He didn’t feel there was any issue: "Hmm, the store manager has just told me. Then, let’s consider it bought now, the fivefold price should be enough for you to cover the client’s penalty fees."

He had his eye on this particular piece.

He wanted to see her wearing this dress.

His persistence and dominance left her with a mix of laughter and tears.

This man was truly as wilful as ever.

The driver took out a checkbook, wrote a number, and handed it to Jiayi.

"Don’t make me wait too long." He reclined on the sofa once again.

She said nothing more; after all, he had paid, what more could she say.

Holding the dress he had selected for her, Jiayi entered the fitting room.

Ten minutes later, Jiayi walked out again.

The little lady in the white dress dazzled everyone present, the fine fabric akin to a second layer of skin, merging with her petite figure, highlighting a curvaceous silhouette, with the V-neck design almost allowing the fullness of her chest to spill out.

The jet-black, lush hair casually draped down, encircling her delicate collarbone, which accentuated her skin as white and supple as if it were milk-white porcelain.

The driver involuntarily gulped, Mr. Huo’s taste was truly impeccable, casually chosen clothing that completely maximized Miss Chu’s beauty to the fullest.

His intense and forceful gaze scrutinized her, as if the woman before him was his private possession, oblivious to the others around.

The sparks in the man’s eyes made her uncomfortable all over, forcing her to evade his predatory scrutiny as a beast eyes its prey.

Finally, he walked over, lifted his elbow, signaling her to hook her arm through his.

She hesitated for a second or two, only to hear his displeased voice already drifting over:

"Accompanying the boss to a dinner, isn’t it common courtesy? Do you still need teaching?"

In the end, she still lifted her arm, sliding it into the crook of his strong elbow.

**

Shengjing Grand Hotel, the banquet hall.

Exiting the Bentley, the driver opened the door, and Jiayi stepped out ahead of time, muttering, "I’ll go in first."

Having said that, she didn’t care about the man’s grim face in the car and hurried towards the hotel’s revolving doors.

So much so that she felt as if someone’s gaze was piercing a hole in her back.

Without even looking back, she could guess how unpleasant the man’s expression was.

In the car, Huo Zhenyang coldly watched her figure carrying the dress enter the building, but he didn’t stop her or say anything.

Of course, he understood, she didn’t want to be seen attending an event together with him.

Even if their relationship now was that of a boss and a subordinate, they were once husband and wife.

Being seen together would certainly stir up gossip and rumors of rekindling old flames.

This little woman certainly did not want to have anything to do with him.

The entire banquet hall on the top floor was reserved by Huo Zhenyang to welcome the high-level executives of domestic media attending tonight.

Every guest’s seating was allocated according to their status and position.

The central main table included Huo Zhenyang, the chief director, a few major stars from the crew, and the bosses of several major domestic media outlets.

After Jiayi entered, she was arranged to sit at a table next to the main one.

Everyone at the same table was high-level figures from domestic media and staff members of the crew.

Just as she entered the banquet hall of the hotel and found out about her seat, she quietly sighed in relief.

As long as she could maintain a distance from that man, that would suffice.

The banquet in the hall was unfolding.

Time was ticking by, and the night was gradually setting in.

While everyone around her was enjoying their food and drinks, Jiayi couldn’t help but check the time on her phone now and then.

Even though Huo Zhenyang had arranged for a babysitter to go to Green Island Garden, she was still somewhat worried about Zaizai and Anya.

Just as she was about to make a call home, she heard the voice of a drunken man next to her:

"Beauty, you’ve been looking at your phone all night, that’s really a killjoy, come on, have a drink with me!"

Before Jiayi could react, she was tugged by someone nearby, nearly dropping her phone.

The man beside her had probably had quite a bit to drink, his face was the color of pig liver, and he was a senior manager of a major domestic entertainment television station.

She tucked her phone into her bag: "No need, I don’t drink."

Hearing the cool beauty beside him who hadn’t talked much all night finally speak, the man felt his body soften, and he held out a glass full of white liquor to her, continuing to joke with a smile, "How can you not drink at a social event? Come on, let big brother teach you..."

The crew members at the same table exchanged glances.

The group, of course, knew that Miss Chu Jiayi was different from the regular staff, as she was the ex-wife of the Boss.

Although the two were divorced, the Boss probably wouldn’t be pleased to see his ex-wife being coerced to drink in public!

Someone gently tugged at the senior executive and hinted a few words.

The executive didn’t know who Jiayi was, and being caught up in the flirtation and half-drunk, he didn’t take the hint, his eyes reddened by alcohol still fixated on the woman beside him, insisting she take the drink.

Jiayi saw that he was a media executive invited by the crew and didn’t want to offend him. She fended off the glass near her mouth and politely said, "Sir, you are drunk."

"Drunk? Look at me, where do I seem drunk..." The man burped and smiled, handing over the glass again. "Miss, are you a crew member? What do you do? With your looks, even as an actor, you would more than qualify, have you ever thought about pursuing a career directly in the film and television industry?"

"I haven’t thought about it." Jiayi pushed the glass away again.

The executive was somewhat displeased: "Beauty, aren’t you being a bit too disrespectful? Everyone at this table has toasted me, only you have not, what, do you think you are more important than the director and the leading actress of the crew?"

People at the same table who knew about Jiayi’s identity all took a sharp breath inwardly, the comment was not unfounded!

Indeed, she was the ex-wife of the big boss, and even if she was divorced, a skinny camel is still bigger than a horse!

As the executive’s words came out, the atmosphere around them suddenly became quiet.

Everyone noticed a piercing gaze coming from afar, all of them consciously became quiet, not even daring to let out a breath.

At the main table, Huo Zhenyang’s gaze was cold, his eyes landing on the executive and the petite woman beside him, yet he made no move.

Behind him, George involuntarily bent down, "Boss, shall I go greet that guy..."

He barely lifted his eyelid, indifferently watching the petite woman’s reaction: "Not for now."

She showed no sign of seeking help, so he was going to see how long she could stand her ground.

George sighed and just quietly watched as the Boss postured, wondering how long he would endure.

The executive hadn’t realized that the ambiance around him had changed, still shamelessly holding up his glass to toast.

Jiayi just felt wave after wave of the smell of alcohol spraying onto her face and couldn’t be bothered to entangle with the executive anymore. She took the glass, sipped a few small mouthfuls, and then placed it on the table: "Are we good now?"

Yet the executive was not satisfied: "You have to finish it for it to count."

Jiayi took a deep breath, wanting to get rid of him quickly, so she clenched her teeth and gulped down what was left in the glass.