At 11:00 a.m. sharp, the melodious music gradually faded away.

A female host with exquisite makeup and eloquent speech gracefully walked onto the small stage in the center of the banquet hall.

"Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good morning! Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend the annual charity banquet hosted by the Starlight Charity Foundation..."

After a warm and enthusiastic opening, the female host raised her voice and announced, "Before the exciting charity auction begins, we have prepared a sumptuous buffet lunch for everyone. Please enjoy!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the curtain of the banquet table on one side of the banquet hall was slowly pulled open, revealing a dazzling array of delicacies to everyone.

Australian lobsters were piled up like small mountains, Kobe A5 grade Wagyu beef sizzled as it was grilled on the spot, deep-sea caviar was served with delicate cookies, and there were all sorts of top-quality ingredients whose names I didn't know, all emitting an enticing aroma.

Wow, so much delicious food!

Xu Yao was still a young girl at heart, and her eyes lit up when she saw such a luxurious buffet.

Zhou Yang smiled, took her hand, and said with a smile, "Come on, let's see what you like to eat."

The two strolled around the buffet counter, selecting their favorite foods.

Just as Zhou Yang picked up a piece of grilled cod that was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, preparing to place it on Xu Yao's plate, a slightly familiar yet deliberately lowered voice sounded from behind him.

"Zhou Yang, what a coincidence, you're here for the banquet too."

Zhou Yang turned around and saw Deng Yingying wearing a dark green strapless dress that accentuated her curvaceous figure, with a perfectly timed smile on her face, standing prettily behind him.

"Miss Deng."

Zhou Yang nodded calmly.

He no longer had any good feelings towards this woman.

Deng Yingying seemed oblivious to Zhou Yang's coldness; her eyes sparkled with a hint of pitifulness.

“Mr. Zhou, I…I have something I’d like to discuss with you privately, is that alright? It’s over there, very close.”

She pointed to a safety exit leading to the stairwell not far away.

Zhou Yang frowned almost imperceptibly, already understanding the situation, but he remained calm and a playful smile appeared on his lips.

He wanted to see what this woman was really up to.

"OK."

Xu Yao looked at Zhou Yang with some confusion, then at Deng Yingying, but she was sensible and didn't ask any further questions.

Zhou Yang patted her hand reassuringly: "You eat first, I'll be right back."

Following Deng Yingying, we arrived at a secluded corner of the stairs. The lighting was dim, and hardly anyone passed by.

Deng Yingying, abandoning her earlier composure in the banquet hall, suddenly turned around, her eyes flashing with a burning light, and her tone urgent.

“Mr. Zhou, I know you are no ordinary person! I…”

Before she could finish speaking, Zhou Yang interrupted her, his tone slightly mocking: "Miss Deng, you might as well speak your mind directly, there's no need to beat around the bush."

Deng Yingying bit her lower lip lightly, as if she had made up her mind. The next second, she made a move that surprised Zhou Yang slightly!

Suddenly, she reached out and pulled down the shoulder strap of her strapless dress!

"Sizzle—"

With a soft sound, the already precarious dress slipped down halfway, exposing a large expanse of her snowy bosom to the air without any concealment!

Those breathtakingly full curves are enough to make any man's blood boil!

"Zhou Yang, marry me, I'm willing to do anything for you!"

Deng Yingying's eyes were glazed over, her breath sweet as orchids, and she threw herself into Zhou Yang's arms without a second thought!

Zhou Yang's eyes turned cold, and his initial interest in watching the show vanished instantly, replaced by deep disappointment and disgust.

He had expected this woman to use some tricks, but he didn't expect her to be so direct and despicable!

"snort!"

With a cold snort, Zhou Yang's figure flashed to the side like a ghost, easily avoiding Deng Yingying's advances.

Deng Yingying missed her target and nearly fell over. She scrambled to her feet, her face filled with astonishment and disbelief.

"Miss Deng, please have some self-respect."

Zhou Yang's voice was as cold as ice, "I have no interest in someone like you who offers yourself up to me."

After saying that, he didn't look at Deng Yingying again, opened the fire door of the stairwell, and walked out without looking back.

He slammed the door shut with a loud bang, as if shutting out all of Deng Yingying's fantasies and unbearable pain.

Zhou Yang straightened his slightly wrinkled suit and sighed inwardly. These women would do anything to curry favor with the powerful and wealthy.

Just as he was about to return to Xu Yao's side, another figure suddenly appeared from the side.

"Hello Mr. Zhou, I'm Xiao Ke, a jewelry designer. May I introduce myself?"

A young woman, dressed in a pink fishtail gown, with a voluptuous and alluring figure, exquisite makeup, and a deliberately seductive smile, swayed her hips and blocked his path.

Her gaze was bold and direct, making no attempt to conceal her interest in Zhou Yang and... ambition.

Zhou Yang's patience was almost exhausted. He glanced at Xiao Ke and said indifferently, "No need."

He saw right through her; this woman named Xiao Ke was no different from Deng Yingying from before.

They were all gold diggers who desperately wanted to get close to him after seeing his "strength" and "background".

That eagerness for quick success was practically written all over his face.

Xiao Ke seemed surprised that Zhou Yang would refuse so decisively, and the smile on her face froze for a moment.

But she quickly recovered and, unwilling to give up, moved a little closer, saying in a coquettish voice, "Mr. Zhou, why are you so aloof? Having more friends means having more options."

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!