Miss Xu Nanyin was used to being the center of attention.
Back in Port City, she often attended all sorts of events and was no stranger to being in the spotlight.
It was just that today, here, she didn’t recognize any of the people watching her.
Of course, she knew full well that they were also watching the man beside her.
For a moment, Miss Xu Nanyin couldn’t tell if these people were surprised by their looks, or if there was some other reason.
Maybe it was because Mr. Song Huaixu had come to the banquet without a mask.
With her own mask on, Miss Xu Nanyin looked around the hall without a care.
“Huai Xu-ge, if you acted like this in Port City, people would talk about you for not following the rules.”
Mr. Song Huaixu let out a soft laugh.
“But this is Ning City.”
His voice was so low that only she could hear: “Besides, which rule says you have to wear one?”
Miss Xu Nanyin thought, as expected of a businessman.
The rules were written out, but he’d always look for any loophole outside the rules.
For instance, the theme of this banquet was written as a Masquerade Ball, so everyone naturally wore masks.
But it never said it was required—so his actions were beyond reproach, and no one could fault him.
“Do you know the girl who came in with your big brother?”
Yue Yajun watched the two of them walk into the banquet hall together.
At this moment, she was so delighted she could hardly control her expression, but fortunately, no one was paying attention to her.
After all, Mr. Song Huaixu—whom others could only dream of inviting—was attending her Birthday Banquet. Just think how much face that gave her, how much glory.
If only… he hadn’t brought that girl.
“Never seen her before, but she’s really pretty.”
Song Tingchuan couldn’t take his eyes off her. He was someone who simply enjoyed life as the second generation, and knew very little about his big brother’s private affairs, the one who held power.
When did Big Brother come back from Port City?
And how was the marriage alliance over there going?
“But he’s never been close to women. For him to be so high-profile this time, maybe it’s just like you said—something good is about to happen.”
Yue Yajun took a deep breath and smiled.
“Let’s go say hello.”
Everyone present was speculating the same thing about their relationship.
They didn’t dare approach. If their elders were here, they’d have already thrown caution to the wind and gone to toast Mr. Song Huaixu.
Because heaven or hell was just a word away for him.
They only dared to send messages to their parents on their phones, but didn’t dare say too much, afraid of upsetting Mr. Song Huaixu.
They didn’t know much about what Mr. Song Huaixu had done, but there was one thing they remembered very clearly.
Five years ago, someone bold enough to try drugging his wine—at the time, Mr. Song Huaixu was twenty-two, and he forced himself through the terrifying effects.
Later, that person—no, the entire family involved—saw their imprisonment and bankruptcy happen in the blink of an eye. Now, they’d vanished without a trace.
Since then, no one dared to mess around again.
Miss Xu Nanyin glanced at Yue Yajun, who was slowly walking over, along with the man beside her, and casually took a glass of wine from a Servant.
“That’s Song Tingchuan, right? I’ve already told Mommy, I don’t want to marry him. I’ll break off the engagement in a few days.”
Mr. Song Huaixu looked sideways at her.
“You don’t know him?”
With so many people wearing masks, how could Miss Xu Nanyin remember?
But she’d seen Yue Yajun’s photo online.
Now, when she was already annoyed with Song Tingchuan, she didn’t bother being polite: “Why would I want to know some playboy? That mask is so ugly.”
Mr. Song Huaixu’s lips curled slightly at the edge of his wine glass.
Her Cantonese was sweet and lively, every gesture and glance animated.
As for her ridicule of Song Tingchuan.
It was subjective, but also very cute.
After speaking, Miss Xu Nanyin looked again at the handsome face of the man beside her.
Not wearing a mask really was nice—at least it was always pleasing to the eye.
Mr. Song Huaixu noticed her gaze and let her look as much as she wanted.
“Song General Manager coming really gives Yajun so much face.”
Yue Yajun quietly let go of Song Tingchuan’s arm, but her voice still trembled as she spoke.
Song Tingchuan had come up by now. Even as brothers, it was hard not to be nervous.
“Big Brother, I didn’t expect you to be back from Port City already. Haven’t seen you in days—what brought you here today?”
Mr. Song Huaixu replied calmly, “Just accompanying someone.”
Miss Xu Nanyin glanced at him again.
What did he mean by that—accompanying her?
She didn’t ask him to come with her, didn’t they just run into each other at the elevator?
Sure enough, the relationship between the two was unusual.
Song Tingchuan couldn’t help asking, “Big Brother, aren’t you going to introduce this lady?”
Miss Xu Nanyin took a step back.
Mr. Song Huaixu tilted his head, “What’s wrong?”
Miss Xu Nanyin softened her voice, speaking innocently, “Sorry, your brother’s mask scared me.”
A barely perceptible smile tugged at the man’s lips.
Miss Xu Nanyin played along, “You can call me Anya.”
That was her English name—everyone in Port City had one.
Many beauties went by their English names, though her nickname was used even more.
If Song Tingchuan couldn’t tell she disliked him by now, he’d be an idiot.
But in front of Mr. Song Huaixu, he could only give an awkward smile.
He brought up what he really wanted to know, “Big Brother, when did you come back from Port City? How did that thing go?”
Miss Xu Nanyin answered directly, “The engagement’s off.”
Song Tingchuan looked at her, then at Mr. Song Huaixu’s calm expression, which clearly meant he agreed. Inside, waves of shock surged.
Big Brother even told this woman such a private matter!
“Really?”
He didn’t want to believe it.
“Yeah.”
Mr. Song Huaixu’s tone was light.
“You have so many scandals, getting dumped is normal.”
“Big Brother…”
Song Tingchuan was already afraid of him, and now he’d been scolded to his face.
He knew his brother was usually cold to the family.
But still, he was the only real younger brother—couldn’t he show a little face, especially with outsiders here?
But all he could do was call out, not daring to react further.
Yue Yajun’s smile froze slightly, her grip tightening on her wine glass.
She knew Song Tingchuan had a so-called engagement, but after all these years, he’d clearly never taken it seriously.
Even appearing with her, only Mrs. Song thought her son had been seduced.
This high-status man hadn’t said a single word to her directly, yet she felt even more embarrassed.
Miss Xu Nanyin saw Song Tingchuan’s face change colors like a palette and couldn’t help but smile.
So Mr. Song Huaixu really stood by reason, not by kin.
From her perspective, the girl knew about the broken engagement, and now the boy did too—there was no difference from officially breaking it off.
She curled her lips, her earlier unhappiness vanishing, and walked lightly toward the long table—she was getting hungry.
Inside the banquet hall, everyone could see Song Tingchuan’s frustration.
Even his usual fawning friends, who called him “Second Young Master” or “Second Young Lord,” were now just drinking in the corners, afraid of being implicated.
“I heard her say the engagement’s off.”
“Song Second Young Master is the one who got dumped…”
“Tsk, by tomorrow even the ones who missed the party will know about this.”
Song Tingchuan, feeling stifled, pulled at Yue Yajun to avoid further embarrassment and downed several drinks.
“I don’t even know who that girl is, and she treats me like that.”
Yue Yajun was absent-minded.
“Well, she was brought by your big brother, and she didn’t even reveal her real identity.”
Song Tingchuan turned his attention to the broken engagement.
“I actually got dumped? If anything, I should be the one breaking it off!”
But he only dared to complain.
Big Brother said it himself—now he’d lost face all over Ning City.
If he’d known, he wouldn’t have come to this banquet.
Yue Yajun’s gaze couldn’t help drifting to the man in the distance.
“Tingchuan, do you think there’s any chance that’s your fiancée?”
“What kind of joke is that?”
Song Tingchuan refused to believe it.
“If she was coming, there’s no way she’d be so close with my big brother. But today’s girl really might be someone he met in Port City. She mixes English and Chinese when she talks.”
When Miss Xu Nanyin comes to Ning City, he’ll make her pay!
“If it weren’t for your dress, I wouldn’t have recognized you with the new mask.”
Fang Heng came over quickly.
“I thought you’d left in a huff.”
Miss Xu Nanyin still remembered he’d told her about Song Tingchuan, but he hadn’t said anything too nasty.
She nodded, but didn’t forget to remind him, “That mask is broken, so don’t bring it up again, okay?”
Fang Heng assumed this was just the temper of a rich young lady—the broken mask had put her in a bad mood, so she didn’t want to hear about it again.
Seeing her walk in with a man like Mr. Song Huaixu, any thought of flirting or chatting up vanished instantly.
Anyone would pick Mr. Song Huaixu.
“Are you and Song General Manager close?” he asked.
“Do we look close?”
Miss Xu Nanyin found it odd.
“Well, closer than us, anyway.”
The point was, this was the first time Song General Manager had brought a woman to such a trivial banquet.
It was hard not to suspect she wanted to come, so he came along.
“I have nothing to do with him.”
Miss Xu Nanyin emphasized, “Song Tingchuan is just a scumbag, but as for Song Huaixu…”
“What about him?”
Suddenly, a deep, magnetic male voice sounded behind her.
A shadow fell over Miss Xu Nanyin, and even her exposed shoulder seemed to heat up.
“How can you eavesdrop on our conversation?”
Mr. Song Huaixu watched her change the subject.
“This is a public place.”
He glanced at Fang Heng, then looked away.
That one indifferent glance made Fang Heng’s heart pound, and he instinctively took a step back, swallowing nervously.
Boss, I really had no thoughts of hitting on her!
As they spoke, Miss Xu Nanyin finished a bite of vanilla Napoleon, and her hand absentmindedly went for another piece, not realizing her plate was empty.
The nearest one was over a meter away.
Mr. Song Huaixu casually brought the full plate to her, lowered his head, and spoke quietly, “You’ve already seen what you wanted to see.”
Miss Xu Nanyin asked, “Doesn’t his family care about him acting like this?”
She asked as if it were only natural—if Song Tingchuan was such a playboy, his big brother should take some blame.
Mr. Song Huaixu’s tone was indifferent.
“I don’t have much to do with them.”
Miss Xu Nanyin nodded.
With an aura that strong, and Song Tingchuan acting like a chick facing an eagle, maybe even their parents were afraid of him.
Miss Xu Nanyin, who was doted on by her parents, could understand.
Mr. Song Huaixu narrowed his eyes and gave her a mocking smile at the sympathy she showed. He really didn’t need it.
“You’re different.”
Miss Xu Nanyin’s voice was soft.
“Song Tingchuan is a jerk. You’re a good person. Hmm… a gentleman.”
She wouldn’t blame him for his brother’s faults.
She wore a silver butterfly mask, her cheeks tinged with pink, like a little fox just out of its den—born to be charming, but unaware of her own allure.
Every move Mr. Song Huaixu made was watched by others.
As soon as he was by Miss Xu Nanyin’s side, the beauties at the party couldn’t tear their eyes away, lingering behind the two of them.
Even from the back, they were a striking pair.
His tall, unique figure, lazy elegance, and the way his hand cut the dessert for the girl—every vein on his hand was sexy and captivating.
If only they were the ones being served.
They stared at the girl’s slender, delicate back.
Her head reached his chin, and even when the man leaned down, she had to tilt her face up.
The girl seemed to enjoy being served by the man, as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
Miss Xu Nanyin didn’t notice at all. She really was spoiled everywhere she went.
“You helped me. If there’s ever anything I can help with, I’ll help you too.”
Mr. Song Huaixu lowered his gaze at her.
“As it happens, there’s something I’d like to consult Miss Anya about.”
Miss Xu Nanyin blinked.
“What is it?”
“If, without consent, someone makes intimate contact with another person—what kind of crime is that in Port City?”
His tone was unhurried, close to her ear.
The crystal chandelier above reflected his deep features, and in his eyes, she could see herself.
He bent slightly, his warm breath brushing against her.
Miss Xu Nanyin felt herself burning up too.
Maybe it was just too crowded in the banquet hall, and the air conditioning was growing weak.
She couldn’t tell if it was the temperature or the deeper meaning behind his words tugging at her heart, making her anxious and her skin itch.
Her craving for touch threatened to surface, impossible to resist.
Why ask about Port City’s law, and why ask her?
Did he recognize her?
Did she slip into her Port City accent earlier?
Miss Xu Nanyin had a bad feeling.
Mr. Song Huaixu looked at her.
When she was nervous, she’d blink more often, and behind the silver butterfly mask, it was as if the butterfly had come to life, wings trembling, about to take flight.
Meeting his deep gaze, Miss Xu Nanyin felt guilty and aggrieved.
“I haven’t memorized the law. I don’t know…”
Actually, she did. It was the crime of indecent assault.
If it was a first offense or minor contact, there would be a Social Service Order or Probation—she’d fall into that category, right?
She really had been the one to make the first move.
He’d even said, “Let go…” but she hadn’t listened.
Although he’d acted in the end, it was at her request, so it counted as her consent.
If it went to court, everyone would know, and the Port City media would write about it over and over.
That would be terrifying.
Miss Xu Nanyin felt even the dessert in her mouth had lost its sweetness.
She asked slowly, “Are you going to press charges?”
Mr. Song Huaixu raised his brows, his voice slow and deliberate.
“I don’t recall saying it was someone else who did it to me.”
“…I was just guessing.”
“Do you know Pinocchio?”
The next moment, the man’s words made Miss Xu Nanyin’s heart jump, her whole body trembling.
“Children who lie will have their noses grow longer.”
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