202

◎02◎

Shanghai, the Bund, Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

Crystal chandeliers illuminated the banquet hall as if it were daytime, and the air was filled with the luxurious aroma of champagne, perfume, and cigars. Amidst the glittering clothes and clinking glasses, this was the most vivid testament to the world of fame and fortune.

Lin Ruoyin, dressed in an Elie Saab hazy blue gradient gown, stood beside Lu Yan, greeting the endless stream of guests who came forward to exchange pleasantries. Her smile remained perfectly balanced, a meticulously crafted mask that was neither overly warm nor aloof. Only careful observation revealed a subtle, almost imperceptible indifference deep within her eyes.

"Young Master Lu, Mrs. Lu, you are a perfect match, the envy of all." A middle-aged man with a shiny forehead raised his glass, his gaze shifting between Lu Yan and Lin Ruoyin.

Lu Yan laughed heartily, his movements displaying the familiarity typical of a spoiled young man, as he reached out to put his arm around Lin Ruoyin's waist.

Just as his palm was about to touch her, Lin Ruoyin subtly took a half step to the side, just avoiding his overly casual physical contact, and at the same time naturally raised her right hand and gently placed it on Lu's outstretched arm.

"Mr. Zhang, you flatter me." She met Mr. Zhang's gaze, her lips maintaining a perfect social curve. "Lu's Group's achievements today are due to the joint efforts of the entire team."

She turned her head to look at Lu Yan, her eyes calm and unwavering, as if reminding an ignorant younger brother: "Don't you think so, Lu Yan?"

Upon being looked at like that, Lu Yan's boastful spirit immediately deflated somewhat, and he awkwardly withdrew his hand, continuing her line of thought, "Oh right, the team worked hard..."

Lin Ruoyin then turned her gaze back to President Zhang, calmly taking over the topic of market trends. She stood half a step to Lu Yan's side, her posture elegant and composed, like a steady guardian, perfectly controlling the rhythm and boundaries of the entire conversation.

Another guest arrived, and the conversation turned to the recent fluctuations in the international jewelry market and new policies on the mining of rare gemstones.

Lu Yan initially offered a few polite words, but when it came to specific data and in-depth industry analysis, his eyes began to wander, and his fingertips unconsciously twirled the base of his wine glass, revealing his impatience. He subconsciously turned his head to look at Lin Ruoyin, a dependent smile playing on his lips, carrying a hint of "I'm leaving it to you."

Lin Ruoyin subtly took over the conversation, discussing everything from the mining area to design, and then from market trends to brand responses, her words precise and data readily available.

Just then, a small commotion arose at the entrance of the banquet hall.

The guests who were originally surrounding Lu Yan and Lin Ruoyin also subconsciously looked in the direction of the sound.

Lin Ruoyin then looked up.

The next moment, her breathing almost stopped.

The crowd parted to make way for a tall, well-built man, surrounded by his partners, who walked in with a composed gait.

He wore a perfectly tailored dark gray suit, without a tie, and the top button of his shirt was casually undone, revealing a touch of untamed wildness. His eyes were deep-set, his nose high and straight, and his jawline taut like a knife. His face was expressionless, his gaze calmly sweeping across the room. His gaze wasn't sharp, but it possessed an invisible penetrating power, as if it could peel away all the glamorous facades and reach the emptiness within.

He exuded a cold and powerful aura, like a block of ice suddenly thrown into lukewarm water, instantly altering the energy field of the entire banquet hall. The previously noisy conversation and laughter unconsciously subsided, and many people's eyes, filled with curiosity, awe, or inquiry, focused on him.

It's Xu Jia.

Lin Ruoyin's fingers tightened uncontrollably around the champagne glass, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

Xu Jia's gaze, like a precise radar, swept across all sorts of faces, finally landing on Lin Ruoyin.

More accurately, it landed on the hand that was linked with Lu Yan's arm.

In that instant, Lin Ruoyin could almost feel invisible ice crystals condensing in the air.

Xu Jia's eyes remained largely calm, but his deep pupils narrowed almost imperceptibly, as if adjusting his focus to examine the loving scene before him more clearly.

Lin Ruoyin felt her fingertips turn icy cold instantly, her blood rushing back to her heart, only to surge wildly again in the next instant. A barely perceptible crack appeared on the flawless smile mask on her face, but it lasted only a second, too fast for anyone to catch.

Xu Jia walked over to them.

His pace was neither fast nor slow, yet each step felt like it was treading on one's heart, carrying an invisible pressure.

"Young Master Lu." He stopped in front of them, his voice low, his gaze first falling on Lu Yan, without any polite warmth, which was his way of greeting him.

Then, his gaze turned to her, each word seemingly ground between his teeth: "Mrs. Lu."

Lin Ruoyin felt a lump in her throat upon hearing this almost mocking address.

She met Xu Jia's gaze. At that moment, all the light, shadow, and sound around her faded away, leaving only his unfathomable eyes, like a whirlpool, threatening to devour her along with her past.

Lin Ruoyin opened her mouth, but found that she couldn't make a sound. The violent clash between the past and reality left her momentarily unable to cope.

Lu Yan keenly noticed her unusual behavior. Although he didn't understand why, he subconsciously took half a step forward, subtly blocking Lin Ruoyin's path, and extended his hand with a polite smile: "President Xu, I've heard so much about you. I'm Lu Yan."

Xu Jia's gaze slowly shifted back to Lu Yan's face. He shook hands with him briefly, then separated them immediately, his expression extremely cold.

Lu Yan maintained his smile, trying to ease the tension: "President Xu is also interested in the charity gala? That's quite unexpected."

Xu Jia's gaze swept past Lu Yan and returned to Lin Ruoyin, who was struggling to catch her breath behind him. His tone was calm and even, yet every word was precise: "Occasionally, one needs to see different scenery." He paused slightly, as if casually mentioning, "For example, how a caged canary performs."

Lu Yan's smile froze; the barb in those words was too obvious. He frowned, trying to change the subject, "I've heard that 'Mohe' is making waves in the digital art field recently. Congratulations."

Xu Jia seemed not to hear his congratulations, his tone remaining calm yet carrying a precise and sharp edge: "The Lu family's layout in the South American mining area is very forward-thinking." He nodded slightly, as if giving affirmation, then changed the subject, "Unfortunately, 'Mohe' just signed a full-domain digital development agreement with the local government half an hour ago."

Lu Yan's composure froze instantly. "President Xu, is it just my imagination? I feel like you're hostile towards us."

Xu Jia raised an eyebrow, almost laughing out loud. "Really?"

His gaze returned to Lin Ruoyin's face. "Do you feel the same way, Mrs. Lu?"

Lin Ruoyin felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. Xu Jia's pointed gaze was like a cold needle, piercing her temples and making them throb. The surrounding air seemed to thin, and the luxurious banquet hall now only made her feel suffocated.

She took a soft breath, her fingertips trembling slightly as she touched Lu Yan's arm, managing to keep her voice steady: "Lu Yan, I'm not feeling well. Can we go back first?"

Xu Jia's gaze fell on Lin Ruoyin's bloodless face. Her slightly furrowed brows and somewhat unfocused eyes caused his unfathomable eyes to flicker almost imperceptibly.

Lu Yan immediately looked down at her and noticed that her face was indeed a few shades paler than before. His polite smile was instantly replaced by worry. He no longer cared about dealing with Xu Jia and quickly put his arm around her shoulder, protecting her securely by his side.

“Okay, we’ll go back right away.” Lu Yan replied without hesitation, his tone full of concern. He turned around with Lin Ruoyin in his arms, and his steps seemed to go slightly off course, his shoulder bumping lightly against Xu Jia’s arm.

The blow wasn't forceful, but it carried a strong sense of provocation. Xu Jia's wine glass swayed slightly, and the deep golden liquid rippled across the glass.

Xu Jia remained motionless as he watched Lu Yan's arm tightly encircle Lin Ruoyin's waist, half-carrying and half-supporting her as he turned her around, in a protective or possessive manner. She seemed truly exhausted, leaning obediently against Lu Yan. The two of them, walking away side by side, were both intimate and jarring.

Xu Jia stood there, watching them blend into the crowd until they disappeared. His aura was even colder and harder than before, as if all the light and warmth in the banquet hall had frozen and fallen away an inch around him.

Lu Yan carefully escorted Lin Ruoyin through the crowd and asked in a low voice, "Are you feeling very unwell? Should we go straight to the hospital?"

Lin Ruoyin gently shook her head, her voice weary: "No need, I'm just a little tired and want to rest."

Xu Jia's last cold and scrutinizing gaze is like a brand that cannot be erased.