Chapter 045: Defensive Strength

He didn't know why she was glaring at him, nor did he know why he was panicking.

Yet, seeing the girl's glare—so practiced and intimate—his heart was undoubtedly filled with joy.

It was truly a sweet torture.

Seeing Solas's nervous expression as he stared at her, the breath stuck in Seraphina Pierce's chest suddenly dissipated.

She mentally sighed; she really shouldn't have blamed these things on him. He knew nothing at all. He probably wasn't even aware that these two women before them had designs on him.

It wasn't that he wasn't smart enough to notice; he simply didn't care about them enough to pay attention.

See, that’s how well she understood him.

Looking at it this way, how did Solas ever take a liking to Gloria in her past life?

Look at him now; he clearly couldn't even be bothered to give her a spare glance.

Fine, she understood. This was another puzzle—one for which she had also forgotten the answer.

Seraphina didn't dwell on it further. Her gaze swept over Hu Lingling, and she looked toward Gloria with a smile: "Indeed, we meet again, Ms. Gloria."

"Ms. Gloria?" Hu Lingling sized up Gloria. "So it's the famous rising star, Ms. Gloria. If I remember correctly, Ms. Gloria shouldn't be a student of Seahaven First High. Were you also invited?"

Seraphina was one thing, but a mere Gloria? Did she think she was worthy of competing with her?

There was an inevitable hint of mockery in those words.

Hu Lingling had forgotten that she only managed to enter Seahaven First High today because of Lu Yun.

Gloria was neither stupid nor ignorant; how could she not hear the sarcasm in Hu Lingling's words? She was naturally angry, but she didn't show it.

She said quite graciously: "I'm afraid I've made a fool of myself. Indeed, I am not a student here. I simply heard it was the centenary celebration—a once-in-a-century event—and wanted to join the excitement, so I had a friend bring me along."

"But as for you, Miss, your face is quite unfamiliar. I don't believe I've seen you at any high-society banquets in the past. May I ask how I should address you?"

"Not seen at high-society banquets"—wasn't that a direct implication that she was a nobody who couldn't stand on a grand stage!

What a piece of work, this Gloria!

Hu Lingling's teeth itched with rage, but since Solas was here and Lu Yun had caught up, she couldn't expose her true nature before these two men. She had to force herself to swallow her anger.

"Perhaps our respective fields are different. I haven't seen Ms. Gloria at the banquets I've attended either. I only know Ms. Gloria from the television; I recall a family drama where Ms. Gloria played the role of a 'little' third-party who destroyed someone's family..."

At this point, she quickly covered her mouth and said hypocritically: "Look at me, what am I saying? That was just a character Ms. Gloria portrayed. The script was written that way, and Ms. Gloria was only responsible for acting it out. It's not as if Ms. Gloria is that kind of person in reality. I simply wanted to say Ms. Gloria's acting is very good; I didn't mean anything else. Please don't overthink it, Ms. Gloria."

"I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Hu Lingling. I attended Seahaven First High for my secondary education."

Gloria's expression changed slightly. Who cares what your name is?!

"Didn't mean anything else"? She clearly meant exactly that!

This Hu Lingling, what a piece of trash!

How dare she pick a fight with her!

"When an actor creates a character, it's meant to be critiqued. I was scolded quite a bit when that drama aired. Don't worry, Ms. Hu, I'm not that petty."

"That's good, that's good. I was worried Ms. Gloria might be angry over my slip of the tongue."

Gloria sneered: "How could I be!"

She looked toward Solas, her gaze shifting between Solas and Seraphina. Her hand gripping her bag couldn't help but tighten as she forced a smile: "Director Sterling."

Listening to Seraphina's words at the mall that day, she had still held onto a glimmer of hope, thinking Seraphina had just been speaking casually and didn't actually have feelings for Director Sterling—or even if she did, Director Sterling wouldn't have any good feelings for Seraphina.

Until she saw the two of them interacting so harmoniously at this moment; all her hope vanished.

After the argument between Hu Lingling and Gloria, and seeing Seraphina’s expression soften as if she wasn't angry, Solas finally breathed a sigh of relief and turned his attention to them.

Most importantly, since Seraphina wasn't angry, he finally had the leisure to notice others.

His sharp gaze fell on Gloria. He frowned slightly, as if it took him a moment to remember who she was, and gave a cold nod. "Mm."

"Solas, long time no see!" Hu Lingling chirped with joy.

Solas turned his gaze toward her, appearing as if he didn't recognize who she was at all.

Noticing this, Hu Lingling's smile froze on her face.

This almost made Seraphina laugh out loud.

She didn't even need to step in; Solas could handle this through his own sheer capability.

You're over here bubbling with enthusiasm, while the other person doesn't even remember who you are.

That feeling must be quite sour.

To avoid the embarrassment of Solas truly not recognizing her, Hu Lingling quickly piled on a smile to seize the initiative: "Solas, you surely don't remember me? We were in the same class in high school. I'm Hu Lingling, remember?"

Upon her mention, Solas finally had a vague impression.

It wasn't that he paid much attention to others in high school, but rather that his memory had always been excellent. Combined with Harvey Zale’s talkative gossiping, he knew there indeed had been someone named Hu Lingling in their class.

He gave a lukewarm nod: "Mm."

Seeing him nod and thus avoiding being snubbed, Hu Lingling breathed a sigh of relief. She asked with feigned delight: "Are you also here for the celebration by invitation? Why didn't I see you in the auditorium just now? Did you just arrive?"

How he arrived or whether he just arrived was none of her business.

Solas was growing impatient.

Normally, with his upbringing, he would have been polite. But now, he had finally managed to speak with the girl he had hidden in his heart for so many years, and even luckily made a date to eat with her. These people appearing one after another were delaying his private lunch with her.

However, his good manners prevented him from storming off immediately, though his tone was certainly not pleasant.

"I didn't just arrive. I'm just about to leave."

Having finished, he ignored them and smiled warmly at Seraphina: "Let's go."

Two completely different faces, before and after.

"Solas!"

It was Lu Yun.

"Who do you think you are, being so arrogant? Didn't you see Lingling talking to you? Storming off like that, have you considered her feelings?"

Hu Lingling wanted to stop him, but it was too late.

Seeing Solas stop and turn back, that excessively handsome face had already turned cold. His eyes narrowed, carrying a hint of sharpness within the arrogance.

Hu Lingling’s heart went cold.

This Lu Yun was more of a hindrance than a help!

Even if she was angry that Solas turned and left without giving her face, and Lu Yun was doing this to stand up for her, she still didn't approve.

Now, Solas would likely have no good impression of her at all!

All because of Lu Yun's "good deed"!

Seeing that Hu Lingling didn't appreciate his sentiment but instead glared at him fiercely, Lu Yun’s heart chilled, and he simultaneously made a certain resolution.

Indeed, one cannot indulge a woman too much!

It was because he had been too good to Hu Lingling before that she didn't take him seriously!

Once she was his, he would see if she could still only see Solas and not him!

Hu Lingling had no idea that her constant drama had just thrown away a sincere heart she could have owned.

Everyone present could clearly feel Solas’s displeasure.

As an artist under Solas’s company, Gloria knew exactly how terrifying Solas’s anger could be. She didn't dare breathe.

Solas rarely made things look too ugly in public. Most of the time, he was a gentleman with impeccable manners, a cultivation that radiated from his bones.

But if he truly got angry, the scene would be incredibly bloody.

This was why, despite him clearly having no family backing in others' eyes, so many people still feared him.

However, before Solas could speak, someone else beat him to it.

"President Lu's words are quite interesting. Ms. Hu came to greet Solas, and Solas responded properly. We simply happen to have matters to attend to and are leaving. How does that translate to Solas storming off without considering Ms. Hu's feelings? Could it be that President Lu is deaf and didn't hear Solas's responses to Ms. Hu's greeting?"

It was Seraphina.

Solas looked at her, his expression slightly stunned.