Qiao Zhen disliked the feeling of having her fate controlled by others, and frowned, saying, "Thirty million isn't enough? President Lu's appetite is too big. Be careful not to overeat!"
Lu Zheng's fingertips glided across her shoulder, the delicate and smooth touch making her linger. "Give up, Qiao Zhen, no amount of money is enough."
If it weren't for the constant gazes directed at them, Qiao Zhen would have slapped Lu Zheng across the face.
She was so angry she couldn't speak.
The worst thing is encountering a rogue; their skin is as thick as iron, impervious to swords and spears, and no method can be effective against them.
Qiao Zhen wondered if she had committed some heinous crime in her past life, which was why she was being tormented by Lu Zheng in this life.
“Relax,” Lu Zheng felt the shoulders and back under his palm tighten even more. “The charity gala has just begun, and you must fulfill your job responsibilities.”
Qiao Zhen suddenly looked up and stared at Lu Zheng's face. "Have we known each other before?"
She had been puzzled by this question ever since she met Lu Zheng, but Lu Zheng never answered it.
Today, at the hotel entrance, facing reporters, Lu Zheng's words, "In front of so many cameras, you are the proud and flamboyant Qiao Zhen," further convinced her that Lu Zheng at least knew her before the Qiao family's decline.
Today in Jiangcheng, the once-famous Qiao family has vanished without a trace in the long river of time, and no one remembers them anymore.
Lu Zheng slowly revealed a mocking expression, and his unblinking eyes made Qiao Zhen inexplicably tremble with fear.
No, it's not like she's the one who wronged Lu Zheng.
Qiao Zhen was even more puzzled and almost impatiently pressed, "Just say what you have to say."
Unconsciously, her voice rose a little, and the noblewoman closest to them turned her head to look at her with slight displeasure.
Qiao Zhen quickly bowed and apologized. Just as the lady turned around, the idol group's performance ended, all the lights in the banquet hall came on, and the host began to explain the significance of the auction and the beneficiaries.
All eyes were on the stage, and the situation at table number one was immediately visible to everyone. Under such bright lights, even the slightest change in expression could not be hidden.
Lu Zheng had already lowered his hands, seemingly listening intently to the host's words.
Qiao Zhen could only barely calm herself down, and instead of looking at Lu Zheng, she turned her gaze elsewhere.
Song Ruyi's alluring face came into her view at that moment.
The lighting was too bad before, so I didn't notice her. Now I realize that Song Ruyi is sitting at table number three next to me, wearing a deep V-neck silver sequined dress. She has a hot and sexy figure, and the bald rich businessman opposite her is stealing glances at her huge breasts that are about to burst out.
The man next to Song Ruyi was a refined man in his thirties wearing gold-rimmed glasses. He stared at the auction catalog in his hand, pointing out one or two items to Song Ruyi, as if asking her if she liked them.
Song Ruyi dealt with the situation perfunctorily. She noticed the bald businessman spying on her but didn't care at all. She even deliberately puffed out her chest and kept staring at Lu Zheng. After making eye contact with Qiao Zhen, she rolled her eyes contemptuously, picked up her phone from the table, and waved it at her.
Qiao Zhen had an unread text message on her phone, which she hadn't noticed while talking to Lu Zheng.
She opened the message; it was from an unknown number.
"Let's talk in the dressing room in ten minutes."
She looked at Song Ruyi again, who was smiling smugly with what she thought was a beautiful and domineering smile, as if warning her that she had to go or else she would be in trouble.
Qiao Zhen was already in a bad mood, and running into Song Ruyi made her feel even more unlucky, so she decisively replied, "Who are you?"
As she expected, Song Ruyi's face contorted with anger.
Who doesn't know the daughter of the director of Fuzhou Hospital?
How could this rich young lady tolerate being looked down upon by a mere commoner like her?
But soon, Miss Song smiled again.
Qiao Zhen received another message, which was a picture.
It's highly likely that Miss Song provoked her by showing off her intimate photos with He Yang, which angered her, and the reporters behind her captured her ugly, jealous face.
Qiao Zhen just wouldn't order, driving Song Ruyi crazy.
Song Ruyi's alluring face gradually contorted as she impatiently pushed away the bespectacled man's question once more, her blood-red manicure nearly piercing the phone screen.
Qiao Zhen's phone was suddenly flooded with new text messages from the past few days, causing it to vibrate repeatedly, which caught Lu Zheng's attention.
His eyes darkened slightly. He glanced at his phone, then stared at Qiao Zhen's face for three seconds before casually picking up the auction catalog to look at it.
He covered his mouth slightly with the booklet and asked, "Who is it?"
With a deep, displeased tone, Qiao Zhen explained, "It's spam text messages."
"Let me see." Lu Zheng closed the booklet and handed it to Qiao Zhen, but actually wanted her phone.
Qiao Zhen disliked this kind of behavior that lacked boundaries. A phone is a personal item, and you can't just let him see it if you want to. Does he think he's some kind of Pacific police officer, meddling in other people's business?
"A pornographic ad, Mr. Lu, are you sure you want to see it?" She picked up her phone, opened the text message, and was about to block Song Ruyi's number when she inadvertently glanced at the abusive messages and saw the picture.
In the photo, in a dimly lit parking lot, she and Yan Simiao are standing next to a van, while a reporter from a gossip magazine is carrying a painting into the van.
The cover was partially lifted, and although it was blurry, it was still clear that it was the painting that Mr. Zhang had brought for auction.
"I know what you did."
"You bitch, if you keep playing dead, I'll expose the whole process of how you extorted money from Boss Zhang!"
"Don't think you'll have Lu Zheng backing you up. Once your shameful deeds are exposed, he'll be the first to kick you out like a dead dog!"
At that moment, another text message arrived, also containing a photo.
Mr. Zhang, furious, glared at the gossip reporter as he moved the painting away.
Qiao Zhen was shocked, and her face turned pale.
Long, slender fingers suddenly appeared in front of her, and just as Lu Zheng was about to snatch the phone away, Qiao Zhen quickly pressed the lock screen button.
Lu Zheng took the phone, and frowned slightly as he faced the password input screen. "What secrets do you have?"
Qiao Zhen clenched her fists secretly, trying to calm herself down, and said sarcastically, "Mr. Lu, do you want to see naked beauties?" She gestured behind her with her chin, "You are the focus of reporters' attention. Would it be good to be photographed looking at pornographic material at a charity gala?"
President Lu tossed his phone to Qiao Zhen, his probing gaze sweeping across her face before returning to the stage.
Qiao Zhen's heart trembled again, her thoughts in turmoil.
The Yan family dared not openly offend President Zhang, so they were extremely cautious in handling this matter to ensure that no one would find any fault with them. Why did Song Ruyi discover this?
At this moment, Song Ruyi stood up, gave her a wink, and then turned and walked toward the side door, as if she was certain that Qiao Zhen would follow.
Qiao Zhen gritted her teeth and said to Lu Zheng, "I'm going to the restroom, I'll be right back."
Lu Zheng simply hummed in response and made no further movement.
Qiao Zhen tried her best to maintain her composure and followed Song Ruyi into an empty dressing room.
"Qiao Zhen, I didn't expect you to have such audacity." Song Ruyi crossed her arms, leaned against the dressing table, and stared coldly at Qiao Zhen with a condescending and disdainful attitude, her high heels swaying her. "Tell me, what will happen to you if I hand the photos over to President Zhang?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com