As night fell, the highlight of the evening was the new product launch banquet for ‘Wilder.’ Many socialites and heiresses gathered just to catch a glimpse of the latest series of Wilder jewelry.
Fu Huaixu appeared at the entrance of the venue, dressed in a perfectly tailored, deep black haute couture suit. Underneath, he wore a dark-patterned silk shirt with the collar slightly open, revealing his pale collarbone. His tall, upright posture and cold, imposing demeanor immediately drew countless gazes.
“Oh my, is that Fu Huaixu, the head of the Fu Group?” someone whispered in astonishment.
“Wilder actually managed to invite this grim reaper?”
Ignoring the murmurs around him, Fu Huaixu strode with his long legs directly toward the center of the exhibition hall.
At that moment, Fu Yuyan was standing in front of the jewelry display case, arm in arm with Chu Lingyi.
Seeing Fu Huaixu appear, Fu Yuyan was clearly surprised. She hadn’t expected her brother, who usually disdained such commercial events, to show up at an occasion like this.
She turned to Chu Lingyi excitedly and said, “Lingyi, look, my brother is here too! Lingyi, do you think he came for you?”
Chu Lingyi, dressed in a pearl-white silk strapless gown, felt a flicker of delight in her eyes upon hearing this, her cheeks flushing slightly.
She instinctively smoothed the stray hairs by her ears, secretly pleased. “Yan’er, don’t talk nonsense,” she said.
The two quickly walked over to greet him. “Brother, what brings you here?” Fu Yuyan asked first.
Fu Huaixu paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over them indifferently, though his eyes didn’t quite focus. His voice was deep, betraying little emotion. “Just here to take a look.”
Just then, a slight stir rippled through the crowd, and all eyes turned in unison toward the source.
Emerging before everyone was the popular top-tier actress Lu Xingran, arm in arm with Shen Zhaoning, who wore a champagne-colored strapless haute couture gown.
Shen Zhaoning had a tall, well-proportioned figure with graceful curves. Her long hair was elegantly swept up, with a few unruly strands falling by her ears, adding a touch of casual charm and allure.
Her fair, slender swan-like neck was exposed, and her features were so exquisitely refined that they seemed like God’s most perfect masterpiece.
Though she wasn’t as heavily made up as Lu Xingran, she possessed a natural nobility and elegance all her own.
Adorned with the full set of Wilder’s “Dream Wings” series jewelry, she looked like a goddess under the moonlight, instantly overshadowing everything around her.
Shen Zhaoning walked gracefully into the banquet hall, radiant and breathtakingly beautiful.
She even outshone Lu Xingran, known as the “number one beauty” in the entertainment industry.
Whispers began to spread through the crowd.
“I used to think Lu Xingran was the epitome of beauty, but now, this one seems even more stunning.”
“Is she a model? That figure is absolutely perfect!”
“Look at the aura she carries when she walks—she’s clearly no ordinary person. She must be a daughter from some prominent family, right?”
Before the crowd could finish speculating, a flood of camera flashes surged toward Lu Xingran.
As the brand ambassador for Wilder, Lu Xingran was naturally the focus of the media’s attention. Other well-known celebrities and influencers had also been invited for the event.
Shen Zhaoning quietly stepped out of the media’s spotlight. Just then, the chief designer, Lu Wan, hurriedly made her way through the crowd and approached her.
She was dressed in a pink women’s suit jacket today, paired with a lively and flowing white pleated skirt, white stiletto heels on her feet, her hair tied in a low bun, adorned with a hairpin from the new ‘Wilder’ collection.
Her face flushed with excitement, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm, she lowered her voice and said to Shen Zhaoning:
“Ningning-jie, this is amazing! Our series was previously featured in the International Jewelry magazine, and the response was overwhelmingly positive.
Look, many of the young ladies here today came specifically because of the buzz. I can see the desire in their eyes—they can’t wait to take all those jewels home right now!”
Shen Zhaoning smiled faintly, her gaze sweeping over the crowd gathered around the display cases, their expressions filled with awe at her designs.
A confident curve lifted the corner of her lips. “Yes, this series is indeed perfect. Your hard work has paid off.”
“Thank you for the praise, Ningning-jie!”
Meanwhile,
Chu Lingyi followed Fu Huaixu’s seemingly casual gaze, and her pupils suddenly contracted—Fu Huaixu’s eyes were fixed intently on the woman not far away!
Alarm bells rang in her heart. Over all these years, this was the first time Fu Huaixu had ever paid attention to a woman.
His gaze was like a leopard eyeing its dying prey, filled with naked desire, an almost pathological possessiveness, and a kind of near-mad obsession.
A strong sense of crisis surged within her, gripping her heart instantly.
She had to admit that the woman was truly beautiful—so beautiful that she was impossible to ignore, utterly captivating.
“Huaixu-gege?”
She tentatively called out softly, her fingertips just about to brush against the sleeve of his suit.
Fu Huaixu shifted slightly, avoiding her touch.
Chu Lingyi maintained her poised and calm exterior, her nails digging deeply into her palms.
Fu Huaixu watched Shen Zhaoning, radiant and dazzling among the crowd, his emotions in turmoil.
He had to admit that after five years, she had shed the innocence of her youth, becoming more mature and alluring—so much so that it only deepened his fascination.
He truly wanted to hide her away, in a place only he could see.
Seeing this, Fu Yuyan awkwardly linked arms with Chu Lingyi.
“Brother, what are you looking at? Do you know her?” Fu Yuyan couldn’t help but raise her voice slightly, trying to break Fu Huaixu’s overly intense gaze.
Hearing this, Fu Huaixu finally snapped back to himself, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.
“I have something to attend to,” he said tersely, a hint of impatience in his tone.
With those words, he didn’t spare them another glance, turning and striding purposefully toward the focal point of the crowd.
Fu Huaixu stopped in front of Shen Zhaoning, blocking the light before her.
Shen Zhaoning was holding a wine glass. Sensing the sudden shadow, she looked up and met a pair of eyes as deep as an abyss.
Fu Huaixu stood before her, staring directly at Shen Zhaoning.
Shen Zhaoning gave a slight nod, her voice betraying no emotion. “What brings you here?”
Fu Huaixu didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he leaned in slightly, close to her neck.
He caught the faint, unique scent of roses that belonged to her—the fragrance he had once loved most—and suppressed the turbulent emotions rising in his heart.
A faint, ambiguous smile curled at the corner of his lips as he leaned close to her ear, his voice low and magnetic:
“Of course I came to support my wife’s brand launch.”
Warm breath brushed past her ear, carrying a faint hint of tobacco before withdrawing as he turned to face Shen Zhaoning.
Shen Zhaoning glared at him angrily. “Who’s your wife? We ended things long ago.”
“The breakup text wasn’t sent by me, so we’re not broken up.” Fu Huaixu’s voice remained steady, yet carried an undeniable certainty.
“That’s what you think. As far as I’m concerned, we’re already over.” Shen Zhaoning’s tone was flat, yet it conveyed a resolute chill.
“If there’s nothing else, I still have other guests to attend to.”
With that, she turned to leave.
“Shouldn’t we have a proper talk between us?”
Fu Huaixu’s voice wasn’t loud, but each word reached her ears clearly, carrying an invisible pressure.
Shen Zhaoning paused mid-step and slowly turned around. “We’ll talk after the press conference.”