Chapter 35: A Surprise from the President
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The secretary acknowledged her and gestured for Xu Yaru to proceed.
Xu Yaru bit her lip. A trace of ruthlessness flickered in her eyes, yet her face wore an innocent, pitiful expression. “Brother Yunzhe, Sister betrayed you long ago. Why do you still cling to her?”
Only when he heard Xu Xu’s name did Huo Yunzhe’s expression finally change.
“What do you mean by that?”
Xu Yaru blinked, thinking with satisfaction that Huo Yunzhe had taken the bait.
“Well... I only heard it from some of my colleagues.” As she spoke, Xu Yaru moved closer to him once more. “They saw with their own eyes that Sister traded her body to secure a partnership with Rising Sun Group...”
Huo Yunzhe’s expression darkened at once.
Seeing this, Xu Yaru pressed her advantage. “And that’s not all. Rising Sun Group sent invitations to all the prominent figures in Hai City for their anniversary celebration, yet the Xu Group was the only one that didn’t receive one!”
She shook her head and sighed as she spoke.
“Impossible... She isn’t that kind of person...” Huo Yunzhe’s face paled slightly, but hesitation lingered in his expression. Clearly, he did not have complete faith in Xu Xu’s character.
Xu Yaru naturally noticed this. Her lips curved faintly as she continued her performance.
“Brother Yunzhe, I didn’t want to believe it at first either! But that colleague showed me those photos of Sister. I really had no choice but to believe them!” Her tone shifted, and she took out her phone. After pulling up a photograph she had deliberately doctored, she held it out for Huo Yunzhe to see. “If you don’t believe me, look for yourself!”
Meanwhile, after word spread that the newly inaugurated president would be attending the celebratory banquet hosted by Rising Sun Group, the prominent figures of Hai City began calling in favors, desperate to obtain an invitation.
But the banquet had a limited number of places, and those who could attend were all among the most powerful figures in the city.
With no other options, the socialites could only inquire about who had received invitations and see whether they could buy one at a high price.
When they learned that Xu Xu had received an invitation, the friends who had once distanced themselves from her because she was a fake heiress began calling to apologize while cautiously probing for information about the banquet.
Xu Xu had already answered several such calls, all of them asking about the same thing.
To prevent anyone else from bothering her, she simply turned off her phone.
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That evening, she waited until everyone had left work before walking out of the company building.
The next second, a car horn sounded. Immediately afterward, a vehicle pulled to a stop in front of her.
“What is wrong with people? Harassing me by phone wasn’t enough—they even came to block me after work?”
Already seething, Xu Xu raised her head, ready to curse whoever it was. But then she saw Huo Hanshen.
The anger in her chest vanished instantly. Delighted, she walked over to him. “Why did you come to pick me up? You didn’t even call me.”
As she spoke, she opened the car door and climbed inside.
Huo Hanshen replied helplessly, “I did call you, but your phone was turned off.”
Only then did Xu Xu realize what had happened. She immediately began complaining to Huo Hanshen about the people who had called her one after another.
“...Honestly, they were no different from telemarketers!” Xu Xu wore an exasperated expression. “I really don’t understand what Rising Sun Group was thinking. Why do I feel as though they deliberately wanted to make me the target of everyone’s resentment?”
“About that...” Huo Hanshen cleared his throat, sounding slightly guilty. “That probably isn’t the case. Perhaps they simply admire you.”
Xu Xu looked at him skeptically. “Is that really it?”
“Of course! If you weren’t outstanding enough, why would they send you an invitation separately?” Huo Hanshen nodded firmly. “As for the Xu family not receiving one... that must be their own problem. Otherwise, why would Rising Sun Group leave out only the Xu Group?”
After hearing Huo Hanshen’s explanation, Xu Xu found it rather reasonable.
Her mood improved considerably.
But before long, she began to look troubled again.
Huo Hanshen noticed at once and took the initiative to ask, “Why are you still frowning?”
“Because I’m going to have to spend more money again.” Xu Xu sighed helplessly. “All my old evening gowns were left at the Xu residence. Now that I have to attend the banquet, I’ll have to buy a new one...”
At her words, Huo Hanshen could not help but smile. He then took out an exquisitely wrapped gift box and handed it to her.
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Looking at the gift box before her, Xu Xu was completely bewildered. “What is this...?”
“Open it and you’ll see.” Huo Hanshen blinked.
Though puzzled, Xu Xu opened the box beneath Huo Hanshen’s gentle gaze.
Inside lay an extraordinarily beautiful evening gown. Its fiery red color was complemented by diamond fragments shaped like droplets, creating a breathtaking effect.
Xu Xu was dazzled at first sight. “Is this... for me?”
“Mm.” Huo Hanshen nodded. “Of course it’s for you.”
Xu Xu felt a rush of emotion. She could hardly bear to take her eyes off the gown.
She had never expected Huo Hanshen to be so thoughtful...
“Madam, do you like the gift I gave you?”
Huo Hanshen leaned slightly closer to Xu Xu, his eyes deep and unfathomable.
“I like it...” Xu Xu looked at the gown in her hands and gently stroked it. A trace of reluctance flashed through her eyes, but she still raised her head and spoke firmly. “But we should return it.”
“Why?” Huo Hanshen asked, utterly perplexed. “You don’t like the style?”
Xu Xu smiled and shook her head. “No, I like it very much. But even though the gown doesn’t have a price tag, I know enough about the cost of clothing materials to have a rough idea.”
As she spoke, Xu Xu placed the gown back in the box.
“This dress wasn’t cheap, was it? Conservatively speaking... it must have cost several hundred thousand. Where did you get that much money?”
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