The Pei family has been entrenched in S City for a century, ranking among the top-tier elite families.
The current head of the family, Pei Zelin, has been divorced once. His first wife was a daughter of the equally prestigious Bai Family, and together they had Pei Yuexuan.
Later, their relationship broke down, and they parted ways amicably, maintaining a dignified separation.
The current Mrs. Pei is a major celebrity, a film queen who swept across Asia over two decades ago.
She married into the wealthy Pei family with great fanfare and gave birth to the young master, Pei Yuhuan.
Mrs. Pei is particularly high-profile, and tonight’s birthday banquet for her son, Pei Yuhuan, is exceptionally grand.
They lavishly booked the entire Bulgari Seven-Star Hotel, and the street outside was closed off.
Security was tight, and many media reporters were invited.
Xia Zhi arrived with Pei Yuhuan.
For the young lady, attending various banquets and cocktail parties has always meant being meticulously groomed from head to toe.
An afternoon of top-tier full-body pampering, celebrity makeup artists and stylists, European haute couture gowns from blue-blooded brands…
All of this only added to her already perfect appearance.
Tonight, Xia Zhi wore a goose-yellow evening gown—strapless, cinched at the waist, with a flowing silhouette that draped elegantly to her ankles, swaying gracefully as she moved.
With her fair and delicate skin, she effortlessly carried off this challenging color, not appearing childish or frivolous but instead exuding an air of romantic elegance.
Her long, straight black hair was lightly curled, half pinned up and half cascading over her fragrant shoulders and beautiful back.
The only jewelry she wore was an extremely thin platinum necklace around her neck, adorned with a ten-carat cushion-cut yellow diamond.
The flower of earthly riches—sweet, beautiful, delicate, and radiant.
As soon as she made her appearance, she once again dazzled the young masters and ladies present.
As a princess who has been beautiful since childhood, Xia Zhi was accustomed to such admiring gazes and felt nothing special.
Instead, it was Pei Yuhuan beside her who acted like a peacock showing off, brimming with pride.
Pei Yuhuan had pursued Xia Zhi for several years, but it was only after he followed her to study in England that Xia Zhi finally agreed to be with him.
Counting the time, they had been together for less than three months.
Back then, Pei Yuhuan was overjoyed, posting updates on WeChat, Facebook, Twitter, and various social media platforms for a whole month.
He couldn’t wait to let the whole world know that Xia Zhi was his.
……
If Xia Zhi hadn’t had that dream, foreseeing the events that would unfold years later, she would never have imagined that Pei Yuhuan would treat her so carelessly.
Xia Zhi was a dignified young lady and wouldn’t let Pei Yuhuan be dumped on his birthday.
It would be too humiliating.
She would wait until after tonight to say anything.
Spotting her close friend Bai Jiyue from afar, Xia Zhi left Pei Yuhuan behind and went to find her.
Bai Jiyue is Pei Yuexuan’s first cousin, and Pei Zelin is her former uncle.
Throughout their three years of high school, Bai Jiyue and Xia Zhi were desk mates and the closest of friends.
Although Bai Jiyue didn’t care much for Pei Yuhuan, she always accompanied Xia Zhi after school to do homework at the Pei family’s home.
After all, she was a daughter of the Bai Family, and no one would dare say anything.
Counting the time, the two hadn’t seen each other for nearly half a year, and they sat in a corner chatting nonstop.
Not long after, Pei Yuexuan arrived.
Surrounded by admirers.
Even though tonight was the birthday banquet for the young master Pei Yuhuan, as soon as Pei Yuexuan appeared, everyone gravitated toward him.
Elders from various families showered Pei Yuexuan with praise, and the second-generation heirs also gathered around him, their eyes and hearts filled with admiration.
Such was the prestige of the Pei family heir.
After watching the commotion for a while, Bai Jiyue saw through the situation.
“Hmph,”
She scoffed softly, whispering to Xia Zhi,
“No wonder everyone’s here tonight—it’s all about the hidden agenda, isn’t it?”
Xia Zhi looked puzzled,
“Huh?”
Bai Jiyue found her adorable cluelessness irresistible and couldn’t help pinching her cheek,
“My dear Princess Rere, you really are such a sweet innocent. Can’t you see? Tonight is clearly a grand matchmaking banquet.”
Xia Zhi wasn’t slow on the uptake and caught on immediately,
“You mean… for Brother Yuexuan?”
“Exactly,”
Bai Jiyue replied with a hint of schadenfreude,
“A high-quality man like my cousin—which young lady wouldn’t want to marry him?
But he’s been completely focused on his career, never attending any social balls or gatherings in our circle. Even when he has to entertain for business, he’s like a window without a crack—utterly unapproachable…
He’s already 25 this year. I heard from my mom that the Pei family and our Bai family have agreed he must get engaged this year…”
Engaged this year…
Xia Zhi turned to look at Pei Yuexuan in the distance.
He had changed into slightly more formal attire and was standing with two middle-aged men, chatting casually with a faint smile.
His black suit was impeccably tailored, his shirt buttoned neatly to the top.
Sapphire cufflinks and a tie pin accentuated his noble bearing. With his brown hair and brown eyes, he looked even more like a prince under the dazzling golden lights.
As if sensing Xia Zhi’s gaze, Pei Yuexuan suddenly looked up, his eyes meeting hers precisely across the room.
Their gazes locked in the air, and a flicker of admiration and praise shimmered in his eyes.
He curved his lips into a gentle smile directed at her.
With a room full of guests between them, she found herself exchanging lingering glances with her boyfriend’s older brother.
Pei Yuexuan, exuding an air of pride, showed no intention of looking away.
While listening to the elders beside him, he let his eyes roam over Xia Zhi from head to toe.
Xia Zhi felt an inexplicable warmth rise to her cheeks.
Flustered, she turned her head away, still replaying the man’s gaze in her mind.
“Tsk~”
Bai Jiyue teased, her eyes shifting between Xia Zhi and her cousin.
With meaningful emphasis, she said,
“Ah, younger brothers can’t compare to older brothers, right~ What do you think, Rere?”
Xia Zhi shot her a reproachful look,
“And how would you know older brothers are better?”
Between close friends, topics often ventured into forbidden territory.
Bai Jiyue glanced around before leaning in to whisper gossipily into Xia Zhi’s ear,
“Rere, you and Pei Yuhuan both studied in the UK. He’s madly in love with you and must pester you all the time… How far have you two gone?”
Xia Zhi’s face flushed instantly, “We… we’ve only been together for three months!”
“Pfft, what era is this? Forget three months of dating—aren’t one-night stands everywhere abroad?”
Bai Jiyue rolled her eyes but, considering Xia Zhi’s shyness, rephrased her question,
“Well, have you kissed?”
“…Yes…”
“Done it?”
“No! Yueyue, stop asking…”
Xia Zhi’s cheeks were flushed with embarrassment, her upturned peach-blossom eyes shimmering with a captivating glow, unbearably charming.
Even as another girl, Bai Jiyue couldn’t help staring, feeling as though Xia Zhi were a stunning little rose—tempting and irresistible, something one longed to admire and cherish.
Bai Jiyue sighed,
“I’m starting to feel a bit sorry for Pei Yuhuan. Seeing such a delicious cake every day but not being able to taste it—he must be craving it so much he can’t sleep at night…”
As she finished speaking, she suddenly had a flash of insight and glanced toward her own dear cousin, Pei Yuexuan, in the distance.
Goodness!
My cousin’s eyes are still glued to Xia Zhi.
Moreover, it feels like the intense affection and possessiveness in his gaze are almost impossible to suppress anymore.
Bai Jiyue turned back and pinched Xia Zhi’s cheek again.
Teasing her meaningfully,
“And I think Pei Yuhuan will never get to taste it in this lifetime~”