This voice, Lin Mei naturally heard. Xu Ying quietly asked her, "Shall we go?"
Lin Mei tightened her grip on Xu Ying's arm, stood on tiptoe, and leaned intimately towards his ear, speaking in a voice only they could hear, "Yes, of course we should go."
Xu Ying smiled, "Then I'll do my best to cooperate."
Xing Zheng stood with the manager. Xu Ying and Lin Mei approached like conjoined twins. After stopping, Lin Mei even straightened Xu Ying's tie, appearing like a good wife accompanying her husband to a social event. The manager, upon seeing this, couldn't help but praise, "Xu Shen, your girlfriend is so good to you!"
"Thank you," Xu Ying looked at Lin Mei affectionately, his gaze incredibly saccharine. Lin Mei did not feel shy; they gazed at each other in front of everyone without any reservation.
Xing Zheng stood with his hands in his pockets, his expressionless face radiating a chill. However, Xu Ying seemed oblivious and began speaking to Xing Zheng, "Hello, Mr. Xing, thank you for sponsoring this competition."
"No need, it has nothing to do with you," Xing Zheng's reply was rather blunt, making the manager feel awkward. Xu Ying, however, seemed unfazed. "Then you two chat, I'm taking my girlfriend to have some fun."
With that, he casually put his arm around Lin Mei and walked away, the two of them bickering as they went. The manager watched and chuckled, smoothing things over by saying, "Young love at this age is so sweet, they're almost conjoined twins."
Xing Zheng thought of Xu Ying's age, his expression darkening. "Are you sure this love-struck individual can still compete?"
"Yes, yes, once Xu Shen is on the field, he's invincible. Perhaps he's a bit immature in private, he's still young after all." The manager assumed Xing Zheng was worried about Xu Ying's romantic entanglements affecting his performance and thus his investment, so he earnestly explained.
However, the more he explained, the darker Xing Zheng's face became. Eventually, he simply walked away without another word. The manager was left bewildered.
He had long heard that Xing Zheng was eccentric and difficult to get along with. Seeing him today, his reputation was indeed well-deserved.
As the banquet began, there was a speech segment. Xing Zheng, as the investor, was naturally expected to speak on stage. Lin Mei and Xu Ying sat in the audience, and their eyes met Xing Zheng's on stage. Lin Mei met his gaze, but his was remarkably calm, as if he were looking at an insignificant person. He quickly withdrew his gaze.
Lin Mei couldn't tell if he was acting or genuinely indifferent. However, being ignored by him made her uncomfortable. Stubbornly, she began whispering to Xu Ying. Since he wasn't looking at her, she wouldn't look at him either.
Regardless of Lin Mei's intentions, Xu Ying was more than willing to cooperate. He was curious, so he glanced at Xing Zheng from the corner of his eye. Xing Zheng had just finished his speech and was descending the stage, his eyes extremely dark. He must have been quite provoked. Men understood that inexplicable possessiveness in other men.
As soon as Xing Zheng returned to his seat, Jiang Chu Bi felt the coldness radiating from him. Anyone who could make him like this needed no further guessing.
She looked towards the other side and indeed saw Lin Mei talking to Xu Ying. From this angle, she could see the smile on Lin Mei's face. She didn't know what Xu Ying had said to make her so happy. Looking at the man sitting beside her, the happier the other side became, the more pronounced the gloom on his face.
The host announced the end of the speeches. Jiang Chu Bi pulled Xing Zheng's arm, "Let's go, have a drink."
There were many desserts at the banquet. Xu Ying and Lin Mei went to the buffet table. He picked up a small piece of cheesecake for her and was about to feed her with a fork. Lin Mei reflexively started to refuse, but Xu Ying winked at her. Lin Mei understood and immediately became obedient, opening her mouth to be fed by Xu Ying.
Their affectionate scene was witnessed by Xu Ying's teammates, who began to tease, "Oh my, oh my, Xu Shen, you've finally reached this day!"
"Looks like we'll be drinking at Xu Shen's wedding soon!"
"Sister-in-law, hurry up and tie Xu Shen down. Look how flirtatious he is, haha."
Xu Ying's teammates all called Lin Mei "Sister-in-law." Neither Xu Ying nor Lin Mei themselves denied this title.
Xing Zheng and Jiang Chu Bi were drinking not far away, and these teasing remarks reached their ears. Jiang Chu Bi looked over. Xu Ying was still feeding Lin Mei the cake, and Lin Mei, while eating the cake, seemed to be acting coquettishly with Xu Ying.
Jiang Chu Bi frowned. What was Lin Mei up to? Just a few days ago, she had come to their door, relentlessly pursuing Xing Zheng. Now, she was intimately involved with Xu Ying. It seemed Xing Zheng wasn't that important to her. Jiang Chu Bi didn't care about Lin Mei's attitude towards Xing Zheng, but she couldn't ignore Xing Zheng's feelings for Lin Mei.
If Lin Mei continued to flaunt her affection with Xu Ying so carelessly, the man beside her might truly explode.
Jiang Chu Bi pulled Xing Zheng's arm and said to him, "Come with me for a smoke."
Xing Zheng replied, "You go alone." His gaze remained fixed on the couple. Jiang Chu Bi couldn't possibly go alone. "Out of sight, out of mind. Don't keep finding reasons to upset yourself."
Before finishing the piece of cheesecake, Lin Mei saw Xing Zheng and Jiang Chu Bi walk out hand in hand. She stopped eating and said to Xu Ying, "I'm going out for some air."
Xing Zheng and Jiang Chu Bi going out together must mean they had something to discuss. She had many unanswered questions, and opportunities like this were rare. She had to seize them. Xu Ying, however, said, "I'll go with you."
Lin Mei hesitated. Xu Ying added, "If I go with you, it'll be easier for you to provoke him."
Lin Mei was speechless. So, Xu Ying thought she had asked him to pretend to be her boyfriend to provoke Xing Zheng... Well, it did seem plausible.
While she was contemplating, Xu Ying had already taken her hand, and they walked out together.
There was an open-air terrace in the banquet hall, and the path leading to it was long. Lin Mei and Xu Ying stopped on this path. On the terrace, Xing Zheng and Jiang Chu Bi were smoking, neither speaking. Ten minutes passed, and it remained quiet.
Xu Ying frowned, thinking that these two, so affectionate in public, had no communication in private. They must be a couple in name only.
Lin Mei's heart was burning with impatience to resolve her doubts. However, the two on the terrace finished their cigarettes and came out together. Lin Mei and Xu Ying then ran into them.
As Xing Zheng approached, Xu Ying pulled Lin Mei into his arms and coaxed her, "I was wrong, darling, don't be angry anymore. I'll compensate you properly tonight."
Lin Mei was dumbfounded. What were these suggestive words from Xu Ying? His acting was too realistic.
However, these words were effective. She sensed Xing Zheng's anger. She had "provoked" him many times tonight, but this was the first time she saw a reaction.
Lin Mei was greatly encouraged. Nestled in Xu Ying's arms, she lightly hit his shoulder, like a little wife throwing a tantrum, "I don't want your compensation. You got the advantage and are acting all innocent. Let go of me quickly..."
"You say one thing and mean another. You clearly like it." Xu Ying played along, cooperating with her, and glanced at the terrifyingly grim Xing Zheng.