The music in the private room wasn’t exactly loud, but it couldn’t be called quiet either.
Qiao Ling didn’t hear Yu Wanli’s words, or rather, Xu Xing’s voice drowned out Yu Wanli’s.
“Sister, haven’t you been resting well lately? I feel like you look a bit tired.” Xu Xing raised his right hand from the inner side, gently brushing away the strands of hair that had fallen onto the sofa. From start to finish, his moist, worried eyes never left her coldly beautiful face for even a moment.
The clean, refreshing scent of the young man filled her senses, and the warm breath brushed against her cheek. Qiao Ling leaned back, putting some distance between them, and spoke calmly, “I stayed up late last night. Sit properly.”
“Oh, okay.” Xu Xing obediently withdrew the hand he had propped against the backrest. He had intended to sit back down, but unexpectedly, his foot slipped, and he stumbled toward Qiao Ling.
Just as he was about to fall onto her, Qiao Ling leisurely reached out and pressed a hand against his shoulder, her tone tinged with slight helplessness. “What’s going on with you today?”
As she finished speaking, Qiao Ling suddenly sensed a gloomy, chilling gaze fixed heavily upon her. She was about to follow the feeling and look toward the source of that gaze.
At the same time, Xu Xing, who had also noticed the gaze, paused slightly. He turned to look and met the young man’s icy, unsettling eyes. He froze for a moment before feeling himself being pushed aside.
Yu Wanli had shoved him away.
“Sorry.” Unable to hold back any longer, Yu Wanli apologized to him, then leaned close to Qiao Ling’s ear and repeated word by word, “Lingling! I said Brother Jinyue is here!”
Qiao Ling showed little reaction, simply uttering an “Oh” as she thought to herself, no wonder that gaze felt so familiar.
“Wait, darling, what was going on between you and Xu Xing just now?” Yu Wanli glanced sideways toward the back, and even from a distance, she could feel someone’s gloomy, intense stare.
She wondered if she should feel sorry for the little puppy in advance…
Qiao Ling reached up and tucked the strands of hair hanging by Yu Wanli’s face behind her ear, smiling faintly. “A small accident.”
…
Yu Wanli looked at her with an extremely complicated expression for two seconds, then patted her shoulder, almost as if to say, “You’ve got guts!”
Nearby.
Xu Xing steadied himself and looked again toward the source of that gaze, but now there was someone standing in front of the young man, blocking his view.
Recalling the brief glance earlier, he lowered his eyelids, a barely noticeable sneer curling at the corner of his lips.
So, the news about Young Master Zhou’s return was true…
Hiding the darkness in his eyes, Xu Xing lifted his gaze, his dark pupils still clear and innocent. “Sister, what were you two talking about?” He gently tugged at the hem of Qiao Ling’s clothes and asked curiously, “Were you discussing Brother Nian’s birthday party tonight?”
Qiao Ling turned her head to look at him. “No, go play with your friends.”
“Okay.” The sparkle in Xu Xing’s dark eyes dimmed slightly. Though reluctant, he obediently left the corner.
Meanwhile.
Yu Wanli had taken the seat Xu Xing had just vacated. Looking at the composed girl beside her, she rubbed her chin thoughtfully, feeling somewhat puzzled.
Between Brother Jinyue and Lingling… they should like each other, right?
Thinking of the surveillance footage she had and the words she’d overheard outside the pavilion, Yu Wanli felt a momentary doubt about her earlier certainty. Could it be that Lingling didn’t feel that way about Brother Jinyue?The moment this thought surfaced, Yu Wanli immediately dismissed it.
After all, their bond of over twenty years wasn’t just for show. Even though there were times she couldn’t quite read Qiao Ling, their understanding of each other was at least ninety percent, if not a hundred.
Tsk, she really couldn’t figure it out now.
Yu Wanli simply lit a cigarette, squinted her eyes, and sent a WeChat message to Chi Nian.
Fish: 【Wanna bet? A bottle of Romanée-Conti?】
Chi: 【Bet on what?】
Fish: 【Bet on whether Brother Jinyue will lay hands on the little pup tonight.】
Chi: 【He will!】
Fish: 【He won’t!】
With the bet settled, the two exchanged a glance before turning their attention to Zhou Jinyue, who was walking toward them.
Xie Songting took in their subtle exchange, glanced at Qiao Ling beside him, and smiled meaningfully.
Zhou Jinyue’s arrival reignited the lively atmosphere in the private room.
Everyone gathered today were wealthy heirs of Shengjing, half of whom were young ladies from prominent families. While the female companions brought by the young masters might not know who Zhou Jinyue was, these ladies certainly did!
The sole heir of the Zhou Financial Group, his grandfather was the commander of the three central cities in Dongguo, his grandmother’s identity remained a mystery—publicly known only as the stepdaughter of the French royal family. His father was not only the current head of the Zhou Family but also the chairman of the Donglin Chamber of Commerce.
The Zhou Family possessed both immense wealth and power, unrivaled across all of Dongguo.
Zhou Jinyue was the undisputed Young Master! Beyond his awe-inspiring background, he himself was exceptionally outstanding to the point of driving people wild.
Graduating from university at eleven, he disappeared from the public eye for five years before suddenly emerging in the venture capital industry. Within just two years, he made a name for himself in venture capital, even earning the title of “Midas Touch.” Later, Young Master Zhou grew bored and vanished once again.
Since then, he had never reappeared in the public eye.
But leaving aside everything else, just Young Master Zhou’s devilishly handsome face alone was enough to leave everyone longing. It was no exaggeration to say that every woman in Dongguo who knew of Young Master Zhou paid attention to him!
Even though they knew Young Master Zhou was unconventional and that his tenderness was reserved solely for the eldest daughter of the Qiao Family, they still shamelessly clung to him.
The music in the private room was deliberately turned down slightly.
Zhou Jinyue walked toward the corner, the hazy light casting shadows on his flawlessly exquisite face, adding a touch of wicked charm that was irresistibly captivating.
“Young Master Jin.”
Shy voices rose and fell among the women, but Zhou Jinyue paid no heed, his expression cold as he strode directly toward the corner. The oppressive, bone-chilling aura around him, reminiscent of an emperor, made others retreat.
In the corner.
Qiao Ling rested her long, porcelain-white legs on the table, biting the cigarette Yu Wanli held to her lips. She reached for the lighter, her slender fingers flipping open the lid, her pink fingertips brushing against the gear as a faint blue flame flickered to life.
Lighting the cigarette with practiced ease, she exhaled a wisp of smoke and glanced indifferently at Zhou Jinyue, who was about to reach her. Tilting her head, she asked Xie Songting, “Brother Ting, is your phone charged? I want to play a game.”
“It is.” Xie Songting handed her his phone, then lifted his gaze to the cold, imposing figure before him. His sharp brow arched slightly as he teased, “What’s wrong, Young Master Jin? You look so grim. Who upset you?”
Zhou Jinyue lowered his long lashes, his dark eyes fixed on the girl’s beautiful face illuminated by the screen’s glow. His tone was indifferent as he asked, “Is this spot comfortable to sit in?”The words were directed at Xie Songting, and he naturally understood, grasping the deeper meaning behind them.
However, he still nodded and said, “Quite comfortable.”
Only then did Zhou Jinyue shift his gaze toward him, his dark eyes filled with intense shadows, like a storm brewing with the power to destroy everything. Xie Songting showed no fear, a faint smile gracing his handsome and refined face as he calmly met his gaze.
Yu Wanli rubbed her forehead, stood up, and was about to offer her seat to Zhou Jinyue, but before she could speak, her wrist was suddenly grabbed.
“Sit here,” Qiao Ling said, lifting her head slightly, her tone indifferent.
Then, she turned her gaze to the young man before her and sneered, “Brother Jinyue, why don’t you go sit with Third Brother?”
Upon hearing this.
Zhou Jinyue narrowed his eyes, watching her intently for a few seconds with a deep, unreadable expression, then wordlessly took a seat beside Chi Nian.
Yu Wanli, “…”
Chi Nian, “…”
It’s truly a case of gods fighting while mortals suffer!
Fortunately, Yu Huairan arrived just in time, sparing Chi Nian from freezing to death.
Chi Nian didn’t want to stay in that awful spot for another second. Before Yu Huairan could even sit down, he rushed to the center of the large screen, grabbed the microphone, and delivered a heartfelt speech.
“Everyone, first of all, thank you for coming to my birthday party. Secondly, tonight, let loose and have fun—no holding back! Dance and jump as much as you want!”
“Drink whatever you like! I’m covering all expenses tonight!”
As soon as his words fell, someone in the private room whistled and shouted with a playful laugh, “Chi, you’re the man!”
Energetic, rhythmic music instantly filled the entire room. The large screen on the wall played a sexy and fiery dance, and the men and women in the private room no longer held back, gathering in front of the screen to dance freely.
Chi Nian squeezed his way out of the crowd, holding a glass of wine as he made his way to the corner.
“Hey, everyone, how about a toast together?”
Qiao Ling returned the phone to Xie Songting, picked up her glass along with the others, and downed the wine in one go.
“Come on, let’s play a game. Just drinking is boring,” Yu Wanli said, taking a dice cup from another table and standing beside Chi Nian with a smile. “Today isn’t just Chi Nian’s birthday—it’s also the day the six of us are reunited. Think about it, how long has it been since we last sat together? Three years, right?”
“All because someone left without a word,” Xie Songting remarked, glancing at Zhou Jinyue as he loosened his tie and leisurely rolled up his sleeves to his elbows.
Yu Huairan nudged Xie Songting, picked up a dice cup with his well-defined hands, and asked with a smile, “What’s up with the Young Master?”
“Xu Xing,” Xie Songting replied in a low, unhurried voice.
Hearing the name, Yu Huairan raised an eyebrow with interest, scanning the room before his gaze settled on the young man sitting obediently at the other end of the sofa.
“Tsk,” he said, “He’s openly pursuing Lingling, but the Young Master never makes his feelings clear. What’s the point of having such a possessive streak?”
Xie Songting poured himself a glass of wine. “I’m afraid even he doesn’t know whether it’s love or just years of companionship that have made him treat Lingling as his possession.”
“Makes sense.”
While the two whispered, Qiao Ling, sitting nearby, caught fragments of their conversation. At Xie Songting’s final remark, she couldn’t help but smile faintly.It must be said that for Chi Nian, who frequented nightclubs year-round, livening up the atmosphere was a piece of cake. Just as the group of them were getting into the swing of things, others in the private room began coming over one by one to propose toasts.
With dozens of people, how could Chi Nian possibly handle it? After downing glass after glass of strong foreign liquor, he soon felt a bit dizzy. Once he had drunk enough himself, he pulled his friends over to take his place.
They all had a tacit understanding, each taking a few glasses.
Who would have thought that the famously flirtatious playboy Lin Shao would refuse to let it go? “Young Master Chi, if you cheat like this, don’t blame us for not being polite. As the saying goes, sincerity is shown through three glasses of wine, and everyone here has only had the first one!”
“Come, I’ll lead the way and propose the remaining two glasses!”
Without giving Chi Nian a chance to speak, Lin Shao downed the two glasses of wine in his hand.
“You’re really something!” Chi Nian laughed and cursed, casting a pleading glance at Yu Wanli.
Yu Wanli glared at him, took off her thin outer jacket, picked up a glass of wine, and assumed a determined stance. “Come on! I’ll drink for him!”
“Miss Yu is bold!” Lin Shao gave her a thumbs-up in admiration and waved for the people queuing behind him to step forward.
Beside them.
Qiao Ling looked at the pile of empty bottles on the table and tilted her head to ask, “Brother Ting, do you remember who Wanli clung to last time she got drunk?”
Xie Songting pinched the bridge of his nose and said, “Ah, that college student who was singing at the bar, right? She even insisted on kissing him.”
“Forget it, I’ll drink for Xiao Nian.”
“Don’t. If you get drunk and some scandal breaks out, we’ll be the ones to blame.” Qiao Ling pulled him back, stood up herself, and pushed Yu Wanli back onto the sofa.
The next person about to propose a toast saw that it had been switched to Qiao Ling and couldn’t help but glance warily at Zhou Jinyue, who was sitting entirely in the shadows, his face obscured.
But Qiao Ling had already picked up her glass, downing two drinks first, and asked with a smile, “What? Do you need to think about drinking with me?”
“No, no, no. It’s my honor to drink with you, Miss.”
Qiao Ling truly had a great tolerance for alcohol. Even as several more empty bottles piled up on the table, she showed no sign of drunkenness. Everyone knew her well and understood her limits.
But Xu Xing was a bit worried. He walked over to Qiao Ling and said with concern, “Sister, don’t drink anymore. Let me drink for you.”
“No need, you go have fun.” Qiao Ling raised her hand, bringing the glass to her lips, when suddenly a pale, cool hand appeared before her, and the glass was taken from her grasp.
Her back pressed against a familiar, cool chest as a low, magnetic voice sounded above her head. “I’ll drink for her.”
Without discussion, Zhou Jinyue placed his hand on her shoulder, leaned down to set the empty glass on the table, and his lips brushed against her soft hair, as if embracing her from behind, whispering intimately, “Don’t be angry anymore, Miss. That night under the pavilion, I was wrong.”
“Are you drunk before even drinking?” Her ears slightly flushed, Qiao Ling turned her body, her bright almond-shaped eyes sweeping over him. “Since you’re going to drink for me, then keep going.”
With that, she turned and walked away.
“Sister.” Xu Xing quickly followed.
Zhou Jinyue watched the two of them leave, the veins on the back of his hand bulging. Without a word, he pressed his lips together and strode after them.
Everyone in the private room exchanged glances. Chi Nian cleared his throat and resignedly picked up his glass. “Come on, let’s keep going.”
Outside the private room.The hallway was sparsely dotted with people. Qiao Ling had borrowed a cigarette from someone and was about to ask for a light when her wrist was suddenly seized.
“I have a light,” Zhou Jinyue said, pulling her into his embrace. He pushed open the door of an empty private room beside them and led her inside.
In the dark room.
Qiao Ling sat on the edge of the sofa near the door. Zhou Jinyue knelt with one knee pressed against the side of her leg, one hand braced against the backrest, his cool palm gripping her slender neck. The posture was overwhelmingly domineering, his entire being radiating a wild, unrestrained aura, yet his tone was gentle to the extreme. “Sister? Does Lingling like this nickname?”