Everything that shouldn’t be shown is well covered, just this little requirement.
"So reluctantly, do I have poor taste?" she asked skeptically.
"No, it’s just that I don’t really want to go anymore," Gu Annan said, his gaze fixed and his tone indifferent and lazy.
Lu Wanwan stepped forward and took his arm, "Let’s go."
His lips curved into a smile, and they finally headed out together.
The banquet hall was huge, with a whole floor of the luxurious Imperial Palace Hotel reserved for the event.
The moment the two entered, they attracted countless gazes—groves of men and women looked their way, filled with astonishment and curiosity.
Since when did Manchester have such personages—a man of distinguished grace, a woman elegant and composed—obviously not just ordinary folks.
"That woman looks familiar—wasn’t she the one involved in that big commotion at Jin’an not long ago?"
"Lu Jingtian’s eldest daughter, I heard she’s not so well-regarded at home, suppressed by her stepmother."
"I heard Lu Jingtian’s wife has just received a court summons, she’ll have to appear in court right after getting out of the hospital, she was sued by her."
"It might just be a tactic to fight over assets, after turning the tables, of course, she can’t leave the other side a chance to retaliate."
"Who’s the man with her? There was initially talk that she had a powerful backer, but then things reversed too quickly, and it all fizzled out."
"I heard she’s engaged to someone from the Gu family—is that Gu Shao?"
Lu Wanwan heard some of the murmured voices but didn’t pay them any attention.
She was just slightly surprised to find that in such a setting, more people recognized her than recognized Gu Annan.
Since Gu Annan took over the Gu family business, he had always kept a low profile, declined media interviews, and only attended private gatherings.
There were many power brokers in Manchester who recognized him, but very few had actually had dealings with him.
Those of the older generation who had direct business interactions with the Gu family knew him as the forceful heir of the Gu family; second-generation officials and tycoons not yet privy to these circles mostly didn’t recognize him.
"Don’t mind what they’re saying," he whispered to her, holding her hand as they entered the hall.
She nodded nonchalantly.
"Wanwan. No, I should call you sister-in-law now,"
Lu Wanwan turned and saw Ji Shaoyang, impeccably dressed and dashing, approaching.
He had an attractive young woman on his arm with a clear and lovely visage, young-looking with eyes bright as water, and a somewhat awkward smile on her face.
She seemed ill at ease in this setting yet curious about everything.
Lu Wanwan smiled, "Brother Shaoyang."
Ji Shaoyang smiled back, but remembering the recent incident with Ji Jiayi, felt a bit awkward inside.
"I’ll invite you over to my place next time, and nothing like that will happen again."
"What incident?" the young beauty beside him asked softly.
Mentioning the incident made Ji Shaoyang want to facepalm; he changed the subject and said, "Qiaoqiao, let me introduce you—this is Gu Shao, my best friend, and that’s his wife, Lu Wanwan, beside him."
Gu Annan was in a good mood and uncharacteristically responded, "It’s the first time I’ve seen you introduce me to someone ."
The implication was clear that this lady was no ordinary companion.
Lu Wanwan was surprised, "How does he usually introduce you then?"
He raised his eyebrows slightly, "He doesn’t."
"Isn’t that because you find it too troublesome?" Ji Shaoyang said with a smile, then turned to Lu Wanwan, "This is Wen Qiao, a friend of mine."
"Hello, Mrs. Gu," Wen Qiao greeted her politely with a smile.
"Just call me Wanwan," she said.
The arm around her waist tightened a little.
She looked up, and the man’s expression was faintly disgruntled as he asked languidly, "Is ’Mrs. Gu’ not allowed?"
"Why should a friend of Brother Shaoyang call me something so formal?"
He nodded, "Fine, then call me sister-in-law."