Tang Hao was silent for a while after Han Yutong finished speaking.
“You should call home. Your mom should be worried about you.”
Han Yutong pouted. “I don’t wanna. If I call home, she’ll be talking me into going to that banquet again.
“It’s just a stupid banquet that I have no interest in. I’ll be mocked and jeered if I go there anyway. What’s the point of it?
“That little bastard. She’ll mock and torment me whenever we meet. She’s always flaunting her family’s wealth in front of me. She makes it sound like I’m only there for the money.”
Han Yutong became angrier as she spoke.
She tilted her head and drained the cup. Her beautiful face was wracked with anger.
Tang Hao could not help it but smile.
“You’re not calling home?” Tang Hao said.
“I won’t!” Han Yutong said determinedly.
“Really?”
“Really!”
“So… you’re just gonna let them win?”
“What do you mean?” Han Yutong was surprised.
“You said that your half-sister always mocks you and makes fun of you, right?”
“Right! That person is materialistic and arrogant, just like the typical spoiled daughter of a wealthy family. She has a malicious streak too. She used to publicly humiliate me.”
“So, are you OK that she gets to treat you that way?”
“Of course I’m not!” Han Yutong said angrily, “But I can’t do anything about it. Her family is rich, and I’m an outsider. In her eyes, I’m just a poor loser.”
“I think she envies you! You’re so beautiful, and I don’t think she’s half as beautiful as you. Otherwise, your bastard dad would be matching Luo Feng with her instead of you.”
Han Yutong blushed intensely.
“The more she envies you, the more you’ll have to make an effort to be at the dinner party. Furthermore, you have to be at your best and steal the limelight. The more you try to hide away, the happier she’ll be!” Tang Hao said.
“That… That actually makes sense. How can I go in my best though? It’s a dinner party for society’s elite. They’ll still laugh at me even if I go in my best clothes. I’ll only be embarrassing myself!”
As she spoke, she lowered her head and looked at the dress she was wearing.
Her dress cost a little more than a thousand yuan. It was quite costly for normal people, but it was nothing more than trash in the eyes of wealthy people.
Tang Hao smiled. “That’s the easiest problem to solve. I have money! Let’s go and get some new clothes. We’ll knock their socks off!”
Han Yutong burst out laughing, then shook her head. “How can that be? I can’t possibly use your money. I can never pay you back with the meager salary I have!”
“There’s no need to repay me! I’ll just treat this as giving you your year-end bonus in advance,” Tang Hao said with a smile. “You’re my assistant, and I can’t bear to see you being bullied!”
Han Yutong stared at Tang Hao, shocked beyond words.
“President Tang, I…” She spoke with a lump in her throat and started sobbing.
“Don’t cry!” Tang Hao said urgently.
“Yup!” She replied softly, biting her lip.
She was silent for a while, then said, “President Tang… Please go to the dinner party with me!”
“Me? Go with you?”
“Yep! I won’t be able to handle her alone. That little bastard has a sharp tongue. Didn’t you say that you can’t bear to see me being bullied?”
Then, she covered her mouth and smiled. She looked quite cute that way.
For a moment, Tang Hao did not know how to react. Then, he said, “Alright, I’ll go with you then! I’d like to take a look at your bastard father.”
Then, he looked at the sky and said, “You should clean yourself up. I’ll go find some food. Let’s go and shop for clothes after breakfast.”
“Alright!” Han Yutong replied.
Tang Hao stepped out of the room and called Sun Yi. He asked her to let Qin Gang know that he would not be going back tonight.
After breakfast, Tang Hao brought Han Yutong to Zenith Plaza.
Tang Hao thought that if they were going to dress up for the event, they should buy the finest clothes. He was not short of money anyway.
The dinner party was tonight, and there was no time to tailor anything. Their best bet would be Zenith Plaza.
Tang Hao bought many items there the last time he was at Provincial City.
“Let’s see, we’ll need clothes, footwear, a necklace, earrings, bracelets, and a ring… Oh, right, a handbag too. We’ll need to give you a makeover!” Tang Hao said as he inspected Han Yutong.
Han Yutong was worried. “There’s no need to buy so many things! Just a dress will do!”
“No, that won’t do. We’re going to buy clothes anyway, so we might as well get the entire set. How else would you knock their socks off? Let’s go!” Tang Hao led the way into the shopping mall.
Han Yutong had no choice but to follow him in.
There were many stores in Zenith Plaza selling branded goods. It would not be easy to find something suitable.
They went around the shopping mall for a long time but had not bought anything.
While they were window-shopping, they heard someone call out, “Hey! You’re… Han Yutong?”
The two people were surprised and turned to see who it was. They saw a couple walking toward them.
The female was in her mid-twenties and looked quite beautiful, and her heavy make-up made her look bewitching.
The male was a lot older. He was in his thirties and had average looks, though one could tell that he was rich by looking at his branded clothing and accessories.
The two of them were walking hand in hand, and their gazes were focused on Han Yutong.
The female furrowed her brows, not sure if she got the right person. Meanwhile, the male was staring at Han Yutong passionately.
‘Masterpiece!’ He thought to himself.
“Lily, you… know this girl?” He asked the woman beside him.
“She looks familiar, like a classmate back in high school,” the woman said.
Han Yutong looked intensely at the woman, then said, “Ah! You’re Li Li?”
“Oh! It’s really you!” Li Li said as she looked at Han Yutong clothes. Her eyes flashed with envy.
They were indeed classmates in high school, but they had never shared a good relationship.
Women are easily envious when they see a more beautiful woman.
“So both of you were classmates! Introduce her to me, Lily!” The man smiled eagerly.
Li Li gave him a side-eye and knew what he was thinking about. She discreetly pinched his waist while feeling even more envious toward Han Yutong.
“Ouch!” The man yelped and learned to behave.
Han Yutong furrowed her brows. She did not look too happy.
Li Li was never her friend. Meeting her was bad news.
