145: Chapter 146 A Battle of Beauty

"Certainly," Jiang Jing agreed readily. "Send me the time and location, and I will definitely be there on time."

"That's great!" Leng Ba's voice was noticeably excited. "Then... seven o'clock tonight, at XXXX Restaurant. I'll have my assistant come pick you up!"

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Jing looked up and met two pairs of eyes staring straight at him—

Li Xue narrowed her eyes. "Leng Ba? A gathering of your girl squad?"

Li Ruonan opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to say something, but ultimately lowered her head and continued to play the ostrich.

Jiang Jing shrugged and said calmly, "Yeah, discussing an endorsement deal, and meeting a few of her friends while I'm at it."

Li Xue snorted coldly. "Friends? Da Mimi, Nazha... they're all big beauties…"

Jiang Jing remained composed. "Just a business engagement."

Li Xue turned to look at Li Ruonan. "Ruonan! Say something!"

Li Ruonan shrank her neck and muttered softly, "I… what can I say…"

Li Xue stomped her feet in anger. "Li Ruonan! Can you have some backbone? Passing out last night was one thing, but now your love rivals are ganging up on you, and you're still playing the ostrich?!"

Li Ruonan looked up at her, looking aggrieved. "Then… what can I do? Rush over and beat up all those actresses?"

Li Xue: "……"

Jiang Jing couldn't help but laugh, walking over to ruffle both their hair. "Alright, it's just a normal dinner."

Li Ruonan lifted her head from the pillow and added gloomily, "Your mouth is practically reaching your ears."

Jiang Jing coughed lightly, composed his expression, and put an arm around each of them. "Don't overthink it, it's really just business."

Li Xue rolled her eyes. "Business? With a group of actresses?"

"Xingchen Technology's beauty serum needs more spokespeople." Jiang Jing spouted nonsense with a straight face. "Besides…"

He suddenly leaned close to Li Ruonan's ear and whispered, "It'll give you time to adapt so you don't pass out again next time."

Li Ruonan instantly flushed from her neck to her ears, grabbed a pillow, and smacked it into his face. "Jiang Jing! You—"

Jiang Jing laughed and dodged, taking the opportunity to cop a feel, which earned him some coquettish rebukes from the two women.

"Alright, I have to go prepare for my schedule." He stood up and stretched. "You two…"

He gave Li Ruonan a meaningful look. "Make sure to 'break each other in' well."

The two were speechless, looking at each other.

Li Ruonan secretly glanced at Jiang Jing, wanting to make some promise, but ultimately buried her face back in the pillow.

Li Xue looked at the playing-dead Li Ruonan and sighed deeply. "It's over. Our 'alliance' hasn't even officially formed yet, and it's about to be wiped out by a team of actresses…"

Jiang Jing kissed both of them, shared a moment of intimacy, and prepared to leave. After all, it would take some time to get to Hengdian.

Leng Ba's apartment.

As soon as the phone hung up, a cheer erupted in the living room.

"It worked!" Nazha hugged Leng Ba excitedly. "Leng Ba, you're amazing!"

Da Mimi stood up and stretched. "Alright, since we're meeting President Jiang, we need to prepare properly."

Li Xibing immediately jumped up. "I'm going to change!"

Zhu Xudan rummaged through her makeup bag. "I need to touch up my makeup."

Nazha had already started digging through Leng Ba's closet. "Leng Ba, where's that black lace dress of yours? Let me borrow it!"

Leng Ba panicked. "That's what I saved for important occasions!"

Tong Liya calmly took out her phone. "I'll have my assistant send over a few new outfits."

Da Mimi was fixing her hair in the mirror, her red lips curving slightly. "Leng Ba, let big sister teach you a trick—men love that push-and-pull feeling. The more composed you are, the more curious he'll be."

Leng Ba muttered softly. "I didn't think that much…"

Nazha leaned in, grinning. "Then why are you blushing?"

Leng Ba: "……It's boiling! I'm going to turn on the AC!"

Watching Leng Ba flee in a panic, the women shared a smile.

Nazha lowered her voice. "Tell me, what type do you think President Jiang actually likes?"

Zhu Xudan shrugged. "Who knows? Either way, we all have different styles, so there's bound to be one that suits him."

Li Xibing raised an eyebrow. "Are you planning to gang up on him?"

Da Mimi chuckled. "May the best woman win. Don't tell me you don't want it. Anyway… I'm determined to get that supply of beauty serum."

Nazha blinked. "But what if President Jiang takes a liking to Leng Ba?"

Da Mimi calmly applied lipstick. "Then that depends on whether Leng Ba can step up to the plate."

In the bathroom, Leng Ba splashed cold water on her burning cheeks. Looking at herself in the mirror, she muttered, "Jiang Jing… he probably won't like this kind of situation, right?"

But when she thought about six top beauties appearing in front of him all at once, Leng Ba suddenly felt a bit of anticipation for his reaction.

By the time Leng Ba came out, her apartment had practically become the backstage of a top-tier fashion show.

In the walk-in closet, all sorts of haute couture gowns and sexy dresses covered the sofa, while several assistants scrambled to iron the last few new arrivals.

"Sister Mi! You wear this! You'll absolutely kill it!" Nazha held up a deep V-neck dark red velvet gown and gestured in front of Da Mimi.

Da Mimi took the dress and held it against herself in the mirror, her red lips curving into a confident arc. "Not bad, it shows off my figure well."

As soon as she took off her coat, her proud curves, clad only in black lace lingerie, immediately drew a round of catcalls.

"Whoa—" Zhu Xudan covered her eyes dramatically. "Sister Mi, that's foul play! President Jiang might get a nosebleed when he sees this later!"

"Get lost!" Da Mimi laughed and scolded, throwing a pillow at her, but she deliberately puffed out her chest. "This is what I call natural beauty that can't be hidden~"

On the other side, Li Xibing was trying on a high-slit silver sequined dress in front of a full-length mirror, her long, beautiful legs partially visible.

"Bingbing, these legs of yours…" Tong Liya couldn't help but reach out and touch them. "Amazing! So long and straight, and so fair!"

"Don't touch! It tickles!" Li Xibing laughed and dodged, but stumbled and nearly fell, only to be caught by Nazha.

Nazha took the opportunity to pinch her waist. "Oh my, look at this tiny waist~"

"Ah! Nazha, you—" Li Xibing flushed and fought back, and the two immediately broke into a scuffle.

Leng Ba sat in front of the vanity, drawing a delicate eyeliner.

She watched her rowdy friends in the mirror and sighed helplessly. "Can you all tone it down… today is about business…"

"We know, we know~" Da Mimi responded nonchalantly, but she picked up a bottle of perfume and sprayed it twice on her collarbone and wrists, and a rich rose scent immediately filled the air.

Zhu Xudan leaned in to sniff and smirked. "Sister Mi, you're very well-prepared for this 'business'~"

Da Mimi rolled her eyes at her. "What do you know? This is business etiquette."

The women burst into laughter.

Leng Ba applied the final layer of lip glaze, the crystalline pink making her lips look as tempting as jelly.

Leng Ba stood up and did a spin.

Her outfit was a light blue strapless short dress, pure yet with a hint of sexiness; it wasn't too much, but it perfectly showcased her graceful shoulder and neck lines.

"Leng Ba~" Li Xibing suddenly hugged her from behind, resting her chin on her shoulder. "You smell so good today~"

"Don't, stop it…" Leng Ba's ears burned. She tried to break free but was tickled in the waist by Li Xibing, causing her to collapse into her arms, laughing.

The whole apartment was filled with beautiful women and constant laughter; it was a pity no one was there to appreciate the sultry scene.