Compared to before, when Meng Huange wore the standard Baiying Academy uniform, the current Meng Huange, now clad in a full black suit, appeared much sharper. Just by standing there quietly, she exuded a cold aura that warned others to keep their distance.
Furthermore, she had just delivered a resounding slap to the host of this banquet in front of everyone.
Meng Huange let out a soft sigh. Her gaze didn’t linger on Bai Hewei for even a moment, immediately turning to Su Wanli behind her.
“I’m sorry, Miss Su. It took a bit longer than expected to change clothes. Are you hurt?”
“I’m not hurt, but I’m absolutely fuming.”
For some reason, the alarm and anger Su Wanli had felt earlier vanished the moment she saw Meng Huange’s figure. In its place was a deep sense of exhaustion.
Well, criticizing Meng Huange’s tardiness in front of dozens of students was one thing, but just now, Su Wanli had been standing before hundreds of socialites, enduring everyone’s gaze while confronting the center of the banquet, Bai Hewei.
From the moment she stepped into the banquet hall, her nerves had been under significant strain.
Not only did she have to worry about the tasks given by the system, but she also had to endure the malice everyone directed toward her.
If she hadn’t toughened her mental state over the past few days, Su Wanli’s legs would have given way under the pressure.
Fortunately, Meng Huange arrived on the scene in time before things became irreparable.
Precisely picking up on the trace of exhaustion in Su Wanli’s eyes, Meng Huange frowned slightly and stepped quickly to her side, gently supporting her back so that Su Wanli could lean against her.
“Miss Su, leave the rest to me. You can take a little rest now.”
“Is that so?”
This time, Su Wanli didn’t push Meng Huange’s hand away like usual. She only knitted her brows slightly and looked up into Meng Huange’s pale eyes, which held a faint, shimmering intensity…
“…Meng Huange, you remember what you promised me before, right?”
“Of course I remember.”
Meng Huange gave Su Wanli a faint smile and then leaned down slightly to make it easier for Su Wanli to lean on her.
“I’m sorry, Miss Su. Due to some unexpected accidents, I wasn’t able to guarantee your grand entrance at the banquet. However, I will certainly handle what comes next for you.”
“Wow, who is that? Is that the maid of Su Wanli’s that Young Master Bai just mentioned?”
“Really? She looks like the scion of a noble family herself.”
“What was her name? Meng Huange, I think? Is there a Meng family in our South City?”
The surrounding guests were currently only concerned with the shock of seeing someone get so close to the rumored “vicious woman” Su Wanli. They had no idea what the two girls were actually discussing.
“Good, as long as you haven’t forgotten.”
Su Wanli gave a silent yawn, her cold gaze sweeping over the crowd once. She straightened up from Meng Huange’s side and walked toward the main entrance of the banquet hall with her head held high.
“Fine, I’m a bit tired. I’m going to find a place to rest. When I come back, I want to see your results. Meng Huange, make it quick.”
“Yes, I certainly won’t fail your expectations.”
Until the black-haired girl’s figure completely disappeared through the banquet hall doors, Bai Hewei finally regained his senses and looked at the person before him—the one he had just intended to use as a tool to provoke Su Wanli.
…So this was the legendary orphan girl taken in by the Su family, the one about whom no news had ever been leaked: Meng Huange.
From the first day of school, she had shattered the rumors he had painstakingly crafted on the Maple Garden forum.
On the second day, she followed Su Wanli to Class 1 of the Sophomore Experimental Grade, working in tandem with her to tear down his facade. And now, she finally stood before him, even slapping him on Su Wanli’s behalf…
According to his usual habits, Bai Hewei never let a grudge last overnight. He would either try to settle it through mutual interest or retaliate on the spot. However, this time might be an exception.
Even if the person who delivered that slap wasn’t Su Wanli herself but her personal maid, Meng Huange, in the eyes of public opinion, there was really no difference. In some ways, it was even more serious.
The Su family’s current power had reached a point where even a servant dared to slap the master of the Bai family at a Bai banquet.
If this continued, wouldn’t anyone even remotely related to the Su family become a superior person in South City? Was there no law? No justice?
That’s right, Bai Hewei, don’t rush. Calm down. You’ve actually achieved your goal. Next, you just need to find a way to leave gracefully.
He swept a cold, gloomy gaze over Meng Huange’s beautiful face, then turned around, intending to leave through the side door to check the results captured by the photographers.
“Wait a moment, Mr. Bai Hewei. You aren’t… trying to flee from this banquet, are you?”
Before he could take two steps, a voice that seemed gentle but was actually full of mockery came from behind him.
“If I didn’t hear wrong, Miss Su just said that as the eldest son of the Bai family, you can’t even compare to her personal maid.”
Bai Hewei slowly turned around and spoke coldly to Meng Huange.
“I just don’t care to lower myself to your level. What are you trying to say with that?”
“…As you can see, I am the personal maid Miss Su Wanli just mentioned—Meng Huange, from a small northern town, now standing before you.”
Meng Huange curled the corners of her mouth slightly and placed her index finger to her lips, performing a graceful greeting for Bai Hewei.
“So, don’t you want to… vindicate yourself?”
Bai Hewei didn’t offer any response. He simply turned back silently, wanting to continue toward the side door.
“…From the moment you were born, you have possessed resources that many people wouldn’t even dare to dream of. As it turns out, not only are your grades inferior to an orphan girl from the countryside, but in every other aspect, you are also inferior to me.”
Hearing this, Bai Hewei finally stopped in his tracks.
“Heh, hehe…”
He chuckled softly, turned back, and looked at Meng Huange’s beautiful, smiling face.
“You don’t really think that just because you beat me once in an insignificant exam, you can truly trample me under your feet, do you?”
“My dear self-righteous Miss Meng Huange.”