Chapter 179 - Social Gathering

Edith held her breath as they stepped into the hall. Suddenly, it felt as if their surroundings turned quiet and everyone was turning their heads at them. Her heartbeat escalated and Edith started to get a little panic.

A warm palm clasped over hers and Edith tilted her head to meet Neil's smiling face. Her heart calmed down quickly and Edith tightened her grip on his arms.

Once he was sure that his silly woman was more at ease, Neil led her inside. The guests approached him to greet him while sending Edith a questioning look. Neil left the crowd and headed towards a corner where a group of young men gathered.

One of them noticed that Neil was heading over and quickly notified the others. Suddenly, the group of young men turned their heads to look at them. The man on the center walked over and patted Neil on his shoulder.

"I thought that my eyes were playing tricks on me. Neil Mo, I did not expect that you would really show up today," the man said. 

"Thank you for your invitation, Matthew," Neil nodded. 

The man called Matthew replied with a smile.

Everyone in their circle was aware that Neil Mo had rarely attended a social gathering such as this after his brother, Adam, passed away. They heard rumors that he was now looking after his niece and understood that it would not be easy for him to join them in their gathering. 

Therefore, to see Neil appeared at the gathering with a pretty lady beside him was definitely something shocking.

"Let me introduce you," Neil glanced at the person beside him and smiled. "This is Edith Qian, my girlfriend. Edith, this is my friend, Matthew Liang."

Matthew looked at Edith from head to toe, scrutinizing her. As someone who often organized and attended a social gathering, Matthew Liang was someone who knew almost everyone. However, he did not think that he had seen the woman beside his friend in their circle before, and suddenly, Matthew was curious about Edith's identity.

His lips curled into a friendly smile and he stretched his hand for a handshake. "Miss Qian, it's a pleasure to meet you." 

The handshake ended quickly as Matthew noticed his friend's displeased look.

"It was surprising to know that someone like Neil would find himself a girlfriend," Matthew joked. "Miss Qian, I hope that you will have a good time at this party. Feel free to eat or drink anything you like."

Edith nodded before she followed Neil's lead and was introduced to the group of young men. From Neil, she found out that this group of men were among his friends during his university years. Although everyone was now involved in different businesses and industries, they have not failed to keep in touch.

Neil was someone who did not enjoy a gathering like this, but he would attend this gathering at least once a year. Fortunately, his company was based in L City and he had reasons not to attend the gathering frequently.

Seeing that the men were starting to discuss business, Matthew's fiance, Clara, walked over and invited Edith to hang out together as they enjoyed the food. 

"Will you be fine?" Neil frowned when he heard his girlfriend's agreement.

He had promised that he will be around her all the time and was not expecting that she would agree.

"I'll just look around to pick up something to eat. What can happen to me?" Edith laughed upon seeing the frown on his face gotten deeper. "I promise I would not go far away."

Neil nodded, reluctantly. "Just stay where I can see you, alright?"

The men stared at their friends in surprise as they overheard the couple's conversation. None of them expected that they would have the chance to see Neil Mo turn into a protective boyfriend.

Edith went with Clara to the buffet table and Edith began to choose a few light dishes and sampled them. 

Clara was saying something when Edith decided to check on Neil. A look of surprise appeared on her face as their gaze met. Edith was not expecting that Neil would be looking at her. Slowly, her lips curled into a shy smile.

"I've met President Mo a few times while I was with Matthew," Clara said. "But this is the first time I have seen President Mo with that look on his face. It seemed that your relationship was pretty good."

Edith smiled at her words.

"I don't know I should tell you this, but, President Mo had a famous nickname. Almost everyone in the circle knew of this name."

"Let me guess. Iceblock Mo?"

Clara gasped. "How did you know?"

"I've heard about it from others," Edith admitted. 

The two of them began to talk about this nickname and soon changed their topic to something else.

After chatting with Clara for a while and found that the woman was someone easy to get along with. At least she did not look down at someone like her.

At the thought that Neil has not eaten anything for diner, Edith began to choose a few dishes that would suit his taste. However, just as she was about to head back, a familiar figure walked over and stopped in front of her.

"I did not expect to see you here."

Edith looked at the woman in front of her and wonder if it was the famous scene where a rich heiress come to harass her for dating someone over her league. 

"Miss Feng," Edith greeted and smiled. "I did not expect to see you here as well."

Autumn Feng gave Edith a lookover and scoffed. "Just because you are dressed prettily like this does not make you someone from an upper class."

She was standing near Matthew Liang and his friends when she saw Neil. Autumn had wanted to greet Neil when she noticed that the man was with another woman. She had almost storm over to claw the woman's face when she heard Neil introduced her as his girlfriend.

Neil Mo was someone who would treat almost anyone coldly. She had never seen him with a woman before and was almost convinced that Neil was someone who had no interest in a woman.

Seeing the way that woman was able to converse with someone like Neil and Matthew drove her insane with jealousy.

It was after watching that woman for a long time that Autumn began to realize that she had seen the woman beside Neil before. Her eyes widened when she realized that the woman was no other than Hazel's caretaker!

A mere caretaker had appeared at a prestigious social gathering such as this and was introduced as Neil's girlfriend!

Autumn was sure that this woman had used her position as Hazel's caretaker to seduce Neil!

Clara glanced at the two women and was at ease upon seeing that Edith and Autumn knew each other. However, her expression began to change when she heard Autumn's words. "Miss Feng, I don't appreciate you saying something like this to my friend."

Autumn bit her lips angrily. Although she wanted to say something to retort, Autumn knew that she was not someone who could go against Matthew Liang's fiance. Moreover, this social gathering was organized by Matthew. If she had accidentally provoked his fiance, there was a big chance that she would never have the chance to step into this kind of social gathering again.

"Miss Feng, it seemed that you have a problem with me," Edith said.

"Yes. You are not worthy as Neil Mo's girlfriend!"

Edith raised a brow. "And who are you to decide whether I am worthy or not? Are you Neil's mother? Whether I am someone worthy of him was not something someone like you should decide.. I don't know how your thinking work, but in my opinion, as long as he likes me, I will always be someone worthy of him."

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