Chapter 37: Chapter 37 Noble Lady vs. Reborn Foster Daughter (Part 5)
“Miss Cheng, I’ve long admired your reputation.” A young gentleman with a glass of red wine in hand approached Gu Shengyin.
Gu Shengyin smiled at him, picking up her glass and sipping lightly.
After dismissing that man, Cheng Xizhi looked around and found an inconspicuous corner to sit down.
This banquet was held to celebrate the major joint project between the Cheng clan and the Yuen Group, both of which were behemoths in the business community of Hua City. Almost every prominent figure in the city’s business circle was present.
As the Cheng family’s only daughter, Cheng Xizhi naturally received a lot of admiration. Moreover, her father, Cheng Zhensheng, was famously devoted to his daughter.
For many a young master of modest worth, marrying Cheng Xizhi would mean securing a tie with the towering Cheng clan.
Gu Shengyin was quite impatient with these overtures; in her previous world, she had given her heart to Ji Yu. As someone “created,” Gu Shengyin’s view on affection was quite straightforward—her heart was small and could only accommodate one person.
At the moment, she sat in a hidden corner, watching with a cold eye as Cheng Yiru mingled effortlessly among the guests.
As the adopted daughter of the Chengs, Cheng Yiru’s popularity couldn’t match Cheng Xizhi’s, but she was still flattered by most people there.
Cheng Yiru enjoyed this kind of attention.
She thought back to the last days of her previous life when she was unable to entertain guests due to a severe illness and had no financial means to continue living in a upscale neighborhood, thus moving into a dilapidated low-rent apartment.
Every day, the hallways were filled with a cacophony of dialects cursing, children’s crying, and honking cars below; the environment was filthy and chaotic, a veritable nightmare!
And now? She was still the illustrious Miss Cheng of the Cheng family. Her previous life’s despair seemed like a distant nightmare, and she vowed never to let herself fall into that state again in this lifetime.
“Miss Cheng,” a deep voice interrupted Gu Shengyin’s reverie.
Gu Shengyin lifted her head to see an unfamiliar man. She frowned slightly—his aura was so aggressive it made one involuntarily tense.
However, Gu Shengyin merely furrowed her brow. In her previous life as Empress, what kind of person had she not seen? This man wasn’t enough to make her lose her composure.
Yuan Xu was somewhat surprised; he had trained for a time in his youth with his military uncle and had developed a formidable presence, honed in the heat of conflict, which generally overwhelmed others. Yet, this delicate-looking young lady appeared unfazed.
Yuan Xu raised an eyebrow. It seemed that Miss Cheng of the Cheng family was not as innocent and harmless as she seemed.
“Hello, I’m Yuan Xu.” Yuan Xu extended his hand.
So he was Yuen Hang’s brother, the young master of the Yuen Corporation. Gu Shengyin understood.
“Mr. Yuen, a pleasure to meet you.” Gu Shengyin extended her hand to shake hands with Yuan Xu.
So smooth. That was Yuan Xu’s first thought.
The warm touch in his hand stirred something within him, as if he was holding a piece of warm jade.
No wonder the ancients spoke of ‘gentle jade and warm fragrance’; indeed, such women did exist.
There wasn’t much conversation between the two, just the occasional remark here and there as they sat quietly; the atmosphere was surprisingly comfortable, a stark contrast to the liveliness of the main hall, evoking a sense of ease amid the tumult of life.
“I should go make my speech now.” Yuan Xu stood to leave, feeling an unexpected reluctance to do so.
Gu Shengyin stood out of politeness to see him off, but the long hem of her dress hindered her movements. She stumbled, and her whole body tilted towards the ground.
“Be careful!” Gu Shengyin fell into a set of broad arms, and at the same time, a familiar scent of lotus reached her nose.