C22 She Met Teacher Zhan

Xiong Miao felt uneasy under the scrutiny of those peculiar stares.

It was odd; she was so unremarkable. Why was everyone fixated on her?

Shouldn't their attention be on the esteemed Zhan Yeling?

"Yeling, you've finally arrived. We've all been waiting for you," Faang Qian greeted him, her tone shifting from impatience to one of dignified warmth as she offered a benevolent smile.

The moment Faang Qian noticed Xiong Miao at his side, a brief stiffness crossed her face, but she masked it expertly.

Faang Qian was Zhan Junyi's third wife and the current matriarch of the Zhan family.

Throughout his life, Zhan Junyi had been with three women and had fathered three sons.

His eldest son, Zhan Zifeng, was born to his first wife. After she passed away from illness, Zhan Junyi had a relationship with another woman, who was Zhan Yeling's mother. He never married her, and young Zhan Yeling often faced ridicule for being illegitimate.

Tragically, Zhan Yeling's mother later perished in a car accident.

Zhan Junyi then married his present wife, Faang Qian, with whom he had his youngest son, Renxun.

Faang Qian's ambition was to see her son, Zhan Renxun, rise to the helm of the Zhan family. However, Renxun was still too young, not yet a university graduate, and was known for his rebellious and irresponsible behavior.

This weighed heavily on Faang Qian's heart.

"Really? Isn't this banquet in honor of my elder brother?" Zhan Yeling asked, his lips curling into a slight sneer of contempt.

"Yeling, while this is indeed a reception for your brother, you are now the CEO of Ritch Group, and you manage a significant portion of the Zhan family's assets. Naturally, you play a crucial role in this event," Zhan Junyi said, his stern expression softening slightly.

He cast a cursory glance at the woman accompanying Zhan Yeling, showing little interest.

It's not uncommon for a man to have his youthful indiscretions. Zhan Yeling's dalliances with women were one thing, but ultimately, he was expected to marry Ling Xiaoxiao.

"Your elder brother is over there attending to the guests..." Faang Qian began, but her introduction was cut short as Zhan Zifeng approached with a glass of red wine in hand.

He was clad in a silver-grey suit, tall and broad-shouldered, with a refined and gentle demeanor, and a hint of a smile gracing the corner of his mouth.

Although he and Zhan Yeling shared the same father, they had different mothers. He bore a closer resemblance to his own mother and didn't look much like Zhan Yeling.

Zhan Zifeng approached Zhan Yeling, stopping just a step away. His gaze lingered on Xiong Miao, and he offered her a slight smile and a nod in greeting.

Xiong Miao was taken aback upon seeing him. She acknowledged his nod and hastily responded, "Zhan..." She was about to greet him as Teacher Zhan, but then it struck her that it might not be appropriate to address him as such in this setting. She corrected herself: "Hello, Young Master Zhan."

It's indeed a small world.

To think she would encounter her university mentor here.

During her time at the design academy in Paris, Zhan Zifeng was their design instructor. His handsome looks and elegant demeanor drew the adoration of many young women, who were smitten with him.

But Zhan Zifeng was the epitome of a gentleman. He treated his students with warmth and humility, yet he never entertained the romantic advances of any female student. He also refrained from engaging in any behavior that would cross the boundaries of a teacher-student relationship. He maintained a perfect balance.

Xiong Miao, being one of his students and already a mother, was not swayed by the charms of any handsome man – they were all fleeting in her eyes. Thus, she never harbored any inappropriate thoughts about Zhan Zifeng.

Her composure set her apart from the other infatuated girls, which naturally caught Zhan Zifeng's attention.

Zhan Zifeng found her to be unique and provided substantial assistance with her final design project.

For this, Xiong Miao was deeply grateful to him.