Chapter 174 Fellow Travelers
The white Maserati stopped like a specter at the entrance of the Donghai Hotel.
Donghai Hotel, with its long history, had existed for a full hundred years. Although a hundred years might not seem much in the long course of history, it held a different significance for a hotel.
"Ye Ling, are you ready?" Shen Yuexin asked.
Ye Ling was startled, of course, knowing what Shen Yuexin was referring to. Shen Yuexin was speaking of a society that seemed glamorous, but was in fact filthy and absolutely necessary.
It was rife with power, money, beauties, luxury, but also with despicable, malicious, and deceitful human hearts.
But, would Ye Ling be afraid?
Thud, a foot stepped down. The clothes Ye Ling wore made him look like a prince of the night, his demeanor and vitality elicited admiring clicks of the tongue.
Click click click, the blinding flashbulbs flickered, but Ye Ling was very calm. What kind of show of power was this? It was too childish.
Tonight was a charity gala, held to assist an orphanage. Some items were to be auctioned to fundraise for these welfare institutions.
And Shen Yuexin was clearly a well-known princess of this circle. She naturally hooked her arm in Ye Ling's, her body leaning slightly against him.
The reporters standing on both sides were dumbfounded. This was Shen Yuexin, the famous Ice and Snow Princess of the circle, prideful and indifferent, who usually didn't even have any gossip surrounding her. What was happening today?
"Ye Ling, will you stay with me forever?" Shen Yuexin murmured softly, her tone unexpectedly agitated.
Ye Ling gripped Shen Yuexin's hand tightly; he knew that she might have been reminded of her deceased parents, stirring the pain in her heart.
"Don't worry, I will always be with you!" Ye Ling said firmly, his eyes sharp as blades.
The two moved forward with steady steps into the revolving door, leaving the reporters and flashbulbs outside, and entered the elevator to head to the fifth floor.
The fifth floor had a huge reception hall, which was the venue for today's banquet. The moment the two exited the elevator, the packed crowd in the reception hall were all attracted by them.
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Who was Shen Yuexin nestled against?
In the past, didn't Shen Yuexin attend various banquets by herself?
This room was filled with elites from all industries, each one astutely insightful, yet among them were also many of Shen Yuexin's suitors.
What did Shen Yuexin represent?
She represented not just beauty, but also the entire Huamei Group. Winning Shen Yuexin meant not just fulfilling a man's grand ambitions, but also gaining the wealth of the mighty Huamei Group.
Shen Yuexin looked around the silent hall, her gaze authoritative and inviolable as she surveyed her surroundings.
"He is Ye Ling, my man," Shen Yuexin said slowly.
Shen Yuexin's man?
At that moment, Ye Ling's chest puffed out proudly. Yes, he now represented Shen Yuexin's man, her protector, and he must not bring her any shame under any circumstances.
After hearing those words, countless people were shaken. What did it mean to be Shen Yuexin's man?
Did it represent that behind her, the vast Huamei Group finally had a male lead?
That's a behemoth of tens of billions, at this moment, everyone began to take a serious look at this delicately featured guy in front of them, guessing that he might make an imposing appearance on the battlefield of the business world in the future.
Perhaps, it was time to start figuring out what this guy was really about, preparing for the future.
Ye Ling spoke softly to Shen Yuexin, "Why does it seem like their gazes have all changed, like a bunch of foxes, and I'm just a little chick?"
Shen Yuexin smiled joyfully, "Because you're now standing at this height."
Indeed, Ye Ling was standing at this height, standing at the peak of the secular world as Shen Yuexin's man, a height that made countless people look up to him.
"But I don't like it here," Ye Ling shrugged nonchalantly.
Shen Yuexin smiled slightly, "I don't like it here either, but this is where the strong survive, full of hypocrisy, yet numerous people break their skulls just to squeeze in."
Next, Shen Yuexin took Ye Ling around to greet the heads of various companies and groups. Today's attendees were not just company heads but also local dignitaries—it was a gathering of Donghai City's upper crust.
"Tsk tsk, if a band of ruthless thieves came now, Donghai City would really heat up," Ye Ling chuckled.
Shen Yuexin gave Ye Ling a look. If a band of ruthless thieves really did show up now, the police chief of Donghai City would probably have his scalp exploded; if there was even a slight problem with anyone here, it would be a massive issue.
Just then, a figure suddenly appeared before Ye Ling and Shen Yuexin, reached out to shake hands with Ye Ling, and said with a smile, "Hello, Young Master Ye, I am Liu Jie."
Ye Ling was startled, then laughed, saying, "What a small world, isn't it? How come, Prince Liu, you have come all this way to shut down my charity house?"
"What are you saying, Young Master Ye? To think that our humble charity house was actually a crouching tiger, hidden dragon. If Young Master Ye had revealed his identity sooner, how could Liu Jie have sent people to disturb you?" Liu Jie's smile remained.
"Please don't say things like that, Prince Liu. I still need to ask you to spare me. My little charity can't withstand all the trouble you could cause," Ye Ling said, his lips curling into a smile.
Liu Jie shook his head, "Young Master Ye is really humorous; let's talk more after the banquet."
After finishing the conversation, Liu Jie greeted Shen Yuexin and then left, leaving Ye Ling shrugging his shoulders.
"I'm not comfortable here; I'm going out for some fresh air, to smoke a cigarette." Ye Ling let out a deep breath; it was too oppressive in here, a veritable den of foxes, with old foxes and young foxes all around.
Someone as kind-hearted and simple-minded as me is doomed not to survive here.
Ye Ling sighed deeply, saying, "Ah, it seems like kind people like me are destined to be bullied by the wicked."
But thinking of this, Ye Ling's face darkened again, "That bastard Liu Jie, he dared to sneak a peek at my wife's chest while talking to me!"
"Uncle can bear it, and aunt can bear it, but your grand uncle can't bear it!" Ye Ling gnashed his teeth.
Suddenly, he let out a sly chuckle and walked towards the parking lot. Once there, Ye Ling began to look around, his eyes sparkling as he found Liu Jie's Audi.
Ye Ling had stolen a shiny fork from the banquet and bent down to forcefully stab it into the tire of the Audi.
Psssh psssh, the tire immediately deflated, and Ye Ling chuckled. All of a sudden, he heard the sound of water splashing and turned around in surprise, only to be stunned.
Next to Ye Ling, a young man was brazenly using his 'water hose' to irrigate the Audi opposite him, and upon seeing Ye Ling's actions, he was also shocked.
"A kindred spirit!" Ye Ling exclaimed in delight.