Transmigrated as the CEO's Top-Tier Stand-in - Chapter 35

Chapter 35

The system was also a bit confused.

However, since it couldn’t fully grasp the abruptly modified world line, it could only neutralize the malice within it. Now, looking at anyone at the table, they all seemed shifty-eyed. Especially when recalling Meng Rendong’s past ungentle, inconsiderate, arrogant, and self-centered actions during her time with Ji Yu, the system even grew wary of Meng Rendong.

It muttered softly: “She also has ill intentions toward you… Yuyu, stay away from her.”

Ji Yu’s eyes curved with a hint of a smile upon hearing this. She belatedly realized she hadn’t responded to Meng Rendong, so she just lowered her head, staring at the glass on the table.

Although Meng Rendong already knew Ji Yu no longer had eyes for her, after her “We meet again” dropped, a flicker of hope was inevitable. Yet, after waiting and waiting, and hearing no movement from the side for a long time, the sourness in her heart intensified.

She restrained herself from looking at Ji Yu beside her, fearing that the obvious lingering affection in her eyes would be noticed, and worried that her fragile willpower would completely crumble.

So she sat there, eyes lowered for a long time, even slowing the rhythm of her breathing, as if hoping to catch a scent of the person beside her in the air.

In reality, there was nothing.

It seemed that Ji Yu still didn’t particularly like using perfume.

For a moment, Meng Rendong desperately wished she could infinitely amplify her senses and consciousness, ideally climbing onto Ji Yu’s collar or sleeve cuff, then quietly and recklessly sniffing the familiar scent of bath products from days gone by… But she couldn’t.

While her mind was reeling with regret, concern, and reluctance, Ji Yu, less than half a meter away from her, was oblivious to it all. After soothing the system with a couple of sentences, she sat there quietly, directing her attention to the protagonist of today’s gathering.

Chief Editor Gu Ning was currently discussing the latest trends in the film and television industry with a few directors, holding a glass of red wine. Everyone seated around them was either a notable industry executive in the city or an actor, but Ji Yu had the lowest standing of all attendees.

Normally, according to dinner etiquette, Ji Yu should, under Kong Rufan’s guidance, go around and toast the big shots, introduce herself, and hope to secure their favor and build connections with famous directors.

However.

Meng Rendong had uncharacteristically sat down next to her right from the moment she entered, even initiating a greeting. Their seemingly familiar interaction made everyone present curious.

Gu Ning took the opportunity to smile and look over: “President Meng has also arrived? Why are you sitting so far away?”

Saying this, she made a move to get up, seemingly intending to bring Meng Rendong to the front. The famous directors and several company executives who had been talking to her also looked over, greeting her and asking about the big IP projects she had recently acquired from a distance.

Meng Rendong raised her eyes at this point, casually letting a passing server pour some red wine into the stemware in front of her. She raised her glass to the crowd and said casually:

“I’m quite comfortable sitting here. Chief Editor Gu, no need to trouble yourself.”

Then, she softened her voice, dismissing the IP matter in a few brief sentences with a seemingly humble attitude. However, paired with her expressionless face, it looked less like modesty and more like a cold, irritating dismissiveness.

Immediately, an executive who had previously failed to acquire a copyright from Huangting Entertainment changed his expression.

Meng Rendong seemed completely unaware. After the polite exchange, she finished the shallow layer of red wine at the bottom of the glass and placed the stemware back on the table, thus fulfilling the custom.

Gu Ning was, however, used to her attitude. Kong Rufan, on Ji Yu’s other side, knew exactly why she was there. This left a few people who neither knew the history of the major companies competing for IP nor the relationship between Meng Rendong and Ji Yu, completely baffled. They wondered what kind of lucky spot Meng Rendong was sitting in that made it so “convenient.”

But with no conclusion, they had to drop the matter.

Gu Ning’s event today was neither big nor small, with nearly thirty people around the table. Exquisite and beautiful dishes were laid out on the spacious round table, along with small delicacies like shark fin soup and lobster congee. Given the extravagance of the private room’s decor, the cost for the night must have been astronomical.

Ji Yu knew the rules and was taking advantage of the free time to spoon the congee into her mouth, hoping to warm her stomach first so drinking later wouldn’t be too uncomfortable.

The congee was made with fragrant rice and small pieces of Australian lobster, the lobster being the freshest and tenderest kind, simmered until exceptionally rich and fragrant. Not many seasonings were used, but because of the high quality of the ingredients, Ji Yu surprisingly liked the taste.

But before the congee in her small yellow-glazed bowl was finished, an identical small bowl was pushed over beside it.

Ji Yu instinctively looked up, following the hand that pushed the bowl, and saw Meng Rendong nonchalantly turning her head away.

The barely-touched bowl of congee was placed just between the two, slightly closer to Ji Yu. This demonstrated the other party’s intention, yet it lacked the overbearing refusal-denying force that characterized their previous interactions…

It was as if Ji Yu was permitted to refuse.

When the thought popped up, Ji Yu subconsciously looked at the bowl’s position again, wondering if this was an unintentional gesture by Meng Rendong or if she genuinely meant to offer it to her.

After focusing on the small bowl for a while, Ji Yu suddenly realized she was actually curious about Meng Rendong’s thoughts. She chuckled internally for a few seconds, suppressing the rising curiosity, and lowered her head to continue eating her congee.

However, a moment later.

The person beside her repeated the gesture, placing a cup of water next to the congee.

The water was hot, quickly steaming up the glass near the rim, collecting large beads of condensation, with wisps of vapor rising from it.

A bowl of congee and a cup of water, neatly aligned like a student’s desk dividing line, looked strangely humorous.

If the first instance could be dismissed as a coincidence, with the second one immediately following, Ji Yu knew, even if she were obtuse, that this was from Meng Rendong.

She raised her eyes, intending to thank Meng Rendong—

But Meng Rendong was looking past her, making eye contact with Kong Rufan.

The clinking of glasses at the table, though seemingly harmonious, was conducted among seasoned professionals. Meng Rendong’s subtle gesture of offering things to Ji Yu had been noticed by many.

Kong Rufan was naturally puzzled, using her eyes to ask across the space: What is the meaning of this? Unresolved old feelings?

Meng Rendong said nothing, only glancing out of the corner of her eye at the executive who had competed with Huangting before. Seeing the corpulent man with a model on his arm frequently looking over at Ji Yu, she guessed what he was plotting.

So, recalling Kong Rufan’s earlier intent, she gave the manager a deep look, then turned to order a server to bring some stomach medicine (digestive tablets), which she continued to place in front of Ji Yu.

This was a blatant expression, as if telling Kong Rufan, Didn’t you bring her here to expand her network?

Now that I am willing to show my support for her, you should be happy.

Kong Rufan: “…”

She felt a mix of annoyance and amusement.

The reason was simple: knowing the relationship between Meng Rendong and Ji Yu, for the sake of Ji Yu’s future prospects and reputation, she certainly hoped their contact would be minimal.

But in a setting like today’s, it was undeniable that Meng Rendong’s attitude could dissuade others from harboring inappropriate thoughts, subtly elevating Ji Yu’s standing. After all, a freelance trainee without backing who hadn’t even debuted, even if Kong Rufan wasn’t a pimp and Ji Yu didn’t plan to latch onto a sugar daddy, couldn’t prevent others from trying to take advantage of her.

Weighing the pros and cons, Kong Rufan typed a message to Meng Rendong:

“You better stop pining for her. She’s long over you.”

Meng Rendong saw the message light up on her phone screen, her jaw unconsciously clenching. She also picked up her phone and replied:

“You should also stop bringing her to places like this. Not doing anything productive all day.”

Kong Rufan: “???”

How was expanding channels and network for her artist not doing anything productive?!

She glared, angry, but the occasion didn’t allow her to vent. She suppressed her anger repeatedly before continuing to fire back.

“You’re right, indeed.”

“Next time, I won’t bring her out to such insignificant cocktail parties. Otherwise, it only benefits certain people, after all, they only deserve to appreciate my artist’s stunning beauty through a television screen.”

Meng Rendong, who had just been harshly stabbed: “…”

Ji Yu vaguely sensed that the atmosphere was off.

But the tension between Meng Rendong and Kong Rufan lasted only a moment. When she looked over, both were pretending nothing had happened. She could only whisper a thanks to Meng Rendong and continue to drink her congee.

However, after finishing the congee, Meng Rendong saw that Ji Yu hadn’t touched the other bowl of congee, the hot water, or the digestive tablets she had offered.

At that moment, some celebrities at the table began raising their glasses to the VIPs. A few directors, already slightly tipsy, started discussing some good scripts they were recently interested in.

Just then, the wealthy, gold-chain-wearing executive who had competed with Huangting Entertainment suddenly stood up, walking straight over with his wine glass. He first intended to clink glasses with Meng Rendong, smiling and saying:

“The last time I saw President Meng was a few months ago. President Meng’s aura is still so unforgettable!”

Meng Rendong disliked the way he looked at women. She politely picked up her glass and clinked it with his, but didn’t even touch the wine to her lips before setting it down, merely saying “You flatter me,” without even mentioning his name, either because she had forgotten it or simply never bothered to remember.

The gold-chain executive’s face soured for a moment. Thinking of Huangting Entertainment’s current flourishing development in the industry, he mumbled internally. When he looked at Ji Yu again, his gaze became a little more unrestrained.

“This must be the young girl who trended on the hot search two days ago, right?”

“Director Wang’s reality show is truly popular these days. It made me, Old Wang, slap my thigh and curse out those useless market people. If I had invested in this project back then, I’d probably be making a fortune like President Meng, right?”

“Director Wang has a good eye for people. This young girl is clearly destined for great fame. Young lady, have you signed with a company? Why don’t you consider our Daxing Entertainment?”

As he spoke, he moved his wine glass toward Ji Yu.

If she were savvy, she would have picked up the glass and started drinking.

Ji Yu heard the man’s voice and felt his gaze, instinctively feeling repelled, but she didn’t want to offend anyone here. She intended to handle the situation indifferently.

But just as she reached for the wine glass.

The next moment.

Meng Rendong’s fingertip gently pressed down on her wrist.

Immediately, a hint of disdainful amusement showed in her dark eyes. Meng Rendong subtly tilted her chin up. Although she was seated, she gave the distinct illusion of looking down at the other party. She slowly surveyed the executive, then, with her usual cold tone, slowly said:

“President Wang.”

“When the temple is small, don’t dream of inviting a Buddha.”

The underlying meaning was crystal clear:

You are not worthy.

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