This was the first time Tang Lichu had ever found herself in such a tense and volatile situation. Every woman present seemed to be harboring her own ulterior motives. Aside from Miss Huang, who had already been taken away, there was another sharp, thorn-like gaze that kept drifting toward her.
The emotions contained in that gaze were impossible to conceal—jealousy, disdain, and contempt.
Tang Lichu recognized its owner. It was the woman who had been tugging at Miss Huang in the qipao shop earlier that day, hurriedly dragging her away.
A sinister, eerie smile curled at the corners of Du Shiru’s lips.
That idiot Huang Xuejian had guessed correctly. This translator really did know Li Juechen. Just look at the way she was gazing at him so affectionately—it was as though she were about to steal his soul.
This was the first time Du Shiru had ever seen Li Juechen reveal such an expression. He was utterly indulgent, his possessiveness practically overflowing, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration.
What exactly was their relationship?
A complicated glimmer flashed deep in Du Shiru’s eyes. In the blink of an eye, however, she seemed to become an entirely different person. She immediately put on an innocent, sweet smile that looked completely harmless.
“Third Brother, I’m back! Don’t just stare at the beauty. Can’t you even see me?”
Li Juechen watched Tang Lichu take a seat on the sofa beside him before reluctantly tearing his gaze away.
When he heard another woman calling him “Third Brother,” his brows furrowed slightly. He looked Du Shiru up and down suspiciously before asking coldly, “Who are you?”
Du Shiru froze as though she had been struck by lightning. Her entire body stiffened, and it took her a long moment to force out a reply.
“I’m Du Bin’s daughter, Du Shiru.”
Li Juechen gave a casual “Oh” upon hearing that.
“I know your father quite well. I don’t really remember you, though. My apologies.”
Li Yuanzhou struggled desperately to keep himself from laughing. His entire face had turned bright red. After finally composing himself, he hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over.
“Everyone, have a seat. Come on, sit down. Manager Cai, bring out the wine!”
On the stage, dazzling multicolored rotating lights illuminated the room. A group of young women dressed in brightly colored floral dresses danced gracefully, while men and women in the dance hall held hands or wrapped their arms around each other’s waists as they swayed to the music.
The dancers moved lightly to the rhythm. With every kick of their legs, their fair thighs were revealed and concealed in turns.
Tang Lichu’s face flushed crimson. She could only keep drinking water to hide her embarrassment.
Beside her, Susan leaned over with great interest and whispered teasingly into her ear, “Girl, how can you not watch such an entertaining performance? We’re all women here—what’s there to be shy about? Drinking plain water all night is so boring. Why don’t you try some wine?”
Tang Lichu hurriedly waved her hands and leaned toward Susan’s ear, whispering back, “I don’t drink. Besides, Third Master doesn’t allow me to drink. Stop teasing me. He’ll get angry if he sees me drinking!”
Susan shook her head lightly.
She had never really understood the traditions of Manchukuo. Why were women confined to the inner courtyards of their homes? Why were they forbidden from disobeying men or going out to work? They were practically treated as nothing more than men’s possessions, without any freedom or will of their own.
In Susan’s eyes, there was hardly any difference between that and keeping a little cat or dog.
She didn’t understand it, but she respected Tang Lichu’s choice. After ordering her a glass of fruit juice, Susan went off to drink with Sophia.
Tang Lichu pulled Cheng’s mother over to sit beside her. She thanked her for standing up for her earlier.
“Cheng’s mother, thank you for protecting me just now.”
Cheng’s mother was flattered.
“Miss, you’re too kind. You’re my mistress; of course I should help you. Other young ladies bring a little maid with them whenever they go out, but you brought an old woman like me instead! I’ve never been to a place like this in my entire life. I certainly got an eyeful today!”
Tang Lichu smiled without saying anything.
Aside from her own mother, this was the first time someone had ever protected her like that.
Li Juechen appeared to be sitting there casually, but in reality, the corner of his eye remained fixed on Tang Lichu in the distance.
Sitting beside him, Li Yuanzhou sighed admiringly.
“Third Brother, you really do have an incredible eye for women. I suppose only a fairy like that could possibly catch your attention.”
Meng Qinian was sitting on Li Juechen’s other side. He hadn’t heard what Li Yuanzhou said, but judging from his animated and unusually excited expression, he could guess roughly what they had been talking about.
He tentatively asked, “Third Brother, do you know that translator?”
Li Juechen had never intended to hide Tang Lichu’s existence from others.
What he had always been concerned about was his mother.
Once his mother found out about Tang Lichu, given her usual way of doing things, she would undoubtedly immediately start arranging a proper marriage for him. She would never allow him to become entangled with another woman outside marriage.
In his mother’s eyes, taking a concubine or keeping a mistress before marrying a proper wife would damage his reputation.
The corners of Li Juechen’s lips lifted slightly into a faint smile.
“Brother-in-law, why do you ask?”
Meng Qinian patted him on the shoulder and said meaningfully, “Third Brother, your expression has already given you away. She’s your woman?”
Li Juechen gently nodded.
“I hope you can keep this a secret for me. I don’t want my mother to find out. I have no intention of getting married yet. If Second Sister finds out, she’ll definitely tell my mother.”
As the eldest legitimate son of the Meng family, Meng Qinian immediately understood what Li Juechen meant.
“Don’t worry, Third Brother. I’ll act as though I know absolutely nothing about what happened today.”
Meanwhile, Du Shiru had been utterly humiliated by Li Juechen’s complete lack of courtesy.
Before going abroad to study, she had often visited the Li family under the pretext of looking for Li Baozhu. Naturally, that had given her plenty of opportunities to encounter Li Juechen.
Whenever she took the initiative to speak to him, although he had always been cold and difficult to approach, he would at least patiently respond to her.
How could it be that after spending two years studying abroad, he had returned without even remembering who she was?
She refused to accept it.
Li Juechen was the man she had fallen for at first sight. She absolutely would not give up so easily.
Li Yuzhang wanted to win over Du Bin, so he was particularly warm toward Du Shiru. Raising his wine glass, he said, “Little Sister Du, do you still remember me? You used to come to our house all the time to see my sister. I even took the two of you kite-flying once!”
Du Shiru raised her glass and lightly clinked it against his. She forced a faint smile.
“How could I forget? Fifth Master Li—oh, no, I should call you Fifth Brother. And this must be Fourth Master Li, Miss Baozhu’s biological brother. Fourth Brother, it’s been a long time.”
Li Zhenting raised his wine glass and took a sip.
Just then, the music changed to a slow dance.
Li Zhenting set down his glass and rose gracefully. With an elegant smile, he extended his right hand toward Du Shiru.
“I wonder if I might have the honor of asking Miss Du for a dance?”
Du Shiru instinctively turned her head and glanced at Li Juechen, who was sitting far away.
A wave of irritation immediately surged through her heart.
Almost as if she were deliberately acting out of spite, she placed her hand in Li Zhenting’s palm without the slightest hesitation.
“Of course.”