MY - 5

Amidst the distinguished guests, everyone chatted freely, with a lot of elaborate flattery and small talk.

Lu Nandu, in the main seat, rarely spoke, merely listening humbly.

The conversations were interspersed with business knowledge, most of which Jiang Xi didn’t understand. She wasn’t really listening to what they were saying, just quietly eating her meal.

Jiang Xi came tonight only intending to have dinner and didn’t concern herself with anything else.

In the latter half of the dinner, the topics gradually shifted. A few who had drunk too much began to lose control of their mouths, occasionally interjecting inappropriate remarks.

Accustomed to such occasions, everyone present was unfazed.

There was more than one artist at the table. Later, when the conversation became lively, one artist was pushed forward by her manager: “Offer a toast to Mr. Lu.” The desire for attachment was unconcealed.

This female artist had only recently come of age. A small web drama she starred in recently unexpectedly became a hit, and her lead role’s reputation also skyrocketed.

With so many people watching, the girl was a bit embarrassed, but she still picked up the wine glass in front of her: “Mr. Lu, Ding Mu toasts you.”

Lu Nandu looked up.

After Lu Nandu’s conduct since his return to the country in the past few months, everyone present knew he was unapproachable.

Sure enough, the next second, Lu Nandu smiled, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes: “Excuse me, I’m driving, so I don’t drink.”

Jiang Xi leaned back in her chair, playing with her wine glass, and glanced at Lu Nandu.

Something seemed different from before. She retracted her gaze.

Everyone knew Lu Nandu had a driver and an assistant, so how could he possibly be driving himself? Anyone with eyes could tell it was an excuse.

The girl held the wine glass in her hand, neither drinking nor putting it down.

Fortunately, she reacted quickly. She smiled: “Then I’ll drink it myself, but this toast is still for Mr. Lu.” Graceful and clever.

Lu Nandu nodded.

This small interlude was quickly overlooked, and the atmosphere immediately became harmonious again.

The dinner party ended close to midnight. A large number of people were drunk by the end of the banquet, and assistants from each company helped their respective presidents leave.

During the dinner, Tong Yun asked Jiang Xi to go say hello, but Jiang Xi naturally didn’t listen to Tong Yun. Tong Yun’s main purpose today was to make her familiar, and although she suggested saying hello, she didn’t force Jiang Xi when she didn’t go.

Jiang Xi only drank a little alcohol and was very clear-headed. Tong Yun, who was driving, didn’t drink at all.

As they went downstairs, Tong Yun asked: “Did you drive here?”

The red numbers on the elevator counted down. Jiang Xi shifted her gaze from them: “No.”

“Then I’ll give you a ride back since it’s on the way.”

The elevator reached the first floor. Tong Yun walked out first: “Wait at the entrance, I’ll go get the car from the parking lot.”

The air was still in the early hours of the morning, and the chill deepened as night fell. A gust of wind blew, waking Jiang Xi up even more.

Across from Yazhuan Pavilion was a river. The streetlights on the other side of the river blurred into halos of light.

Jiang Xi didn’t notice a red Ferrari parked by the river.

In the driver’s seat of the Ferrari, Shen Zexiao rested one arm on the car window, thoughtfully observing the woman outside Yazhuan Pavilion.

The woman was very thin, or rather, not just thin, but her curves were in all the right places, giving her a very good figure.

She seemed a little bored, kicking a pebble on the ground.

Shen Zexiao averted his gaze from Jiang Xi and asked Lu Nandu in the passenger seat: “You made me stop just to look at this?”

Lu Nandu ignored him.

Shen Zexiao turned back to look again: “She looks pretty good.” He had remembered her after seeing her once at the Iceland bar that night.

“Prettier than those minor celebrities around.”

Lu Nandu was expressionless, his eyes slowly sweeping over.

Shen Zexiao laughed: “Damn, don’t worry, I’m not making a move on her.”

Lu Nandu couldn’t be bothered with him.

Soon, a car arrived, and Jiang Xi got in.

Not until the car turned and only its taillights were visible did Shen Zexiao ask: “Are you serious?” He had never seen Lu Nandu act so cautiously.

Lu Nandu didn’t answer his question, a little impatient, frowning and tugging at his tie: “Drive.”

________________________________________

In the early hours of the morning, the city was still brightly lit, a city that never slept. Overpasses twisted and turned, streetlights shone like day, and traffic sped by.

Tong Yun’s car drove on the overpass. Jiang Xi lowered her window halfway.

“Tonight, other artists were sensible and knew how to smooth things over. You should learn more in the future,” Tong Yun said, her tone professional and serious for the most part due to her job. “You’ve been debuted for two years now; some things I shouldn’t have to repeatedly teach you.”

Jiang Xi leaned lazily against the seat back, the wind hitting her face.

A few seconds later, she responded: “Got it.” False.

Tong Yun also knew that Jiang Xi was just paying lip service and wouldn’t remember anything; in two years, she had never seen her learn her lesson.

“If it had been you toasting tonight,” Tong Yun said, her tone casual yet certain, “Lu Nandu would have drunk it.”

Jiang Xi, who had been leisurely looking out the window, turned her head back a few seconds later.

Tong Yun calmly drove, not looking at her: “You and Lu Nandu know each other, don’t you?”

Jiang Xi turned her head to look out the window again: “You’re overthinking it.”

“Jiang Xi,” Tong Yun said, “eyes don’t lie.”

There were too many clear-headed people late at night, solitary souls in the darkness. Jiang Xi couldn’t hide it from a clear-headed person like Tong Yun.

The asphalt road rapidly receded. She lowered her gaze, no longer denying it, nor asking how Tong Yun had found out.

Tong Yun, however, said: “When you entered the private room, you two looked at each other, didn’t you? The way he looked at you was off, different from how he looked at others.”

The eye contact between them lasted less than a second, a very short time. Jiang Xi hadn’t expected Tong Yun to have noticed it then.

She chuckled: “As expected of Sister Tong Yun.” Otherwise, how could she have climbed to her current position?

Tong Yun drove her car off the overpass: “There are so many people trying to get close to Lu Nandu now, but very few actually catch his eye.”

She glanced at Jiang Xi: “You’re one of them.”

Jiang Xi said nothing.

Tong Yun didn’t say anything more, stopping once her point was made.

Soon, they arrived at Jiang Xi’s home. Tong Yun dropped her off at the residential area’s entrance: “Don’t be too idle lately. I’m negotiating a resource for you. If it goes through, you’ll be starting work again soon.”

Jiang Xi was still able to get resources thanks to her face.

Perhaps because of that face, the company had never shelved her.

“Got it,” Jiang Xi said before getting out of the car.

________________________________________

The Ferrari sped on the airport highway.

Shen Zexiao checked the time: “One o’clock. Zhuo Pei should be in Beijing by now.”

Shen Zexiao and Zhuo Pei were childhood friends, and both had a good relationship with Lu Nandu; the three often hung out together.

Zhuo Pei had been on a business trip abroad two months ago and was returning tonight. Lu Nandu hadn’t brought an assistant to the dinner party tonight because he and Shen Zexiao were coming to pick up Zhuo Pei.

Upon reaching the airport, Shen Zexiao parked the car outside and called Zhuo Pei.

The call was answered quickly. Shen Zexiao asked: “Where are you?”

Zhuo Pei said he was waiting for his luggage and asked for their location.

Shen Zexiao said: “We’re right outside the airport, red Ferrari.”

“Bought another car?” Zhuo Pei asked.

Shen Zexiao joked: “Just have money burning a hole in my pocket.”

Ten minutes later, Zhuo Pei emerged from the airport, a man in a long trench coat, with defined features and a gentle, refined demeanor.

From behind the windshield, Shen Zexiao told Lu Nandu: “The Zhuo Pei type always do well. Your assistant is also like that, isn’t he?”

Shen Zexiao was referring to Qin Jin, asking Lu Nandu: “Do they look alike?”

Lu Nandu had been quiet the whole way: “No.”

Compared to Qin Jin, Zhuo Pei’s temperament was colder and more distinguished, being from an old prominent family.

Zhuo Pei put his suitcase in the trunk and got into the car, asking Lu Nandu in the passenger seat: “Not busy tonight?”

Lu Nandu turned his head and glanced at him: “It’s alright.”

Zhuo Pei smiled: “Rare to have time not to be busy.”

Shen Zexiao had already started the car: “What do you mean not busy? He just came from a dinner party.”

Zhuo Pei glanced at him: “You went too?”

Shen Zexiao: “Damn, don’t flatter me. If I went, the dinner party would turn into a nightclub scene.”

Lu Nandu in the passenger seat chuckled softly.

Zhuo Pei also laughed. He asked Lu Nandu: “Recent collaboration?”

Lu Nandu rested one hand on the car window, looking outside: “Not really.” He wasn’t planning to say more.

Shen Zexiao, feeling mischievous, chimed in: “It’s not about collaboration. He went to see a woman.”

Zhuo Pei raised an eyebrow, intrigued. He hadn’t heard any gossip about Lu Nandu in a long time: “A woman?”

Lu Nandu couldn’t be bothered with them.

Shen Zexiao turned his head: “Still the same type, the fairy-like ones.”

Lu Nandu “tsk”ed, turning his head: “Aren’t you annoying?”

Shen Zexiao, asking for a beating, said: “I really am annoying enough.”

Zhuo Pei told him: “I think you’re really asking for a beating.”

Realizing Lu Nandu didn’t particularly like talking about this topic, Shen Zexiao didn’t bring it up again.

________________________________________

The three of them chatted idly, heading straight to a club.

Tonight, Shen Zexiao didn’t invite anyone else from their circle; it was just the three of them getting together. The service staff were familiar with them and expertly arranged a private room for the young masters.

Among the three, Lu Nandu and Shen Zexiao could hold their liquor well, while Zhuo Pei couldn’t drink much, only having a few glasses.

Lu Nandu didn’t say much tonight. It was mostly Shen Zexiao and Zhuo Pei talking, staying up all night.

As dawn broke, Lu Nandu retrieved his suit jacket from beside the sofa and stood up.

Shen Zexiao leaned back against the sofa, watching him: “Where are you going?”

Lu Nandu kicked his foot and held out his hand: “Car keys.”

Shen Zexiao glanced out the window, the morning light just breaking: “Damn, you’re not going to work, are you?”

Lu Nandu: “What do you think?”

“No way, Mr. Lu, you haven’t slept all night. Aren’t you tired?”

Lu Nandu’s shirt collar was slightly disheveled, carrying the languid weariness of an all-night drinking session.

He fastened his cufflink and kicked Shen Zexiao again: “Stop talking nonsense, keys.”

“Alright, alright, alright.” Shen Zexiao pulled out his car keys and tossed them to him.

Zhuo Pei came out of the restroom just as the door closed. He glanced at the door.

Shen Zexiao, on the sofa, gestured towards the door with his chin: “Lu Nandu left.”

Zhuo Pei walked back to the sofa and sat down, pulling a tissue to wipe his hands: “Going back to work?”

Shen Zexiao nodded: “Probably.”

“What was that about you seeing a woman last night?” Zhuo Pei asked.

Shen Zexiao was still sprawled on the sofa, turning his gaze to him: “You pretty much get the idea.”

Shen Zexiao retracted his gaze: “Lu Nandu usually wouldn’t even look at a dinner party like last night’s.”

It was common knowledge in the industry that it was difficult to get a meeting with Lu Nandu. Businessmen didn’t care for sentimentality, only profit. Lu Nandu rarely attended dinner parties, let alone one as low-key as last night’s.

“What’s the woman’s name?”

Shen Zexiao: “Not sure, a minor celebrity.”

Zhuo Pei chuckled: “I’ve never seen him like this.”

Shen Zexiao and Zhuo Pei had met Lu Nandu during their years abroad, but they truly heard about Lu Nandu’s reputation back in China.

The upper-class circle was small, and any family mishap quickly spread throughout it. Family feuds and scandals were always a topic of eager discussion.

Lu Nandu had appeared out of nowhere at that time.

A seventeen-year-old boy, standing at the cusp of controversy, subjected to public scrutiny and malicious speculation.

Illegitimate child, unruly and defiant, cruel and dark at a young age. This was the fixed impression many people had of the Lu family’s illegitimate son at the time.

So, before truly knowing Lu Nandu, Shen Zexiao and Zhuo Pei’s impressions of him were similar to those of outsiders. They also thought Lu Nandu was playful and cynical.

It wasn’t until they started hanging out together that they realized he wasn’t as outsiders described.

Zhuo Pei asked: “Did he meet her?”

Shen Zexiao sat up straight, picked up the cigarette pack from the table, took one out, and put it in his mouth: “He met her, but didn’t talk to her.”

Zhuo Pei was a bit surprised.

“Do you know?” Shen Zexiao threw the lighter back onto the table, “He didn’t even dare to approach her.”

It was as if he was carefully protecting something, or afraid of something.

Neither of them had ever seen Lu Nandu like this; it was quite novel. At least in all the years they had known him, they had never seen Lu Nandu afraid of anyone, not even his decisive maternal grandfather could control him.

Zhuo Pei chuckled, concluding: “Ex-girlfriend.”

Shen Zexiao looked at him and smiled too: “Coincidentally, I figured as much.”