Chapter 22: Reinforcements Sent by the Monkey?

Shen Xingman gently lifts her eyes and sees a man in a suit and polished shoes, holding champagne and moving elegantly.

It's just that his face is too unfamiliar, and Shen Xingman can't recall who he is.

So at this moment she has to pull out the universal social formula Qiao Yun taught her.

"Long time no see." She nods slightly, her posture light, her gaze wildly hinting at Qiao Yun.

"General Manager Xu, what a coincidence you're also attending the banquet," Qiao Yun says, "It's really lucky to run into you here."

General Manager Xu? Xu Ling?

Shen Xingman suddenly gets the impression!

This guy is the shameless vice‑president who tried to seduce her before, right? When she rejected him back then, the guy ranted furiously, saying that someday Shen Xingman would willingly kneel and beg him.

Tsk tsk, she thinks it's only been a short while and the Xu family already forgot? Or is he planning to unilaterally give Shen Xingman another "opportunity"?

Interesting.

"Would you like a drink?" He hands a glass of red wine from the server's tray.

Shen Xingman habitually wants to refuse, but Qiao Yun suddenly bumps her shoulder, a subtle reminder not to forget her purpose here.

She is now a "female artist" with no background and no backing.

Right, right, she must see herself as a commoner.

Adjusting her expression, pursing her lips, Shen Xingman smiles brightly as she takes the red wine from Xu Ling's hand, every gesture full of charm: "Thank you, General Manager Xu."

Xu Ling politely returns a slight smile.

After the pleasantries, Shen Xingman tries to leave, but Xu Ling deliberately blocks her path, giving her no chance to slip away.

"Little Qiao," he turns his gaze to Qiao Yun, "Why are you free today to bring Little Shen to the event?"

Shen Xingman's impression is that she is conservative and restrained; it's not easy to see her in high‑society circles.

Yet her arrival truly dazzles the crowd, as each uniquely styled beauty around seems to become her adornment, truly… dazzling beyond words.

But he bets that few here know her; tonight, he is one of the few contacts she has.

Thinking this, Xu Ling smiles inwardly.

He is confident he can capture this flamboyantly striking beauty snake.

"Ha, bringing Manman out to make more friends, see the world, you can't live too closed off," Qiao Yun almost takes her face‑work to the extreme.

"Well said, more friends mean more connections, and more connections make things easier."

Shen Xingman glances at him, feeling his tone is off.

"Miss Shen, interested in being my companion?"

He gentlemanly bends his arm, extending an invitation to Shen Xingman, his attitude sincere.

Yet Shen Xingman still hesitates, the dark‑colored tips of her eyebrows slightly furrowed, her expression complex.

Honestly, if Xu Ling hadn't approached her with some purpose, Shen Xingman might have considered it.

But there's no way; the impression Xu Ling gave her before was just too terrible.

— "If you want an endorsement, you can find me; from now on we'll be acquaintances."

— "Shen Xingman, I tell you, with my status I can lower my face to sleep with you; that's a chance, don't play pure and chaste in front of me."

— "People like you are exactly the ones I want to sleep with, damn it."

— "Miss Shen has been touched by so many, one more won't hurt."

The snarling face and filthy words are vivid in her mind.

Shen Xingman looks at his crooked arm, thinks again, and says, "No, General Manager Xu, my hand hurts today."

Xu Ling: "?"

Qiao Yun: "..."

Ancestors, sigh, is your reason really a reason? This is sophistry!!!

Xu Ling's expression has already changed, a kind of angry humiliation after being insulted: "Qiao Yun, you know I'm not that petty person; several times I've spared her because of your thin face. Don't underestimate how good I am to this Shen."

Qiao Yun: "..." Why the hell are you picking soft targets?

"Yes, yes, Director Lin said so."

She wants to settle things peacefully, but some ancestor is different—

"Are you being good to me?"

Shen Xingman sneers, directly rolling her eyes at his face.

Xu Ling sees her reaction, instantly anger flares on his brows: "Aren't you afraid I'll kick you out in public?"

Shen Xingman smiles, this question I know.

Qiao Yun also detects a familiar scent—damn, not long ago Jiang Minghai kicked her out of the private room, and today again??

Manman really really isn't suited for socializing; with her mouth skills she'll never stop being angry.

Still, this Xu Ling is quite interesting, daring to act lowly in front of Manman.

"General Manager Xu, calm down," Shen Xingman lowers her voice, "There are people here you want to please too. Don't let me affect the decorum."

Damn, Qiao Yun feels like she's been struck by lightning.

Xu Ling's expression looks like he ate shit, hideously ugly.

"You damn well want to pick a fight with me here?" Xu Ling suppresses his anger, leans toward Shen Xingman, shows a fake smile, giving outsiders the illusion of harmonious interaction.

Shen Xingman steps back one, her gaze cold.

"General Manager Xu~" a coquette woman's voice comes from behind Shen Xingman.

"Yo, Lin."

"What a coincidence, we can meet here." She walks to the middle, first chats with Shen Xingman, then turns and stands beside Xu Ling.

This is Shen Xingman's opposite.

Tsk tsk tsk—just out of the blue, Qiao Yun thought of a line: "Are you the reinforcements brought by a monkey?"

Lin Wan saw that Shen Xingman didn't even have a basic polite smile on her face, and she began to tease: "What, you're so unwilling to see me?"

I'm very happy.

"With so many men around, I was hoping you'd come to accentuate my beauty."

Lin Wan's expression froze for a second.

"Shen Xingman," she concealed her emotions, slowly swaying her highball glass, lips parting slightly, "Being cheap depends on the occasion, right? This isn't the place."

Xu Ling pursed his lips, taking pleasure in her misfortune.

"Look at you, you say you're aloof, but you still came to keep me company drinking?" Lin Wan couldn't help but laugh: "Don't bring your on-screen star persona into real life—it's exhausting. Wear a mask too long and it becomes your face."

Shen Xingman's gaze locked onto her, cold with a hint of teasing.

Lin Wan's words were harsh, but to Shen Xingman they were merely a scraping.

Independent and strong people are more carefree; those with extraordinary talent are more spontaneous; the fearless are more genuine—Shen Xingman may not be able to do everything, but at least her spirit is strong enough to protect not only herself but also those around her.

Look, Qiao Yun and Miao Miao have always lived freely and spontaneously.

"Qiao Qiao sis," Lin Wan shifted her target, "You're so smart—why don't you do more ideological work for your own artist? This person can't live too falsely, or—"

"You're wrong."