In the opulent banquet hall, the lights were bright, and the dozens-of-meters-long rotating diamond staircase sparkled brilliantly, like a silver river of stars.
By the floor-to-ceiling window, a young man in a black suit sat on the sofa. His slender hand gently tugged at his tie as he slightly lifted his gaze to look at the people in the banquet hall. Feeling bored, Lu Qi stood up and walked through the crowd, heading outside.
In a corner of the garden outside the banquet hall.
“Qingyan, I like you.”
A woman wearing a custom-made gown and exquisite makeup gazed affectionately at the man before her.
Ji Qingyan felt no emotional stir inside. He subtly took a step back, clearly not encountering such a situation for the first time.
His tone was calm. “Miss Li, we are not suitable.”
Hearing his words, the woman grew somewhat agitated. “How could we not be suitable? With my family background and abilities, am I still not worthy of you?”
“I…” Ji Qingyan had just begun to speak when he was interrupted by a deep male voice.
“Excuse me, let me pass.”
Lu Qi had finally managed to slip out of the banquet hall, finding a quiet corner to seek some peace, only to stumble upon a confession scene.
It was quiet here, and even though their voices weren’t loud, Lu Qi could hear them clearly. He had intended to wait for them to leave, but upon seeing a message from a friend, he remembered he had forgotten something important.
There was only this one path from the garden back to the banquet hall, so he had no choice but to speak up and interrupt them.
Ji Qingyan looked at the man walking over. The other had sharp eyebrows and eyes, a high nose bridge, and was dressed in a black suit, standing slightly taller than himself. His gaze lingered on Lu Qi’s face for a few seconds.
Noticing the other’s gaze on him, Lu Qi defiantly glared back. The corner of Ji Qingyan’s mouth lifted slightly.
“Qingyan…” the woman called out to him.
Ji Qingyan glanced at her, then turned and walked up to Lu Qi. Leaning close to his ear, he whispered, “Do me a favor.”
The warmth of the other’s breath brushed against his ear, and Lu Qi instinctively flinched, his face wearing an unruly expression that looked somewhat fierce. He lowered his eyes to look at Ji Qingyan.
“Hmm?”
Just as Lu Qi was puzzled, Ji Qingyan reached out and pinched his chin, leaning in closer. He maintained perfect control, leaving a few centimeters between them without actually touching his lips.
The scorching breath fell on his face, and Lu Qi seemed frozen in place, standing there dumbfounded.
He stared expressionlessly at the person before him. They were so close that Lu Qi could even clearly see the distinct lashes of the other.
The next moment, he frowned, because he felt as if his chin had been gently stroked.
The man’s fingertips were dry and warm, and that light, fleeting touch felt like a faint electric current passing through.
Before Lu Qi could pull away, Ji Qingyan released his hand, his face still wearing a composed and calm expression, making Lu Qi mistakenly think that what had just happened was merely an illusion.
So, had he just been teased?
From the woman’s perspective, the two of them appeared to be kissing.
“You… you two…”
Ji Qingyan turned around and saw the shock in the woman’s eyes. He said calmly, “I told you, we are not suitable.”
So, the unsuitability was a matter of gender.
After the woman left, Lu Qi demanded, “Hey, you there, did I agree to let you take advantage of me?”
Lu Qi’s tone was casual. Having lived for over twenty years, he never expected to be flirted with by a man.
Ji Qingyan pursed his lips into a smile. Beneath his silver-rimmed glasses, a pair of beautiful peach blossom eyes curved slightly, making him look like a seductive male fox.
“What are you laughing at?” Lu Qi found him utterly baffling.
Was he some kind of lunatic?
“I gave you a heads-up earlier, asking you to do me a favor. Besides, we didn’t actually kiss, but thank you anyway.”
Lu Qi raised an eyebrow. “From the way you say it, it almost sounds like you regret it?”
Ji Qingyan handed him a business card. “Consider it a favor I owe you. If you need anything, you can find me.”
“Tsk, who cares.”
As the young master of the Lu family, he had everything he could ever want. No matter what, he wouldn’t seek help from him.
That’s what he said, but he still reached out and took the card, stuffing it into his pocket without even glancing at it.
“Do you like men?”
“Guess.”
“Who cares to guess? Say it or don’t.”
Ji Qingyan chuckled. “Such a bad temper.”
“So what? It’s none of your business. Move aside.”
After speaking in a low voice, Lu Qi raised his hand and pushed his shoulder, walking past him.
Standing in place, Ji Qingyan gently touched the shoulder that had been bumped. Watching the other’s retreating figure, a flicker of interest flashed in his eyes behind the lenses.
In the restroom.
Lu Qi stared at his flushed ears in the mirror and suddenly realized what the man had been laughing at earlier.
Had he been talking to him looking like this?
So he was mocking him?
“Damn it,” he cursed under his breath.
He undid his cufflinks, rolled up his sleeves, revealing cold, pale, and firm arms with visible veins. Cupping cold water, he washed his face, then casually pushed back his damp bangs. His sharp eyes and water-streaked face inexplicably added a touch of wildness.
The man’s face, especially those beautiful, mesmerizing eyes, flashed in his mind at an inopportune moment. He shook his head, wondering what nonsense he was thinking.
It must have been too long since he’d been in a relationship, making even a man seem attractive.
As the banquet neared its end, he had no interest in mingling with the others. Grabbing his car keys, he left without looking back.
‘Zhuoye’ was the most famous bar in Binxi, and at ten o’clock in the evening, it was bustling with activity.
A flashy black sports car pulled up in front of the bar. Lu Qi stepped out, casually tossed the keys to the valet, and walked inside.
A young man standing nearby looked at the sports car and curiously asked his friend, “Is that car expensive?”
“A Bugatti La Voiture Noire. What do you think? Selling you wouldn’t even cover the cost of one of its side mirrors…”
“That’s insane.”
Pushing open the door to the private room, the two people sitting on the sofa stood up.
“Qi-ge, I ordered the most expensive wine, just waiting for you.” The speaker was Shi Zaiqing, the son of Lu Qi’s uncle and his cousin.
Lu Qi walked over to them, sat in the middle of the sofa, and silently picked up the wine on the table, taking several large gulps. His brows and eyes betrayed a hint of irritation.
Shi Zaiqing and Zhou Chiye exchanged glances. What was going on? Who had upset him again?
Zhou Chiye shook his head, looking just as confused. No idea.
After downing two glasses of wine, the irritation in Lu Qi’s heart gradually subsided. Shi Zaiqing stepped forward and took the glass from his hand, unable to hold back his curiosity. “Qi-ge, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. This wine is good.”
“Of course, it’s 300,000 a bottle.”
“Hey, don’t get drunk. You have important business to discuss tomorrow. Don’t oversleep.”
Lu Qi had just graduated from university and had only been on vacation abroad for a week when he was called back by a phone call from Lu Tingshen, his second uncle.
Without any explanation, Lu Tingshen handed him an important project to take charge of, using this as an opportunity to introduce him to the company’s operations.
As soon as Lu Qi had adjusted to the time difference, he rushed to Binxi without delay. Zhou Chiye and Shi Zaiqing also came along. Both of them had older brothers above them, so they didn’t need to worry about company matters.
“Don’t worry,” Lu Qi said.
A pile of drinks was spread across the table. After finishing one glass, Lu Qi set it down, crossed his arms, and leaned quietly against the back of the sofa, listening to their idle chatter.