Chapter 55: He Would Rather Stay Outside with His Little Mistress

When they stopped outside the private dining suite, Shen Zhou put his arm around her waist. "We're just going through the motions."

The door of the suite was pushed open. Inside sat quite a few people, all well-acquainted members of this inner circle.

Among them were Li Hemian and Gu Xun.

Tang Baihe's scandalous video had spread like wildfire through the circle, and now everyone looked at Tang Yuan as if she were a joke.

To think that even a woman from the Tang family would commit adultery.

Sheng Yun was very popular within this circle, and being a company president, she was well-connected.

Moreover, Sheng Yun had an older brother who doted on her excessively, as well as an uncle involved in the underworld. Both of them were absolute madmen; anyone in the business world who displeased Sheng Yun would immediately find her brother charging to the front lines, while her uncle could quietly make a multitude of troubles vanish behind the scenes.

Consequently, many people preferred not to offend her.

Besides, she was a woman, so a little flattery was all it took to keep her happy.

Sheng Yun stood up and raised a glass of wine. "There was a bit of a misunderstanding with Mrs. Shen the other day. I propose this toast to you—let us wash away our grievances with wine."

A few people present had happened to be at the film set that day and had seen Tang Yuan throw the first punch. Now that Sheng Yun was taking the initiative to address the matter, she appeared far more magnanimous than Tang Yuan.

Shen Zhou's gaze fell upon Sheng Yun, who smiled generously. "President Shen, you and I will have plenty of more chances to cross paths. We mustn't let this little incident sour things between us."

She smiled as she placed a glass of wine in front of Tang Yuan, her eyes filled with malice. "Mrs. Shen, drink up."

Her malice was visible to Tang Yuan alone.

Tang Yuan knew she was triumphant, signaling to everyone around that the women of the Tang family were utterly worthless.

In this circle, family backing and the power in one's hands were what mattered most.

She took the glass and drained it in one go.

Shen Zhou stood beside her, cupping her face and kissing her lips twice. "There, you were the one who struck first. Don't go keeping such a stiff face."

His words smoothed over the atmosphere. Sheng Yun laughed. "President Shen is certainly gentle with his wife."

As she spoke of gentleness, she set her wine glass down on the coffee table. "Mrs. Shen doesn't seem to get out much. With so many people here tonight, I hope you weren't frightened."

This remark was likewise full of malice; prior to this, Shen Zhou had indeed never brought her to such gatherings.

Her very first time coming out to meet so many people, and it turned out to be an occasion to offer an apology.

Tonight, Sheng Yun was the leading lady, while she, Tang Yuan, was nothing more than a clown making a spectacle of herself.

Sheng Yun flitted back and forth, playing drinking games and toasting people, handling everyone with effortless grace.

Her gaze drifted periodically to Shen Zhou's face.

Their eyes met in mid-air, sparks flying between them.

Tang Yuan pretended not to notice, sitting down next to Shen Zhou, and overheard people whispering nearby.

"Tang Baihe's ashes were thrown away. How pathetic."

"But who told her to cheat? As a woman of the Tang family, committing adultery is practically courting death, isn't it?"

"The Tang family is truly heartless; they didn't even send anyone to fish her out. It was only after a kind stranger pulled her up and the police notified them to claim the body that they found out."

A heavy ache gripped Tang Yuan's chest. At that moment, she saw Shen Zhou lean over from the side, blocking a glass of wine on behalf of Sheng Yun.

Sheng Yun laughed boisterously while exchanging banter with the others, giving Shen Zhou a friendly slap on the shoulder with a tomboyish air.

In contrast, Tang Yuan sat quietly to the side, almost invisible.

She wasn't very familiar with anyone here, and the only person she knew well, Gu Xun, was sitting some distance away.

Seated right beside her instead was Li Hemian, and because of the whole affair with Tang Baihe, she harbored no warm feelings whatsoever toward the Li family.

Li Hemian was a close friend of Shen Zhou, but unlike Xie Mo and Gu Xun, he held a deep, unconcealed malice toward Tang Yuan.

Leaning in, he deliberately closed the distance between them. "Shen Zhou has already slept with Sheng Yun. Everyone in this circle knows it."

Tang Yuan lowered her eyelashes, staring fixedly at the wine glass before her without offering a retort.

Li Hemian knitted his brows and suddenly let out a low chuckle. "They always say the women of the Tang family are spineless cowards, and it turns out to be entirely true. Before you walked in, a few people were whispering, wondering what it feels like to sleep with you. But Shen Zhou clearly has no use for you; he'd much rather spend his time entertaining his little mistress outside."

His gaze swept across her face, his tone dripping with arrogance. "Tang Yuan, oh Tang Yuan, even when you throw yourself at people to be played with, they still find you repulsive. If I were you, I'd have jumped off a bridge and ended it already."