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Tonight was supposed to be a business association event, but in reality, it was just the “neighborhood crew” from the Scenic Park community throwing together a gathering out of boredom.
Inside the luxurious and exquisitely decorated private room, the atmosphere was lively. Glasses clinked crisply as people mingled.
Fang Yimeng’s cocktail dress accentuated her elegant figure. Standing beside Lu Jingshan—handsome and cold-faced—their coordinated black-and-white attire made them the perfect couple.
Her fair, slender hand rested on his arm, and he looked down to make sure she stepped safely over the threshold before finally withdrawing his gaze.
“Mother Fang, your daughter’s on the big screen again! So beautiful—definitely worthy of being a Fang family girl!”
“Oh, it’s nothing really. Being on the screen isn’t a big deal. Isn’t your youngest already having a second baby?”
The ladies at the round table were quick to compliment one another, their eyes lighting up when they saw the attractive couple walk into the room.
The left-side private room was for the elders, while the right-side room was for the younger generation.
Fang Yimeng first led Lu Jingshan around the left room, helping him get acquainted with the business elites. After briefly greeting Father Fang, they finally linked arms again and walked toward the right room.
Before they even reached the table, they overheard voices coming from the younger group.
“Li Shao, you’re leaving little beauty Liao Ran behind already?”
Fang Yimeng froze at the sound of that name.
Li Jincheng. Liao Ran.
So it really was a case of enemies meeting on a narrow road.
Lu Jingshan had one hand lightly resting on Fang Yimeng’s waist and immediately noticed her pause.
A faint tightness welled up in his chest. He leaned down close to her ear, the scent of her perfume wrapping around him.
In a low voice that was more like a midnight whisper, he murmured, “Still thinking about Li Jincheng?”
That snapped Fang Yimeng out of her daze.
“Am I a sword dealer? Why would I still care about someone who framed me and left me drowning in scandal?”
She glanced sideways at Lu Jingshan and retorted without hesitation.
He chuckled lowly and straightened up.
Just then, Li Jincheng stepped out from the right-side room. He was immediately greeted by the sight of the tall, well-matched pair standing side by side.
The Li family had long-established roots in S City. In the novel, he was the man “who could single-handedly control the entertainment industry, only to hand it all over to Liao Ran in the end.”
With his noble demeanor, Li Jincheng buttoned his suit jacket with one hand. His sharp, upturned eyes swept over the couple before him. The moment his gaze met Fang Yimeng’s, his expression turned icy cold.
Fang Yimeng made no move to greet him. Li Jincheng likewise dismissed them and didn’t even bother with pleasantries. His glance at Lu Jingshan was fleeting as he strode right past them.
Fang Yimeng didn’t look back, but Lu Jingshan couldn’t help himself—he turned his head, narrowed his eyes at the tall, broad-shouldered man, and smirked slightly.
Inside the right-side room, Fang Yimeng whispered, “Have you met him before?”
Lu Jingshan’s voice was calm and steady. “A few times when we were kids. Nothing worth remembering.”
He casually removed his suit jacket and draped it over the back of Fang Yimeng’s chair, sitting beside her.
Everyone at the round table was around the same age and had grown up in the same neighborhood. There was little pretense, just casual chatter.
Liao Ran happened to be sitting directly across from Fang Yimeng.
“Mr. Lu, what brings you to a gathering like this?” Liao Ran asked, swirling her wine glass, directly addressing Lu Jingshan.
Before he could respond, Fang Yimeng intercepted. She picked up her wine glass and lightly tapped it against the lazy Susan.
“Jingshan’s driving me home later. He shouldn’t drink.” She sipped her wine and glanced at the visibly annoyed Liao Ran, smiling sweetly. “You remember him—Lu Jingshan, my boyfriend.”
Lu Jingshan rested his left arm along the back of her chair, sitting close. With his right hand, he poured himself a cup of tea and raised it slightly.
Though he said nothing, his gesture confirmed her words.
Liao Ran’s expression darkened instantly.
The young man who had been teasing Li Jincheng earlier sensed the rising tension at the table.
On one side was a woman rarely seen with Li Jincheng—her background uncertain and best not to provoke. On the other, Fang Yimeng, daughter of the Fang family, which held significant power in S City and the southern region.
Neither side was easy to offend.
So he quickly laughed and tried to change the subject. “Family dinner, family dinner—peace brings prosperity. Waiter, let’s start bringing out the dishes!”
Fang Yimeng raised her eyebrows at Liao Ran, mimicked her wine-swirling motion, and tilted her glass mockingly in return.
Before Liao Ran could respond, Fang Yimeng leisurely sipped her wine, her eyes gleaming with amusement—a flawless provocation.
Under the table, Liao Ran clenched and unclenched her fists.
Soon, the dishes were served swiftly, and the large round table was filled with gourmet delicacies.
Everyone only took a few bites before turning to quietly discuss industry topics with the person next to them. Most of the guests here were heirs to listed companies across S City.
A waiter carrying a glass of sober-up tea came over and whispered a few words to Lu Jingshan.
He pressed his lips together, picked up his wine glass, and leaned toward Fang Yimeng’s ear. “I need to step out.”
She glanced at his wine glass and immediately understood. She nodded without a word.
As he was about to grab his suit jacket and stand, Liao Ran—seeing this—also stood up.
Fang Yimeng had been watching her the whole time. The moment Liao Ran moved, she instinctively picked up her phone.
It was like muscle memory. A quick swipe opened the camera, and she began snapping shots of the two figures leaving the room—tall and well-matched even from behind.
Fang Yimeng: “…”
The villainess in me just took over on its own.
Half an hour passed.
Fang Yimeng was still wondering about the nature of Lu Jingshan and Liao Ran’s relationship when her phone buzzed.
She checked her messages and immediately saw one from her agent, Meng Qing.
Meng Qing:
“What kind of deal did you make with Liao Ran?”
[Image.jpg]
She tapped the image and saw a screenshot of a trending Weibo post—already in the top three:
“Liao Ran speaks up for Fang Yimeng—Rich Heir Rumor [Explosion]”
@LiaoRanStar:
“I’ve worked with Yimeng for years and know her well. Sure, she’s got a bit of a temper, but she’s absolutely not the kind of person the trending rumors make her out to be. Please don’t harass my friend!”
On the surface, it looked like a defense—but in reality, it subtly emphasized something else:
“Because she has a temper, the on-set bullying rumors? Probably true.”