chapter 61

People were coming and going in the banquet hall. The melodious and beautiful piano music slowly flowed around the whole place. Everyone smiled brightly and stood there chatting softly.

As the eldest son of the Qi Family, Qi Mingran naturally needed to socialize on such occasions.

Tang Anru held his arm and walked around with him to get to know those bigwigs who were from either wealthy or influential families.

Not long after, many people learned that Tang Anru was Qi Mingran’s girlfriend, and she was also the most appreciated employee by the deputy secretary of the First Military Industry Group’s Secretary Department. And soon, quite a few young ladies gathered around her and chatted and laughed with her.

“It’s been very hard for you tonight. You met these many people with me,” Qi Mingran whispered softly to Tang Anru. There was a touch of tender affection in his eyes.

He was genuinely caring about Tang Anru.

However, he couldn’t forget Qin Shu from the bottom of his heart. Sometimes, he couldn’t help but compare Tang Anru with Qin Shu. And usually, in the end, he would feel that Tang Anru was the one who was worthy of him and wouldn’t humiliate the Qi Family.

Tang Anru leaned gently on Qi Mingran’s shoulder and said sweetly, “I’m fine. As long as it’s with you, nothing will be hard to deal with.”

Qi Mingran held Tang Anru in his arms and walked to the rest area with her. He said, “You can take a rest here first. I’ll come and find you later.”

“Alright.” Tang Anru smiled gently. She leaned closer and kissed Qi Mingran on the cheek.

Qi Mingran also kissed her back on the forehead, then turned around and walked towards the crowd in the banquet hall.

Someone beside Tang Anru smiled and said enviously to her, “Tang Anru, Mr. Qi is so good to you. I wonder how many women envy you.”

“That’s right. Tang Anru, you’re so beautiful and outstanding. No wonder Mr. Qi dotes on you so much,” another person also praised her.

They were all senior employees of other departments at the military industry group, and they had dealt with the Secretary Department quite a bit, so they got to know Tang Anru in the course of contacts.

Those with discerning eyes could tell that Tang Anru was in the limelight in the Secretary Department. She was highly appreciated by her superiors, and her boyfriend was the CEO of the Qi’s Group, so these people had more or less little thoughts of fawning on her.

Anyone could just say nice things since it wouldn’t cost money anyway.

As a result, the few people who were sitting in the rest area began to talk with Tang Anru over laughter. From time to time, they would praise Tang Anru and made the atmosphere unprecedentedly harmonious.

The deputy secretary’s assistant sat beside Tang Anru and mentioned Qin Shu as if unintentionally, “Both Secretary General and Team Leader Lin valued Qin Shu so much, but what a pity, they didn’t expect they would waste a lot of effort in vain.”

It sounded like the assistant was complaining of unfairness for the Secretary General and Lin Xian, but in fact, she was kind of gloating by saying that.

Tang Anru said softly, “Qin Shu is recuperating. It’s a pity that she couldn’t come to work. I’ve always wanted to visit her, but she refused to see me or answer my phone. I don’t know what to do.”

As she spoke, she put on a helpless smile.

Before this, there were rumors in the Secretary Department that Qin Shu had a car accident, and after the event, she blamed Tang Anru for not pulling her back. That caused their friendship to completely break down.

Seeing Tang Anru’s worried expression and a trace of grievance in her eyes, someone immediately comforted her.

“What does her car accident have to do with you? Don’t blame yourself. As far as I’m concerned, even if Qin Shu didn’t have a car accident, she might not be able to pass the exam. It’s true that Secretary General and Team Leader Lin value her, but so what? What the military industry group values is strength.”

“That’s right.” The deputy secretary’s assistant smiled meaningfully and looked at her newly polished nails casually. “Tang Anru, you know, birds of a feather flock together. You are getting more and more excellent, but your old friend is still lying in the mud. Inevitably, she envies you. And gradually, you two will get unfamiliar with each other, which is totally normal.”

The assistant was clearly belittling Qin Shu by saying those words.

Tang Anru did not seem to hear the meaning from those words though, so she did not defend Qin Shu.

Seeing this, some others around smiled and continued their talking. “That’s right. As the saying goes, a broken pot will be matched with a broken lid. Tang Anru is so beautiful and has a strong ability herself. No wonder Mr. Qi is so devoted to her. I’m so envious of you, Tang Anru.”

“The way Mr. Qi looked at Tang Anru was so doting, he almost drowned us in his affection,” another person teased.

Tang Anru’s cheeks flushed red and she said shyly and sweetly, “Don’t make fun of me. Mingran and I are just like other ordinary couples. You don’t know that Qin Shu’s boyfriend also treats her very well …”

“Are you saying that soldier ruffian?” the assistant interrupted her with disdain, “I heard that her boyfriend is a soldier. He is a rude and brutal person who likes fighting. Didn’t you hear him at the last department meeting?”

Tang Anru hurriedly said, “It’s not like that. Her boyfriend is probably just a little impatient.”

However, someone finally couldn’t help but say, “Tang Anru, we know that you and Qin Shu are close, but that’s all in the past. She doesn’t care about you now, so why are you still speaking for her? What’s her boyfriend like? Everyone heard him personally, do you call that as ‘he treats her well’? I’m afraid she is just jealous of you because Mr. Qi dotes on you, and she wants to pretend to be happy in front of you.”

“Yeah, that’s right. Who doesn’t have that bit of vanity? Qin Shu boasts about how good her boyfriend is, but doesn’t she know who she is? Alas, as the saying goes, still, a broken pot will be matched with a broken lid. I don’t believe that her boyfriend can be any good, he must be far from Mr. Qi.”

Tang Anru did not say anything, just sitting there reservedly and elegantly.

Whether or not Qin Shu had ever flaunted her boyfriend in front of her, Tang Anru neither admitted it nor denied it.

Thus, everyone reached an agreement in silence that Qin Shu was jealous and felt unfair in her heart, so she deliberately put on an act in front of Tang Anru. She was truly extremely vain.

For a moment, everyone just felt very disdainful and acted like it was so humiliating for them to once work with Qin Shu.

Right at this moment, a burst of exclamation suddenly came from the entrance of the banquet hall. A lot of people looked over with their heads forward, and even those superior and mighty bigwigs walked towards the entrance.

Apparently, there was a big shot coming here!

The crowd in the middle of the hall split up automatically. Grandpa Ling, the Commander-in-Chief of City Lin’s military region, was wearing a straightforward military uniform and holding a black cane in his hand. He walked in in high spirits.

Even though Grandpa Ling was old, he still got the frightening aura of being in high position on him, which was enough to make people not dare to neglect him.

Ling Mohan stood by Grandpa Ling’s side on his left. The two-bars and three-stars of military rank on Ling Mohan’s shoulders flickered with an icy cold light under the light.

He had a tall stature, short and erected hair, a cold face, and a pair of black eyes that emitted sharp, bloodthirsty lights. No one dared to have eye contacts with him easily!

Ling Mohan was the captain of one of the top ten special forces of Country A. He was a talent that the military attached great importance to. Only the big shots holding high positions knew how many dangerous top-secret missions he had completed. Therefore, as one could imagine, Ling Mohan was very important in the military.

However, no one expected Qin Shu to be able to stand by Grandpa Ling’s side on the right and attend this banquet with him!

Many people present didn’t know Qin Shu, but there were also many people who knew her. Some knew her because of Qi Mingran, while some because of work.

Tang Anru and the others at the rest area also saw Qin Shu.

They looked at each other with obvious shock on their faces.

“OMG! Is that Qin Shu? What qualifications does she have to attend this banquet? Who are the two people beside her?” Some people muttered to themselves in disbelief.

“She, how could she …” The deputy secretary’s assistant stuttered and she turned to look at Tang Anru. “Anru, aren’t you and Qin Shu good friends? When did she hook up with these big shots?”

Tang Anru pursed her thin lips, unable to utter a single word.

The moment she saw Ling Mohan, she panicked!

The man was actually not an ordinary soldier ruffian. What exactly was his background then? Why could he make so many people want to flatter him? When did Qin Shu know such a person?

Was he really Qin Shu’s boyfriend?

In an instant, Tang Anru’s expression became somewhat gloomy. Her hands were hanging by her side, and she couldn’t help but grab her skirt tightly with her hands.

The assistant of the Secretary Department quickly figured out what was happening and said with a smile, “Qin Shu was at least our colleague once. We should all go over and show our kindness, out of both friendship and reason.”

After saying that, she didn’t look at Tang Anru anymore and walked straight towards Qin Shu with champagne.

Several others looked at each other and also rose to their feet. They said to Tang Anru, “Anru, let’s go together. You and Qin Shu are good friends. It’ll be fine to make things clear if there’s any misunderstanding between you two. She won’t blame you.”

“That’s right, you should take the initiative and apologize to her. Don’t miss out on this friendship because of some small misunderstandings.”

Tang Anru forced the corner of her mouth up and whispered, “You guys go first. I’m going to the restroom.”

These people immediately went over towards Qin Shu, leaving Tang Anru sitting alone in the rest area.

Suddenly, a sneer came from the side.

Tang Anru immediately raised her head and saw Su Xiaoya standing not far away with a smile and a glass of juice in her hand. Her round and smiling face was only a sarcasm in Tang Anru’s eyes.

“You guys’ talking was so funny. It’s like you were acting in an opera.” Su Xiaoya purposely walked to Tang Anru’s side and said, “I heard everything you said.”

Tang Anru stood up and tried her best to maintain a decent smile on her face. “Sorry, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You’re such an excellent actress!” Su Xiaoya said with contempt. She looked up and down at Tang Anru and then looked towards Qin Shu. Suddenly, she giggled and said, “Tsk, you’re not as beautiful as my darling Qin Shu. No wonder your boyfriend left you.”

Tang Anru’s expression changed slightly and she quickly searched for Qi Mingran’s figure. Soon, she discovered that the man who was doting on her a moment ago was now standing in the crowd and staring at another woman fixedly.

And that woman was Qin Shu!

In the middle of the banquet hall, Qin Shu was dressed in a strapless, smoky gray, long dress of fine gauze, and the patterns on her chest were decorated with luxurious diamonds. There was a beautiful and blooming rose pinned on her left shoulder. Her bare shoulders were round and fair, and her skin was as delicate and charming as white pearls.

She held Ling Mohan’s arm, with her plump and moist red lips curled up like a rose blooming to the extreme.

One of them was as pretty and coquettish as fire, and the other was as cold and evil as ice. The two of them were strangely suited to each other.

Qi Mingran stood in the crowd and looked at Qin Shu, feeling in a daze. He could not move his gaze away at all, and he had long forgotten what he had said to Tang Anru that he would go back and find her.

At this moment, Tang Anru was right behind him. Her face was a little pale, and the expression in her eyes was a little strange. She loosened her grip on her dress, then grabbed it tightly again.

After repeating the movements several times, Tang Anru’s gaze landed on Qin Shu. She stared at Qin Shu tightly and a thought flashed through her mind.

Qin Shu, don’t blame me!

Tang Anru turned around and went to the restroom.

Ten minutes later, she walked out of the restroom. Her beautiful face was filled with a smile again, without showing any trace of embarrassment, and she slowly walked towards Qin Shu.