At seven that evening, Cheng Yue stepped out of a taxi with his shopping bags. A flicker of surprise crossed his face as he looked at the upscale restaurant before him.
He checked his phone again to confirm the name, then walked through the doors.
"Good evening, sir. Do you have a reservation?"
Before Cheng Yue could speak, Qi Su popped up out of nowhere. "He's with me. Come on, come on."
Cheng Yue let himself be pulled along. "Wait, what's going on? What could possibly be worth this much money?"
An ornate crystal chandelier cast a soft glow, and mellow saxophone music filled the restaurant. Unlike the cramped interiors of other Western restaurants, this place had more of an old-world European feel.
The eager Qi Su suddenly stopped and turned to look him over, nodding in satisfaction. "You really do deserve your title as our university's best-dressed guy."
Even casually dressed, he was so handsome it was hard to look away.
Cheng Yue said, "...Like I needed you to tell me."
Qi Su paid no attention to his attitude. After glancing in a certain direction, he lowered his voice. "I shelled out all this money for you, buddy. This is make-or-break time, so don't let me down."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Cheng Yue asked, puzzled.
Qi Su merely gave him a meaningful look. "You'll find out soon enough."
Cheng Yue had assumed Qi Su wanted a drinking buddy. He hadn't expected to find only a young man in a gray sweatshirt and matching sweatpants sitting neatly at the table.
As the two of them approached, the young man offered a gentle smile. Cheng Yue didn't miss the curiosity in his eyes.
Qi Su introduced him enthusiastically. "This is young Mr. Cheng, the youngest son of our company's chairman. He just came back from overseas. He's a well-known painter in New Zealand."
Cheng Yuxuan smiled a little shyly. "I'm just someone who studies painting. You're too kind, Qi Su."
"You've already held exhibitions! How does that not make you well-known?"
Qi Su worked at a state-owned enterprise and handled social niceties with ease. "Young Mr. Cheng, this is my buddy. We graduated from the same university, and he dabbles in the arts too."
Cheng Yue said, "..."
You really will say anything.
If he liked studying all kinds of fashion magazines, surely that counted as knowing a little about art.
After all, putting outfits together required a sense of color. Close enough-they were practically in the same field.
As far as Qi Su was concerned, out in the world, you made your own credentials. What else was he supposed to say? That his buddy was a top graduate of a finance and economics university who had ended up working as a residential security guard?
Cheng Yue might not be embarrassed to do it, but Qi Su was embarrassed even to say it.
Cheng Yue couldn't be bothered with all his mental maneuvering. He gave the young man a polite nod. "Cheng Yue."
Cheng Yuxuan looked surprised. "Your surname is Cheng too?"
Watching them explain which characters their respective surnames used, Qi Su smiled slyly, keeping his contribution to himself. See? There was their conversation starter.
During a lull, he warmly urged them both to sit down and chat. "I wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't said anything. Come on, let's raise a glass to this wonderful coincidence."
Cheng Yuxuan raised his glass with a soft smile. "It really is unexpected. It's a pleasure to meet you, Cheng Yue."
If Cheng Yue still couldn't figure out the purpose of this dinner, all his years out in the world would have been wasted.
Seeing Qi Su blink so insistently that his eyelids were practically cramping, Cheng Yue sighed inwardly and lifted his glass to lightly touch the other man's. "You're too kind, young Mr. Cheng."
Cheng Yuxuan took a sip of champagne. "Just call me by my name. Young Mr. Cheng is too formal. It makes me feel awkward all over."
That was an interesting remark. The first half seemed to express a desire to close the distance between them and address each other as friends, while the playful second half conveyed an unmistakable wish for familiarity.
Cheng Yue felt a headache coming on. All he could do was feign reserve, nodding with a faint smile.
Upstairs, Ji Huaijin had been dragged along by Xi Ming, who was entertaining an overseas client and needed someone with clout to lend weight to the occasion.
Anyone Ji Huaijin considered a friend was, of course, no rich heir in the usual sense. Though none had been designated as their family's successor, each held a place within the family.
(Lin Shuyang excepted.)
Xi Ming's parents had married to unite political and business interests. His older brother had taken over their mother's power, leaving him to follow their father into business.
With Ji Huaijin there, every difficulty was instantly resolved. The foreigner, whose intentions had remained unclear until then, broke into a delighted smile the moment Ji Huaijin's name was mentioned.
"Ji, meeting you is the best surprise of my trip here."
The words came almost in unison with that "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Ji Huaijin withdrew his gaze from downstairs and calmly accepted the overture.
Both floors were perfectly cordial, yet a subtle tension lingered in the air.
The foreigner insisted that Ji Huaijin sample the cigars he had brought: Montecristo, a Cuban brand renowned abroad that could rival Cohiba.
Having invited him, Xi Ming naturally wouldn't overlook his preferences. Noticing Ji Huaijin's lack of interest, he took out the Black Stone Forest cigarettes and offered them to him.
Long, slender fingers drew one out with unhurried elegance and passed it lightly beneath his nose. Every movement exuded grace. Ji Huaijin's lips curved as he glanced at Xi Ming.
"Mr. Hughes, you could try our local cigarettes. They have a softer, lighter flavor."
Had Xi Ming said that, the foreigner certainly wouldn't have tried one. But he viewed Ji Huaijin through a thick haze of admiration, even if he felt this unfamiliar brand couldn't compare with the premium cigars he had brought.
Still, he accepted one, albeit skeptically.
The fragrance of Black Stone Forest rose with the curling smoke, filling the air with a faint, elusive scent.
Cheng Yue gave an almost imperceptible sniff. After looking around, he suddenly raised his eyes.
Resting on the carved railing was a slender, jade-like hand, its joints clearly defined and its skin faintly gleaming beneath the lights. A slim black cigarette sat between its fingers.
How inconsiderate. Wasn't he worried the ash might fall and burn someone?
"What are you looking at?"
Qi Su followed his gaze, but the hand on the railing had already vanished.
Cheng Yue looked away, perfectly casual. "Nothing."
Neither Cheng Yuxuan nor Cheng Yue was much of a talker, so Qi Su alone kept the conversation moving.
Naturally, he also avoided mentioning Cheng Yue's job as much as possible. It wasn't that he looked down on it; he just felt it wasn't something to show off.
Cheng Yue had no such reservations. Perhaps hoping to make the other man back off, he openly revealed that he worked as a security guard in a residential complex.
"I don't have any grand ambitions. As long as I have food and drink and can support myself, that's enough."
The smile Qi Su had maintained all evening finally froze on his face.
Man, do you want a spouse or not?
Who would dare get together with you after hearing that? Who wants a life of nine missed meals every three days?
Cheng Yuxuan was surprised for only a moment before smiling. "You really are someone who stays true to himself, Mr. Cheng. I admire that kind of personality."
Compared with men who always packaged themselves as perfect these days, someone like Cheng Yue actually seemed more genuine.
Qi Su suspected he was merely being polite. All he could do was shoot icy daggers at Cheng Yue while forcing out a dry laugh.
"Sorry to interrupt. Mr. Ji sent this bottle of red wine for your table. Would you like me to open it?"
Before you continue