Chapter 16: Tacit Understanding

Huo Zijun glanced at Ye Shu and noticed that Ye Shu was indifferent to Tian Xin's arrival. She didn't even spare Tian Xin an extra glance, so she nodded in agreement.

With Huo Zijun's consent, Tian Xin directly sat between Ye Shu and Huo Zijun.

"Xiao Shu, I didn't expect to see you here."

Only then did Ye Shu put down her glass and let her gaze fall on Tian Xin's face, maintaining a calm and detached expression.

"I never expected to see you here. Ji Liang is a friend I've grown up with. She's hosting today. Do you know Ji Liang?"

Ji Liang lifted her eyes to glance at Tian Xin and shook her head.

"Ye Zi, I don't know her. She must be brought by Mr. Huo's female companion. Probably some small-time internet celebrity from one platform or another."

Ji Liang always spoke bluntly. In fact, she despised internet celebrities the most. In her mind, from a different perspective, internet celebrities like Lan Xin were just playthings for men's entertainment.

Tian Xin's eyes narrowed slightly and she felt uncomfortable. Before she could speak, Ye Shu cut in front of her.

"She's different from Lan Xin; she's the daughter of the woman my father recently married."

Upon hearing this, Ji Liang's face immediately darkened, and she stood up abruptly with a fierce glare at Tian Xin, before turning to look coldly at Lan Xin, who was sitting by her side.

"Lan Xin, what do you mean by this? Bringing such a person to ruin my appetite in an event like this?"

Sun Qian had always liked Ji Liang while she was alive, and naturally, Ji Liang had special feelings for Sun Qian as well.

Tian Xin didn't expect Ji Liang to suddenly lash out and her face turned awkward on the spot. Seeing Ye Shu's composed expression, she clenched her hand slightly.

Ye Shu was doing it on purpose, deliberately making her lose face.

Seeing that Tian Xin had made a mistake on her side, Lan Xin quickly stepped forward, wearing a smile on her face.

She had been in this circle for a long time and naturally had her own ways of handling these situations.

"Miss Ji, I'm very sorry, so very sorry. I just thought there were too few people around, so I called a few girls over to liven up the atmosphere. I didn't expect things to turn out this way. I'll remove them right away."

She bowed low, and such an apology would normally suffice for other young ladies to let it go.

But as soon as she finished speaking, Ye Shu, who was sitting beside Ji Liang, began speaking calmly.

"Ji Liang, why are you so angry? They are here to liven up the atmosphere. It is indeed a bit quiet around here. I just wonder how Miss Lan Xin plans to get them to liven up the atmosphere?"

Lan Xin looked at Huo Zijun with difficulty, but Huo Zijun's gaze was fixed on Ye Shu the whole time and never left her.

Tian Xin's hand clenched tight. She knew that if she threw a temper tantrum and left among these young masters and ladies, she would then have no place in this circle ever again.

Tang Yuan was oblivious, completely unaware of the tense atmosphere.

"I heard Miss Lan Xin is good at dancing. Why not lead your girlfriends in a dance for everyone?"

As his words fell, Lan Xin's face, which had been apologetic and pleading, almost collapsed.

Ye Shu's eyebrows lifted slightly as she pulled Ji Liang to sit down, wearing a smile but saying nothing.

Seeing Lan Xin and others frozen in place, the young master of Honghu Group, Hong Liang, immediately said loudly.

"What's the matter? Do you think our status is not good enough for Miss Lan Xin to deign to dance for us? Zijun, the female companion you brought today is really out of line."

Seeing Huo Zijun getting dragged into this, Lan Xin, who currently saw him as her golden patron whom she relied on to break into the entertainment industry, immediately nodded in agreement.

"Mr. Hong, I didn't mean that at all. I was just wondering what kind of dance would be appropriate."

Tian Xin saw Lan Xin acquiescing and realized this was a blatant humiliation. She immediately stood up, looked at Lan Xin, and took a deep breath.

"Lan Xin, let's talk."

Lan Xin nodded with a smile. Unlike Tian Xin, who is now the daughter of the Ye family, Tian Xin naturally couldn't be compared with her. If she lost this circle, it would be difficult for her to even appear in front of the public eye.

Ye Shu's lips curved in a smile, yet a trace of weariness flashed in her eyes.

She hadn't eaten lunch, and the alcohol she had just consumed too quickly was causing a burning pain in her stomach.

But right now, these people were obviously interested in her, and as long as she got to know them better, Ye Corporation also had a chance to get a piece of their business.

A little while later, Ye Shu felt somewhat off in her body when Lan Xin, Tian Xin, and the others walked in from outside the door, seemingly having discussed what dance to perform.

Tian Xin, since entering the Ye family, had always strictly conducted herself as a lady of high standing, yet who would have thought that Lan Xin could persuade her to dance.

Ye Shu broke out in a thin layer of sweat on her forehead, and her body felt hot and dry. Sensing this slight discomfort, Ye Shu frowned just when her phone rang, disrupting her thoughts.

"I need to take a phone call."

This was her private phone, and not many people had the number. She quietly said to Ji Liang as she stood up and walked out of the private room.

Tian Xin's gaze swept across Ye Shu's retreating back, her lips curling slightly in a smirk. Even the astute Ye Shu could have her unguarded moments, couldn't she?

Ye Shu stepped out of the private room to answer the call.

"Hello, this is Ye Shu."

"Hello, Miss Ye, a Mr. Huo has asked us to deliver a big gift to you. Could you come to the entertainment city's backyard to receive it?"

Ye Shu's head spun, and she patted it.

"Just bring it to the reception area here."

"But Mr. Huo said he wants you to unwrap this surprise yourself."

Ye Shu furrowed her brows, "Which Mr. Huo?"

"It seems to be something like Huo Shenting... "

Ye Shu took a deep breath, instinctively looking around. Huo Shenting said he had social engagements; could he also be around here?

The name Huo Shenting was of great influence on Ye Shu; naturally, she couldn't refuse.

"Alright, I'll be right there."

That man's complexion was so bad when he left; who knows what kind of "big gift" he had prepared for her.

Ye Shu walked from the front desk towards the backyard, her steps a bit disordered but her mind exceptionally clear.

Her alcohol tolerance had always been good, and she hadn't drunk too much today, yet to have such a reaction, it seemed best not to drink on an empty stomach in the future.

She shook her head to clear it a little and continued walking forward.

Upstairs, Huo Shenting was trailed by a group of people as he walked out of the private room.

A representative of Hongxin Company was slightly bending his waist, following closely by Huo Shenting's side.

"Mr. Huo, our Hongxin Company has undertaken quite a few businesses in this area over the years. Our operational capabilities may not be the best, but we can be considered very excellent. I've heard that those competing for this project are..."

He was speaking quite well, but Huo Shenting suddenly raised his hand, interrupting him.

The man's deep eyes glanced towards the distance, where he saw a tall, exceptional woman walking unsteadily towards a dim area.

The Hongxin Company representative immediately scanned the employees following behind him.

Understanding the cue, an employee discreetly left.