“I am.” She smiled before circling around Fernando.
“Do you like him?” he asked, his gaze following her every move.
“I do.” She smiled once again, swaying her hips in the process. Fernando did not say anything more as he began to groove to the music. As the song progressed, more people on the dance floor started paying attention to them and were looking at them with eyes full of admiration.
“If he ever….” He made a deliberate pause while spinning her around. “If he ever hurt you… just remember that I always have your back. Alright?”
“I will always remember that,” Lily said gratefully. Fernando had always treated Lily like a sister. Perhaps it was because he once had a sister who had unfortunately passed away. When Lily entered his life, she reminded him so much of his sister and he couldn’t help but to feel protective over her. Hence, it wasn’t a surprise that Fernando would ask to speak to her privately to ask her more about Zhuo Jingren. But there were some thoughts that he had about Zhuo Jingren that he chose not to share with Lily.
Lily and Fernando’s movements continued to be in sync with each other which caused the people on the dance floor to cheer enthusiastically for them. Their cheers gained the attention of the people from the VIP booths on the second floor that were overlooking the dance floor.
“Who is that woman?” asked Yuan Dehua. He was one of Xuan Hui’s business partners and was not much older than Xuan Hui, in his thirties. “She does not look like a regular here,” he added, eyeing the woman in question.
Xuan Hui turned his gaze to the dance floor and immediately frowned. “I don’t know but she seems familiar.” As the lighting in the club was dim and colored, it was hard for Xuan Hui to recognize Lily.
“Is she one of your previous women?” Yuan Dehua teased which incited laughter from the other men in the group.
“I am a changed man,” Xuan Hui said, looking away from the dance floor. He turned his attention towards the investor that he was talking to. This investor, Xander Martin, was a known producer in Europe who was looking to invest in a film company. With the man’s credentials, Xuan Hui thought that he would make a good partner in his endeavor to branch out into the European film market. Hence, he made sure to treat this potential investor well by bringing him to the best club in Hong Kong.
“So… I was planning to invest in this…”
“Aha! I know her! I remember that woman!” Yuan Dehua exclaimed, interrupting Xuan Hui. “That is Qin Jinghua!”
Everyone in the booth immediately turned their attention towards Lily who was happily dancing with Fernando. Most of the men in the group were good friends with Xuan Hui and so they knew about his past with Qin Jinghua. At this realization, everyone’s gaze towards her changed. Their eyes that were full of appreciation earlier were now full of disdain.
“Why would she be here?” Xuan Hui asked while looking at Qin Jinghua.
“Who is that?” Mr. Martin asked in Chinese, his gaze was also glued to the woman that he also found somewhat familiar.
“Someone insignificant,” Xuan Hui answered before asking one of his guards to inform the security of this club and have them chase Qin Jinghua out. Seeing a woman like her would only sting their eyes. He then turned his attention back to Mr. Martin.
“As I was saying…”
“I’m sorry Mr. Xuan but that woman is from Europe as well, correct?” he asked, suspicion written all over his face. Mr. Martin seemed to have caught a glimpse of Fernando Kim and the famous Director Li in the club. He thought he had seen them dancing with the woman who was identified as ‘Qin Jinghua’ and she happened to look a lot like the famous Lily Facci-Qin in London. To meet a woman in Hong Kong looking like Lily Facci-Qin could be a coincidence. But with Fernando Kim and Director Li present as well, this could only mean that the woman whom the group had identified as ‘Qin Jinghua’ was in fact Lily Facci-Qin and not some look alike.
Mr. Martin immediately wondered if these people knew the true identity of woman they were about to kick out in this club.
“Yes, she said that she had stayed in Europe for a few years. If you found her familiar, it could be that you have seen her in some gatherings or other clubs. That woman is someone who leeches off rich people and make use of them for her advantage,” said Xia Leizhou, another one of Xuan Hui’s business partners who recognized Lily answered. Mr. Martin instantly frowned.
‘Leech? Don’t they know who Lily is?’
“We should stop talking about this. Security will kick her and her companions out soon.” Xuan Hui observed as one of his men approached a security personnel stationed near the dance floor. However, to his surprise, he saw the security personnel shaking his head and signaling that he would not kick Lily and her companions out.
“Let’s not mind the woman and talk about business instead.” Xuan Hui composed himself and smiled at Mr. Martin. “So.. as I was saying, I am planning to invest in this film with an international director. I am sure this will be a hit in the western market.”
“Xuan Hui… your guard said that the security personnel refused to kick them out as they are VIP clients here,” Xia Leizhou interrupted their conversation once again. Xia Leizhou really wanted to kick Qin Jinghua out of this club. To him, a woman like her was an embarrassment. “Xuan Hui, do you want to come with me? I will personally kick her out of this place,” he said before he rose from his seat, his eyes full of unmasked disdain.
…
Editor: Swaning
