Transmigrating Into the Beautiful CEO’s Doomed Substitute - Chapter 5

The evening banquet was held in a mid-sized hall of a high-end hotel. Tonight’s invitees were all influential figures from Haicheng’s business circles, so they were familiar with the venue.

The afternoon division heads’ briefing ran into a minor delay and ended half an hour later than scheduled. Gradually, more guests gathered in the banquet hall, but everyone chatted quietly, showing no rush to officially start.

Shen Zhibing hadn’t arrived yet, and Lian Ao was also absent. In fact, the banquet hadn’t truly begun.

A few elite socialites were gathered together, holding glasses of champagne and sipping occasionally with graceful poise. Their luxurious gowns paired with limited-edition handbags created an image of sophistication. If it weren’t for the guilty glances and whispered gossip behind their backs, their true attitudes wouldn’t have been apparent.

“Have you heard? Lian Ao was called back home by his family this time.”

“Wasn’t he in charge of the UK branch? Being called back after only a few months… is it because he’s incompetent and they’re replacing him?”

“On the contrary, he was called back because there’s a more important mission waiting for him.”

Lian Ao was the most favored grandson of the Shiqun Group, handsome and charming. Growing up in the circles of wealth and influence, many young ladies were eager to get close to him. But everyone knew this playboy couldn’t be tamed.

“You really haven’t heard? Or are you pretending not to?” Jian Anni swirled her champagne slightly, glancing at the group of women around her.

“Anni, stop teasing. Everyone knows you have the best connections in the family.”

Jian Anni smiled, clearly enjoying the flattery.

“Actually, it’s not that surprising. This time, it was the patriarch of the Lian family who personally issued the order—Lian Ao is coming back for an engagement.”

“What?!”

The women, who had been polite and elegant, almost simultaneously whispered in shock. It wasn’t a brand-new topic; a few years ago, when they were just coming of age, many of them had tiny crushes on Lian Ao. But seeing him like an elusive fish, they gradually lost interest.

“Which lucky young lady is getting engaged to Lian Ao?”

Jian Anni remained silent, clearly enjoying prolonging the suspense.

“You should say, which poor girl has to marry this heartless bachelor?”

“Qin Qin, why are you speaking like sour grapes? Are you still upset that he didn’t invite you to dance at the last birthday party?”

Jian Anni quickly intervened, worried the quarrel might disrupt the evening. “Stop guessing, everyone. I heard it’s a match between families of equal status.”

Indeed, only a few families matched the Shiqun Group in status, and even fewer had suitable heirs.

“Could it be that ice-cold queen from the Shen family?”

“Impossible. Those two families almost fought over a plot of land at an auction just last month.”

“Then the most likely candidate is Lin Muyun. But she’s been abroad for a long time and isn’t planning to return anytime soon.”

The gossiping women had been too absorbed to notice Shen Zhibing approaching until Jian Anni saw her cold, beautiful face. She nearly spilled her champagne.

“President Shen, when did you arrive?”

Whenever Shen Zhibing appeared, it usually caused quite a stir. The hall had been quiet just moments ago, and no one expected the ice queen to already be there.

Shen Zhibing curled her lips slightly. “Just arrived.”

She claimed she had just arrived, though a third of the champagne in her glass was already gone. Everyone exchanged glances, afraid to speak further, their hopes pinned on Jian Anni.

Jian Anni was one of the few who had a business connection with Shen Zhibing. Among their peers, no one could truly match Shen Zhibing. Not Lian Ao, not Lin Muyun.

They might have been born with silver spoons, but Shen Zhibing had already become a queen through her talent and achievements. These socialites, who relied solely on family wealth, were insignificant in her eyes.

“We were just talking about how we didn’t see you tonight. It’s been a while, and we’ve missed you,” Jian Anni said, trying to keep the conversation light.

Shen Zhibing responded coldly, showing no real interest. Even a brief glance from her was enough to unsettle the others.

There were occasional rumors about Shen Zhibing and Lian Ao, enough to make people curious but hesitant to pry.

“Thank you for your concern. Next time I’ll arrive earlier to greet you,” Shen Zhibing said insincerely, though the others reacted as if deeply touched.

“President Shen, I’ve been looking for you. The Australian business delegation wants to meet—do you have a moment?”

Finally, someone came to see Shen Zhibing, giving the others a sense of relief.

Shen Zhibing excused herself and left, while the atmosphere around her gradually warmed. Wu Qin patted her chest in relief.

“Was it really that scary?”

Wu Qin glared. “Admit it—you were scared too. Everyone was silent, eyes down, and then you blame me!”

Jian Anni quickly cut off the conversation. “Enough, everyone. Tonight, let’s behave. Especially regarding President Shen and Lian Ao—don’t mention it again.”

Shen Zhibing conversed with the Australian delegation, all the while keeping an eye on the main entrance. She had arrived thirty minutes late and already knew Lian Ao hadn’t come. Yet now, even after her long wait, he still hadn’t appeared.

By rights, Lian Ao wouldn’t miss such an important occasion. And considering he had sent flowers earlier, surely tonight was meant to be significant.

For Shen Zhibing, the banquet was important but not extraordinary. Her anticipation for Lian Ao’s possible arrival made her unusually attentive. Tonight, her makeup was flawless, even people accustomed to her beauty were impressed.

She put down her glass and hurried to the entrance just as the staff closed the door.

“Did someone come by earlier?”

The staff froze, bowing respectfully. “Hello, President Shen.”

Even the staff recognized her immediately as the evening’s most eye-catching guest.

Shen Zhibing, breaking her usual cold demeanor, asked, “Did Mr. Lian from Shiqun Group come earlier?”

She didn’t dare say his name directly, worried her longing might betray her.

“I’m afraid you’re mistaken, President Shen. Mr. Lian didn’t come tonight.”

The banquet had been underway long enough—anyone arriving early would already be there. Lian Ao, with his pride, wouldn’t drag his arrival to this point.

So tonight, he probably wouldn’t appear.

Shen Zhibing’s heart sank. Her earlier eagerness and anticipation were swept away, leaving her with a stronger aura of coldness.

“Anything else you need, President Shen?”

Shen Zhibing waved her hand and returned to her previous spot. Among the crowd, she was still the most dazzling. Picking up another glass of wine, her sense of loss remained known only to herself.

Back at the dormitory, Jiang Youyou finally regained some energy after finishing instant noodles and recounted the afternoon’s events. Venting her anger lifted her spirits considerably.

Her phone kept buzzing with WeChat messages and calls, so she simply turned it off for some peace.

Qi Zheng pointed at the phone. “Aren’t you going to hear him out?”

“What’s there to explain? Betrayal happens once or a thousand times. How do I know this wasn’t the first time today?”

Youyou felt sadness mixed with disgust, unwilling to speak to him again.

Qi Zheng tidied up the leftover food and noticed Youyou searching her locker.

“I remember there were still some left from last time,” she said, pulling out a few leftover beers from the back of the locker.

Qi Zheng vaguely recalled that they had bought a case last month to celebrate early graduation, only a few had been drunk.

“Here, tonight we drink until we can’t!” Youyou handed Qi Zheng a can and picked one up herself.

“I’m not heartbroken, don’t plan to get drunk,” Qi Zheng said, taking the beer but not intending to drink.

“Aren’t you my sister? You won’t drink with me at a time like this? How cruel!” Youyou drank a large sip, eyes reddening—whether from choking or sadness, she didn’t know.

“You seemed so carefree earlier. I thought you had it all figured out.”

“Figuring out is one thing, truly forgetting is another. After years of feelings, you get attached to pets, let alone people,” Youyou admitted honestly.

“Qi Zheng, have you never liked anyone?”

During college, regardless of others’ probing, Qi Zheng had never openly admitted her relationship with Lin Muyun. Initially, she thought it was just a financial arrangement, not love.

Later, she gradually became interested but hesitated due to Lin Muyun’s attitude. Eventually, Lin Muyun disappeared, and the relationship ended with no continuation.

“Come on, spill it. You’re too tight-lipped.”

During dorm chats, everyone was open about love and admirers. Qi Zheng usually listened, but when it came to her, she firmly claimed to be single.

Unknowingly, Youyou was on her second can. “You don’t need to hide. We’ve seen it a few times—you got out of that sports car and even kissed someone on the cheek.”

Qi Zheng was shocked. Youyou smiled calmly. “Don’t worry, it’s no big deal these days for girls to kiss girls.”

Qi Zheng thought she’d need to be more careful in the future; whoever saw it wasn’t important now. For now, she just hoped Shen Zhibing wouldn’t suddenly show up at school looking for her.

Indeed, Shen Zhibing wouldn’t come to school unannounced tonight. But after the banquet, she chose to go to a suburban villa.

She intended to see Qi Zheng despite a dull headache, only to be told by the butler that Miss Qi had already returned to school that afternoon. This made her headache worse.