paying offers to be a legal advisor for companies, opting to develop his career back in China. This was the first time he encountered someone with such a powerful presence.

Meng Ning stood up, a smile spreading across her face. "You're here."

Fu Tingshu walked to Meng Ning's side, making a perfect match. They looked like a couple destined for each other.

Meng Ning formally introduced him to everyone, "This is my husband, Mr. Fu."

Fu Tingshu greeted them warmly, "Hello, everyone."

Everyone snapped out of their daze. A classmate said enviously, "Meng Ning, your husband is so handsome. He could start a career in showbiz right away."

Whether rich or not, his good looks were certainly pleasing to the eye. It's human nature to appreciate beauty.

Meng Ning smiled. Suddenly, Gu Changming spoke up provocatively, "Mr. Fu, I heard you work at Shengyu Group. Which department? It's not easy to get into Shengyu Group. Two years ago, I met the president of Shengyu Group abroad and have some connections there. I'm familiar with many leaders at Shengyu Group, but you seem unfamiliar."

The implication was that Fu Tingshu wasn't any high-ranking official at Shengyu Group.

In truth, Gu Changming had never met the president of Shengyu Group; he had only seen his back from a distance and had no real connection. His words were just a facade to show off in front of Meng Ning.

When Fu Tingshu entered the room, he quickly assessed everyone and sensed the hostility from Gu Changming. Among the group, Gu Changming stood out, and Fu Tingshu, as a man, could sense that there might be some history between Gu Changming and Meng Ning.

Fu Tingshu smiled slightly and said, "I'm in the R&D department."