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Shengmei, perceptive as ever, gave Andy and Tan Zongming space to talk.
She knew perfectly well—someone like her, slipping into a banquet like this without any real “value” in their circles, was bound to be looked down on. In their eyes, she was just another woman trying to climb the social ladder. Otherwise, why would Qu Lianjie dare to bother her?
She was self-aware. No need to embarrass herself further.
The banquet wine, however, was genuinely good. Shengmei sipped slowly, savoring it, while her eyes roamed the rows of bottles. This was a rare chance to taste quality vintages and gain some knowledge.
“Shall I tell you about this wine’s special features?”
A voice intruded. Qu Lianjie was at her side again, holding a glass, his smile slick with confidence—so oily you could practically fry food in it.
Shengmei froze, then stepped back.
What is wrong with this man?
She shook her head firmly.
“No need. We’re not acquainted.”
She stressed the last part: We. Are. Not. Acquainted.
Qu Lianjie smirked, undeterred.
“We weren’t before, but we are now. Allow me to introduce myself—Qu Lianjie. And this beautiful lady, how should I address you?”
In his head, the logic was simple. He thought he’d read her correctly: earlier, she had gone toward Tan Zongming’s circle—clearly trying to “snag a whale.” Her little push-and-pull resistance was just playing hard to get. He’d seen the act countless times.
She just wants to raise her price.
But Shengmei had no idea of his smug inner monologue. She only wanted to pour her glass of wine over his head.
“Allow me,” “this beauty”—ugh. Truly disgusting.
Andy, still in conversation with Tan Zongming, noticed Qu Lianjie pestering Shengmei again. She immediately paused, crossed the floor, and cut in sharply.
“Excuse me, do you have some business here? She’s my friend. If not, I’d prefer you not disturb us.”
Qu Lianjie blinked. He hadn’t expected two so-called “gold-diggers” to be this hard to deal with.
Just then, an industry heavyweight Andy knew came over to shake her hand.
Qu Lianjie’s expression collapsed. He recognized the man—an influential figure. If word of this mess reached his father’s ears, he’d be in serious trouble.
“No, no, nothing at all. I’ll just… be on my way. Please, carry on.”
He slipped away in a fluster, tail between his legs.
Andy was baffled.
Just now he wouldn’t leave, and suddenly he bolts?
Shengmei chuckled and explained:
“He probably thought I was here fishing for a rich man and assumed we were the same type. But then…”
She left the rest unsaid. Andy already pieced it together, sighing helplessly.
“Hah. Another Qu. Same as Little Qu—exactly the same kind of person.”
Shengmei shrugged.
“Family values run deep, I guess.”
At that moment, Tan Zongming rejoined them, chuckling as he teased Andy.
“Seems your reputation doesn’t carry far enough if people are foolish enough to mistake you for one of those. My fault. I ought to hold a press conference just to properly introduce you to the industry.”
Andy shot him a flat look, clearly unimpressed with his teasing.
“Andy, I’ll head over there for a bit.”
Shengmei excused herself.
Andy blinked.
“But you’ve already been over there. You even had cake just now. Why go again?”
She sounded genuinely puzzled. Why risk another encounter with the likes of Qu Lianjie?
Tan Zongming, however, understood. He gave a small smile.
“It’s probably me. My presence must make your friend uncomfortable.”
Andy glanced at Shengmei, her eyes asking silently if that was really the case.
Shengmei threw a look at Tan Zongming, then shrugged at Andy with a playful smile.
“Maybe… I’m just too beautiful. I don’t want people mistaking me for someone fishing for a sugar daddy.”
The three of them exchanged a look and burst into laughter.
Andy gave her an appraising once-over.
“Well, you are too beautiful. You don’t look like someone from our industry at all.”
She wasn’t wrong. In her red dress, Shengmei was striking, far too eye-catching for the business crowd.
When the banquet ended, Shengmei and Andy left together the same way they had arrived.
On the drive back, Shengmei even filmed a short clip of the glittering night skyline, a perfect closing touch for her “banquet vlog.”
By the time they reached 2202, she felt utterly exhausted, as if her feet no longer belonged to her.
After removing her makeup, she went straight to bed.
She had barely lain down when a message came through.
“Sister Fan, the landlord’s raising the rent—what do we do?”
Shengmei sighed, weariness heavy in her chest. Life’s problems, she thought, were like scallions in the field—cut once, and they sprouted again, growing fast and strong with an overwhelming smell.
When she entered the living room, Guan Ju’er and Qiu Yingying looked as if the sky itself had fallen.
To them, it really felt like that. Rent was already high, and they couldn’t exactly move out. Ode to Joy was the best apartment complex they could afford—miss this place, and there wouldn’t be another like it.
Yingying blurted out,
“From now on, I think I’ll start bringing my own lunch to work.”
With the rent hike, she was determined to save wherever possible.
“I calculated it. Eating out every day costs too much. Packing food is cheaper, just a little more work.”
Shengmei nodded, approving of the idea.
Guan Ju’er, however, looked at her with concern.
“But… won’t it affect your room, Sister Fan?”
After all, Shengmei’s “room” was really just the converted living room, and cooking might mean smoke and grease.
At that, Yingying also turned to her nervously.
But Shengmei waved it off with a smile.
“It’s fine. You’ve both been supporting my side business, I’d be unreasonable not to support you in return. Besides, I’ve been thinking of cooking sometimes myself. It’s no problem.”
Yingying lit up instantly.
“Sister Fan, you’re the best!”
She had been worried Shengmei would mind.
Shengmei patted her shoulder, amused.
Once the discussion was settled, she returned to her room, rested a while, then edited her banquet video and uploaded it online.
The next morning, she checked her phone—
and the data was exploding.
This was still an era when short videos hadn’t yet professionalized. Nobody had really seen content like hers: an elegant banquet vlog featuring someone who looked rich and glamorous.
The very word banquet felt worlds away from most people’s lives. That distance was exactly what drew attention. One person shared it, then another, and soon it spread like wildfire.
Her numbers were soaring.
When Shengmei saw the flood of messages and notifications, her grin stretched ear to ear.
This—this data is insane.
Scrolling through the comments, she saw mostly praise. The familiar toxicity of later years hadn’t yet arrived.
[Wow, goddess! So beautiful!]
[That banquet looks so classy! And your makeup is stunning—the red dress suits you perfectly. I want to buy one now.]
[Was I the only one who noticed the car? A Porsche!]
[Wait, they serve desserts at banquets? I thought people just stood around chatting. Turns out you can actually eat!]
[So high-class! Love this vibe.]
[Am I the only one sold on the perfume? Too expensive though…]
Compared with her earlier two videos, this one completely outperformed them—an overwhelming surge.
Shengmei clenched her fist in triumph, her heart racing with joy.