Chapter 6

The day after tomorrow, a light autumn rain began to fall from early morning. The weather forecast had predicted a temperature drop, and sure enough, it cooled down.

The entire city was shrouded in misty gray water-colored skies, resembling a traditional ink painting, as if diluted ink could drip down at any moment.

Just the day before, skirts that barely covered the legs were still wearable, but today, jackets were necessary. Yi Siling’s knees turned rosy in the cold wind. “So cold,” she muttered, clasping her icy hands and gazing absentmindedly out the window.

The stylist had styled numerous A- List celebrities for standout appearances yet remained on guard before Yi Siling. This top-tier socialite from Hong Kong City naturally radiated a starry aura, catching people’s attention. She didn’t want to tarnish her reputation.

“We’re not as warm as Hong Kong Island over here. It’s not even the coldest time yet; in two months, it’ll start snowing.” The stylist said gently, skillfully crafting an elegant and graceful Chinese-style bun for her.

She was stunning, almost too much to look at directly, like a bright moon. The stylist thought she suited a dignified and noble Chinese style perfectly.

Yi Siling blinked. “Yes, Beijing is a place where it snows.”

Only snow was something Hong Island lacked.

“I happen to have brought a set of snow-themed jewelry. Let’s accessorize with that later.”

The stylist nodded with a smile, heading off to choose hairpins that matched the snow theme, and instructing the assistant to turn up the heating.

The Chi family’s cocktail parties were always high-profile, with even the makeup artists invited being popular celebrities from the first and second tiers.

The core business of the Chi family was digital media, with its subsidiary, Xinying Group, owning one of the top three online video platforms in the country. They invested heavily in movies and TV dramas each year, making them the invisible powerhouse behind the entertainment industry. Inviting so many celebrities was not uncommon.

The cocktail party was held at a newly opened luxury hotel owned by the Xie family, also serving to promote the hotel.

Such reciprocal resource exchanges were common in the circle, but any benefits or advantages were typically kept within their circle, making it almost impossible for outsiders to benefit.

At six-thirty, guests started arriving one after another.

Women in gorgeous evening gowns fluttered elegantly through the banquet hall, which was lightly and diversely scented. Chi Huanli raised his wrist to check the time, once again complaining about Xie Xunzhi’s unreliability. He was the most meticulous one; once he promised to come, he would never be late.

But today, against all odds, he was fifteen minutes late.

More than ten minutes later, Chi Huanli was smoking in the corridor when he happened to catch sight of Xie Xunzhi at the elevator.

“What’s going on? It’s my place after all, can’t you give me a little face?” Chi Huanli walked over-familiar, pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and offered one.

Xie Xunzhi accepted it out but didn’t light it, holding the cigarette holder with his slender fingers. His voice was warm and calm. “Something held me up. I apologize.”

Chi Huanli was truly helpless against Xie Xunzhi. Although he was the most capital-arrogant person in Sijiu City, he insisted on being humble and courteous. What more could she say?

“Apologizing is killing me. Even if you stood me up, I’d have no way.” Chi Huanli flicked the ash off the cigarette, glancing at him several times. There was something off, but he couldn’t pinpoint it for the moment.

As they conversed, they walked towards the venue. Chi Huanli caught a glimpse of the diamond-studded watch on Xie Xunzhi’s wrist from the corner of his eye, took a puff of smoke, and suddenly realized, “You’re different today.”

Xie Xunzhi glanced at him.

Chi Huan Li: “You never wear such flashy watches.”

The Patek Philippe Grand Complications Perpetual Calendar worth over twenty million yuan, with two rows of diamonds, was priceless and considered an artistic masterpiece among artistic masterpieces.

Only now did Chi Huanli scrutinize Xie Xunzhi, keenly observing not only the diamond watch but also a small platinum diamond brooch with a snowflake pattern pinned at the corner of his lapel. Even his suit was different; instead of the usual deep black, it was a more refined and elegant pigeon gray.

“You never dress this flamboyantly!”

“Oh my, like a peacock flaunting its feathers? You’re stealing my lime light!”

Chi Huanli felt that he was completely outdone by his own outfit.

With a height of nearly two meters, a strong yet slender figure, neatly combed hair, standing there like a from a poster, like a luxury item from the Orient.

Xie Xunzhi chuckled at the comment, calmly stating, “I wear whatever the stylist picks for me. I don’t inquire about these things.”

Who would believe that statement?

Chi Huanli wondered if he had invited any important guests; could it be that rising starlet who was stealing the limelight? Impossible, he immediately dismissed the thought.

Anyone could date female celebrities, but not Xie Xunzhi.

“Who caught your eye?” he asked curiously.

Xie Xunzhi casually tossed the squashed cigar holder into the trash. “Don’t gossip.” He was not a smoker; he only occasionally sampled a cigar. Addictive substances were off-limits for him.

The waiter opened the thick hall doors, and a complex aroma wafted in, along with the gazes of the entire banquet hall.

Chi Huanli waved and greeted a few acquaintances while quietly chatting with Xie Xunzhi, “But aren’t you supposed to be getting married? It’s just a small cocktail party; why dress so extravagantly?”

A server passed by with a tray. Xie Xunzhi took a champagne flute and calmly scanned the room without a change in expression, then withdrew. “Attending Mister Chi’s party seriously is the least I should do.”

Chi Huan Li: “”

As soon as the two appeared, a steady stream of guests came over to toast them, even those unfamiliar sought ways to be noticed.

Seeing Chi Huanli presented many opportunities, after all, he enjoyed high-class and lively gatherings. If invited, he was likely to attend, but Xie Xunzhi was different.

Very few events could get the attention of the Young Prince of the Xie Family, and those who aimed for him were mostly disappointed.

He only occasionally participated in the core socialite circles.

It seemed lively all around

“Isn’t it surprising that both the Young Prince and the Second Miss are here today?”

“It’s a Chi family event… not unusual.”

The man swirled his glass, glanced toward a slant, and rubbed his hands together, “Wait for me, I’m going to show my face to the Second Miss!”

Xie Mingsui was also attending the cocktail party.

She had recently been promoted to CFO at the headquarters of the Lan Yao Group. Xie Xunzhi’s right-hand person, a general invitation sent to Xie Xunzhi, would also not forget to send one to the Second Miss Xie. Unable to invite the Young Prince of the Xie Family, she was welcome at the party. If both could come together, it meant there was a face to the occasion.

Xie Mingsui searched the room for her older brother. Interrupted by a few acquaintances, greeting cost her time, her eyes roved, finally resting on a man in a gray pinstripe suit.

Having removed and reappeared, she fixated on him.

She froze, swiftly moved, and exclaimed, “Big Brother?”

Only then did she see Chi Huanli was there too. She pursed her lips. “President Chi.”

” Xie Mingsui, long time no see.” Chi Huanli smiled at her, rubbing fingertips at his side.

“Just arrived?” Xie Mingsui asked.

“Yeah, finished the meeting and came straight over.” Therefore, there was no time to change into formal wear and still wore a business suit.

A stiff pink suit, wide leg, nude stiletto shoes, painted the light makeup, gentle and clean, in the golden scene not inferior,  Like an orchid in a unto even unto can even

Chi Huanli: “Where are you going?”

“Having a smoke,” Xie Xunzhi replied in a calm tone.

Chi Huanli: “Did I hear you wrong?”

Suddenly impatient, Xie Xunzhi was about to leave when the scene abruptly stirred. Faintly, it seemed that someone highly anticipated had arrived, like a black hole drawing all attention in the room.

Following the gaze of the crowd, Chi Huan Li’s eyes froze momentarily, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. “Who’s that?”

He had personally reviewed tonight’s guestlist; there shouldn’t be anyone he didn’t recognize.

A female star arriving an hour late at the Chi family’s event and being so ostentatious—it was practically an affront to the entertainment industry.

Never punctual at any gathering, meal, or banquet was Yi Siling’s most criticized principle.

To invite her meant enduring a series of her quirks. The wives and misses of Hong Kong had plenty to criticize, but they couldn’t not invite her. It was a delicate balance; offending Yi Siling meant offending the Yi family.

Moreover, if Yi Siling couldn’t be invited, it meant the event wasn’t prestigious enough.

In the Hong Kong socialite scene, Yi Siling is equated too expensive and high-class.

However, Yi Siling seemed to have forgotten one thing—this was Beijing, not her turf. She wasn’t invited to this banquet at all; she had somehow acquired the invitation.

Yi Siling swayed through the scene, arrogant under all those gazes. Her long, porcelain legs were tantalizingly visible under the thin silk gown embroidered with French beads, featuring a cinched waist design  Like a fishbone, revealing a generous amount of her chest, as if coated in soft, white goose fat.

Around her neck, a complex, high pearl necklace with over a dozen snowflake designs piled up was a set of snow-themed jewelry designed for her by the former chief designer of the jewelry brand Jandoul, unique worldwide.

Seeing her shine brightly upon entering, Xie Mingsui was astonished, unable to close her mouth. “Isn’t that…”

Chi Huan Li: “Do you know her?”

“It’s my sister-in-law,” Xie Mingsui whispered, tightening her grip on her glass.

Chi Huanli didn’t hear clearly and was about to ask again when Xie Xunzhi returned a couple of steps back. He handed the glass to Xie Mingsui, and Chi Huanli looked at him strangely. “Weren’t you going to smoke?”

Xie Xunzhi: “Changed my mind.”

Chi Huanli found it quite strange.

Yi Siling made a circuit of the venue, not recognizing anyone except for some blazing stars. The socialite circles in Beijing were indeed different from those in Hong Kong.

There were about a dozen people at the scene. God knows who Xie Xunzhi is. Can’t you just grab a person and ask them?

Yi Siling was upset and walked away from the dessert table, refusing to be accosted by three men.

“Where did the girl come from? The tune is also very high. Look at that waist and hip. “

“Not in our circle, no, you have to grow up like this and not hear it.”

Her companion laughed: “Mr. Qi, the beauty of the United States, was not seen, not to be in one.”

understood

Yi Siling was debating between the lychee rose or the grapefruit flavors for her cocktail when suddenly, within her line of sight, a pair of hands with distinct knuckles leisurely grasped a glass of purple wine.

Grapefruit it was. This wine had a beautiful name: Misty Lover.

Yi Siling blinked. Those hands were remarkably beautiful—long and slender fingers to jade knots, distinctly visible bones and merits.

Wrapped around the slender wrist was a precious watch, the snow-white shirt cuff devoid of any creases.

Beautiful hands and a beautiful watch!

Yi Siling decided she wanted to buy one for herself.

Following her gaze, her eyelashes lifted, and she looked up at the owner of those hands.

A stranger, yet not entirely unfamiliar. They had met once before.

Two weeks ago, in Hong Kong, the stranger who had stooped to pick up her lipstick. She remembered very clearly—his handsome features, unforgettable demeanor, and coldness that day that had irked her.

But her temper came and went quickly, and that annoyance was long forgotten.

“Is it you?” Yi Siling exclaimed in surprise and delight. He was the only person around she could engage in conversation with!

Xie Xunzhi held up the rim of his champagne glass. “Hello.”

“Do you remember me? In Hong Kong, you picked up my lipstick,” Yi Siling’s smile was confident, and she had no doubt he remembered her.

No man could meet her and forget her afterward. Unless he was gay.

Xie Xunzhi didn’t seem to recall quickly. After a moment’s thought, he seemed to have an impression. “I remember now.”

Yi Siling frowned slightly, a bit critical that it took him a while to remember, wondering what kind of man he was.

But still smiling, she picked up a glass of the same cocktail and clinked it with him. “What a coincidence to meet here.”

In the crisp sound of the glasses clinking, Xie Xunzhi said calmly, “Coincidence.”

“Are you from Beijing?” Yi Siling could tell from his tone of voice, deep and cool, that his Mandarin was much more standard than hers.

Xie Xunzhi nonchalantly replied, “Yes,” and took a sip of champagne.

Yi Siling’s smile grew warmer, and she stepped closer, looking up at him.

The height difference between them created a sense of imbalance. Despite his refined demeanor, there was an aura of dominance about him. Yi Siling didn’t notice it because still, waters ran deep.

“Then I’d like to ask you about someone,” she fluttered her thick, curly eyelashes, each clearly defined, her red lips like intoxicated.

“Go ahead.”

Yi Siling requested help with a gentle tone, “Do you know Xie Xunzhi?”

Xie Xunzhi furrowed his brow slightly, finding her voice overly sweet. After a few seconds of thought, he replied, “Yes.”

Yes? Was that all it took to know someone?

Yi Siling felt a surge of joy; it was effortless. “Could you point him out to me? I need to talk to him.”

She looked at the man in front of her expectantly, slowly noticing the extra bit of intrigue about him,  like a lion eyeing its prey but not rushing into action.

Xie Xunzhi tightened his grip on his wine glass, the purple liquid swirping inside. “What for?”

Yi Siling paused, unsure why he was asking so many questions. She wasn’t looking for him, but she wasn’t willing to let the opportunity slip. Her tone became solemn, “It’s a matter of great importance.”

Xie Xunzhi raised an eyebrow slightly, his deep and enigmatic gaze flickering over her. His tone remained casual, “What kind of important matter are you looking for me for, miss?”