Stage of disgrace
Zhang Mei suppressed the urge to lash out. Without saying a word, she turned her back on the lady and made her way towards her 'precious daughter', Li Jing.
Meanwhile, Li Yifeng, filled with embarrassment and regret, He wanted nothing more than to find a hole to bury himself in and escape the reality of the situation.
He had spent a huge amount of money for this event. However, his daughter's actions had completely destroyed his carefully laid plans. As Li Yifeng surveyed the bewildered faces of his business partners he couldn't help but wonder how he would face them after this humiliating turn of events?
The once-grand banquet had transformed into a stage of disgrace and shattered illusions. The Li family's reputation had taken a severe blow.
Zhang Mei ran to the stage like a crazy person, walked up to Li Jing, and began to shield her.
Zhang Mei stood on the stage and picked up the mic, her voice trembling with anger. "Put those phones away!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the hall. "These pictures are fake, someone is deliberately trying to ruin my daughter's reputation."
She continued "Listen to me! This is a desperate attempt to bring shame upon our family. We will not succumb to such tactics! The Li family will investigate this matter thoroughly, and those responsible will face the consequences of their actions!"
However, her pleas fell on deaf ears as the audience grew more agitated. A man in the crowd scoffed and loudly remarked, "Who is that Buffalo yelling at? I didn't come to this banquet to be disrespected!" His comment resonated with others who joined in expressing their disdain for Zhang Mei's outburst.
Another person in the crowd clutched his chest, and complained, "Her loud voice nearly deafened me! How dare she speak to us in such a manner?"
Realizing the situation was spiraling out of control, Li Yifeng swiftly made his way to the stage, desperately attempting to salvage the night and the family's reputation. He raised his hands in a gesture of peace, pleading for calm as he spoke into the microphone. "Please, please, my dear guests, I apologize for the disruption caused. My wife is overcome with emotion, and she did not mean any harm. Please understand that this is an unfortunate misunderstanding, and we will do everything in our power to get to the bottom of it."
Wang Yuling, who stood not far from the stage, reveled in her happiness as she witnessed Zhang Mei's outburst. She thought to herself, "Even the heavens want me to succeed! It's incredible how this has become easier than I anticipated." With a sly smile, she raised her glass in a silent toast to Zhang Mei's downfall, and swiftly drained its contents.
Ning Yu, taken aback by the shocking pictures, whispered, "Karma is a bitch." She turned to Li Na and continued, "Can you believe it? One minute she was trying to make you look bad, and the next..."
Li Na nodded and agreed. She thought this was just the beginning of their downfall, and she was going to make each and every one of them pay for what they had done to her.
No longer willing to stay at this sad event, Li Na decided to leave. She turned to Ning Yu and said, "Are you coming? This event isn't pleasant anymore." Ning Yu nodded and replied, "Okay, where should we go from here?" Li Na suggested getting dinner, and Ning Yu nodded in agreement. Together, they stepped out of the hall, leaving the mess behind.
…
In another building on the top floor, the lights illuminated the room as smoke filled the air. Tang Zheng sat there, his lips gripping a cigarette as he exhaled a cloud of smoke. Dressed in a shirt and suit pants, he showcased his tall and imposing figure. Leaning against the edge of the table, his eyes were fixated on the screen.
After his encounter with Li Na, Tang Zheng's curiosity got the best of him. He instructed his assistant to connect the CCTV cameras in the Golden Palace Hall. He watched Li Na's performance on stage, a wide smile forming on his face, unbeknownst to him. He followed the entire event as it unfolded from beginning to end.
Once he saw Li Na walk out, he turned off the screen, removed his tie, and left it on the table. He unbuttoned the top three buttons of his neatly tailored shirt, revealing a complicated expression on his face that he couldn't quite conceal.