Meng Nianchu gave a faint smile, her heart remaining utterly calm.
She was cold in attitude. Most of the people flattering in front of her were only eager to get a share of the pie from Mu Junze. Naturally, they wouldn't spend much time on her. Instead, they turned their attention back to Mu Junze, wishing they could pour out all the compliments they knew on him.
Meng Nianchu stole glances at the direction where the cakes were placed from time to time.
Suddenly, a man with extremely ugly features and an obese figure barged into her sight. She frowned slightly and watched as he staggered up to Mu Junze.
Jin Hui also sized Meng Nianchu up and down when he saw her.
Mu Junze noticed him and subtly pulled Meng Nianchu behind him.
"I've long known that Mr. Mu is married. I didn't expect the bride to be so beautiful," Jin Hui said.
Mu Junze's expression grew even grimmer.
The people who had been flattering around immediately made excuses and left when they saw Jin Hui coming.
Jin Hui smirked, "I heard that Mr. Mu is planning to expand into the American market recently. That's quite an ambition. But for such a great real - estate project this time, it can't be that Mr. Mu gets all the benefits while the rest of us just watch."
"What do you mean?" Mu Junze asked coldly.
Jin Hui rubbed the Buddhist beads in his right hand, "I also want this project. Mr. Mu already has other lucrative deals. Why not just give this one to me?"
Mu Junze let out a scoff. Meng Nianchu standing behind him could feel the coldness emanating from him.
"Daydreaming."
As soon as the four words fell, the smile on Jin Hui's face disappeared instantly, replaced by a provocative look, "If Mr. Mu puts it that way, then I'll just have to forcefully take this project."
"I've set my eyes on this project."
Mu Junze's expression remained unchanged, but there was a hint of mockery in his eyes, "You need to have the ability first."
He tightened his grip on Meng Nianchu's wrist. The next second, he pulled her towards the stairs.
As they walked up the stairs, Meng Nianchu glanced back inadvertently. Jin Hui was staring at Mu Junze with a venomous look in his eyes, and the veins on the back of his right hand rubbing the Buddhist beads were bulging.
It was obvious that he meant no good.
Meng Nianchu worriedly held Mu Junze's hand back, "You need to be careful of that man."
Hearing her reminder, Mu Junze turned to look at her. Seeing her worried face, the corner of Mu Junze's mouth twitched slightly. He let go of her hand and instead put his arm around her waist. His thin lips approached her ear, and he said in a deep voice, "I know."
...
This party was a birthday party specially prepared by Zhang Zhi, a listed company executive in the US, for his youngest daughter, Zhang Chengcheng. Mu Junze had originally planned to talk to him about the project, but was rebuffed by Zhang Zhi's firm words that he wouldn't discuss business while accompanying his daughter.
Since he couldn't force the man to talk business, Mu Junze had to hold back his impatience.
Just as they were about to turn around and go downstairs, Zhang Zhi, who was standing in front of a closed room, suddenly knocked on the door and said softly, "Honey, daddy really forgot to buy that particular birthday cake for you. But the one daddy just bought tastes even better. Can you come out first?"
"No!"
A childish girl's voice came from inside the room, "I want that cake! Daddy is a bad guy. I don't want to talk to you anymore!"
Zhang Zhi was at a loss. He panicked and explained, "Daddy didn't do it on purpose. Daddy has been too busy with work and just forgot. How about daddy goes to buy it for you now? Come out and eat something first."
"I don't want it!"
"You child..."
Meng Nianchu, who saw this scene not far away, pondered for a moment. Then she lifted the sides of her skirt and walked over, "Can I give it a try?" she asked tentatively.
Since there was no other way, Zhang Zhi had to nod and stepped aside.
Meng Nianchu knocked on the door, "Hello, my name is Meng Nianchu. What's your name?"
"It's none of your business!" came the extremely arrogant reply.
Just as Zhang Zhi was about to say something for his daughter, Meng Nianchu said with a gentle smile, "Mr. Zhang forgot to buy the cake because of his work. But that doesn't mean that work is more important to him than you. He just wants to give you a better living environment, so he's been too busy."
There was a moment of silence in the room.
Knowing that Zhang Chengcheng had listened to her words, Meng Nianchu continued, "I'll tell you a secret. Sister can also make birthday cakes. No matter how delicious others' cakes are, they're not unique. Do you want to make one by yourself?"
After two more seconds of silence, there were footsteps from inside. Soon, the door was opened from the inside.
Zhang Chengcheng, a five - year - old girl in a light yellow dress, stood at the door with her arms crossed, "Will you teach me?"
"Of course."
Meng Nianchu held out her hand, and Zhang Chengcheng blushed and took it.
"The kitchen is over there. Come with me."
The two walked side by side towards the kitchen. Seeing that Meng Nianchu had managed to coax his little daughter out of the room so quickly, Zhang Zhi let out a sigh of relief.
He turned his attention to Mu Junze. Seeing the red folder in his hand, he took the initiative to bring up the project, "Since Mr. Mu has brought the materials, why don't we have a talk first?"
"Okay." Mu Junze was slightly taken aback. Then he walked into the room with Zhang Zhi. He glanced at the direction where Meng Nianchu disappeared, a faint smile on his lips.
Maybe not used to being touched by others, Zhang Chengcheng's fair and tender face was as red as a little tomato when she held Meng Nianchu's hand.
The night before, Meng Nianchu had searched for information about Zhang Zhi on the Internet out of boredom. She found that he had divorced his wife three years ago and won the custody of the child.
But in the past two years, his company had been extremely busy with projects. Probably because of this, he had less time to spend with his child, which led to Zhang Chengcheng's strange behavior.
Meng Nianchu looked at Zhang Chengcheng with even more pity.
Suddenly, Zhang Chengcheng stopped in her tracks. At the same time, Meng Nianchu sensed a figure in front of them.
"Mu Junze is really too trusting. He dares to let such a beautiful woman like you come out alone. Isn't he afraid you'll be snatched away?"
Jin Hui said as he approached.
Meng Nianchu pulled Zhang Chengcheng behind her and stared at him warily.
Seeing the guard in her eyes, Jin Hui sneered, "I haven't done anything wrong. Why does Miss Meng look at me as if I've committed some heinous crime?"
Not wanting to waste any more words on him, Meng Nianchu was about to lead Zhang Chengcheng to the kitchen.
Jin Hui blocked her way.
As they confronted each other, the light in Jin Hui's eyes gradually turned cold, "Miss Meng acts so prim and proper in public, but you're actually quite disgusting behind the scenes."