Chapter 8: They Call Him “Li”

AiLin felt his hand swiping her skin and pulling away after he was done. She found herself immediately on guard. Although this man's meeting and hers were purely coincidental, he was far too kind to even lend her a ride. She knew most wealthy men would do things willfully, but she didn't feel comfortable with how he was so touchy with her. Not because his touch was uncomfortable, le but because she didn't feel her heart was anywhere near ready to befriend others. "Let's walk down," he had stepped out from the car first and reached out his hand for her to take. AiLin looked at his stretched hand, but instead picked up her dress and walked out without holding it back. The man looked down at his hand and clenched his hand before putting it away. She didn't pay attention to his reaction and instead shifted her prime focus to the Hotel's entrance. In a single view, she could see numerous expensive cars lining one path to the other. Every time the guests stepped out of the luxury cars, they were each adorned in this season's best gowns and suits. All of them seemed to have donned the fanciest clothes they could wear tonight to impress each other and to flaunt their wealth. From a couple of glances, AiLin recognized some people, but they didn't seem to recognize her. Also, she hadn't noticed this earlier since she was studying her surroundings, but now that she realized, each guest had come to a halt before they entered the hotel. Their eyes were looking at each other before shifting their gaze long and hard over her. She shifted her body a little to notice that they weren't staring at her particularly, although their gazes lingered on her for a long time, too, but they were more focused on the man who had offered her a ride. She could see some girls blushing red seeing him, some men admiring him as well from afar. They then began to murmur, some she couldn't listen to. "That's him? Boss Li?" Whispered someone afar from them who had just walked out of the car and spoke to the party's organizer. "Oh my god, it is him?! He doesn't usually come to this kind of stuff. The past six years, ever since he graduated from high school, he has lived a life away from the cameras." "God, he's so handsome! I have heard people saying he's so handsome that they would immediately offer to carry his baby, but I didn't think he would be so otherworldly." "Not only handsome but wealthy! But who is that woman beside him? She's gorgeous too, is she his date for tonight?" Another person began to whisper. "Well, they seem to be matching colors in dress and necktie, maybe she is his date!" The party organizer quickly realized the big guest they had never expected to come to the party. Although it took him a while to realize that they were about to host the wealth God of Beijing, he immediately yelled at his subordinates, telling them, "Quick! Tell Mr and Mrs Jiang that Sir Li ZiChen is going to attend the party! This is going to be a great deal of news!" "Y-yes!" AiLin saw the rushes that people were having, their mental shock, until some physically even seemed to be really, really startled. They were admiring them from afar, but she wondered why no one dared to come close to them if the man beside her was someone important. Maybe they were only impressed by his handsome face? He is handsome, but I thought she didn't swoon over it so much as her physical attraction to people had died long ago. She didn't want to make another mistake and hurt another person. Not when she is so unlucky in life and fate. "Thank you for the ride again," she expressed sincerely, "Then we should part ways now. The longer she spent her time with others, the more dangerous it was. He had helped her, she thanked him, and here is that. She didn't want to keep holding to a bond with someone, after all, people could immediately betray one another when their interests aren't aligned. She didn't need to have more people around, er— who would then turn and stab her on her back. The man didn't respond immediately and watched as she walked away from his car and made her way to the party's organizer. Before she could even step inside, the man's hand was raised. He slowly moved his eyes to her black duffle bag and then to her face. At first, he was impressed, noting she would be the most beautiful woman he had ever seen amongst the guests tonight, and thought she must have been an unnamed rising actress or someone from the business world. But he didn't recognize her to be someone notable, "May I have your invitation?" AiLin looked at the man. She smiled, "Invitation, but I was told that I could just come? I was invited personally by the Hosts." The man was troubled as he said, "Unfortunately, we need an invitation to let you enter, miss." AiLin narrowed her eyes and scoffed, "I didn't think the party would be this unbelievably frustrating. The Hosts themselves told me I could come to the party at any time. Do you know what would happen to you if you continue to anger me?" Truthfully, she didn't have the invitation. The duffle bag was filled with everything she needed, but not an invitation. She didn't think it would be so troublesome, however, since she was already dressed for the part, and if she could just press the party organizer, they would soon let us in. She could see that the man quickly became fearful, not wanting to offend the guests, especially with how most of them were wealthy people whom he couldn't afford to anger. Although this wasn't something she liked to do, she knew with a bit more push and she would be able to enter the party easily. "Please don't be angry, dearest," a man had appeared behind her, placing his hand forward and outstretched an invitation card to the party organizer. AiLin frowned, seeing that snake tattoo on the man's hands who had just given the invitation. She then shifted her eyes behind her, finding the man who seemed to be staring at her. What still staring at She wanted to ask the question aloud, but could only press her lips thinly and cross her arms. The man chuckled, seeing her expression, and he turned to the party organizer, who was still troubled, "What? You aren't letting my lady walk into the party? As you said, you wouldn't want to anger her tonight. It's a beautiful night, and she's dressed like a fairy. Angering such a gorgeous lady will also anger me. It's something you don't want to happen, right?" Though his voice was spoken so eloquently, his words were threateningly dangerous. The organizer flinched and lowered his face immediately, "M- My apologies, Sir Li." Sir Li? AiLin hadn't asked the man's name this entire time. But that Li sounded so much like... Li ZiChen. One question appeared after another. One puzzle fitting another created a big picture in her head that made AiLin tingle her teeth as she came to a single conclusion. As she questioned why such a man would be helping her so far, she turned her eyes away once she was allowed to enter. Li ZiChen followed her, humming a song of joy between his lips as he continued each step he made as if he was about to jump in joy from a certain delight. Everyone kept staring at them, a nd she told herself she couldn't create a scene right in front of so many people, but at the same time, having him follow her every step made it clear that he didn't have any intention of leaving her alone tonight. She didn't wait and made her way to an emptier side of the hotel. Once they arrived, he turned to him and reached out her hand. Li ZiChen patiently let her as she pulled his purple necktie, bringing his face closer to hers. Furrowing her eyebrows, she demanded, "What do you want from me? Who sent you here?"