The Huangpu River surged relentlessly along both banks, flanked by magnificent skyscrapers that rivaled even the scenic beauty of Victoria Harbour.
Li Yaru slumped heavily in the seat, her legs bent at awkward angles, numb from being cramped.
The dazzling opulence around her blurred into an illusion in the corner of her fading vision.
The venue for Ruibo’s centenary jewelry show was set at the World Reception Hall, surrounded by nonstop traffic that had long since come to a standstill.
The Bentley coasted to a slow stop. Li Yaru’s breathing was ragged as she awkwardly leaned on the armrest, attempting to sit up.
The satisfied man beside her licked his glistening lips and, with a facade of concern, reached out to help her, his voice low and smooth: “Miss Li, is your leg bothering you?”
Li Yaru slapped his chest weakly, forcing out a single word: “Get lost…”
Zhuang Qiting chuckled softly. Not wanting to ruin her makeup, he pressed a kiss to her coiled hair bun.
His voice was laced with a lazy, seductive tone, “You little vixen, I let you have your fill first, so later those wild dogs won’t pester you.”
His mouth was downright poisonous. Li Yaru rolled her eyes so hard she thought they might pop out.
The Bentley entered the VIP Channel, then stopped at the red carpet entrance.
Zhuang Qiting wore a mask and glasses, fully disguised as an inconspicuous Ruibo junior public relations staff member.
As he was about to get out of the car, Li Yaru grabbed his sleeve.
“What is it?”
“I’m still worried about being recognized.”
“Don’t worry.” Zhuang Qiting gently patted the back of her hand, trying to soothe her, “With this disguise, even my own son wouldn’t recognize me. Besides, you’re so beautiful, no one will notice me.”
Li Yaru gave him a half-hearted glance, thinking, Well, who would believe the legendary Zhuang Dalao, famous throughout Hong Kong, would stoop to impersonating a mere Ruibo PR? That’d be madness.
“True enough. I am this beautiful.” Li Yaru murmured.
Zhuang Qiting thought to himself, his wife was just too adorable.
Cameras and flashes surrounded them, magnesium lights flashing fiercely. The moment they got out, Zhuang Qiting frowned.
The thought of photographers scrambling to capture Li Yaru made him feel like his territory was being invaded — an irritation he had to swallow in silence.
Zhuang Qiting’s habitual confident stride was impossible to suppress, years of habit making it second nature.
His aura was imposing as he circled around the sea of flashing lights to Li Yaru’s side and opened the car door for her.
Li Yaru had just emerged from a reverie, her cheeks flushed, eyes glistening, delicate and vulnerable. Her legs were still slightly weak.
As she stepped out, she trembled, nearly twisting her ankle. Quick as a flash, Zhuang Qiting caught her wrist firmly with his strong hand.
That brief touch—her pale skin against his warm wheat-colored tone—ignited a subtle tension between them.
“Careful, Miss Li,” he said gravely.
Li Yaru took a deep breath, steadied herself with his strength, lifted her chin with noble grace, and smiled toward the cameras.
From start to finish, Zhuang Qiting stayed right behind her, admiring her poised, elegant socialite appearance. It made him smile, though his heart overflowed more with tender affection than amusement.
He always recalled her as she was at nineteen—rough around the edges, spirited and untamed, her every frown and smile blazing like a fiery ball striking his heart.
He remembered her rolling her eyes and muttering complaints about him here and there.
More than twenty years had passed since then. She had mastered the art of turning herself into a refined lady, always composed and graceful in public.
He’d hoped she would become a sweet, gentle wife. Only after their divorce did he realize: what he loved was the wild, untamed Li Yaru.
Only the wild Li Yaru was truly Li Yaru.
He had been wildly mistaken all these years, though his pride and dignity had kept him from admitting it.
*
Zhuang Qiting followed Li Yaru into the venue. Ada and Young Master Rui remained outside, waiting.
Inside, the atmosphere was dazzling, decadent.
Ruibo’s five global spokespeople were all present, along with countless specially invited celebrity guests, influential internet personalities, and socialites from around the world whose annual spending exceeded twenty million.
News of Li Yaru’s billion-yuan splurge at Ruibo had long since spread, even making headlines.
Although she ultimately lost to a Middle Eastern Royal Family member who sold oil, coming in a regrettable second place, she remained undeterred.
Next year, she planned to push even harder, determined to rank first in global personal spending.
“Hey, did you see that beauty over there in the dark green gown and headscarf?” Li Yaru whispered to Zhuang Qiting.
“Hm? What about her?” Zhuang Qiting barely glanced up, uninterested in colorful men and women.
Li Yaru’s voice lowered, brimming with quiet determination: “She’s first, I’m second. Next year I’ll definitely outspend her, to support Weiwei.”
Zhuang Qiting’s expression twisted oddly, masked behind his face covering. “I’ve told you many times, Miss Li, it’s my son getting married, not you.”
Li Yaru sneered, “Yeah, well, Zhuang Dalao’s so stingy with alimony, no wonder his ex-wife lost to someone else.”
Zhuang Qiting was left speechless, cut off.
More and more guests came to greet them. Li Yaru stopped whispering, instead giving Zhuang Qiting a cold glance as she fluttered like a bright butterfly, mingling among men and women.
This little vixen, always smiling so brightly at everyone.
Just after greeting an established Hong Kong starlet, another flamboyant Western man appeared, sporting fashionable green short hair and a row of new Ruibo fairy tale earrings along his ear cartilage.
“Baby!! Long time no see!! Mua! Missed you so much!” The man hugged Li Yaru with exaggerated affection, pressing a cheek-to-cheek kiss on her.
“I thought you wouldn’t come. You said you don’t like long-haul flights.” Li Yaru smiled as she hugged him back.
“Not a chance.” The green-haired man gave a flirtatious wink. “I flew five hours just to see you!”
Zhuang Qiting’s fingers curled tightly by his side, barely containing his disgust, his head nearly about to explode.
Who allowed this neither-male-nor-female green-haired turtle to call Li Yaru “baby” and hug her like that—right in front of him?
Zhuang Qiting breathed coldly and interrupted their banter before it went any further. “Miss Li.”
Li Yaru looked up, startled by the dark, inscrutable eyes behind the lenses. She understood immediately. Trying not to cause a scene, she decided to dismiss him for now and smooth things over later.
“Qiting, get me a glass of sparkling water, lime flavor.” Li Yaru smiled and instructed.
Zhuang Qiting’s mind went blank for a moment. The moment she called him “Qiting,” he froze in place.
Li Yaru noticed and quietly scolded herself, reaching out to grasp his arm and give it a discreet push. “Go quickly, Qiting. Don’t just stand there.”
Then she tipped onto her toes and whispered softly by his ear, “I’ll reward you tonight. You have to hold back, Big Boss. Or you won’t get to come out with me again.”
Her breath was like the soft blooming of a fleeting night flower, gently brushing his earlobe. Zhuang Qiting swallowed, then finally locked eyes with Li Yaru. “Yes, Miss Li.”
He turned and headed to the bar to get her sparkling water.
Compared to Li Yaru’s long chat with the green-haired man, Zhuang Qiting said only a few words before stepping aside, following the usher to the front row center on the right side of the venue.
No sooner had he sat than a shadow fell before him—a bottle of sparkling water with a straw was handed to Li Yaru. “Miss Li, your sparkling water.”
Li Yaru accepted it, her red lips gently sipping from the straw.
Zhuang Qiting stood dutifully behind her. The first half hour of the show was a cocktail party for guests to take photos and socialize.
Dreamy, soothing music played, matching the forest wonderland theme.
Scanning the crowd, Zhuang Qiting leaned close to Li Yaru’s ear. “What kind of reward?”
Li Yaru’s ear flushed. Her white jade earlobes dangled diamond earrings shaped like little bells, swaying slightly with her shifting mood.
“What kind of reward do you want…” Li Yaru whispered, clutching the bottle.
Zhuang Qiting narrowed his eyes and boldly leaned even closer in the crowded venue.
Warm breath spilled across her delicate skin as his rich, magnetic voice said, “Tonight. I eat you, and you eat me. Seriously.”
Li Yaru’s face instantly burned crimson. It felt as though something had been stuffed in her mouth, making her lips tingle. How could he say such lewd things here?!
Before she could glare at him, a celebrity appeared, asking for a photo with her. The man immediately straightened and assumed a serious stance.
Thinking of tonight’s reward, Zhuang Qiting’s restless mood eased considerably.
He felt refreshed and clear-headed. Bringing the New York event to Hu Cheng had been the absolutely right decision.
Though the comfort was real, his mind wandered to the upcoming summit in New York. Unease gnawed at him.
Would his son be able to handle the responsibility?
For many years, Zhuang Qiting had personally attended the summit, where critical financial trends were often sensed.
Especially the private banquet after the meeting — gathering the world’s top, richest, and most secretive bosses who controlled the global economy.
His disappointing son was only twenty-eight, still treated like a rookie. But… as the future head of Shenghui Group, surely he had some social skills and instincts?
Zhuang Qiting’s brow furrowed deeply. He was about to message his son with some instructions when, without noticing, a slender man in a low-key black suit, mask, and glasses was suspiciously staring at him from across the narrow runway stage.
Opposing magnetic auras inevitably collided.
Zhuang Qiting sensed something was off, heart sinking. He quickly raised his gaze, eyes sharp as a blade locking onto the man across from him.
Sure enough, someone was observing him.
A young man in a similar black suit, also masked and wearing glasses, with similarly deep brows and an aura carved from the same mold.
What was more ridiculous, that young man was foolishly standing behind a flamboyant woman…
When Zhuang Qiting realized who it was, he nearly spat blood from his lungs. Clenching his veiny hand, he pretended calm and swiftly averted his eyes.
The man opposite did the same, both trying to appear composed as their gazes briefly met and then disappeared.
No one else noticed the awkward tension hanging in the air between them.
Zhuang Qiting lowered his brows. His breath quickened beneath the mask, burning his chest with unease.
That was his son—the very one who should be at the Global Central Bank Summit in New York!
Damn it, that useless kid! The responsibility he’d entrusted to him was being blatantly ignored.
Instead of going to New York, he came to Hu Cheng just to follow his wife around!
Not even caring about saving face for the Zhuang Family!
Zhuang Qiting wanted to break Zhuang Shaozhou’s legs on the spot. He immediately pulled out his phone to scold him.
[Zhuang Shaozhou, where are you?]
He had typed the message but just as he was about to send it, his reason kicked in. No, no, he couldn’t lose his temper.
If he did, it would reveal that he too was acting as a lackey for Li Yaru.
If Shaozhou found out, then the other two sons would know, and soon the entire Zhuang Family’s failures would be exposed…
If both father and son pretended ignorance, the matter could quietly disappear, preserving their dignity.
Zhuang Qiting took a deep, murky breath, deleted the message, and pocketed his phone. He didn’t glance across the room again until the show began.
At two in the afternoon, the show ended. Lunch was arranged in the third-floor VIP lounge.
The afternoon featured a VIP client order meeting, and the evening held the centenary commemorative banquet.
Li Yaru had just watched an exquisite show and was eager to make a splash at the afternoon’s ordering session.
During the show, Zhuang Qiting had not followed her. Without a seat inside, he waited outside. Li Yaru didn’t see him among the crowd and only called to ask where he was.
Eventually, she found him on the third-floor terrace.
“Hey, why did you go so far? You’re a terrible assistant.” Li Yaru complained playfully over the phone.
Zhuang Qiting was silently smoking, staring at the mighty flow of the Yangtze River in the distance.
Hearing her spoiled complaint, he quickly stubbed out the cigarette and returned her call.
Sunlight lingered wantonly on Li Yaru’s stunning, full features as she approached him, lightly tapping his chest with a finger, smiling, “I have Michelin lunch. You have work lunch, don’t complain. I ordered it for you—four dishes and one soup. The boxed lunch is quite good.”
Zhuang Qiting laughed angrily and pulled her close, biting her white jade earlobe. “Miss Li, I’ve made a big fool of myself for you.”
His husky voice turned softly at her ear, “You have to eat tonight, seriously. Got it?”
Li Yaru shivered, squinting from the sunlight.
“Who wants to eat your ugly stuff!”
Zhuang Qiting smiled without replying, just looking at her.
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