Chapter Forty-Three: So This Is the Pei Susu You Spoke Of?

That voice—Pei Susu could never forget it.

Upon hearing Chu Qingzhu’s familiar tone, Pei Susu’s expression turned cold. It was likely that everything that happened today was orchestrated by her.

Graceful and poised, Chu Qingzhu walked up to the doorman and tossed him an invitation. After examining it, the doorman respectfully handed it back to her.

“Please come in, miss,” he said.

But Chu Qingzhu did not rush into the banquet hall. Instead, she folded her arms and turned to fix her gaze on Pei Susu.

“Some people don’t even have an invitation and still try to sneak into the Mo Corporation’s banquet. Truly shameless.”

Before Pei Susu could reply, Song Ruchen’s assistant had already stepped forward, her displeasure evident.

“How could Miss Pei not have an invitation? I personally watched her put it in her bag this morning. As for who has ulterior motives here, I think that remains to be seen.”

The assistant’s aura was commanding, instantly silencing those around her.

Pei Susu maintained her composure. “Perhaps the invitation was misplaced, but I just saw President Mo downstairs. Could you notify him for me?”

“She doesn’t look like the type who would try to sneak in without an invitation. There must be some misunderstanding.”

“Yes, look at her dress. It’s clearly expensive, and custom-made, too. I know the atelier—it’s notoriously hard to book, certainly not a rental.”

“That’s right…”

Pei Susu hadn’t realized her dress carried such prestige, but it made sense—anything Fu Zhichen chose would not come cheap.

To think that Pei Susu, the one without the invitation, was now garnering more and more support. Chu Qingzhu’s eyes blazed with anger. She snapped, “Even if it’s a misunderstanding, so what? No invitation means you can’t enter! Do you really expect President Mo to make an exception just for you?”

“These are the rules of the banquet. Do you expect them to break them just for you?”

Chu Qingzhu’s words seemed somewhat reasonable, and the murmurs around her died down.

Seeing the crowd slowly siding with her, Chu Qingzhu lifted her chin in smug satisfaction.

“Pei Susu, if I were you, I’d have no face left to stay here!”

The doorman looked uncomfortable. “Miss, if you’ve misplaced your invitation, please try to find it… I’m just a doorman—I don’t have the authority to make exceptions.”

Pei Susu was almost certain the invitation was now in either Chu Qingzhu’s or Luo Yuan’s hands. When her bag fell earlier, they must have done something.

Catching Pei Susu’s gaze, Chu Qingzhu raised her brows, a hint of triumph in her eyes.

“What are you looking at? Do you expect me to conjure up an invitation for you?”

Pei Susu lowered her eyes. Even if the invitation had just been taken by them, it would already be destroyed—she would never be given the chance to find evidence. But to stand here waiting at the entrance would be playing right into Chu Qingzhu’s hands.

Suddenly, Pei Susu felt a hand wrap around her waist. The familiar scent overwhelmed her senses. She turned her head and, as expected, saw the man she had imagined.

“The invitation,” Fu Zhichen said, handing an invitation to the doorman. “She’s my date. May we enter now?”

The man’s presence was impossible to ignore. His face, seen countless times in financial news, left those nearby silent.

“How did you get here so quickly?” Pei Susu was surprised, her eyes shining.

She had thought Fu Zhichen wouldn’t arrive for at least another hour. Yet he appeared after only ten minutes.

“If I hadn’t come, how would I have known someone was trying to bully my sister?” he replied lightly, casting a casual glance at Chu Qingzhu, making her shudder.

After verifying the invitation, the doorman let out a sigh of relief. “Each invitation admits one guest. Of course, you both may enter.”

Chu Qingzhu’s face darkened. The moment Fu Zhichen appeared, she knew her plan had failed.

Pei Susu and Fu Zhichen entered the banquet hall, never sparing Chu Qingzhu a glance. Furious and helpless, Chu Qingzhu stomped her foot.

“How did Fu Zhichen arrive so quickly? Didn’t he have company matters to handle?” she demanded, her face full of blame for Luo Yuan.

Luo Yuan folded her arms. “How was I supposed to know Fu Zhichen would leave his assistant with Pei Susu? The assistant must have tipped him off.”

Chu Qingzhu’s resentful gaze followed Pei Susu’s back, watching her walk arm in arm with the dignified man at her side. They looked like a perfect match from afar, and jealousy burned in her heart.

“I absolutely cannot let her get her way so easily!”

“Enough. Control your temper,” Luo Yuan retorted, growing annoyed herself. With so many people at the banquet, just who was Chu Qingzhu putting on this show for?

“In a while, the patron will arrive. At worst, I’ll put in a good word for you and badmouth Pei Susu a bit more.”

At this, Chu Qingzhu could only grit her teeth and let it go.

“Pei Susu must have used some trick to make Fu Zhichen support her like this,” Luo Yuan muttered. “But in this circle, it always comes down to connections and tactics. She can’t compare to me.”

—

Pei Susu, arm in arm with Fu Zhichen, smiled. “So, your assistant tipped you off and that’s why you came so quickly?”

Fu Zhichen’s expression cooled at her words.

“How could I let anyone bully my sister at the door? The company matters can be handled by others. You are always my top priority.”

Pei Susu was taken aback, surprise giving way to a smile that reached her eyes.

“Thank you, Zhichen.” She paused. “But next time, don’t abandon your work for me. Otherwise, people will say I’m a femme fatale.”

“They won’t,” Fu Zhichen said, meeting her gaze with solemn sincerity. “No one will speak ill of you.”

Pei Susu’s heart fluttered faintly. Suddenly, a voice sounded nearby.

“President Fu of the Fu Group, is that you? Long time no see.”

The man seemed delighted. Fu Zhichen composed himself and began to converse with him.

The banquet was filled with people from this exclusive circle. Pei Susu nodded to Fu Zhichen and turned to mingle as well.

This was a great opportunity. Making new connections would only bring her more possibilities, and infinite opportunities.

Not far away, President Lin of the Lin Group sat on a sofa, with Luo Yuan standing behind him.

“So this is the Pei Susu you once mentioned?”