Chapter 10: The Business Banquet

When Bo Jinhang saw the satisfied expression on her face, the resentment in his eyes deepened. The ease with which she had sold herself for money was truly revolting. He leaned back in his seat, his face shrouded in shadow, ignoring her question. Instead, his voice was as cold as ice as he issued a command.

“Tomorrow night, accompany me to a business banquet.”

She was being paid to do a job, so Shen Ling naturally agreed without hesitation. “No problem, Mr. Bo.”

For a while, neither of them spoke. The silence thickened, turning the atmosphere increasingly awkward. Bo Jinhang sat there like a statue, exuding an unapproachable aura. Shen Ling began to feel a wave of drowsiness and, hoping to break the tension, tentatively spoke up.

“Tonight, I…”

A frosty gleam instantly filled Bo Jinhang’s eyes, and even the heavy shroud of night could not conceal the hatred simmering in their depths. He spat out a single, furious word through gritted teeth.

“Get out!”

He knew perfectly well what kind of woman she was, yet the way she so readily sold herself for money still filled him with rage.

The smile that had lingered at the corners of Shen Ling’s lips faded away. She picked up her bag and nodded obediently. “Then I won’t disturb you. Good night.”

Shen Ling had no desire to scrutinize his inexplicable attitude. A wealthy patron with few demands was exactly what she wanted. The door slammed shut behind her, sealing off that world. Shen Ling took out the check and let out a mocking laugh. She knew perfectly well where her priorities lay; nothing offered greater security than that piece of paper.

The tension and chill that had enveloped Bo Jinhang dissipated the moment the sound of high heels faded down the corridor. He narrowed his deep-set eyes, memories from the past flooding his mind. This woman was exactly as she had been all those years ago—she hadn’t changed at all!

The gown arrived on the afternoon of the banquet. It was a purple, V-neck strapless dress with a slit that ran up to her thigh, hinting at her voluptuous figure and igniting the imagination. She paired it with a pearl-white shawl, tempering the allure with a touch of elegance.

Bo Jinhang’s driver came to collect her. The young man, still green and untested, blushed and lowered his gaze the moment he saw her, unable to look her in the eye.

“Miss Shen, Mr. Bo has asked me to bring you to the banquet.”

Shen Ling was unfazed. She got into the car and closed her eyes to rest. The vehicle soon pulled up in front of the Imperial Glory Hotel in City A. Doormen stood in neat rows, ushering guests in and out. Luxury cars arrived in an endless stream. The city’s most prominent business figures and celebrities were gathering here, a testament to the grandeur of the event.

Shen Ling walked in with calm composure. She glanced around at the crowd engaged in animated conversation but did not spot Bo Jinhang. She was just about to call him when she caught sight of Zhou Bin entering the room. As the scion of the illustrious Zhou family, a fixture of the business world, he would never miss an event like this.

Shen Ling knew that the matter of their breakup would have to be addressed eventually, but this was hardly the right setting. As she was mulling it over, a large hand suddenly circled her waist.

She turned instinctively, only to meet Bo Jinhang’s eyes, brimming with a hint of feigned warmth.

“You look beautiful tonight,” he said, forcing a touch of gentleness into his tone.

Bo Jinhang was never one to flatter women, but Shen Ling understood his intentions from the look in his eyes. From where he had entered, he could easily see Zhou Bin. He must have anticipated this awkward encounter at the banquet—and was even looking forward to it.

Shen Ling caught on to his thoughts and played along, leaning into his arms. She drew close to his ear, her voice soft and sultry. “Thank you, Mr. Bo. You are as handsome as ever.”

Just as expected, Zhou Bin spotted them immediately. His face darkened with anger as he strode over and seized her wrist, his eyes ablaze.

“Shen Ling, what are you doing here? What’s going on between you and this man?”