Jing Li turned his head and saw a young man around his age smiling at him. The man’s delicate and fair features seemed unfamiliar. He was holding a glass of red wine that swayed carelessly, exuding a nonchalant air.
Yet Jing Li keenly sensed a hint of hostility directed at him.
Jing Li hesitated, instinctively giving the man a once-over while searching his memory for any information about him, but found nothing. With an apologetic smile, he asked hesitantly, “Excuse me, but who are you…?”
He then saw the young man’s expression change slightly, a flicker of distortion crossing his face.
“Tan. Li. Xiao.” The young man gritted out his name.
Anyone who has harbored resentment against an enemy for years would probably not feel comfortable when they finally meet, only to have that person fail to recognize them.
It was as if all those years of animosity and antagonism had been a one-man show.
Thinking this, Tan Lixiao’s expression worsened, but he had to restrain himself given the current occasion, resulting in an almost comical, bizarre look on his face.
Tan Lixiao?
Jing Li had heard the name mentioned twice before and was not unfamiliar with it. Now that he finally met the person, he couldn’t help but give him another look.
Quite a delicate appearance, seemingly from a privileged background.
But that was about it.
Jing Li felt no particular connection with him, so he politely smiled and greeted, “Hello.”
“Someone is calling me over there. I’ll take my leave for a moment.” With that, he nodded courteously at Tan Lixiao and turned to continue walking towards Li Yuanpeng.
“Heh, I didn’t expect that even after all these years, you still enjoy hanging around that crowd.” Tan Lixiao suddenly let out a mocking laugh from behind, his tone clearly tinged with contempt. He first glanced at the group of dissolute youths in the corner, then refocused his gaze on Jing Li. “I see that apart from your age, nothing else has changed about you.”
“Thank you. I suppose it’s because I was well taken care of at home, which keeps my skin looking youthful.” Jing Li smiled politely at him, seemingly oblivious to the sarcasm in his words. His gaze even lingered on Tan Lixiao’s face for a few seconds. “You don’t look too bad yourself.”
With that, he didn’t linger any longer and walked away.
Tan Lixiao: “……”
Damn! Who was praising your youthful good looks!
However, before he could react, Jing Li had already walked away.
Tan Lixiao was instantly enraged, gritting his teeth. Catching sight of a figure entering through the main door, his eyes instantly lit up, and he quickly strode in that direction.
What did Jing Li matter? Even if he had always overshadowed Tan Lixiao before, with the person now by his side, he could completely crush Jing Li under his feet!
*
Of course, Jing Li was unaware of Tan Lixiao’s complicated thoughts as he headed toward the corner sofa.
“Come, have a seat here,” Li Yuanpeng called out, rising to greet him. His gaze swept over Tan Lixiao, and he said in a low voice, “What did you say to Tan Lixiao earlier? I saw his face turning blue.”
“Hahaha, does our Er Shao even need to say anything? Just standing there would make Tan Lixiao’s face turn blue.”
“Hey, hey, look, that must be the legendary boyfriend Tan Lixiao brags about. You see how smug he looks? Oh, he’s looking this way now.”
……
The group gossiped away, and Jing Li turned to look as well, meeting Tan Lixiao’s gaze. He then saw Tan Lixiao suddenly tilt his chin up, tightening his grip on the man beside him in a blatant display of smugness.
The man he was holding glanced at him, then also looked over in their direction.
However, the next second, Tan Lixiao abruptly paused, leaning in to say something to the man in a coaxing manner, causing the man to immediately avert his gaze.
Jing Li gave them a cursory glance before turning away, clearly uninterested in their interaction.
However, those around him continued to be amused.
“Hahahaha, did you see how nervous he looked? Is he afraid of being stolen away again?”
“Come on, would our Er Shao even look twice at someone like him?”
“True, he didn’t bother with him before, and he definitely won’t now.”
……
The group laughed and joked, apparently treating the scene across from them as entertainment.
However, their attitude towards Jing Li, who had once again become the subject of gossip, was markedly different from before. Their words were now laced with caution, as if afraid of offending him with a single misspoken word.
Jing Li listened silently as they spoke, not uttering a word.
Although they were a bit dandy, this group knew how to read the situation.
Previously, the original Jing Li’s temperament and behavior were unrefined, so their attitude towards him was casual.
However, after the recent incident, they clearly sensed that something about Jing Li had quietly changed. In addition, they had personally witnessed Jing Yu’s attitude towards his only younger brother, so their perception of him had subtly shifted.
Especially now that Jing Li was the first among them to have a legitimate career, even if it was in the entertainment industry they once looked down upon, they no longer harbored disdain. In fact, they even felt a sense of admiration for his courage in pursuing his dreams.
“That said, Jing Li, you should still be careful,” Zhou Li said, glancing at Jing Li with uncharacteristic seriousness. “Based on Tan Lixiao’s attitude earlier, I’m sure he’s going to try some mischief later.”
“Back in high school, he didn’t get along with Jing Li. Now he’s got some big shot backing him up, so he’s bound to strut around smugly,” Li Yuanpeng scoffed. “I think he just hasn’t learned his lesson. If he dares to start anything, we can make him run off overseas again, or even make him leave for a second time!”
“Don’t be so absolute. His new backer doesn’t seem like someone to mess with,” Fang Yi assessed the man beside Tan Lixiao, frowning. “Doesn’t his boyfriend look… familiar? He seems like the investment genius Guan Chi from Wall Street.”
“It’s him,” Zhou Li affirmed after a glance. “I’ve met him once before when I accompanied my dad to discuss a partnership with his family. I wouldn’t mistake him. And since he joined the Guan family, his father even left him in charge of the household. I just didn’t expect that he and Tan Lixiao would get together.”
“The same Guan Chi whose sharp eye for investments ensures every project he touches rakes in massive profits?”
“Not every project, I think. Didn’t he misjudge one investment, and Gu Tingshen had a hand in it?”
“Gu Tingshen?” Jing Li, who had been listening quietly, couldn’t help but look up at the familiar name.
“Yeah. I forgot the specifics, but Guan Chi rejected that project outright, even claiming the other party would go bankrupt. But Gu Tingshen took it on and ended up making a huge profit. It caused quite a stir back then.”
Jing Li tried to recall the incident, feeling a sense of familiarity, but couldn’t remember the details at the moment. He decided to look into it later when he had the chance.
High society gatherings were ostensibly about maintaining connections, but in reality, they were just different ways of flaunting one’s power and expanding networks.
When the banquet started, the Tan family patriarch took the stage to deliver some perfunctory remarks before introducing the highlight—their younger son’s boyfriend and soon-to-be fiancé, Guan Chi. He also announced the couple’s upcoming engagement and invited the guests to attend.
The Tan family already held a prominent position in high society circles. Now, with the formidable alliance with the Guan family’s head of household, Guan Chi, especially with one domestic and one overseas, their prospects would only improve.
Sensing an opportunity, the guests enthusiastically engaged with the hosts, their flattery and obsequiousness becoming increasingly apparent.
Jing Li and the group of young socialites had already moved to join their families when the banquet began. Once the host had finished speaking, they mingled with drinks in hand, playing their roles perfectly.
Jing Li also followed his brother. As one of the few people at the top of the circle, the Jing family didn’t need to actively seek out connections. However, there were still those who came to forge ties with them. With Gu Tingshen by their side, they stood out even more than the hosting family, appearing busier.
Jing Li felt a little tired after standing for a while, and since he hadn’t eaten much all afternoon, he couldn’t help but feel a little hungry.
He glanced around, then softly said to his brother, “Ge, I’ll go grab something to eat over there.”
Jing Yu turned to look at him and thought for a moment before leaning closer and saying, “There are only some ready-made fruits and pastries over there. Just fill your stomach for now, and I’ll take you out for a proper meal later.”
Jing Li smiled in acknowledgment, then asked, “Do you want anything?”
Seeing Jing Yu shake his head, he was about to step away when Gu Tingshen suddenly leaned in and remarked, “Aren’t you going to ask me too, Xiao Jing?”
Jing Li paused, turning to look at him before obligingly asking, “Do you want anything?”
“No, just fill yourself up first,” Gu Tingshen replied with a wink, clearly teasing him on purpose.
Noticing Jing Li’s exasperated glare, he let out an amused chuckle, prompting Jing Yu to scold him playfully, “What’s wrong with you?”
“It’s such a boring occasion, why don’t you have some fun for yourself.” Gu Tingshen replied with a smile, watching as Jing Li’s figure disappeared into the crowd.
Just as he was about to look away, he noticed a figure on the other side staring intently in Jing Li’s direction, before eventually following after him.
Gu Tingshen paused for a moment, his expression gradually becoming calmer as he discreetly observed the situation unfolding.
Oblivious to the fact that he was being watched, Jing Li made his way to the snack area. After scanning the array of pastries on the table, he set down his wine glass and reached for a plate to select some nibbles.
However, as soon as his hand stretched out, another hand appeared, simultaneously grasping the edge of the plate.
Jing Li froze, quickly withdrawing his hand and offering an apologetic smile to the other person. “I’m sorry, I didn’t notice anyone else. Please, go ahead.”
Upon looking up, he realized it was Guan Chi, whom he had just seen on stage earlier.
“It was my rudeness.” Guan Chi politely smiled back. Upon seeing Jing Li’s face clearly, a hint of awe flashed in his eyes. He then directly handed the plate to Jing Li with a gentlemanly smile, “Since you reached for it first, please, you go ahead.”
“Thank you.” Jing Li nodded at him, not hesitating to take the plate and grab the food tongs nearby, beginning to select the pastries that caught his eye.
Guan Chi stared at Jing Li’s slender, fair hands for a moment, scanning the surroundings before his lips curved upwards, noticing a piercing gaze. He then turned back to the youth before him, smiling, “Are you here with your family elders? I’m Guan Chi. I don’t visit the capital often. May I have your name?”
Jing Li smiled, about to introduce himself, when the weight of the tongs suddenly increased, nearly causing the pastry he had grasped to drop. He swiftly raised the plate in his other hand to catch it.
“Let me help you.” Guan Chi reached out to steady Jing Li’s arm, but whether intentional or not, his action nearly enveloped Jing Li entirely in his embrace.
From behind, they appeared intimately entwined, exuding a palpable ambiguity.
Caught off guard by the stranger’s touch, Jing Li tensed, instantly alert and ready to step away.
However, before he could move, hurried footsteps approached from behind. His arm was abruptly yanked, causing the plate to tilt outwards, spilling the pastries onto the floor.
Frowning, Jing Li looked up to see Tan Lixiao glaring at him with jealousy, his tone scathing: “What is this, Jing Er Shao? Unsatisfied with taking what was mine before, now you’re setting your sights on my fiancé?”
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