So What If the Pretty Campus Belle Loves Money? (22)

Shi Zheng saw everything with perfect clarity.

Behind the compliments and smiles lay a trace of disdain and curiosity.

They were convinced she was a dodder vine who had used tricks to climb onto a lofty branch, and that Hua Jinchen was merely taken with her for the moment.

At those words, the last trace of calm vanished from Hua Jinchen's face, replaced by a chill.

The image of Gu Yanshen and Shi Zheng in the meeting room rose unbidden in his mind.

He shouted, "Enough."

Everyone froze. The lively conversation came to an abrupt halt, and they looked at Hua Jinchen, baffled by his sudden change of expression.

Hua Jinchen said impatiently, "Shut up, all of you! Why bring that up? What a mood killer."

"I don't want to hear another word about it. Understood?"

This was more than an attempt to stop them; it was an order carrying an unmistakable warning.

Shi Zheng felt the pressure around the man beside her drop sharply.

She knew Hua Jinchen had been reminded of Gu Yanshen.

It seemed the thorn that was Gu Yanshen had lodged quite deep in his heart.

Serves him right! Why feel sorry for men? Let them all fight for her favor!

The atmosphere in the private room instantly plunged to freezing.

Everyone exchanged glances, seeing shock in one another's eyes.

Hua Jinchen's reaction... wasn't it a little excessive? Why was it as though they had stepped into a minefield?

But none of them dared ask.

Hua Jinchen was clearly in a terrible mood, and it would be unwise to get on his bad side now.

"Yes, yes, Young Master Hua is right. We won't bring it up again!"

"Let's drink, let's drink! We should talk about something cheerful!"

"Drinking alone is so boring. How about my date sings a song for everyone to liven things up? She majored in music at a prestigious university, so you're in for a treat."

Everyone immediately chimed in with their approval.

Soon, the woman walked gracefully to the front, picked up a microphone, and sang an English song.

Her voice was clear and bright, and she was natural onstage. She really did sing well.

When the song ended, sincere applause rang out in the private room.

Shi Zheng praised her. "That was beautiful."

With that start, the atmosphere seemed to warm up a little.

The women the other young masters had brought along also took turns performing, whether to show off their own skills or bring their dates some face.

Each of them brought out her best, clearly having come prepared.

Or perhaps they were already used to occasions like this, where they were expected to show what they could do.

Soon, every woman who had been brought along had performed except Shi Zheng.

Everyone's gaze, deliberately or otherwise, fell on Shi Zheng, who had been sitting quietly beside Hua Jinchen all this time.

The woman looked at Shi Zheng with a smile. "Miss Shi, we've all performed, so you're the only one left. You're Young Master Hua's girlfriend, so you must have some extraordinary talent, right? Why don't you show us?"

As soon as she said that, the others joined in the clamor.

Everyone waited for Shi Zheng's response.

Shi Zheng still wore a proper, faint smile.

She raised her eyes and looked first at Hua Jinchen beside her, a hint of inquiry in her gaze.

Hua Jinchen frowned slightly.

His displeasure was clear in his voice. "If she doesn't want to, she doesn't have to. What's all the fuss about?"

An apologetic smile appeared on Shi Zheng's face, and she said gently, "Thank you all for thinking so highly of me. But I really don't have any talents worth showing off. I'd only embarrass myself up there, so I'd better not. I just hope everyone has a good time."

She admitted it so openly and put herself in such a modest position that it became difficult to keep pressuring her.

They exchanged glances, even more certain of their "just as we thought" conclusions—she was nothing but looks, empty inside, with no real substance beyond using that pretty face to latch onto men.

Shi Zheng seemed not to notice their gazes and tugged at Hua Jinchen's sleeve.

She leaned close to his ear and said, "I... need to use the restroom."

Hua Jinchen glanced at her and nodded.

Shi Zheng stood, gave everyone an apologetic smile, picked up her small purse, and walked out of the private room.

The door closed behind her, and the mask on Shi Zheng's face vanished instantly.

She went to the restroom and rinsed her hands.

System: [Host, his favorability has risen above zero.]

[Hua Jinchen's current favorability: 15.]

Shi Zheng: [A man's guilt really is quite a useful bargaining chip.]

Just as Shi Zheng was about to leave the restroom, a hand shot out from the shadows in the corner and seized her wrist.