Ye Fan and Hu Jing bicker like a little couple, caring deeply for each other but still saying hurtful things that bring sadness to both.

Hu Jing, still sulking, was irked by Ye Fan's sarcastic remarks, feeling he didn't consider her situation at all.

"How... how did you get in?" Hu Jing calmed down a bit and asked, "There are so many guards outside, or are you in cahoots with that bastard?"

Ye Fan shrugged, "I just walked in, and nobody stopped me outside."

"Impossible, that bastard arranged for so many people out there to keep me from escaping. You must be with him. Hmph, you're also a guest invited by Director Li today, right? Making dirty money with Sun and harming innocent civilians. The chemical plant he built doesn't even meet domestic environmental standards, let alone international ones. Who knows how many people will fall ill in the years to come because of it..."

"What does it have to do with me?" Ye Fan remained indifferent.

"..."

This time, Hu Jing was utterly speechless.

Ye Fan sat there calmly, but seeing Hu Jing's stubborn expression, he felt a twinge of guilt and said, "If you want to leave here, I can take you away immediately. If any of your family is being controlled by Sun Ronghe, I can get them out too. You can start a new life somewhere no one knows you."

"Thanks for your kindness, but I don't need it." Hu Jing said, standing tall, "You can go now. There's nothing between us, and I don't need your pity!"

Feeling Hu Jing's decisiveness, Ye Fan respected her choice. He stood up and walked towards the door. Hu Jing wanted to call out to him but hesitated, watching as he left through the door. Surprisingly, no one outside stopped Ye Fan.

Hu Jing furiously said, "You say you're not with Sun, but you're clearly in league with him."

Ye Fan had created a closed spiritual energy field when coming and going through the door, making it seem like the Invisibility Technique, so no one around sensed his presence.

When Ye Fan returned to the fifteenth floor, Li Zhaojun shook her head and said, "Ye Fan, you shouldn't have come back like this. I can tell she really cares about you but just doesn't know how to express it."

"Maybe, but let her cool down for a bit. Don't worry, Zhao Jun, there's really nothing between us." Ye Fan said, holding Li Zhaojun's hand.

Meanwhile, downstairs, the cocktail party had already started. Sun Ronghe headed towards the lounge where Hu Jing was. Having even tossed aside her handgun, she looked like a lamb to the slaughter, forced to follow Sun Ronghe out of the lounge and head toward the banquet hall downstairs.

"Ye Fan, let's go down and take a look." Li Zhaojun suggested.

"But, isn't what we're wearing a bit inappropriate?" Ye Fan mused, looking at his very casual Earth-like outfit, which seemed too out of place for the banquet hall.

Li Zhaojun smiled and pointed toward the wardrobe, "There're clothes inside, just change into them."

A few minutes later, Ye Fan, Li Zhaojun, Min Shang, and Lan Jing had all changed into formal wear, taking the elevator down to the banquet hall.

Though Ye Fan wasn't extremely handsome, he had an excellent demeanor; and next to him, Li Zhaojun was even more graceful and charming. The two women behind him were also stunning beauties. As soon as they arrived at the banquet hall, they became the center of attention.

Not knowing many people in Ninghai City, Ye Fan casually greeted people as he walked toward the front of the banquet hall, where Sun Ronghe and Hu Jing, the soon-to-be engaged "newlyweds," had appeared. Sun Ronghe was introducing his beautiful "fiancée" to his fellow cohorts of corrupt political and business elites.

"So, Miss Hu is the daughter of the former boss of Anhui Group? I've long admired your father's reputation, such a pity he passed away so young!"

"Miss Hu, why do you have a different surname from your eminent father?"

"Old Sun, would it be possible for Miss Hu to have a dance with me later?"

Hu Jing, dazzling as ever, became the target of the dignitaries' attention. They presumed she was marrying a much older man out of vanity or to revive Anhui Group. Since Sun Ronghe wouldn't bother with an unworthy endeavor, perhaps they too had a chance with this seemingly alluring woman.

Meanwhile, on Ye Fan's side, a gaggle of admirers surrounded them.

"These three beautiful ladies, how should we address you?"

"Would the three ladies care to have a drink with me?"

Li Zhaojun retorted, "Sorry, everyone, I'm here with my husband, please step aside!"

When those admirers realized they couldn't attract Li Zhaojun's attention, they tried to turn their focus to Min Shang and Lan Jing. But those two women didn't quite grasp human social norms, never taking their eyes off Ye Fan, no matter what was said to them.

"Damn it, how is it that this guy has three ridiculously beautiful women with him?" Some of them grumbled in frustration.

Initially, Ye Fan was just a source of envy, but soon, even the socialites and ladies of status turned their attention to him, engaging in chatter and even coming over with glasses of wine to toast with him.

Perhaps because Ye Fan was too captivating in the room, even Hu Jing noticed him and Li Zhaojun being surrounded as they made their way over. Her expression turned sour. If Ye Fan was the person she most wanted to see, Li Zhaojun was the last person she wanted to encounter. Not only was she her former boss, but also the strong woman who had taken the person Hu Jing had her eyes on.

Following the crowd's gaze, Sun Ronghe saw Ye Fan and the others approaching, but his eyes lingered on Li Zhaojun and the other two women, nearly drooling, "Absolutely stunning."

As Ye Fan strolled over with a smile, he let go of Li Zhaojun's hand and extended his own as if warmly greeting, "Boss Sun, long time no see."

Sun Ronghe was somewhat puzzled, caught off guard by a young man's greeting, with a hint of cluelessness on his face. Just then, two bodyguards stepped forward to stop Ye Fan, but they missed him entirely as if Ye Fan teleported in a blink and stood before Sun Ronghe.

"Where are you making money these days, Boss Sun?" Ye Fan took the initiative to shake hands with Sun Ronghe.

Seeing this scene almost made Hu Jing so angry she could spit blood. She glared at Ye Fan as if to say, you claim there's nothing between you, yet here's the proof?

Sun Ronghe, having been around the business scene for years, despite wanting to crush Ye Fan, remained courteous under the watchful eyes of many and said with a smile, "I've been in Ninghai City all along, and you are?"

"You don't recognize me? Truth be told, I'm the vice president of Han's Group, personally here to discuss investment." Ye Fan said with a smile.

"Han's Group? Which Han's Group? Could it be..."

Mentioning Han's Group made Sun Ronghe anxious. Though he rules Ninghai, Han's Group's influence nationwide far exceeds his; they're the mighty dragon, while he's just a local bully.

"Nonsense, Han's Group has no investment in Ninghai. Don't think you can talk your way in!" A government official nearby sternly chastised.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.