"Enough, no more pictures!"
With Gan Yuan stealing the spotlight like that, Nancy felt dissatisfied and bumped into a reporter who was about to snap a photo of Gan Yuan, shoving them aside.
Behind the reporter were the stairs, and with this push, they nearly lost footing, one foot dangling in the air.
"Be careful!" Gan Yuan took a step forward and caught the reporter’s arm before they could tumble down the stairs. "There are steps!"
The reporter regained balance and immediately thanked her with a grateful look.
Nodding to the reporter, Gan Yuan moved forward and ascended the podium with Nancy.
The podium was already filled with VIP guests, all wealthy and noble by default; if not descended from aristocrats, then certainly from distinguished families.
Seeing Nancy bringing Gan Yuan over, everyone showed different expressions.
Aside from a few old scholars, most men displayed a friendly demeanor.
After all, who could manage a cold face towards such a beautiful woman, and to add to that, she was the Prince’s lady; only a fool would dare glare at her.
The women, meanwhile, harbored their own thoughts, each carrying unspoken desires. Although they all envied Huangfu Jue in silence, no woman had truly won him, so among themselves, they managed a peaceful coexistence.
Now, with the sudden appearance of Gan Yuan, winning Huangfu Jue’s favor, the younger girls easily saw her as the enemy of all women.
Those with simpler thoughts either snorted coldly in disdain or chose to ignore her existence.
The more cunning ones pretended to be friendly, nodding to her with haughty grace as greeting.
Seeing everyone keeping their distance, Nancy finally felt a bit better and immediately pretended to have a sudden realization, slapping her forehead.
"Look at my memory, I completely forgot to save you a seat. Let’s see..." Nancy glanced around and then her gaze fell on a corner seat she had left on purpose, "That one is too to the side. Why don’t you take my seat instead?"
Gan Yuan looked at Nancy’s seat. "That would be too presumptuous of me. I think I’ll just sit at the back?"
"How could that be? If Elroy found out, he might think I’m bullying you," Nancy feigned generosity, "Just take my seat. We’re friends, aren’t we? Why be so formal?"
"Well then..." Gan Yuan smiled, "I won’t be polite!"
Nancy had prepared a set of polite refusals, but hearing this, she stood agape, frozen in place.
She had offered her seat fully expecting Gan Yuan would not dare take it, but to her surprise... she accepted!
While Nancy was still stunned, someone walked up beside the two of them.
"Gan?! You’re here too!"
Gan Yuan turned and saw the man standing behind her, clad in a light grey suit—none other than the playboy Abel.
"Come on, sit down!" Abel grabbed her arm and pulled her into Nancy’s vacant seat, then he took his own spot beside it, "I never imagined we’d meet again so soon!"
"Yes, neither did I," Gan Yuan said with a smile, exchanging pleasantries with him.
Courting the friendship of someone with Abel’s status was certainly better than making an enemy.
Although Abel was known for his lustful ways, compared to someone as despicable as Nancy or the self-righteous aristocrats, Gan Yuan found Abel’s sincerity more to her liking.
Nancy had plans to arrange another seat for Gan Yuan, but as she watched Abel pull her to his own, her heart nearly burst with frustration, helpless to do anything about it.