"Oh..." Secretary Li suddenly understood, "No wonder. I was wondering why you were still in the mood for a party when the company's stock has been plummeting these past few days. So it's a party hosted by the Lin Group. Then, I wish you a good time."
"Mm! Thank you, Secretary Li." Shi Xinxin nodded slightly, then walked into the elevator.
...
Lin Ruoxue, wearing a light purple long dress, stood in front of the full-length mirror applying makeup.
Secretary Li walked in from outside the door and smiled, "Miss Lin, your gown is ready."
"Mm." Lin Ruoxue nodded, turned her head, and looked at the gown in Secretary Li's hand.
Secretary Li unfolded the gown and placed it on the table. "Miss Lin, please try it on."
Lin Ruoxue took the gown, changed into it in the fitting room, and then walked out.
Secretary Li stood outside the door, looking at Lin Ruoxue, and exclaimed sincerely, "Miss Lin, you are so beautiful!"
"Really?" Lin Ruoxue looked at herself in the mirror, a sweet and happy expression on her face, "Truly?"
"Yes! Miss Lin is the most dazzling star in the city today!" Secretary Li praised without reservation.
Lin Ruoxue's smile grew even brighter. "Thank you for the compliment, Secretary Li. But you have really good taste; this dress suits me very well."
"Not at all, not at all. It's truly my honor to receive a compliment from Miss Lin!"
Lin Ruoxue linked her arm with Secretary Li's and said with a smile, "Let's go, it's time for the party."
Secretary Li nodded and led Lin Ruoxue out.
...
As Shi Xinxin walked into Shengshi Group, she felt the employees' gazes on her were a little strange. Shi Xinxin wondered if something was wrong with her face.
Shi Xinxin walked into the CEO's office area, and the secretary immediately approached her, saying, "Miss Shi, Mr. Sheng is in a meeting inside. Would you like to rest in the lounge?"
"Alright." Shi Xinxin nodded.
"Please wait a moment. I'll get you a cup of water. Have some water, and then sit in the lounge for a while. I'll bring you some snacks." The secretary nodded slightly.
Shi Xinxin nodded and watched as the secretary went into the adjacent pantry to prepare a cup of tea. Shi Xinxin quickly took it and said, "Thank you."
"You're welcome, no need to be polite."
Shi Xinxin placed the teacup on the sofa and then sat down. She raised her wrist to check her watch, then took out her tablet from her bag and logged into Weibo to browse the news. Suddenly, she heard the sound of high heels approaching.
"You are Sheng Chenjin, the CEO of Shengshi Group?" Lin Ruoxue, wearing a pink evening gown and holding Secretary Li's arm, appeared before Shi Xinxin. She looked down at Shi Xinxin condescendingly.
Shi Xinxin stood up, looked at Sheng Chenjin and Lin Ruoxue, and smiled, "You are Lin Ruoxue, the daughter of the Lin Group?"
"That's right." Lin Ruoxue snorted coldly, glanced at Sheng Chenjin, and asked, "Who is your fiancé?"
"My boyfriend," Shi Xinxin replied.
"Heh, Sheng Chenjin, I didn't expect your taste to be so poor. I remember you used to like pure schoolgirls like yourself. I didn't expect you to like this type too." Lin Ruoxue sneered, glancing at Shi Xinxin. "Haven't you looked in the mirror? Who do you think you are!"
Shi Xinxin's eyebrows furrowed, and she felt a pang of annoyance. "Miss Lin, what do you mean by what you're saying? It's one thing to insult me, but insulting my fiancé is insulting me. Are you implying I'm a gold digger?"
Lin Ruoxue didn't expect Shi Xinxin to say that. She was stunned for a moment, then sneered, "Isn't it? Your figure, your looks, and the clothes you're wearing now – how do they compare to me? Are you trying to make Sheng Chenjin marry you and become his mistress?"
Hearing the word "mistress," Shi Xinxin's face instantly turned cold. "Miss Lin, I think you might have mistaken something. Your boyfriend hasn't acknowledged me as his girlfriend. We've already broken up. If you don't mind, I hope you won't pester him anymore."
"Broken up? Heh!" Lin Ruoxue scoffed. "It's over just because you say so? You're not even engaged yet! And I haven't agreed. Since you're still his girlfriend, why are you here at our company?"
"Because..." Shi Xinxin frowned. "Because I am Sheng Chenjin's secretary, and I have to fulfill my duties. Moreover, I believe Shengshi Group is a hundred times stronger than the Lin Group. There's no reason for me not to come."
"A hundred times stronger than the Lin Group, you say!" Lin Ruoxue snorted coldly. "Do you think you can fool everyone with those words?"
"Why should I lie to you? Are you expecting me to say that I'm just Sheng Chenjin's maid?" Shi Xinxin retorted.
Lin Ruoxue sneered, "A maid is also a person. Why can't you be content with being subservient?"
"That's your family values; it has nothing to do with me."
Lin Ruoxue was stumped by Shi Xinxin and was speechless for a moment. After a while, she continued, "You're deceiving yourself."
"So what if I'm deceiving myself?"
Lin Ruoxue looked at Shi Xinxin, anger flashing in her eyes. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her flesh. "Shi Xinxin, you're truly shameless. You think you have a face exactly like my sister's, and you think you can seduce Sheng Chenjin, and he'll fall for you? His disgust for you is evident to the bone! He doesn't love you at all!"
Shi Xinxin's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. She then looked up at Lin Ruoxue and asked, "What did you just say?"
"Didn't you understand? I said, Sheng Chenjin doesn't love you!" Lin Ruoxue's expression turned ferocious. "The person he loves is me!"
"Who are you? Why are you talking about Sheng Chenjin like that?"
"Because he is my fiancé right now," Lin Ruoxue said arrogantly, lifting her chin. "Our engagement was canceled long ago. He's now free to love. What does he have to do with me? What do you have to do with him? And why are you pestering him here! Shi Xinxin, you're not good enough to be his girlfriend!"
Hearing Lin Ruoxue's words, Shi Xinxin's face turned pale.
She stared at Lin Ruoxue with disbelief and asked, "What did you say? Your fiancé canceled his engagement with you?"
Lin Ruoxue snorted coldly, her eyes glancing at the teacup in Shi Xinxin's hand. "I advise you to leave him quickly, or don't blame me for being rude!"
Shi Xinxin gripped the teacup, took a deep breath, placed the cup on the desk, and turned to walk out of the office.
After Shi Xinxin left, Lin Ruoxue immediately called Lin Ruoxi and said with a cold laugh, "Sister, are you satisfied now? I've finally snatched the person you hate away from you! Let's see how much Sheng Chenjin likes you now! Hmph!"