Chapter 35

Swan Bay Private Villas.

I visited Chu Ci with Zhou Yubai before. I heard it was the private property of a certain bigwig in China, who would occasionally hold banquets there, but he himself never showed up.

Unbeknownst to her, Huo Junyan's confirmed attendance elevated the entire banquet to a new level.

A silver-gray luxury car drove into the villa. Waiters who had been waiting opened the car doors on both sides. Chu Ci lifted her skirt, and just as the sequined shoes peeked out, a hand with well-proportioned knuckles appeared in front of her.

Holding his hand, Chu Ci looked up and said, "Thank you."

As soon as she stood up, his coat was draped over her shoulders. "Don't catch a cold." She had no idea how alluring her back looked when she bent over to get out of the car.

October in the northern part of the city has already entered autumn. The night wind is damp and cool, which looks like a sign that rain is about to fall.

Autumn is rainy, and Chu Ci didn't refuse. She adjusted her collar, raised an eyebrow at him, and took his arm.

The arrival of the two silenced the banquet hall, and people automatically made way for each other at the entrance.

As far as the eye could see, most of the men were dressed in suits and ties, while the women's dresses came in a variety of styles, including crop tops, deep V-necks, strapless dresses, backless dresses, and even braless dresses. She glanced at Huo Junyan, took off her coat, and handed it to the waiter next to her.

Huo Junyan also noticed these details, details he had never paid attention to in the countless banquets he had attended before.

The banquet organizer immediately stepped forward to greet Huo Junyan.

He introduced, "This is my wife, Chu Ci." The organizer immediately greeted her with a smile, "It is a great honor for me to have Mrs. Huo here."

Many eyes immediately turned to him from all around, and Chu Ci looked back at them one by one.

The gazes were a mixture of surprise, envy, doubt, and flattery, with people whispering among themselves.

Those in the know received the news long ago that the Huo family heir's first love had returned with her child. The discussion only lasted for two days before it died down. Such things are too common in their circle, and very few of them end up together. They are mostly arranged marriages.

No one expected that Huo Junyan would personally admit his identity at a private dinner.

That's a different matter.

Chu Ci was poised and elegant, and followed Huo Junyan as he moved among the guests. Most of them were intelligent people, but there were always one or two who thought themselves clever.

Wearing 12cm stilettos is really inhuman; she got a leg cramp halfway through the walk.

Huo Junyan turned his head to look at her. Chu Ci's posture was elegant, and he could not see anything wrong with her. He pointed to the seat next to him and said, "The desserts here are quite good."

"Um."

Without any hesitation, she sat down in the chair, and the pressure on her calves was instantly released, making her pores feel much more relaxed.

“Miss Shen? It’s you. It’s been a long time. We met at the Zhou family’s banquet last time. You were the host, but we didn’t have a chance to speak.”

"This is Miss Chu, don't talk nonsense."

"Oh, oh dear, I'm sorry, I remembered wrong, Miss Chu."

A man and a woman appeared before Chu Ci, awkwardly and exaggeratedly calling her by the wrong name.

Chu Ci knew this woman. She got into an argument with someone at a banquet hosted by the Zhou family, almost coming to blows, which was very undignified. Yao Shengjie gave her a hard time, so she directly and forcefully ordered someone to take both of them away.

As for the man, in Zhou Yubai's office, she heard him say things like, "Software code is something you can just copy and paste, why does it need such a high cost?" She said a few words of criticism to him, and it seems that the final result was that Zhou Yubai did not sign a contract with him.

"If you remember correctly, I used the alias Chen Que a few years ago." She quietly pulled out one foot, using the banquet tablecloth and skirt to cover it, and stretched out her toes.

The two clearly did not expect Chu Ci to admit it so directly.

The girl immediately replied, "Then you and President Zhou?" She glanced at Huo Junyan and lowered her voice, "Aren't you Mrs. Zhou?"

"I just dissolved my marriage with Zhou Yubai this morning. Would you like to hear the details?"

The girl fell silent.

The man lowered his head and silently pushed up his glasses. Damn it, this woman didn't even respect him in Zhou Yubai's office, and now she's still so presumptuous in front of Huo Junyan. He'd better not offend her.

As Chu Ci spoke these words, Huo Junyan's gaze remained fixed on her face, tender and indulgent.

The two slunk away. Chu Ci picked up her knife and fork, took a bite of roasted pineapple, and asked, "Hmm?" Where are the shoes?

She probed the area within half a foot of her toes, then slowly lowered her head; the tablecloth was piled underneath and couldn't be seen.

Without warning, Huo Junyan squatted down at her feet, lifted the tablecloth, and took out the high heels rolled up inside. She immediately put her feet in.

A short laugh came from behind.

Chu Ci turned around and saw a handsome and noble man.

"Sister-in-law, my name is Lu Shiqi."

“This is your sister-in-law,” Huo Junyan stood up, clearly familiar with her. Lu Shiqi shrugged. “I only called her sister-in-law because she’s young, and it would make her seem old. I’m just borrowing your husband for a bit.”

It was only through Chu Ci that he learned he was the owner of Swan Bay.

The two went to the balcony and talked. Huo Junyan looked very relaxed, while Lu Shiqi seemed a little hesitant.

"Old Fang is hosting this banquet for securities trading. I didn't expect you to attend. I had to rush here. Old Fang has really made a fortune this time."

Huo Junyan leaned against the wooden handrail, seemingly unconcerned about the purpose of the dinner.

"Have you decided?" Lu Shiqi gestured towards Chu Ci.

"Um."

He didn't explain, and his straightforward attitude made Lu Shiqi slightly stunned, before she smiled and said, "You're luckier than me."

"I remember you said that if you can't marry the woman you love most, marry the one who is most useful to you. Congratulations."

Lu Shiqi seemed dejected. "Don't laugh at me. The Lu family's foundation in China is not as strong as the Huo family's."

Huo Junyan remained silent.

"What exactly did you come here for?"

Huo Junyan glanced around and said, "My wife's software development company needs a recommendation from Li Jue Technology."

Lu Shiqi seemed to have heard an unbelievable joke, "Does such a small matter require your personal attendance? Just send someone to make a message and that will be enough."

“You don’t understand,” Huo Junyan said, his tone unconsciously carrying a hint of helpless indulgence, “A woman’s mind is sometimes hard to fathom.”

Lu Shiqi: "..."

Chu Ci withdrew her gaze, got up and went to the restroom. When she came out, she saw Li Jue not far away. She had come today mainly to get to know Li Jue.

Just as I was about to lift my foot, I suddenly heard a noise from the next room—a faint humming sound, as if someone was biting their lip, "...Brother..."

Chu Ci peeked out slightly and saw a handsome man and a beautiful woman kissing passionately through the crack in the door.

Going past here would definitely alert the people inside.

She lifted her skirt, tiptoed, and darted back to the banquet hall.

What luck!

Huo Junyan had finished talking and was waiting for her where he was.

"What's wrong? Is someone chasing you?"

"No."

Chu Ci sat down to calm down, and turned his head to see the beautiful woman he had just kissed returning to the banquet hall with her head down.

The beautiful woman belonged to the pure and innocent type, and at this moment she resembled a lily that had been ravaged by a storm, and her gossipy nature was aroused.

Do you know her?

Huo Junyan glanced in the direction of the gaze and said, "The youngest daughter of the Bai family."

As they were talking, the handsome guy who had been kissing appeared, but instead of sitting with the pretty girl, he went to the other side and started chugging one glass of wine after another.

Chu Ci frowned slightly and turned her head. "And what about him?"

"Young Master Bai."

Chu Ci's eyes widened. "They're a white person?...I mean, they're siblings?...biological?"

Huo Junyan looked at her, not understanding why her expression was so exaggerated. "Do you two have a grudge?"

"No, oh, what are you saying? How could I possibly have a grudge against anyone?"

He chuckled, "Those two people had a grudge against you before, didn't they?"

Chu Ci clicked his tongue and turned his head away. "I offended you by accident."

Huo Junyan lowered his head and smiled. Everyone said that Chu Ci was cunning and had a purpose in everything she did. She had played the Zhou family for a fool and was still able to get away unscathed.

But who drove her to that point?

What? Does that mean she's allowed to be hurt, but not allowed to retaliate?

What kind of rogue logic is that?

When they first met at the airport a few months ago, he clearly saw the wariness and vigilance in her eyes, and her taciturn and astute demeanor when she saw him that night.

If she hadn't been more vigilant, how could she have survived until now?

Now, it seems like she's returned to the vibrant state she was five years ago. She's developed a temper, talks more, and is quirky, lively, and bright.

He couldn't resist and reached out to support her slightly swaying earring, his fingertips brushing against the back of her ear.

She didn't know that her most sensitive spot was behind her ears. Every time they were intimate, a thin layer of watery red would appear on the skin behind her ears, like a bewitching and beautiful rouge. He loved it and couldn't help but tease her about it.

Huo Junyan's heart was filled with emotion when she suddenly turned around, cutting off his reverie.

"Hey, let me tell you," she had just been interrupted, and when she turned her head, she saw the young master and young lady of the Bai family looking at each other across the sea of ​​people. Their eyes met, and she looked away in fright, almost meeting Chu Ci's gaze. She was so scared that she quickly turned her head away.

She beckoned him closer with her finger.

The girl's fair neck was slender and graceful under the crystal chandelier, and that beauty extended all the way to her back, making his heart itch.

"What's wrong?"

“I just saw, um, and um,” she gestured with her eyes, and Huo Junyan knew who she was referring to. And then? Chu Ci pouted, and he immediately leaned closer. “They, chirp chirp.”

Then sit up straight.

Huo Junyan's mind was on "Chirp Chirp" just now, and he was distracted for a moment, so he didn't pay attention to what she was saying.

When they finally realized what was happening, they were stunned for a few seconds.

He then said, "She is the adopted daughter of the Bai family."

Chu Ci softly said "Oh," as long as it didn't violate ethics, it's fine. But the adopted daughter is also... tsk, it seems they still have a long way to go.

Huo Junyan seemed to realize something and said, "No wonder."

"What?"

"No wonder the Lu family chose the Chen family for marriage instead of the Bai family. The Bai family would have been more helpful to the Lu family's business. It seems he knew about the uncertainty of the Bai family all along."

Chu Ci's pupils twitched slightly, but he did not respond.

"I'm a little tired, let's go back."

Huo Junyan waved to the waiter, who brought over the clothes. He draped them over her again and walked out of the villa. It had started to drizzle outside.

He naturally picked her up, put her in the car, and closed the door.

Chu Ci glanced up unintentionally and saw Lu Shiqi standing on the second-floor balcony, raising her glass towards her from afar.

Chu Ci wasn't sure if he was looking at her, so he nodded slightly. Lu Shiqi immediately smiled, then tilted her head back and drank the wine in her cup in one gulp.

Being able to associate with Huo Junyan suggests that their family backgrounds are similar, and with a marriage imminent, shouldn't she be riding high?

He looks so lonely.

"Why are you looking at him? Look at me." Huo Junyan pinched her chin, turned her face towards him, and leaned in to kiss her.

She hissed softly, took off her high heels, revealing two toes that were already blistered. Huo Junyan's forehead twitched, and his tone became harsher, "I told you not to wear high heels."

Chu Ci stretched out her toes and tentatively touched his trouser leg, "Brother, scold me."