The man slowly turned his head, and Pei Yan’s pupils constricted sharply. Fu Huaizhou’s face resembled the Emperor’s gradually zooming-in close-up in “My Fair Princess,” slowly becoming terrifying.
Unchewable jelly, unchewable jelly.
Pei Yan’s mind was filled with this phrase. Oh heavens, what exactly had she said?!
She stiffly turned her head back and bumped her forehead against the table, but suddenly let out a pained groan.
Seeing her expression of agony, Xia Tingwan hurriedly asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I bit my tongue,” Pei Yan was nearly in tears, “It hurts so much.”
Fu Huaizhou’s hands moved faster than his words. He stood up and sat beside her, lifting his hand to steady her chin. “Let me see.”
Pei Yan, accustomed to being waited on, instinctively opened her mouth, revealing a glimpse of her pink tongue.
Fu Huaizhou’s movements paused, uncontrollably reminded of their kiss in the Moonlight private room.
Pei Yan also came to her senses and abruptly swatted his hand away, retreating to the side.
Only her cheeks were burning fiercely.
Xia Tingwan seemed to have entered a meditative state, taking a tactical sip of water after a long pause. “You… you two…”
Pei Yan quickly interjected, “There’s nothing between us.”
Xia Tingwan glanced at Fu Huaizhou again; this man certainly didn’t look like there was nothing between them.
At the very least, when Pei Yan cried out in pain, he had been urgent and tense.
But after Pei Yan pushed him away, he returned to his usual impassive demeanor.
Xia Tingwan couldn’t help but wonder if she had imagined it.
Gu Jingyi propped his chin up, watching the scene unfold. Sensing the tense atmosphere at the table, he stood up and stepped in to smooth things over.
He asked Xia Tingwan to move inward and sat down directly.
“I heard Miss Xia is good friends with Tang Xin?”
Xia Tingwan, being a fashion designer in the fashion industry, was naturally familiar with entertainment circles and had long heard of Clear River Entertainment’s young CEO Gu.
Tang Xin was a newly signed artist at Clear River Entertainment, so it wasn’t strange for Gu Jingyi to mention her name.
But she and Tang Xin hadn’t met within the industry.
However, Xia Tingwan didn’t plan to elaborate, simply nodding, “We know each other.”
“Sorry, I wasn’t intentionally eavesdropping earlier,” Gu Jingyi said. “From your conversation, I gather you two are responsible for Tang Xin’s gown and jewelry for this event?”
Pei Yan’s attention was diverted, though her tongue still hurt.
The pain wasn’t too bad; it would heal in a few days.
“Yes, does Young Master Gu have any suggestions?”
Gu Jingyi laughed heartily, “Suggestions are beyond me, but out of respect for Huaizhou, if you need any help, just ask.”
Pei Yan noticed his gaze resting on her and couldn’t help but smile, “Young Master Gu, you’re too kind.”
Gu Jingyi: “I’m genuinely being polite. Who hasn’t heard of Xuan Hong’s reputation? For the second young lady to become famous would be simple, but the second young lady has ambition.”
Fu Huaizhou glanced sideways and asked softly, “You want to use the year-end red carpet gala to have celebrities wear your jewelry designs and gauge the response?”
Pei Yan answered evasively, “You even know about the year-end red carpet?”
After all, the Fu family’s Fenghua Group was involved in all sorts of industries except entertainment.
Gu Jingyi pointed at himself, “It’s all thanks to me.”
Pei Yan thought it made sense; Gu Jingyi mingled in entertainment circles, so Fu Huaizhou would naturally be influenced.
No wonder he likes hanging out at nightclubs, Pei Yan silently grumbled.
Fu Huaizhou neither confirmed nor denied, changing the subject instead: “I have a business proposition, Miss Pei. Are you interested?”
Pei Yan looked over, “What kind of business?”
Fu Huaizhou added, “My cousin’s birthday is coming up, and I’d like to gift her a piece of jewelry. I was wondering if you’d be interested in helping me choose one?”
Pei Yan was certainly interested. She asked, “When is your cousin’s birthday?”
“May 26th,” Fu Huaizhou replied.
Pei Yan was taken aback. “…But that’s already passed.”
Fu Huaizhou said, “I meant next year.”
Pei Yan: “…Alright. So, does your cousin have any particular preferences or something that holds special meaning for her? Also, what kind of jewelry materials does she like?”
Fu Huaizhou: “I’ll have to ask her about those details. Just keep the price under a million.”
Pei Yan glanced at him in surprise—he didn’t seem like someone short on money.
Reading her expression, Fu Huaizhou chuckled lightly. “My uncle and aunt are both scientists. They dislike extravagance. A few years ago, I bought Yueyue a set of jewelry at an auction, and they’ve been lecturing me about it ever since.”
Pei Yan understood then—the jewelry Fu Huaizhou had purchased must have been exceptionally expensive.
Feeling a bit thirsty after talking, she picked up her coconut juice and took a few sips.
At that moment, Gu Jingyi asked Xia Tingwan, “Miss Xia, have you known Tang Xin for a long time?”
Xia Tingwan: “Why do you keep asking me that?”
Pei Yan also stared at Gu Jingyi.
If she remembered correctly, wasn’t Tang Xin an artist under Clear River Entertainment?
Why was Gu Jingyi asking Wan Wan about her?
Gu Jingyi shrugged. “Just curious. When we signed her, I recall clearly that she came from a remote mountainous area—it couldn’t have been easy for her.”
He said it casually, but Fu Huaizhou narrowed his eyes slightly.
Gu Jingyi had probably taken an interest in this Tang Xin.
And it hadn’t been just a short while. Most likely, Tang Xin hadn’t agreed, and today, after running into Pei Yan and overhearing something, he’d become intrigued again.
Gu Jingyi had gone through quite a few girlfriends, but none lasted more than three months.
This time, he’d been unexpectedly single for a year—probably because of this Tang Xin.
But other people’s affairs were none of his business. Only Pei Yan could stir his emotions.
There was a fireworks display on the river that evening. Just after nine, Xia Tingwan’s phone rang again.
There was no need to ask—it had to be Huo Xingjian.
Xia Tingwan had to say her goodbyes. Pei Yan was torn—she wanted to leave with Xia Tingwan but also stay to watch the fireworks for a while.
Seeing her dilemma, Xia Tingwan said, “You stay and watch. Mr. Fu can see you home later.”
Just as Pei Yan was about to protest, Fu Huaizhou nodded slightly. “It would be my honor.”
Before leaving, Xia Tingwan pulled Pei Yan aside and whispered, “I think he’s more handsome than Li Yueting. You should go for it.”
Pei Yan nudged her with an elbow. “What nonsense are you talking?”
Xia Tingwan: “It’s not nonsense. Didn’t you kiss him? Earlier, when you saw Fu Huaizhou, your face turned bright red all of a sudden.”
Pei Yan felt inexplicably embarrassed and hurriedly pushed her away. “You… you should go now.”
To cover up her inexplicable fluster, she even criticized Huo Xingjian: “Huo Xingjian is such a control freak.”
Xia Tingwan instinctively defended him a few times before once again leaving her best friend behind and departing first.
Gu Jingyi had no interest in joining the fireworks crowd.
As the young masters of an entertainment company, both he and Li Yueting were regular features in entertainment headlines. Who knew if they’d be photographed?
Besides, with Fu Huaizhou and Pei Yan watching the fireworks together, would he just stand there as a third wheel?
As Fu Huaizhou’s good friend, he knew better than that.
So, Gu Jingyi made an excuse and left.
Fu Huaizhou gestured with a “please,” and Pei Yan followed him to the terrace.
The river shimmered with ripples, the lights from the buildings reflecting like scattered stars upon the water. Pei Yan leaned over the railing, exuding a youthful, girlish charm.
The evening breeze lifted the long strands of hair by her ears, the silky threads brushing against her jade-like profile, making Fu Huaizhou yearn to reach out and tuck them aside.
Neither of them was particularly aware of the camera, so they naturally didn’t realize that the person originally filming Gu Jingyi had turned the lens toward them.