Though the banquet was scheduled for the next evening, Shen Ying’s preparations had been thorough over the past few days, so there was no sense of rush.
By the following day, designers and makeup artists had arrived early to craft a fitting look for the event and select an appropriate gown. In the end, Shen Ying chose an elegant, pearl-white evening dress with flowing lines, presenting herself before Lu Linwei just as it was time to depart.
When Lu Linwei saw her, a flicker of surprise passed through his eyes.
Shen Ying wasn’t the kind of breathtaking beauty who commanded instant admiration. Her features were sweet and delicate, giving off the friendly vibe of a girl next door.
But her harmless appearance belied her unpredictable antics, leaving Lu Linwei struggling to pin down just what kind of creature she really was.
In daily life, she came across as casual and unremarkable, fitting the image of a girl from an ordinary working-class family.
Objectively speaking, moving in high society wasn’t just about opulent attire. It required the ease of someone accustomed to being admired, along with the refined grace that could only be cultivated through years of privilege—none of which could be learned overnight.
Yet Shen Ying didn’t seem the least bit out of place.
Though there was an odd excitement in her expression, it wasn’t the exhilaration of someone scrambling to climb the social ladder.
From the moment they left until they arrived at the banquet hall, she carried herself with a relaxed, almost careless composure, as if she’d attended countless events like this before.
Lu Linwei found it puzzling, but his attention was soon diverted.
The moment they stepped into the grand hall, a silver-haired, spirited elder greeted them warmly—
"Ah, Linwei! I heard you were in Jiangcheng yesterday. Thought you might not make it."
The old man clearly held a position of great respect, and even someone as arrogant as Lu Linwei adopted a slightly deferential tone.
"Of course I wouldn’t miss an event hosted by you," he replied.
The elder laughed heartily before turning his gaze to Shen Ying. "And this is your girlfriend?"
Lu Linwei paused, glancing at Shen Ying, who was still holding his arm. He didn’t deny it.
The elder’s expression softened further. "Excellent, excellent. Looking forward to your happy news."
He then gestured to an assistant nearby and murmured a few words. Soon, the assistant returned with an exquisite jewelry box.
The elder handed it to Shen Ying with a smile. "This rascal didn’t give me any warning, so this is a bit last-minute. Take it as a little token."
When she opened it, inside lay a set of imperial green jade jewelry—flawless in color, texture, and clarity. Shen Ying, though not one for adornments, had enough family knowledge to recognize that this set couldn’t have cost less than eight figures.
The elder chuckled. "This was one of my late wife’s collections. I originally intended to auction it tonight, but meeting Ms. Shen seems like fate."
Tonight’s charity banquet was hosted by the elder, with proceeds from the auction of his wife’s collection going to charitable causes.
Shen Ying glanced at Lu Linwei, who showed no objection, before accepting the gift gracefully. "Thank you, sir."
With other guests to attend to, the elder didn’t linger, exchanging a few more pleasantries with Lu Linwei before moving on.
Once he left, the many gazes that had been fixed on Shen Ying since her arrival grew more complicated.
Lu Linwei had never brought a female companion to social events before. Many had initially assumed she might just be a secretary or assistant doubling as an escort.
But the elder’s gift changed everything.
Without Lu Linwei’s implicit acknowledgment of their relationship, the elder wouldn’t have treated her with such regard.
Thus, the scrutiny directed at Shen Ying became far more cautious.
Lu Linwei, however, paid no attention to the onlookers. All he noticed was that Shen Ying hadn’t denied their relationship and had even accepted a gift that all but confirmed it.
Given her shameless nature, he knew she’d never turn down money—but still, a faint, inexplicable hope flickered in him.
Just as he was thinking this, she spoke up:
"Mr. Lu, I’d like to request compensation for emotional damages."
Lu Linwei: "?? When exactly did you go through a breakup?"
Shen Ying pondered for a second before correcting herself. "Ah, right, 'breakup' isn’t the right word. It’s worse—more like 'deprivation of romantic opportunities compensation.'"
"You see, Mr. Lu, you’re the focal point of attention among all these elites. After the elder’s grand gesture, it’s practically a stamp of approval on our relationship."
"From now on, any man who might’ve been interested in me will either be too intimidated by your influence to approach me or too insecure about competing with you to accept my advances. As long as I’m under your employment, I’m doomed to stay single."
"Don’t you think it’s only fair to compensate me for this loss?"
Lu Linwei was furious. His voice turned dangerously low. "You’re still thinking about other men?"
But Shen Ying wasn’t having it. "Oh, spare me the outrage. Listen to yourself—since when did working for you mean employees automatically forfeit their right to date?"
"Does your company require staff to surrender their autonomy in relationships too? Do they need your approval before getting married?"
Lu Linwei's expression grew increasingly dark. He felt like this woman was toying with him—she had always been fully aware of his actions, yet she continued to mock him time and again, especially after he had tried to offer his sincerity only for her to exchange it for money.
The mere thought that she still entertained the idea of dating other men sent dangerous impulses surging through him.
But then Shen Ying abruptly shifted her tone: "However, President Lu, you still hold priority in my book. As long as you promise a breakup subsidy, I’m willing to forfeit that privilege."
"Not only that, but I’ll also flawlessly play the role of a girlfriend—one that goes beyond the usual social obligations."
Blinded by jealousy, Lu Linwei hadn’t yet processed her words when he instinctively replied coldly, "How would you play it?"
The next moment, Shen Ying rested her hand on his shoulder, leaned into his embrace, and lightly kissed his lips.
Then, nestling against him, she gave a small wave toward an elderly gentleman nearby.
The old man’s face instantly brightened with a warm, approving smile, giving Lu Linwei a thumbs-up.
Lu Linwei’s heart soared, his earlier gloom abruptly cast aside. He immediately began to question whether he’d been too impatient, reacting in anger before hearing her out. That wasn’t like him.
This woman was clearly just seizing an opportunity to take advantage of him again, all while maintaining a businesslike façade.
As if she needed to scrape some benefit out of the situation to save face—honestly, what was he supposed to do with her?
Lu Linwei wrapped an arm around her, flashing the old man a composed smile before stating solemnly, "Indeed, sacrifices beyond an employee’s duties deserve appropriate compensation."
Their affectionate display was unmistakably that of a couple deeply in love, and Shen Ying could practically feel the daggers of several envious stares piercing her back.
She knew the sheep had been sufficiently provoked—it was time for them to start leaping hurdles and offering up their wool.
Sure enough, less than five minutes later, two women approached them.
The one leading the charge was strikingly beautiful, her looks so dazzling they could rival the top tier of the entertainment industry. Her demeanor was haughty and bold, her current rage only amplifying her presence.
Beside her was another woman who bore some resemblance but carried herself with far more gentleness, desperately trying to hold her back—to no avail.
The glamorous beauty stopped in front of them, her eyes slicing into Shen Ying like knives before she demanded of Lu Linwei, "Linwei, who is this woman?"
Lu Linwei glanced at her. "Qiao Mingyue? None of your damn business."
Qiao Mingyue’s face flushed red with fury. "On what grounds?" she shouted, heedless of their surroundings.
"I’ve proposed a marriage alliance with you so many times, and you’ve always refused. What does this ugly bitch have that I don’t?"
The moment the words left her mouth, Lu Linwei seized her chin in a crushing grip, his voice icy. "Since when do you get to criticize the people I choose?"
Shen Ying observed the two beauties before her—they were the main female antagonists from the original story.
Especially Qiao Mingyue, the wealthy, scheming rival whose family status matched the male lead’s. She had driven much of the plot.
Unlike the servants who vanished at a word from Lu Linwei, Shen Ying saw her as a plump sheep that could be sheared repeatedly.
So she looked at the woman with increasing warmth.
Qiao Mingyue’s cousin, Qiao Mingfei, gasped. "Mr. Lu, please let go! My sister just spoke out of anger—she didn’t mean it!"
"You’re hurting her!"
Shen Ying chimed in, "That’s right. She was just venting—no need to take it so seriously. What’s the big deal?"
Lu Linwei released Qiao Mingyue with an irritated flick of his wrist. Qiao Mingfei shot Shen Ying a grateful smile before quickly steadying her cousin. "Are you okay?"
Qiao Mingyue shoved her away and glared at Shen Ying. "Who do you think you are, acting all fake-nice with me?"
Still seething, she added, "You think you’re worthy of standing by Linwei’s side? Let me make this clear—the only woman he’ll ever marry is me."
Lu Linwei had always found her relentless pursuit annoying, but now her delusions struck him as downright laughable.
Just as he was about to speak, Shen Ying cut in: "Oh, I don’t doubt you. But how does you marrying President Lu conflict with me dating him?"
The three others froze, struggling to process her words.
She continued, "If Miss Qiao’s goal is marriage, then just come collect him when the time comes. Why be so hostile to me, his current girlfriend?"
"It’s not like marriage requires dating first."
Qiao Mingyue: "..."
Qiao Mingfei: "..."
Lu Linwei—Lu Linwei was no longer laughing. He dragged Shen Ying away, ignoring the two women still standing there.
In a low, dangerous voice, he demanded, "What the hell was that? First, you talk about finding other men, and now you’re trying to shove me onto another woman?"
Shen Ying blinked innocently. "Just stating facts. Who knows what the future holds?"
"I actually have a pretty good first impression of Miss Qiao. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot of each other—why not ease her hostility early? Tell me, where’s the flaw in my logic?"
And the truth was—there wasn’t one. Lu Linwei’s social circle was full of men who sowed their wild oats before settling down with a marriage alliance when the time came.
He was so infuriating it could drive a person mad. Lu Linwei could tell Qiao Mingyue hadn’t had any sudden realization either. On the contrary, she seemed provoked and was still glaring at him from a distance.
Then Shen Ying spoke again: “Don’t tell me President Lu not only wants to monopolize my dating rights but also my marriage rights?”
She immediately raised the stakes: “Just so we’re clear, this is something we can discuss, but I won’t sign any prenuptial agreement.”
Lu Linwei’s heart stirred for a moment, but the sight of her greed instantly reignited his anger.
He sneered, “Keep dreaming.”
Shen Ying nodded. “I figured as much. I do have some self-awareness, after all, so I’m trying my best to protect your interests, President Lu.”
“Miss Qiao comes from a prestigious family, is talented, and stunningly beautiful—she’s already an ideal marriage candidate. Since you have no intention of marrying someone from the lower class, of course, I should avoid sabotaging your existing options.”
Lu Linwei’s voice burned with real fury now: “So I should thank you for your professionalism and consideration?”
Shen Ying: “No need.”
Lu Linwei stared at her face. She was wearing makeup today, her lips glossy and perfectly shaped, glistening under the lipstick.
Yet those petal-soft lips only spewed words that made his blood pressure spike.
His gaze lingered on those infuriating lips, itching to bite them right off.
He leaned in, closing the distance between them, just as another voice—one he despised even more—cut through the moment.
“President Lu, Miss Shen?”
The voice was so grating that Lu Linwei didn’t even need to look up to know who it was.
Shen Ying turned and, sure enough, saw Gao Yingli standing before them, flanked by a few subordinates.
He wore an exaggerated look of apology. “Ah, was President Lu in the middle of an intimate moment with Miss Shen? My apologies for interrupting.”
Lu Linwei replied coldly, “You *are* interrupting. Get lost.”
Gao Yingli smiled in satisfaction. “Good. I timed that perfectly, then.”
