Honey, you looked absolutely stunning today!

President Xie?

It really was Xie Yanci?

Director Zhang stared, dumbfounded, at Secretary Zhou, who could represent Xie Yanci within the industry, now standing respectfully beside Xu Shi.

Had Xu Shi really managed to latch on to Xie Yanci?

But wasn't President Xie married?

Before anyone could react, Secretary Zhou instructed a bodyguard beside him, "Please escort this gentleman out."

The man who had been throwing his weight around just moments ago now dared not say a word.

Even Xu Shi was startled by the grand display.

Was this what it felt like to have someone backing him up?

Having a domineering CEO for a husband felt this good.

Xu Shi followed Secretary Zhou into the banquet's main hall, swaggering in under everyone's scrutiny.

The auction was about to begin, and the main hall was filled with big shots.

Only the deep red sofa in the VIP area had a single person sitting on it.

The Alpha wore a tailored black suit and was unhurriedly straightening his lapels. The round silver cufflinks just visible on his sleeves flashed with multicolored fire beneath the lights.

Xie Yanci disliked crowds. Any event he attended had to set aside a separate VIP area.

Poser.

Hearing that familiar voice, Xie Yanci raised his eyes with feigned nonchalance and met Xu Shi's gaze.

His dark eyes narrowed slightly, a faint, meaningful smile on his lips, as though saying-

Aren't you going to praise me?

Xu Shi shuddered.

He instantly put on a sweet smile and waved at Xie Yanci.

Hi, honey~

You looked absolutely stunning today!

Mwah, mwah, mwah, mwah, mwah, mwah~

The "kisses" were too numerous and too intense. Xie Yanci lowered his eyes, the faintest curve touching his thin lips.

He seemed amused.

"Sir, would you like to sit with President Xie?" Secretary Zhou asked for his opinion.

"No."

Praising him in his head was one thing, but faced with this question in reality, Xu Shi shook his head decisively.

The two were secretly married. Secretary Zhou knew this, so he said nothing more and merely nodded.

Seated where the organizers had arranged for him, Xu Shi was yawning sleepily. Only after a long while did Xiao Chi hurry over.

"How did you get in?" Xiao Chi handed Xu Shi the invitation.

Xu Shi did not take it. Leaning lazily against the back of his chair, he said, "Some kind person gave me an invitation."

As he spoke, he casually handed Xiao Chi the invitation Secretary Zhou had left him.

It was black with gold stamping, with no name written inside.

Xiao Chi examined it several times. "Did President Xie bring you in?"

"!"

Xu Shi jolted.

How did he guess?

He dared not speak and pretended he had heard nothing. Better to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Xiao Chi sat beside him, still muttering, "Only those few big shots get invitations of this caliber. And there's no name on it, so they probably decided to come at the last minute."

"It could only be President Xie."

Xu Shi: "..."

Being too smart could get you killed to keep you quiet!

He tilted his head back for a sip of water, his gaze drifting unconsciously toward the conspicuous VIP area.

Xie Yanci had excellent bone structure, a high nose, thin lips, and a smooth, sharply defined profile.

The secretary beside him was reporting something to him. He occasionally nodded or shook his head in brief response, his dignified, refined air of maturity especially appealing.

This is practically my Daddy.

Who?

Xie Yanci frowned.

No one could resist having sexual fantasies about this man.

Who?

I really want to try suit play with him. I'd be willing even if I died in bed!

Unable to listen any longer, Xie Yanci abruptly looked back.

His gaze immediately met Xu Shi's eyes, which were brimming with admiration.

He froze.

Had Xu Shi been talking about him just now?

He had thought some other shameless Alpha was seducing his wife again.

*...*

Why did he suddenly look at me?

Xie Yanci stiffly withdrew his gaze, pretending nothing had happened.

Only the faintly reddened tips of his ears remained hidden beneath his hair.

Xu Shi felt a little awkward.

In a futile attempt to cover it up, he looked over everyone around him.

Suddenly remembering something, he asked Xiao Chi beside him, "Didn't you say Xia Shian was coming? Why haven't I seen him?"

Xiao Chi looked through the guest list again. "Maybe he hasn't arrived yet. His name really is on here."

Xu Shi gave a lazy "Oh" and reclined in his chair again.

He was a steadfast "An-Yu" shipper. As their most devout shipper, he was determined to see Xia Shian in person.

Since he had come into this book, he had to follow his leopard and kitty!

Even when the auction began, Xia Shian had yet to arrive. Instead, Wen Yu sat down in front of him.

Xu Shi immediately perked up, instinctively sitting straight and eavesdropping with a perfectly serious expression.

"When are you planning to come back? If you're going this far to avoid being linked with me, are we even going to promote the drama?"

Avoid being linked? Promote the drama?

Could Xia Shian be on the other end?

His leopard and kitty were fighting.

"I don't want to pursue my career separately."

"Xia Shian, we grew up together... as friends. I don't care what the manager says."

"Wen Yu!" his manager roared beside him.

He snatched Wen Yu's phone away and pressed the end-call button.

Xu Shi: "???"

How dare you break up my ship!

Xie Yanci, beat him up for me!

"Hm?" Xie Yanci turned.

His gaze landed squarely on Xu Shi, who looked ready to bite someone.

Who had upset his wife now?

Xie Yanci discreetly turned the wedding ring on his ring finger. Following Xu Shi's gaze, he finally looked at an Omega sitting in the row ahead.

He looked familiar.

He was the Omega who had splashed six glasses of water in his wife's face during filming.

His name was Wen Yu. Xie Yanci had asked his secretary to investigate him.

He paid no attention to anything in the entertainment industry and had only just learned that this Omega had always been at odds with Xu Shi.

He seemed to have been bullying his wife all along.

Should he have him blacklisted?

After considering it for a few seconds, he narrowed his dark eyes slightly. Just then, Xu Shi looked toward him without warning from a distance.

Fuck! Who was Xie Yanci sneaking looks at?

Wen Yu?

That scumbag!

Xie Yanci: "..."

He should not have meddled.

Xie Yanci slowly looked away, his thin lips pressing into a straight line as the cold air around him intensified.

Hmph, caught you cheating, didn't I?

Always acting so aloof and restrained, when you're really a scoundrel in a gentleman's clothes!

Sneaking looks at another Omega right in front of your wife...

Xu Shi's cursing simply would not stop, and listening to it irritated him.

Just then, a diamond crown was being auctioned onstage. Xie Yanci raised his paddle directly, diverting Xu Shi's attention.

"Eighty million."

Holy shit!

Xu Shi took the bait, his eyes instantly drawn to the crown covered in diamonds.

But his attention had gone a little off track.

"Who donated this? Why is Xie Yanci bidding on it?" Xu Shi hurriedly asked Xiao Chi beside him.

"Let me check." Xiao Chi searched frantically on his iPad.

Every piece of jewelry had its donor recorded. The donor's name written beneath this diamond crown, the grand finale piece, was-

"Wen Yu."