Chapter 21: The Unwelcome Visitor

It was already five in the afternoon when they returned home. Meng Zexiao got out of the car first, while Kong Lingxin followed behind with a sluggish pace. Meng Zexiao glanced back at her with a look of dissatisfaction and said, "Hurry up! This is a very important banquet!"

Kong Lingxin muttered to herself—it might be important to you, but to me, it's nothing short of hell.

However, whether or not to go was not her decision to make. It seemed that Meng Zexiao had no intention of changing his mind, so she had no choice but to brace herself.

Back in the room, Meng Zexiao opened his massive wardrobe and said, "I’m wearing dark colors today, so you must wear a dark gown to match."

He even used an imperious tone when it came to choosing clothes! This made Kong Lingxin feel quite resentful, though she kept it strictly to herself.

Kong Lingxin felt that the more low-key she dressed, the better; that way, she wouldn't draw too much attention and would reduce the chance of making a fool of herself.

In the end, she chose a purple, strapless gown from the very corner of the closet. It had looked inconspicuous hanging there, but once she put it on, it was transformed.

The purple silk crepe fabric clung to her, and the three roses on the bodice set it apart from the typical bows found on other dresses. The straight-across neckline exuded a charming, sexy allure, while the high-waisted design perfectly showcased her tall, slender figure.

This was the first time Kong Lingxin had worn such a formal gown. Seeing the elegant, sweet, and noble beauty in the mirror, she could hardly believe her eyes.

Although she liked it and had fantasized countless times about such a day when she could wear a beautiful gown and become the center of attention, today was not that dream day.

Kong Lingxin reached back into the closet without hesitation, intending to find something else, but was stopped by Meng Zexiao. "Wear that one! I like it!"

The moment their eyes met, she saw a slight spark of light in his gaze. He really hadn't realized before just how beautiful she was.

He was truly overbearing! If he liked it, she just had to wear it.

"I’d still rather change into something else," Kong Lingxin said, hoping to negotiate. "This one doesn't feel very comfortable."

Meng Zexiao curled his lips into a cold, mocking smirk. "I don't have the habit of repeating myself."

Kong Lingxin had no choice but to give up. Under his supervision, she applied a light layer of makeup—the whole process took less than five minutes, and she didn't even use foundation. It didn't matter, though; her skin was crystal clear, and there was no need to cover it up. With her light makeup and the purple gown, she looked like a sweet princess.

After tidying up the vanity, she stood up. Meng Zexiao extended his right arm, and Kong Lingxin bit the bullet, taking his arm as they headed downstairs.

Meng Zexiao’s injured arm was his left, and today he was wearing a dark, long-sleeved suit, so from the outside, no one could tell he had been hurt.

The driver took them to a private estate, which appeared to be twice the size of the courtyard of Meng Zexiao’s villa. It looked very similar to the outdoor wedding venues Kong Lingxin had seen in television dramas, though far more luxurious, with red carpets laid out over the green lawn and food and wine set up along the sides.

Kong Lingxin didn't know if her sister had been here before, so she didn't dare ask Meng Zexiao what kind of banquet this was. Seeing the scene upon arrival, she realized the host must be someone of significant importance; otherwise, Mrs. Meng wouldn't have called personally to remind Meng Zexiao.

Guided by a waiter, Kong Lingxin walked into the venue on Meng Zexiao's arm.

Their arrival caused quite a stir and drew many eyes. Kong Lingxin knew very well that these people were primarily looking at Meng Zexiao—the son of a billionaire in City B, the heir to the Dingsheng Group, a handsome and wealthy man under twenty-seven with a net worth in the tens of billions.

Many of the guests didn't recognize Kong Lingxin, as Meng Zexiao had rarely brought her to such occasions before.

Occasionally, Meng Zexiao would introduce her as his wife to those who greeted him. Kong Lingxin kept a smile on her face, silent and composed, showing no signs of stage fright. Since that was how the heroines in the TV dramas acted, she figured that as long as she kept smiling and spoke little, nothing would go wrong.

Just then, a man of extraordinary bearing walked over and said to Meng Zexiao, "This must be the young Mr. Meng of the Dingsheng Group. Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to attend my reception. I received the gift from Chairman Meng yesterday and I like it very much. Please convey Mr. Song’s gratitude to your father."

Meng Zexiao replied, "Mr. Song, now that you are shifting your focus from overseas markets to the domestic one, we will certainly have more opportunities for cooperation. My father intended to come himself, but unfortunately, he is feeling under the weather, so he arranged for me to come and offer his congratulations."

The man addressed as Mr. Song said, "Oh! Is Chairman Meng unwell? I shall find time to pay a visit to your home."

Meng Zexiao said, "Thank you for your kind intentions, Mr. Song. I will be sure to pass that on to my father."

As other guests approached to congratulate Mr. Song, he raised his glass to Meng Zexiao and said, "Excuse me, Mr. Meng, I must go greet the other guests. I wish you and your wife a pleasant evening."

Listening to their polite, practiced banter, Kong Lingxin knew her sister could never have been here before, as this Mr. Song was a businessman who had just returned from overseas.

However, this Mr. Song clearly held a lot of sway; Kong Lingxin spotted several faces she frequently saw on political news programs. It seemed this was a gathering for political and business elites. No wonder Meng Zexiao had insisted on attending the banquet, even with an injured arm.

Meng Zexiao signaled for Kong Lingxin to let go of his arm, as he needed to socialize and told her to feel free to enjoy herself.

After Meng Zexiao left, Kong Lingxin was left standing alone in the crowd. She took a glass of red wine from a waiter's tray and wandered around casually.

She heard a group of young women nearby chatting: "I heard the Minister's son will be attending today. Why hasn't he arrived yet?"

"I heard he's coming. I spent five hours today on my hair and makeup, and my gown was custom-ordered from a designer in Italy. If he doesn't show up tonight, I'll be heartbroken."

"If you want to remain friends with me, don't try to compete for the young master's attention tonight. I am determined to dance the opening dance with him!"

Kong Lingxin found their conversation amusing. It was incredible how obsessed these women were over a rich playboy. Still, it piqued her curiosity about what kind of charm this man had to make these heiresses so infatuated.

At that moment, someone recognized Kong Lingxin. After the women whispered among themselves, they walked over with graceful, swaying steps and surrounded her. "Oh, long time no see, the second young mistress of the Meng family."

Kong Lingxin didn't know who they were, but seeing their provocative gazes, she knew they meant trouble.