"Isn't that Bai Quan? Bai Quan, you've been a stay-at-home wife all this time, how come you're attending a banquet?" Sun Liyan raised an eyebrow.
"A woman must have her own career. My major was financial investment, and I'm planning to open a venture capital firm."
"Venture capital? That's impressive. Are you looking for Mr. Wang to cooperate with you?" Sun Liyan said with a half-smile. Mr. Wang immediately replied, "That's indeed a good idea. If it shows promise later, I'll definitely try your firm."
Bai Quan's eyes darkened slightly.
Everyone here was sharp; that sentence was already a rejection.
But she didn't get angry either, smiling sweetly, "Okay."
Sun Liyan and Mr. Wang quickly left.
"Didn't he say he watched you grow up?" Wen Yan frowned.
Why was he so unwilling to lend a hand?
Bai Quan was also a bit surprised, "Merchants are probably all like this, unwilling to do anything risky. It's okay, I'll ask someone else."
Many people at the banquet were Bai Quan's acquaintances.
She asked them one by one.
But she only received rejections.
Some even looked her up and down dismissively, "If you ask me, you should just stay home and be a housewife. Why are you coming out to show your face and start a venture capital firm? It's ridiculous! Doesn't CEO Rong's wealth suffice for you?"
Bai Quan's face turned slightly pale, but she still said, "I believe one should always have their own career and not depend on others for a lifetime."
"Don't you find it laughable when you say that? How did you shamelessly pester CEO Rong back then, and now you're spouting such nonsense after getting him? If it weren't for CEO Rong, do you think you'd even be able to get into this banquet? You wouldn't even have the right to stand here and talk to me. And no one here would invest in your pathetic company!" he sneered.
Wen Yan was furious.
Bai Quan, however, remained relatively calm, "Mr. Zhang, there's no need to be so harsh. Our families have had some cooperation before."
"Cooperation? That was your father begging me to cooperate. Seeing your father's pitiable state, I threw him a small project. As for you, I don't even want to throw you a bone. No one here will want to cooperate with you. Hurry up and leave!" Mr. Zhang looked at her with contempt.
Bai Quan's face was unsightly, but she still pulled the about-to-explode Wen Yan away.
After they left, someone beside Mr. Zhang said, "Mr. Zhang, why were you so harsh? She's still CEO Rong's wife!"
"Oh, haven't you seen CEO Rong taking her out? Instead, that other woman has always been by CEO Rong's side. Who doesn't know CEO Rong hates manipulative women the most? Her starting a company now is just to grab some funds before a divorce. Does she take me for a fool? None of us should invest in her company."
What he said made sense, and everyone nodded in agreement.
If Bai Quan were still CEO Rong's wife, then investing would be fine.
But these days, the woman CEO Rong took out was not Bai Quan.
How long could their marriage last?
No one wanted to be the sucker.
Wen Yan, who had been pulled away, was seething with anger.
They say people of status are more magnanimous.
Now it seemed to be the complete opposite!
"How could they treat you like this? You're CEO Rong's wife, after all!"
Bai Quan smiled bitterly in her heart.
How could she not understand that people in the business world were adept at fawning over power?
Rong Beifeng already had another woman outside; who would give her a second glance?
"The business world is like this. I'm just starting out, with no achievements yet, so it's normal for people to look down on me," Bai Quan comforted her. "Let's try a few more people."
"Alright, hard work pays off!"
Wen Yan said.
At this moment, her peripheral vision was drawn to the entrance.
The person who walked in was surrounded by many people.
Among them were Mr. Zhang and others who had just mocked them. They walked to a sofa and sat down, and people immediately brought them tea and water.
That face was finally revealed.
A silver mask, elegant and mysterious, a robust and tall physique, exuding the aura of a noble superior.
In the crowd, he stood out.
Leng Xunze.
He had arrived.
Under the crystal chandelier, he was surrounded by countless fawning and solicitous business magnates.
In a corner, she and Bai Quan were ignored.
The world was so real, and so cruel.
She unconsciously clenched her fists, continuing to watch Bai Quan try to converse with people again and again, only to be rejected, or even insulted.
Mr. Zhang, standing beside Leng Xunze, inadvertently saw them and gave a mocking glance.
Instantly, it ignited the anger in Wen Yan's heart.
By the time Wen Yan reacted, she had already walked up to Mr. Ye and extended her wine glass:
"Mr. Ye."
Everyone looked up at her.
The scorching gazes made Wen Yan sober up.
She gripped her wine glass, almost losing her footing.
She hadn't expected to be so rash as to walk up to him, especially in front of so many people. She could even feel their mocking and disdainful eyes. Countless people at this banquet wanted to curry favor with Mr. Ye, but only a select few could sit by his side.
Mr. Zhang's gaze was extremely contemptuous, as if saying: How dare you?
Mr. Ye didn't move either. The man leaned back elegantly in his chair, his aura lazy and unrestrained. His sharp jawline was smooth and defined, and he listened indifferently to the plans of the person next to him.
One second, two seconds, three seconds passed...
The gazes of everyone towards Wen Yan gradually shifted from shock to contempt.
"Nowadays, it's really true that any woman dreams of flying to a high branch to become a phoenix," a contemptuous voice came from Mr. Zhang.
The people around him chuckled in agreement.
The dense laughter pierced Wen Yan's heart like needles.
Wen Yan had never felt so embarrassed, as if she had been stripped naked in front of everyone.
She forced a calm expression, preparing to drink the wine herself when the man spoke:
"Aren't you tired of standing?"
Mr. Ye's gaze finally fell on her. His low, magnetic voice said, "Sit."
The faces of those who had been laughing mockingly immediately turned to shock, watching Wen Yan walk to the seat beside Mr. Ye and sit down. Mr. Ye raised his wine glass with his slender fingers and lightly clinked it against hers, then said to a passing waiter, "Get a glass of orange juice."
Looking at Wen Yan, he said, "If you can't drink, drink less."
His tone was still as cold as ever.
But it was enough to set everyone ablaze.
Just a moment ago, they thought this was a woman trying to attract Mr. Ye's attention, but the next second their perception was shattered. Not only did she know Mr. Ye, but she was also sitting beside him. Who exactly was she?
Cold sweat was already streaming down Mr. Zhang's forehead.
Good heavens, what had he just said? Mr. Ye must have heard it, right?
Mr. Zhang quickly said, "So, this is an old acquaintance of Mr. Ye. May I know the lady's name?"
Wen Yan glanced at him faintly, "Do I need to tell you?"
"No, of course not. I was blind and didn't recognize you. I hope the lady won't hold it against me. I'll punish myself with a drink." Mr. Zhang immediately drank it down.
The other few people followed suit.
They were afraid of displeasing her, and Mr. Ye might kick them out.
Watching these people perform a complete 360-degree turn, all because of Mr. Ye, Wen Yan's emotions churned with complexity.
It seemed that at some point, she had also become a calculating person.
But as her gaze caught sight of someone walking towards Bai Quan, speaking to her with a gentle expression, she instantly felt no regret.