Chapter 81: A Friend
Xia Mengxi was surprised to hear Yang Feng's words. She had been used to men, regardless of their status, fawn over her. This was why she was taken aback by Yang Feng's cold temperament.
She knew she was beautiful and had always pretended like she didn't, which enhanced the pure aura that always surrounded her. She had learned early on that this was something she can use.
Even a powerful man like Zheng Tianyi was hooked by her charm, despite the fact that his previous fiancee was someone of outstanding background.
She thought that the incident at the banquet with him insulting her dress was a simple misunderstanding. Now that she saw him again in all of his magnificent glory and blinding charisma that rivaled her Zheng Tianyi, she could safely confirm he truly didn't like her.
A part of her already knew why. He seemed to heavily dote upon Zhao Lifei and that woman probably manipulated him to make her seem like a bad woman. Xia Mengxi nearly scoffed.
Xia Mengxi thought back to how pathetic Zhao Lifei was. When she first realized Zheng Tianyi was showing interest in her, she was surprised that it did not take a lot of effort on her part.
He was engaged to the touted 'Queen of Socialites'. She knew how hard that woman worked for Zheng Corporation and how formidable her background is simply from listening to the other secretaries.
She remembered seeing the fallen Queen beg on her knees in public with tears streaming down her face, hoping that Zheng Tianyi wouldn't leave her. And what did he do? He had grabbed her and left without looking back as Zhao Lifei screamed and cried for him.
The moment Zhao Lifei has found out about Xia Mengxi's liaison with her fiance, she had no qualms threatening her with her past.
It was no surprise that she would now try to coerce Yang Feng onto her side. That was probably the only thing Zhao Lifei knew how to do — cry alligator tears, commit horrendous acts of violence against other women, and then try to make herself look like the victim.
"Yang Feng, what is wrong with you today? I thought we were friends." Zheng Tianyi frowned, his brows coming together to form creases on his forehead. Not only did his friend blatantly ignore his fiancee, but he had also insulted her by calling her a mistress.
"A friend? CEO Zheng, it seemed you have misread our relationship. We are nothing but acquaintances who happened to have collaborated on one project." Yang Feng heartlessly said and emphasized that they only had one project together, knowing that it was his woman who had worked on that proposal. He did not bother to give Zheng Tianyi face about the fact that they had known each other since their college days.
Zheng Tianyi nearly flinched at the harsh slap to his face. Even after Yang Feng clearly drew a line to their relationship, Zheng Tianyi still didn't blame him. Instead, he blamed that damned Zhao Lifei.
'That crazy vixen did it again! Not only is she trying to sabotage my Mengxi, but now she dared to talk smack about me behind my back. She must've told something to Yang Feng and that's why he's refusing to acknowledge our friendship.' Zheng Tianyi grounded his teeth in anger. Once again, she was playing with fire, forgetting the fact that she had been burned many times before. He made a mental note to have a thorough "discussion" with her.
"Yang Feng, my fiancee is not a mistress-"
"Any woman who would act on her feelings for an engaged man is a mistress. And she did just that, did she not?" Yang Feng said with a very indifferent tone. He eyed Xia Mengxi with disgust as if he couldn't believe she was even in the same room as him, breathing the same air.
Xia Mengxi flinched at his harsh words, tears building up in her eyes. She had always hated the fact that she did not come from a background that could match Zheng Tianyi.
It had been almost three years, and his parents still treat her as a gold digger who ruined their only heir's perfect engagement.
She didn't think of herself as a mistress. Zheng Tianyi came onto her first and he ignored all of her protests!
Why did she have to look like the bad guy when all she did was help him escape a loveless marriage? So what if that crazy woman was in love with her Tianyi? Did he have to love everyone that loved him?! He willingly proposed to her and not to that woman!
"Yes, but she's only a mistress if she was the other woman in my current relationship-"
"She was the other woman in your previous one." Yang Feng boredly said.
"She's also an eyesore. If you want to discuss business, get her out of here." Yang Feng added the final blow, motioning security to step forward.
It took every fiber within Zheng Tianyi's body to prevent his jaw from dropping to the floor at his buddy's insult.
"And her perfume stinks." Yang Feng muttered under his breath, loud enough for only Zheng Tianyi and Xia Mengxi to hear.
"Tianyi, I'll go...I-I didn't mean to cause a scene." Xia Mengxi pitifully spoke up, her voice cracking in the end. While she knew it was futile, she had hoped that her tears would work on Yang Feng.
"Sweetheart, it's alright. It's my fault for bringing you here when it's such an important meeting. Go with Chen Xing. I'll make up to you later after this meeting. Okay?" He gently said to her, placing a hand on her shoulder and guiding her toward his private secretary.
Chen Gaonan was surprised to see his half-sister. He didn't even realize Chen Xing was present until Zheng Tianyi had brought up her name. He hadn't seen her in the five years that she had run away from home. And now look at where she ended up, a trusted secretary of one of this country's most powerful men.
Chen Xing ignored her half-brother's curious stares and decided to focus on the weeping woman. Xia Mengxi's quiet sniffs didn't evoke any sympathy from her.
The tears might work on men, but Chen Xing had long known this woman's true colors and she nearly rolled her eyes. Once again, she couldn't handle the sticks and stones tossed at her. Weak by nature and too soft-hearted, the smallest prick was enough to make her cry. Why end up with such a wealthy man if you can't handle the obstacles that came with it?
Serves her right, she really was a mistress. She had applauded CEO Yang in her heart the moment he called her out. What was she thinking by coming into this private meeting? It's not like she knows anything beneficial that will help them close this deal. Zheng Tianyi might've deliberately invited her to come here, but she should've been wise and rejected the offer.
Chen Xing wasn't surprised that Zheng Tianyi didn't go against Yang Feng's orders. She nearly laughed to herself at how fast Xia Mengxi was abandoned.
In the end, her boss was still an intelligent businessman who valued money over a woman's feelings. This project was really important to the company so, at the very least, Chen Xing had to give Xia Mengxi some props for leaving without protest.
Guiding the crying woman out of the door, Chen Xing turned back to see that Yang Feng and her boss have finally sat down to discuss the newly revised proposal. They had used the notes made by the infamous consultant and Zheng Tianyi ordered the team who drafted it to quickly fix it.
No one knew this except for her but he was actually very impressed by this consultant. He or she had pointed out even the smallest flaw that no one was able to detect.
Chen Xing could not help but remember how Zhao Lifei used to do the same thing. Even though the criticism was harsh and brutal, it was the honest truth. The only downside was that the consultant couldn't be found no matter how hard Zheng Tianyi ordered the people to search.