125 Direct Competition
Lian Jing turned around coldly. That person immediately handed him a wine glass and wanted to drink with him.
He gave the woman beside him a look, and Ling Xi immediately understood and stepped forward to intercept the drink.
This person’s voice was very loud. Shen Yin had been talking easily just now, but when she heard his voice, her body immediately stiffened. Her neck seemed welded to her shoulders, and she did not dare to turn around.
Cheng Huo saw that something was amiss and looked at her seriously. “What’s your relationship with Lian Jing?”
Shen Yin lowered her head, her heart aching. Thinking of the date that the person had mentioned just now, her expression grew colder, and she murmured, “We’re just friends.”
“That’s good.” Cheng Huo deliberately used a relaxed tone, “That way, I still stand a chance, right?”
Shen Yin recalled him saying in the car that he wanted to marry her, and her face, which had just cooled down, turned red again. She was usually witty, but now she did not know how to respond.
Cheng Huo liked to see her dazed expression and could not help reaching out to stroke her hair. Just as he was about to say something, he sensed a dangerous gaze aimed at the hand that was touching Shen Yin.
Cheng Huo smiled provocatively. He was about to retract his hand but now he grabbed Shen Yin’s hand and pulled her towards Lian Jing.
Shen Yin realized where he was taking her and immediately tried to retract her hand. She protested softly, “Let’s not go. Can’t we just sit here?”
Cheng Huo glanced at Lian Jing nonchalantly and coaxed her gently. “Even we don’t go over, he won’t let you off that easily either. Let’s go. Don’t worry, I’m here.”
Just like that, Shen Yin was forcefully dragged in front of Lian Jing. She did not need to look up to feel Lian Jing’s murderous gaze on her head.
Lian Jing narrowed his eyes and his thin lips curled up slightly. There was a hint of mockery in his gaze as he looked at Cheng Huo. “Is this your new date? I remember that you had a different woman a few days ago.”
Cheng Huo put his arm around Shen Yin’s shoulder nonchalantly and said with a smile, “Thank you for your concern, President Lian. This isn’t just my date. I’m courting her.”
Shen Yin involuntarily shuddered and kept her head bowed, as if it had nothing to do with her.
“Oh?” Lian Jing’s voice grew much grimmer. His eyes were filled with anger as he stared at Shen Yin. “Why doesn’t your date look up? Is she too ugly to be seen in public?”
Cheng Huo whispered in her ear comfortingly, “Look up. Don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you.”
How can you protect me?
Shen Yin was about to cry. If she had known that this was the charity gala that Lian Jing was attending, she would have refused to attend!
Now the two of them were secretly vying with each other and she was just a pawn. Shen Yin felt a little wronged. She bit her lower lip and raised her head to look straight at Lian Jing. Her face was pale as she said softly, “Hello, President Lian.”
Lian Jing glared at her fiercely and looked at Cheng Huo’s hand that was still on her shoulder. His threat was obvious.
Shen Yin wanted to avoid Cheng Huo’s hand on her shoulder, but when she looked up, she saw the legendary mysterious girlfriend standing beside Lian Jing.
The woman was glaring at her hostilely.
Shen Yin suddenly felt a little angry. For some reason, she felt a little more confident. She innocently looked at Lian Jing’s increasingly grim expression and decided not to let Cheng Huo remove his hand.
Cheng Huo was extremely satisfied with her reaction. He clasped Shen Yin and exchanged a few polite words with Lian Jing. Although Lian Jing made many sarcastic remarks, he did not mind at all. Instead, his smile grew even brighter.
After the two of them left, Shen Yin finally broke free from his arm. Her hands and feet were already cold.
Cheng Huo handed her a glass of wine to calm her down, while he went to get a few more of the pastries that Shen Yin had been enjoying just now. He held them and waited for Shen Yin’s approval.
Shen Yin drank a glass of wine, and her heart rate slowed.
Cheng Huo looked at her in amusement. “You did very well just now. But why are you so afraid of him?”
Shen Yin shook her head. She did not know what she thought of Lian Jing either. She just felt inexplicably guilty, and she felt just like she had when she was caught in the act six years ago.
Cheng Huo pursued every detail. He asked, “Has he ever hit you?”
Shen Yin looked up in a daze. “No, why do you ask?”
Cheng Huo took the opportunity to meet her gaze and look into her eyes. “I said that I will slowly understand everything about you, including your relationship with Lian Jing.”
Shen Yin shook her head. Although Lian Jing was a domineering person, he had never touched her. Otherwise, she would have fled with Nian Nian, even if it meant risking her life.
Cheng Huo was relieved when he saw that she was sincere. He regained his casual expression and looked at her with a smile. “In that case, why are you so afraid of him? Besides, isn’t there an enchanting woman standing beside him?”
When Shen Yin thought of that woman, the bitterness that she had suppressed surged again. However, Cheng Huo was right. He was not willing to marry her, so should she refuse to be someone else’s date?