STYL - 2

Even the photographer, accustomed to luxurious mansions, was stunned by the opulence of the apartment upon entering. Lijie had mentioned borrowing it from a friend temporarily, so he naturally didn’t pry further about what kind of friend that might be.

The apartment showed little sign of daily life, save for the stack of slightly worn magazines on the coffee table that added a touch of liveliness.

The cover of the top magazine featured Shen Tang.

After finishing a few sets of night scene shots, Shen Tang didn’t stay overnight at the apartment but returned to the hotel with Lijie.

Feeling generous, Lijie said she could have a light snack.

But only fruit salad was available.

After enduring hunger for days to fit into the dress, it would be unjust not to treat herself.

Besides the salad, she decided to add half a steak.

Before the food arrived, there was an urgent knock at the door.

Lijie came to fetch her, urging her to get ready for a dinner party.

Shen Tang was applying a face mask after a bath and felt lazy to go anywhere.

Every pore of her body resisted the idea.

“Why is there suddenly a dinner party?”

“The station’s leader personally called me, saying your drama’s ad sponsorship topped the charts, and its broadcast is almost guaranteed. They’re celebrating in advance.” Lijie couldn’t hide her excitement. “I was worried before; if Director Chen’s drama was bought by the satellite channel, yours might be rejected, and who knows what the online trolls would say.”

Now she could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Those attending the dinner were likely all sponsors.

With advertising fees running into hundreds of millions, they were all “Daddy” level figures.

“By the way, the celebration is in this hotel, in a private room on the ninth floor.”

Shen Tang peeled off her mask, balled it up, and squeezed out the remaining essence onto her hand. Looking at Lijie in the mirror, she said, “Call them back and say I’m shooting night scenes and it’ll take a while to return.”

Lijie rummaged through the wardrobe to find suitable clothes for her. “The leader said, knowing your evening plans, they waited until you finished your photoshoot to call us. Everyone is waiting for you.”

She picked out a simple long dress, which was Shen Tang’s style, and handed it to her. “Hurry and change. You wanted to have a big meal, and here’s the opportunity.”

“...”

Shen Tang didn’t deliberately dress up. After drying her hair, her wavy ends were soft and bouncy.

Relying on her good skin, she applied light makeup.

As she closed her lipstick, Shen Tang said, “Lijie, find out who’s attending tonight’s dinner.”

Understanding what she meant, Lijie quickly texted the station’s leader.

Three minutes later, the reply came.

Lijie read the names aloud from her phone: “Yan Heyu, President Tan...”

Shen Tang wasn’t concerned about the others; the biggest figure at this dinner was Yan Heyu.

She picked a suitable handbag and left.

From the 29th floor to the 9th, it took only a few dozen seconds.

Lijie accompanied her to the private room’s entrance, pointing to the lounge area. “I won’t leave; I’ll wait here.”

Shen Tang knew what her agent was worried about: “You go rest. I won’t drink.” She could handle such occasions effortlessly.

Lijie waved her hand, signaling her to go in.

There were bodyguards at the door who opened it for her.

Unreassured, Lijie stayed behind in the lounge, checking her phone while waiting for Shen Tang.

Inside the private room, laughter and conversation filled the air.

At the table, Shen Tang only noticed Yan Heyu sitting in the main seat.

He leaned back in his chair, relaxed, unconsciously twirling a wine glass with his fingers, turning his head to talk to someone beside him.

When she entered, the room suddenly fell silent.

“Little Shen, come over here.” The station’s leader beckoned her and introduced everyone at the table.

Everyone present tonight were sponsors of her drama.

Yan Heyu’s company was the title sponsor. As Lijie put it, the biggest Daddy.

A few seats away from Yan Heyu sat President Tan, swirling the nearly empty wine in his glass, his gaze roaming over Shen Tang.

Though previously separated by a stage at the investment fair, now just a dining table apart, he could clearly see Shen Tang’s eyelashes flutter.

This woman was exquisite.

There were two empty seats at the table, one next to Yan Heyu and the other beside President Tan.

Anyone with tact would naturally choose the seat next to President Tan. Such dinners automatically arranged seating based on wealth and status; everyone knew their place.

But Shen Tang was an anomaly in everyone’s eyes. With an ambiguous smile, she walked towards Yan Heyu’s direction.

The station’s leader held his breath for Shen Tang. Yan Heyu wasn’t like other sponsors; he didn’t give face just because a woman approached him. If things went wrong, not only would she fail, but she might jeopardize the ad sponsorship.

It wouldn’t be worth it.

He quickly intervened: “Little Shen, Mr. Yan is expecting another friend.”

Reminding her to sit where she should.

“It’s fine; the friend can’t make it.” Yan Heyu chuckled and teased, “Otherwise, the main seat wouldn’t be mine to sit in.”

Shen Tang sat down, diagonally across from President Tan.

President Tan harbored an inexplicable admiration for Shen Tang; no woman had lingered in his thoughts for so long.

He handed his wine glass to the waiter and poured himself a large half glass of red wine.

“Teacher Shen,” before he could wish her success,

Yan Heyu’s phone on the table vibrated. He glanced at the contact name and swiped to answer.

“I’ve arrived.”

Yan Heyu frowned: “Didn’t you say you were taking a detour?” Because of the detour, he hadn’t rushed to this side of the river.

“I took a yacht.”

Yan Heyu let out a teasing “tsk tsk.”

The intriguing banter was understood only by the two of them.

The private room door was pushed open from outside.

He ended the call and stood up to greet the person.

That tall figure in black trousers and a white shirt stepped in, drawing attention from those who recognized him. They quickly put down their glasses and gathered around to shake hands and exchange pleasantries, making him the center of attention.

“Mr. Jiang, long time no see.”

President Tan finally understood whom Yan Heyu referred to at the investment fair when he said “on someone’s behalf”—it was Jiang Chengyu. This second son of the Jiang family was childhood friends with Yan Heyu.

He set down his glass and joined them.

Shen Tang rested her chin on her hand, watching Jiang Chengyu as she remained seated calmly.

His timing was impeccable, saving her from dealing with President Tan.

Shen Tang thought for a moment; the last time she had an intimate conversation with this man was over a month ago.

She had been at the film set until the day before yesterday when filming wrapped.

During that time, they had only spoken on the phone a few times, all initiated by him.

She didn’t expect him to be in Shanghai too.

Neither she nor Jiang Chengyu was in the habit of inquiring about each other’s work schedules, giving each other absolute personal freedom.

Yan Heyu came over to grab a wine glass and a pack of cigarettes, giving up the main seat to Jiang Chengyu.

As Jiang Chengyu approached, Shen Tang stood up, pretending not to know him: “Mr. Jiang.”

Jiang Chengyu nodded and handed his suit jacket to the waiter to hang up.

Even the servers here, accustomed to seeing men of various statuses, couldn’t help but steal a few more glances at Jiang Chengyu. His aura of restraint and cold demeanor were captivating.

Jiang Chengyu stood by the chair at the main seat, not sitting.

He tapped the back of the chair, gesturing to Shen Tang, “You sit here.”

This left everyone astonished, except for Yan Heyu.

Jiang Chengyu publicly offering her the main seat left Shen Tang somewhat flattered, though she excelled at managing her expressions, remaining poised: “Thank you, Mr. Jiang.”

She naturally moved to the main seat.

Just a seat, yet it gave her an air of superiority.

Tonight, no one urged her to drink anymore.

Jiang Chengyu sat beside her.

Voluntarily playing the supporting role.

Everyone at the dinner was adept at reading the room, exchanging glances, realization dawning.

So Jiang Chengyu had taken a liking to Shen Tang.

Shen Tang remained composed, still propping her chin on her hand, seemingly at ease, watching Jiang Chengyu unfold the napkin.

This man was a sight to behold even when simply sitting there.

Jiang Chengyu unfolded the napkin, taking advantage of his long arms. His left arm circled behind Shen Tang’s back, almost pulling her into his embrace. With both hands holding the corners of the napkin, he lifted it gently, his fingers deftly tying it around her neck.

This overt declaration of ownership also concealed the beautiful glimpse of her décolletage.

Not forgetting to ease her momentary awkwardness, he half-joked: “The napkin material is nice; pack a few to use on the plane before we leave.”

Yan Heyu gestured to the waiter, pointing his wine glass toward Jiang Chengyu’s direction. “Here’s your chance to make money. Charge him twenty thousand per napkin; don’t be polite. Pack twenty of them.”

He smirked: “Share some of the profits with me later. I’m not greedy; ten or eight yuan will suffice.”

Even the waiter couldn’t help but laugh.

The private room buzzed with chatter, lively once again.

Whether it was Jiang Chengyu or Yan Heyu, both always navigated any occasion with ease.

Shen Tang lowered her eyes to the napkin. She wasn’t a child; no adult used a napkin as a bib during a dinner party.

But since it was Jiang Chengyu’s handiwork, this temporary bib was imbued with special meaning.

Jiang Chengyu was always considerate and often surprised her. However, there were two things this second son of the Jiang family didn’t give lightly.

One was love, and the other was marriage.

Other than that, he was generous with her.

He never hid his affection for her.

But his affection never reached the heart; it was worlds apart from love.

Who knew if any woman had ever reached his heart.

Jiang Chengyu asked her: “When are you returning to Beijing?”

Shen Tang turned to meet his eyes, “Tomorrow morning.”

Jiang Chengyu acted as if no one else was around: “Cancel your ticket and come back with me.”

“Private jet?”

“Mm.”

Shen Tang informed Lijie that she wouldn’t be traveling with her tomorrow but would return with Jiang Chengyu.

Lijie was surprised: [Jiang Chengyu is in Shanghai?]

Shen Tang: [Mm, right beside me.]

Upon hearing that Jiang Chengyu was also at tonight’s dinner, Lijie felt relieved and didn’t need to keep watch. [There’s a business event at ten o’clock the day after tomorrow. I’ll pick you up at eight.]

Non-stop activities followed, with five or six more commercial events coming up. Shen Tang couldn’t recall which brand she was representing the day after tomorrow.

[What brand? Who else is going?]

Lijie sent her a screenshot of the event—it was the anniversary celebration of A Sports Brand’s flagship store in Beijing. Also attending were the brand’s male clothing and footwear endorsers, Huo Teng.

Lijie: [You two will appear together at the event. I’ll bring the new women’s shoes and clothes for you.]

________________________________________

Jiang Chengyu hadn’t planned to drink, and Yan Heyu had already ordered a glass of water for him.

Even if he substituted water for wine, no one objected.

“Red wine, thank you.” Jiang Chengyu casually leaned back in his chair, handing a wine glass to the waiter. His other hand naturally rested on the back of Shen Tang’s chair, his fingertips twirling her long hair.

With one toast, he addressed the entire table.

“In the future, when my girlfriend comes to Shanghai, I’ll trouble all of you to take care of her.”

Shen Tang, who was reading Lijie’s message, suddenly turned to look at him.

Everyone’s reaction lagged half a beat, then hastily raised their glasses, “Mr. Jiang, you’re too kind; it’s our duty.”

They understood the subtext of Jiang Chengyu’s words. The point wasn’t to ask them to take care of Shen Tang but to inform them that Shen Tang was his girlfriend.

Yan Heyu added fuel to the fire, “We know you’ve gone to great lengths; you even took a yacht to rush here for this dinner. Come on, cheers to your sweet coupledom.”

He drained his glass in one gulp.

Everyone realized that Shen Tang and Jiang Chengyu weren’t newly acquainted.

President Tan silently downed the glass of wine he hadn’t toasted with earlier.

Glad he hadn’t overly expressed inappropriate intentions towards Shen Tang.

Another round of toasts began.

Shen Tang remained extremely calm about Jiang Chengyu’s sudden public acknowledgment, neither pleased nor surprised.

In Jiang Chengyu’s circle, only fiancées from equally prestigious families carried weight. Their girlfriends and eventual fiancées were usually two different groups.

The title of girlfriend, in reality, was almost negligible.

Of course, sometimes it carried a bit of weight.

For instance, now, these people at the table would show her some respect in the future.

Shen Tang clinked her juice glass against Jiang Chengyu’s wine glass, conveying a silent “thank you” with her eyes.

After the dinner ended, Shen Tang left first, spending the night at Jiang Chengyu’s apartment.

The driver waited downstairs to avoid paparazzi; she and Jiang Chengyu descended separately.

Only Jiang Chengyu and Yan Heyu remained in the private room, smoke filling the air.

Yan Heyu lit a cigarette and sat with Jiang Chengyu for a couple of minutes.

He never pried into others’ personal affairs, not even between Jiang Chengyu and Shen Tang. Besides occasionally helping with ad sponsorships, he never asked a single extra question.

Today, however, he was curious.

“What’s going on with you? First, you send a title sponsorship ad, then rush halfway across Shanghai to tie a napkin around her neck.”

“Nothing much, it’s our third anniversary.”

Jiang Chengyu brushed it off nonchalantly.

Yan Heyu had drunk quite a bit tonight; his reactions were slower than usual.

He didn’t understand what the third anniversary meant.

Frowning, he gestured to Jiang Chengyu: “Explain it clearly.”

Seeing Yan Heyu wasn’t teasing, Jiang Chengyu patiently explained, “Shen Tang and I have been together for three years; it’s a gift for her.”

“?”

Yan Heyu, despite having drunk a lot, was certain he wasn’t drunk. “Didn’t you two celebrate your third anniversary two months ago? Even the candles were specially customized for her. Why celebrate again?”

Jiang Chengyu stood up and put on his suit. “Shen Tang said she got the date wrong last time; this month marks the third anniversary.”

Actually, this month wasn’t it either; next month was.

“Not...”

“Heh.”

“You’re letting her get away with this?”

Yan Heyu’s words were incoherent.

He rubbed his nose bridge, speechless.

That woman, Shen Tang, was truly a devil.