Chapter 14 Real Brother

A few minutes after the two entered the private room, a waiter walked in, carefully pushing a trolley loaded with drinks and snacks. It didn't take long before the table was filled with an assortment of wine bottles in varying shades and a variety of snacks that added a luxurious touch to the atmosphere.

Yao Li took the lead in introducing the drinks, smiling as he pointed to a specific bottle. "Brother Feng, this wine is one of the specialties of this club. It's not something you'll find easily elsewhere. Why don't you try it first? If you don't like it, we can always have them bring out something else."

Xiao Feng nodded with a relaxed expression, dismissing the offer politely. "That won't be necessary. I'm not too particular about drinks."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Xiao Feng's tone shifted as he brought up the question that had been nagging at him since they were in the car. "By the way, Yao Li, can you really manage to ask Liu Xue to join us tonight?"

Yao Li gave him a sly look, grinning as though he had seen through Xiao Feng's thoughts completely. "Brother, are you seriously into mature women? Don't worry. I promise you she'll come. I've already arranged everything."

Xiao Feng coughed lightly, feeling slightly embarrassed at being seen through so easily. He quickly changed the subject. "It's not what you think. I'm just curious, that's all. Anyway, is it just the two of us here tonight, or did you invite anyone else to join us?"

Yao Li shook his head and laughed. "Brother Feng, this is our first meeting in such a long time. Of course, it's just the two of us tonight. But don't worry. Tomorrow night, I'll host a proper gathering and introduce you to some of my closest friends."

The two brothers continued their casual conversation, drinking and enjoying the laid-back atmosphere.

After a short while, the door to the private room opened again, and five women entered, all wearing elegant yet seductive outfits that accentuated their figures. Each one wore a mask that added an air of mystery to their appearance.

"Good evening, Mr. Yao!" the women greeted Yao Li in unison, their voices carrying a professional yet alluring tone.

It didn't take long for their gazes to shift to Xiao Feng, and a visible wave of surprise washed over their faces. One of them, in particular, widened her eyes in shock.

"Xiao Feng? Why are you here?"

The familiar voice made Xiao Feng pause and look closely. Under the dim lighting, he hadn't noticed at first, but now he recognized her—it was Zhu Li, the same woman he had spent the afternoon with. And she was wearing the very dress he had bought for her earlier.

Zhu Li, on the other hand, was panicking internally. Why was Xiao Feng here of all places? Didn't he mention going home for dinner earlier? What if he misunderstood her presence in this setting? The thought of being looked down upon by him filled her with regret. She cursed herself for being foolish enough to let Bai Xu convince her to come to this place.

Sitting next to Yao Li, Bai Xu had also noticed the commotion. Her eyes sparkled with interest as her gaze landed on Xiao Feng, a calculating smile playing on her lips.

"Brother Feng, do you know her?" Yao Li asked curiously, noticing the tension.

Xiao Feng nodded casually. "Yes, she's a friend."

He then turned to Zhu Li and gestured for her to come closer. "Come over here and sit with me."

The other women took this opportunity to remove their masks, revealing their faces. Xiao Feng scanned the group quickly and noticed that Liu Xue wasn't among them.

Yao Li, sensing Xiao Feng's disappointment, leaned in and whispered, "Brother, Liu Xue isn't the type to come to a place like this. Don't worry, though. I've arranged something special for you in another location. You'll see soon enough."

Xiao Feng glanced at Yao Li, catching the mischievous glint in his eyes as the man gave him a knowing wink.

Returning his attention to Zhu Li, Xiao Feng asked in a calm but firm tone, "What are you doing here?"

Zhu Li hesitated, her cheeks turning red as she struggled to find the right words. Finally, she spoke in a low, embarrassed voice. "I… my best friend convinced me to come. She said that as long as I could make a good impression on Mr. Yao tonight, I'd have endless resources at my disposal in the future. She said I could dominate the entertainment industry."

"Who's your best friend? Is she here too?" Xiao Feng asked, narrowing his eyes slightly.

Zhu Li nodded and pointed discreetly to one of the women sitting next to Yao Li. "She's the one in the suspender dress."

Xiao Feng looked closely at the woman and realized she seemed familiar. After a moment, he recognized her—it was Bai Xu, a woman infamous in the entertainment industry for her reputation as a "Queen of the Sea," known for dating countless boyfriends.

Bai Xu, noticing Xiao Feng's gaze, lifted her glass and smiled charmingly at him, her demeanor full of confidence. Xiao Feng, however, responded with a cold, indifferent look before turning his attention back to Zhu Li.

"You need to stay away from that so-called best friend of yours," Xiao Feng said, his tone serious. "If you keep associating with someone like her, you'll only end up being misled."

"Why?" Zhu Li asked, confused by his sudden warning.

Xiao Feng sighed, realizing how naïve she was. "A person who can convince someone as gullible as you to come to a place like this is definitely no good. If you really want to secure endless resources for your career, you don't need to rely on someone like her. Don't forget—I'm the boss behind the scenes of your company."

Hearing his words, Zhu Li's eyes widened in realization. She mentally scolded herself for being so foolish as to trust Bai Xu's manipulative words.

"But she said Mr. Yao's family is very influential and can determine the future of many stars in the industry," Zhu Li mumbled.

Xiao Feng nearly laughed out loud at her naïveté. "Silly girl, I'm sitting here with him. Do you think Yao Li would dare disobey me if I made a request?"

Zhu Li blinked, finally understanding the dynamic between the two men. She nodded sheepishly and said, "I understand. I'll stay away from her from now on."

Satisfied with her response, Xiao Feng's tone softened. "Good. As for your living arrangements, didn't the company arrange housing for you?"

Zhu Li shook her head. "Not yet. I haven't officially signed the contract, so they haven't provided anything."

Xiao Feng thought for a moment before saying, "Alright. I'll find some time to help you pick out a place in the next couple of days."

Zhu Li was taken aback. Was Xiao Feng seriously offering to help her find a house? First, he wanted to give her a car, and now this? Did he truly intend to protect her? Or was he treating her like someone under his care rather than a potential lover?

Her thoughts were a jumbled mess as she stole a glance at Xiao Feng, who seemed calm and composed, completely unaware of the turmoil in her heart.

In her small, naive mind, Zhu Li had always believed that the wealthier a man became, the more likely he was to stray from the path of decency. To her, the saying "men become bad when they are rich" seemed like an unshakable truth. And in her imagination, the progression was inevitable: first, a man finds a lover and hides it from his wife; then, he finds a mistress and hides it from the lover; next, he supports another woman without telling the mistress, and so on—it was a cycle of deceit that only became worse with wealth.

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by Yao Li's jovial voice, which carried a hint of complaint as he addressed Xiao Feng. "Brother Feng, you've been focusing all your attention on chatting with this young lady. Don't ignore everyone else here, or the atmosphere will go flat!"

Xiao Feng, realizing he might have been neglecting the others, picked up his glass and smiled faintly. "Alright then, let's have a drink together."

With that, he raised his wine glass, prompting everyone else in the private room to do the same. The group clinked their glasses in unison before downing their drinks in one swift motion.

Not long after, Yao Li stood up, his eyes scanning the room as if he were looking for something to liven up the gathering. His gaze eventually landed on Xiao Feng. "Brother Feng, just sitting here drinking feels a bit dull. Why don't we add some fun to it? Drinking games can really help set the mood."

Xiao Feng thought for a moment before replying. "How about we play dice? It's simple, quick, and easy to learn."

The truth was, Xiao Feng wasn't particularly skilled in such games. In his previous life as an ordinary and unsuccessful individual, dice games were the only social activity he had ever played, so it was his default suggestion.

"Great idea! Let's roll the dice then," Yao Li agreed enthusiastically.

As the game began, it quickly became apparent that Zhu Li either didn't know how to play or had the worst luck imaginable. Within just thirty minutes of starting the game, she had already consumed nearly half a bottle of alcohol. If it weren't for Xiao Feng stepping in and drinking on her behalf during most of her forfeits, she would likely have been too intoxicated to sit upright.

Even so, her delicate face was now flushed a lovely shade of red, and her usually bright eyes had grown misty, teetering on the edge between tipsy and fully drunk. Her charm was undeniable in that state, but Xiao Feng couldn't help feeling a pang of concern for her.

"Alright, let's take a break for a moment," Xiao Feng finally said, his tone firm yet considerate. "I think we've all had enough for now. My stomach needs a rest, and I'm sure others could use a breather too."

Yao Li leaned back with a laugh. "Fair enough! Let's all pause for a bit."

Just then, one of the actresses sitting beside Yao Li, dressed in an elegant gown that highlighted her curvaceous figure, leaned closer to him. Her hands lightly rested on his arm as she gave Xiao Feng a curious yet flirtatious glance. "Young Master Yao, you still haven't introduced us to this gentleman. How should we address him?"

Yao Li, noticing her interest, smiled broadly as he gestured towards Xiao Feng. "This is my brother—my real brother, not just in name. You can call him Mr. Xiao."

The actress's eyes widened in astonishment. Up until that moment, most of the women in the room had assumed Yao Li's casual use of "brother" was nothing more than a term of camaraderie between men. But now, hearing him explicitly say "my real brother," their shock was palpable.

They all knew Yao Li's status well—his family's power and influence were no secret in their circles. And although Xiao Feng and Yao Li didn't share the same surname, the fact that Yao Li openly declared him as his brother spoke volumes about Xiao Feng's own standing.