Sheng Congzhi's slender fingers removed her sunglasses.
Indeed, the look on Fu Yuting's face was like a switched had been flipped, instantly filled with shock, "Sheng Congzhi! What are you doing here?"
Lu Huaichen spoke, "Zhizhi is my honored guest."
Fu Yuting simply couldn't believe it, "Brother Chen, you and her... you two..."
Having already garnered significant attention, she made it worse with her outburst, feeling as though the entire banquet hall had turned to look.
Sheng Congzhi had long been accustomed to being the center of attention, only...
As if telepathically connected, she lifted her eyes and, sure enough, was startled.
Standing in front of the red wine tower with several people, the tallest one among them—
was Fu Yan.
He was dressed more formally today.
Of course, only compared to his usual attire.
A well-fitted pure white shirt paired with black suit pants, one hand holding a wine glass, the other tucked in his pocket, his posture somewhat casual, his expression under the lenses nonchalant, yet he effortlessly outshone the well-known young talents of Yun City by his side.
At this moment, his gaze locked straight onto hers, his thin lips slightly curled in a smile that was not quite a smile.
As if saying: Is this your reason for rejecting me?
Lu Huaichen followed her glance and saw, "Brother Lu!"
That loud voice...
"Zhizhi, let's go meet Brother Lu."
Sheng Congzhi let out a sigh and could only follow him forward.
...
Lu Jiang Nian, in a dapper suit, squinted his charming eyes, his smile teasing, "Fu Er, what do you think of my brother's girlfriend?"
Fu Yan raised an eyebrow slightly but remained silent.
The group around him started to jeer:
"You can't be serious, Fu Er, you've forgotten her already?"
"She almost became your niece by marriage!"
"The famous superstar Sheng Congzhi, no less..."
Upon their approach.
Lu Jiang Nian's demeanor was still polite, "Miss Sheng, I've heard much about you."
Sheng Congzhi responded indifferently, "Mr. Lu is well."
Lu Jiang Nian glanced at his brother, his words loaded with implication, "This is the first time Ah Chen has introduced a girlfriend to the family elders. Miss Sheng carries quite the clout."
"Brother!" Lu Huaichen blushed to his ears.
He did like Zhizhi, but he was getting ahead of himself, especially since Zhizhi hadn't agreed yet...
Surely Sheng Congzhi said, "Mr. Lu is mistaken, Ah Chen and I are just friends."
"Is that so?" Lu Jiang Nian neither agreed nor disagreed.
"Uncle, Brother Lu, you're both here," Fu Yuting followed up, "Brother Chen, may I be your dance partner later?"
Sheng Congzhi, this shameless woman, with Uncle still here, I don't believe you'd dare to be Brother Chen's dance partner!
Then Lu Huaichen said, "I already have a dance partner."
Fu Yuting knowingly asked him, "It couldn't be Miss Sheng, could it?"
Sheng Congzhi remained silent.
Lu Huaichen stated matter-of-factly, "Zhizhi came with me, so naturally, if there's dancing, I'll dance with her."
"Brother Chen, don't you know? Miss Sheng has already been marri—Ah!"
Before she could finish her sentence, Fu Yuting let out a piercing scream.
Her beautiful gown had a large, wet patch spilled on it, red wine staining the green fabric, a complete mess.
"Slip of the hand," Fu Yan, with his long fingers, placed the wine glass back on the table, expression unchanging, "You better go clean up quickly."
Fu Yuting looked at him, furious but not daring to speak out, and had no choice but to hurry off, holding her dress.
Lu Jiang Nian watched Fu Yan.
He had just witnessed this bastard pour an entire glass of red wine over Fu Yuting...
Fu Yan returned the look with a glance.
Lu Jiang Nian choked on his drink, coughing violently.
"Are you okay, Brother?" Lu Huaichen asked with concern.
Lu Jiang Nian waved his hand and leaned close to a certain someone's ear, "Did my niece offend you?"
Fu Yan smiled lazily, "I dislike green."
Lu Jiang Nian: ???
Sheng Congzhi: ...
Fu Yuting was indeed wearing a light green dress today, but she could be certain: Fu Yan, that bastard, was cursing indirectly!
But—
She would never have guessed that the "elder" Fu Yan mentioned last night was Mr. Lu!
What to do now?
Could she still sneak away unnoticed?
The next second.
Lu Huaichen said, "Grandpa is here."
...
After Fu Yuting changed her clothing and came back, she saw Sheng Congzhi actually following along to meet Mr. Lu and hastily joined them.
She really wanted to see how the Lu family would treat a woman with such a notorious reputation as Sheng Congzhi.
Especially Mr. Lu, who despised actors from the entertainment circle most of all; he definitely wouldn't show a pleasant face!
Indeed, upon seeing Sheng Congzhi, Mr. Lu's expression visibly stiffened.
When Lu Huaichen introduced her, "Grandpa, this is Zhizhi, the one I mentioned to you..."
"Sheng Congzhi!" Mr. Lu called out her full name, "I am your Ye Zi!"
Some in the room did not understand.
Ye Zi?
What's this Ye Zi?
Lu Huaichen was also surprised, "Grandpa, you're actually a fan of Zhizhi?"
Upon hearing this, every member of the Lu family was shocked.
Fu Yan slightly raised his eyebrows as well.
"Yes, Miss Sheng..." Mr. Lu smiled warmly, "May I call you Zhizhi?"
Sheng Congzhi replied with an even tone, "You may."
Then—
"I've watched all of Zhizhi's works since her debut, and my favorite is 'Yun Fei's Story.' I can recite all the lines; her performance was simply too good! She's practically Yun Fei herself!"
Sheng Congzhi continued, "You flatter me."
Again, the crowd was left confused: ??
Who was Mr. Lu?
The former president of the Yun City Art Association, a leading figure in the national arts and calligraphy circles.
Furthermore, he had been leading a very private life in recent years, rarely appearing in public—many people longed to establish a relationship with him and never had the chance.
And here she was, being so perfunctory in her attitude?
Did she even realize how important Mr. Lu was?!
...
Sheng Congzhi was aware of what everyone was thinking, but there was nothing she could do about someone who, despite being quite familiar, was pretending to meet her for the first time and even acting so exaggeratedly...
She was speechless.
"Today is the first time Ah Chen has brought a girl to meet me, and it happens to be my idol," Mr. Lu said with a smile and a nod, "Very good, very good."
Lu Jiangnian couldn't resist speaking up, "Grandpa, Ah Chen and Miss Sheng are just friends..."
"Starting as friends is also fine," Mr. Lu said, "Of course, if Zhizhi isn't interested in him, it's no issue. After all, this kid has many faults—I don't think he's good enough for you..."
"Grandpa!" Lu Huaichen was unhappy, "I'm not that bad, am I?"
Mr. Lu laughed heartily.
Sheng Congzhi stayed silent and even wished she could find a hole to crawl into.
Suddenly.
Mr. Lu asked, "Jiang Nian told me, Ah Yan, that you're already married?"
Instantly, all eyes in the room fell on Fu Yan.
Except for Sheng Congzhi's.
She heard the man reply in a deep voice, "Mhm."
Mr. Lu then asked, "Jiang Nian also said you were going to bring your wife over today. Why haven't I seen her?"
Sheng Congzhi's eyelids twitched.
Indeed, Fu Yan let out a sly chuckle, and then—
"Her?" The man's voice was laid back, tinged with mockery, "She's busy flirting with pretty boys and hasn't got time to accompany me."
The crowd: ...
Sheng Congzhi: ...