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Inside a magnificent, opulent circular hall, the 20th anniversary celebration of the M Group, the leading menswear brand in China, was in full swing. Countless ladies and gentlemen dressed in various luxurious gowns and robes lingered among them, scrutinizing everyone around them like predators hunting their prey.
Lin Ting 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.
Lin Ting always prefers to stay out of the way in these kinds of situations. She can't bring herself to put her arm around someone's shoulder or fawn over them. She'd rather just sit on the side eating and drinking. But even when she's huddled in a corner, people still notice her. Several men walk up to her and try to talk to her, but she politely brushes them off with a few words.
And there came another unfamiliar, sophisticated man, holding two glasses of red wine. He handed one of the glasses to Lin Ting, speaking with gentlemanly grace, "Would you do me the honor of inviting this beautiful lady for a drink?"
Lin Ting shook her head, being direct and clear, "Sorry, I don't drink alcohol." She raised the juice glass in her hand, "I'll just have juice. I'm just here to take a look, and I have other things to do, so I'll leave soon."
The rejection was quite obvious, and the elite man, not being stupid, gracefully backed down, saying, "Then I'll leave you alone," and turned to leave.
Song Xiaolei exclaimed in surprise: "This is the heir of Tengfei Group, the young boss of our company's largest fabric supplier. Why not take advantage of such a good opportunity?"
Lin Ting replied frankly, "I'm not interested."
Song Xiaolei gave a thumbs up, "As expected of our M Group's famous ice queen, she can walk among a sea of flowers without a single petal clinging to her." Then she leaned close to Lin Ting's ear and whispered teasingly, "We're both almost thirty, don't you have any needs in that area? Want me to introduce you to a few younger guys for you to experience?"
Song Xiaolei has always been like this, speaking without restraint. Standing next to Lin Ting, one is as lively as if the whole world is her best friend, while the other is as indifferent as if she could live perfectly well even if she were the only one left in the world. It's quite amazing that these two people with completely different personalities are together.
Lin Tingteng blushed. "What nonsense are you talking about?" Although he often heard her say such nonsensical things, he was still not used to it, especially in such a public setting.
Song Xiaolei didn't take it to heart. "Why are you blushing? It's only natural to talk about sex. If you're always so abstinent, I'm starting to doubt your sexual orientation."
Lin Ting rolled her eyes at her.
Song Xiaolei leaned closer to her, squinted, and looked like she wanted to see through her thoughts. "Or is it that you have an irreplaceable white moonlight in your heart, and you remain chaste for him?"
White Moonlight? A familiar and clear face appeared in Lin Ting's mind. She didn't know if it was because she had never forgotten him in the past five years, or because of the unexpected encounter a week ago.
Fate really loves to play tricks on people. If two people are destined to be incompatible, why did they meet in the first place? And why arrange for them to reunite after they have both moved on?
Do you really enjoy seeing people struggle to get what they want and get entangled in endless conflicts?
Lin Ting found it both laughable and helpless.
Song Xiaolei looked at Lin Ting as if she were deep in thought, somewhat surprised, "Did I guess I was right? You really have a white moonlight that you can't forget?"
Lin Ting's thoughts were pulled back, and she said decisively, "No."
Song Xiaolei didn't believe it. Lin Ting was a thoughtful person, but it was also easy for her to show on her face. "Ever since you came back from following the spokesperson to film the movie, you've been easily distracted. And the way you looked when you went back to the hotel that night was also strange. Tell me what's going on?"
"It's really nothing, I'm just too tired from work," Lin Ting casually made up an excuse.
"Okay." Song Xiaolei didn't ask any further questions. "By the way, they said there's a mystery guest coming tonight."
"Who?" Lin Ting had a bad feeling.
Suddenly, the bright lights in the hall went out and were replaced with bright white light, and a spotlight 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 20th anniversary celebration of M Group. Over the past 20 years, M Group has experienced both successes and failures, but fortunately, the company 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, we have a surprise for everyone. We have invited 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.
"I knew this mystery guest would be Chen Zhiyi. Knowing how stingy our CEO Xing is, once someone becomes our spokesperson, he'll definitely try to squeeze every last penny out of them during the contract period. But it's strange, everyone says Chen Zhiyi rarely participates in these kinds of commercial activities. What methods did our CEO Xing use to invite him?" After saying that, Song Xiaolei grabbed Lin Ting's arm, looking excited. "Come on, let's go to the front. It's a bonus to see such a top-tier handsome guy even once."
Ke Lin seemed frozen in place, unable to be pulled away.
Song Xiaolei stopped paying attention to her and got used to her behavior. In Lin Ting's eyes, handsome or ugly, they were all the same, they were all men.
So, she lifted her skirt and rushed to the podium, not wanting to miss a single second of the exciting moment.
Lin Ting was so shocked by the sudden news that he was in a semi-conscious state, as if he had been electrocuted.
The ominous premonition she had just felt was accurate; she could sense that Chen Zhiyi had come for her this time. The voice of his doubt, confusion, and anger from their unexpected reunion seven days ago echoed in her ears.
Five years have passed, and the past has long since faded away. It shouldn't be stirred up again by these accidental reunions. Lin Ting put down her wine glass and tried to leave, but she couldn't move an inch.
How about I take another look from afar, just one look, that one big boy who's the only one who makes my heart flutter?
The golden door opened, and Chen Zhiyi walked in straight and calmly, dressed in a black suit. His tall and imposing figure complemented the well-tailored suit perfectly, and his sculpted features were handsome as if carved by a knife. He exuded a noble and aloof kingly aura.
He is one of the most sought-after male actors in the entertainment industry, with numerous awards and the reputation of being a "young film emperor" in the industry. His acting career has been smooth sailing all the way.
After shaking hands with President Xing on the stage, Chen Zhiyi turned to the microphone and said, "Hello everyone, I am Chen Zhiyi. I am honored to be invited to participate in the 20th anniversary celebration of M Group. Here, I sincerely wish M Group a happy 20th birthday and a prosperous future. I also wish for a perfect cooperation between me and your company. Thank you!"
His expression was composed and his words were appropriate. It seems that his years of experience in the entertainment industry have made him quite familiar with this kind of dazzling and glamorous occasion.
Lin Ting thought that the little brat who used to love to act spoiled and argue with her had grown up and become the person she had expected him to be.
Noble, handsome, and unapproachable.
Looking back, I think my decision to leave was the right one. If you can't reach someone, you can't reach them. It has nothing to do with the length of time. Some things are just destined.
Just as mountains and rivers never meet, and birds and fish do not travel the same path, they may briefly intersect, but will eventually return to their own paths.
It was just that I betrayed the boy's sincere and earnest heart, the heart that had been completely devoted to me.
Lin Ting let go of that heart, and from then on, she was never moved by it again.
Mr. Xing took the microphone: "Now that our mystery guest has arrived, let's begin our dance party. We have company executives, ordinary employees, and our long-term supplier friends in the audience. To allow everyone to let go of their identities and have a good time, and to increase the mystery and excitement of this party, your dance partners will be decided by drawing lots. We have prepared a lottery box for everyone to pick up in a moment."
"First, let's ask Mr. Chen Zhiyi to draw a name slip to select a dance partner to perform the opening dance for us."
"good!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere exploded. The girls crowded around the podium, hoping that this luck would fall on their heads.
Being able to dance with a top celebrity is an experience you can brag about for a lifetime. Some people with wild imaginations can even conjure up a whole drama called "The Top Celebrity Falls in Love with Me".
The hostess walked over to Chen Zhiyi with a lottery box, and he reached into the box to draw a name slip.
Now comes the moment to witness a miracle.
The ladies held their breath and waved their hands vigorously at Chen Zhiyi, hoping to be hit by this lucky charm. Some of the younger girls were so nervous that their faces turned red, as if they would faint from lack of oxygen at any moment.
Amidst the hustle and bustle, the loneliness of the black figure in the corner was all the more apparent. What others flocked to was something Lin Ting avoided like the plague.
That was enough for her, so she got up and left the venue.
She had only taken a few steps when the voice coming from the microphone stunned her.
"Congratulations to Ms. Lin Ting from the Design Department for being chosen by Mr. Chen Zhiyi to perform the opening dance. Now, please come up to the stage, Ms. Lin Ting."
At that moment, it was as if she had been struck by lightning; her mind went blank, and she could only stand there, frozen in place, like a petrified sculpture.
Turning her head, she saw Chen Zhiyi walking towards her with a name tag in his hand. The spotlight behind him was like a time machine, allowing him to pass through the ruthlessness of time and the vastness of the universe, and reappear in front of her.
She knew she couldn't escape it, just like five years ago.
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