The girl who got slapped was named Ge Feifei, the beloved daughter of Ge Jianmin, chairman of Jinyang International.
After being slapped by Chen Yang, she couldn’t swallow the insult and immediately went home to complain to her parents.
When her daughter tearfully cried that she had been slapped, her mother, Fang Zhen, flew into a rage.
Ge Feifei was the apple of Fang Zhen’s eye. Her spoiled personality was largely the result of her mother’s indulgence.
Fang Zhen asked, “Who hit you?”
Ge Feifei replied, “It was that Chen Yang.”
Ge Jianmin, weighing the pros and cons, said, “Just take the hit this time. Next time you see Chen Yang, just steer clear of her.”
But Fang Zhen wouldn’t accept that. “Why should we? So what if they’re from Lingsheng? A bunch of Guangdong bullies trying to act tough in the capital?”
Ge Jianmin said, “They’re a legitimate business. How are they bullies?”
Fang Zhen snapped back, “They only married their daughter into the Meng family, and now they think they can all rise to power just like that? The Chen family thinks even their nobodies can walk all over others!”
Ge Feifei added aggrievedly, “I didn’t even do anything to her sister. Why did she just slap me like that?”
Fang Zhen tried to comfort her: “The Chen family has dozens of daughters. Who knows which distant cousin’s brat she even is! Don’t worry, tonight Mommy will help you get justice.”
Ge Jianmin sighed, lit a cigarette, and said, “Can you two please calm down? Business is about harmony and making money. There’s no good in making enemies everywhere.”
Fang Zhen snatched the cigarette away and scolded him, “So you’re just going to sit back and let your wife and daughter get humiliated?”
Ge Jianmin had no words.
It was always his wife and daughter bullying others—when had they ever been the ones bullied?
After all these years, if anyone knew how the two of them behaved, it was Ge Jianmin.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to help his daughter—he simply couldn’t afford to. Jinyang International was no longer what it used to be.
They had started out doing import-export trade in Tianjin Port, but with the uncertain international trade climate in recent years, Jinyang had begun diversifying its business.
To a massive conglomerate like Jinghong Group, an investment of several billion was nothing. Even on such an important day as a grand opening, Meng Jianchen showed up only if he felt like it.
But for Jinyang International, this was the biggest investment project in years—there could be no mistakes.
Now, not to mention the likes of Jinghong, even rising stars like Lingsheng were people they couldn’t afford to offend.
But women tend to get emotional over the smallest things, always turning a minor issue into a big drama.
Not wanting to get involved, Ge Jianmin lit another cigarette and walked out the door.
He never expected, though, that his wife and daughter would actually try to take it out on Chen Luoru at the dinner banquet.
Fang Zhen tried to slap Chen Luoru, only to have her hand caught by a man.
She was about to curse him out when she realized the man was none other than Meng Jianchen, president of Jinghong Holdings.
That was shocking enough—but then Meng Jianchen called that little brat… what?
“Wife”? That girl was his wife?
Fang Zhen had assumed Chen Luoru was just some nobody from the Chen family, someone she could easily push around. She never imagined she was the very daughter the Chens had married into the Meng family—the one who had “flown up the tree and become a phoenix.”
Only now did Fang Zhen realize what a huge mistake she had made. She bitterly regretted letting her anger cloud her judgment. Chen Yang had many sisters, but her full sister—Chen Luoru—was the most cherished of them all.
“President Meng, we were only inviting your wife over for a drink and a little chat,” Fang Zhen quickly let go of Chen Luoru’s arm and forced a smile. “Look, my daughter and your wife are about the same age—they must have lots in common!”
Ge Feifei was stunned by Meng Jianchen’s sudden appearance. It took her a few seconds before she nodded in agreement, “Yes, that’s right.”
Meng Jianchen lowered his gaze and looked at Chen Luoru.
She was lifting her arm to examine it. Her skin was delicate and fair, and the inside of her arm had a large red mark where she’d been grabbed.
He opened his lips slightly and asked in a deep voice, “Is that true?”
The more Chen Luoru thought about it, the angrier she got. That slap was about to land on her face—and now they were pretending like nothing had happened?
After eighteen, Meng Jianchen had always been indulgent and protective.
She was a little princess. So why should she put up with this kind of treatment?
Now that Meng Jianchen was clearly backing her up, of course she wasn’t going to let the opportunity slip by.
“I have nothing to say to her,” Chen Luoru said coldly. “If they didn’t hit me, I’d already be grateful.”
The mother and daughter duo instantly turned pale.
Fang Zhen quickly said, “It’s all a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!”
Ge Feifei panicked too: “Why would we hit someone? We’re not savages!”
That was an interesting choice of words—people who hit others are savages. So what does that make Chen Yang?
Indirectly calling someone a savage—if Chen Yang heard that, she’d probably slap her again and say, “If I want to hit you, I’ll hit you. Do I need to check the calendar first?”
Meng Jianchen gave a low chuckle, still wearing a calm expression. He said, “My wife is young and inexperienced. Please be understanding.”
The mother and daughter breathed a sigh of relief. The Meng family was a respectable, noble household. Their son was clearly educated and composed.
Not like that wild Chen family girl, always ready to throw punches.
“But—” Meng Jianchen paused, then slowly added, “You dote on your daughter, and I dote on my wife.”
His expression gradually turned cold, his gaze frosty: “If anything happens in the future, I can’t guarantee I’ll treat things fairly.”
With that, Fang Zhen’s expression changed drastically.
What else could “in the future” refer to? Naturally, it meant the business cooperation between their companies.
Jinyang International had only secured a 3% stake in the Tianxi Amusement Park project thanks to connections at the top of Jinghong.
She had thought that by clinging to the big ship that was Jinghong Holdings, the company’s development would go smoothly and she could rest easy.
But now that Meng Jianchen had said what he did, would Jinghong still include Jinyang International in any future projects?
Jinghong Holdings was like a towering tree in the industry, and countless companies longed to be sheltered under its branches.
In the stock market, there was even the term “Jinghong concept stock” — whenever Jinghong made a move, hundreds of companies would be affected like dominos.
Without Jinyang International, Jinghong Holdings would still go on just fine.
But without Jinghong Holdings, where could Jinyang International possibly find another company like “Jinghong Holdings”?
Hearing this made Chen Luoru secretly thrilled.
So what if it was favoritism? Did she need a reason? If you’re not happy, then hit me.
If she had a little tail, it would probably be wagging up to the sky with joy.
For once, she hooked her arm around Meng Jianchen’s and sweetly said, “Hubby, it’s so boring here. I want to go look over there.”
Meng Jianchen smiled and nodded, “Okay, whatever you want.”
Then he wrapped his arm around her waist and led her away, leaving the mother and daughter pair standing there in stunned silence.
Wherever Meng Jianchen went, he was the center of attention. The minor commotion earlier had already drawn everyone’s eyes to the corner.
Now that everyone realized the young girl beside him was actually his never-before-seen wife, the flattery came flooding in.
“President Meng, your wife is so young and beautiful—I thought she was a celebrity just now!”
“I heard Mrs. Meng studied abroad? If my daughter were half as outstanding as yours, I’d be over the moon.”
“Mrs. Meng, are you free this weekend? I recently acquired a Monet oil painting. I’d love for you to come to my place and take a look.”
…
By the end of the banquet, Chen Luoru was dizzy from all the compliments.
Even when the event ended, plenty of people were still gathered around her trying to curry favor.
People all have vanity—this was the first time Chen Luoru realized that being Mrs. Meng was far more glamorous than being the young lady of the Chen family.
The driver pulled the car up to the hotel entrance, opened the door for Chen Luoru, and Meng Jianchen followed her inside.
Chen Luoru leaned back in the seat, turned her face toward him, and nodded lightly. But then she shook her head: “I didn’t get to go to the amusement park today. So, no fun.”
“What did you do all afternoon then?”
“Slept in the hotel.”
“……”
Meng Jianchen cleared his throat and instructed the driver, “Don’t go home yet—head to Zone B.”
The car followed the road through the park, made a few turns, and finally reached their destination.
The moon hung sparse in the sky, stars faint, and the night wind was cool.
The Ferris wheel towered silently, like a giant black figure standing guard.
It was ten o’clock. The park had long since closed, and the surroundings were completely dark.
Chen Luoru looked up and asked, “You brought me here just to look at this?”
Meng Jianchen didn’t respond. Three minutes later, a few staff members hurried over.
“President Meng, Madam, this way please.” The staff opened the iron gate and bowed them in.
The Ferris wheel lit up instantly, glowing gold like a giant sun.
The wind’s whispers and the rustling of the trees were all wrapped in an unreal glow.
Meng Jianchen stepped into the glass cabin first, then reached out to take Chen Luoru’s hand and helped her in.
The Ferris wheel began to turn slowly, lifting the cabin into the air.
Chen Luoru pressed herself against the glass in excitement, like a little tadpole who’d just found its mother.
She gazed out at the night view of the capital—this city that was usually so vast now seemed so small, like a glowing circuit board laid out on the wide earth.
Was this Ferris wheel spinning just for her?
“Do you like it?” Meng Jianchen’s voice came from behind her, his warm breath brushing the back of her neck.
“I like it,” she said, her eyes full of glittering lights.
Meng Jianchen wrapped his arms around her waist. Chen Luoru stiffened, but then slowly relaxed.
After all, he’d already been holding her all evening—what difference did a few more minutes make?
Meng Jianchen tilted his head to look at her profile.
Her long, thick lashes looked like fluttering black butterflies, and her delicate, high nose sat above her soft, tempting lips.
His Adam’s apple moved slightly—he felt a little thirsty.
Boom—!
A thunderous noise suddenly lit up the world in stark white.
Startled, Chen Luoru panicked and dove into Meng Jianchen’s arms.
The glass cabin trembled slightly. She buried her head into his shoulder, taking in the cool, woody scent of amber from his body. Suddenly, she remembered a moment from four or five years ago when she had also thrown herself into his arms without a second thought.
Clearly, Meng Jianchen was thinking of the same memory.
“Still such a scaredy-cat,” he chuckled, his tone teasing.
He gently held her shoulders and turned her toward the other side of the glass.
Outside, fireworks were shooting up one after another into the dark sky, bursting into dazzling displays.
Colorful lights flickered bright and dim—it was breathtaking.
The sight tugged at Chen Luoru’s heartstrings. She mumbled, “Ugh, I—I…”
How could this happen?!
She really was the kind of shallow woman who could be won over by a Ferris wheel and fireworks!
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