His sudden exclamation drew everyone’s attention to Shang Zhixing, all faces filled with curiosity. “Is that so?”
“Really or not?”
Xu Boyuan thought for a moment, growing even more certain. “I saw her! Black hair, fair skin, big eyes—she looked really well-behaved.”
Shang Zhixing held his wine glass with one hand, the dim lighting obscuring his expression. He lowered his head and took a sip, then let out a cold laugh. “Saw her in your dreams?”
Xu Boyuan let out an “hey” of protest. “I’m serious, I just saw her. What was her name… what was it…”
Shang Zhixing set down his glass. “If you’re drunk, shut up. Keep spouting nonsense and I’ll tell General Xu you snuck out to carouse.”
Xu Boyuan was shocked. “How old are we and you’re still tattling? I truly look down on you!”
The rest of the group burst into laughter.
“Xu the Second, look at your nerve—a grown man still afraid of his old man.”
“You’re not afraid? Then try being locked up, physically punished, and ganged up on?” Xu Boyuan glared at them, extremely indignant. “If you dare say you’re not afraid, I’ll kowtow to you twice!”
“Come off it, we don’t have a general for a father. Enjoy that blessing yourself.”
Xu Boyuan patted his chest. “What does that matter? You can have a general for a grandfather instead. Come on, call me ‘Dad’ and I’ll reluctantly help my old man adopt a few grandsons!”
“Get lost!”
“Someone call the team and have this guy locked back up!”
Listening to his childhood friends’ banter and laughter, Shang Zhixing sat for a while, then suddenly stood up.
“Zhixing, where are you going?” Qi Jiahui asked.
“The restroom.”
Shang Zhixing walked out of the private room and looked up, just catching sight of a slender figure in the corridor, having just emerged from the restroom.
“Sister.”
Suddenly, a foreign man in his early twenties walked toward her.
“Sister’s back! Everyone’s been waiting for you.”
The corridor lighting was bright, and seeing Pei Er’s cheeks flushed pink, Shelley reached out and grabbed her arm, steadying her.
“Is sister drunk?” He looked concerned.
“No.” Pei Er waved her hand in explanation. “That’s just how I get when I drink—my face turns red easily.”
Shelley said considerately, “Then sister can just pretend to be drunk when you go back inside. Drinking too much isn’t good for a girl’s health. If you lose later, it’s on me.”
Pei Er smiled, not standing on ceremony. “You said that, now.”
Shelley smiled sweetly, calling her “sister” with every breath, looking perfectly obedient. “Of course. Happy to serve sister.”
Shang Zhixing stood in place, watching her expression soften as she chatted and laughed with that young man, their arms brushing as they walked back into a private room.
Even after the figures disappeared, his gaze remained fixed on that door, his eyes cold and detached.
Three years—was that enough for a person to forget everything, even their preferences?
Fine, she left him. But now she’d turned around and fallen for some affected, pretentious little boy playing at being cute?
What trash taste. Her standards were getting worse and worse.
“Zhixing.”
Qi Jiahui pushed the door open and came out, finding Shang Zhixing still standing outside. He looked puzzled. “Why are you standing here? Weren’t you going to the restroom?”
Shang Zhixing’s expression didn’t change. “Just replied to a message.”
“Then let’s go, together.”
The two walked side by side when Qi Jiahui suddenly spoke up. “Zhixing, what Boyuan said earlier was true, wasn’t it?”
Shang Zhixing raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“About your little girlfriend.”
Shang Zhixing said casually, “What, have you all changed careers to gossip journalism? Which entertainment paper are you working for?”
Every single one of them was like a paparazzo, so invested in his romantic history—more caring than his own parents.
Qi Jiahui shrugged, grinning wickedly. “Just curious, that’s all. We know everything about each other’s business, but your affairs, Chairman Shang, are more classified than state secrets. You know, we even had a bet going about whether you’re gay—that’s why you don’t like women.”
His private life was too clean, with no woman by his side—it was hard not to invite speculation.
Shang Zhixing smiled without warmth. “Even if you’re my brothers, spread rumors about me and you’ll still get blacklisted.”
Qi Jiahui had loved music since childhood. Since his older siblings managed the family business, he focused on pursuing his own dreams and had gained considerable fame in the entertainment industry.
Qi Jiahui clicked his tongue. “Fine, I think you’re just sexually repressed. Honestly, you should see a doctor—after all, the Shang family still needs an heir.”
Shang Zhixing ignored his joke.
Whether he was capable or not, someone knew.
That heartless little liar—
Later in the evening, Zhou Ran started stuffing red bills into the waistbands of the male models. Seeing her spend lavishly, the models got hyped up, dancing with fiery passion until they’d stripped off all their shirts.
Bottles of wine costing tens of thousands were opened one after another, the models vying to please her, gyrating with all their effort.
Some massaged her shoulders, some fed her fruit, and there was even a hot dance show. Zhou Ran was having a grand time, but when she turned her head, she saw Pei Er already yawning uncontrollably.
She called the men to a stop and waved her hand. “That’s it for today.”
“Don’t go, sister!”
The models felt a pang of regret and quickly crowded around, some coaxing Zhou Ran to order more wine, some urging her to continue to the next venue, hoping to squeeze out a bit more money while they could.
“It’s still early—are you leaving already, sis?”
One of the male models grabbed Zhou Ran’s wrist, unwilling to let her go, or perhaps hoping she’d take him with her.
Zhou Ran was immediately displeased at being held back. She furrowed her brows and shot him a glare. “Scram. Don’t make me say it twice.”
When she went out to have fun, she hated these types most—people with no sense of boundaries or awareness.
Shelley stepped in to smooth things over, changing the subject. “You two drove here, right?”
He pulled out his phone and said with keen perceptiveness, “We have designated drivers here. I’ll call one over to wait downstairs right now.”
Zhou Ran glanced at him, her expression softening slightly.
“Ladies, make sure you have all your belongings—check that nothing’s left behind,” Shelley reminded them considerately.
As he helped Pei Er up, he discreetly slipped a business card into her bag and whispered, “This is my contact info. If you ever feel bored, sis, feel free to give me a call.”
Pei Er knew this was probably a tacit form of self-promotion, because she saw Zhou Ran get stuffed with quite a few cards as well.
Since he’d been accompanying them all night, Pei Er didn’t openly refuse. She walked out of the private room with Zhou Ran.
Shelley was very professional, insisting on seeing them down to the lobby.
The designated driver was already waiting on the first floor. Zhou Ran fished out her Ferrari key fob and said, “Er Er, let me take you home first.”
Pei Er glanced at her wristwatch—it was already half past twelve. “Zijinyuan is a bit far. Don’t go to the trouble—I’ll just take a cab back myself.”
“You sure?” Zhou Ran raised an eyebrow.
Pei Er found it a little amusing and shot back, “Do I look like I can’t take care of myself?”
Zhou Ran had drunk more than Pei Er and was already tipsy, unsteady on her feet. She didn’t bother bickering further.
“I’ll head off then. Call me when you get home.”
“Got it.”
Watching Zhou Ran leave, Pei Er stood in place and pulled out her phone to hail a ride.
Shelley watched the Ferrari fade into the distance, then turned his gaze to Pei Er. He’d heard of Zijinyuan—it was a famously upscale residential area in Jingshi.
If he could latch onto Pei Er, he was sure to get a lot of money. Most importantly, she was young and pretty—no matter how he looked at it, he wouldn’t lose out.
“Sis.” Shelley walked up to Pei Er and tested the waters. “Can you get a ride? If you’re too tired, you could just stay at a hotel nearby for the night.”
Pei Er glanced at him.
Shelley had brown hair, a high-bridged nose, and deep-set eyes. Though his features still carried a hint of youthful immaturity, he was a strapping young man standing at one meter eighty-six.
He smiled with an obedient air, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t dangerous.
“No need,” Pei Er said, catching the subtext even though she rarely set foot in nightclubs. “You go on back.”
With that, she turned and walked away.
“Sis!” Shelley grew anxious at the sight of her leaving. “Let me give you a ride.”
He had just taken a step after her when a black Bentley with its hazard lights flashing drove up and came to a slow stop, blocking Pei Er’s path.
Pei Er, her way obstructed, looked at the license plate—it seemed familiar.
—It was Shang Zhixing’s car.