Once they finished fooling around, Miss Lin Zhijun brought up the billboard mystery.
“I asked my brother, but he wouldn’t tell me. He said the person involved should ask directly.”
Xu Nanyin, being the person involved, wondered, “Why do I have to ask?”
Miss Lin Zhijun propped her chin.
“Maybe it’s private? The person doesn’t want a third party to know? Anyway, it can’t be Zheng Yuze—if he did it, he’d tell you right away.”
She whispered another secret, “But my brother’s been busy coaxing my future sister-in-law. You’d better wait a while before asking.”
Lin Shitang was the family’s eldest son, with a childhood engagement to someone equally distinguished, who’d been studying abroad.
Xu Nanyin couldn’t imagine Brother Shitang coaxing anyone.
“I’ll find out sooner or later. No rush.”
That night, after dinner at the Lin Family, she took a car home.
As the car turned onto the Binhai Highway, Xu Nanyin glanced out the window. Villa No. 75 among the hills was pitch black, as if uninhabited.
“Port City is having a Charity Gala?”
“Yes, Tingchuan, the news just came out. I recently found out I have an old classmate in Port City, so I came to tell you as soon as I heard.”
Song Tingchuan patted his companion’s shoulder.
“Not bad, I didn’t expect you to have such connections. Are there any requirements for this gala?”
Ever since Xu Nanyin left, he’d been thinking about how to win her back.
He’d even sneaked to Port City a few days ago, but wasn’t familiar with the place—he only knew she lived in Deep Water Bay, but not the exact address.
He didn’t see Xu Nanyin, but he did see her photos all over Port City’s billboards—she was truly stunning.
The more he saw, the more motivated he became.
“Well… it’s a bit tough,” the person scratched his head.
“I heard this time it’s organized by the Hong Kong Government, so only people with status can get in—unless you have an Invitation Letter.”
“Aren’t these galas just about spending money? If I’m willing to spend, why wouldn’t they let me in?”
Song Tingchuan didn’t believe it.
“Bro, it’s different. In Port City, these galas are taken seriously—only locals with real clout or fame can get in.”
“In that case, Song Huaixu will definitely get an invite,” the person hesitated, then offered a solution.
“If Mr. Song doesn’t go—”
Ordinary people wouldn’t hear about this until much later.
The day Song Tingchuan was told, a handwritten Invitation Letter from a famous calligrapher had already arrived at Banhu Bay.
Two days prior, an electronic Invitation Letter and Auction Catalog had been sent to Song Huaixu’s private email.
Song Tingchuan begged for ages outside before finally being let into the villa.
When he entered the living room, he saw an Invitation Letter on the table—his eyes lit up. Of course, his big brother had one.
The man was lounging on the sofa, long fingers flipping through a colorful booklet with elegant, lazy movements.
From a distance, Song Tingchuan could only see the pages were colorful. His gaze then landed on the new watch.
When did big brother switch watches?
Song Tingchuan knew his brother had many, but he’d always worn the same one for years.
Song Huaixu’s eyes stayed on the catalog.
“You call for ages outside, and once you’re in, you can’t say a word?”
Song Tingchuan pointed at the Invitation Letter on the table.
“Big brother, I know you don’t like banquets—how about I go instead?”
Song Huaixu glanced at him.
“You, instead of me?”
“That’s right.”
Song Tingchuan nodded.
“I’ll spend my own money—won’t embarrass you.”
“Wishful thinking.”
No one could embarrass him. Song Huaixu closed the Auction Catalog, hiding the image of the Pearl Earrings.
“I’ll go.”
Song Tingchuan let out a disappointed sound and asked, “Can you get me an Invitation Letter?”
Song Huaixu picked up his teacup.
“What will you give me?”
He’d heard these words before.
Song Tingchuan was once again speechless and left empty-handed.
How did he end up with such a big brother!
With that thought, Song Tingchuan sighed.
It was all because of what happened back then, causing his brother to become estranged from the family.
He didn’t know that, by that evening, the master of Banhu Bay had already left Ning City for the gala.
“If I’d known you were auctioning earrings, I’d have prepared the matching necklace so they’d be a set,” Miss Lin Zhijun regretted.
“What’s the point of that? It might not even be the same person who buys them,” Xu Nanyin didn’t get her friend’s logic.
“It shows how close we are!”
Miss Lin Zhijun said.
“I want to scam a sucker too!”
Xu Nanyin couldn’t help but laugh.
“No one would dare let your item go unsold. Besides, Brother Shitang will bid.”
Miss Lin Zhijun winked.
“I already asked my brother—if anyone bids too low for our items, he’ll raise the price.”
“What did he say?”
Xu Nanyin was curious.
“He said don’t worry—even if the sky falls, it won’t happen.”
Miss Lin Zhijun pouted.
“I don’t have his confidence. If we lose to Liang Huimin, I’ll be mad—her future husband will definitely bid.”
Xu Nanyin wasn’t bothered.
Miss Lin Zhijun said, “Zhuzhu, there’ll be a lot of mainland entrepreneurs at the gala—maybe you know someone.”
Xu Nanyin smiled.
Of the people she knew, the only one likely to attend was Song Huaixu.
As they chatted, someone respectfully called for Young Master.
Lin Shitang had returned.
Although Xu Nanyin called him Brother Shitang, she rarely saw him at the Lin Family.
She hadn’t met him many times.
He was always busy at the company or abroad, never around the younger girls.
When Xu Nanyin went out, the refined, upright man was instructing the servants to prepare sobering tea. Seeing her, he turned his head.
“Brother Shitang,” she greeted him.
Lin Shitang nodded in acknowledgment.
Seeing her about to leave, he smiled lightly, “Zhuzhu, don’t you have something to ask me?”
Reminded by him, Xu Nanyin recalled the recent billboard event.
“Brother Shitang, Zhijun said you know who put up those Grand Screens.”
Lin Shitang looked down at her.
“Someone wanted to add a finishing touch for you.”
“Who?”
“Who do you think it is?”
Xu Nanyin wondered if all these important people liked to keep others guessing—they knew the answer but wouldn’t say.
Someone connected to her, who got along well with Lin Shitang—besides Miss Lin Zhijun, only that man who’d come to Port City for tea last time.
“Smart,” Lin Shitang smiled, long fingers resting on his lips.
“Remember, I never said who it was.”
You didn’t say anything anyway.
Xu Nanyin complained inwardly, her mind full of questions as she left.
Why would Song Huaixu do something like this?
The night she left Ning City, her attitude toward him wasn’t exactly friendly—he must have noticed.
Besides, they hadn’t contacted each other at all since.
Was it really just to add a finishing touch?
Xu Nanyin couldn’t figure it out.
She hadn’t even said why she was upset at the time.
Surely he wouldn’t go to such lengths just to cheer her up for no reason.
He wasn’t exactly a kind person.
Xu Nanyin picked up her phone.
She rarely used WeChat—only in Ning City had she used it, and she only had Song Huaixu and his secretary in her contacts.
Should she ask him?
Brother Shitang said not to say he’d told her, but if she asked, it would give it away.
Xu Nanyin didn’t know how to start the conversation.
The screen lit up and dimmed again—she still couldn’t figure out what to say.
Night fell, stars twinkling.
She’d traveled this road home from the Lin Family countless times.
Out of habit, she looked out the car window, her eyes pausing.
That Villa No. 75, which hadn’t lit up at night in so long, was now ablaze with lights—there could only be one reason.
Its true owner had returned.
***
Two days later, the night of the Charity Gala.
Outside the largest, most luxurious hotel in Port City, luxury cars arrived nonstop, media reporters snapping photos, flashes going off everywhere.
When Xu Nanyin arrived with her parents, the banquet hall was already filled with Port City’s local tycoons, celebrities, and pageant queens.
Miss Xu Mother led her around to greet the elders.
Every compliment sounded about the same—good grades, good looks.
Xu Nanyin made the rounds and spotted Liang Huimin among the guests, arm in arm with her fiancé, Dai Hongshu, looking bold and glamorous.
Tonight, only the true socialites of Port City were present—some friends, some rivals.
She and Liang Huimin were the latter.
Of course, it was mostly Liang Huimin who disliked her.
Once most of the girls her age had arrived, Miss Xu Mother whispered, “Go have fun with them.”
She never stopped her daughter from mingling in high society.
Xu Nanyin took a glass of wine from a waiter and walked over to Miss Lin Zhijun.
“You’re early.”
“It’s boring at home anyway,” Miss Lin Zhijun replied.
“You rarely wear lavender—first time showing your knees, too.”
Tonight, Xu Nanyin wore a slim, floor-length lavender gown, nothing like her usual wide-skirted princess dresses.
The lace on the left side fell from her chest, trailing along her leg to the edge of her high heels.
A sheer sash extended from the left side, wrapping around her swan-like neck and fluttering behind her—dreamy, luxurious, and noble.
“You look great too, so sexy,” she returned the compliment.
“Of course, I have to outdo Liang Huimin,” Miss Lin Zhijun said, pressing her chest.
“Zhuzhu, next time write me a prescription for volume here—not asking for much, just enough to be like you.”
Xu Nanyin had no idea how to do that.
The two beautiful girls stood together, smiling brightly, occasionally blushing, drawing many admiring glances.
Liang Huimin strode over in high heels.
“Zhuzhu, why did you only prepare a pair of Pearl Earrings? I remember they were only a little over two million when you bought them?”
Miss Lin Zhijun shot back, “Yours weren’t much more.”
Xu Nanyin smiled.
“No matter how much it fetches, it’s for charity. How do you know it’ll only go for two million?”
Liang Huimin laughed.
“Who’d want earrings that have already been worn?”
Xu Nanyin blinked.
“Then I’ll just have Daddy and Mummy buy them back for me. I only have my parents—unlike you, with a brother and a future husband.”
That always got under Liang Huimin’s skin—her illegitimate brother had been all over the news lately.
“We’ll see about that.”
She lifted her chin.
“Having your own family buy back the auction item is newsworthy too.”
After she left, Miss Lin Zhijun’s focus was elsewhere.
“Zhuzhu, how did she get that figure?”
Xu Nanyin was still thinking of how to comfort her friend when she was suddenly grabbed by the wrist.
“That show-stopping hottie just arrived!”
“Who?”
Miss Lin Zhijun reminded her, “The Mr. Song who had tea with my brother—remember? He’s also your ex-fiancé’s brother. Seeing his face, he’s even colder than my brother…”
Xu Nanyin looked over.
That flawless face, indifferent brows, and striking height—he stood out among everyone in the room.
“That’s really him?”
“Of course, who else but Mr. Song Huaixu.”
Some local celebrities who didn’t follow mainland news were confused.
“Is this Mr. Song a big deal?”
“Don’t ask dumb questions,” a male companion frowned.
“Port City has the Oriental Wall Street, but on New York Wall Street, his name is legendary.”
Xu Nanyin watched him.
Men like him were born dominant—wherever he went, all eyes followed, even in Port City, where he was rarely seen.
Her gaze was subtle, but Song Huaixu looked over.
Xu Nanyin’s eyes froze. She turned her head to look at Miss Lin Zhijun, leaving only her delicate ear facing him.
Still angry?
Song Huaixu couldn’t guess what she was thinking.
“Go on. The others don’t have our advantage. They’re all trying to make connections. Why are you hesitating—just because you were rejected once? That was ages ago,”
Miss Xu Mother nudged her husband, then went to find her daughter.
“He’s wearing the watch Zhuzhu gave him tonight. I’ll go get Zhuzhu.”
Not only did she notice—others did too.
After all, the Xu Family was the city’s watch king.
Their brand logo was unmistakable.
But no one had heard of any connection between the Xu Family and him.
Did he just like their watches?
Xu Nanyin was pulled away from her friends by her mother.
“See? I was only a few minutes late and everyone’s already crowding around him.”
Those who knew his aloof nature were fine, but for the socialites and starlets, this man’s presence was lethally attractive.
Xu Nanyin whispered, “It’s not like you don’t have his contact info.”
Miss Xu Mother replied, “That’s not the same. In front of everyone, we need to show we’re closer than the rest.”
She’d been in showbiz long enough to know how this worked.
Song Huaixu held a glass of wine, people coming and going before him.
Only when someone he cared to acknowledge toasted him would he take a sip.
Many left disappointed, while others tried their luck.
“Mr. Song, long time no see.”
Miss Xu Mother smiled.
“I never thought you’d come to Port City this time.”
After so long, Xu Nanyin caught the familiar scent of oud—subtle, yet overpowering her mother’s perfume.
She could feel his gaze sweep over her, the pressure intense, sending goosebumps down her back.
“How do you like the watch Zhuzhu gave you?”
Miss Xu Mother brought up, seeing she had little else to talk about.
Xu Nanyin’s gaze landed on his wrist.
The watch rested just above his ulna, its cool tone covering his sharpness, incredibly attractive.
The deep blue dial revealed a hint of calm.
She’d chosen blue because it symbolized wealth, power, royalty, and divinity.
But she never imagined Song Huaixu would make it look so sexy.
Last time, in his bedroom, he’d come out of the shower without a watch.
Otherwise, if he’d touched her, the heat of his fingertips and the cold of the watch…
Xu Nanyin stared, lost in thought, missing whatever he answered her mother.
When she looked up again, her mother had already left to talk to others.
It was the first time she’d been left behind.
Her heartbeat skipped, and the curve of her chest rose and fell.
The man, looking down from above, caught the sight unexpectedly, his gaze shifting back to her face.
The confusion in the girl’s eyes hadn’t faded, her lashes fluttering.
It reminded him of that night—the way she’d looked at him when she’d begged for his touch, melting in his arms.
Not far away, Liang Huimin watched like a hawk.
Xu Nanyin never expected she’d be fantasizing about Song Huaixu’s hands in public—her cheeks burned.
“Mr. Song.”
The man’s eyes were calm, his tone casual.
“That’s not what you called me last time when you were holding me.”