The massive dining room was silent, with everyone’s attention locked on Shi Jiufeng and Jin Cixu.
Only about ten seconds had passed since Ling Xiao spoke those words before Jin Cixu appeared. Claiming that he did not know who it was obviously could not be true.
Yet why would he ask Shi Jiufeng? Wasn’t he afraid that Shi Jiufeng would cover up for Ling Xiao?
Could it be that Jin Cixu did not know Shi Jiufeng and Ling Xiao were already married?
That was very likely; Jin Cixu had been abroad all this time and this was his very first time returning to the country, so it was completely normal for him not to recognize people.
Thoughts whirled through everyone’s minds before returning to the situation itself.
They also wanted to know whether, in front of a true big shot, Shi Jiufeng would choose to shield his husband or speak the truth.
Covering up for Ling Xiao might anger Jin Cixu. If they were driven out by Jin Cixu, probably not even Shen Biyun coming forward in person would secure any favors.
Considering family interests, not covering for him was the proper course of action. Yet could Shi Jiufeng really bear to push his husband out to take the brunt of Jin Cixu’s reprimands?
Even with their different inner thoughts, everyone had to control their expressions to maintain the poise of upper-class society.
Shi Jiufeng took a deep breath, nonchalantly pulling back to create some distance, lowering his gaze without uttering a word.
Looking at Shi Jiufeng, Ling Xiao looked grave on the surface, but deep down he felt very little anxiety. He knew what Shi Jiufeng would say, yet he still wanted to hear Shi Jiufeng say it himself.
During the past two years of conditioning, making Shi Jiufeng say what he wanted to hear was undoubtedly one of Ling Xiao’s favorite moments.
For Shi Jiufeng, this was not a very difficult choice to make.
The reason he delayed speaking was simply because he found Jin Cixu’s brows and eyes somewhat familiar.
This familiarity was very faint, and Shi Jiufeng had thought about it for a long time without remembering.
Perhaps it was because good-looking people under heaven more or less resembled one another. Jin Cixu had lived abroad before, whereas he was a native Beijinger born and raised, how could they possibly have met?
He must have been mistaken.
After a long while, he spoke: I don’t know.
A single thought flashed through everyone’s minds simultaneously: As expected, Shi Jiufeng really loved Ling Xiao.
The next second, they similarly and involuntarily anticipated Jin Cixu’s reaction.
The furious outburst from Jin Cixu that they imagined did not appear; the powerful and influential man merely smiled. So there really isn’t one. It seems I misheard then.
Jin Cixu’s attitude shifting so quickly made everyone feel strange. Could there be a hidden countermeasure?
Deep down, Ling Xiao inwardly cursed, wishing Shi Jiufeng would show some backbone, use the thing on his neck, and turn this crisis around.
Yet Shi Jiufeng remained expressionless, like a piece of wood. It irritated Ling Xiao just looking at him, making him want to leave right now.
Yet he did not dare to actually stand up and leave, afraid that this matter would be brought out into the open for discussion, and even more afraid of truly offending Jin Cixu.
Jin Cixu had already sat back down, and Shi Jiufeng breathed a sigh of relief, plotting to find an empty corner to hang out in later and leave immediately once the banquet ended, staying far away from this place of right and wrong.
Jin Cixu glanced at Shi Jiufeng’s plate, which held nothing except a little geoduck sauce, and the champagne in his glass had not moved a single drop.
Why aren’t you eating? Do these dishes not suit your palate?
At first, Shi Jiufeng did not realize he was being addressed. It was only after waiting for a long time without hearing anyone else speak that he raised his head again and saw the few people opposite him all looking at him, belatedly realizing that Jin Cixu was actually talking to him.
Shi Jiufeng looked at Jin Cixu, and seeing him staring fixedly without blinking, his heart tightened again.
This was already the second time today.
Could his heart have developed some problem due to long-term suppressed emotions?
Shi Jiufeng thought uncontrollably that going to the hospital was a very troublesome matter. If he collapsed as well, there truly would be no one left to support the Shi family.
Therefore, he could not go; he would just find a way to make himself happy from now on.
His wandering thoughts drifted far away, and Shi Jiufeng’s gaze turned vacant for a split second.
Jin Cixu was not in a hurry either, just looking at him like that while gently swirling the wineglass in his hand.
The faint aroma of red wine recalled Shi Jiufeng’s consciousness. Thinking he had only zoned out for a few seconds, he said indifferently, They’re all delicious; I’m just not hungry.
At a single glance, Jin Cixu saw that Shi Jiufeng was lying. He tilted his head back and drained the liquid in his glass completely, smiling. Since you aren’t hungry, keep me company and talk for a bit. It just so happens I’ll introduce you to some people.
With that, he pointed to the three people sitting opposite Shi Jiufeng and introduced them one by one.
Zhou Jingzhi, Wen Heyi, Yu Zhibai, they are all friends I met abroad. He paused and added, My best friends.
The three nodded in succession, flashing friendly smiles at him.
Although Shi Jiufeng did not understand Jin Cixu’s approach, he still greeted them with a smile.
Hello, I am Shi Jiufeng. He paused for a moment, then added softly in accordance with Shen Biyun’s request, My husband is Ling Xiao.
Yu Zhibai cast a teasing look at Jin Cixu and asked Shi Jiufeng, Ling Xiao, is that the one who just said he wanted to switch seats?
Before Shi Jiufeng could speak, Jin Cixu said, No one is switching seats; I misheard.
Wen Heyi let out a scoff, pushing the plate of yellowfin croaker in front of him toward Yu Zhibai. Why did you have to go provoke him? Can’t food even keep your mouth shut?
Yu Zhibai resentfully ate the tender fish meat, drawing non-malicious chuckles from the rest of them.
Shi Jiufeng looked at this scene in wonder, feeling as though he were watching some movie written about friendship.
Once upon a time, he had thought that friendship circles built around wealthy young masters as their core were all like Ling Xiao and his friends.
Indulging in luxury, racing sports cars and yachts, extreme sports, they used every means imaginable to ordinary people, enjoying the world in a way filled with violence and passion, never considering anything past a month away.
Anyway, their cards would never run out of money, and the world wasn’t going to end.
After the meal, according to the schedule on the invitation cards, everyone was supposed to head to the second floor to participate in recreational activities. Drinking, dancing, playing cards, and board games were all available.
Jin Cixu invited Shi Jiufeng to play cards together, but Shi Jiufeng used going to the restroom as an excuse and headed straight for the third-floor lounge.
He had been forced to speak with Jin Cixu far too much tonight; if word reached Shen Biyun, there was no telling what it would turn into, so it was better to steer clear.
Shi Jiufeng hid in the lounge’s restroom, staying for a full twenty minutes before washing his hands and coming out.
He cracked the door of the lounge open an inch, and seeing no one around while downstairs was boisterous and quite lively, he curved his lips in satisfaction.
That’s wonderful!
Ling Xiao was probably drinking and playing games with his friends. From here on out until the end of the banquet, it would be his exclusive period of solitude!
This hard-earned freedom made Shi Jiufeng feel joy from the bottom of his heart. He hurriedly closed the door and, seeing quite a few bottles of wine arranged on a nearby wine cabinet with all the glasses clean and neat, felt a stirring of interest.
Casually, Shi Jiufeng picked up a bottle that had already been opened and poured himself a little bit.
Although the items in the lounge could be taken freely, his alcohol tolerance was poor, and he hadn’t eaten anything today either. Drinking too much would make his stomach uncomfortable, so sipping just a little bit would be enough.
The balcony of this room faced the mountain woods, with occasional dots of starlight twinkling in the ink-black night sky.
Shi Jiufeng sat in a rattan chair, tilting his head back to gaze at the sky.
Which star might be Mom?
Seeing him like this now, would Mom be happy that he protected this family?
Shi Jiufeng could not think of an answer. He took a light sip of the crimson liquid, the initial sour tartness not yet noticed before it was replaced by a lingering alcoholic sweetness; his tongue could only sense sweetness, with no real feeling of drinking alcohol.
He took another sip, unsatisfied.
He drank a large gulp this time, and well over half of the liquid in the glass was gone.
Shi Jiufeng licked his lips, his dull eyes gradually growing moist. He turned his head back to look.
Anyway, this wine was meant for guests to drink. If he drank a little more, it wouldn’t be too much, right?
The Jin family was wealthy and powerful; it was just a bottle of wine, surely they wouldn’t be stingy about it, right?
Amidst his hesitation, the alcohol flowed through his thin frame along with his blood, and his fair, luminous skin became stained with an intoxicating flush.
He stood up, walked to the wine cabinet by the door, and poured a full half-glass in one breath.
Alright, that was it, enough, he couldn’t drink any more.
Yet this wine tasted sweet, like a beverage, and was really quite delicious.
Furthermore, he didn’t feel dizzy at all right now, which proved he wasn’t drunk in the least and also showed that this bottle of wine had a low alcohol percentage.
Therefore, he could drink a little more.
Realizing he was making excuses for himself, Shi Jiufeng smiled embarrassedly, his hands acting quite honestly as he poured himself a bit more.
Clutching the large half-glass of wine in his hand, Shi Jiufeng returned to the balcony, casually loosening his tie and unbuttoning the very top button, leaning his entire body back against the stiff chair back.
Thinking about it carefully, the cold chill he had worried about last night did not appear at all; the night breeze blowing past was quite cool and pleasant, comfortable enough to make his eyelids feel heavy.
Shi Jiufeng raised his wineglass and gulped down another half of it.
Looking at his wineglass, he sincerely praised that this wine truly was a good thing.
After drinking it, his heart felt completely unburdened. As he had said, he didn’t need to go to the hospital at all; whenever he felt unhappy from now on, drinking a little wine would fix it.
The sound of a door being pushed open came from behind him. Shi Jiufeng turned his head in surprise to see a tall, straight-backed man standing by the door with his back to him, answering a phone call.
The man’s voice was pitched very low, so Shi Jiufeng could not hear what he was saying. Fearing that speaking up rashly would disturb the other person’s important business, he could only gently put down his wineglass.
Quickly, Shi Jiufeng buttoned his collar back up and retied his tie.
Although his attire remained as dignified as before, with his wine-steeped eyes and flushed cheeks, his solemn suit took on an entirely different connotation.
Shi Jiufeng waited quietly. The man hung up the phone in less than a minute, turned around casually, and the moment he caught sight of the person on the balcony, a hint of a smile bloomed in his long, narrow eyes.
I’ve been looking for you everywhere. So you were up here.
Shi Jiufeng squinted his eyes, staring for a long time before confirming that the person before him was Jin Cixu.
Puzzled, Shi Jiufeng asked, Why did you… let your hair down?
Taking a single glance at the wineglass beside him, Jin Cixu walked over to pour himself a glass as well, saying as he stepped onto the balcony, I didn’t really like that hairstyle. This is much more comfortable.
Nodding in agreement, Shi Jiufeng said, You look… better-looking like this.
Placing his wineglass right next to Shi Jiufeng’s, Jin Cixu looked into his alcohol-tinted eyes and smiled. Do you think I’m good-looking?
Shi Jiufeng nodded. Mn, good-looking.
Jin Cixu muttered under his breath, So he really did think the hairstyle was ugly…
Tsk, how on earth did Yu Zhibai guess his wife’s thoughts?
Not hearing clearly, Shi Jiufeng couldn’t help leaning forward a step. What did you say? Can you… say it again? Just now, I didn’t hear clearly.
Changing his words, Jin Cixu said, I said you look even better.
This balcony was not particularly large, and fearing that Shi Jiufeng might trip, Jin Cixu firmly supported his wrist. Jin Cixu’s hand remained well-behaved, separated from Shi Jiufeng’s skin by a layer of shirt fabric.
A nearly imperceptible frown creased Jin Cixu’s brows, damned shirt.
Shi Jiufeng had not expected Jin Cixu to say such a thing; even if it were flattery or politeness, he wasn’t very accustomed to it. Lowering his head, he said earnestly, I’m not good-looking.
Crash, !
The balcony door downstairs was pushed open forcefully, slamming heavily against the wall.
Startled by the sudden commotion, Shi Jiufeng instinctively took a step back. Jin Cixu, gripping his wrist, followed him forward, smoothly pinning Shi Jiufeng against the side wall.
Ling Xiao’s furious voice traveled up from downstairs.
You’re saying Jin Cixu asked Shi Jiufeng to play cards with him?!
Looking at him strangely, Xu Kaize asked, Are you jealous or something?
Ling Xiao’s face alternated between blue and red. I’m not jealous as shit; I’m just curious how he and Jin Cixu hooked up.
Jin Cixu probably just mentioned it offhand. After all, they sat together during dinner, and I saw them exchange a few words, Lu Jingsi paused, then continued, Even if he really invited him, given Shi Jiufeng’s personality, he wouldn’t go.
Fu Linchuan agreed, Exactly, how could Shi Jiufeng possibly be entangled with outsiders?
Mentioning this, Ling Xiao grew smug again. Hmph, he wouldn’t dare.
Their conversation was transmitted upstairs without missing a word, bringing a bitter smile to Shi Jiufeng’s face as the corners of his eyes abruptly reddened. Just as he was about to push Jin Cixu away, he suddenly felt a leg forcefully wedge itself between his two thighs.
His thin jaw was gently pinched upward, and Shi Jiufeng’s eyelashes fluttered as he looked at the man before him.
A deep, dark flash crossed Jin Cixu’s eyes. Wearing an innocent expression, his thumb continually stroked Shi Jiufeng’s delicate skin.
Mr. Shi, your husband treats you very poorly.
Murmuring as he lowered his head to draw closer, Jin Cixu exhaled warm breaths entirely onto Shi Jiufeng’s ear, sending a wave of shivers through him.
Pushing against Jin Cixu’s shoulders, Shi Jiufeng subconsciously lowered his voice as well. Don’t… don’t be like this…
Jin Cixu: Not feel sorry for you? Sorry, I can’t do that.
Shi Jiufeng felt himself getting drunk, feeling dizzy and hazy. This man he was meeting for the very first time was saying he felt sorry for him?
Jin Cixu: Give me a chance. Let me be your mistress.
Before the previous sentence could be fully comprehended by Shi Jiufeng, the next sentence chased right after it like a ghost.
Jin Cixu: I promise I’ll be very obedient and won’t get caught by your husband.
Shi Jiufeng looked at Jin Cixu in shock.
What on earth was this person saying?!