The doorman at the entrance stepped forward.
"Sorry, no invitation, no entry. Please leave."
Seeing Jiang Lai being blocked outside, Wang Nan Nan finally felt a bit relieved, but this wasn't enough. Just being stopped was too easy on Jiang Lai, that bitch.
"You don't have an invitation? Then who did you come with?"
Li Yahan chimed in from the side.
"Need I say more? Obviously, she came with President Shen, right Jiang Lai?"
These two knew Jiang Lai's temperament too well. As long as something involved Shen Liao, Jiang Lai would be like an idiot. Now, in the presence of all these distinguished figures from Jiang City, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Jiang Lai. After all, everything she had done before was just to squeeze into their circle openly and legitimately.
Wang Nan Nan looked at Jiang Lai, a smile rising on her face, reverting to her original kind appearance for that moment.
"Jiang Lai, why don't I go in and find President Shen for you, and say that his... girlfriend is looking for him?"
Girlfriend?
Wang Nan Nan's voice wasn't quiet, and the people standing nearby could hear it clearly.
Among those present today, there were only two people who could be referred to as President Shen. Could it be that this was Shen An's girlfriend?
At this moment, Wang Nan Nan added another sentence.
"Shen An, hurry and get your brother to come pick her up!"
Only then did everyone realize that Shen An had been watching from a short distance away. Hearing Wang Nan Nan say this, all eyes turned to Jiang Lai with surprise!
Shen Liao's girlfriend?!
"Since when did President Shen have a girlfriend?"
"Impossible, if she were President Shen's girlfriend, how come she doesn't have an invitation?"
"Looks unfamiliar, how come I've never seen her before?"
With Wang Nan Nan's words, all eyes were cast her way, filled with doubt and scrutiny, mixed with Li Yahan's mocking smile.
"She uses President Shen's secondary card everywhere she goes and tells us she's going to marry him. Although President Shen never admitted it, if she's not a girlfriend, what is she?"
What is she?
In an instant, everyone's eyes were filled with meaningful looks.
There was a good amount of ridicule and disdain in the way people looked at Jiang Lai, with many harboring ill intentions.
Seeing Jiang Lai not speaking, as if she acquiesced to what they said.
"Psh, isn't she just a mistress."
"How dare she come here? Really doesn't care about throwing Shen Liao's face."
"I bet if Shen Liao saw her, he'd pretend not to know her."
"This woman is really clueless, doesn't she know her own identity? Yet she tries to mingle with us."
Wang Nan Nan looked down at Jiang Lai from above, observing the subtle changes in her expression, eagerly anticipating her humiliation with hysterics. She hoped Jiang Lai would call out to Shen Liao now, saving her the effort of bringing him over.
After waiting for a long time, at the entrance, Jiang Lai stood expressionless, clutching her small purse, standing there with a calm demeanor as if they weren't talking about her, but someone else.
Wang Nan Nan couldn't help but clench her bag, not seeing the scene she imagined; her heart was stuck, neither up nor down.
"Shen An, go get your brother, let him see who's standing outside."
Hearing this, Shen An found it amusing.
"What a joke, if my brother finds out I brought her, I'd be done for."
"Didn't you bring her? Don't you want to see Jiang Lai humiliated?"
Shen An wanted to.
But he wasn't stupid. If Jiang Lai got humiliated, his brother's face wouldn't look good either. If Shen Liao found out it was all his doing, his jewelry store plans would be kaput.
"I'm not going. Whoever wants to go can go."
Wang Nan Nan gritted her teeth, looking at Li Yahan.
"Yahan, you go."
Li Yahan owed her money, so after a moment's hesitation, she lifted her skirt and headed inside.
Now that was better. Once Shen Liao arrived, seeing him publicly declare he doesn't know Jiang Lai, Jiang Lai's expression would definitely be interesting!
Wasn't she dreaming of being acknowledged by Shen Liao?
Wasn't she dreaming of becoming a socialite?
She should have known long ago how far she was from their circle, how low her status was, and how all her efforts would come to naught, proving she was nothing but a pauper...
The excitement reached its peak, but the man who suddenly appeared beside Jiang Lai made her heart skip a beat.
Xu Guang?!
Why was he standing next to Jiang Lai?
No, why was Jiang Lai holding Xu Guang's arm?!
What was their relationship?!
Wang Nan Nan was stunned, all eyes around her also turned toward her.
"Ah, so this lady is Mr. Xu's companion."
"The Xu family's game company has been doing better and better, its market value is nearly ten billion after going public."
"Why did Wang Nan Nan say she was Shen Liao's companion?"
"Shh, doesn't everyone know Wang Nan Nan likes Xu Guang? She's probably jealous, spreading lies to ruin someone's reputation!"
"Tsk, tsk, such a schemer. What did this nice girl ever do to her?"
"Forget it, let's stay away from her, let's go inside."
Hearing these voices, Wang Nan Nan breathed rapidly, her mind went blank, and she couldn't control her feet from walking toward the approaching pair. It was only when she stood before Xu Guang and Jiang Lai that she realized how ridiculous her expression must be.
"You... you know each other?"
Jiang Lai's lips curved into a smile as she held onto Xu Guang's arm, looking at Wang Nan Nan's expression, she understood.
Without needing her to say much, Xu Guang spoke first.
"This is our company's new original illustrator, Jiang Lai."
Original illustrator?
Jiang Lai?
What is all this?
A series of unexpected events completely stripped Wang Nan Nan of her previous confidence and elegance. The little calm she had left was entirely focused on Xu Guang.
How did Jiang Lai hook up with Xu Guang?!
How could she, how dare she!!
Xu Guang gave Wang Nan Nan a puzzled look, finding her inexplicable, then turned to continue apologizing to Jiang Lai.
"I'm sorry, I should have come to get you. Something at the company delayed me for a bit. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. How about I punish myself with a few drinks later?"
"I didn't wait too long, just couldn't have peace with all that barking nearby."
"Barking?"
Xu Guang was a bit confused, then smiled wryly upon realizing what Jiang Lai was insinuating.
"Thank you, Miss Jiang, for gracing me as my companion."
The two exchanged words, completely ignoring Wang Nan Nan on the opposite side.
Wang Nan Nan watched helplessly as the man she liked walked into the banquet hall with Jiang Lai's arm in his. After countless deep breaths, she finally couldn't suppress her inner anger and jealousy.