Chapter 369: Chapter 369 He Can’t Come Anymore

Standing at the door of the private room, Cheng Zhiwei already had nine roses in her hand.

The bright red roses were passionate and splendid under the light.

Someone took the initiative to open the door and pushed her inside.

The whole room was large, with people from the studio present as well as some former classmates.

Everyone looked at her with congratulatory eyes, and someone pulled her into the middle, right in front of the door.

It all happened so suddenly.

Cheng Zhiwei felt uncomfortable, but after a brief contemplation, she quietly accepted it.

That was He Ye, the senior who had helped her so very much.

She couldn’t let him be embarrassed.

The cake was wheeled in.

Cheng Zhiwei subconsciously gripped the roses tighter, and her palm suddenly hurt.

An uncleared thorn had pierced into her flesh.

Small dots of blood appeared on her palm.

Cheng Zhiwei looked down at them, somewhat dazed.

Just then, the door to the private room was pushed open, and the exquisite cake was wheeled in.

The white tulle held it up, a cake as starkly black and white as a musical note.

It was beautiful.

A mutual friend came up to Cheng Zhiwei and said with envious support, "Zhiwei, congratulations."

Cheng Zhiwei accepted it with a smile.

Her silence meant consent.

But even the liveliest scene could turn awkward when the main character was late.

After a round of drinks, He Ye was still absent.

The cake was pushed into a corner, out of the light, and it became dull and lusterless.

Cheng Zhiwei could feel the curious and concerned glances from everyone. She silently straightened her back and took out her phone to go outside.

She was, in fact, unhappy. This was He Ye’s show, and he hadn’t asked for her consent before doing all this, and now he had failed to show up.

Before making the call, however, Cheng Zhiwei still kept her cool.

If he had an emergency, she would understand.

But there were no calls, no messages.

She called several times, but no one answered.

Cheng Zhiwei rubbed her forehead, starting to worry. He Ye was not the type to break his word or be tardy. Could something have happened to him?

As she turned to go back inside, suddenly voices came from the room.

"He Ye isn’t here yet. He couldn’t be having second thoughts, could he?"

"It’s possible, after all, Cheng Zhiwei is divorced with a child. With He Ye’s conditions, how could he be into her? Maybe he was threatened."

"If it were me, for a woman like Cheng Zhiwei, I’d just have a bit of fun, no way would I take it seriously."

"Making such a scene, and in the end, only Cheng Zhiwei shows up. How embarrassing."

Cheng Zhiwei stood expressionlessly at the door. She wasn’t made of stone; these behind-the-back comments made her emotions fluctuate.

Moreover, He Ye was unreachable.

Taking a deep breath, Cheng Zhiwei walked back in.

She surveyed the room, meeting eyes filled with curiosity or malice, and said calmly, "He had something come up and couldn’t make it. Let’s all eat."

"A proposal is a big deal; he can’t just not show up. What’s going on?"

"Could he have changed his mind?" someone asked rudely.

Cheng Zhiwei looked over; the woman who spoke had also chimed in earlier.

She must be someone He Ye knew.

"He is dealing with some business, and when it’s settled, he’ll give everyone a proper explanation," Cheng Zhiwei explained calmly. "Please, eat everyone. You all must be hungry."

She could be angry, but showing anger in such a situation would only be fodder for gossip.

So she endured.

But some were eager to make a spectacle.

"If you ask me, He Ye definitely got cold feet. With how outstanding he is, how could he settle down so soon?"

"That’s right, I think so too. Otherwise, he would have shown up."

"What are you talking about?" Wen Yi was the first to jump out, staring angrily at those people. "Just because he couldn’t make it, you think he’s having second thoughts? Did you see something, or did he call you to tell you?"

The person was taken aback by her retort and looking at Wen Yi, a fresh-faced young girl, replied sarcastically, "What’s it to you?"

"What’s it to you?"

"So uncultured," the person cursed.

Wen Yi was about to respond when Cheng Zhiwei pulled her back, saying coldly, "Since He Ye invited you here, he must consider you a friend. To speak with such ridicule, it seems you don’t hold him in high regard either."

Caught off guard, the person fell silent in indignation.

Just as the room quieted down, the door was suddenly pushed open.

He Mingzhu, carrying a showy bouquet of roses, walked in flamboyantly.

Cheng Zhiwei’s expression changed slightly.

Some began murmuring, perhaps assuming He Mingzhu was standing in for He Ye.

After all, she was holding a bouquet of roses.

But Cheng Zhiwei knew that He Mingzhu’s presence boded ill.

Indeed, He Mingzhu handed the roses to Cheng Zhiwei, her meticulously made-up face revealing a shadow of smugness.

"Miss Cheng," she addressed her with strange politeness, "I’m sorry, but Xiao Ye couldn’t make it, so he asked me, his sister, to come instead."

Cheng Zhiwei set the roses aside and asked lightly, "Where is he?"

"He’s on a plane to H country," He Mingzhu sighed as though she had no choice, "He originally should have come to explain to you personally, but there’s an important meeting he has to attend, so he left directly."

"A meeting?" Cheng Zhiwei caught onto these words.

"Don’t you know, Miss Cheng? His studio has been incorporated into my company. He’s back home now."

The last few words were emphatic.

Cheng Zhiwei looked down, her emotions not as agitated as He Mingzhu had anticipated. Instead, she was extremely calm, "Is that so? I should congratulate him then. But I’d like to know, was this his own decision, or did you force him?"

She knew He Ye well enough; he had worked so hard to start his own business, how could he possibly return to the He Family Company.

It must have been a maneuver by He Mingzhu.

He Mingzhu curled the corner of her lips, "Cheng Zhiwei, do you know what sort of threshold the He family has? Do you really think we’d let someone like you in?"

Her contempt was explicit, "Let me put it straight. You weren’t good enough for him even before you were married, let alone now that you’re divorced with a child. If you’re looking for someone to take over, you should look for a common, honest man, not just anyone like He Ye."

Her words were self-righteous.

As if Cheng Zhiwei’s relationship with He Ye was truly all about finding a father for her child.

Those eyes already keen on spectacle now held a touch of mockery.

Wen Yi, furious, said, "He Mingzhu, are you sick? You can’t get married yourself, so you’re tearing them apart, did you run off with him because you’re sick in the head?"

He Mingzhu, being insulted, only smiled deeper, "Cheng Zhiwei, the girl by your side is the third Miss of the Wen family, and also the marriage candidate arranged by our families for Xiao Ye."

Wen Yi’s pretty face flushed with anger.

Stomping her foot, she lashed out, "He Mingzhu, who said I would have an arranged marriage with the He family? Did I agree to that? Have you no shame?"

He Mingzhu regarded Wen Yi as if she were a child throwing a tantrum, with a patronizing look, "Miss Wen, if that’s not the case, then why did you come to Yucheng?"

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read