51. The Moon Hides the Egret
"Young Miss, even if I die beneath the peony blossoms, I'll still be a romantic ghost."
Li Xiran strode confidently into the spotlight, and the man, exuding a mature and reserved aura, instantly became the focus of the entire event.
He crossed his fingers naturally, his appearance both refined and confident, making the large banquet hall seem like his own domain.
Especially his beautiful amber eyes, gentle and warm yet full of determination, were completely different from his usual refined demeanor.
Li Xiran glanced at the speech draft that Wilder had prepared for him, then folded it directly into his pocket, calmly and naturally speaking in his understated and elegant Oxford RP accent about his views on business development.
Among those present were many outstanding business leaders from various countries. They all went from lazily holding their wine glasses and observing the young man on the stage to applauding Li Xiran with admiration and amazement.
He seemed to be a born businessman, destined to shine brightly in this dull and treacherous world of fame and fortune because of his existence.
"Miss, the way you look at Chairman Li is full of adoration," Yi Sheng teased in a low voice.
Shang Xin smiled and rested her chin on her hand, gazing at Li Xiran.
In that instant, she seemed to return to the spring of her eighteenth year, and her calm and silent heart was once again rippled with waves because of him.
She thought that people must fall in love with the same person repeatedly.
"Of course, he is incredibly outstanding in my heart. My love for him is one of utmost admiration." Perhaps in many people's eyes, Li Xiran is a shrewd capitalist who always prioritizes business, seemingly gentle but with a strong sense of social boundaries.
But in her eyes, Li Xiran was a safe haven in the storm, a sturdy tree to lean on, and the love of her life.
As if by telepathy, Li Xiran also looked at the young lady at the same time.
The two looked at each other amidst the dim light and the bustling crowd.
After he finished speaking, Shang Xinu raised her glass high.
From afar, we pay tribute to her lover, and to his love.
With a smile, Li Xiran stepped off the stage amidst the gazes and applause of thousands, his gentle eyes fixed only on the young lady.
As he sat down, he deliberately rested his hands on the back of Shangxi Nuan's armchair, leaned down, and whispered, "I miss you so much."
Even though it was only a brief separation of five minutes, and the distance was only five meters, he still missed her deeply.
Shang Xinuan moved her chair and placed her legs directly on one of his legs, saying, "Me too."
Upon hearing her answer, Li Xiran chuckled, pulled his chair back, and, as if no one else was around, took off her high heels and began massaging the young lady's ankles.
"Thank you for wearing high heels to accompany me, Miss."
Shang Xinu thought she had concealed herself well. From the moment she sat down, she took off her shoes and used her skirt as a cover. She only put her shoes back on when Li Xiran stepped down from the stage.
"You found out."
"Is there any broken skin?"
Shang Xinuan shook her head, "I just rarely wear it, it's not like I don't know how to wear it."
"Miss, even your frown makes my heart ache." Li Xiran rubbed his palms together to warm them and massaged her from the top of her feet to her ankles. "Guest, how's this pressure?"
"Very good. Technician Li, do you have time tonight to massage other areas for me?" the young lady said with a smile.
"It would be a pleasure to serve Miss Shang. See you tonight."
The brief role-playing was enough to make the two laugh for a long time. When the meal was served, Shang Xinuan asked, "If you touch my feet at this time, will Chairman Li still eat?"
Li Xiran then raised an eyebrow mischievously, leaned close to the other person's ear and whispered, "I've not only touched Miss's feet, I remember kissing them too."
"It seems like she kissed more than just his feet..."
Shang Xinuan immediately recalled Li Xiran burying his head in her [body], stirring the rainy night with the tip of his tongue.
"Don't say anymore." The young lady blushed and shyly covered his lips with her hand. "There are so many people."
The banquet was so noisy that even Yi Sheng, who was sitting next to Shang Xinuan, couldn't hear Li Xiran's words.
But suggestive remarks made in public seem to have an even greater power to stir people's peripheral nerves.
"Okay, let's talk about it when we get back to the hotel." Li Xiran held her legs and put them on the ground. "I'm going to wash my hands. You eat first."
The young lady smiled and muttered, "I thought she really wouldn't mind."
However, before she could finish the first dessert, Li Xiran returned with a cardboard box.
He simply pulled out a chair, making room between the two of them, then took out the flat shoes from the cardboard box and knelt down on one knee to change Shang Xinuan's shoes.
"I would never look down on the young lady, no matter who I dislike."
He clearly heard her murmur as he left, but deliberately offered no explanation.
We've been waiting for this moment to take romance to its extreme.
"Where did you get these?" She had been with Li Xiran the whole time and hadn't listened to his instructions to have someone deliver the flat shoes.
Even if Wilder were to be sent to buy it temporarily, it would be impossible for it to be delivered in such a short time.
"in advance."
At that time, they were still on the train to London, and the young lady fell asleep in his arms.
When Wilder was giving his work report, he mentioned the shoes he wore with his formal attire. Li Xiran listened to the whole thing and didn't notice any flat shoes.
“There’s no shopping street near our hotel, so by the time the selected styles are delivered, it will still be too late.” Li Xiran’s original intention was to arrive before the party started.
He always remembered the doctor's repeated instructions when the young lady fell from her horse and was injured.
"Does the young lady like it?"
The white calfskin sole and the square diamond buckle on the upper perfectly match the style of Shangxi Nuanhu's little princess.
She had heard Qiao Xi talk about these shoes before; the diamond buckles on the upper alone had dozens of combinations, making them both intricate and beautiful, and they were simply unavailable in domestic department stores.
She had been thinking about this place a lot during her trip to London. She just hadn't expected that before she could even buy it, Li Xiran had already put it on her feet.
The young lady swung her leg, "You always manage to pick out a style I like."
Seeing her satisfied smile, Li Xiran picked up a warm towel to wipe his hands and rubbed her head.
"This is just one of the essential skills of a good boyfriend."
It wasn't that he could always pick the style that the young lady liked perfectly; rather, he clearly memorized her daily preferences as if they were engraved in his lungs.
Because of love, I'm willing to be precise in choosing even the smallest details, like the accessories on my shoes.
-
After a few rounds of drinks, Li Xiran was stopped by several business seniors for a chat.
The young lady was chatting with Yi Sheng, but because Yi Sheng had a performance the next day, she and Qin Jianchuan left early at halftime.
She didn't want to get involved in Li Xiran's business dealings, so she took a plate of Basque cake and sat down in the rest area.
However, foreigners would occasionally try to strike up a conversation with her, but fortunately, they would apologize and leave as soon as she politely declined.
Until a man of similar age sat down and even offered her a glass of champagne.
The young lady, knowing they were in London and that she and Li Xiran were outsiders, didn't want to cause any embarrassment, so she had no choice but to accept the wine glass and hold it in her hand.
“Beautiful Chinese lady, wouldn’t you like to have a sip?” the man kept urging her in broken Chinese. “This is a sparkling wine for ladies that I specially selected for you.”
Looking at the unusual bubbles hanging on the glass, Shang Xinuan really wanted to throw the wine in that person's face.
"I'm sorry, I'm allergic to alcohol." The dismissive answer clearly conveyed a sense of rejection to anyone with common sense.
The blond man still didn't believe it and sat down next to Shang Xinuan. "Trust me, take a bite, and you'll definitely experience extraordinary pleasure."
The young lady clenched her teeth, now wanting even more to force the glass of wine down the throat of the blond man.
She never expected the blond man to strike first, grabbing her hand and trying to force her to drink.
But just as the wine glass was about to touch her lips, she was first pulled up by a warm and familiar hand, and then pulled behind him.
The next moment, Li Xiran was seen holding a champagne glass in one hand and pinching the blond man's cheek with the other, pouring the glass of unusually bubbly wine into his mouth without leaving a drop.
To prevent the man from spitting it out, Li Xiran even stuffed fruit into his mouth until he swallowed all the wine.
"You're crazy!" The blond man tried to vomit, but Li Xiran grabbed his wrist, giving him no chance. "It's none of your business."
"You'd better get out of my sight before my patience runs out."
At that moment, everyone present could feel the murderous intent in Li Xiran's eyes.
If that man had fled even a fraction of a second later, who knows what Li Xiran might have done next.
But when he looked at Shang Xinuan again, his previous sharpness had been replaced by gentleness. "Did you drink that glass of wine?"
Shang Xinuan shook her head, desperately hiding the panic in her eyes, "Don't worry, you came just in time."
"I'm sorry." His eyes were red. "I shouldn't have left you alone."
The young lady rested her head against his chest, "I knew you would definitely show up, so I'm not afraid."
Her hands were actually trembling, and she was using almost all her strength to resist. If Li Xiran had arrived a second later, she might not have been able to resist at all.
"Mr. Li, I'm so sorry." It was the host of the party. "I just learned that there was an arrogant person at the banquet who almost disturbed your family."
Li Xiran once again shielded Shang Xinu behind him, saying, "Thank you very much for your concern, but my family needs an explanation. She is still a student, and what just happened has caused her serious psychological harm."
"Yes, don't worry, we have already called the police, and we will inform you of the follow-up results as soon as possible."
Li Xiran politely thanked him, but when the other person wanted to continue discussing their recent collaboration, he politely declined, saying, "My girlfriend was frightened, and I need to take her home to rest first. We can talk again later if there's another opportunity."
He put his arm around the young lady's waist, his eyes full of heartache. "Let's go."
-
Only after the two entered the elevator did Shang Xinuan snuggle into his arms in a coquettish manner.
She kept patting Li Xi's back, saying, "I'm really fine. Miss has seen all kinds of situations."
"Good girl." He could sense that Shang Xinuan had become more cautious and careful in everything since arriving in England. "Miss doesn't need to give face to everyone. If you don't like something, just say so, and I'll take care of the aftermath."
"This isn't Shanghai, and I'm someone you brought here. I don't want you to offend anyone." She also knew that it hadn't been easy for Li Xiran to get to this point, and that many eyes were on him.
But these words only made him more annoyed. "Wherever I am, the young lady will always be a guest of honor."
Shang Xinuan tilted her head back and smoothed his furrowed brow with her fingertips. "I understand."
Seeing that he was still looking at her with pity, the young lady changed the subject and said, "It suddenly occurred to me, isn't Chairman Li also chasing after female students?"
Li Xiran's hand was originally around her waist, but then he saw the young lady deliberately teasing him.
He simply lifted Shang Xinuan's buttocks, placed them on his waist, and even pinched her buttocks through her dress in a very improper manner.
"Young Miss, even if I die beneath the peony, I'll still be a romantic ghost."
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