Ji Yan noticed that something was off with Shang Xu’s mood tonight. For no apparent reason, he seemed much more irritable than usual. Though he had always remained calm and composed with He Chan, he had shown impatience several times tonight.
The atmosphere at the gathering grew increasingly awkward. He Chan’s eyes reddened, her grievance plain to see.
Was it because something had disrupted his first meeting with the Female Protagonist, Lin Ranran? Ji Yan could think of no other reason.
“Let’s call it a night. We’ll meet again next time.” He pulled Su Xiang to her feet. “Xiangxiang has a curfew, so I have to take her home.”
Everyone knew Ji Yan had merely found an excuse, but they all breathed a sigh of relief. Shang Xu’s unstable mood was frightening.
Su Xiang no longer knew how many times she had shyly frozen tonight after he pulled her to her feet by the hand. He had called her by her nickname with such intimacy and taken her hand so naturally—things he had never done before.
Ji Yan was not unaware of Su Xiang’s unease. He found it both amusing and heartbreaking.
Everyone in The Entertainment Industry knew how carefully He Chan treated Shang Xu, but few knew that the usually gentle and serene Su Xiang also suffered the pain of unrequited love.
The surprised, bashful girl stirred an inexplicable pang of heartache in Ji Yan.
Ji Yan did not know whether he would fall in love with Su Xiang. However, he would do his best to fulfill his responsibilities as her fiancé and husband, giving her respect, care, and the romance and tenderness she desired.
Shang Xu followed everyone out of the Private Dining Room in silence. His gaze wandered from side to side as though he were searching for something, and his expression grew more impatient when he found no target.
Ji Yan was certain of it: the plot was exerting its influence. Could it be that the female protagonist was about to appear?
Before he could settle his thoughts, an accident happened first. A panicked cry drew everyone’s attention.
A flustered young woman in a server’s uniform stared at them in dismay. She wore a standard white shirt and black suit pants, yet in the decadent, chaotic environment of a bar, they gave her an innocent, pure air. A soft glow seemed to surround her, inspiring anyone who saw her for the first time to pity her.
Beside her coworker’s altered ultra-short shirt, her beauty stood out even more, like a lotus emerging pristine from clear water.
Ji Yan’s deep eyes narrowed. This must be Lin Ranran, the Female Protagonist. The Plot’s power was formidable. He had deliberately avoided their first meeting, yet it had still occurred despite his efforts.
Lin Ranran apologized in a panic. She held out the handkerchief to wipe the wine stain from Shang Xu’s chest. “I’m sorry. I didn’t do it on purpose. I... I’m willing to pay for the damages.”
She pressed her lips together, her eyelashes trembling, looking as though she were about to cry.
“I’ll do it.” He Chan took the handkerchief from her. Shang Xu’s mood had been off from the start, and she feared he might lose his temper, so she waved for Manager Wang to take the woman away.
Manager Wang drew a deep breath. Young Master Ji had specifically instructed him to watch the Private Dining Room, but he had overlooked the possibility of trouble in the main hall. As expected, newcomers were unreliable. Several months might pass without a mishap, yet this had happened while The Four Young Masters were present.
Lin Ranran seemed not to notice Manager Wang glaring at her and signaling for her to leave. She hurried over to Shang Xu, twisting her clothes anxiously. “I’ll definitely compensate you. Although I can’t afford to buy the clothes you’re wearing, please leave me your contact information. I’ll do everything I can to repay you.”
“There’s no need.” He Chan refused on Shang Xu’s behalf. “Go back to work.”
Lin Ranran refused to leave. She stared at Shang Xu with stubborn resolve.
Ji Yan found her difficult to understand. Was she genuinely innocent and principled, determined to compensate him, or was she using this as an excuse to get close to him?
Anyone could see Shang Xu’s impatience and He Chan’s attempt to defend her, yet Lin Ranran had chosen the course of action an ordinary wage worker would avoid at all costs.
Even someone who knew nothing about fashion would know that a haute couture suit from a luxury brand cost at least tens of thousands. Shang Xu’s outfit was worth six figures. Her family was ordinary, and she was going through the hardest time in her life. Could she really repay hundreds of thousands merely by promising to do so?
Tsk. Interesting.
Lin Ranran held her small face firm. “No. It’s my responsibility, and I can’t run from it. Sir, please give me a chance to make amends, or I’ll feel guilty for the rest of my life.”
Before Shang Xu could speak, Ji Yan interrupted, “Then repay the money to Manager Wang. He’ll pass it along.”
Lin Ranran looked up in astonishment. She had not expected someone with such a gentle and refined appearance to say something so cold. For a moment, she forgot how to react.
But Ji Yan’s consciousness was strong enough for him to act independently, and he did not wait for her. “Let’s go.”
Manager Wang reacted swiftly this time, blocking Lin Ranran before she could follow them.
Shang Xu gave Lin Ranran a deep look with his icy eyes. He said nothing before turning and leaving.
“Are you stupid or what?” Her coworker scolded her in exasperation. “They already said you didn’t have to pay, yet you insisted on offering. Even if we worked for months, we might not be able to afford Shang Xu’s haute couture. Isn’t your mother in the hospital and in need of money? What were you thinking?”
Lin Ranran listened only to that part. “He’s Young Master Shang?”
“What? Were you trying to get close to him? Forget it. Everyone knows Young Master Shang is the hardest of The Four Young Masters to approach. He’s not someone we can dream of.”
Lin Ranran felt uncomfortable. “What are you talking about? I only wanted to know who he was so I could repay him.”
“And what difference does that make? Just repay Manager Wang. You’d better think about how you’re going to come up with the money.”
As soon as she heard this, Lin Ranran’s face went pale. She truly could not afford it, and her mother was still in the hospital waiting for money for her treatment.
If only she had known, she would not have offered to pay at once. Even haute couture could be cleaned, right? Could she get away with paying only the dry-cleaning fee?
She wanted to argue further, but the four men had already gotten into the luxury car, and Manager Wang was still glaring at her angrily.
“That girl just now...” Su Xiang frowned. She instinctively disliked the girl, but she did not want Ji Yan to think she was malicious or prone to dark suspicions, so she fell silent.
Ji Yan replied in a cold tone, “Anyone who takes the initiative to compensate such a large sum of money is either foolish or harboring ulterior motives.”
Su Xiang quietly let out a breath of relief. So he thought the same.
In their social circle, countless people seeking power and wealth schemed and searched for connections. Su Xiang had grown accustomed to it. Still, it was rare to see someone as beautiful as that girl.
It was not the kind of beauty defined by flawless, exquisitely refined features. On the contrary, the pores on her skin were somewhat large, and her hair was not smooth. The hardships of life had clearly left her no time for meticulous self-care. Yet the pure aura surrounding her was exceptionally captivating.
In a noisy environment like a bar, she was as refreshing as a clear spring.
Yet that purity seemed at odds with her deliberate attempt to strike up a conversation with Shang Xu. She was difficult to understand.
In any case, they probably would not meet again.
As she pondered this, Su Xiang realized that this was not the road to her home. She asked in surprise, “Where are we going?”
“On a date.”
In an instant, Su Xiang’s heart pounded like a drum.
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