Withdrawing her hand, Qiao Shuran shifted her gaze to Gu Lianhuai, a charming smile spreading across her pretty face. “Don’t blame Brother Lianhuai either. My van’s engine broke down, and I called him over at the last minute—that’s why he was a bit late.”
Qiao Shuran had clearly come straight from the wrap-up of her filming set, her makeup still not removed.
Her facial features were perfectly proportioned—delicate brows, almond-shaped eyes, and large features set on a small, oval face—the quintessential actress’s face.
Her refined makeup, paired with her high-end designer outfit and the way she was being fawned over by so many people, gave her the commanding presence of a celebrity that overshadowed every other woman in the private room.
Song Yunyi, by contrast—
She had just come from the law firm, wearing a white blouse and a simple black pencil skirt. The blouse was slightly wrinkled from having been slept in, and her makeup had smudged a bit. She looked quite ordinary.
But no one actually thought she was ordinary.
She was the legendary figure from Saint Lance Academy.
She had skipped grades to reach senior year within a single semester of enrollment, was later admitted to a top-tier law school, graduated college before turning twenty, and went on to study at Oxford University the same year. She had only returned to the country last month.
Her looks were striking—porcelain skin so fair that the veins beneath were nearly visible, autumn-water almond eyes, a delicate nose, and a slender figure that nonetheless carried no hint of frailty.
A butterfly-shaped necklace adorned her smooth, elegant neckline, and a hint of snow-white collarbone peeked out from beneath her blouse. She simply stood there quietly, radiating an ineffable softness and grace.
Many eyes in the private room were fixed on her.
Song Yunyi turned to look at Gu Lianhuai and smiled lightly. “How much have you been badmouthing me in front of your friends? I’m not that cold-hearted.”
Lu Zhen leaned back on the sofa, watching the two flirt with cold eyes, then glanced at Qiao Shuran, who was lowering her gaze to sip her wine.
He suddenly spoke up: “Lianhuai, I just saw President Liu from Yingli drinking here. Didn’t Shuran want to collaborate with him before? Why not take her over to meet him?”
No one had expected Lu Zhen to bring that up out of nowhere.
The people in the room exchanged knowing glances but said nothing.
Qiao Shuran was taken aback. “Brother Zhen, that collaboration idea was ages ago. Why bring it up now…”
Gu Lianhuai frowned deeply. “When did you want to collaborate with him? Why didn’t I know about this?”
Lu Zhen curled his lips and glanced at Song Yunyi. “Well, that’s because you, the busy man, had flown off to England. Shuran didn’t want to bother you—she didn’t pass the interview, so she came to me and Ziyan instead.”
“Really?” Gu Lianhuai turned to look at Cheng Ziyan.
Cheng Ziyan nodded awkwardly.
Gu Lianhuai’s expression shifted subtly. He was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly stood up and took Qiao Shuran’s hand. “Lead the way.”
This meant he was going to make an introduction for her.
Qiao Shuran struggled slightly. “…That’s not appropriate. Yunyi is still here…”
The remark reminded Gu Lianhuai. His fingers loosened almost imperceptibly, and he looked toward Song Yunyi. Before he could speak, Song Yunyi said with perfect understanding, “Miss Qiao’s matter is more important. Go ahead.”
She had come here in the first place to help Gu Lianhuai provoke Qiao Shuran.
A flicker of unreadable emotion passed through Gu Lianhuai’s eyes, but in the end, he nodded. “We’ll be back in a moment.”
After the two left, the atmosphere in the private room grew somewhat tense.
But Song Yunyi’s expression didn’t change in the slightest.
The other women sneered inwardly.
She sure can hold it together.
Lu Zhen spoke with mockery: “Lawyer Song, with that mental fortitude of yours, it’s a shame you’re not a city wall.”
Cheng Ziyan shot Lu Zhen a glare, signaling him to keep his mouth shut.
Lu Zhen shrugged, poured himself a glass of wine, and stared at Song Yunyi, waiting to see how she would respond.
But she acted as if she hadn’t heard him at all. She brushed off some nonexistent dust from her clothes and said to Cheng Ziyan, “Brother Ziyan, I’m stepping out for a moment.”
Cheng Ziyan quickly nodded.
Lu Zhen watched her coldly, tipped his head back, and downed his drink, sneering inwardly.
Very few people dared to ignore him like that. Was she really so emboldened that she wasn’t afraid of him getting back at her?
Would it kill her to acknowledge him?