CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 32: MARRIAGE ALLIANCE

Meeting Su Lingzhi again was at the venue.

At that moment, she was holding a glass of champagne, conversing with a few foreigners.

Under the lights, her amber eyes shone brilliantly with her smile, her every gesture was elegant, her face was very likable, just seeing her improved one’s mood.

But she no longer remembered him.

In fact, she was resistant to him.

Su Lingzhi accidentally saw the entertainment company she wanted to avoid again, she calmly looked away, clinked glasses with the designers in front of her, took a small sip, and walked away.

At this moment, James approached her, cheerfully calling out, "Lindie."

Su Lingzhi smiled and clinked glasses with him, "I didn’t expect to meet you here."

Saying this, she cautiously glanced around, "There shouldn’t be any paparazzi around, right?"

"No, this is a fashion social circle, without an invitation, they can’t get in."

Su Lingzhi breathed a sigh of relief, "I’m sorry, I hope I haven’t caused you any trouble."

"Of course not, your boyfriend doesn’t misunderstand our relationship, does he?"

"He probably doesn’t know about this."

James seemed rather incredulous.

Su Lingzhi explained, "He’s usually very busy, not interested in entertainment news."

"Then you didn’t bring it up to him? After all..." James didn’t finish his sentence.

Su Lingzhi replied, "I didn’t think it was necessary, I don’t want to create complications for him."

"Ok." James flashed a charming, sunny smile, then led her to sit at a small bar and considerately brought over some snacks.

"Wasn’t Rika coming today?"

Su Lingzhi nodded, "She has personal matters."

James laughed and said, "If she were here, she’d definitely not leave you alone. She really likes you, it’s obvious to everyone."

"I know."

To be honest, she wasn’t fond of such large social events, but she understood clearly that in the fashion world, and indeed in any industry, socializing was unavoidable.

Still, she was glad to meet someone she could converse with here tonight.

However, because James was too strikingly handsome and wore such a flamboyant dark blue suit tonight, people occasionally glanced in their direction, inevitably leading to some gossip.

Su Lingzhi helplessly said to James, "I’m going to the restroom."

"OK."

While entering the corridor to the restroom, Su Lingzhi took out her phone from her dress pocket, glanced at the time, and was about to call Fu Yinli when a man blocked her path.

Su Lingzhi looked up at the man, frowned, and stepped aside.

Unexpectedly, the man followed, continuing to block her way.

She tightened her grip on her phone, met his gaze, and said graciously, "Please move, I’m going to the restroom."

Hearing this, Jiang Chenglin’s eyes narrowed slightly, hesitated for a moment, and then made way.

At the end of the corridor was the restroom; she couldn’t evade him unless he waited there for her to come out.

Su Lingzhi took a deep breath and spoke frankly, "Mr. Jiang, I’m not interested in being an artist at your company. As the head of the company, I would think you are a person of character and poise who wouldn’t force others to do what they don’t want."

Jiang Chenglin’s thick eyebrows knitted together, puzzled by her words, clearly sensing some misunderstanding.

Before he could speak, Sister Li approached, "President Jiang, there you are, I was just looking for you."

Sister Li smiled all over her face, giving Su Lingzhi a meaningful look, "Miss Su, what a coincidence."

Su Lingzhi frowned slightly, turned and left without a word, eager to avoid them.

This banquet hall was neither too big nor too small.

In just half an hour, she had run into people she didn’t want to see several times.

Feeling disinterested, she informed the Design Director and left early.

Although it was somewhat impolite, she really didn’t want to stay any longer.

Going downstairs, just out of the hotel, she unexpectedly locked eyes with that man again.

He was standing at the entrance, arms crossed, leaning against a pillar, looking at her with an invasive gaze, leisurely as if deliberately waiting for her.

"Leaving so early, are you avoiding me?" Jiang Chenglin spoke up.

Su Lingzhi frowned, "What exactly do you want?"

"To chat."

"I’ve made myself very clear, there’s nothing to talk about between us, I’m not interested in entering the entertainment industry at all."

Jiang Chenglin frowned, blocking her path with his hand.

Su Lingzhi’s expression changed, "Sir, if you continue to harass me, it will become harassment."

"I’m your arranged marriage partner."

Su Lingzhi’s eyebrows tightened, looking at him incredulously, "What nonsense are you talking?"

"The Su Family and the Jiang Family arranged our engagement eighteen years ago, have you forgotten?"

Su Lingzhi had no memory of this; she calmly met his gaze, "You must have mistaken me for someone else."

Jiang Chenglin furrowed his brows slightly, speaking in a deep voice, "Lingzhi, we met when we were kids, how could I mistake you for someone else."

Seeing his certainty, Su Lingzhi’s face darkened.

She didn’t want to even hear the term arranged marriage, it unnerved her.

Her parents had never mentioned an arranged marriage to her, but in her memory, it seemed an older brother had indeed told her that she was his fiancée.

It was such a long time ago, she couldn’t remember the details.

She coolly met his gaze, "I don’t know you, and until things are clarified, we have no relation."

Jiang Chenglin’s grip on her hand gradually tightened as he slowly said, "It’s okay if you don’t want to acknowledge it now, but I cannot tolerate any impurities. I suggest you end your current relationship soon."

"An arranged marriage doesn’t hold legal weight, we aren’t truly engaged, you have no right to interfere with my romantic freedom. Even if both families have intentions of an arranged marriage, I will not agree to it." With that, Su Lingzhi shook off his hand and walked away, quickly hailing a taxi on the roadside.

Watching her figure slowly disappear, Jiang Chenglin clenched his fists tightly, memories drifting back to nineteen years ago, when she was just three.

Yan City never sees snow, that winter was the first time he experienced snow.

They built snowmen in the snow; little Lingzhi was like a tiny stove, when cold, he would hug little Lingzhi for warmth, and while having fun, he told little Lingzhi, "I’m not your brother, I’m your fiancé, you are my fiancée."

That trip to Beijing was indeed to discuss the engagement.

Though he didn’t understand what it meant to be engaged, he knew Lingzhi was his future wife, the person he was to live with.

Back then, Lingzhi was much more obedient than she is now.

However, only he took the family engagement seriously, remembering it till now.