Shen Manrong quickly stood up and extended her hand for a handshake. "Hello, Young Master Sheng."
Sheng Chenjin smiled faintly and withdrew his hand. "Since you're attending the banquet, Uncle and Aunt, please relax. I'm hosting tonight."
"Oh, no, no, we can pay for ourselves," Shen Manrong quickly declined. "Xin Xin's friends are our honored guests!"
"It's no trouble," Sheng Chenjin said with a gentle smile. "Xin Xin likes sweets, so I specifically asked the kitchen to prepare some. If Uncle and Aunt don't mind, please try them."
Shen Manrong blinked in surprise. "We don't mind."
Sheng Chenjin nodded with a smile and then instructed a nearby waiter, "Bring two glasses of red wine for the two gentlemen."
"Yes." The waiter retreated.
"Young Master Sheng, you are our family's benefactor!" Shen Manrong said excitedly. "You've helped our family so much, I truly don't know how to repay you."
"Uncle and Aunt are too kind. We are classmates, and it's only natural to help each other," Sheng Chenjin said warmly.
Shen Manrong and Shi Jinsong exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with admiration.
Shi Xinxin stood by, silent, watching it all with indifference.
"By the way, I don't know your surname yet," Shi Jinsong said proactively, his tone friendly and enthusiastic.
"My surname is Sheng," Sheng Chenjin replied. "My name is Sheng Chenjin."
"Sheng Chenjin." Shi Jinsong repeated the name and chuckled, "That's a good name, with a nice meaning."
Sheng Chenjin said modestly, "My grandfather chose it."
"I see," Shi Jinsong nodded. "Old Master Sheng is our savior, and you are his grandson, making you our benefactor as well."
"Aunt, you don't need to be so polite. It's my honor to be able to help you," Sheng Chenjin said humbly.
Shen Manrong said with a smile, "Please come inside and sit. Xin Xin, you go with Young Master Sheng too."
"Dad, I..."
"Behave yourself," Shen Manrong warned with a glare at Shi Xinxin.
Shi Xinxin sighed helplessly and walked in with Sheng Chenjin.
Inside the restaurant, the lights were brilliant, and the clinking of glasses filled the air.
The moment Shi Xinxin stepped inside, she attracted countless gazes.
She had been the center of attention at school since she was young and was long accustomed to it.
However, these gazes were clearly different from usual, carrying various complex emotions.
There was envy, jealousy, anger, and even hatred.
Shi Xinxin's heart trembled.
"Shi Xinxin, you're still alive?"
Shi Xinxin heard a familiar voice and looked up to see Lu Mingyu approaching with a grim expression.
Lu Mingyu had his hands in his pockets, his cold gaze fixed on her, his eyes seeming to be frosted over.
She flinched, shrinking her shoulders, afraid to speak.
Lu Mingyu walked towards her step by step, each step feeling as heavy as a thousand pounds, exuding an overwhelming pressure.
"Mr. Sheng, you're here too?"
"Yes, Mr. Sheng, I didn't expect you to be here!"
Shi Xinxin saw other business figures also stepping forward to greet Lu Mingyu.
Although the Sheng Corporation ranked second in City A, it was renowned throughout Jiang Province and even internationally, earning the respect of countless business figures.
Lu Mingyu scanned the crowd coldly, his gaze settling on Shi Xinxin.
"Young Master Sheng!" Shi Jinsong stepped forward, saying respectfully, "Young Master Sheng, long time no see."
"Long time no see." Lu Mingyu shot a cold glance at Shi Jinsong. "You father and daughter have quite some nerve to dare to deceive me?"
His tone carried a strong killing intent, making Shi Jinsong tremble violently.
Shi Jinsong stammered, "Young Master Sheng, how would we dare to deceive you? It's just that Xin Xin... she lost her memory. We were doing it for her own good, to prevent her from hurting Young Master Sheng."
"Heh..." Lu Mingyu curled his lips into a mocking smile. "If she were to hurt Sheng Chenjin, I guarantee I'd chop her into pieces and feed her to the dogs!"
Shi Jinsong's lips twitched. "Young Master Sheng, this girl has a stubborn temper, please bear with her!"
Sheng Chenjin said expressionlessly, "Aunt, you're being too serious. Xin Xin and I are desk mates, and it's my duty to look after her."
"Thank you, Young Master Sheng!" Shen Manrong was overjoyed and quickly said, "Let's go chat with Xin Xin's mommy."
Sheng Chenjin nodded faintly.
"Young Master Sheng, please make yourself at home. We'll excuse ourselves for now." Shen Manrong and Shi Jinsong left.
Sheng Chenjin walked towards Shi Xinxin and asked with a light smile, "Xin Xin, how about we change seats? What do you think?"
"Change seats?" Shi Xinxin was taken aback, then suddenly understood something.
"No need!" she refused without hesitation. "Sheng Chenjin, don't forget, you said before that you would treat me like a stranger."
Sheng Chenjin raised an eyebrow and asked in a low voice, "Aren't I?"
Shi Xinxin gritted her teeth. "Sheng Chenjin, you're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
He was definitely doing it on purpose!
Intentionally making others misunderstand their relationship as ambiguous, intentionally letting her be ridiculed.
He was doing it deliberately!
"Mmm-hmm," he hummed nonchalantly. "I am indeed doing it on purpose."
Shi Xinxin took a deep breath. "Sheng Chenjin, you're simply despicable!"
"Despicable?" Sheng Chenjin's lips curved. "You call me despicable, then I'll be even more so."
"You!" Shi Xinxin was furious.
Sheng Chenjin continued, "You'd better behave yourself now. If you make me angry, I fear you won't be able to bear my wrath."
Shi Xinxin bit her lip. "What exactly do you want?"
Sheng Chenjin stared at her for a second, then turned around, leaving behind a meaningful sentence.
"What I want to do, I'm afraid you'll never guess."
Shi Xinxin stood there in a daze, her mind filled with his words.
What exactly did he want?
***
Night fell.
Sheng Chenjin returned home but found no trace of Shi Xinxin.
"Madam, the young lady has gone off to play somewhere," Aunt Zhang said anxiously. "Please hurry and look for her, the young lady doesn't usually wander off."
"What does she usually do?" Sheng Chenjin asked coldly.
"Besides attending school, the young lady rarely goes out. And she never plays with children her own age. Her personality is quite solitary," Aunt Zhang said. "For her to suddenly run out today, something must have happened."
Sheng Chenjin frowned and took out his phone to make a call.
A moment later, the call was connected.
"Where are you guys?"
"Ah Jin, you're back?"
"I'm asking you, where is Shi Xinxin?"
"We... we're not quite sure."
"Not sure?" Sheng Chenjin asked coldly. "You left her behind and went out drinking yourselves?"
"No, no," Lin Yuqing quickly denied. "We were all in a private room singing. Who knew Xin Xin suddenly had a stomachache, so we took her out to the restroom. When we went back, she was gone."
Sheng Chenjin asked coldly, "When did she leave?"
"About half an hour ago." Lin Yuqing quickly added, "Ah Jin, Xin Xin is young and doesn't understand some things, please don't blame her."
Sheng Chenjin frowned and hung up the phone.