“Eleanor, what’s wrong with you? Every time I try to talk to you, you just ignore me.” The Zheng Family Third Young Master’s Wife felt neglected and nudged Li Yaru with her elbow.
Li Yaru replied, “I’m not ignoring you. I’m listening.”
“Then what did I just say?”
“You asked if my little butler’s tastes were good or not, big or small, long or short.”
The Zheng Family Third Young Master’s Wife pouted playfully, pretending to hit her. “Don’t mock me! You’re the one who enjoys the good stuff but laughs at me. You’ve been with Mr. Zhuang for twenty years, and now with some little mixed-race from the Three Kingdoms period? How am I supposed to not be jealous?”
Li Yaru sighed. She had only meant to be kind. Up until now, she had only ever been with Zhuang Qiting. Sigh, so embarrassing—might as well just say it.
“When you’ve had enough, lend him to me to play with. I like this type; looks refined and reserved, but in bed, he’s fiercely passionate.” The Zheng Family Third Young Master’s Wife whispered into Li Yaru’s ear.
Li Yaru got goosebumps and felt guilty toward Liang Sijie. She really shouldn’t have brought her tender little Tang Monk to the Pan Silk Cave. “He’s really just my butler. If you like him, then try to charm him on your own. No borrowing. He’s a decent man, and so am I.”
“I’m not stupid.”
“……”
“Well, then I’ll try. When we’re at the yacht party later and my husband’s not around, create some chances for me.”
“…You,” Li Yaru looked at Liang Sijie with complicated feelings. He was quietly enjoying his dinner—he didn’t eat much, was very restrained, and elegant, tasting every dish just lightly.
As she looked his way, Liang Sijie seemed to sense it and lifted his eyes, giving her a faint smile with his lips mouthing— Any instructions, Madam?
Li Yaru clenched her heart but overruled the woman beside her, lowering her voice: “Don’t force him. If he’s not interested, then back off. I don’t care about men and women having fun, but don’t bother him at work.”
“I’m not stupid.”
“……”
“Then I’ll flirt.”
Until everyone departed for the port to board the ship, Li Yaru felt guilty and kept glancing at Liang Sijie. His red lips occasionally pursed, and his brows always held a trace of apology and worry.
Zhuang Qiting’s hand clenched so tightly in his suit pocket he almost crushed it. With tremendous willpower, he forced down the savage instinct that wanted to kill Liang Sijie. Fighting this primal male nature was painful.
He still hadn’t uncovered Liang Sijie’s true identity. From all the information available, this little lapdog was far from simple— in family background or intentions.
He had already made a move against Kurt and had angered his wife. If he acted rashly against Liang Sijie, there would be no way out with his wife. For her sake, he had to endure this cunning, scheming little lapdog.
The banquet was nearing its end, and the next event was about to begin. The yacht was already docked at the port, and cars were ready, waiting for the guests to board.
Tonight’s male lead, Yi Kunshan, patted Zhuang Qiting’s shoulder. “Are you going to the yacht party later? Eleanor will be there too. No need to force yourself if you don’t want to go.”
Zhuang Qiting’s expression was cold as he held an unlit cigarette between his fingers. “No respect. She’s your sister-in-law.”
Yi Kunshan really admired this attitude. No wonder his wife ran off. “Ting-ge, don’t be so serious. We’re all in our forties now. You’ve got to learn to be magnanimous. Turn a blind eye for the sake of your wife and kids. Too rigid breaks easily; too much is never good.”
Zhuang Qiting’s eyes were icy frost. “Is it just you? Don’t pretend to be magnanimous in front of me.”
Yi Kunshan lit a cigarette, exhaling slowly. “You don’t understand women.”
Zhuang Qiting almost laughed. “You don’t either. Even you, Young Master Yi, used to be a playboy.”
Yi Kunshan caught the sarcastic tone and sneered. “No need to mock me. How could I understand? I have a wife, four daughters, an elder sister, a younger sister, and a meddlesome mother-in-law. I do business and investments better than you, and when it comes to dealing with women, I’m millions of times better.”
Zhuang Qiting felt a cold darkness well up inside him, along with jealousy. Yeah, he was lucky—all his kids were boys, no sisters, and before meeting Li Yaru, he’d never dated any woman. The only woman he’d been close to was his mother.
But even she was dominated daily by his father. He had no experience with women, couldn’t grasp how subtle, delicate, soft, contradictory, and unpredictable their hearts truly were.
He had always been the eldest son, the heir to the group, boss of a hundred thousand employees. He only knew how to command others with authority and kindness.
In relationships, he was a blank slate until meeting Li Yaru. He loved her in his own way, spoiled and cared for her, never once thinking if she liked it.
Yi Kunshan stopped bragging and said, “Ting-ge, showing weakness to your own woman is shameful.”
“Is it?” Zhuang Qiting just smiled without expression, handing the cigarette to Yi Kunshan with raised brows to light it.
Passing the cigarette, he thought of his friend’s wife running off but still coming to his wedding anniversary party. He pulled out a lighter and brought it close.
The crisp sound of flame lit the cigarette held between his lips, his face shadowed.
–
Liang Sijie took a lighter from his pocket and, shielding against Jiang Feng, flicked the flame toward the sparkler in Li Yaru’s hand. With a crackle, it ignited.
The small firework bloomed on her fingertip, and Li Yaru’s beautiful eyes sparkled.
She was now on the ship.
On both sides of the harbor stood towering buildings lit with a myriad of lights. Tourists crowded the Star Ferry Pier looking for the perfect angle to capture the night view.
White yachts cruised through Victoria Harbour, unintentionally appearing in the corner of photos.
This seventeen-billion-yuan superyacht was a birthday gift from Yi Kunshan to Liang Yongwen for her thirty-fifth birthday.
It had a full upgrade in parts and decoration two years ago and was maintained to shine like new.
It had five decks, seventeen suites, a deck pool, and a helipad. The yacht was fully equipped with entertainment and featured celebrity performances. Guests on board would party until dawn.
A group of socialites changed into cocktail dresses for the after party and played with fireworks on the deck.
Li Yaru had changed from her restrained yet gorgeous deep blue gown into a brighter, livelier gold short dress.
The yacht had arranged over twenty professional photographers, and Li Yaru was the most photographed. One female photographer almost always caught her on camera.
At nine o’clock, fireworks lit the sky above Victoria Harbour, a fifteen-minute intermittent display blessing the loving couple who had been together over twenty years.
Guests on the ship and passersby on the shore all looked up in awe at the sudden surprise.
Li Yaru sat on a deck sofa, resting her head on one hand. Her slightly intoxicated eyes followed the fireworks, a faint smile on her lips.
She didn’t know that Zhuang Qiting was standing on the upper deck, the only person in this world not watching the fireworks.
From beginning to end, he stared down at her, his gaze as dark and unfathomable as spilled ink.
After the fireworks ended, the ship’s entertainment began. A Brazilian barbecue buffet and colorful cocktail bar were available, and guests moved downstairs to the larger deck to eat, drink, and dance.
The Zheng Family Third Young Master’s Wife came to find Li Yaru to dance, but Li Yaru declined, saying she’d had too much to drink and didn’t want to go.
The Zheng Family Third Young Master’s Wife then said she would borrow Liang Sijie as a dance partner.
“Madam, you’ve been drinking; I don’t feel comfortable.”
The Zheng Family Third Young Master’s Wife giggled, her palm casually sliding onto Liang Sijie’s arm, stroking it. “Handsome guy, there are over thirty servers on this ship. Your Madam doesn’t need you to worry about her. Besides… there’s Mr. Zhuang. A hundred days of marriage, a hundred days of grace. No matter how tough Mr. Zhuang is, he won’t just stand by!”
Li Yaru glared at the woman. Drunk or not, what nonsense was this!
“You go have fun with Mrs. Zheng. Just pretend you’re at the Li Residence. I’ll sit here and enjoy the breeze alone. No need to worry about me.”
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