The cocktail party was relatively casual. When Chi Yan and Chu Yang arrived, a considerable number of people were already there. The party was held outdoors, with tables laden with various types of alcohol. Waiters weaved through the crowd carrying trays of assorted wine glasses.
As soon as they entered, someone came over to greet Chi Yan and offered drinks to both him and Chu Yang.
"Young Mr. Chi, welcome. Feel free to enjoy yourself tonight."
"Thanks."
Chu Yang noticed that most of the attendees were relatively young, dressed not in formal evening wear but in more business-casual attire.
Chu Yang realized she was merely arm candy for the evening. She observed that most guests had brought female companions, which explained why Chi Yan had asked her to accompany him.
Throughout the night, Chu Yang's face ached from smiling. She stayed by Chi Yan's side, listening to him converse with various people in English, French, and German.
This was the first time Chu Yang learned that Chi Yan was fluent in several languages. She watched him engage effortlessly with all sorts of people, occasionally introducing her to some important figures.
"I'm going to touch up my makeup," Chu Yang whispered to Chi Yan, actually intending to use the restroom. She excused herself and headed towards the ladies' room.
Unbeknownst to Chu Yang, several young women gravitated towards Chi Yan after she left...
Restrooms are often where incidents occur. Just as Chu Yang finished using the facilities and was washing her hands, preparing to leave, she heard some strange noises coming from inside.
"She's gone. Let's continue, shall we, baby?"
"No... don't..."
Chu Yang frowned. The voice sounded familiar, but she couldn't quite place it. She thought to herself, "How brazen to do such things in the ladies' room, risking discovery."
Deciding it wasn't her business, Chu Yang quickly left.
When she returned to the party, she saw a young woman next to Chi Yan, attempting to get his contact information. The woman wore a strapless dress with an enticing neckline.
As Chu Yang approached, she heard Chi Yan say, "For business cooperation, please contact my assistant. I'm sorry, but I don't add personal WeChat contacts."
The woman cooed, "But personal business is best discussed through personal WeChat, isn't it?"
Chi Yan frowned and stepped back. Just then, he spotted Chu Yang returning and immediately walked over to take her hand. "I only discuss personal business with my girlfriend."
Chu Yang: ...
The woman glanced at Chu Yang and left reluctantly.
Chu Yang poked Chi Yan's waist. "So popular?"
Chi Yan wrapped his arm around her waist. "But I only have eyes for one."
Time flew by, and as the party was ending, Chi Yan was about to leave with Chu Yang when she caught sight of a familiar face approaching. It was Li Qinglu, but the man beside her wasn't Gu Xiao. Instead, it was an unfamiliar man with his hand on her, the two looking quite intimate.
Chu Yang hadn't expected to encounter her like this after so long. Li Qinglu clearly panicked for a moment before quickly averting her gaze.
Chu Yang glanced at them briefly before leaving with Chi Yan. Once they were seated in the car, a light bulb went off in Chu Yang's head. "I've figured it out."
Chi Yan, who had been resting his head on Chu Yang's neck due to the alcohol he'd consumed, lifted his head to look at her. "Figured out what?"
Chu Yang leaned in to whisper in Chi Yan's ear about what she'd encountered earlier. "Remember when I went to the restroom? Well..." Her face reddened slightly as she continued, "And just now when we were leaving, we ran into Li Qinglu, right? It was her voice I heard. But isn't she supposed to be dating Gu Xiao?"
Chi Yan had been trying to recall who Li Qinglu was, but upon hearing Gu Xiao's name, he finally remembered. After all, he hadn't forgotten those who had dared to spread rumors about his Chu Yang.
"Don't worry about it. People always seek to climb higher. That man, if I remember correctly, is the third young master of the Wang family." Compared to him, Gu Xiao didn't quite measure up in Jing City.
Suddenly, Chi Yan recalled the rumors about Chu Yang liking Gu Xiao. He looked directly at Chu Yang, caressing her cheek. "I want to ask you something."
"What is it?"
Chi Yan hesitated for a moment before speaking. "In the past, during high school, did you really like Gu Xiao?" Although his Chu Yang seemed to dislike Gu Xiao now, the thought of her having liked him before made Chi Yan uneasy.
Moreover, people had said that Chu Yang went to A University because of Gu Xiao. The mere thought made Chi Yan want to punch Gu Xiao.
Hearing his question, Chu Yang hesitated. She was considering how to respond. If she spoke for herself, she had never liked Gu Xiao. But the original Chu Yang had indeed been very fond of him. How should she explain this?
Chu Yang's hesitation appeared to Chi Yan as confirmation of her past feelings. He pulled her tightly into his arms, his large hands firmly holding her. His voice was muffled as he said, "I don't like that." He then tried to kiss her.
Remembering the driver in the front seat, Chu Yang quickly covered his mouth with her hand. "Behave yourself. Wait until we get home. You can do whatever you want then, but not now."
Chi Yan had no choice but to hold her close, saying nothing more.
Soon, the driver dropped them off at Forest Garden Community. As soon as they entered, Chi Yan picked up Chu Yang and set her on the entryway cabinet, kissing her urgently and fiercely, as if he wanted to devour her.
As the kiss ended and Chi Yan moved to go further, Chu Yang stopped him. "Listen to me first... The person I was before isn't who I am now. The current me has never liked Gu Xiao. Just think of the past me as having been confused, with my head in a fog, which is why I followed Li Qinglu and the others. You are the first person I've truly liked."
Chi Yan looked at her. "Did you ever confess to him?"
Chu Yang shook her head. "No." The original Chu Yang hadn't even had the chance to confess before the male and female leads got together.
Chi Yan said, "Then I want you to say you like me and that you'll only love me from now on."
Chu Yang caressed Chi Yan's face, her gaze firm. "I only like you. I only love you."
Chi Yan finally smiled. He cupped Chu Yang's face and leaned in close, his voice husky. "You said earlier that I could do whatever I wanted tonight. Does that still stand?"
Chu Yang: ...
In the end, whether it counted or not was still Chi Yan's decision. Chu Yang only knew that she should never casually say such things again in the future, otherwise someone would really take advantage of her!
Chu Yang felt completely drained, aching all over. The sun had been up for a long time, but the two of them still hadn't gotten out of bed. Luckily it was Saturday; otherwise, Chu Yang felt she would be late for work, and her colleagues would definitely gossip if they saw her in this state.
Chi Yan held her tightly in his arms, sleeping soundly. Beneath the covers, their legs were intertwined. Chu Yang lay with her eyes open and shifted slightly, causing Chi Yan's arm to tighten around her.
Chu Yang: ...
