Before Jiang Ningchu could "fight back," she looked up, and the person was already gone.
She turned around, but her steps came to a halt.
At the long table against the wall not far away, Lin Wei's face was slightly dark, while Zhuang Jingyi and another unfamiliar woman across from her were looking at her, their expressions filled with unconcealed condescension.
Zhuang Jingyi asked softly, "Is Miss Lin angry? I was only kindly reminding you, so you won't lose face later in an even bigger setting."
Seeing Jiang Ningchu approach, the unfamiliar woman beside them delivered a concluding remark: "Ah, that's just how this circle is. You have to look on the bright side. Some people are simply born losing from the starting line—no matter how hard they try, it's useless."
Jiang Ningchu walked to Lin Wei's side and gently squeezed her arm, asking softly, "What's wrong?"
Lin Wei shot the woman a glance, then leaned close to Jiang Ningchu's ear, speaking rapidly: "Zhao Ye from the Zhao family, Zhuang Jingyi's close friend. They've teamed up to come make themselves feel important."
The Zhao family of Nancheng—Jiang Ningchu had heard Lin Wei mention them before, an old, deeply rooted family in the energy industry.
"Oh?" Before Jiang Ningchu and Lin Wei could say more, Zhao Ye had already stepped half a pace forward and spoken first.
Her gaze swept over Jiang Ningchu, the corners of her lips curling into a half-smile: "So you're the one by Dr. Zhou's side… that clingy piece of gum that just won't come off?"
Jiang Ningchu frowned slightly.
"Madam, do we know each other?"
Her expression remained calm as she looked up at the woman and said flatly, "Saying such things upon our first meeting is rather rude, don't you think? Is that assessment your own conclusion, or just secondhand hearsay?"
"Hearsay? I saw it with my own eyes just now," Zhao Ye scoffed, clearly having come prepared. "One second you're saying you're boyfriend and girlfriend, a devoted couple, and the next you're being all lovey-dovey with another man on the terrace? Flirting so brazenly in a venue like this—you really play dirty."
Another man…
Jiang Heng?!
Jiang Ningchu and Lin Wei exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with the same shock and question.
Zhao Ye doesn't recognize Jiang Heng?!
Or… did she only see his silhouette and fail to recognize him at all?!
Zhuang Jingyi keenly caught the subtle change in the two women's expressions, and her conviction grew even firmer.
She pressed her lips together, brows knitted slightly, and counseled in a low voice, "Xiao Ye, keep your voice down. This kind of thing… hardly reflects well on anyone, does it?"
"How does it not reflect well on anyone?"
Zhao Ye, prompted by this, only raised her voice even more. "Anyway, it's not me who clings to Dr. Zhou in public while hooking sugar daddies behind his back. Whoever does it should be the one who's ashamed."
Zhuang Jingyi's brows furrowed even tighter, as if her own sore spot had been hit, and she let out a soft sigh.
"Heh."
Zhao Ye glanced at Zhuang Jingyi beside her, then turned to Jiang Ningchu, saying carelessly, "Someone like you could never climb high enough to reach Dr. Zhou. Everyone knows this in their hearts—he will never marry you."
She paused, undisguised contempt surfacing in her eyes:
"I'm sure you're well aware of that, which is why you've come here to try your luck and find a backup, haven't you?"
"But let me offer one more piece of advice. Since you're out fishing under the banner of a wealthy family, you should know that marriages among the wealthy are all about matching family standing. Out here hooking sugar daddies—what makes you think you qualify?"
Zhuang Jingyi gently tugged at Zhao Ye and said in a low voice, "Xiao Ye, stop it…"
Jiang Ningchu's lips were pressed so tightly they'd gone white, her nails silently digging into her palms.
So…
Zhou Yichi's refusal to get married… even Zhuang Jingyi knew about it.
"Gold-digging?" Lin Wei completely exploded. "Who are you calling a gold-digger?"
"Jiang Ningchu? Gold-digging?!" Her anger could no longer be contained. "Jiang Ningchu is the youngest daughter of the Jiang family. She needs to dig for gold?!"
The moment the words slipped out, Lin Wei's heart sank.
She shouldn't have said that.
Jiang Ningchu never told anyone outside that she was from the Jiang family.
"Jiang" and "Jiang" were homophones, and explaining the whole story was extremely troublesome. Su Wanqing insisted she was her biological daughter, and she didn't want to keep repeating the story of how she came to be an adopted daughter.
"The Jiang family?!" Zhao Ye was slightly taken aback. "The Jiang family of Jiang Group? The family said to own half of Nancheng?"
Lin Wei felt a flash of guilt, but her momentum didn't falter. She lifted her chin slightly. "Yes, that Jiang family."
As she said it, she quickly glanced at Jiang Ningchu, her eyes full of silent apology: I'm sorry, I let it slip. I've caused you trouble.
Jiang Ningchu bit her lip and gently took Lin Wei's hand, signaling her to calm down.
The last time she'd seen Lin Wei this angry was probably back in second grade, when she was cornered by a few older kids.
Who would have thought that after all these years, Lin Wei was still that same fiery big sister who protected her.
Jiang Ningchu squeezed Lin Wei's hand, pressing lightly, and gave her an almost imperceptible shake of her head, mouthing: It's fine.
The interaction between the two didn't escape Zhuang Jingyi, who had been quietly observing all along.
"The Jiang family is indeed a prominent family."
Zhuang Jingyi spoke unhurriedly, as if objectively analyzing along the lines of Lin Wei's words. "The chairman of Jiang International is a Jiang. The chairman's only son is also a Jiang."
She paused, her gaze shifting to Jiang Ningchu. "Junior, which Jiang family are you talking about?"
"Oh?!" She suddenly seemed to remember something, her brow arching slightly as she curiously nudged Zhao Ye's arm. "If I remember correctly, the 'Jiang' in Jiang Ningchu's name—isn't it the same character as in the Legend of Meng Jiang?"
"Huh? Not even the same surname?!"
Zhao Ye came back to her senses, her previously tense shoulders relaxing somewhat, her face full of mockery. "Don't tell me… your second great-uncle's neighbor's son's friend is somehow related to the Jiang family?"
With that, she seemed to just grasp some hidden implication in Zhuang Jingyi's words, shaking her head with a laugh, her tone dripping with understanding. "The Jiang family's youngest daughter—that's Jiang Yao, isn't it? I know her. You said it so suddenly that I didn't even register it. I almost got tangled up in it."
"But today you ran into me." Zhao Ye's eyes suddenly turned resolute, her smile growing increasingly exaggerated. "You've kicked an iron plate this time."
Lin Wei gritted her teeth, the words rolling on the tip of her tongue.
This woman knew Jiang Yao, but not Jiang Ningchu… Apparently her connections weren't all that impressive after all.
"Forget it." Jiang Ningchu took the barely-touched glass of juice from Lin Wei's hand, gently placed it back on the drinks table, and pulled her by the wrist to turn away. "No need to stoop to their level."
"Hold it right there!"
Seeing Jiang Ningchu's calm expression, looking as if she didn't regard her at all, Zhao Ye's voice shot up sharply. "You publicly humiliated me at the Nancheng Chamber of Commerce, and now you think you can just walk away? Who do you think I am?"
At this outburst, the "bystanders" who had been casually hovering near the dessert table with drinks in hand all came to a stop, their eyes fixing directly on the scene, and some even edged slowly closer.
Zhuang Jingyi's gaze swept quickly over the crowd. When she spotted Zhou Yichi standing a short distance away, looking hesitant, she spoke up at just the right moment. "Not holding it against us… what's that supposed to mean? You're the ones who started hurling insults."
"Hurling insults?" Lin Wei laughed in fury. "What, did we wrong you by calling you a mistress?"
Zhuang Jingyi's cheeks flushed slightly, but her expression remained composed, even tinged with helplessness. "Someone who shouldn't be here at all, parading around under the Jiang family's name. If Xiao Ye hadn't exposed the flaw today, who knows how many more people would have been kept in the dark."
Jiang Ningchu lowered her eyes.
She didn't want to keep dragging this on.
They didn't believe she was the youngest daughter of the Jiang family. Arguing further was pointless.
No matter what, she would never prove herself.
Su Wanqing had carefully shielded her all these years precisely because she feared people would question her identity.
If she knew that today things had blown up over the words "adopted daughter"…
"What's the matter? Scared?"
Seeing Jiang Ningchu remain silent, Zhao Ye grew even more confident. "It's good that you know to be afraid. How about this—I won't make it hard on you. Three shots of baijiu each, plus a public apology to us, and I'll let you go."
Lin Wei's brow furrowed tightly. "Are you insane?"
Zhuang Jingyi's gaze swept across the crowd, precisely catching the hesitation and confusion on Zhou Yichi's face.
She let out a soft sigh and said, in a voice pitched just loud enough for everyone around to hear, "Jiang Ningchu, you lied to everyone about being the eldest daughter of the Jiang family… and then you flirted with other men at the venue. Doesn't your conscience bother you at all?"
"Other men?"
A cool voice came from nearby, its tone carrying undisguised mockery.
"Are you talking about me?"
The crowd slowly parted as Jiang Heng walked over at an unhurried pace.
He wore a dark gray suit, his hair neatly swept back from his forehead, revealing sharply defined brows. The lights fell on his shoulders, yet an invisible chill seemed to radiate from him.
A crowd had gathered at some point, buzzing with low murmurs:
"Is—is that the Jiang family's young master?"
"Nine out of ten chance. I heard Academician Song came back to the country specially for the launch of the Divine Hand Project out of respect for the Jiang family. The Jiangs run the South City Chamber of Commerce, so of course he'd show up."
"Right, right—it's the Jiang family's young master, no doubt!"
"…He's even more unapproachable than the rumors say."
"Move over a bit—why do I feel a chill?"
…
Hearing the faint murmurs around them, Zhao Ye and Zhuang Jingyi both froze.
Jiang Heng—the prime target of Zhao Ye's attendance at today's banquet, the ideal marriage prospect the Zhao family had long coveted.
Since his return from MIT, he had ignored the Zhao family's repeated invitations.
Even when Old Master Zhao had personally reached out, he'd ended up doing nothing more than fishing and sipping tea with Jiang Zhenting before being smoothly brushed off with some perfunctory excuse.
Zhao Ye refused to believe there was a man in South City she couldn't win over.
So today, she had come herself.
But the situation now… She instinctively turned her head to look at Zhuang Jingyi beside her.
Zhuang Jingyi's breath tightened at the words "Academician Song."
Academician Song Aoxue—a founding figure in the field, a true pioneer.
She had once mentored Zhuang Mingyuan for a few days on a national-level project.
The Divine Hand Project was currently the most high-profile national research program. Zhuang Mingyuan had arranged for her to attend this business gathering precisely so she could make an impression on Academician Song in advance—later, he would act as the go-between and get her into the project team.
For Zhuang Jingyi, even if she only did odd jobs in the team, the resources and achievements she would have access to were enough to save her five or ten years of struggling.
The chatter around them continued:
"…Is that really Young Master Jiang?!"
"He… why is he walking toward that girl? What does that mean?"
"Weren't they just going at it? The two sides were attacking each other. The one with the black wristband, the Zhao family's eldest daughter."
"What's going on? They said this girl was using the Jiang family's eldest daughter's name to hook a rich man? Then with the eldest Young Master Jiang here, wouldn't that just…"
…
The chatter around them suddenly died down.
Zhao Ye, who had been so arrogant just moments ago, had for some reason gone quiet as well.
Jiang Heng cut through the crowd and walked straight to Jiang Ningchu's side.
Without stopping, his arm naturally wrapped around her waist, drawing her against him.
Then he slowly tilted his head, his gaze settling on Zhao Ye and Zhuang Jingyi, the corner of his mouth curving into an extremely faint yet bone-chilling arc:
"This 'other man' you keep talking about—is it me?"
"…"
Jiang Ningchu tilted her face up, her gaze crashing into the depths of his dark eyes.
She couldn't read them.
Contempt, amusement, and… a faint, barely perceptible anger.
Lin Wei quietly sidestepped half a pace away.
"What are you all playing at?"
Jiang Heng's gaze swept slowly across the four of them, and wherever it passed, the air seemed to freeze over with a thin layer of frost.
He glanced down at Jiang Ningchu, then lifted his eyes, his gaze locking directly onto Zhao Ye. Every word was wrapped in shards of ice: "Now then. Who owes whom an apology?"
"…"
"…"
Zhao Ye and Zhuang Jingyi stood frozen in place, as if nailed to the floor.
Lin Wei stared blankly for two seconds before coming back to herself. "Miss Zhao, apologize."
Zhao Ye's lips pressed so tight they went white, her eyes glaring furiously at Lin Wei, then shifting to Jiang Ningchu.
She refused to submit.
The air was deathly still, with only faint whispers drifting over from nearby, pitched extremely low:
"What's the situation now? I can't tell who's in the right."
"There's no 'right' to figure out. Miss Zhao said this girl was seducing Young Master Jiang. Now Young Master Jiang himself has shown up, and his stance is clear. What else is there to say? Obviously Miss Zhao has to apologize."
"But didn't they just say she was impersonating the Jiang family's eldest daughter…"
"And is that any of your business? The actual Jiang family heir is right here and hasn't said a word against her. What right do outsiders have to run their mouths?"
"Didn't they say she has a boyfriend? Some PhD or whatever…"
"What good is a boyfriend? If Young Master Jiang really has his eye on her, who in Nancheng could compete?"
…
Zhao Ye nearly ground her back teeth to powder. She forced a smile onto her face, though her voice was strained. "Young Master Jiang, out of respect for you, let's just drop today's matter. I won't hold it against her."
With that, she turned to leave.
"You won't hold it against her."
Jiang Heng's tone was terrifyingly cold. "I do."
"…"
Zhuang Jingyi drew in a soft breath, her lashes fluttering rapidly, then lifted a gentle, gracious smile. "President Jiang, there may have been… some misunderstanding. We were just chatting casually, making a joke, that's all."
"A joke."
Jiang Heng's hand, still resting at Jiang Ningchu's waist, shifted upward, changing to gently hold her arm, stroking it lightly.
He turned his head and asked her in a low voice, "Did you enjoy their little jokes?"
Jiang Ningchu said nothing.
Of course she… didn't.
"Then let me make a joke too."
Jiang Heng tilted his head slightly, his gaze settling back on Zhao Ye's face, his tone casual:
"That factory land in the west of the city—I've suddenly taken a bit of an interest in it myself. Miss Zhao, go back and tell your father: if he wants the land, he'd better come fully prepared."
He paused, his eyes shifting to Zhuang Jingyi, still speaking in that unhurried tone:
"As for Professor Zhuang… she's getting on in years. No need to force her way into big projects anymore. A little rest will do her health good."
The two sentences landed lightly, almost weightlessly.
Zhao Ye's face went completely white, and the smile at the corner of Zhuang Jingyi's lips froze.
Zhao Ye clenched her fists tightly. After two or three seconds of silence, she forced the words out through gritted teeth: "Fine… I'll drink. You're a businessman—keep your word. I'll drink three glasses, and this matter is settled."
"No need."
Jiang Heng gave a short scoff, his gaze sweeping past her as if lingering even a moment longer were a waste.
"You don't have that kind of standing with me."
"…"
Zhuang Jingyi quietly tugged at Zhao Ye's sleeve, then stepped forward herself to the drinks table.
She picked up the glasses and downed the three shots of baijiu, one after another, without stopping.
When she turned around, the smile was back on her face.
She gave Jiang Ningchu a slight bow, her voice deferential: "Junior, today it was my fault. I spoke out of turn. Please… don't take it to heart."
Jiang Heng's expression remained calm, without a ripple.
Jiang Ningchu didn't respond, only waited indifferently.
"What is everyone standing around for?!"
Zhao Ye suddenly snarled at the crowd, fury nearly spilling from her eyes. "Enjoying the show that much?!"
The onlookers who had been whispering among themselves were startled by the shout and scattered instantly—some turning away to raise their glasses, others looking down at their phones. Within seconds, the crowd that had gathered had vanished without a trace.
Zhao Ye's chest heaved. She strode to the drinks table, grabbed the glasses, and tipped her head back, downing the three shots of baijiu in one go.
She slammed the glass back down on the table with a dull thud.
Without looking at anyone, she turned and stormed out of the venue.
The crowd gradually dispersed, leaving only a few figures standing in the empty space.
Zhou Yichi stood rooted to the spot, dazed. Only after a long while did he seem to recover his strength, inching his way over to Jiang Ningchu step by step.
He reached out to take her wrist, his voice dry: "Xiaochu."
Jiang Ningchu looked up at him. For an instant, there was a flicker of bewilderment in her eyes, then they slowly turned cold.
So… he had been watching from the side all along.
Which meant he had heard every word of Zhuang Jingyi's insinuations, every one of her aggressive questions.
"…"
Jiang Ningchu looked at him, and for a moment she didn't know what to say.
Jiang Heng's gaze fell on the hand Zhou Yichi had wrapped around Jiang Ningchu's wrist, and his eyes went abruptly cold.
The strength in his fingertips tightened silently.
He turned his head, his voice very low: "Leaving?"
Jiang Ningchu gave a soft "Mm."
Just as she was about to turn, Zhou Yichi grabbed her wrist. "Don't go."
Jiang Heng clicked his tongue in irritation.
"Xiaochu?"
Zhou Yichi looked at Jiang Ningchu, his eyes full of hope. "Don't you have anything to say to me?"
Jiang Ningchu had never imagined that one day she would be caught between Jiang Heng and Zhou Yichi.
And Zhou Yichi was actually questioning her relationship with Jiang Heng.
How absurd.
Silently, she pulled her hand free of his grip.