Chapter 117 Suspected of Being an Age-Gap Romance

"Zhang Xiluo, why are you everywhere! You really are like a ghost that just won't go away. You know perfectly well that I despise you, yet you insist on hovering right before my eyes." Mu Peipei stepped out of the car, dressed in a gold evening gown draped with a mink stole. With her exquisite makeup, she looked every bit the noble princess.

"Miss Mu, I suggest you mind your manners, lest you waste the fine clothes you are wearing," Zhang Xiluo replied coldly. "If you don't wish to see me, you are free to close your eyes."

In just a few short sentences, Zhang Xiluo had Mu Peipei stomping her feet in a rage. Just as she was about to rush forward to continue the confrontation, Mu Changjia held her back.

"Control yourself. We are in a public setting; do not bring shame upon the family."

Feeling wronged and defiant, Mu Peipei glared fiercely at Zhang Xiluo, shoved Mu Changjia twice, and reluctantly followed him into the venue.

Zhang Xiluo had been told over the phone that it was just a dinner, but once inside, she realized she had been completely misled. She had assumed Mu Peipei’s ostentatious outfit was an isolated case of vanity, but she soon saw that every woman present was dressed in high fashion. In her simple long dress and understated makeup, she felt starkly out of place.

"An ugly duckling trying to blend in with swans—what a self-inflicted humiliation," Mu Peipei sneered, approaching Zhang Xiluo with a look of gloating malice. "Coming to an event like this in pajamas? I truly don't know how you have the nerve to show your face."

Zhang Xiluo looked at her with a light smile, completely unfazed by the insult. "Miss Mu, you are actually quite cute. So, I’ll tell you a secret: Li Mingye likes quiet women. I was cast aside by him simply because I talked too much."

"Are you serious?" Mu Peipei’s expression shifted instantly. She leaned in closer to Zhang Xiluo. "Tell me more. What else does Li Mingye like?"

"I'll tell you more later. Focus on that for now." After a few encounters, Zhang Xiluo had realized that Mu Peipei was merely a spoiled little princess—a classic case of someone with a sharp tongue, a kind heart, and a dim wit.

At first, she had truly loathed Mu Peipei. While she couldn't say she liked her now, she could at least see that she was nothing like Zhou Yao. If Mu Peipei could actually end up with Li Mingye, it would be a blessing for her; at the very least, it would ensure that their paths would never cross again.

"If you're lying to me, I’ll make you regret it," Mu Peipei warned with a fierce glare. "If I find out you’re playing games, I won't let you off the hook."

Zhang Xiluo smiled, but before she could respond, Mr. Sinis’s secretary approached her.

"Miss Zhang, Mr. Sinis would like to invite you to the lounge." The secretary was a middle-aged woman with a gentle face and a soft voice. She maintained a professional smile, her formal attire conveying efficiency and grace.

Zhang Xiluo nodded and followed her through the crowd of guests to the second-floor lounge.

Mr. Sinis’s injuries were not critical, though a fractured leg meant he would be confined to a wheelchair for some time. Upon seeing Zhang Xiluo, he nodded repeatedly, his eyes filled with gratitude.

"Thank you."

"Please, there is no need for thanks; it was just a small effort."

"No, it was a life-saving favor," Sinis said, his Mandarin slightly accented. "If it were not for you, I would have died."

Zhang Xiluo chose not to argue. She had acted out of simple human kindness and had never anticipated these subsequent developments.

"Let me formally introduce the situation. Mr. Sinis is the chairman of a major conglomerate from the Kingdom of MMM. He has been looking for a suitable city to serve as a pilot for a new urban infrastructure project. Mr. Sinis has now decided to launch this project in Long City, and Mr. He will be the primary point of contact."

As the secretary spoke, Zhang Xiluo connected the dots. Because she had saved Sinis, he had chosen to entrust the project to her uncle. No wonder her uncle and mother had been so delighted.

Zhang Xiluo felt a wave of awkwardness and didn't know what to say. She had never cared for such matters, nor had she ever encountered anything like this before. After a moment of thought, she finally said, "I trust your judgment; you have made the right choice."

Her response—composed, neither sycophantic nor dismissive—only deepened Sinis's admiration for her.

As the host of the evening’s banquet, Mr. Sinis invited Zhang Xiluo to join him downstairs to greet the guests. Their entrance caused a stir of surprise among the attendees. Everyone knew Zhang Xiluo only as Li Mingye’s desperate sycophant and his ruthlessly discarded ex-wife. They never expected her to arrive alongside Mr. Sinis, who treated her with such high regard that he even seated her in the place of honor.

"Everyone, please enjoy the food and drink. Mr. Sinis will be staying in Long City for some time and welcomes you all to visit," the secretary announced. Her words carried a clear implication: there were opportunities to collaborate with Sinis.

At this, Mu Changjia’s expression shifted. He cast a lingering glance at Zhang Xiluo, deep in thought. When he noticed her looking back, he offered a strange, unsettling smile and nodded.

Just then, Li Mingye entered, immediately commanding the attention of the entire room.

"Mr. Li, please be seated here," the secretary said, guiding him to the seat next to Zhang Xiluo. Li Mingye glanced at her, his brow knitting slightly.

Zhang Xiluo pretended not to notice him, keeping her gaze lowered as she listened to the conversation. She could feel his eyes on her, and they seemed to burn with a simmering anger.

Three years later, she felt that Li Mingye had changed, though she had no desire to investigate how. Just as before, she only wanted to stay as far away from him as possible. She had already stumbled once over the trap of love; she certainly didn't want to fall into it a second time, especially not with him.

"Miss Zhang, what are you thinking about?" Sinis asked with concern, noticing her bowed head.

Zhang Xiluo looked up, offering a faint, practiced smile. "I’m feeling a bit unwell. Please excuse me for a moment."

"Accompany Miss Zhang," Sinis said to his secretary. As the woman rose to follow, Zhang Xiluo gestured for her to stop.

"I’m fine on my own." She disliked being shadowed; she simply wanted to step out for some fresh air.

Sinis nodded, his continued deference toward her fueling further curiosity among the guests. Everyone was whispering, wondering if she had started a May-December romance with Sinis—why else would he treat her with such favor?

Zhang Xiluo stepped into the garden. A chill swept over her, and she couldn't help but shiver. The next second, a coat was draped over her shoulders.

"The night wind is cold, Miss Zhang. Do keep yourself warm." Mu Changjia stood behind her, his suit jacket now on her shoulders. He wore a smile. "What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?"

Zhang Xiluo took the coat off and handed it back. "Thank you for the gesture, Mr. Mu, but I don't need it. I actually enjoy the cold air."

"The way you reject people is truly refreshing."

"I suppose." Zhang Xiluo had come out to breathe, but meeting him had dampened her spirits. She turned to leave, but Mu Changjia suddenly reached out, grabbing her arm and pulling her back with force.

"Ah!"