"What else could it be? Trying to climb the social ladder." Lu Feifei scoffed dismissively.
"Her? You think Master Xiao would even look at her? Tch—" Li Man said with some disdain.
She's poorly dressed, doesn't know how to dress, and is mute. Even if she were an absolute beauty, the boss probably wouldn't give her a second glance.
"But she's so confident. She comes once, she comes twice, and every time she comes to give money. Does President Xiao need her money? She just wants to make herself seem special, unmoved by money, thinking that President Xiao will look up to her." Lu Feifei said.
"Then why did you have Xiao Zhuo take her to the hotel and give her a chance to meet?" Li Man asked, somewhat puzzled.
Lu Feifei smiled.
"Some people won't know to turn back until they hit a wall. How will they know they're a frog in a stinking ditch if they don't try?"
Tonight, Fengrong CEO Murong Xiao is hosting foreign dignitaries at the Hansheng Hotel. Those attending this banquet are all top international celebrities. Amidst the dazzling lights, how could anyone possibly spot an inconspicuous frog?
She just wanted her to see herself clearly, to understand what is cloud and what is mud, so that she wouldn't have unrealistic dreams.
……………………
The hotel is easy to find.
Xiao Zhu led her around a road, then across a lake. The white building in the center of the lake was where they were going—the Hansheng Hotel.
The decor here is very elegant, without any of the flashy and exaggerated decorations, unlike any high-end clubs Xiang Jin has ever seen before.
Every part here is cleverly designed, with a beautiful view at every turn, and everything is perfect. It is clearly a masterpiece by a master.
As Xiang Jin admired the view, she walked inside and soon arrived at the entrance of the banquet hall.
Six waiters stood at the door. Xiao Zhu led her to the head waiter, exchanged a few words with him, and then pointed to Xiang Jin behind her.
"You want to see Master Xiao?"
The foreman looked Xiang Jin up and down.
This... he's dressed so casually! Just like an ordinary person on the street, even carrying a bag that only migrant workers would use... Is this really someone who came to see Boss Xiao?
The foreman immediately looked down on him.
"Just wait, Master Xiao is busy and doesn't have time to see these scoundrels." He glanced at Xiang Jin with disdain, then turned and left.
Xiao Zhu was a little embarrassed and didn't know what to say for a moment.
"Sorry, Mr. Xiao is busy. Would you like to wait over there?" Xiao Zhu pointed to the corner of the wall not far away, where she could find a space that wouldn't be in the way.
Xiang Jin nodded, picked up the bag, walked to the corner, and squatted down against the wall.
She's here to return the money; once Murong Xiao comes out and returns it, her mission will be complete.
As for those disdainful and contemptuous looks, she tried her best not to care.
after all--
She was never a part of this world.
Xiang Jin, who was squatting in the corner, was thin and small, and looked out of place in the environment. Xiao Zhuo felt sorry for her, so he handed her a bottle of mineral water and stood next to her: "You, you didn't come here to collect a debt from Master Xiao, did you?"
She looked exactly like a migrant worker trying to collect a debt.
Xiang Jin chuckled and gestured in sign language: "I'm here to pay off a debt."
All of Fengrong's employees have received formal and systematic training, so Xiao Zhuo understood the sign language and nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
After waiting a while longer, but still not seeing Murong Xiao come out, Xiang Jin got a little tired of squatting, so she simply used the bag as a cushion and sat down in the corner.
She gazed at the entrance to the banquet hall; though she couldn't see anything, she could almost imagine the magnificent scene inside.
Those celebrities and people of noble birth drank wine worth hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars, discussed projects worth hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars, their lights gleaming, a scene of prosperity and splendor that was breathtaking.
Murong Xiao belongs to this kind of world.
But she wasn't.
She was an abandoned child from the slums, a silt in a stinking ditch, and she and he were separated by an insurmountable distance, as if by fate.
This distance is one that she can never shorten in this life, the next life, or the life after that.
So wake up soon, Xiang Jin. He is both your beautiful dream and your nightmare.
As she pondered this, Xiang Jin leaned against the wall and fell into a deep sleep.
……………………
Xiang Jin was suddenly woken up by Xiao Zhuo after sleeping for an unknown amount of time.
"Miss Fang, is Mr. Xiao free? This Miss Xiang has something to discuss with Mr. Xiao." Xiao Zhuo led Xiang Jin to a woman. The woman was wearing a red dress that accentuated her graceful figure, and her long, wavy brown hair was beautiful and stylish, making her appear even more noble.
Her name is Fang Xinman, and she is one of Murong Xiao's female companions. Xiang Jin had seen her on television before. At the time, she didn't think she was very pretty, but after seeing her in person, she realized how shallow her judgment had been.
She was like a noble white swan, radiant and dazzling, while I was like an ugly duckling that couldn't see the light of day.
Xiang Jin looked away, feeling somewhat inferior.
Fang Xinman looked at Xiang Jin.
She smiled faintly, her thin lips curving into a smile. "Looking for Master Xiao? What's the matter?"
Xiang Jin gripped the bag in her hand tightly and answered her question using sign language: "Give me back the money."
Fang Xinman didn't understand, so she looked at Xiao Zhuo again.
Xiao Zhu translates: "Miss Xiang is here to repay a debt."
Fang Xinman scoffed lightly.
Pay me back? How much? A few tens of yuan, or a few hundred yuan?
Relying on her good looks, she racked her brains to get close to Master Xiao and seize the opportunity to rise in rank? She'd seen plenty of women like that!
As long as Fang Xinman is around, don't even think about having this chance!
Fang Xinman smiled, with her innate arrogance: "Xiao Zhuo, you're really bold. You dare to bring someone like this to Master Xiao's front. Do you know how important tonight's banquet is? If it gets messed up, can you take the blame?"
Xiao Zhu lowered her head: "I'm sorry, Miss Fang, Fei Fei asked me to bring her here, she—"
"Does Master Xiao think he can meet just anyone? I think she should find a corner to squat in and not get in everyone's way." Before Xiao Zhu could finish speaking, Fang Xinman said this and turned to leave.
"Oh? She's in your eyes?"
Turning around, I saw Murong Xiao coming out of the banquet hall entrance.
Fang Xinman was stunned for a moment, then giggled and threw herself into his arms: "Darling, why did you come out?"
Murong Xiao looked at her coldly: "Tell me, how is she an eyesore to you?"
"Actually...nothing much, it's just that she was dressed a bit...and she kept saying she wanted to see you. Does someone like that even deserve to see you?" Fang Xinman smiled gently and charmingly.
"Oh? She's not worthy to see me, then you are?" His sharp eyes narrowed.
The atmosphere around them suddenly became subtle.
Fang Xinman was also stunned. Was Master Xiao angry? But why? She hadn't said anything wrong; she had only told the truth.
She realized she must be overthinking things, and prepared to press herself closer, but the man coldly gave her orders.
"Slap him in the face."
"Huh? What?"
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