Chapter 14: Huo's annual banquet, a storm arises
That kiss on the rooftop, a mixture of rain, alcohol, and a sincere confession, was like a ray of light, suddenly splitting the ambiguous fog between Su Lingwan and Huo Linshen. Although neither of them mentioned that night again, something was already different.
Huo Linshen remained busy, but the texts he sent to Su Lingwan, those formulaic greetings, seemed to carry an indescribable warmth. When she complained about the cold air conditioning in her studio, he'd have Assistant Chen quietly deliver a soft cashmere shawl. After she'd pulled an all-nighter preparing materials for Paris Fashion Week, he'd show up the next morning, whisking her off to authentic Cantonese dim sum, and only letting her go after she'd finished a basket of shrimp dumplings.
His concern was no longer simply out of obligation under the agreement, but carried a clumsy yet genuine concern, a care that belonged to Huo Linshen. Su Lingwan could sense this change, and the throbbing in her heart for him, like a seed being carefully watered, quietly took root and sprouted.
However, just as she was gradually adapting to and indulging in this quietly changing intimacy, the Huo Group's annual dinner arrived as scheduled like a grand storm.
The Huo family's annual banquet is a top annual event in Hong Kong's business community. It not only summarizes the past year, but also serves as a crucial occasion for various parties to observe the Huo family's movements and expand their network. Its grandeur and formality far surpass any previous banquet.
As Huo Linshen's "official" girlfriend, whose relationship seems increasingly stable, Su Lingwan's debut undoubtedly captured the attention of Hong Kong's upper class. Selina began preparing for her a week in advance, striving for perfection in every detail, from the dress to the jewelry, from the makeup to the demeanor.
That evening, the Huo Group had booked the entire Peninsula Hotel's ballroom. The scene was packed with elegantly dressed people, clinking glasses, and the atmosphere was utterly luxurious. As Su Lingwan entered the room, arm in arm with Huo Linshen, she could clearly feel the gazes coming from all directions, more intense and scrutinizing than ever before.
Today, she wore a dark blue, off-the-shoulder evening gown custom-made for her by Huo Linshen. The hem was embellished with hand-embroidered patterns in the same color, creating a look of elegance and grace. Around her neck, she wore not the priceless "South Sea Pearl" yellow diamond, but a piece from her own "Chulu" collection—a necklace featuring a teardrop-shaped diamond as the center stone, surrounded by delicate platinum vines. It complemented her overall demeanor perfectly and silently announced her identity as a designer.
Huo Linshen, dressed in a classic black tuxedo, exuded a dignified and composed demeanor. He chatted with everyone along the way, occasionally leaning over to whisper to Su Lingwan, introducing her to an uncle, elder, or important partner. His arm was always firmly supported around her waist, his gesture intimate and natural, as if she had long been an indispensable part of his life.
Su Lingwan tried to maintain a decent smile and handle the situation with ease. She could feel the warmth of Huo Linshen's palm through the thin fabric, which brought a reassuring power.
Everything seems to be moving in a good direction.
Halfway through the banquet, Huo Linshen was surrounded by several veteran directors to discuss important matters, while Su Lingwan was pulled aside by several socialite wives to chat. Initially, the topic revolved around fashion and art, but soon the atmosphere became somewhat tense.
Mrs. Lin, wearing a rose-red dress, covered her mouth with a handkerchief and said to Su Lingwan with a smile, "Miss Su is so lucky to have such favor from President Huo. However, being the daughter-in-law of a wealthy family is not easy. You have to pay attention to all aspects, especially... some things in the past must be dealt with cleanly to avoid giving people a chance to talk, don't you agree?"
As soon as she finished speaking, another Miss Li next to her pretended to be surprised and said, "Mrs. Lin, what are you talking about? Miss Su came from Southeast Asia and her family background is clean. What kind of past could she have?"
"Oh, you don't know this?" Mrs. Lin lowered her voice, but glanced at Su Lingwan, "I heard that when Miss Su was in Nanyang, she had a close 'good friend' who seemed to be an artist. Photos of the two of them going out together were widely circulated in Nanyang's social circles..."
These words, like a cold, poisonous snake, suddenly pierced Su Lingwan's ears. The smile on her face froze instantly, and her fingers gripping the wine glass tightened slightly.
They were referring to her former classmate at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Zhou Jinyan. They shared similar interests, often discussing art and attending exhibitions together, and were close friends, but they were no more than friends. Somehow, the rumor spread like this.
"Mrs. Lin, you may have misunderstood." Su Lingwan calmed herself down and tried to sound calm. "Mr. Zhou Jinyan was my senior at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. We just had common topics in art and were just ordinary friends."
"Ordinary friends?" Mrs. Lin scoffed, clearly unconvinced. "Ordinary friends, would go to a midnight art exhibition together? Ordinary friends, would go to Bali together to sketch for half a month? Miss Su, we're all adults, and there are some things we understand."
The ladies around also exchanged meaningful glances and whispered to each other.
Su Lingwan's heart sank. These rumors, taken out of context and distorted, were clearly well-prepared. She was about to clarify again when the giant LED screen at the front of the banquet hall, which had been looping footage of the Huo Group's annual performance and outlook, suddenly flashed and switched to a series of photos!
The protagonists of the photo are Su Lingwan and Zhou Jinyan!
There are photos of them standing side by side at an art exhibition, chatting and laughing on campus, and the most eye-catching are a few snapshots taken while sketching in Bali - in one of them, Zhou Jinyan reached out to brush the leaves from her hair, the angle was tricky, and it looked extremely intimate; in another, they were sitting by a bonfire on the beach at night, very close to each other, seemingly talking in low voices, the atmosphere was ambiguous!
“Wow!”
There was an uproar in the banquet hall!
All eyes, like spotlights, were focused on Su Lingwan! Shock, disdain, gloating, watching the show... all kinds of eyes intertwined into a huge net, nailing her firmly to the pillar of shame.
Su Lingwan's face instantly turned pale, and her blood seemed to freeze at that moment. She looked at the maliciously selected and angled photos on the screen, listened to the unconcealed discussions around her, and a feeling of indefensible humiliation and a bone-chilling chill instantly swept over her.
She subconsciously looked in the direction of Huo Linshen.
He had obviously seen the photo on the screen, and the slightly perfunctory expression he had used when talking to people disappeared instantly, replaced by a gloomy and cold expression that seemed to be about to come. He pushed aside the crowd around him and strode towards her.
Every step seemed to tread on Su Lingwan's heart. What would she think? Would he believe these photos? Would he embarrass her in public? In such an important occasion concerning the Huo family's reputation...
Just when she was extremely upset and almost couldn't hold on, Huo Linshen had already walked to her side.
He didn't look at her, but instead faced the entire room, his gaze as cold as an icy blade as he slowly swept over the whispering crowd. A powerful sense of oppression instantly enveloped the entire banquet hall, the discussions abruptly stopped, and everyone held their breath.
He stretched out his hand, not to push her away, but with an attitude of absolute possession and protection, he firmly embraced Su Lingwan's slightly trembling shoulders, protecting her completely under his wings.
Then, he raised his eyes and looked towards the control panel in front of him. His voice was not loud, but it carried a decisive and unquestionable majesty, which clearly spread to every corner of the banquet hall:
"It seems that someone is particularly interested in my, Huo Linshen's, personal affairs."
His tone was calm, but it sent a chill down the spine of everyone present.
"These unverified photos and the spread of rumors," he paused, his gaze like a concrete icicle, piercing the gossiping ladies. They paled with fear and lowered their heads, "have already constituted a serious defamation of my fiancée's reputation."
fiancée!
These three words, like thunder from the blue sky, exploded in the silent banquet hall!
Even Su Lingwan raised her head in shock, looking at his cold and resolute profile in disbelief.
Huo Linshen felt her gaze and lowered his head to meet hers. At that moment, the coldness in his eyes melted away, replaced by a deep, ocean-like warmth that was filled with comfort and absolute trust.
He looked at everyone again, his tone strong and domineering, every word resounding:
"I don't care who posted these photos or where the rumors started."
"I'll only say this once—"
"Su Lingwan is my fiancée."
"Her past, present, and future are all under the responsibility of me, Huo Linshen."
"Anyone who dares to slander her again will be an enemy of me, Huo Linshen, and the entire Huo family!"
"My fiancée is not someone else's business!"
“…”
Dead silence.
Absolute silence.
The entire banquet hall was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Everyone was stunned by Huo Linshen's sudden and extremely forceful public defense and declaration of his "fiancée."
Not only did he not question it or distance himself from the matter, but he completely incorporated Su Lingwan into his territory in the most direct and domineering way, and would not allow anyone to infringe upon it in the slightest!
Su Lingwan leaned in his strong, warm embrace, listening to his steady, powerful heartbeat and looking at the unquestionable sky he had held up for her. Her eyes instantly reddened. All the grievances, fears, and anxieties, at this moment, turned into a surge of emotion and an indescribable sense of security.
After Huo Linshen finished speaking, he no longer paid attention to the crowd's reactions. He put his arm around Su Lingwan, turned around, and left the banquet hall calmly and firmly under the gazes of countless shocked, complicated, and awed people.
Behind him was a huge wave that had not yet subsided.
And his arms are her only solid harbor at this moment.
The storm suddenly arose, but he used his actions to tell her——
No matter what happens in the outside world, he will stand in front of her and block all the arrows for her.
This New Year's banquet incident not only did not defeat them, but instead served as a test, making certain emotions even more indestructible.
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