Chapter 26: Foes Meet Again

Ten minutes later, Su Qingxue led him to a luxury brand clothing store. She went in herself to help Lin Feng pick out clothes, and after trying on several outfits, she finally expressed her satisfaction with a blue suit. Snapping her fingers, she declared, "This one is nice, let's take it."

"Miss, this outfit comes to fifty-eight thousand. Will you be paying by cash or card?" the saleswoman asked with a smile.

"How much?"

Before Su Qingxue could answer, Lin Feng was already taken aback. He had never spent more than three hundred yuan on clothes before. A suit costing fifty-eight thousand was entirely out of his reach.

Just as he was about to take off the suit, Su Qingxue stopped him. "Lin Feng, I already told you I want to thank you properly. It's just a suit—just wear it."

"But…"

"Enough, go ahead and ring it up," Su Qingxue said cheerfully, paying the bill without hesitation and happily leading Lin Feng out of the store.

They got in the car and, halfway to the conference, Lin Feng said earnestly, "Qingxue, consider the cost of this suit a loan. I’ll pay you back someday."

"We’ll talk about that later. Once we get to the conference, you should be proactive. You never know, maybe you'll meet someone important," Su Qingxue replied playfully, sticking out her tongue in an adorable gesture before setting off for the Jiangcheng Grand Hotel.

In her heart, Lin Feng had already become irreplaceable. Forget just a suit—if Lin Feng wished to be her boyfriend, she would agree without a moment’s hesitation.

By the time they arrived at the conference, the parking lot was already full, mostly with luxury cars worth millions, since everyone attending tonight was a major figure in Jiangcheng.

Su Qingxue parked, then linked her arm with Lin Feng’s as they entered the hotel together. Lin Feng appeared at ease, his previous shyness nowhere to be seen.

But as soon as they walked into the lobby, many people inside cast curious, even strange looks their way. Some pointed and whispered, clearly gossiping about them.

"Look, that's the eldest daughter of the Su family, Su Qingxue. She actually broke off her engagement to the Bai family just to be with some pauper."

"Really? That's her? She looks pretty, but who would have thought she was so foolish? The Bai family is so prestigious, and she’d rather be with a pauper than marry into the Bai family?"

"The guy with her—could he be that pauper?"

The biting remarks drifted to Su Qingxue's ears, making her face flush with anger. She hadn’t expected her broken engagement to become such public knowledge, much less that rumors would spread claiming she’d done it for a penniless man.

Who started such rumors?

Lin Feng’s face darkened as well; this was nothing like the scenario he’d imagined before coming.

"Oh my, isn’t that Qingxue? You’re finally here—I’ve been waiting so long for you," came a shrill voice.

A petite woman in a purple evening gown, her makeup heavy, strutted over. Compared to Su Qingxue, she was the very picture of gaudy excess. Su Qingxue turned to see it was her old university classmate, Yang Qianqian.

Back in school, they’d never gotten along. Yang Qianqian was a notorious gold-digger, always dreaming of marrying into wealth and becoming a socialite. Judging by her appearance now, she seemed to have gotten her wish.

Clinging to Yang Qianqian’s side was a plump, balding man decked out in designer clothes, a thick gold chain around his neck and a watch worth tens of thousands on his wrist.

"Yang Qianqian? I didn’t expect to see you here. What a coincidence," Su Qingxue greeted her politely.

A smug smile spread across Yang Qianqian’s face as she deliberately showed off her diamond ring and the glittering jewelry adorning her. "Yes, it must be fate that we meet here," she said with mock sincerity. "Qingxue, I heard you broke off your engagement to the Bai family heir just to be with some pauper. What were you thinking? Don’t tell me that pauper is him?"

"Yang Qianqian, mind your words. This is my friend, Lin Feng," Su Qingxue replied, displeased at her ridicule.

"Friend? Don’t kid me. If he’s just your friend, why are you holding his arm?" Yang Qianqian dismissed her explanation and looked Lin Feng up and down with disdain. "At least he’s dressed decently, though that suit can’t have come cheap. Did you buy it for him?"

She snickered. "Look at you now, Qingxue—reduced to supporting a pretty boy."

"Show some respect. I said Lin Feng is just my friend," Su Qingxue retorted, her brows furrowing in anger, her tone icy.

"Tch," Yang Qianqian muttered, unwilling to concede but, seeing Su Qingxue’s anger, chose not to mock Lin Feng further.

Immediately, she shifted the topic, looping her arm through the balding man’s and boasting, "Qingxue, I almost forgot to introduce you—this is my boyfriend."

"He’s the chairman of Prosperity Group, quite the capable man. What about your friend—what does he do? Care to introduce him?"

"He… he’s a doctor," Su Qingxue replied casually.

"A doctor? Ha! So that’s all. When a woman chooses a man, she should pick someone capable, someone who can protect her," Yang Qianqian laughed, her arrogance almost unbearable.

Others nearby who overheard couldn’t help but sneer as well. For the dignified eldest daughter of the Su family to choose a doctor as a boyfriend—how humiliating.

The balding man at Yang Qianqian’s side looked stunned, his gaze lingering on Su Qingxue’s remarkable beauty and figure. Compared to Yang Qianqian, Su Qingxue was in another league entirely. He eyed her intently, already imagining what their children might look like.

He reached out to introduce himself. "Miss Su, my name is Li Ming."

"I’ve long heard of your famed beauty. Seeing you tonight, your reputation is well deserved. Here’s my card—I hope you’ll accept it so we can become friends."

"That won’t be necessary," Su Qingxue replied coldly, taking Lin Feng with her as she prepared to leave.

Li Ming’s expression darkened, but he hurried after her, blocking her path. "Miss Su, don’t be so quick to go! I, Li Ming, am sincerely hoping to be friends. Won’t you even give me a chance?"

"Why don’t we have a drink over there and chat? Qianqian already told me you broke off your engagement with the Bai family’s heir because there was something wrong with him. I have ability and wealth—I guarantee you won’t be disappointed."

"What did you say? So it was Yang Qianqian who spread all these rumors?" The realization dawned on Su Qingxue; all the malicious gossip tonight originated from her.

Her disdain for Yang Qianqian deepened. She had no interest in further conversation with Li Ming and tried to leave again, but Li Ming suddenly sneered and blocked her way once more, scoffing, "Su Qingxue, you’re just a whore pretending to be pure."

"How am I inferior to that pauper beside you? I’m giving you a chance out of respect, but you don’t even appreciate it."

Smack!

Before he finished, a slap came out of nowhere, landing hard across his face.