Lily’s best talent had always been her tongue. Or so Zhuo Jingren told her.
However, she believed that her talent lies in making certain conversations awkward. Her smile became even more brilliant as she eyed Lin Yu Yan and Qi Xia. “We can set it up next week? I’m sure Mr. Lin would love to see both of you together.”
“Miss Lily is… really humorous. Mr. Qi and I are only acquaintances.”
“But… all relationships start with being acquainted with each other, right?” Lily instantly countered. “Ah…. I will have my secretary call both of you so we can set it up when you have the time.”
Both Lin Yu Yan and Qi Xia eyed each other awkwardly. It seems that they are useless against Lily’s way with words. In the end, both Qi Xia and Lin Yu Yan helplessly nodded. After a few minutes of Lily’s ‘advance planning’ about their double date, Qi Xia bid them goodbye. His face was dark as he walked towards Zhou Huifang.
“You really are…” Yang Jing was standing just a few feet away from Lily so he approached her after both Qi Xia and Lin Yu Yan left.
“What?” She lifted an eyebrow. “They are both single and my matchmaking skills are superb.”
Yang Jing only smiled. “Zhou Huifang and Zhou Lanying had been eyeing you since you arrived. As well as Old Man Dongfang. These are two powerful families in China who had a long-standing grudge against each other.”
“I am aware,” Lily answered. She was observing them. The Zhous and the Dongfang were two of her primary suspects of the people who wanted to bring Zhuo Jingren down.
“Tonight, Zhou Lanying will also play the piano.” Yang Jing added. “Zhou Lanying is a known drug addict. Her brother is using this event to prove that she is not one. But everyone in the circle already knows what she was. I heard they are arranging a marriage for Zhou Lanying. This must be the reason why he wanted to redeem her name.”
Lily did not answer him. Instead, she looked at Zhou Lanying who was standing not too far away from her. Just like Lily, she was wearing a long black gown with lots of hand-sewn stones, making it glitter against the dim lights. Her hair was in a perfect updo while a smile was plastered all over her face. She looked polished with her flawless pale skin and gentle eyes.
Of course, her similarity with Bei Tian was too uncanny. If the two would stand next to each other, no one would mistake them for a lover. Lily let out a sigh inwardly. According to Zhuo Jingren, Bei Tian and him were born a few months apart. While Zhuo Jingren was someone from the direct line of Zhou’s Bei Tian was only the son of a prostitute. A bastard. He was considered a mistake the moment he was born.
However, the old Patriarch of the Zhou Family, Zhou Jingren’s biological grandfather, pitied the child and took care of him. So when Zhou Jingren’s grandfather died, just like Zhou Jingren’s father and mother, he also became the target of his real family.
At first, Zhou Jingren’s mother hesitated to bring Bei Tian along. However, her heart betrayed her, and she pitied the child. So she brought Bei Tian to the same orphanage where she brought Zhou Jingren a few days back.
She also changed his last name to Bei instead of Zhou.
“President, the heir of the Dongfang family is walking our way.” Yang Mi’s words woke her up from her stupor.
“Miss Zhuo.” It was Old Man Dongfang, the same man that Lily met during the bidding. “I heard that you donated five million for the cause? Thank you.”
Lily nodded in response. “I heard that you will take care of the hospital’s construction. What a remarkable thing to do.” Lily was talking about the children’s hospital that this gala was about. All the money from the tickets will go to charities. While the donations from various businessmen will go to a children’s hospital that Lin Yu Yan was planning to build on the outskirts of Shanghai.
The old man let out a laugh. “Thank you. Ah… here. I want you to meet my grandson. Dongfang Lu. He is already working as my vice president now.”
“Nice to meet you.” Dongfang Lu was about Lily’s age. Maybe a little older. High cheekbones, phoenix-like eyes, and a sly smile were the first things that Lily noticed.
“Same here.” She responded as she shook his hand. She gave the man a polite smile.
“I was expecting to see Mr. Zhuo with you. But I guess… he was busy.” The Old Man said. His voice did not have a tinge of malice in it. But the unfathomable glint in his eyes was unmistakable. Lily sneered inwardly.
“He is taking care of some relatively unimportant problems.”
“Really…”
“Hmmm… Of course, it was already handled.” Lily smiled at the old man.
“Interesting.” Dongfang Lu muttered.
Lily responded with a smile. The Dongfang family had a grudge against Zhou Jingren’s late grandfather. However, even though the Zhou Family was already under a new patriarch, this grievance did not stop, instead, it had even become bigger. Of course, Lily already expected the old man to know that Zhuo Jingren was from the original line of Zhou’s- the people that he hated the most.
While Lily does not know where this grievance came from, she was still intending to defend her husband and stand next to him against these people.
“Very interesting indeed.” She said as she eyed Dongfang Lu. “Not that this is still a surprise. This is not the first time that a trifling matter like this happened. I was confident that he could handle it.” Lily knew that the Dongfang family already knew about the case. Or they would not be this confident to talk to her right now. They must have known that Zhuo Jingren could not come tonight.
“Hmmm…” the old man nodded as he eyed the man behind his grandson. “Well… I wish you luck in your business endeavors in mainland China.” The old man handed Lily a glass of champagne as he held his glass towards Lily. “To more projects.”
Lily smiled in response. She accepted the glass and tilted it towards the old man. “To more partnerships.”
