I Want a Lifetime with You
Chapter 232

"But..." Shi Wei still couldn't contain her anger. Although she was now famous, she didn't expect it to be for the wrong reasons. It was definitely unacceptable for someone as vain as she was. It was made worse by the fact that Shi Nuan was there too.

Shi Wei looked in Shi Nuan's direction and saw that she was chatting with the guy seated next to her. Her eyes flashed as she took out her phone and took a few pictures of them.

Just then, Su Su glanced at Shi Wei and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Nothing!" Shi Wei then kept her phone and looked in Song Jingyu's direction instead. "Who is she really?"

"Didn't you hear her call for Fu Chengyan's parents just now? If my guess is correct, she is likely the daughter of Fu Chengyan's uncle, Song Jingyu."

"Song Jingyu!" Shi Wei grit her teeth and seared the name into her memory. She was definitely going to pay her back for the humiliation that she had felt today.

"You should just endure it first. Besides, Fu Chengyan didn't really say anything much. It appears that he doesn't really fancy Song Jingyu too!"

"Are you serious?" Shi Wei's eyes sparkled. "If that's the case, then there's really nothing for her to be happy about."

"Yes, so you don't have to take it personally. Now is not a good time. Don't fret about it; we'll get our chances soon."

On the stage, Mai Qi made a short introduction and said, "Now, let us welcome our host for tonight, Ms. Song Jingyu, to come up the stage."

Song Jingyu was back to her usual poise and elegance after the earlier episode. Regardless of whether she was taught by Song Zhenyan or the Song family itself, she had been exposed to such occasions countless times, and it would be a walk in the park for her.

The pink mermaid gown that she was wearing looked absolutely stunning. The slight train of the gown was designed to mimic the glittering scales, and they sparkled as the lights shone on them. Ignoring the fact how Song Jingyu had lost her composure when she attacked Shi Wei just now, she actually looked picture-perfect.

When she realized that she had managed to capture everyone's attention, she arrogantly lifted the train of her dress as she proceeded up the stage. She did not look the part of being tonight's host, instead, she looked like she was going on stage to receive an award.

Song Jingyu looked proudly in Fu Chengyan's direction, and her eyes were filled with delight. Although Fu Chengyan was looking back at her, his eyes did not carry any similar sense of delight, and neither was he impressed. He just watched her without any emotion. It was no different from when he was watching some other random person.

Song Jingyu's hand, which was holding her dress, paused for a brief moment. However, she quickly recovered her composure and ascended the stage elegantly. She took over the microphone from Mai Qi upon reaching the stage. "Good evening everyone, I'm Song Jingyu."

The audience erupted into applause while some even whistled.

"I believe everyone is looking forward to tonight's event. To be honest, so am I...”

Song Jingyu continued talking. In reality, she was a beautiful lady indeed. Or else she wouldn't have been taken in by her mother's old flame. It appeared that she took on all the grace and poise her mother had. When she wasn't throwing a tantrum, she looked absolutely normal and beautiful, even.

In comparison to the female stars from Xinhuang, Song Jingyu was not at any disadvantage at all. In fact, she was even prettier than some of them. No wonder she was full of self-confidence and was sure that Fu Chengyan would definitely fall for her.

Shi Nuan watched Song Jingyu from below the stage and admired her for her beauty. She, too, felt that Song Jingyu was very pretty.

Even Yuan Jia was dumbstruck by her looks. "I didn't expect her to be so gorgeous."

"Exactly!" Shi Nuan nodded. However, she became curious when she noticed that Lin Yu wasn't really paying any attention to Song Jingyu. "Mr. Lin, don't you think that she is pretty?"

"That's just being superficial!" Lin Yu didn't even bother raising his head. "I think you're better looking when compared to her," Lin Yu replied as he seemed to be chatting with someone on the phone.

Shi Nuan couldn't help but smile when she heard him praise her. "Thanks for your compliments, Mr. Lin." Shi Nuan tried to sneak a glimpse on Lin Yu's screen and was pleasantly shocked to see that he was chatting with Su Yian."

Lin Yu calmly turned his phone to a different angle when he felt that Shi Nuan was trying to steal a glance. After that, Shi Nuan could no longer see what was on his screen. He smiled at her, "Trying to steal a glance isn't polite, you know."

Shi Nuan raised her eyebrows. "You're right. But... Yian is a wonderful girl!"

Lin Yu raised his eyebrows when he heard her reply as he pinched his forehead. "It's tiring to talk to someone who's too intelligent!"

Shi Nuan laughed as she nodded. "Then I won't ask you about it!"

Shi Nuan wasn't a busybody. But if things between Lin Yu and Su Yian did work out, it would definitely be great news to her. Especially since she knew Su Yian very well, given that she was her close friend. Lin Yu had many good qualities, and he was always serious about work. Shi Nuan also felt that he likely was a wonderful person at the personal level, given how he reacted to Song Jingyu just now.

After a while, Song Jingyu finally wrapped up her speech on stage. It was rare for the opening host to have blabbered on for so long. Mai Qi quickly took back control of the situation. "We now invite our president, Mr. Fu, to say a few words."

Fu Chengyan knitted his brows slightly. He then ascended the stage with the audience applauding in the background.

He walked past Song Jingyu and ignored her admiring gaze along the way. When he was in place, his eyes searched the audience until he found Shi Nuan. By then, Shi Nuan had already ended her conversation with Lin Yu. She looked up, and their eyes met. They could see each other smile through their eyes.

Fu Chengyan turned his gaze away shortly. "Good evening, everyone. I don't think I need any further introductions. Today is our company's annual meeting and also our annual appreciation night. Tonight is when we say goodbye to the old and welcome the new. On this special day, I'll dispense with the pleasantries. I hope everyone will continue to work hard. Past results are now in the past. Hence, we need to work together to build a better future. The more we sacrifice, the more we will be rewarded. Shengyuan has always focused on our employees. So at Shengyuan, what you're looking at isn't what you see now, but the future!

The crowd was worked up after hearing Fu Chengyan's words. Actually, there wasn't a need for any flowery language. The best reward for the employees required action, which definitely spoke louder than words.

"Now, let the meeting begin!"

The audience erupted into another applause at Fu Chengyan's signal.

Mai Qi took over the microphone. "Let us begin with the first program for the night, that is, the first dance, which was similar to what we had last year. However, it will be conducted differently this time as I will not be dancing with Mr. Fu tonight. I'm sure you can guess how it's going to go by now. That's right! A few days ago, I have given all of you a number tag to wear! The men's tags will have a blue ribbon attached, while the ladies' will have a red ribbon. In a short while, my assistant will take out a box with all the ladies' numbers inside. Mr. Fu will then pick out one number from the box, and the owner of this lucky number will have the honor to dance with Mr. Fu himself as a kick-off for tonight's event. This is the ultimate reward for all the female employees at Shengyuan!"

The audience erupted into cheers the moment Mai Qi finished. Everyone knew who Fu Chengyan was and was aware of how big an honor it would be for any lady that danced with him.

"Of course, all of you ladies here stand an equal chance. The stars from Xinhuang also have their own numbers." Mai Qi's assistant started giving out number tags to them as she spoke.

Sitting among the crowd, Bai Qing and Shi Wei were surprised to see that this year's event seemed to be more interesting.

Though Bai Qing was already an established star with Xinhuang, she never had the opportunity to meet a prominent person like Fu Chengyan. Thus, even she felt excited. She looked around and could see all the ladies were waiting with equal anticipation.

"I now invite my assistant to bring up the lottery box."

Her assistant brought up the box promptly and stood beside Fu Chengyan. Mai Qi approached them as she saw that they were in place. "Mr. Fu, please pick the first lucky employee of the night."

Fu Chengyan nodded as his eyes looked into the audience. The ladies in the crowd had started yelling. "Mr. Fu, pick me! Pick me!"

"Mr. Fu, pick me!"

15

The ladies kept calling out to him one after another. Obviously, he was very popular with them.

Fu Chengyan smiled as he searched the crowd. He finally found Shi Nuan among them. His gaze hinted to her that he was up to something. When Shi Nuan saw him looking at her in an inexplicable manner, something just clicked off in her brain. She remembered that she kept bugging Fu Chengyan about the use of the number tag.

Only then she realized that it was for the lucky draw and subsequently the first dance with him.

Shi Nuan had a strong feeling that the number he picked would be hers. It wasn't because she felt confident in herself. It was due to the look that Fu Chengyan gave her as if he had everything planned.

Fu Chengyan tried to hold back his smile as he put his hand into the box under everyone's watchful eye. It felt like an eternity to them, although it just lasted for a few seconds. Their eyes were fixated on his hand as he put it into the box and pulled it out.

He held the number tag in his hand and calmly showed it around to the crowd. "The number is..."

Song Jingyu, who was still on the stage, stared at Fu Chengyan in anticipation. She was extremely excited as she waited for Fu Chengyan to call her number so that she could rush forward to dance with him. Song Jingyu was smiling as if she had already won. However, her eyes still trailed Fu Chengyan's hand wherever it went.

Fu Chengyan stopped at the crucial moment and kept everyone in suspense. "Who do you hope it will be?"

"Me, me, me..."

Fu Chengyan smiled and repeated, "The number is..." He raised an eyebrow as he continued. "An auspicious and charming number, 520."