Chapter Forty-Five: Worlds Apart

Fu Zhichen nodded, holding her slender fingers.

“I’m busy with my own affairs as well.”

Pei Susu felt her heart tremble, ultimately unable to resist him. She glanced at the time and parted her lips softly.

“The banquet is about to begin. Let’s find a place to sit first.”

Too many people nearby wanted to strike up a conversation; Fu Zhichen, too, sought a bit of quiet. His gaze swept across the hall, then landed on the second floor.

“Let’s go to the viewing platform.”

It hardly mattered where they sat. Pei Susu was happy to accept his arrangement, and the two ascended the stairs side by side. The din of voices gradually faded, and the environment indeed became more relaxing.

Unexpectedly, shortly after they settled down, a strange woman strode directly toward them, her expression sour.

“You are Pei Susu?”

Pei Susu looked at the woman before her, searching her memory repeatedly, but found no match for the face. She nodded politely.

“Yes, I am Pei Susu. May I ask who you are?”

Du Ruo let out a cold laugh.

“I’m Qingyu’s best friend. I heard that Miss Pei just did her a big favor—was it you who told her to change out of her dress?”

Few had noticed this incident, especially as it was merely a change of dress. At ordinary banquets, those who pay attention to such things might change several times. Yet, this woman brought it up suddenly...

A thought flashed through Pei Susu’s mind.

“Yes, I did. But why are you so agitated?” Pei Susu regarded her calmly. “You are President Mo’s friend, but I am also a guest of President Mo. Perhaps you should mind your tone.”

Pei Susu had said nothing offensive, but Du Ruo’s chest still heaved with anger. She sneered and glanced at Fu Zhichen beside Pei Susu.

“I heard you were divorced, and left Xingye in shambles. No matter how you look at it, you don’t seem like a good person. As Qingyu’s best friend, I have to worry about someone like you getting close to her. Are your intentions truly pure?”

Du Ruo spoke with conviction; Pei Susu simply smiled, already seeing through her—there was someone else with ulterior motives here.

“If you’re really so concerned, and think I’m deceiving President Mo, you can repeat all this to her. As for my divorce or my position, that’s none of your concern.”

Pei Susu was never wounded by such words.

Fu Zhichen’s face darkened.

“If I’m understanding correctly, you’re questioning the fairness of the Fu Corporation’s selection of managers?”

Du Ruo hadn’t expected Fu Zhichen to protect Pei Susu so fiercely. Her face turned pale. “I didn’t mean that, President Fu...”

At the sound of Liang Wenru’s voice, a chill spread through Pei Susu’s gaze.

“If not for me, Xingye wouldn’t exist as it does today. I worked tirelessly to save the company. As for Pei Susu...” Liang Wenru shook his head, showing a reluctance to say more. “We’re divorced now, so it’s not my place to comment.”

Du Ruo became even more contemptuous.

“President Fu, I’m blunt by nature and may have offended you, but I simply can’t stand women like her basking in the limelight!”

Fu Zhichen was growing angry, but Pei Susu calmly held him back.

“There’s no need to argue. The truth about Xingye will be clear in time. As for what kind of person I am, that’s not for others to judge, is it?”

Pei Susu’s smile was faint. “This lady has repeatedly been rude to me, even though we’ve never met before. Did I spoil some plan of yours to provoke such anger?”

The commotion upstairs drew attention. Mo Qingyu saw Du Ruo and Pei Susu together and felt uneasy, so she went up.

“Ruo, do you know Miss Pei?”

At the sound of Mo Qingyu’s voice, a flicker of guilt crossed Du Ruo’s face.

Pei Susu easily caught the emotion in her eyes, confirming her suspicions. This woman claimed to be Mo Qingyu’s best friend, but one can only know faces, not hearts.

“I don’t know why this lady is so angry with me, loudly discussing my private affairs,” Pei Susu said, raising an eyebrow and reclining in her chair, utterly unbothered by the words.

“Qingyu, I just can’t stand it. Pei Susu must have ulterior motives in getting close to you—don’t let her fool you!”

“Maybe it was she who caused the dress issue earlier.”

Du Ruo hurried to justify herself, speaking carelessly. Pei Susu watched her calmly, while Mo Qingyu fell silent at those words.

Du Ruo continued her tirade, oblivious to the change in Mo Qingyu’s expression.

“Du Ruo.”

Mo Qingyu interrupted her.

“When did I ever tell you I changed dresses because there was a problem?”

Du Ruo’s expression froze.

Mo Qingyu had already pieced together the events in her mind. She turned to Pei Susu.

“I apologize, Miss Pei. This is a personal matter—I didn’t mean to drag you into it.”

Pei Susu shook her head.

“What false friend? Stop trying to sow discord between us!” Du Ruo said nervously. “I just heard it from someone else, Qingyu, how can you doubt me?”

“We’ve been friends for so many years!”

Mo Qingyu’s face showed signs of inner conflict. Fu Zhichen spoke up.

“President Mo, my people have found evidence. I’ll send it to your phone shortly.”

Pei Susu was surprised, then understood. No wonder Fu Zhichen had been so quiet—he’d thought the same as she and immediately sought evidence.

Mo Qingyu’s expression grew grave as she took out her phone and saw the evidence she’d been hoping for: clear images of Du Ruo tampering with the dress.

She let out a bitter laugh.

“I should’ve realized earlier—so few people could access my dress, and you were one of them, because I never guarded against you.”

“Why did you do it?”

With her actions exposed, Du Ruo had no way out. She sneered.

“I just don’t like you, that’s all. You always look so glorious, as if we’re friends but you’re up in the sky and I’m down in the dirt.”