Chapter 13 I Got Played by Him

Then, under the astonished gazes of the chairman and He Cong, I turned and left.

After I walked out of the restaurant's main entrance, Sang Qi followed me.

His teasing laughter hovered over my head, "Did Manager He really molest you?"

"Why would I hit him if he didn't?" I calmly replied.

He didn't speak again.

He clearly knew about my relationship with He Cong but chose not to expose it.

I didn't say anything either, playing mind games with a smart person is quite interesting.

I got into the car, thinking we were going back to the office, but unexpectedly, after he got in, he said to the driver, "Go to Sheng Tang."

Sheng Tang was the mall where I encountered him and Yao Keyi that day; why on earth would we go there?

The driver drove to Sheng Tang, and he got out of the car first.

I was a bit sleepy after eating a full meal, so I leaned back in my seat and dozed off.

He opened the door and yanked me out.

I was a bit dazed, my sleepy eyes fixed on him, "What are you doing?"

He let go of me and walked ahead; I had no choice but to jog behind him to catch up.

He walked into the same boutique we visited that day, and I followed him in.

He tilted his head at the dress in the showcase's C position and said to the sales associate, "Have her try on this dress."

The sales associate immediately complied, not considering that Sang Qi had just been there yesterday and had purchased the same one for Yao Keyi.

The sales associate went to fetch the dress, of which there were only two, both in a one-size-fits-all.

"You're buying it for me?"

"Isn't the card with you?" he said with a smirk.

I had forgotten about that and hurriedly dug out the card to return it to him, "I haven't received my salary yet, and I don't want to spend in advance."

"It's a gift," he took the card back, "Don't dress too shabbily tonight."

I know I'm down at heel, and I also like this dress.

Although Yao Keyi has one too, it doesn't matter; there are only two of these dresses in the entire city. Usually, my T-shirts cost 99 each, and I often end up wearing the same as the aunties at the market.

The sales associate brought the dress with utmost respect and handed it to me, "Miss, please go in and try it on."

She followed me the whole time. When I opened the door to go in, she even stood on tiptoe and used her hand to block the doorframe.

I'm taller than her even without high heels; I don't need her to hold the door for me.

After changing, I stood in front of the dressing mirror looking at myself.

Clothes make the man just as the saddle makes the horse; the old saying couldn't be more correct.

My taste isn't bad; when I say I look better in this than Yao Keyi does, I truly do look better.

The deep khaki satin fabric with coffee-colored edges outlines my figure quite appropriately.

Luckily, my pregnancy doesn't show yet.

I smoothed my short hair and was very pleased with the reflection in the mirror.

There was a type of poised arrogance.

Suddenly, Sang Qi's reflection appeared in the mirror behind me, towering a full head taller.

"Not bad, do you have earrings?"

Just as I was about to say I did, he quickly interjected, "Forget it, let's go buy some now, yours are definitely cheap."

Hmph, I thank him for that.

If it's a gift, why not take it?

The dress was purchased, along with new high heels, sparkling diamond earrings, and even a clutch for me.

I didn't even say thank you as I accepted them, acting more nonchalant than he did.

He looked at me oddly, "You're not like those other women; they all say thank you when they accept my gifts, you don't even have the courtesy."

"If you really want to hear it," I started, but the begrudging 'thank you' simply didn't want to escape my lips.

In the afternoon, he gave me time off to go home and get ready.

I slept all afternoon, then spent twenty minutes doing my makeup and changing my clothes before Xiao He drove me to the cocktail party.

I wasn't new to the world; I had been to such places before.

As a reporter who had seen much and knew much, I wouldn't show any fear.

I was Sang Qi's companion for the evening, and he wore a light beige suit that matched me perfectly.

Such a picky color, yet he wore it with a special flair.

He signaled for me to slip my hand into the crook of his arm, and without any fuss, I hooked onto his arm.

The cocktail party was filled with dignitaries and nobility, and in the past, I always thought about work, looking for stories at such events.

But today, I came here just thinking about the good food.

Eat up first; nothing else mattered.

As soon as we entered the venue, Sang Qi quickly ran into acquaintances and got surrounded, while I found the dining area and headed straight past the cold dishes and drinks to look for seafood and hot dishes.

Who would be foolish enough to come here for cold dishes? I love seafood. Crab legs as thick as my arm—I was going to feast.

I was picking out shrimp with tongs when an exasperated voice came from behind, "Vixen!"

Such a familiar name-calling.

I turned around and saw Yao Keyi standing in front of me.

She was wearing the exact same dress as mine, the same earrings, the same high heels, and even the clutch in her hand was identical.

My mind briefly short-circuited, unable to understand what was happening, when Yao Keyi already swung her hand at me.

I forgot to dodge, and her slap landed solidly on my face, and her long, sharp little fingernail scratched my face, causing great pain.

She wanted to slap me again, but I firmly caught her hand.

My face hurt a lot, but I couldn't attend to it now.

"Miss Yao, what are you doing?" I asked through the pain.

"Vixen! You vixen!" Yao Keyi screamed, nearly going mad with rage, "Today's cocktail party was arranged by Sang Qi for me, what are you doing here dressed exactly like me?"

Sang Qi invited her to come together?

Instinctively, I turned around and saw him on one side of the venue.

He was raising his glass towards my direction, gave it a nod, and downed it in one gulp. My face was burning with pain, and I instantly understood everything.

I cleared all my thoughts from my mind, starting from this morning.

He had me coax Yao Keyi away, then offered me a job.

Then he took me on a business outing, where we ran into He Cong.

He bought me clothes, a purse, shoes, jewelry, and took me to the cocktail party in the evening.

But he had also bought the same set of things for Yao Keyi.

He had made arrangements with Yao Keyi, knowing she would lose control and embarrass me.

I laughed coldly and stepped back, casually picking up a piece of cake and slinging it at Yao Keyi.

She shrieked, looking down at the mess on her chest, and pointed at me while hopping on one foot.

But she cared about her appearance, so in the end, she didn't get tangled up with me and ran into the restroom while covering her chest.

I quickly left from the back door of the venue.

I thought I was smart, but in the end, I was outplayed by Sang Qi.

From the beginning to the end, he was just playing with me, never intending to give me a job.

He used Yao Keyi to humiliate me, to force me to back off.

But I knew how to deal with women like Yao Keyi, so before she could make much trouble for me, I withdrew completely.

Dressed so impeccably, I took a taxi to the hospital to check my face, fearing her nail polish might contain chemicals that could cause an infection.

For the rest of my life, I might have to rely on myself, so my good looks were still of use to me.

This was an emergency, the doctor treated me, and then told me not to worry, the wound was not deep, and I should rest more in the next few days, this part of the face doesn't scar easily.

The wound wasn't deep, but it was quite long.