Liang Yu Feng’s face showed no particular expression, but Lan Lan’s words stirred displeasure in his heart. She saw him with another woman, remained indifferent, and even smiled. What did this signify? Perhaps, she had been waiting for this day for a long time.
Shang Ting, also a woman, could tell that Lan Lan did not care about Liang Yu Feng. Her calm demeanor was not an act. Whether it was at the pub last time or at this wine reception, it seemed Liang Yu Feng cared more about Lan Lan…
As Shang Ting pondered, a colleague who had spoken with Lan Lan earlier saw them enter and quickly came to greet them. Lan Lan joined them, and even facing Shang Ting, she offered a generous smile, "Mr. Liang, Madam Shang, good evening!"
Lan Lan recognized Shang Ting. After she took over the company, she had been constantly in the news, with financial news praising her effusively. She must be a capable person.
Shang Ting also greeted Lan Lan, and they shook hands, tacitly not mentioning the incident at the pub. After exchanging pleasantries with them, Lan Lan left with her colleagues. During this time, Liang Yu Feng had not uttered a word.
Liang Yu Feng and Shang Ting attending such an event together was a message to the outside world: the Xu family and the Shang family might be forming an alliance. A strong union would expand the influence of both families in the future. Those who understood the prevailing trends had already begun to cultivate relationships with these soon-to-be newlyweds.
Lan Lan heard many people discussing this matter, analyzing the benefits that would arise from Liang Yu Feng and Shang Ting being together. The Shang family was in biotechnology, a hot industry in recent years with soaring stock prices. If He Tai were to cooperate with the Shang family, it could also enter this investment market.
Biotechnology was indeed a leading hot industry in recent years, but venturing into it was not easy. Lan Lan thought that if she were Liang Yu Feng, she would also choose to marry Shang Ting. The benefits brought by such a union were immeasurable.
If a shortcut was available, why not take it?
In this era, integrity was no longer valuable, especially in their circles.
Lan Lan was not saddened by the news of Liang Yu Feng and Shang Ting’s alliance. Let alone that Liang Yu Feng was not her official boyfriend, even if he were, she would not be sad. It was just a matter between men and women. She had broken up so many times and had never grieved for any man.
Without Liang Yu Feng, she wouldn’t be unable to find someone else.
Lan Lan maintained a composed demeanor throughout the entire event. She mingled, chatted and laughed with her colleagues, and even ran into her ex-boyfriend, Gu Xiao.
Gu Xiao was also a prominent figure, so his presence at such events was not unusual. Lan Lan and he had met through work. Gu Xiao was nine years older than Lan Lan.
At that time, Lan Lan had just graduated. After dating many boyfriends of similar age, she wanted to try someone more mature. Gu Xiao happened to appear and took an interest in her, and they naturally got together. They dated for over nine months and then broke up.
However, Gu Xiao had created a miracle; he was the boyfriend Lan Lan had dated for the longest period.
Moreover, Gu Xiao had a mature personality, and even after breaking up, they had not fallen out. They remained friends and occasionally chatted on WeChat.
Upon encountering Gu Xiao, Lan Lan walked over to speak with him, "Are you back from Miami?" His WeChat moments had shown his location there recently.
"Yes," Gu Xiao replied. "I returned last week. I wanted to treat you to a meal, but it's been too busy at the end of the year."
"And you, how has work been lately?" Gu Xiao inquired about Lan Lan's situation. He was good at asking questions, knowing that work was what she cared about most.
"Thanks to you, it's going well," Lan Lan shared good news with Gu Xiao. "You'll have to call me Manager Lan now."
"Oh really?" Gu Xiao smiled. "That's impressive indeed."
They walked over to the wine table, each picked up a glass, and chatted while drinking.
Gu Xiao was thirty-seven years old. He exuded the maturity and steadiness that came with age, and his every move carried charm. Even though Lan Lan had experienced it many times, she was still drawn to his aura.
Gu Xiao noticed this and playfully remarked, "You keep staring at me. Do you miss the taste of old times?"
"Isn't that because Mr. Gu is so charming? Since you appeared, I'm not the only one looking at you." Lan Lan was adept at business flattery, and this wasn't flattery; it was the truth.
Many people admired a man like Gu Xiao. "Others are not important. I'm asking about you."
Gu Xiao gazed at her fingers. "Are you interested in trying the taste of old times again?"
If the previous sentence was a joke, this one was quite explicit in its intention. He even added, "I still have your pajamas."
Lan Lan was not angered by his words; instead, she laughed, "Mr. Gu, you haven't forgotten about me, have you?"
They had broken up over half a year ago, and he still kept her clothes. It sounded a bit eerie.
"You're so smart, can't you guess?" Gu Xiao teased her. Although he didn't say it directly, his answer was practically an admission.
At this moment, Lan Lan happened to catch a glimpse of Liang Yu Feng and Shang Ting whispering to each other. Shang Ting was saying something to him, her mouth close to his ear. Liang Yu Feng didn't shy away; he even leaned in, appearing to enjoy such intimacy.
Since that was the case, she, as his mistress, should probably retire early. "Then, shall we leave together after this? It's been a while since I've seen Mantou."
Mantou, as Lan Lan referred to it, was Gu Xiao's Persian cat. The older man privately adored small pets, owning both cats and dogs, and doted on them with great care.
Back then, Lan Lan was attracted to Gu Xiao partly for this reason. The mature man who appeared unapproachable in the business world would hold a cat in his arms and coax it in private. This contrast had captivated Lan Lan, and after being smitten, they got together. His cats and dogs had also become familiar with her.
"Mantou must miss you," Gu Xiao said. "She's still gnawing on the toy dried fish you bought her every day, and Baozi occasionally snatches it from her." Baozi was Gu Xiao's Golden Retriever.
They chatted about their pets, and Lan Lan laughed heartily. This scene was clearly visible to Liang Yu Feng from not far away.
Coincidentally, several people from Xinhe Securities were standing beside him. Those colleagues also saw Lan Lan and Gu Xiao and began to discuss.
"It looks like Lan Lan and Mr. Gu are rekindling their old flame."
"I thought it was ridiculous when they broke up. Mr. Gu is such a charming mature man, and he can also help her with her career."
Liang Yu Feng's hands, tucked into his pockets, clenched into fists so tightly that the veins in his forearms seemed about to burst.
He only caught a few words: rekindling their old flame. This meant that the man standing with her was also one of her ex-boyfriends. If they were still so close after breaking up, what about back then?
"Yu Feng, would you accompany me to toast Mr. Gu?" Shang Ting returned just then. She picked up her wine glass and gestured across.
Liang Yu Feng saw Gu Xiao tidying Lan Lan's hair and his gaze sharpened. "Let's go."