Linfengchun

Kapitel 129

The bald man is the owner of a partner factory; he's quite wealthy, but has a bad reputation. He's a womanizer, accepting all women, and is also clingy.

He assumed that Liu Xihua was just a student, an unprofessional third- or fourth-tier model, and that he was trying to keep her as a mistress. When he saw her greeting Fan Chen as if they were old friends, he hesitated for a moment.

Fan Chen is the host of today's party, so it's best to avoid getting entangled with his friends. Once you've figured this out, turn around and leave.

Fan Chen was surprised, nodded and smiled at her, and didn't pay any attention.

Celebrities, when they walk down the street, are surrounded by fans.

Liu Xihua seized the opportunity, pushed through the crowd, and stood in front of Fan Chen, looking up at him: "Fan Chen, we are classmates."

Fan Chen's smile was warm, and he looked at her with a touch of friendliness, pondering, "You're also from the Mass Communication Department?"

Liu Xihua's smile froze slightly, then she smiled brightly again: "I'm from the English Department of F University, and I'm good friends with XXX and XX from your class."

Fan Chen suddenly realized, "Ah." He said kindly, "I'm so sorry, I'm not usually at school and I don't know all my classmates."

Even if you have a photographic memory, it would probably take several years to get to know all the students in the school.

Liu Xihua was not discouraged. She could persevere even when faced with Li Changsheng's sour face, let alone Fan Chen's gentle smile.

Well, a big star is a big star. Look at their demeanor, how humble they are, how kind they are… On the other hand, Li Changsheng acts all arrogant and cocky. Am I wrong to like you?

Liu Xihua stayed firmly by Fan Chen's side, refusing to leave.

Teenage girls in their early twenties are all vain. Her clinging to Fan Chen doesn't necessarily mean she likes him. Who wouldn't secretly feel smug about showing off in front of their classmates and getting involved with a big star? Fan Chen can also help her meet many people.

Mu Mu listlessly fiddled with the empty wine glass in her hand, then raised her chin and pointed in Fan Chen's direction: "Your classmate, aren't you going to say hello?"

Shanglin leaned against the corner of the wall, observing with great interest the people in the room, each with their own hidden agendas.

"Your husband is more than capable of taking care of them."

Yang Hai and Mu Mu, who have been working at the Mocha Cat Boutique since their days in Zifang Town, have now grown from shop assistants to company general manager and sales training department manager, respectively. They are now married and expecting their second child.

A waiter carrying a tray walked past them, and Mumu reached for another cocktail. Shanglin disapproved, saying, "You're about to become a mother, you should drink less. Your husband will scold you if he sees you like this."

Mumu forced a bleak smile: "He doesn't have time to see me."

Every family has its own troubles.

To outsiders, life seems glamorous, but only they themselves taste the bitterness within. Yang Hai is career-driven and devotes himself entirely to his work, inevitably neglecting his beloved wife. Mu Mu is pregnant with her second child, experiencing significant mood swings and often becoming suspicious, gradually causing cracks to appear in their relationship.

Shang Lin rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.

"It's my fault, I gave Yang Hai too much work..."

Mu Mu scoffed, "Don't always take the blame upon yourself. You're not a superwoman." She lowered her head, "It's a problem between Yang Hai and me."

Shanglin didn't know how to offer advice, and after thinking for a long time, he dryly said, "Between husband and wife, don't be too calculating..."

Mumu chuckled.

"What I'm afraid of is that he won't hold it against me." If we really argued every few days like other couples, and in the end we ruined our relationship, she would accept it.

But Yang Hai didn't give her a chance to argue. Whenever they disagreed, Yang Hai would turn around and leave, leaving them no opportunity to communicate.

Shang Lin had no choice but to remain silent with her, thinking of finding time to give Yang Hai his annual leave so he could take Mu Mu on a second honeymoon. The doctor said Mu Mu had typical prenatal depression and needed a lot of companionship and care. Yang Hai was habitually careless and didn't pay much attention to this.

Halfway through the party, Shanglin noticed that Mumu looked a little tired and asked softly, "Shall I take you home?"

"Isn't that inappropriate? The party isn't over yet, should the host leave first?"

Shang Lin laughed: "Come on, how many people even know me? Yang Hai is handling it, we don't need me."

As Shang Lin was helping Mu Mu to leave, a drunkard bumped into them. Startled, Shang Lin quickly protected Mu Mu's stomach, shielding her behind him, and frowned as he looked at the drunkard.

The bald boss who had previously harassed Liu Xihua was now drunk, his beady eyes glazed over, and he cursed, "Are you blind? You idiot!"

Shanglin and Mumu were both stunned. Smelling the pungent smell of alcohol, Shanglin frowned, ignored him, and said to Mumu, "We're leaving now that the guest is drunk."

The bald man, feigning drunkenness, became increasingly agitated. He grabbed Shang Lin's arm, yelling, "You, you, you, you bumped into me! Apologize now!"

Shanglin disgustedly shook him off, not with much force, but the bald man was already unsteady on his feet, and with her push, he stumbled back a few steps and collapsed to the ground. A waiter immediately came to help him up, but he pushed the waiter away, glaring at him: "You dare hit me? Do you know who I am—you, grab her here!"

The waiter looked troubled, trying to support him while being pushed around by him as he tried to grab Qiu Shanglin.

Shang Lin coldly replied, "Sir, you are drunk."

The bald man staggered to a stop in front of Shang Lin, needing a waiter's support to keep from falling. He held up a finger in front of Shang Lin's eyes and said, "I'm not drunk. This is one, this is two. See, I'm not drunk!"

Shanglin dressed up specially for the party. Her long, black hair was braided into two braids and then pinned up, revealing her smooth, full forehead. She wore a black knee-length dress that subtly exposed her shoulders.

Although she could not be considered a beauty, she had a delicate face and an outstanding temperament.

A pretty young woman suddenly flashed into the bald man's hazy eyes, smiling obsequiously: "So you're a lady... I love dealing with ladies, I don't blame you..." She waved her hands, making a complete fool of herself.

Shanglin was disgusted, frowned and didn't even look at him, and helped Mumu to leave.

Baldy won't let people go easily.

"Miss, you hit me, you have to compensate me for my emotional distress..."

Mumu's tone was unfriendly: "How much do you want?"

The bald man burped, reeking of alcohol, and grinned lewdly, "I don't want money, I just want this lady to have a drink with me..."

The well-trained club staff, sensing something was wrong, forcibly helped the bald man out of the venue. Liu Xihua, who had appeared out of nowhere, gloated.

"This lady is very good at drinking. She never drinks with other women, but she likes to drink with men."

Shang Lin squinted. He was already displeased.

Not only did she lack tact, but she also added fuel to the fire, saying even more aggressively, "Qiu Shanglin, didn't you claim to have been kept by countless old men? I think this one isn't that old, why don't you let him keep you too?"

The dispute had been going on for a while, and quite a few guests had noticed the commotion, but out of politeness, they all kept a distance as they watched. After hearing what Liu Xihua said, everyone's gaze towards Shang Lin immediately changed.

Mu Mu retorted angrily, "What nonsense are you spouting!"

Liu Xihua sneered: "Whether it's nonsense or the truth, we'll find out by asking around—Qiu Shanglin, didn't you sneak in here just to find a new lover?"

Shanglin turned her head and said, "Where's Yang Hai? Call him over." Her displeasure had reached its peak, and she decided not to let her continue to act so recklessly.

Despite her youthful appearance, Shang Lin, honed by years of experience, knew very well that she could project a certain air of authority when she put on a stern face. Her tone was serious, and the waiter, bewildered, gave a blank reply before turning to find Yang Hai.

Fan Chen was getting impatient as he was surrounded by people talking to him when a waiter came up to Yang Hai, who was surrounded by others, and said, "Mr. Yang, someone is looking for you."

He looked in the direction the waiter pointed and saw a familiar face.

Yang Hai rushed over, and someone recognized him as the owner of the company that organized the party, so they moved closer.

Yang Hai asked in surprise, "What's wrong?"

Qiu Shanglin, outwardly fierce but inwardly weak, asked: "How do you handle things? You're letting just anyone in?"

Yang Hai, having received his wife's tacit instruction, knew that he and Qiu Shanglin had been working together for a long time and were definitely skilled actors. He quickly asked apologetically, "What happened?"

Raising her chin and pointing at the willow branch, she asked arrogantly, "What does she do?"

Yang Hai glanced at Liu Xihua, confirming he didn't recognize her, and hesitated, "She's probably from an advertising company, I'm not very familiar with her..."

She sneered, "We are a legitimate business company, and we will avoid getting involved with pimps in the future."

Liu Xihua's expression changed; those words were quite sharp.

"You're the pimp, you're shameless—you make a living by seducing men." Having given up all pretense of civility, she decided to abandon all decorum.

Shang Lin gave her a cold, sidelong glance. Yang Hai frowned, his face full of disapproval, and beckoned over the head of the advertising company: "Is this one of your company's employees?"

The person in charge shook his head: "I don't know her, she seems to be a temporary model."

Yang Hai let out a long sigh: "Oh, a model..." he said meaningfully.

Shang Lin thought to himself, "I've given you plenty of face, but you still insist on going against me. Don't blame me for being ruthless."

Without further ado, he ordered, "Get them out of here."

Liu Xihua shrieked, "What right do you have?!" Just then, Fan Chen walked over, and she looked at him as if he were her savior, calling out, "Fan Chen!"

Fan Chen gave her a strange look and asked Qiu Shanglin first, "Are you alright?"

Liu Xihua said hurriedly, "Fan Chen, Qiu Shanglin is not clean. She admitted herself that she had affairs with many men..."

Suddenly, she was splashed with wine all over her face.

It was Mumu who did the dirty work. Everyone should forgive pregnant women suffering from prenatal depression; they are often short-tempered.

"Get out."

Liu Xihua looked at Fan Chen with a wronged expression. Fan Chen looked at her with a wronged expression as well.

Classmate, we're not familiar with each other.

"President Qiu, you came to the party without even greeting me. Is it because my advertisement didn't meet your standards?" There's a set of rules for official conduct. Regardless of how aggrieved Liu Xihua was, Fan Chen had to stand up for Qiu Shanglin. Firstly, she was his friend's former crush; secondly, they were classmates.

Yang Hai followed suit, saying, "I'm so sorry, it's all my fault for poor management." He then turned to his employees and ordered, "What are you waiting for—get this lady and him out!"

At this moment, Liu Xihua's mind was a little foggy, and she could only repeat one sentence: "I have an invitation to enter, why are you kicking me out!"

Qiu Shanglin looked at her coldly.