The Party (2)

"Is she your friend Xiaoling?" Li Yuheng said, looking at Rose.

Her eyes widened and shook her head.

"It's not uncommon for her to be mistaken for someone else, she is quite a shy girl." He smiled at You Ronmeng.

"....." You Ronmeng stared at him, menacingly.

After a few seconds of caustic eye contact, she went back to her seat and read the book the maid brought.

"That was close! Good job!" Rose whispered in his ear, close enough he felt her breath in every word.

"Is your name actually Jiang Rui Jia?" He turned his face at her, almost touching their lips together.

She looked straight again and stayed silent for a few seconds. "Yes. Rose was just a nickname."

"I think White Orchids suit you better."

"Rose sounded better," She pouted.

He smiled and looked back at You Ronmeng. She was reading "The Dishonored", a high fantasy novel about a failed hero and his journey becoming the hero. The series that born the heroic fantasy genre.

A must read classic in his previous life, but he knew she wouldn't enjoy it.

Not because the plot was bad or the writing was dull, but she appeared to enjoy bitterness more than a sweet taste of victory, a tobacco and a cup of neat gin rather than boba tea and ice cream pint.

No matter how beautiful something was, Beauty's in the eyes of the beholder.

He asked the maid to bring a few books with an emphasis on heavy stories. The maid did as ordered and brought him a stack of books, it didn't take long to find a perfect book for her.

"The Little Life."

The maid brought it to You Ronmeng then explained what happened. He smiled at You Ronmeng's judging eyes and went to read his book.

Before long, the door was knocked again. The other maid's voice sounded from the door. "Honorable guests, the party will be starting."

Li Yuheng stood and stretched a bit. "It's time for the annoying part."

...

...

The party was as expected from its class. A venue with more chandeliers than the people with free to take home wine bottles lining up on the entrance.

Grammy musicians filling the gigs, Oscar movie stars entertaining the guests, and the never missing rich-by-marriage widows gossiping. Luxurious brands only the wealthy knew and faces only the boss of the boss seen.

A secret society befitted it more than a party.

Luckily, no one paid attention to Li Yuheng. He sat far from the crowds, talking with Rose and drinking a glass of wine, if it stayed that way maybe the party wouldn't be too bad.

Of course, that didn't happen.

"Mr. and Ms. Li! Are you enjoying your time!?" Hu Shun said with a big smile on his face.

He almost said yes until he came, but being a jerk won't do any good. "Of course, it's a lively party tonight," He said and smiled.

"Hahaha! It's just a humble party, nothing worth praising! There will be many exciting parties in the future!"

Thank you but no, but he only said it in his heart. "Of course, Mr. Hu."

"I won't bother you again Mr, Ms. Li. Enjoy the party!" Hu shun said with a face happier than fool's ignorance.

"Why is he licking you so much?" Rose said on his side.

He didn't answer and smiled. Probably because Hu Shun saw the amount in his account. There was a wall that separated the rich between the strong, where more money didn't matter and only stronger connections would be useful, he was probably at that wall.

What Hu Shun didn't know was he was in the same exact situation.

"Let's wait until the dinner starts, then we will watch You Ronmeng again."

And it seemed like his plan to make connections looked futile, none of the people looked like they were worth the hassle. Their only worth was richness, one thing he didn't need at all.

Funnily enough, the only person who seemed worth befriending was You Ronmeng, because she might be tied with the plot. But without Alexa's confirmation, it's hard to tell if she was a major or minor character in the novel.

"I will walk around a bit," Li Yuheng said to Rose, to which she replied with a nod.

He walked around aimlessly, trying to find one thing that was interesting to do or to look at, but it was all just the same fake politeness and over-serious people.

That was when the corner of his eyes caught something.

You Ronmeng was standing in the empty corner, swarmed by a group of people that spoke like a bunch of chicks. The only time where she looked alive was when she took a sip of wine in her hand, as a slight genuine smile appeared on her face like she would rather be drunk and woke up with the worst headache the next morning rather than listening one more second of their words.

Li Yuheng walked closer to her, breaking the line of people with force, and of course, looked at with the most annoying eyes.

"Ms. You, it's time" Li Yuheng's words stopped the crowd blabbering, turning their face at him.

"Sorry everyone, I had another promise," You Ronmeng said, instantly understood without even a need for code.

"Oh, no worries! But please give my deal a consideration Ms. You!" One of the guys said.

The others also followed with the same bullshit until they all left.

"Don't stand in the corner if you don't want to be bothered. Follow me," He said and walked.

You Ronmeng followed him behind mute silence but not for long. "I liked the book earlier," She said.

"Oh yeah? I recommend other books from the same author, she is the master of thought-provoking contents."

"Is she really? Surely there is someone better."

"It doesn't invalidate someone's value when there is someone better. But it's a shame she stopped writing a new book," Li Yuheng said. "We are here. If you stay here, I guarantee no one will bother you. I'm an expert at avoiding people." He smiled.

She didn't say anything and sat with a rare smile. Without anything interesting, he went back to Rose.

"So fast?" Rose said, smiling behind her mask.

"Nothing interesting."

Right when he sat down, the light dimmed and the mic turned on.

A man, presumably the host went up the stage. "Thank you for waiting patiently Ladies and Gentleman! It's time for undeniably the most exciting part of this party! The dinner courses, made by the head chef and a team of three-star Michelin restaurants, the meal will be guaranteed to be very delicious! And everything will be in the house! Please the applause for Mr. Hu Shun for the generous party!"

The audience started clapping, some half-heartedly and some actually trying, but after some time the applause stopped and the light turned on as the host disappeared like a magician. Signing the start of the dinner event.

Li Yuheng looked at the menu when a maid suddenly came to him. "Mr and Ms, Mr. Hui has dedicated a special table for you. Please follow me."

He sighed. "Fine. Come on Rose." He said and sat up.

"Huh?" Rose asked but still followed him.

They followed the maid into a hidden staircase, entering a private quarter hidden behind the frosted opaque glass.

The room was a living room disguised as a dining room, with a large round dining table in the middle enough to fill 20 people if it was placed close together, but each seat was around the range of an arm's length, enough to fit 5 people with tons of space.

After they sat, the maid served them a cup of fresh tea and said, "Please wait until the other guests arrive, the food will arrive soon" She bowed and left.

"Is this what they call VIP treatment?" Rose said.

Before he could answer, the main door was opened. Rose immediately stiffened when she saw the person but it was too late. You Ronmeng just entered.

"I don't know she will come here!" Rose whispered in his ear but it was loud.

"I don't either. Just don't say anything and you will be fine right?"

"No, she is already suspecting me!"

"She knows you that well? Even hidden behind a mask, didn't talk?"

"I bet she would notice my eating habit."

They stopped talking when You Ronmeng was seated, she probably could eavesdrop in that distance.

Almost immediately, a line of butlers and maids brought trays of food, from western to eastern cuisines, clearly way too many for three people to eat.

They weren't eating, neither was You Ronmeng. They looked at each other like a cowboy in a staredown, whoever moves first loses.

"Is there anything wrong with the food honorable guests?" The maid on the side said.

Before anybody could answer, Li Yuheng fed Rose a fried cauliflower, even catching her off guard.

"Don't worry, she was grumpy that I didn't feed her," He said with a straight face.

Rose's eyes widened looking at him, it's the most what-did-you-just-said stare he ever saw. The maid shyly said oh and went back to the side, avoiding looking at them. Even You Ronmeng had a quick smile on her face.

"What is your plan to You Ronmeng after this?" He whispered to Rose, who was still angry but couldn't talk loudly.

"Nothing," She said without a tone.

"Nothing? You aren't gonna do anything? Not seeing her face to face or even talking to her?"

"No. I'm here just to see how she is doing. It's enough."

"Why?"

"...She probably won't see me." She said barely audible.

"Why?"

"....I did bad things to her."

"And you feel guilty?"

She nodded.

"How much you willing to pay the guilt off?"

"If I love a man to death and she did too, I will give in without a second thought." Even in whispers, there was a strong resolve in her words.

Statement filled with self-confidence, stuffed with elegance and arrogance that killed before its cut. He loved them so much. It wasn't the wrong choice to make her his ally, the only thing left was to make it official.

He smiled and touched her cheeks behind the mask and said, "It can't be helped, can it? I will help you again. But I want you on my side."