Two

"I’m sorry, I need to go to the... restroom," she said deliberately in a vague tone. As she stood up, she pretended to have weak legs, her body feeling light, and she "accidentally" stumbled, nearly falling...

Having adjusted her chaotic emotions, she once again entered the private room

Unexpectedly, a pair of strong arms caught her faltering body, and then, her body was held tightly.

He replied nonchalantly: "Everyone can see what I want to do, don't say you can't tell."

The banquet had just begun, and she had not yet had the chance to eat something to settle her stomach when everyone began to raise their glasses frequently, each time with various reasons to include her. Even the two young divas and the newlyweds recognized the situation and persistently toasted her, addressing her as "senior" with such fervor that she began to doubt whether she had truly become old and faded.

Having concluded an unpleasant conversation, they returned to the private room

How could she not want to take advantage of this opportunity to rise in status, yet every opportunity comes at a cost

He is the only one who helped her cover it up

Everyone knows that the so-called celebrity dinner parties are not about the food; they are about the gathering itself

"He is truly your fan; he has saved many of your photos on his phone," the portly and balding executive added knowingly. "Miss Jiang, you should toast him a few extra times tonight"

He still understands her so well

He indeed continued to flatter: "I speak from the heart. If it weren't for your noble character, emerging untainted from the mud, you would have long been the leading actress of our Century Media, with no awards like the Golden Statue or the Golden Rooster going to anyone else..."

Endure? It's easy for you to say. Let me see you endure it.

A glass of red wine appeared before her; without needing to raise her eyes, she could tell who was holding the glass just by the slender fingers.

... ...

Later, she learned that this portly, big-eared CEO was Mr. Liu, the investor of "The Ascendant." He had "accidentally" discovered her photo on Zheng Wei's phone and, upon realizing his "particular fondness" for her, immediately arranged this dinner, hoping to take the opportunity to strengthen their relationship. Unfortunately, he chose the wrong person; she had always been more of a hindrance than a help in such matters.

She enthusiastically reached out to grab the wine bottle, intending to pour him a drink, but he was a step ahead, filling the wine glass in front of her with red wine. The bright red hue flowed along the crystalline walls of the glass, and the tart aroma of the grapes aggressively assaulted her senses, ... causing a tingling sensation at the bridge of her nose as well ...

She shook her head firmly, her voice clear and resolute, "How could I trouble you, Director Zheng"

She took a deep breath, striving to imagine some happy things, such as her acting career turning around from today, and that she would rise from the second tier to the first tier. With this thought, her state of mind suddenly became much more expansive

Tilting my head back, I drained a glass of red wine, swallowing all the heartache mixed with the wine.

Li Xun hurriedly ran to report to General Liu, who nodded vigorously as he listened to Li Xun's whispers

President Liu has repeatedly clinked glasses with her, making various explicit and implicit suggestions that she must ensure Director Zheng is well entertained. As long as she keeps him happy, the leading role in "Rising to Power" will be hers.

Unable to count how many bottles of red wine she had consumed, she truly felt a bit drunk afterward. Her head was heavy, and her thoughts were somewhat muddled, but fortunately, her awareness remained clear. She understood that their intention was to get her drunk, so it was better to be drunk early than late

Is that so? Are you saying I sold it at a loss? These unscrupulous merchants... She portrayed an expression of deep sorrow and regret very convincingly, and then did not forget to add a very constructive suggestion: "How about this, when you give me a birthday gift next year, you include the receipt so I can return it directly, that would be much more convenient"

She turned her gaze with a charming smile. "You must remember my great kindness and grace!"

Under the ambiguous and subtle gazes of the crowd, she was half-dragged and half-held by him out of the private room. Just before exiting, she caught a glimpse of General Manager Liu's approving look, estimating that the role of the leading lady was already within her reach, almost tangible.

Good!

Jian Ru straightened her body in shock, not caring about the phrases "weak legs" or "floating body"; she struggled with all her might. Unfortunately, the four years of military academy training were not in vain, and the arms that held her were as unyielding as steel. Instead, her desperate struggles only tightened the embrace further.

After getting acquainted with several other executives and warmly greeting the senior management of the brokerage company, Jian Ru was unsurprisingly arranged to sit next to Zheng Wei

Not a problem! This place is too large, and I am afraid you might get lost when you return and go to the wrong location

Cannot forget, cannot forget

This time, Jian Ru was determined to face death on the battlefield, drinking as heartily as she could. After all, what was meant to happen was beyond her control; rather than confronting it soberly, she preferred to get herself so drunk that she was oblivious to everything, thus sparing herself the effort of trying to forget.

... ...

Due to the sensitive nature of his work, Li Xun did not speak out, cleverly shifting the topic: "You must know him without me having to introduce him, right?"

The familiar scent wafts past the nose, a refreshing aroma of mint mingled with a subtle hint of tobacco

... ...

He always knows how to touch her heart. Just as she always knows how to hurt him.

He pressed his thin lips lightly and said, "That was custom-made for me in France, one of a kind"

There is no need for an introduction, Zheng Wei naturally stood up, took her hand, and said with profound meaning: "Miss Jian's acting is something I will never forget in my lifetime"

Of course I know! How could I not know?" Jian Ru naturally extended her hand, her flattering expression perfected to an art. "Director Zheng, I will have to rely on you for more guidance in the future!"

She set down the wine glass she was about to lift and listened to him continue speaking

It is no wonder, as she has created a mess for him more than once

She smiled as she raised her glass and responded, "It's settled! Therefore, tonight, I will definitely accompany you to the end with all my heart"

Suppressing her pent-up resentment, she decided to get straight to the point. "What exactly do you want?"

After turning through the corridor and reaching a place beyond the gaze of others, he finally let her go, casually smoothing the disheveled strands of hair that had become tangled from her strenuous struggle

I will accompany you. His voice was deep and resolute

Li Xun watched her smile as she played with the red wine glass in her hand, seemingly lost in thought, and believed that she was somewhat moved, prompting him to redouble his efforts: "I know you don't care about these things, but this time, even if you are not afraid of being blacklisted, please consider me. I have elderly parents and young children to support; my livelihood depends entirely on you"

He was speaking incessantly, determined to continue until he achieved his goal. Unexpectedly, Jian Ru directly interjected, "Alright, I'll go! I will definitely take care of the person... However, I want to play the lead female role."

She did not dare to look at his expression, faintly hearing that his breathing had become much heavier

No response

Calmly consider, what is the use of asking? They have power, influence, and a good father. They can choose to provoke whomever they wish. She is just a second-rate actress, what qualifications or abilities does she have to oppose them

I understand that you have your limits and principles. However, if you choose not to give face to General Liu, that is one thing, but it has been specifically instructed from above that Director Zheng must not be offended at all. My dear sister, I am personally asking you as your younger brother to bear with it for a moment, to manage it somehow. I will always remember your great kindness and virtue!

After a silence of more than ten seconds, he glanced at the dazzling sapphire ring on her index finger: "This is the birthday gift I gave you, do you like it?"

She has dealt with numerous situations, both big and small, but has never encountered one as difficult to handle as this.

Regarding this topic, she was completely unguarded, and after a moment of surprise, she sweetly replied: "I like it, it's very valuable. I sold it for 50,000 yuan, which is enough for my sister's living expenses for two months"

She understands that he only does this for the women he cares about. However, she does not understand why, after all that has happened and so many years have passed, he still cares about her

"Have the terms been agreed upon?" His deep voice echoed in her ear

Director Zheng, this is ... ...

Jian Ru glanced at the person beside her, who had remained quietly seated next to her from beginning to end, leisurely savoring his red wine while observing her unprepared responses with a cold gaze. It seemed that in this gathering, he was merely an outsider, completely unrelated to the obscure entanglements surrounding the table.

"Of course I know your intentions for tonight. If it's just for tonight, I can accompany you." She tried twice but still could not face his inscrutable gaze, turning her eyes away. "Anyway, accompanying anyone is still accompanying, I don't mind... I just want to ask, what happens after tonight? Can you stop being so concerned about me? I, Jian Ru, am not blessed enough to bear such concern from you!"

She instinctively stepped back, her first thought was to shout at him: Why me?! You have never lacked women around you, younger and more beautiful than I am, who come and go at your beck and call. Why do you still have to provoke me?! You know very well that I do not want to have any entanglements with you?!

As soon as Li Xun from the Public Relations Department saw her enter, he immediately approached to introduce her to the various dignitaries. His eager demeanor suggested that he was afraid she might turn around and leave, leaving him to deal with the mess.

He did not exhibit the slightest transgression towards her; the only instance of physical contact was when he pulled her slipping dress strap back into place, thereby preventing an inadvertent exposure. Throughout the dinner party, where he had been engaging in pretense for so long, the men present were all fixated on the peaks of her chest, wishing they could strip her of her clothing to indulge their eyes.

I truly want to endure and show you, but unfortunately, I do not possess the unparalleled grace of your sister

Jian Ru is in the bathroom, reapplying her eyebrows and eyeliner, applying a fiery red lipstick, and adding a heavy dark brown eyeshadow, completely overshadowing her originally delicate features with a glamorous appearance

"Hurry up, keep deceiving..."

The first person Li Xun introduced to her was Zheng Wei, "This is Director Zheng..."

When the atmosphere became lively, Li Xun sat down next to her and leaned in to whisper, "Manager Liu wants to go to KTV after dinner, and he insists that you go to keep Director Zheng company..."

She chuckled twice, "Haha, Director Zheng has overpraised me."

Li Xun was overjoyed, patting his chest and assuring, "Good! Good! Absolutely no problem"

Ah, this is certainly the case