Since inheriting the company, Meng Nianchu had lost count of how many times she'd heard such sarcastic remarks about her young age and female gender. She'd grown so accustomed to them that they no longer bothered her.
She remained calm, not taking them to heart.
Mu Junze, however, stared daggers at Uncle Wang's back as if he could bore a hole through him.
Meng Nianchu tugged at Mu Junze's corner of his clothes. Mu Junze lowered his eyes and looked at her. Meng Nianchu motioned towards the person slowly descending the stairs on the second floor.
Following her gaze, Mu Junze frowned.
As if seeing through Mu Junze's confusion, Meng Nianchu whispered, "I heard that Linda invested a huge sum in Aishang Group two days ago. As the second - largest shareholder after the president, it's no surprise she'd show up at an event like this."
Moreover, the Aishang Group she invested in was a bitter rival of Meng Nianchu's company.
Watching Linda mingle with several industry bigwigs in the hall after coming downstairs, Meng Nianchu leaned a bit closer to Mu Junze.
At this moment, Li Xiao, who had rushed over after changing clothes at home, appeared in the hall in a hurry. Since she only knew Meng Nianchu, she instinctively walked over to her.
"There are many well - known designers here. You can communicate with them and see how their creations come about. If you're too shy to start a conversation, there's food in the corner. You can go sit there and rest."
In fact, Meng Nianchu had brought Li Xiao along mainly to calm her own nerves and have a companion. If Li Xiao could really build a good relationship with the designers, it would be a pleasant surprise. But if she remained unnoticed, it was also expected.
Meng Nianchu didn't intend to force anything.
Li Xiao nodded, and suddenly her gaze fell on Meng Nianchu's shoulder.
Noticing her look, Meng Nianchu looked down. "What's wrong?"
Li Xiao didn't say a word. She simply reached out and took off the tiny rose on Meng Nianchu's shoulder.
"Too many decorations."
Meng Nianchu chuckled. Just as she was about to say something, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a white figure walking towards them.
"This place is really bustling."
Linda's grating voice sounded from behind.
The smile on Meng Nianchu's face immediately vanished. She glared coldly at Linda.
Linda sized up Li Xiao beside her and snorted. "You really had the nerve to come to such a big event, Meng Nianchu. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at by everyone here? Even Mu Junze won't be able to help you then."
"Laughed at?" Mu Junze pulled Meng Nianchu behind him. His tall frame stood in front of Linda. He stared down at her with his deep, dark eyes, radiating a menacing aura. "Who do you think will be laughed at?"
"Junze, I didn't mean you," Linda said in a flurry of panic.
Mu Junze straightened up and didn't even bother to look at her again. "A person who's been sent to the United States by the Meng family still has the nerve to be so aggressive?"
This simple remark hit Linda like a knife in the heart.
"Junze, how could you talk to me like that!" There was a sob in her voice. "I became like this because of Meng Nianchu. If she hadn't snatched you away and taken everything that belonged to me, I wouldn't have had to get plastic surgery and become a stranger to myself! What did I do wrong!"
Mu Junze was really tired of listening to her distort the facts and spout nonsense. He coldly grabbed Meng Nianchu's hand and walked away.
Seeing that they were leaving, and not knowing this out - of - control Linda, Li Xiao quickly followed them. In her haste, she suddenly stumbled and bumped into Linda.
This gave the pent - up Linda an outlet to vent her anger. She grabbed Li Xiao's shoulders and pushed her back hard. "Are you blind? Didn't you see me standing here? Did you do it on purpose!"
In her anger, she didn't control her volume, and her words immediately caught everyone's attention in the hall.
Seeing Linda bullying her employee, Meng Nianchu walked back and supported Li Xiao.
Linda stared at Meng Nianchu with red - rimmed eyes. "Like boss, like employee! Working under a disgusting woman like you, she can't be any good. She did it on purpose to bump into me!"
"If you're not afraid of making a fool of yourself, you can keep shouting. Then everyone will get to see your crazy outburst and laugh at you!" Meng Nianchu retorted angrily.
Linda gasped for air and glanced at the people looking at them.
Meng Nianchu supported Li Xiao and sat her on a small chair in the corner to rest.
People around were whispering. Linda covered her ears and ran upstairs.
"You don't need to take her seriously. Just think of it as a dog barking." Meng Nianchu took a glass of champagne and put it in Li Xiao's hand.
Li Xiao nodded. "I know."
After experiencing Linda's near - crazy attack as soon as she arrived at the venue, Li Xiao had no more interest in wandering around the hall. She just sat obediently in the corner and didn't move.
Meng Nianchu and Mu Junze worked for different companies and faced different partners. Meng Nianchu wanted to take this opportunity to find more partners for her company. Coincidentally, someone also came to talk to Mu Junze about cooperation, so they separated to handle their own affairs.
The things she'd learned from Mu Junze and the company's seniors in recent days came in handy during her conversations. Several potential partners who had come to test her business skills now showed interest in cooperation.
Meng Nianchu was chatting away with them, unaware that two pairs of eyes on the second floor had already set their sights on her.
"This woman has a good appearance. Later, you find someone to quietly turn off the big lights. Then, take advantage of the chaos to kidnap Meng Nianchu. No one will notice. There are no cameras here. Who will know who did it?"
"Miss Linda really understands me," said Old Li, stroking her slender waist after hearing Linda's meaningful words. He stared at Meng Nianchu downstairs with lecherous eyes.
Linda let out a couple of giggles. "Of course I'm thinking about you, Old Li. But you have to be quick then. You can't let others find out, especially Mu Junze. Otherwise, I don't know how to explain it."
"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."
Meng Nianchu downstairs had a graceful figure. Her every smile and movement exuded charm, making Old Li itch with desire.
Everyone in the hall was having a great time. Many people had successfully negotiated deals and landed big orders. Meng Nianchu was no exception. She exchanged phone numbers with the charming woman in front of her and said with a smile, "See you at the company tomorrow."
"Okay."
Meng Nianchu was secretly happy. Looking at the well - dressed people in the hall, she sighed. No wonder it was a top - notch event. It was so easy to negotiate deals.
Satisfied, she wanted to find Mu Junze to share this good news. Just then, the big lights in the hall suddenly went out.
The hall was plunged into darkness.
Meng Nianchu was startled. Suddenly, someone covered her mouth and dragged her backwards.