The men murmured softly over their wine glasses, the women giggled behind red lips, and the servants moved swiftly yet silently... Qiqi gazed at this world of crystal chandeliers, flowers, fine wine, balloons, candles, a birthday cake, and strange fragrances, feeling like Alice suddenly tumbling into Wonderland—everything was so fresh, so curious... until she saw Qin Chen.
She recognized him at once, like a seasoned accountant pinpointing a specific data cell among thousands of ledger pages, or a professional doctor picking out a desired bone from countless skeletons—even with the masquerade mask on his face, Qiqi knew him in an instant.
Just then, Lu Wei gently patted the back of her hand and whispered, "Qiqi, don't forget, tonight you're my dance partner!"
Qiqi snapped back to reality, realizing she was standing in the center of the hall. The surrounding noise seemed to suddenly hush, even the music grew faint and delicate; the people around paused their conversations, all eyes turning to the evening's host, Lu Wei, and his companion.
Lu Wei stepped forward gracefully, greeting everyone with practiced ease. Born into a distinguished family, he was long accustomed to such occasions, exuding elegance and composure. Qiqi, however, didn't recognize many people and had no idea what to say, so she obediently clung to his arm, forcing a smile as he led her from one person to another—
Ah, this is some bureau chief, actually acquainted with Senior Lu! Tsk, truly a case of collusion between officials and businessmen...
Wow, that's some big boss, apparently the CEO of a Fortune 500 company...
Huh, isn't that a famous actress? But why is she looking at me with such envy and resentment...
Oh, that handsome guy is the vice president of MD Group? Gosh! Isn't he the close friend Lu Wei mentioned—Zhou Zhibi's older brother?
At this introduction, Gu Qiqi perked up—the handsome man before her, with his fair skin, slightly yellow hair, curious eyes, and narrow fox-like gaze—was Zhou Zhibi's brother, Zhou Yi!
But why did he feel so familiar...
(This girl seems to find all handsome guys familiar.)
Qiqi stared dazedly at the fox-like handsome man, who raised his crystal wine glass toward her... no, toward Lu Wei.
"The birthday boy finally arrives! So late—shouldn't you be punished with a drink?" Zhou Yi said in a familiar tone, shoving the red wine glass unceremoniously toward Lu Wei: "Doctor Lu, how about three glasses as a penalty?"
Lu Wei smiled gently: "Yi, I went to pick up a friend, that's why I'm a bit late. Sorry, sorry."
Zhou Yi turned his gaze to Gu Qiqi, a flicker of admiration in his eyes: "Oh, so you went to fetch a beauty! Tsk tsk, Lu Wei, you should be doubly punished!"
"Why?"
"Need I say more? I have no beauty to accompany me, yet you have such a stunning partner; as your brother, I'm quite jealous!" Zhou Yi joked, elegantly offering his glass to Qiqi: "Would this beauty do me the honor?"
Qiqi felt nervous, never having handled such a situation before. Coupled with Zhou Yi's strange familiarity and the fact that he was Zhou Zhibi's brother—she had just messed with his sister earlier that day, and she wondered if Zhou Zhibi had gone home crying about it. Was he planning to poison her drink?