After Flirting with the God-Tier Beautiful Tycoon - Chapter 73.1

Sun Jiabao’s gaze darted between the man and Shen Xiaojiang.

Shen Xiaojiang had no memory of him. “Yes, and you are?”

The man had dark skin, and when he smiled, his face became oily and deeply wrinkled. “Hello, I’m from Zhongle Tech. We met briefly at the CNC Expo in Los Angeles last time. Your insights on CNC programming were profound yet easy to understand; I benefited greatly. I wonder if you’d be interested in doing some corporate training for our company?”

The man was clearly much older than Shen Xiaojiang, yet his use of the formal “you” gave her goosebumps. He respectfully handed over his business card with a sincere expression.

Corporate training was essentially freelance work, and Shen Xiaojiang naturally had no intention of accepting, but she remained polite on the surface.

Just then, a rustling sound erupted outside. It seemed a large group of people had arrived.

The man who had just handed her the card nodded to her and immediately bolted toward the crowd. As he ran, he didn’t forget to tell his friend, “Stop drinking! President Chen is here!”

President… Chen?

The sliding glass doors let in a gust of cold wind unrestrained and haughty. Even though it was still September, the wind felt eerie, turning everything it touched into ice.

The wind blew through Shen Xiaojiang’s hair, but she didn’t care. Instead, she raised her hand and pressed down on her black rimmed glasses.

Everyone else looked toward the entrance, but Shen Xiaojiang did not. She pulled out a chair and sat down with her back to the crowd. It was as if everything happening at the door had nothing to do with her.

“Oh my god, Ginger! Oh my god, oh my god… it’s my aunt!” Sun Jiabao didn’t know Chen Yi would appear; her jaw-dropping shock was clearly genuine.

“What, you’re only finding out now?” Shen Xiaojiang feigned composure, her fingers tightly pinching a piece of fabric on her pants. She kept her voice low so no one could hear the tremor in it.

“Things are different now. She was busy before, but now she’s even busier. How could she have time for a family dinner with ordinary folks like us?” Sun Jiabao craned her neck to look toward the door.

The hallway was packed, as if everyone was waiting for a superstar to step off a screen.

“What do you mean?” Shen Xiaojiang pushed the glasses up the bridge of her nose.

“Oh my god, Ginger, even if you don’t watch TV, you use Weibo, right? Don’t you know who the President of the Nancheng Chamber of Commerce is now?” Sun Jiabao’s tone was ecstatic.

Shen Xiaojiang swallowed, her heart rate involuntarily accelerating.

“Who?” she asked, knowing full well the answer.

Sun Jiabao slapped her shoulder. “Who else? My aunt, of course!”

Although Shen Xiaojiang had known for a while, her racing heart still sank heavily.

Two months not exactly short, but not long either. During this time, she had quit her job at the pet shop and reached an agreement with Bai Shuhua to participate in the initial research and development of several new projects. She had frequently flown to the US, Japan, and Singapore, learning vast amounts of new knowledge and broadening her horizons.

She had let go of a lot.

However, that figure in the qipao graceful, elegant, and full of charm had never once vanished from her mind. This so-called “forgetting” was nothing more than a trick to deceive herself.

She hadn’t forgotten. Perhaps, she didn’t want to forget at all.

“I’m going to wave at her and let her..”

“Don’t!”

Before Sun Jiabao could finish, Shen Xiaojiang grabbed her reaching hand.

It was the first time Sun Jiabao had seen Shen Xiaojiang look so tense. Bewildered, she asked, “Ginger, what’s wrong?”

“Oh,” Shen Xiaojiang released her hand shakily, racking her brain for an excuse. “Didn’t you say you didn’t want to be called out by your parents? Waving suddenly would just expose you.”

Though the excuse was flimsy, Sun Jiabao bought it.

“True. I’ll wait a bit then.” She winked at Shen Xiaojiang. “Ginger baby, you really think fast.”

Shen Xiaojiang mechanically pulled at the corners of her mouth, forming a smile that didn’t quite look like one.

Many people rushed to the door, but they instinctively lined up in two rows to make a path for the “Big Shot,” creating the atmosphere of a royal welcome.

Several tall bodyguards stood by the door. He Zhong entered first, handing a greeting gift to Chen Fangru before standing by her side to monitor the surroundings.

The “Big Shot” had flaxen colored curly hair that reached past her shoulders. Around her neck was a turquoise necklace with a long chain on the left side adorned with ancient style gold ornaments.

She wore a black halter-neck qipao that followed her curves with fluid grace. The dress was a custom designer piece, the black lace fabric was woven with gilded patterns, and the hem featured a thin layer of organza that lightly brushed against her snow white insteps. The high slit of the qipao revealed her slender, straight calves, and a pair of black suede high heels added significantly to her height.

Chen Yi slowly took off her sunglasses, using her pinky finger to tuck a stray strand of hair away from the corner of her mouth. Every movement was slow, exuding elegance in every gesture.

She looked up with a smile. Her already pale cheeks appeared even more translucent and enchanting against her black attire.

“Sister, sorry I’m late.” Her voice was as beautiful as ever gentle and soft, like a warm spring or hot tea. It carried a faint fragrance, drifting into the delicate nerves of the ear and settling into the body.

Despite her smile and soft voice, her powerful, peerless aura made everyone watching her feel a sense of awe.

“Nonsense, Xiao Qi. You’re so busy, it’s enough that you could come at all.” Chen Fangru’s attitude toward Chen Yi remained unchanged. She didn’t treat her differently just because her status had changed.

A second later, she jokingly corrected herself: “Oh, wait, I should call you ‘President Chen’ now.”

Chen Yi pouted playfully, her voice half-coquettish: “Sister!”

Chen Fangru patted the back of her hand. “Alright, alright, come sit. Your hands are so cold; hurry and get some hot food in you.”

“Mhm,” Chen Yi replied softly, her eyes drifting casually around the room.

Chen Fangru turned her body as if looking for someone. “Hey, where did that girl Jiabao go?”

Chen Yi’s gaze followed Chen Fangru’s and landed on Shen Xiaojiang, who was not far away.

Even from just a silhouette, she recognized her.

Her pupils flickered, her gaze trembled, and her throat tightened as if a fishbone were stuck there painful and suffocating.

Chen Fangru turned back, breaking the visual connection.

Chen Yi’s heart sank. She smiled absently, almost forcedly, her expression full of bitterness.

Chen Yi sat at the head table, and the atmosphere there was oppressive. She didn’t touch her glass, so no one else did; she didn’t speak, so everyone else remained silent.

“My god, my aunt looks so beautiful today. I love it! The lace qipao is so sexy and looks so expensive. Everywhere she walks smells like money! She looked good with short hair, but now that it’s grown out, she looks like a movie star…no, better than a movie star. She’s literally my goddess!” Sun Jiabao was in full fan girl mode, praising Chen Yi incessantly.

Shen Xiaojiang said nothing, quietly eating her food. Although she didn’t respond, she could visualize every word Sun Jiabao said. Chen Yi’s face, her waist, everything about her was deeply rooted in Shen Xiaojiang’s mind.

“Hey, Ginger, do you like it?”

Sun Jiabao’s sudden question nearly made Shen Xiaojiang choke.

“What?” her tone carried obvious agitation.

Sun Jiabao looked bewildered. She leaned in. “What did I say? Why are you so worked up?”

“No… nothing.” Shen Xiaojiang lowered her head to continue eating.

Hearing Sun Jiabao’s voice, Chen Yi’s gaze pierced through the crowd, stealing a look at Shen Xiaojiang’s slightly shorter hair.

She had heard quite a bit about Shen Xiaojiang lately. In just over two months, she had participated in several projects for Wanning. It was a height most people could only dream of. Her starting point had become the finish line for many others.

Famous at a young age, with a bright future ahead. She had even been labeled a “Tech Aristocrat” by industry insiders.

During this time, Chen Yi hadn’t dared to disturb her. She wanted this little bird to fly higher and further. She thought she had become unshakeable.

However, seeing her in person, Chen Yi realized her heart could no longer be calm. No, it had never been calm.

Shen Xiaojiang was her addiction. The girl didn’t have to do anything to steal her soul.