The two of them entered the hotel elevator, and Zhao Pingjin handed her the coat.

Xi Tang didn’t want to put it on. “Ah, we’ll have heating soon.”

Zhao Pingjin wouldn’t take no for an answer. “Wear it.”

Stepping out of the elevator, a server bowed and led them toward the banquet hall. Xi Tang lifted her dress with one hand while still trying to abandon the coat. “Come on, do you see any female celebrities wearing this much?”

Zhao Pingjin said disdainfully, “Have you no shame? You think you’re such a big shot?”

Approaching them, Lu Xiaojiang came over, looking quite cheerful. “Hey, Third Brother, you’re here too?”

Upon seeing him, Zhao Pingjin impatiently responded, “What are you doing here?”

Lu Xiaojiang smiled. “Grandpa Qian received an invitation too. I’m attending on his behalf. CEO Hua has quite a network in Beijing.”

He turned to look at Xi Tang, who was about to take off her coat. Zhao Pingjin wouldn’t allow it, his hand pressing on her shoulder. Lu Xiaojiang pushed up his glasses with a sincere expression. “Xi Tang, keep it on. You look good wearing it.”

Xi Tang immediately stopped. “Really?”

Spotting Ni Kailun waving at her from inside the banquet hall, she decisively buttoned up the coat, adjusted her clothes, waved goodbye to them, and headed toward Ni Kailun.

Zhao Pingjin remained standing with an ashen face, staring intently at Lu Xiaojiang.

Lu Xiaojiang was still lingering at the entrance, smiling cheerfully at him. “Third Brother, which table are you at?”

Zhao Pingjin lowered his voice and roared, “Get out of the way!”

Xi Tang sat at a table with her company colleagues, with Ni Kailun on her left and Lin Xinhui on her right. The table also included Manager Wang and several company executives. Xi Tang greeted each of them.

The wedding banquet was naturally grand—flowers everywhere, laughter and tears. When the groom slipped the expensive diamond ring onto Wu Zhenzhen’s finger, everyone applauded enthusiastically.

Lin Xinhui smiled faintly. “Well, he’s certainly sincere.”

She seemed a bit envious; approaching forty, she still hadn’t found her soulmate.

After the ceremony, during the interval when the bride was changing outfits, Wu Zhenzhen’s female assistant came over. “Xi Tang, Zhenzhen would like to see you.”

Xi Tang walked into the bride’s makeup room.

The hairstylist was redoing her hair. Xi Tang approached her. “Congratulations.”

Wu Zhenzhen’s face was like a peach blossom, her jewelry sparkling, but she seemed somewhat melancholic. “Thank you.”

Xi Tang continued with her compliments. “The wedding is magnificent.”

Wu Zhenzhen looked in the mirror. “Would you like to catch the bouquet later? I’ll throw it your way.”

Xi Tang smiled. “No need, throw it to Sister Xinhui instead.”

Wu Zhenzhen probed. “So open-minded about it?”

Xi Tang maintained her smile. “Just haven’t found the right connection yet.”

Wu Zhenzhen said, “Xi Tang after I stop acting, you’re responsible for taking down Zhang Zhiyin.”

See, even female celebrities don’t marry easily; retiring from the industry, she still harbored resentment.

Xi Tang laughed. “I’ll do my best.”

Wu Zhenzhen casually fiddled with ruby on her hand, remained silent for a while, and then suddenly spoke softly. “I was with Zhao Pingjin for over two months. Every time after a social event, his assistant would escort me to my hotel room. In reality, I didn’t even know which room he stayed in.”

Xi Tang’s smile slightly froze.

Wu Zhenzhen continued, “To put it bluntly, they just want a glamorous female companion for social occasions. Mr. Zhao is very generous with women—money, jewelry, film investments, nothing is spared. As he says, he uses us to decorate his facade, which is expected. But that’s the extent of it. I don’t know about elsewhere, but at least as far as I know, Miss Wu has never spoken a word about him either.”

Xi Tang felt a mixture of emotions—shame, confusion, melancholy, and a faint, inexplicable hint of joy.

Wu Zhenzhen exhaled deeply. “I didn’t want to tell you before, but now that I’m married, consider it an act of goodwill.”

Xi Tang truly admired the makeup artist touching up Wu Zhenzhen’s makeup and hair—from start to finish, she hadn’t raised an eyebrow.

She reflected on her situation and sighed softly. “Zhenzhen, I’m just another facade as well.”

Wu Zhenzhen didn’t believe her at all. “Really?”

Xi Tang nodded innocently.

Wu Zhenzhen finally said, “Xi Tang, don’t beat around the bush with me. Let me give you some advice—check his wallet.”

Xi Tang stood up, leaned in, and gently touched her face. “Wishing you happiness.”

She returned to the banquet.

After two hours of dining, the invited singers were performing on stage. Guests had left their tables and were mingling, and socializing.

Xi Tang was invited to take photos with the newlyweds. With social media so prevalent nowadays, celebrities in the circle are addicted to taking photos with each other. Previously, Xi Tang never had the chance to join such activities. Now the winds had changed—Wu Zhenzhen was retiring, and the company wanted to promote her as the successor. She had been focused on filming recently and wasn’t clear how much PR work the company had done for her. She simply cooperated, shaking hands, smiling, taking photo after photo.

Lu Xiaojiang sat at the table, looking at the group of female celebrities on the wedding stage from a distance. “From this angle, she looks a bit like Yangyang.”

Lu Xiaojiang’s fiancée was the granddaughter of the Qian family, several years younger than them. She hadn’t grown up in the same compound and they had little interaction growing up. Now that old Mr. Qian had retired, he lived across from Guosheng Hutong, with one side of his courtyard adjacent to Zhao Pingjin’s grandparents’ home. The two families exchanged food and greetings during festivals. Old Mr. Qian had an adopted son who held an important position in the Energy Bureau’s Electricity Department, so the Qian household was always lively. The couple had gotten engaged in America. Zhao Pingjin had never met the girl, or if he had, he didn’t remember. According to Lu Xiaojiang’s boasting, his fiancée was beautiful and talented, working at a research institute at Saint Louis University in Washington, America.

Zhao Pingjin eyed him vigilantly. “Did you find a wife based on Huang Xitang’s appearance?”

Lu Xiaojiang hastily shook his head. “No, no.”

Lu Xiaojiang had always been intimidated by him, and this strong denial revealed a hint of guilt. Zhao Pingjin answered roughly, “Then you must be mistaken.”

Zhao Pingjin beckoned and said something to a server.

Shortly after, Xi Tang came over.

Zhao Pingjin stood up and said, “Let’s go.”

Xi Tang nodded. “I’ll let Kailun know.”

She returned to the table to retrieve her clothes, said goodbye to Ni Kailun, and returned to Zhao Pingjin’s side.

Zhao Pingjin took Huang Xitang’s arm, with Lu Xiaojiang following. As they reached the banquet hall doors, an elderly gentleman approached, followed by a secretary in a suit.

Zhao Pingjin paused and released Huang Xitang’s hand.

He stepped forward, moving away from Huang Xitang, and respectfully greeted, “Uncle Yu.”

The elderly gentleman revealed an affectionate smile. “Zhou’er, you’re here too.”

Zhao Pingjin said, “Yes, attending CEO Hua’s wedding.”

The old man replied, “Yes, I’m hosting some leaders in the embassy district tonight, so I couldn’t attend. I just came by to say hello.”

Zhao Pingjin walked inside with the elderly gentleman, passing by Xi Tang and Lu Xiaojiang. The old man’s keen eyes swept over, discreetly glancing at Huang Xitang.

Lu Xiaojiang immediately reached out, took her arm, and said softly, “Come with me.”

Xi Tang followed Lu Xiaojiang out. Lu Xiaojiang explained in a low voice, “That’s Yu Xiaoying’s father, Zhou Zhou’s future father-in-law.”

Xi Tang’s face turned slightly pale.

The two walked in silence. The elevator descended to the parking garage, and Lu Xiaojiang opened the car door. “Let me take you home.”

As Lu Xiaojiang’s car left the Kempinski and just got onto Liangma Bridge, Zhao Pingjin’s car caught up from behind.

Lu Xiaojiang glanced at the rearview mirror. “He’s behind us. I’ll pull over.”

Xi Tang said, “Ignore him, let’s go.”

Lu Xiaojiang stepped on the gas to accelerate, instantly leaving the car behind.

A minute later, Zhao Pingjin called, his voice barely containing his fury. “Lu Xiaojiang, stop the car.”

Lu Xiaojiang tremblingly said, “Ah, Third Brother, you’ve finished…”

Zhao Pingjin stepped on the accelerator and shouted in a suppressed voice, “Stop the car!”

Lu Xiaojiang checked the road ahead, turned the steering wheel, and applied the brakes.

Xi Tang’s body lurched forward, restrained by the seat belt. The car stopped on an auxiliary road by the green belt.

Zhao Pingjin got out, slammed the door forcefully, opened Lu Xiaojiang’s car door, and looked at Huang Xitang. His handsome, fair face was overcast with anger, his voice deep and ominous as he suppressed his rage. “Get out. We’re going home.”

Xi Tang had no choice but to get out.