Chapter 8: Caught at the Banquet
Shen Chi did not understand Lu Chenzhou, and what the system knew was only some written description.
One person and one system discussed it for an entire day, and in the end, both of them were left completely in the dark.
“This really is last place and second-to-last place plotting together for half a day, only to come up with ‘serve it cold.’”
Under Shen Chi’s mocking words, the system lay flat like salted fish and said, [If you don’t like it cold, we can also steam it.]
Shen Chi nearly ground his teeth to pieces. “Why don’t you say charcoal-grilled?”
The system said, [Delicious!]
Shen Chi: …
His boss was an idiot, and his colleague was also mentally challenged. Shen Chi wiped his face and got off work with an exhausted expression. Thinking about how he would have to go home and eat instant noodles after work…
Shen Chi weakly looked up at the sky. This rotten life really could not go on for even one more day.
However, when he left the company building, a flashy red sports car suddenly stopped in front of him.
Toward this kind of wealth flaunting, Shen Chi could now remain completely calm. What surprised him was that when the car window rolled down, he saw a familiar person.
“Secretary Shen.”
The crisp voice quickly reminded Shen Chi of the other party’s identity. He put on a smile again, instantly changing from his previous corporate-slave appearance.
“Miss Ruan, sorry, I forgot to return your insulated—”
Before he could finish speaking, Ruan Shangxue interrupted him. “Get in.”
Shen Chi smiled faintly, but he did not get into the car.
It was obvious that if Ruan Shangxue did not give him an explanation, he would not go with her.
Ruan Shangxue pursed her lips and said confidently, “There’s a charity banquet later. I want you to accompany me!” After saying that, she urged, “Hurry up. Parking isn’t allowed here. I’ll be fined soon. Although I don’t care about this bit of money, if those tattletales at home find out, I’ll get scolded again.”
Shen Chi sighed. This time, he did not refuse. “How do you want me to accompany you?”
Ruan Shangxue said, “First help me choose clothes, then attend the banquet with me. Don’t worry. I’m not a petty person. You made me happy today, so I’ll transfer money to you.”
In the past, this was how the friends around Ruan Shangxue had come to her side.
They coaxed her happy, and she paid the bill.
The corner of Shen Chi’s mouth twitched. Hearing that, why did it sound like he was selling himself…
“There’s no need to transfer money. But Miss Ruan, don’t you have too much confidence in me? What if I mess it up?”
Ruan Shangxue stepped on the accelerator, and the sports car sped across the road. She said, “You were able to enter the Lu Group and become Brother Lu’s secretary. I trust Brother Lu’s judgment.”
Shen Chi: …
—
The Ruan family residence.
When Shen Chi saw Ruan Shangxue’s room full of colorful, unbearably glaring clothes, he shut the wardrobe door with a snap.
Had she bought home all the ugly clothes in the world?
“Let’s buy new clothes,” Shen Chi said. Only then did he notice that Ruan Shangxue’s hairstyle had changed. It was no longer heavy blunt bangs, but revealed a smooth and full forehead.
Ruan Shangxue said, “Fine. Let’s go to the mall now.”
The banquet was at nine, and it was only a little past six, so there was still plenty of time. Shen Chi was hungry, and fortunately, Ruan Shangxue was not stingy. Before picking clothes, she even specially let him eat his fill first.
Because of this, Shen Chi became a little more sincere toward Ruan Shangxue. Especially when they were choosing clothes, the sales assistant took out one ugly outfit after another and praised Ruan Shangxue randomly. Seeing Ruan Shangxue’s visibly shaken expression, he finally understood why this child had bought so many ugly clothes.
So she only looked fierce.
Shen Chi had come to give advice. How could he possibly let her buy these ugly clothes? Just as Ruan Shangxue was about to swipe her card, he reached out his slender hand. His tone was gentle and elegant, but his attitude was extremely firm.
“Not a single piece of these clothes.”
Ruan Shangxue said, “Huh?”
Shen Chi said, “They don’t suit you. You deserve better.”
Once these words were spoken, even the sales assistant had nothing to say. She could not offend their VIP customer just to sell clothes, even though this customer was very easy to fool.
Under Shen Chi’s guidance, Ruan Shangxue underwent a complete transformation. Before leaving, she thought of how Shen Chi would attend with her, so she casually bought him a custom-made suit.
As soon as she opened her mouth, her tone was as arrogant as ever. “As my companion, if you dress too cheaply, others will mock me.”
That was what she said, but the clothes she bought Shen Chi were the most expensive ones.
Shen Chi gladly accepted her gift and thanked her with a smile.
Ruan Shangxue had actually developed quite a good impression of Shen Chi.
Not only was he good-looking, but the things he did and the words he said never made people feel that he was being deliberate. Being with him gave her a very comfortable feeling.
At the charity banquet, celebrities and elites gathered.
At a banquet like this, even well-known entertainers who often appeared in front of cameras became mere decoration.
The Ruan family was fairly good, but Ruan Shangxue was only an illegitimate daughter. Her appearance did not attract much attention, except from a small group in the corner.
Without Shen Chi needing to ask, the system had already identified the gossip. [Yo, the cannon-fodder clique. Ruan Shangxue was egged on by them to bully the male lead’s love interest. After Ruan Shangxue became cannon fodder, they went up themselves. In the end, every one of them who came forward was dealt with by the male lead gong. Tsk, tsk, tsk…]
[Speaking of which, the reason they bully Ruan Shangxue is because their families all cling to Mrs. Ruan’s thigh. Their words are full of contempt for Ruan Shangxue, but they don’t even think about how Ruan Shangxue came to exist. Wasn’t it because Old Man Ruan fooled around himself? If he could have controlled his **, could Ruan Shangxue have been created?]
The words were crude, but the logic was not wrong. Still, the system really said it too crudely.
[Chi-zi, I’m telling you, if Ruan Shangxue hadn’t differentiated into an Omega at eighteen, she wouldn’t even have been able to enter the Ruan family.]
This did help Shen Chi understand how Ruan Shangxue’s personality had been formed.
“Oh, isn’t this Miss Ruan?”
“What Miss Ruan? In terms of ranking, she can’t be the eldest. In terms of birth, she’s even less qualified.”
“Ruan Shangxue, where are your lackeys? Why didn’t you bring them today? Instead, you changed to a male lackey?”
…
This group spoke one after another, chattering nonstop. Each of them seemed to be smiling, but their malice was overwhelming.
If it had been before, Ruan Shangxue would definitely have exploded at the slightest spark. But today, she suddenly looked toward Shen Chi.
Shen Chi did not disappoint her. Facing the small group’s attack, he smiled faintly and said politely and gentlemanly, “Hello, everyone. I am Shen Chi, secretary to President Lu Chenzhou of the Lu Group.”
Although he was only a small secretary, the prefix “Lu Chenzhou” instantly suppressed everyone.
As the saying went, even when beating a dog, one had to look at its owner. You could look down on a secretary, but who would dare look down on Lu Chenzhou’s secretary?
[Impressive, Little Chi.] The system was also stunned. [So you can introduce yourself like that too!]
Shen Chi said, “This is called borrowing power.”
The small group that had been surrounding them with malicious intent now all had strange and twisted expressions.
If it was just Shen Chi alone, then although he was good-looking, could good looks be eaten as food? They would still look down on him.
But now, things were different…
They froze in place, unwilling to leave just like that. They could only glare resentfully at Ruan Shangxue.
Just then, a low and icy voice pierced through from behind.
The originally lively banquet fell silent on the spot because of that one voice.
“Secretary Shen.”
In an instant, everyone looked toward Shen Chi in the corner.
