banquet
Today, Jiang Wanning's graduation banquet was held with great fanfare, attracting prominent figures from all walks of life across the country. With the Jiang family's vast influence radiating across the country, this banquet became an occasion where everyone rushed to curry favor.
The crystal chandeliers in the banquet hall reflected a shimmer of golden light. Jiang Wanning spun in her ten-centimeter red-lacquered heels, her burgundy fishtail skirt sweeping over the carved railings. As she waved toward the banquet hall entrance, the golden bell bracelet on her wrist jingled. "Hanzhi, you're finally here!"
Gu Hanzhi's light blue satin high heels tread across the Persian carpet, her white chiffon skirt trembling with each step. The pearl tassels dangling from the silver hairpin in her hair shimmered against her cheeks. She pulled a gold-rimmed greeting card from her handbag, the scent of ink mixed with jasmine filling the air. "Wan Ning, I wish you good luck on your college entrance exams."
Shen Zhihe tugged at his black velvet bow tie with his slender fingers, his shoulders etched with a sharp, knife-like cut from his black suit. He leaned against a gilded pillar, his eyebrows raised, a smile playing behind his glasses. "This banquet is truly magnificent." Before he finished speaking, he pulled out his phone. A meme of Lu Chenzhou taking a selfie with a cast on his head appeared on the screen. "It's a shame that Chenzhou broke his leg playing basketball last week and is now lying in the hospital, eating potato chips. If anyone saw this, their jaw would drop."
Jiang Wanning's eyes curved in a smile, and the rubies on her earrings swayed gently with her movements, like dancing flames. She was brimming with excitement, her hands folded, her chin supported, her tone filled with anticipation: "When he recovers, we must set up a rehabilitation bureau! Let's have some fun! Oh, and my dad specially had king crabs flown in from the coast. They're being steamed in the kitchen right now. The crab legs are so plump and juicy. I guarantee you'll enjoy them!"
At this point, she suddenly leaned closer, lowering her voice. A sly glint flickered in her eyes as she said mysteriously, "But the best thing is the rooftop fireworks show! I've arranged it meticulously. It'll start at ten o'clock sharp. I guarantee you'll be amazed by the spectacle! Don't run away early, it would be such a shame to miss it!" She paused, a meaningful smile curling up at the corner of her mouth. Her gaze lingered on Gu Hanzhi for a moment. "Also, I've prepared a special surprise for you two. It's definitely something you'll never forget."
When Gu Hanzhi heard the word "surprise", she immediately became interested, her eyes lit up, and her body leaned forward unconsciously, and asked: "A surprise? Is it a surprise for both Zhihe and me? Stop keeping us in suspense, just reveal a little, I'm so curious!" She was full of anticipation, and her mind had begun to imagine all kinds of possible surprises, and her heartbeat quickened a bit.
Jiang Wanning blinked. "It must be a special surprise for the two of you. Maybe it has something to do with the fireworks show on the rooftop. Just think about it, surrounded by fireworks, isn't it a little too romantic?"
Gu Hanzhi suddenly lowered her voice and whispered, "I just passed by the storeroom and I thought I saw a gift box tied with a silver ribbon. Could it be that..." Jiang Wanning deliberately dragged out her words, "I'll keep it a secret for now. Anyway, we'll know when ten o'clock comes~"
The clock struck 10 o'clock, and dazzling fireworks exploded in the night sky. A golden waterfall of light poured down, transforming the sky outside the banquet hall's floor-to-ceiling windows into a flowing river of stars. Jiang Wanning slid through the crowd, carrying a crystal tray. Her silver high heels made a crisp sound on the marble floor, and the red wine glass on the tray swayed gently with her steps, reflecting tiny fragments of light.
"Wait!" She raised her hand to stop Gu Hanzhi and Shen Zhihe, who were standing side by side. Her champagne-colored shawl slipped off her shoulders, revealing her carefully painted eye makeup. "It would be a shame not to raise a glass to such beautiful fireworks."
When Shen Zhihe took the wine glass, he looked at the wine rippling in the glass and chuckled: "Wan Ning really took a lot of trouble for this banquet."
The crisp sound of crystal glasses clashing mixed with the crackle of fireworks. As the dark red wine slid down her throat, Gu Hanzhi suddenly felt a burning sensation at the back of her neck. She subconsciously unbuttoned the pearl collar of her mermaid dress, then realized her mistake and quickly stopped. Shen Zhihe noticed something was wrong and caressed the remaining warmth from the glass with his fingertips.
Half an hour later, the crystal chandelier in the banquet hall suddenly became blindingly bright. Gu Hanzhi stumbled, clutching the carved railing. The spiral staircase before her seemed to twist into a whirlpool. Shen Zhihe's tie was already askew. He loosened his collar and gasped, "The air conditioner... seems to have been turned up a bit..."
"There's a suite on the second floor of the banquet hall!" Jiang Wanning supported the two people's shaking bodies, digging her nails into Gu Hanzhi's forearm. "There are ice towels in the bathroom. You'll feel better after washing your face." She deliberately slowed down her speech, and when passing through the emergency passage, she gently hooked the half-open fire door with her high heels.
Inside the private room, the central air conditioning emitted a low hum. The -15°C air, wrapped in the scent of cedar, wafted in, but it couldn't suppress the heat surging on their skin. Gu Hanzhi's fingers trembled as she tugged at the zipper on her back. As her burgundy fishtail skirt slid to the floor, Shen Zhihe spun around abruptly, his Adam's apple rolling violently. "Don't..."
The wardrobe mirror reflected the corners of Gu Hanzhi's eyes, reddened. As she grasped her thin nightgown, the friction of the fabric brushed against Shen Zhihe's tense nerves like a feather. When the shower turned on in the bathroom, he stared at the closed frosted glass door and finally tore the tie that was restricting his breathing.
The steam from the bathroom hadn't yet dissipated, and when Gu Hanzhi emerged wrapped in a towel, beads of sweat still beaded her forehead. The summer night's heat was like an impenetrable net, and even a cold shower couldn't dispel the dryness deep within her bones. She sat down on the bed, her bare legs still trembling slightly.
Shen Zhihe sat on the sofa across from him, his fingertips gripping the water cup, his knuckles slightly white from the pressure. The air was filled with a delicate yet lustful scent. He could smell the delicate fragrance of her shower gel, mixed with a lingering warmth that tickled his heart like a feather.
"Still hot?" he asked in a hoarse voice, but his eyes did not dare to fall on her collarbone which was wet with water vapor.
Gu Hanzhi didn't respond, but just gathered her nightgown. Her fingertips accidentally rubbed the side of her neck, and the delicate whiteness made Shen Zhihe's Adam's apple roll.
A few minutes seemed like centuries. He looked at her slightly furrowed brows, her cheeks flushed with heat, and the string of reason in his head finally snapped.
The next second, Gu Hanzhi was pressed against the sofa. Shen Zhihe's breath, hot as fire, smacked her face. His hand was propped up by her ear, his knuckles white, clearly demonstrating immense self-control.
"Hanzhi," his voice was as low and hoarse as sandpaper scraping against wood, "I want you."
Gu Hanzhi's heartbeat instantly became chaotic. She could feel his body stiffen and see the struggle in his eyes. But before she could speak, Shen Zhihe lowered his head and placed a hot kiss on the corner of her lips, with an eagerness that would not allow for rejection.
"I know I shouldn't do this..." He said vaguely, but the kiss became deeper and deeper, with a desire that had been suppressed for too long, "But I can't hold on any longer..."
Reason crumbled before desire. He knew it was wrong to take advantage of someone in distress, but the warmth in his arms, her scent, and her trembling eyelashes all drew him in. Forget it, right or wrong, at this moment, he just wanted to rub her into his bones and blood and never let her go.
Gu Hanzhi's nod was as light as a feather falling to the ground, yet it struck a thunderbolt in Shen Zhihe's heart. He remained frozen in his bent position, forgetting to even breathe. He had imagined her resistance, evasion, even anger, but he had never expected such a straightforward agreement.
"I've been waiting for this day for a long time." Her voice was very light, with a strange softness, as if it had been soaked in warm water.
But Shen Zhihe's heart suddenly sank.
wrong.
This wasn't Gu Hanzhi's voice. Her voice usually carried a cold, resilient edge, like unmelted ice in early spring, even when gentle, it held a cold edge. But now, a thin mist clouded her eyes, and even her tone was soft and drifting. It was clearly the drug at work, amplifying the hidden desires within her heart, transforming them into undisguised longing.
His Adam's apple rolled, and his fingers trembled as they touched the straps of her nightgown. The moment the fabric slipped away, a delicate, snow-white glint pierced his eyes, like a shattered cloud falling on a dark sheet, dazzling him. His gaze, drawn to it by a magnet, shone with an astonishing brightness, surging with years of suppressed desire, threatening to devour every inch of that proud peak.
The moment the nightgown was completely removed, the air seemed to freeze. The moment their skin touched, Gu Hanzhi trembled slightly, but did not push him away. She simply raised her hand, and her fingertips unconsciously grasped his shirt.
Shen Zhihe closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, only a scorching heat remained in them. He leaned over and kissed her, with a compensatory tenderness and an uncontrollable eagerness.
The bed creaked as they struggled, like the rustling of an old door hinge in the wind, distinctly clear in the still night. The sound, mixed with suppressed breathing, made the moonlight outside the window seem ambiguous, lingering and filling the room.
The next day, the sun was already high in the sky, filtering through the gaps in the heavy velvet curtains, casting a blinding streak of light across the carpet. Gu Hanzhi was awakened by this glare, her eyelids heavy as if glued. She struggled to open her eyes, and it took several seconds for her hazy consciousness to return.
The first thing that hit her nose was an unfamiliar scent, a mixture of light cedar aftershave and some expensive men's cologne, definitely not her usual white tea fragrance. She moved her fingers, only to feel the cool, silky sheets. She looked down, and her blood froze—her body was covered in hickeys.
"What's going on..." She instinctively pulled the covers tighter around her, her heart pounding like it was about to burst through her chest. Her mind chaotically flashed back to last night: the glittering ballroom, the clattering of glasses, and the dazzling fireworks that exploded across the night sky at midnight... She had clearly been watching the fireworks on the terrace with her friends, so how could she suddenly be here? This wasn't her room. The decor was cold and luxurious, permeated with an unfamiliar masculine atmosphere.
It wasn't until her eyes swept across the inside of the bed sheet that the glaring crimson burned her retina like a red-hot iron. All her surprise and confusion were instantly washed away by the icy water. Gu Hanzhi gasped, her face turning pale, and her fingertips trembled uncontrollably.
She suddenly raised her eyes and glanced around, her gaze sweeping across every corner like radar, finally settling on the open wardrobe. Shen Zhihe, with his back to her, was slowly putting on his shirt, his bony fingers buttoning each button one by one, his movements unhurried, as if oblivious to the turbulent sea behind him.
"Shen Zhihe!" Gu Hanzhi's voice was hoarse from just waking up, and it was filled with uncontrollable anger. She clutched the corner of the quilt tightly, her knuckles turning white. "Explain to me, what is going on!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Zhihe turned around, his shirt collar still open, revealing the distinct lines of his collarbone. His face was expressionless, but a hint of amusement lingered in his dark eyes, as if he had heard something amusing. "Explain?" He raised an eyebrow, his tone frivolous. "Oh, I thought someone's memory wasn't that bad—he called out to me so hard last night, and now he's turned his back on me?"
"You are shameless!" Gu Hanzhi was like a cat whose tail was stepped on. Her fur instantly stood up and her eyes turned red. "Shen Zhihe, you forced me!" The last few words were almost squeezed out from between her teeth, with a trembling tone of humiliation.
As soon as she finished speaking, she couldn't hold back her tears any longer. Like pearls from a broken string, hot tears slid down her pale cheeks, hitting the bedsheets, leaving a small dark stain. She turned her face away, not wanting him to see her in such a state of disarray, but the uncontrollable trembling of her shoulders betrayed her devastation and helplessness.
Shen Zhihe slowly zipped up his shirt, and as he turned around, a hint of a smile played at the corner of his mouth. He slowly walked to the bedside, looking down at Gu Hanzhi, who was curled up in the quilt, her eyes red. His tone was as frivolous as if he was discussing the weather. "Force? You must have forgotten who, under the influence of alcohol, grabbed my tie and refused to let go last night?"
Gu Hanzhi raised her head abruptly, the shock mixed with shame and anger in her eyes, like a ignited spark: "You're talking nonsense! How could I possibly..."
"How is it impossible?" Shen Zhihe leaned over, his fingertips almost touching her trembling eyelashes. His voice was extremely low, with a bewitching magnetism, "Do you want me to repeat to you every word you whispered in my ear?"
Warm breath brushed past her ears, but Gu Hanzhi shrank suddenly as if burned. The broken fragments of last night suddenly flooded into her mind - the deafening fireworks, the shaking wine glass, and the bottomless eyes as he pressed on step by step... Her face instantly lost all color, leaving only an overwhelming sense of shame.
Her tears fell even harder, leaving small wet marks on the bedsheets. She turned her face away, her voice choked with sobs, "You...you scoundrel!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Zhihe stood up and buttoned his shirt cuffs meticulously, his movements smooth as if he were completing a work of art. When he turned around, the playful smile on his face had disappeared, and his tone had returned to the gentleness he usually had towards her, as if the person who had just said all those intimate words was just an illusion: "Whatever you think."
He walked slowly to the bedside, his eyes falling on her tear-stained face, and his voice softened, "But Hanzhi, it's already afternoon, and you haven't had anything to eat or drink since last night. You must be hungry." He nodded towards the headboard and said, "Next to the bed is the millet porridge I just asked someone to buy, and your favorite tea eggs. There's also some warm milk next to it."
Gu Hanzhi's head shot up, her tear-stained eyes unable to discern his expression. She followed his gaze to the bedside cabinet. Sure enough, there were several exquisite lunch boxes, their transparent plastic packaging still stained with tiny drops of water. She hesitated for a few seconds, but ultimately, unable to resist her body's protest, she reached out and dragged the boxes onto the quilt. The moment she opened the lid, the soft, glutinous aroma of millet porridge mingled with the fragrant, braised tea eggs, wafted out, and the warmth of the hot milk filtered through the walls of the cup.
"Gurgle!" Her stomach growled at an inopportune moment, audibly audible in the quiet room. Gu Hanzhi's cheeks flushed slightly, but like a starving squirrel, she didn't care about anything else. She picked up her spoon and gulped down the porridge. The millet porridge was dense and lightly sweet. The shells of the tea eggs peeled off easily, the whites soaking up the gravy. She ate it quickly, her cheeks puffed out like a small animal being fed.
Shen Zhihe sat on the edge of the bed, his elbows resting on his knees, watching her wolfing down the food. A hint of genuine doting appeared in his eyes, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly, softening the cold and hard aura around him a little.
Gu Hanzhi was half full when she finally met his gaze. She stiffened her neck and glared at him. Her words were a little slurred before she had completely swallowed. “Don’t think I’ll forgive you for what you did last night just because you’re like this!” She chewed the egg in her mouth vigorously, as if to vent her dissatisfaction. “Wan Ning will definitely support me if she finds out!”
Shen Zhihe chuckled when he heard that. There was no emotion in his laughter. He just replied lightly: "Really?" The ending tone rose slightly, with an inexplicable certainty.
Just then, Jiang Wanning walked in. She had changed out of her slightly formal attire from yesterday and donned a moon-white dress. The hem of her skirt swayed gently with her steps, accentuating her already lively features with a touch of femininity. Her steps were slow and composed, and she swept her gaze between the two people in the room, a faint smile spreading across her lips.
Gu Hanzhi seemed to have grabbed a life-saving straw and spoke hurriedly: "Wan Ning, Zhihe..."
Before she could finish her words, Jiang Wanning interrupted her with a smile. Her eyes flickered, and her tone was filled with a hint of mischief: "You two must have had an unforgettable night last night, right? As the eldest daughter-in-law, I naturally have to do my duty. Otherwise, won't I have to wait a long time before I can enjoy your wedding candy?"
These words made Gu Hanzhi's cheeks slightly red, and even Lu Zhihe, who had been silent beside her, had his ears slightly stained with red.
The two exchanged a few more pleasantries, Jiang Wanning's banter, Gu Hanzhi blushing and responding. Shen Zhihe remained silent, though he didn't betray the coldness of yesterday. Before Gu Hanzhi could find a way to change the subject, someone outside called out to Jiang Wanning, saying that Madam Jiang wanted to see her.
Jiang Wanning smiled and waved her hand: "Then I'll go over first, you guys chat slowly." After that, she turned around and left with light steps, and before leaving, she turned back and winked at the two of them.
As soon as the door closed, the room fell silent. Gu Hanzhi and Shen Zhihe stood face to face, the awkwardness of last night mixed with the embarrassment of being teased just now, and neither of them spoke first.
Gu Hanzhi felt her face flush, her eyes fixed on the millet porridge and tea eggs on the table, as if she had found an excuse to escape. She picked up the bowl, gulped down the porridge in a few mouthfuls, quickly peeled the tea egg, and stuffed it into her mouth. After swallowing it whole, she grabbed the coat draped over the back of the chair and pulled it on.
"I...it's time for me to go too." She didn't dare to raise her head, hurriedly tied her belt, opened the door almost as if she was escaping, and quickly disappeared at the end of the corridor.
Shen Zhihe looked at her hurriedly leaving back, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the edge of the table, his eyes dark, not knowing what he was thinking.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
