Chapter 50
At the anniversary celebration, the lights shone brightly, and a grand gala was in full swing inside a magnificent, golden circular hall. Countless ladies and gentlemen dressed in various luxurious gowns and dresses lingered among them, scrutinizing everyone around them like predators hunting their prey.
Lin Ting, on the other hand, sat in a secluded corner, more like a spectator watching a play, eating the food on her plate and observing the various attempts at flirting, flattery, and insincerity made by the people in the center of the hall.
She was wearing that same black dress that she never wore before. It was the first time she attended an annual party, and she had spent a lot of money to find it at the mall. It was all black lace with a fishtail hem and an off-the-shoulder neckline. There were no other decorations, but the dress was flattering and suited Lin Ting's shapely figure. Moreover, black is a classic color that doesn't go out of style and has stood the test of time at one annual party after another.
Song Xiaolei walked up to her and said, "Tsk tsk, from the back, all in black, you'd look like you're attending a funeral, but from the front, you're definitely a Hong Kong style beauty."
Indeed, her retro wavy hair gently cascaded over her shoulders, complemented by exquisite eye makeup and fiery red lips, exuding a captivating femininity. Today, Lin Ting looked elegant and charming, quite different from her usual understated style.
Even if she hides in a corner, someone will still notice her.
"It's because of your good cooking skills."
Indeed, under Song Xiaolei's severe coercion, it took an hour to dress her up properly.
In the past, Lin Ting would have attended the annual meeting without makeup.
What a waste of her face.
Song Xiaolei nudged Lin Ting with her elbow, gesturing for her to look ahead, "Look, Youyou from the sales department is practically glued to General Manager Li of Mingda."
"Doesn't Mr. Li have a wife and children?"
Song Xiaolei said in a very low voice, "They're divorced, that's why Youyou is so blatant. But President Li's divorce must be related to her. I heard from other people in the sales department that the two of them have been hooking up for a long time."
"Oh, the company has clear rules against close contact with suppliers, as it violates the integrity policy. Isn't she afraid of being fired?"
"Their ultimate goal is the wife of the business owner, so they don't care about a small salesperson position. The reason they dare to be so unscrupulous today is probably to assert their dominance."
Lin Ting took a sip of her drink and looked at the two people in front of her. They were so lovey-dovey that she could tell they were having an affair. It was a pity for his original wife. This reminded her of Lin Qin and her unbearable past. Suddenly, the sweet drink tasted sour.
"And look at Wang Ting from the Infrastructure Department, her eyes haven't left Yang Ming, the head of the Infrastructure Department, all night long, but her gaze is a mixture of love and hate."
The phrase "love and hate" is well-chosen; it immediately suggests a story to tell.
"What happened to them?"
Song Xiaolei mouthed the words, "One-night stand, pregnancy, abortion."
Each piece of material was more outrageous than the last; the luxurious and bright lights made people look glamorous, but also made their desires and sins crystal clear.
The Infrastructure Department is responsible for the interior design of each new store. Lin Ting had met Yang Ming a few times, but he remembered him as a polite and refined gentleman. He was a graduate of a prestigious university and had a deep relationship with his fiancée, who had been a couple since their college days. How could he do something so foolish?
"I overheard my colleagues talking about it privately. It happened during a team-building event in their department after they got drunk. They said it was a case of drunken misconduct. It just so happens that it happened to be these two people. It seems like it was premeditated. I don't know who made the first move. The key thing is that the man is denying it and doesn't want to take responsibility. He's still hiding it from his fiancée, who is keeping a close eye on him. I guess this can't be kept a secret for much longer."
“Those of us in design and fashion may seem respectable to outsiders, but what we do in private is truly inhuman. We're just men and women, and in this age where love is like fast food, love and lust can be separated, and lust comes before love. So finding genuine love is like finding a needle in a haystack,” Song Xiaolei said, shaking her head and sighing.
Lin Ting didn't have much of a feeling about it. She had personally experienced this kind of painful realization when she was a child, and she wasn't numb to it. She still felt a little regretful.
Humans are able to dominate the earth and become advanced animals. The greatest characteristic of humans is that they are conscious and can make decisions by thinking and weighing the pros and cons. However, more and more people act impulsively and only realize their mistake when they regret it. They remember that they have a brain and can make choices, but what's the use? The damage caused is irreparable.
And the love they longed for was ruined into nothingness through repeated impulsiveness and regret.
"Looking at it this way, we're really a perfect match. One of us is dedicated to working hard and making money, while the other is into eating, drinking, having fun, and making ourselves happy."
Lin Ting smiled and said, "When love becomes a pile of shit, only flies will swarm around it. We're not flies."
Suddenly, the bright lights went out and were replaced by bright white light, and a beam of strong light shone on the podium at the front of the hall.
It was seven o'clock, and the party officially began. Mr. Xing, the president of M Group, walked onto the stage amidst everyone's gaze.
"Distinguished guests, it is an honor to invite you all to participate in the 10th anniversary celebration of M Group. Over the past 10 years, M Group has experienced both successes and failures, but fortunately, M Group has continued to grow and has now become one of the leading menswear brands in China. This achievement is all thanks to your hard work and support. Therefore, we sincerely invite you all to join us in this grand celebration."
After he finished speaking, everyone applauded in celebration, and the applause lasted for a long time.
As the applause gradually subsided, General Manager Xing continued into the microphone, "Of course, at this special moment, I want to give everyone a surprise by inviting a special guest, Mr. Chen Zhiyi, the newly appointed spokesperson for our M brand. Please welcome him with applause."
Instantly, the applause that had just subsided swept through the space again like a summer storm.
Lin Ting was so shocked by the sudden news that he was in a state of semi-consciousness, as if he had been electrocuted.
Song Xiaolei, standing to the side, craned her neck to look ahead, muttering, "So it's true! There were rumors circulating before that a mystery guest would appear at the event, and everyone was guessing if it was Chen Zhiyi, but we never got any confirmation. It's strange, really; he almost never participates in these kinds of commercial activities, even as our brand ambassador, he could have declined. But he still came. I didn't expect our company to be so popular." Turning her head, she grabbed Lin Ting's arm, "Come on, let's go over there."
Lin Ting remained seated, and Song Xiaolei noticed her unusual expression. "What's wrong with you? Are you possessed?"
She still didn't react, her gaze vacant and unfocused, lost in her own thoughts. Adhering to the principle of prioritizing handsome men, Song Xiaolei ignored Lin Ting and moved closer herself. Anyway, it wasn't the first time she'd suddenly become absorbed in her own world; everyone has their little quirks.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Chen Zhiyi walked straight and calmly through the door in a black suit. His tall and imposing figure of 188 cm and the well-tailored suit complemented each other perfectly. His three-dimensional features were as handsome as if they had been carved by a knife, and he exuded a noble and aloof kingly aura.
After shaking hands with President Xing on the stage, he turned to the microphone and said, "Hello everyone, I am Chen Ziyu. It is an honor to be invited to participate in the 10th anniversary celebration of M Group. Here, I sincerely wish M Group a happy 10th birthday and a prosperous future. I also wish for a perfect cooperation between me and your company. Thank you!"
His expression was so composed and his words so proper. It seems that his years of experience in the entertainment industry have made him quite familiar with this kind of dazzling and glamorous occasion.
Mr. Xing took the microphone and continued, "Now that our mystery guest has arrived, let's begin our dance party. We have company executives, ordinary employees, and our long-term suppliers here. To ensure everyone can have fun and socialize without any sense of hierarchy, and also to increase the mystery and excitement of this dance party, your dance partners will be decided by drawing lots. We have prepared a lottery box for you to collect in a moment."
Upon hearing this news, everyone's emotions surged, and they all wanted to rush forward to draw lots. Some vain girls even rushed onto the stage, wishing they could take the lottery box with them, since this was a golden opportunity to make friends with celebrities and dignitaries.
In fact, given Mr. Xing's steady and conservative personality, he would not organize this type of dance party. Let's rewind to two days ago.
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