That evening, the Regent Hotel's banquet hall was brightly lit, and celebrities chatted and laughed as usual under the crystal chandeliers.
Servants moved among them, offering champagne or red wine.
Ning Bingyu, dressed in a black tuxedo with a shawl collar, stood tall and straight, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, becoming the center of attention as soon as he entered.
Chu Hongyu, who was holding his arm, was wearing a simple champagne-colored dress, understated yet elegant.
The atmosphere subtly shifted as soon as the two stepped into the banquet hall.
Ning Bingyu keenly noticed that the composition of the guests tonight seemed to be different from that of the usual banquets.
Looking around, almost all the faces were young, and many of them were familiar faces, all sons and daughters of wealthy families.
Even those who were a bit older were mostly members of wealthy and influential families who had divorced in recent years, and all of them were single.
Everyone was surprised to see Ning Bingyu appear, and whispers rose and fell among them.
Several socialites who had a good impression of Ning Bingyu immediately caught his eye and gracefully gathered around him, holding their wine glasses.
A socialite in a red dress spoke first, her voice charming: "Young Master Ning, it's such a rare treat to see you at a banquet like this."
"Yes, Young Master Ning, shouldn't you have come alone tonight?" another socialite asked, glancing intentionally or unintentionally at Chu Hongyu beside Ning Bingyu.
Ning Bingyu was slightly puzzled. What did he mean by saying that he shouldn't have come alone tonight?
But his handsome and refined face still wore a faint smile as he greeted the two women.
Although they were wary of Chu Hongyu, seeing that Ning Bingyu did not reprimand them, they boldly continued their conversation, pretending that Chu Hongyu, their "mistress," did not exist.
Chu Hongyu stood to the side, a polite smile always on her face, seemingly oblivious to the hostile attitude directed at her.
Her peripheral vision was scanning the surroundings!
Sure enough, a moment later, she caught sight of a familiar figure walking toward her—Li Kaili, the eldest daughter of the Li family!
Li Kaili stood out in the crowd tonight wearing a gorgeous Versace purple evening gown and expensive custom Cartier jewelry.
As soon as she appeared, the socialites who had been surrounding Ning Bingyu immediately became much more subdued and made way for her.
Chu Hongyu smiled inwardly; the time had come.
She turned slightly to the side and whispered to Ning Bingyu, "Young Master, I'm going to the restroom."
After saying that, without waiting for Ning Bingyu's response, she turned and walked towards the restroom, leaving this "battlefield" to Ning Bingyu and Li Kaili.
Li Kaili walked up to Ning Bingyu, her eyes filled with a mocking smile: "Young Master Ning, I really didn't expect you to come to tonight's ball."
She looked Ning Bingyu up and down, her red lips curving slightly: "I never expected you would agree to be my dance partner."
Ning Bingyu then realized something was amiss, and he frowned slightly: "Miss Kelly, what do you mean by that?"
Li Kaili chuckled, "Young Master Ning, you surely know what kind of ball this is, right? This is the annual Governor's Autumn Ball, which is basically an occasion for us wealthy families to network and for our children to find partners."
She paused, a sly glint in her eyes, "And you, Young Master Ning, are my opening dance partner as indicated on my invitation."
Ning Bingyu's face instantly darkened. He finally realized that he had been tricked by Chu Hongyu!
This woman actually tricked him into coming to this kind of place, knowing full well that he had absolutely no interest in marrying into the Li family!
Anger welled up inside him, but his good upbringing prevented him from losing his temper on the spot.
Ning Bingyu scanned his surroundings expressionlessly, and sure enough, Chu Hongyu was nowhere to be seen.
That woman, she ran fast! When he gets back, he'll definitely settle this score with her!
Seeing that Ning Bingyu remained silent, Li Kaili reached out and took his arm, her smile carrying a hint of provocation: "Didn't you always avoid me before, Young Master Ning? What, have you changed your mind today?"
Ning Bingyu's eyes flashed with impatience, but his expression remained gentle: "Miss Li, I think you've misunderstood. I didn't know it was such an occasion tonight."
Li Kaili tilted her head, then suddenly covered her mouth and chuckled, "Young Master Ning, you really have a bad memory. I flew back from Paris specifically for your invitation tonight."
As she spoke, she placed her other hand on Ning Bingyu's chest.
Ning Bingyu simply stopped pretending, took a step back, withdrew his arm, and said indifferently, "Miss Li, please wait a moment, I'll go to the restroom first."
After saying that, he turned and left decisively.
If the Li family weren't also one of the four major families, and he didn't have to give them some face, he wouldn't even bother making up this excuse!
As Li Kaili watched his retreating figure, feeling the whispers of the other socialites around her, a flash of anger and embarrassment crossed her eyes: "Ning Bingyu...!"
He accepted her invitation and clearly agreed to come, but he's acting like he's avoiding her. Is he trying to embarrass her?
Just you wait and see!
At that moment, Chu Hongyu was hiding in the corner of the corridor outside the restroom, witnessing the entire scene.
She chuckled lightly, turned around, and prepared to quietly slip into a lounge to escape her boss's pursuit.
But as she turned her head, a familiar figure flashed past her eyes.
The woman's familiar, graceful figure and beautiful profile caused Chu Hongyu's pupils to shrink instantly—that was...?
How did that woman end up here?
Chu Hongyu's heart was instantly filled with shock. She subconsciously rubbed her eyes and looked again, but the figure had already disappeared around the corner.
She frowned. No, she had to go and see!
Chu Hongyu lifted her skirt and hurried after him, passing through several corridors before finally spotting the figure in the back garden.
The woman, dressed in a black evening gown, stood under a tall palm tree, turned sideways to Chu Hongyu, and looked around.
Chu Hongyu finally confirmed—it really was Cha Meiling!!
She was completely shocked. How could this woman be here? Wasn't she already extradited back to the mainland? Had she been released?!
Shock and confusion flashed through Chu Hongyu's mind. She subconsciously wanted to turn around and find a public phone to inform Ning Yuan.
But just as she turned around, she suddenly bumped into a solid chest.
"Ugh!" Chu Hongyu covered her forehead and groaned, then looked up to meet Ning Bingyu's cold eyes.
"You..." Chu Hongyu was about to speak when she noticed Ning Bingyu's gaze passing over her shoulder and looking into the distance.
She followed his gaze and saw Cha Meiling standing at the garden gate, talking quietly with a waiter.
Ning Bingyu's face turned cold. He grabbed Chu Hongyu's shoulder and said in a low, icy voice, "Don't make a sound. Let's see what's going on first."
Cha Meiling exchanged a few words with the waiter, then turned and walked towards the lobby.
Seeing this, Chu Hongyu immediately took Ning Bingyu's arm and whispered, "Let's go with them."
Ning Bingyu glanced at her holding his hand, said nothing but did not refuse, and the two walked towards the hall together.
At this moment, melodious music filled the hall, and guests clinked glasses, creating a lively scene.
The next moment, Cha Meiling, arm in arm with a burly, wealthy-looking middle-aged man, gracefully walked into the hall.
Like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, it instantly created ripples and attracted everyone's attention.
"Isn't that Cha Meiling? She's been missing for so long, how come she suddenly appeared here?"
"Who is that man next to her? He looks like he's someone important."
Whispers filled the hall as everyone curiously observed Cha Meiling and the man beside her, speculating about their identities and intentions.
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