The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 164. Annual Meeting 3 (including listing announcement)

Chapter 164: 164. Annual Meeting 3 (including listing announcement)

The annual meeting took place on the first floor of the ship, while the second floor housed the resting rooms. The first floor was crowded, and Fang Tong was unable to find Ding Minghui right away.

"Qinglan, do you think he might not have come?" Fang Tong asked Shen Qinglan softly.

"No, he’ll show up later," Shen Qinglan replied.

"Lanlan, let’s go upstairs and rest for a while," Shen Junyu said, seeing that Shen Qinglan was standing still.

"You go ahead, I’ll stay here for a while and join you later."

Shen Junyu didn’t say much and headed upstairs first, Yu Xiaoxuan was about to stay, but Han Yi pulled her away.

Shen Qinglan and Fang Tong entered the venue, each grabbing a glass of juice and then split up to look for people.

"An!" Someone tapped her shoulder, and Shen Qinglan turned around to see Jin Enxi dressed in a fiery red strapless evening gown.

Shen Qinglan frowned, "How come you are here?"

"I came here to have fun, of course! It’s so lively; how could I miss it?" Jin Enxi’s eyes were gleaming with mischief.

"Tonight is my brother’s company’s annual meeting; you better not cause any trouble... I won’t ask how you got in; if you wanted to come in, obviously you would find a thousand ways."

Jin Enxi made a pleading gesture, "An, I promise I won’t cause any trouble."

Shen Qinglan didn’t bother with her anymore. Since Jin Enxi had promised, she would naturally keep her word.

She continued to navigate through the crowd, and many eyes, intentionally or not, fell on her. After all, Shen Qinglan was the type of person who would become the center of attention in any crowd, even if she said nothing.

The Junlan Group’s annual meeting was attended by Shen Junyu’s business associates, so none of the Shen family showed up; even Shen Xitong didn’t receive an invitation. Later, when Shen Xitong found out that Shen Qinglan had attended Junlan Group’s annual meeting, she felt suffocated with frustration.

Shen Qinglan’s photos and the video of her rescuing someone had stirred up quite a stir online, so many recognized her as the boss’s sister. Naturally, some wanted to connect with her, but seeing Shen Qinglan’s cold, aloof face deterred anyone from actually approaching.

After looking around the crowd, Shen Qinglan didn’t see Ding Minghui. Just a casual glance, however, made her pause – she looked in that direction and saw Ding Minghui standing next to a woman in her thirties, though their posture was not intimate.

She was just about to call Fang Tong when she turned her head and saw that Ding Minghui had disappeared, so she put her phone down.

**

On the other side, Ding Minghui was surprised when he saw Fang Tong. Through the crowd, Fang Tong looked over at him, her eyes full of deep disappointment.

She turned and walked away immediately, and Ding Minghui, panic filling his eyes, hurried after her.

He caught up with her on the deck quickly. "Tongtong, how come you’re here?" he asked, grabbing her wrist.

Fang Tong stopped and looked at him coldly, "Clearly, you didn’t want me to be here."

Ding Minghui’s expression was filled with panic, "No, Tongtong, listen to me first. I can explain."

Fang Tong’s expression remained cold, her gaze filled with disappointment, because this man had lied to her. She had trusted him so much, yet he had deceived her.

Ding Minghui was somewhat uncomfortable under Fang Tong’s gaze but couldn’t help but explain, "Tongtong, I actually wanted to bring you to this annual meeting, but just before I was about to call you, our manager approached me. She said she didn’t have a partner for the event and hoped I could attend as her partner. You know, in the workplace, if you offend your boss, it becomes very difficult to make progress in your career later on, so... so I agreed to her request. I’m sorry, Tongtong, I didn’t mean to deceive you."

Fang Tong’s icy demeanor did not soften with his explanation. When she had seen Ding Minghui earlier, she had immediately recognized the woman standing beside him as the one she had seen dining with him at the restaurant last time, whom she had assumed was his client. Now it seemed that this woman was his manager.

Fang Tong suddenly felt a chill spread throughout her body. Was this the first time Ding Minghui had lied to her? Was the last time he claimed to be entertaining a client also a deceit?

She looked at the man before her, feeling as though he was a stranger.

And the strangeness in Fang Tong’s eyes caused Ding Minghui to panic. He hugged Fang Tong tightly, "Tongtong, believe me, I really didn’t mean to deceive you, I..."

Fang Tong let him hold her, but the embrace that usually brought her warmth now felt ice-cold, chilling her to the bone.

The lack of reaction from the person in his arms amplified the panic in Ding Minghui’s heart. He held Fang Tong tighter, "Tongtong, say something, please. I truly realize my mistake. I thought I would never deceive you again. I will tell you everything in the future, can I? Please don’t ignore me."

By the end, Ding Minghui’s voice seemed slightly choked up. The coldness in Fang Tong’s eyes faded a bit. She wanted to reach out and embrace Ding Minghui, but she stopped midway and let her hand fall.

"Let go of me," Fang Tong slowly said, "I’ll overlook it this time, but if I catch you lying to me again, Ding Minghui, it’s over between us. My world, Fang Tong’s world, has no room for deceit."

Ding Minghui’s eyes sparkled with surprise, and he nodded vigorously, "Tongtong, rest assured, this is absolutely the first and the last time. I will never deceive you again."

Fang Tong did not suspect any relationship between Ding Minghui and his manager, as she could feel Ding Minghui’s affection for her.

Ding Minghui looked down at Fang Tong in his arms, lowered his head trying to kiss her lips, but she subtly turned her head, dodging it. The kiss landed on her cheek, darkening Ding Minghui’s expression.

"Alright, you should go back. Aren’t you here with your manager? If you don’t return soon, she’ll be looking for you," Fang Tong said, her tone very light.

"And you?" Ding Minghui asked.

"I came here with Qinglan. I’ll go find her in a bit."

Ding Minghui naturally knew of Shen Qinglan and also knew she was not only the boss’s sister but also Fang Tong’s friend, no wonder Fang Tong was able to attend the annual meeting.

"Then, should I wait with you for her?" Ding Minghui hadn’t forgotten the estrangement and unfamiliarity in her eyes from their recent unpleasant encounter.

"No need, she’ll be out soon. You should go back inside," Fang Tong refused.

Ding Minghui didn’t say anything more, gave Fang Tong another look, and walked back inside.

Fang Tong didn’t call Shen Qinglan, but just stood on the deck, looking at the dark sea at night.

It was winter now, with the north wind howling, sending chills through anyone it touched, but Fang Tong seemed oblivious, quietly watching the sea, lost in her thoughts.

"Are you really trying to get yourself into the hospital?" Shen Junyu’s indifferent voice drifted from above her head, followed by warmth spreading from her shoulder.

Fang Tong startled, turned around swiftly, and saw Shen Junyu standing right behind her.