She couldn't see through this man, never could.
But she no longer wanted to!
It had nothing to do with her anymore!
She truly wanted to protect everything she cherished!
Family, friends!
No matter who hurt what she cherished, they couldn't!
Su Qi was not afraid at all, she sneered, gritting her teeth, and met Huo Tingyun's gaze, "Mr. Huo, please don't come and harass me in the middle of the night!"
She wasn't saying this for Huo Tingyun to hear.
She was saying it for Xu Lin Yun to hear.
Yes, she was deliberately provoking her.
After speaking, Su Qi, regardless of their reactions, helped Gu Tang Xue up.
"You're injured, I'll take you to get it bandaged."
Gu Tang Xue was still shaken. Although she didn't know what had happened between these people, her intuition told her they knew each other.
Su Qi supported Gu Tang Xue as she left, and Yang Tian Hao also got up and followed closely.
After a long while, Song He Qing, Song Yi Ming, and their group finally reacted.
"Looks like they know each other?"
Song He Qing swirled the red wine in his glass, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.
Although he knew Su Qi had a significant background, he was also very surprised.
He hadn't expected Su Qi to know Huo Tingyun.
And judging by the subtle atmosphere between them.
It didn't seem like a relationship of ordinary friends, but more like...
"Since they know each other, it's all minor. I'm relieved you're going to change your clothes."
The main event tonight was the press conference, and Xu Lin Yun was the protagonist. How could she waste her appearance on stage like this?
Song Yi Ming hurriedly arranged for staff to escort Xu Lin Yun to a backstage room to change.
Then he picked up his wine glass and began chatting and laughing with the surrounding guests to ease the atmosphere.
Song He Qing approached Huo Tingyun, "Mr. Huo's mistress?"
Song He Qing's voice was low.
Upon hearing this address, Huo Tingyun's expression slightly darkened. He glanced at Song He Qing.
"Not a mistress."
She was his wife.
Except for a few people in the Huo family, almost no one knew about the relationship between him and Su Qi.
The marriage certificate was even brought to them by staff from the civil affairs bureau.
Even their photos were composited together.
In the year she became the daughter-in-law of the Huo family, there was no grand wedding, no diamond ring, and the person beside her bed was never present.
Su Qi was like a joke.
But this joke had come to an end at some unknown point.
Huo Tingyun walked onto the balcony, letting the cold autumn wind blow on his face.
He wanted to light a cigarette, but the wind was too strong and cold. After several attempts, he finally managed to get the tip of the cigarette to ignite.
He took a deep drag.
The inner turmoil subsided slightly.
Yet, the restlessness lingered.
He had once thought all of this was Su Qi's doing.
However, at the banquet, her distant and estranged gaze, her eyes filled with hatred, made him lose his composure.
It was too real to be acting.
"Troubled?"
Song He Qing appeared behind him, offering a glass of ice-cold champagne.
He took it and downed it in one gulp.
Song He Qing smiled.
"You look like you've been dumped, or perhaps you've fallen in love at first sight?"
Su Qi's beauty was top-tier, even in the entertainment industry.
It was a bit unbelievable that Huo Tingyun would be moved.
This man seemed uninterested in women.
Even though he was famously doting on Xu Lin Yun within their circle, that affection wasn't very prominent.
It was more like the affection one had for a younger sister.
But the way Huo Tingyun looked at Su Qi at the banquet just now...
"No."
Huo Tingyun simply denied it.
"Words can lie, but eyes cannot."
Song He Qing, being perceptive, didn't press further and stood beside Huo Tingyun.
The night wind was very cold, but Huo Tingyun just stood there, smoking a pack of cigarettes before returning to the banquet hall.
The press conference had already begun. Xu Lin Yun had changed into a backup gown. Although not as expensive as the previous one, it was still a show-stopping long dress.
Su Qi had finished treating Gu Tang Xue's injuries and came out from the backstage. She was still working, managing the scene, standing by the stage.
She was not far from Xu Lin Yun.
A glance across the distance could take in both Su Qi and Xu Lin Yun.
Song He Qing raised his phone and aimed it in that direction, taking a photo.
From a distance, it was slightly blurry, but Su Qi seemed to have a clarity and beauty filter applied.
Even though she wasn't in the center of the photo, she was a natural protagonist.
At a glance, it seemed only Su Qi could be seen.
Song He Qing put away his phone and stared for a full ten minutes, only looking away when the press conference began.
The press conference proceeded smoothly. Xu Lin Yun was a bit distracted, but Song Yi Ming was in great form, guiding Xu Lin Yun throughout, cooperating with the reporters, and concluding the conference perfectly.
After the final group photo, the press conference came to a successful conclusion.
It was almost midnight when it ended, and the guests gradually dispersed around one in the morning.
Su Qi still had to clean up the press conference venue with Yang Tian Hao.
Yang Tian Hao, tired from a day of work and constant anxiety, was yawning uncontrollably. He even fell asleep while waiting for the staff to clear the venue.
Su Qi woke him up after they finished cleaning.
When Yang Tian Hao opened his eyes and saw that everything was cleared, he felt a bit embarrassed, scratching his head. "As a grown man, I actually fell asleep. Little Su, I'll drive you home."
"No need. By the way, I'll explain today's events to Sister Huang Ying. You don't need to worry."
Yang Tian Hao nodded and took a taxi home.
Gu Tang Xue had left earlier due to her injury. When Su Qi returned home, Gu Tang Xue was still waiting in the living room. Seeing Su Qi return, she immediately stood up.
"Little Su, are you alright?" She came over to check if Su Qi was injured.
"What do we do? You've offended Xu Lin Yun, what will you do from now on?"
Su Qi smiled faintly. "I'll deal with whatever comes my way."
She had nothing left to lose.
Even losing her job wouldn't mean much to her.
At most, she would find a stable job serving tables at a restaurant.
She doubted she would even keep her job; she might be deliberately targeted.
However, since she had done it, she had already thought about the consequences.
"Get some rest early."
"Su Qi..."
Gu Tang Xue threw herself into Su Qi's arms, her body trembling violently, breathing in large gasps.
"Do you know, I'm so unwilling, so unwilling. I'm unwilling that Xu Lin Yun, such a pretty face, can stand at a high place just because someone supports her. I'm unwilling that after years of being an extra, I can only play roles with no presence."
"Why have I worked so hard for so many years, only to be an unknown nobody because I don't have Xu Lin Yun's background and family connections?"
"I'm truly unwilling, so unwilling. Why is fate so unfair?"
"I swear, one day I will definitely trample Xu Lin Yun under my feet."
"I will definitely make those who look down on us have to look up at us, and crawl at our feet."