25 – vol.1 Red Velvet Cheese
Hearing such words, for some reason, Wen Ruosui felt an ominous premonition.
She looked up and surveyed her surroundings once more.
The psychedelic neon atmosphere, the retro and chic decor, the metallic mechanical props—it all felt like stepping into a magical world, inexplicably reminding her of that bar from that night.
In truth, after coming to North City, she had deliberately erased all past events from her memory. The little mishap at the Pucheng bar had long been pushed to the back of her mind.
But being in such an environment made her recall that night again, and that bewitching man who had handed her a suit jacket.
Wen Ruosui happened to be sitting at the edge of the booth. Though it was a corner spot, it was close to the aisle, and everyone entering or leaving the private room would pass by her, making it easy to hear the comings and goings outside the door.
As time passed, she could faintly hear the sound of footsteps—belonging to a man.
Steady and powerful.
And drawing closer.
Wen Ruosui sat quietly in the booth. The noisy chatter and laughter of those around her seemed to fade from her ears, leaving only the steady, rhythmic sound of the man’s leather shoes brushing against the carpet in the aisle.
This subtle sound made her spine stiffen involuntarily, and an inexplicable tension welled up in her heart.
Wen Ruosui didn’t even know what she was nervous about.
Before she could think further, a figure brushed past her and, in an instant, moved to the front, standing tall and straight before everyone.
The man was tall and slender. The psychedelic lights enveloped him, casting sharp, defined lines that accentuated his perfect physique.
As soon as he appeared in the center, the chaotic chatter, laughter, and playful banter in the private room abruptly ceased.
Suddenly, the surroundings fell into a profound silence.
Wen Ruosui lifted her gaze and looked straight ahead. Within her line of sight was a familiar man’s face—sharp eyebrows and bright eyes—clearly imprinted in her vision.
Her mind buzzed, and she felt momentarily dizzy.
It really was him.
Pale, cool skin, deep-set features. A face that was both ascetic and bewitching, expressionless. Yet, his exceptional looks radiated an aura of inaccessibility, making him seem enigmatic.
In truth, when she heard the surname “Pei” earlier, Wen Ruosui’s heart had skipped a beat. She finally understood where that inexplicable tension had come from.
Because of the man’s appearance, the private room remained unusually quiet for a few seconds.
Perhaps unaccustomed to the presence of such a distinguished figure, everyone was momentarily stunned. Some, especially the women, were so taken aback by the man’s striking appearance—a sight to behold from every angle—that they covered their mouths in surprise, unable to speak.
Fortunately, someone broke the rare silence in the air.
Qi Mingjun flashed a smile, slung an arm around the handsome man’s shoulders, and proudly introduced him to everyone in the room: “Everyone, today I’ve brought a big shot with me. This is my good friend, Pei Zhixiu.”
Pei Zhixiu maintained his cool, detached expression, his thin lips pressed together, and gave a slight, dignified nod to the crowd.
His noble and refined demeanor made it clear he was someone who had long occupied the pinnacle of the social hierarchy.Probably feeling quite honored that such a figure had come to his bar’s anniversary celebration, Qi Mingjun’s peach blossom eyes were gleaming with pride, and his tone still carried excitement as he said:
“Everyone should know who Axiu is, so I don’t need to introduce him further, right?”
Indeed, the name Pei Zhixiu was practically thunderous in the financial world.
And those in the know were even more aware of the profound background behind him.
Such an aloof and proud figure wasn’t someone you could just meet casually.
Coming here today was truly worth it.
With this thought in mind, one of the men holding a wine glass quickly stood up, grinning as he responded, “Of course, who wouldn’t know Mr. Pei of Huarui Capital?”
The men and women present were all in sync, chiming in one after another: “Yes, the famous Mr. Pei…” “We know him…” “We’ve wanted to meet him for a long time, finally getting the chance…” and other such polite remarks.
One of the men in a suit had just returned from abroad. He was of Chinese descent and didn’t know many people yet.
He only knew that this Qi Mingjun was the young master of a prominent family in Beicheng. Based on his observations, there were likely very few people whom this young master would actively cater to.
And a man with such presence was probably no ordinary person.
Having spent a long time abroad, although his Chinese wasn’t fluent, his education was rooted in domestic culture, and he was quite savvy in social matters.
After a brief moment of thought: Pei Zhixiu… Pei… Pei…
The man of Chinese descent suddenly realized: Pei, the one who studied under Steven B. So it was him.
Quickly grasping his lofty status and superior background, the glances directed his way were filled with flattery and ingratiation, and everyone began introducing themselves.
The man of Chinese descent said, “Mr. Pei, I’m Wang Xin from Shunyu Group, just back from abroad.”
Others followed closely:
“Mr. Pei, I’m He Qian from Zhongling Capital, just call me Tracy.”
“Tang Fei from Yonghe Real Estate, very pleased to meet you, Mr. Pei.”
“He Yu from Luming Capital. I look forward to your guidance, Mr. Pei.”
…
For a moment, the sound of self-introductions rose and fell, making the scene as lively as a business gathering.
Pei Zhixiu, without losing any of his presence, maintained the demeanor of someone in a high position—neither humble nor arrogant—holding his glass and toasting each person in turn.
The alcohol content wasn’t low, and he drank glass after glass, yet his expression remained unchanged, showing no sign of intoxication.
After the round of polite greetings, everyone even made a point of clearing the main seat for him: “Come, Mr. Pei, sit here.”
Qi Mingjun joked, “Are you treating my place like a business venue? Not only exchanging pleasantries but also saving a prime spot for my Axiu. You’re all really too polite.”
The girls’ eyes were sparkling as they chimed in, “This is Mr. Pei, after all.”
Except for one person.
As for Wen Ruosui, aside from quickly glancing up at him at the very beginning, she hardly dared to look in his direction again.
She didn’t want to meet Pei Zhixiu’s gaze.
She wished she could shrink further into herself.
Even further.
It would be best if he didn’t see her.
The reason for this mindset, in the end, stemmed from a psychological barrier.
He was aloof and proud, likely disdaining to acknowledge her.
Wen Ruosui remembered all too clearly the cold look he gave her when he stood on the steps of the Pucheng coffee shop, looking down at her.
He said he had forgotten everything.Tell her not to dwell on such trivial matters.
Since he had already forgotten everything, it would be tactless for her to approach him again.
Fortunately, the booth she was sitting in was dimly lit, and the shadows of the greenery cast a hazy veil. From his angle, he likely couldn’t see her face clearly.
As long as she stayed quiet, he wouldn’t notice her.