Chapter 184

Ling Wu raised her wine glass towards He Cheng, ignoring their attempts to stop her.

She downed half a glass of red wine in one gulp, her red lips moist and vibrant, adding a touch of alluring charm that drew attention.

Seeing this, He Cheng's gaze darkened. He lowered his eyes to hide the expression in them, then took out a handkerchief and handed it to her.

Ling Wu coldly refused, "I am not worthy of President He's concern."

He Cheng didn't mind, he just chuckled and withdrew his composure.

One day, Ling Wu will love him as she used to, and he doesn't mind letting time prove his sincerity.

As for Jiang Zhi...

If he were to become a mistress and have his leg broken by Jiang's father, then he would be even less of a threat.

Jiang Zhi also clearly noticed the awkwardness between He Cheng and Ling Wu, and the smile on his lips faded slightly.

But he didn't forget that when Ling Wu raised her glass, he also raised his glass along with Chao Hecheng.

It was as if a newlywed couple were toasting the guests.

No matter how much He Cheng regarded her as a mistress or how much he despised her, he was still very frustrated because Ling Wu did not acknowledge his own identity!

Even if the law recognizes his legal status with Ling Wu, Ling Wu publicly distances herself from him, and no one else knows the truth!

He Cheng put down his empty wine glass, his previously warm expression turning cold as he met Jiang Zhi's gaze.

Jiang Zhi returned the gaze with her usual languid smile.

But there was a subtle spark between them when their eyes met.

Ling Wu's heels weren't low today, and her calves were a little sore after standing for a long time.

She simply sat down, ignoring the childish behavior between the two men.

However, Jiang Zhi and He Cheng tacitly agreed that Ling Wu had left the battlefield to the two of them.

Jiang Zhi thoughtfully took off his suit jacket and handed it to Ling Wu with a slightly awkward expression. "The banquet is coming to an end, and the blankets are almost all gone. I've only worn this suit once, and it's been less than three hours. I hope... I hope Miss Duan won't mind."

A blush returned to his face, and his gaze lingered on Ling Wu's legs for only a moment before quickly looking away!

Lingwu did not refuse his kindness. She took the suit from his hand and covered her legs with it.

It is indeed inconvenient on one hand.

On the other hand, it is indeed necessary to declare to He Cheng that Duan Lingwu, now separated from him, is still Duan Lingwu, not the Madam He who waited bitterly in the dead of night and was abandoned by everyone.

He Cheng stared intently at the suit jacket on Ling Wu's legs.

At this moment, he didn't care about everyone's gaze; his mind was filled with thoughts of his wife. The thing covering his legs was another man's suit!

It was just taken off! The suit still smelled of a wild man!

His eyes darkened, and he lost his usual calm and composure.

He took off his suit jacket, bent down and took the suit jacket belonging to Jiang Zhi from Ling Wu's lap, and threw it next to the seat!

He Cheng knelt on one knee, lowered his eyes, and carefully draped his suit jacket over Ling Wu's legs.

The man's originally abstinent woody scent, combined with his current movements and the darkness in his eyes, created an inexplicable ambiguous atmosphere.

He lowered his head, his gaze falling on the snow-white skin of Lingwu's ankles, his voice hoarse and deep, filled with a profound longing:

"I can do as you wish and not link you and me together in public, but could you...?"

He paused slightly, as if worried that Ling Wu couldn't hear him, so he looked up at Ling Wu, his voice pleading, "But could you... not get so close to other men?"

Ling Wu frowned slightly as she looked up and met He Cheng's eyes.

The man's eyes were dark and deep, and the suppressed emotions within them gradually dissipated as she looked back.

“Mr. He has had countless female companions over the years, and I have never crossed the line to interfere in your life.”

"Therefore, I hope Mr. He will watch his words and reflect on everything he has done before... asking me for favors." Ling Wu smiled faintly, her eyes sparkling, her beauty beyond compare.

She took He Cheng's suit jacket off her lap, stood up, and slowly returned it to him before glancing at Jiang Zhi.

Jiang Zhi waited so long without picking up his suit jacket, all for this moment!

He picked up his discarded suit and looked back at Ling Wu, his phoenix eyes filled with disappointment.

"Miss Duan, I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me. I'll go ask if there are any more blankets. Wait for me a moment." He smiled shyly, which not only prevented the atmosphere from becoming awkward but also inexplicably made people feel good about him.

He simply picked up the suit but didn't wear it; he just held it in his hand, looking quite pitiful.

After Ling Wu shook her head and refused to say goodbye, he smiled shyly and waved to her.

Goodbye, Miss Duan.

Watching Ling Wu leave, Jiang Zhicai asked He Cheng, puzzled, "Why did you throw my suit at me? And what were you saying to Miss Duan just now? You were speaking so softly, I couldn't hear you."

He Cheng thought about Ling Wu's indifference towards him and her polite waving goodbye to Jiang Zhi. His hand holding the suit was clenched, and his back teeth were grinding together.

"If they can't hear, fine, but you can't hear either. Are you deaf?" He Cheng retorted sarcastically, losing his composure.

Jiang Zhi remained as lazy as ever. He shrugged and said, "Since you don't appreciate my kindness, I won't give you any more face in the future."

He seemed to be just saying it casually, without any deeper meaning.

But both he and He Cheng knew perfectly well that every time he said something that sounded like a joke, he would actually do it.

"You want to be a mistress?" He Cheng looked up at him.

"What mistress nonsense? Wasn't Miss Duan introduced to me by you? Besides, you told me yourself before that you only had eyes for that Bei guy."

After Jiang Zhi finished speaking, his eyes were sincere, as if he was completely unaware of the relationship between Ling Wu and He Cheng.

“Then Uncle Jiang also has the right to know all this.” He Cheng regained his composure, his face dignified.

After saying that, He Cheng put his suit back on, straightened his collar and sleeves, and followed Ling Wu away without even glancing at Jiang Zhi.

Jiang Zhi chuckled dismissively, then slung his suit jacket over his shoulder and nodded to the group of people.

Then he left as well.

It wasn't until long after the three left that the silent crowd at the banquet seemed to suddenly come alive.

"What, what's going on?"

"What is the relationship between President Duan, President He, and Young Master Jiang?"

"I don't know, but we definitely can't afford to offend them. From now on, we can't underestimate the Duan family like we used to. Otherwise, they might just cause a major upheaval..."

"What do you mean by 'the weather is getting cold and the king is breaking up'? But if they really cut off ties with the He and Jiang families, they're probably not far from being finished."

"Judging from this, neither of the two young masters has won the heart of a beauty yet."

"This is even more outrageous than when President He was still a young master pursuing that pregnant woman. He knelt down in public and even got into an argument with Young Master Jiang. I remember that back then, he only made a high-profile announcement about that woman, but he didn't really do anything like that. It was just flowers, luxury cars, and gifts—the normal methods of pursuing someone..."

"President Duan is really impressive. He's been very efficient since taking over the company. He had a pleasant conversation with Ms. Zhang on our first meeting, and he held his own against President He and Young Master Jiang, who weren't even that enthusiastic. I'll have to consider cooperating with the Duan family when I get back today."

This statement reveals the thoughts of most people, but since they don't want too many people to know, they all tacitly refrain from mentioning it.

After all, this would increase the chances of cooperating with the Duan family.

But now it's been made public...