Chapter 036: Wen Ni Is Drugged
Before she could finish speaking, Wen Ni felt a sharp pain in her backside.
She had already been thrown onto the seat by the man.
The car came to a halt.
It stopped in front of the hotel entrance.
The driver knocked on the window.
Zhou Jingyi pushed open the door, and the driver hurriedly pulled it wide. “Master Fifth, please.”
Zhou Jingyi glanced at the driver with indifference and said, “Old Chi, you know what to do.”
The driver nodded repeatedly. “The old master appointed me as your driver, so I’m yours now. Rest assured, Master Fifth. I keep my mouth shut.”
Zhou Jingyi nodded coolly.
Wen Ni climbed out of the car as well, walked over to Zhou Jingyi’s side, and smiled, “Uncle, let’s go inside.”
Zhou Jingyi ignored her and strode straight ahead.
Wen Ni jogged after him, grumbling, “You’re really rough. That hurt.”
Zhou Jingyi halted.
His cold, predatory gaze fixed on Wen Ni.
But Wen Ni joyfully waved toward the distance. “Jiang Shaozhang!”
Seeing Jiang Shaozhang, she forgot everything else. “Uncle, you go in by yourself. If you don’t know anyone, just find Shen Xuening and her husband. I don’t have time to keep you company.”
And with that, Wen Ni clutched her little handbag and ran straight to Jiang Shaozhang’s side.
The two of them laughed and chatted as they entered together.
Jiang Shaozhang, rarely seen in formal wear, looked at her with disdain. “How come you arrived with Zhou Jingyi? I can’t stand people like him.”
Wen Ni replied, “There were only two drivers and two cars at home today. Shen Xuening and Zhou Linchuan took one. I begged Zhou Jingyi for ages, and he finally let me ride with him.”
Jiang Shaozhang smirked, “Look at you, Wen Ni. Your husband’s gone and now you can’t even afford a car. If you come with me, you can choose between a Lamborghini or a Cullinan—take your pick. You won’t lose out.”
Wen Ni changed the subject, “Why are you attending the Shiyi Society banquet?”
Jiang Shaozhang answered boisterously, “Didn’t I tell you? My grandmother embroiders insoles. What, only your family’s silk weaving and Suzhou embroidery count as craftsmanship? My grandmother doesn’t qualify?”
Wen Ni said nothing.
She stared at Jiang Shaozhang without blinking.
He scratched his head awkwardly. “The vice president of Shiyi Society, the inheritor of Kunqu Opera, is my aunt’s younger sister.”
Wen Ni suddenly understood.
She asked, “Does that mean she’s related to Shen Xuening too?”
Jiang Shaozhang pursed his lips. “Shen Xuening’s not really much family to us. They just force the connection.”
Wen Ni smiled slyly, “Force the connection? Yet you still listen to Shen Xuening and buy silk?”
Jiang Shaozhang protested, “What nonsense are you talking? Don’t wrong me. Buying silk was my own idea. I’m so clever—I can figure out how to deal with you… Besides, didn’t I give it all to you?”
They walked inside together, their demeanor intimate.
Zhou Jingyi entered last.
The neglect Wen Ni had anticipated never happened. Almost instantly, the president personally approached Zhou Jingyi for a conversation.
The crystal chandelier cast a sharp glow from the dome.
Zhou Jingyi simply stood there.
He became a spectacle all by himself.
Countless people’s attention was drawn to him.
He lifted a glass of wine.
Clinking gently with the president.
With every gesture, the light slipped down his sleeve, illuminating his arm. The two pearl cufflinks were securely held by platinum claws, their gentle luster flowing.
Jiang Shaozhang tsked twice, “What kind of man wears pearls?”
He suddenly found Zhou Jingyi’s pearls familiar, as if he’d seen them somewhere before.
He frowned, thinking carefully.
Unexpectedly, he turned and his gaze landed on Wen Ni’s pretty little ears.
Jiang Shaozhang suddenly pinched Wen Ni’s ear.
She quickly raised her hand to cover it, looking at him warily. “What are you doing?”
Jiang Shaozhang laughed, “Look, your pearls are the same size as the ones on Zhou Jingyi’s cuffs. Almost like you’re wearing matching couple’s accessories.”
Wen Ni narrowed her eyes, “We both look good enough—can’t let the pearls steal the spotlight. Look at Shen Xuening—she doesn’t dare wear pearls.”
Jiang Shaozhang boasted, “Don’t I look good too?”
Wen Ni replied perfunctorily, “You’re good-looking too.”
Jiang Shaozhang pressed, “Compared to Zhou Jingyi?”
Wen Ni stared at him in shock, “Why do you insist on embarrassing yourself?”
Then she hurriedly added, “But your personality is great—that matters more than looks. Tell me, why compare your face to someone like Zhou Jingyi? What’s the point? Would you race a refrigerator for cooling? Compete with a Lamborghini for speed? That’s just pointless self-sabotage.”
Jiang Shaozhang inexplicably felt that made sense. “Actually, men who are too handsome are trouble—after marriage, they attract clingy pests you can’t get rid of.”
Suddenly.
A waiter approached.
She leaned in and whispered something in Jiang Shaozhang’s ear.
He turned to Wen Ni. “The vice president wants to see me. I’ll be back to keep you company soon.”
Wen Ni was silent.
After Jiang Shaozhang left, Wen Ni instinctively scanned the room for Zhou Jingyi.
She found that the spot where Zhou Jingyi had stood was now empty.
Where had he gone?
Wen Ni looked around, searching.
She didn’t find him.
Frowning, just as she was about to look further, a woman in a staff uniform walked over and bowed to Wen Ni.
Wen Ni nodded slightly.
The woman spoke respectfully, “Ms. Wen, Master Fifth from the Zhou family asked me to bring you over. He has something he’d like to say to you.”
Wen Ni raised an eyebrow. “What can’t be said here?”
The woman looked troubled. “I’m afraid I don’t know.”
Wen Ni said, “Lead the way, then.”
The woman gestured, “Please.”
She walked ahead to guide her.
They exited through the side door.
As they passed through the long covered walkway outside, Wen Ni, seeing no one around, suddenly grabbed the woman’s wrist.
She pressed her against the waist-high railing.
The waitress looked shocked. “Miss Wen, what are you doing? Let me go, someone might see us.”
Wen Ni sneered, “What did you just say? You claimed Zhou Jingyi sent you to find me, that he has something to say?”
The waitress nodded forcefully. “He’s right over by the rockery. If you come with me, you’ll find out.”
Wen Ni scoffed, “How ridiculous. You can’t even come up with a believable excuse.”
Zhou Jingyi, at a banquet of a hundred people, secretly wanting to meet her in private?
Who would believe that!
Wen Ni pressed down harder. “Who sent you to find me? Speak, or I’ll make you regret it.”
The waitress looked terrified. “Ms. Wen, I really don’t know. I’m just following orders—I know nothing. If I tell you who it was, can you let it go…”
Wen Ni leaned in, “You’d better tell the truth.”
The waitress pressed her lips together. “Ms. Wen, the person who asked me to bring you out is…”
She paused for a moment.
Then, without warning, she whipped out a small spray bottle and sprayed it rapidly at Wen Ni’s nose…