Chapter 4: The Party (1)
It was morning, almost noon when Li Yuheng smiled at the TV. He wasn't the type to watch TV if ever, but this morning's news would be too good to be skipped.
"Oh? It's here" He spoke to himself.
After a lot of chit chats and a few minor news, it's finally the juicy stuff. The beautiful news anchor faked her shook expressions when she read a few companies' stocks went flatline in a day. The only common thing each company had was they had the same parent company, the Cheng group.
Li Yuheng smiled and turn off the TV. 30% loss of total value in a day, not bad. But the Cheng family would recover in a week or two, but it shall be enough to give Rose breathing time, and with that, his part of the deal was done.
The corner of his eyes caught the black embroidered envelope on the table, given by Hu Shun yesterday as a sign of their friendship. Even without opening it, he knew it was another party invitation.
Business party, a place full of falsehood courtesy and forced laughs on unfunny jokes. He would rather lay in his bed until another morning appeared. But to beat the protagonist, the brain wasn't enough, connections were also a key.
Where is the best place to find a connection other than a place with other people looking for a connection as well? Alexa was a concern but he just needed to find the balance.
Even with a useful purpose, just the thought of going to the party was enough to make him lazy. The least favorite activity in his previous life was also the same in this one.
How about Rose? If there was a company at least it won't be as bad. The chance she would go would be pretty low, but it won't hurt to try.
~Dutttt duttttt
"Hello? Is there something?" Rose said.
"The Cheng family was dealt with,"
"I believe you won't call me to inform that."
"You know me well" He smiled. "Do you want to come to a party?"
"Whuat paerty?" Rose said, full of food in her mouth.
"I don't know, I was invited."
She gulped her food. "Why don't you just go alone?"
"I'm bored."
"....No."
"Before you disconnect the call, don't you at least want to know who is attending?"
"Hmm, sure."
"Here we go. Er Zheng, director of Chou group. Fen Guang, Vice president of Hen group. You Ronmeng, president of You group. Huang Ch-"
'Wait stop! Who is the last one again!?"
"Huang Chen?"
"No before that!"
"You Ronmeng?"
"Are you sure it's read as You Ronmeng!?"
"Of course, I'm literate."
"Meet me outside! Bring it!" She said before disconnecting the call.
Immediately a message from Rose appeared, location to a cafe shop.
It didn't require much intelligence to know Rose had a story with this You Ronmeng. The surprise and panic in her voice were interesting to say the least. Was this another one of her plots? Well, only one way to find out.
...
...
Li Yuheng arrived at the cafe Rose sent. It was a small cafe with colorful background arts, motivational quotes framed on the wall, and a lavender smell from scented candles. A typical gathering place for Instagram girls.
He looked around on the first floor but didn't find Rose's presence, but on the second floor, she was as easy to notice as a dandelion in a war zone.
"I never take you as the trendy type," He said and sat in front of Rose.
She was startled but only for a second. "I'm not! I always eat breakfast here."
"Every day? That good?"
"Of course, try it if you don't believe it."
"I will take your word for it."
He called the server and asked for chocolate churros like Rose recommended.
"Where is the invitation? Let me see it." Rose said.
He gave the invitation without saying much.
Rose held the invitation with one hand, scanning the content like it's a secret hieroglyph of ancient Egypt's tomb.
"No matter how much you read it, the letter won't change." He said, worried she might really think there was a secret code on it.
"I know. Just to make sure." She said and hand back the envelope.
"Mind filling me in about the story?"
"She was my….friend," She said, avoiding her eyes.
"It's fine if you don't want to say it." He said and smiled, "Are you coming to the party?"
".....I will."
"Good."
At the right time, the server brought his food. It was as advertised, a plate of churros with a glass of thick chocolate. Smelled nice and looked appetizing, it's probably good.
"It's good," He said after biting one.
"Of course," She smiled. "Oh, thank you for dealing with the Cheng family."
"Don't forget our deal" Li Yuheng smiled.
"I won't but I hope your request wasn't outrageous or I will decline it."
"No worry as long as your outrageous wasn't too outrageous."
She smiled, "How did you spend by the way?"
"500 million."
"......."
There was a strange silence between them because she looked at him like he was a perverted maniac.
"Are we talking about 500 million Zimbabwe money?"
"No."
"...." She left her mouth open.
"I have my reason."
If 500 million could win her, it would be money well spent, cutting the protagonist chance was his priority.
".....Alright, I won't intervene. Let's meet up at the hotel directly, 5 minutes before the party started. Okay?"
He nodded. "Of course."
She said goodbye and left.
He was thinking to enjoy the churros slowly but remembered he didn't have a suit. And so he ate the churros like porridge and went to the best tailor he could find on the internet.
.....
.....
Li Yuheng stood still in the parking lot, looking at his watch.
He succeeded to buy a new tailor made suit, which he paid twice the price to make sure the order finished as fast as possible so he wasn't late. But it seems like he would be late anyway. 5 minutes until the party started and Rose wasn't here yet. Did she have trouble choosing a dress or using make up?
Suddenly, a black car stopped in front of him. Even hidden behind the window, he knew It was Rose.
As the door opened, he was left speechless. How good she looked was a small part of the reason, but the other was because of her dress.
A white long sleeve maxi dress that perfectly covered her neck to toe, along with sequined gloves. The mask that covered her full face was beautiful, but also made her look like a historical drama character. Not that she didn't look good, he could even say white was made for her.
But the dress code was formal.
"I know you are trying to hide your identity, but are you going to a party or a catwalk?"
"Don't talk," She said, avoiding her face.
"I won't. Let's go, we are almost late" He said, asking for her hand.
She didn't accept it but walked side to side with him.
They walked following the red carpet, passing the crowds full of bullshit greetings and lies compliments.
It was unavoidable they caught some attention, perhaps because Rose's dress code was completely wrong or because of how gorgeous she looked, or both. It didn't matter.
"Hello Mr and Ms. Can I see your invitation?" One of the security said.
Li Yuheng reached into his pocket and gave the security the invitation, which the security took very carefully like it was some wet paper.
"Please follow me Mr and Ms." The security bowed.
They followed him, and it was a mistake. They were treated like some sort of exotic animals, from passing the security, signing the attendance book, even offering to escort them when it was a straight walk to a door.
Other attendees didn't have this level of treatment, and they both came to an agreement without a word. It was very uncomfortable.
"Mr. Li!!! I'm so grateful you came today!" Hu Shun said from afar, his beer belly wobbled left and right when he ran towards them.
"I appreciate the invitation. You don't mind if I bring company right?" He looked at Rose.
"Of course not! Nice to meet you Ms…"
"Ms. Li." He added.
"Of course! Stupid me! Do you enjoy your time Mr. and Ms. Li?" Hu Shun said, smiling expecting a compliment.
"We prefer if you serve us like a normal guest."
"I understand, please follow me Mr. and Ms Li!"
Following him, it's clear Hu Shun didn't understand his request at all because he brought them to the VVIP lounge. A wide room with black marble for the wall and white marble for the floor made the room unnecessarily shiny, along with furniture that looked like they were chosen to impress rather than functionality.
He and Rose sat beside each other, directed by Hu Shun to the most prime sofa.
"Please wait here for a bit, the party will start soon! If Mr. and Ms Li need anything there is a maid outside that can be called! This area has top privacy so don't worry about unforeseen accidents!" Hu Shun said and left smiling.
Li Yuheng shook his head.
"What does he mean by unforeseen accidents?" Rose said, tilting her head a few degrees.
"Don't worry about him," He covered his smile.
"Who is that by the way?"
"I think his name was Hu Shun?"
"Hu Shun? I don't know him."
He shrugged and asked something more important. "What is our plan here?"
"We will just watch how You Ronmeng is doing."
"Just that? Watching her?"
She nodded.
Before Li Yuheng could continue, the door was knocked. "Excuse me Mr and Ms, there is another guest coming."
"Go in," He said
The door was opened and a woman quickly entered.
A woman with eyes that said she was sick with everything, matching perfectly with her violent black dress. The type that would say straight 'no' when a man asked her out, and would answer heartlessly 'you're ugly' if he asked her why. And if he was still trying because he believed patience would melt her down, patience would give up before she did.
He was distracted by the slight tingle in his thigh, which came from Rose pinching his pants.
"Why are you pinching me?" He said and faced her.
"It's her!" She whispered to his ear, even that barely audible.
"It's her? You ronmeng?"
He looked at the woman again. She sat alone a few tables away from them, looking at the wall like she wanted to get out.
"You want me to talk with her?" He said.
"Don't you see she wants to be left alone?"
"Let me try."
He asked the maid on the door for a serving of tea and told the maid to ask You Ronmeng if she wanted one as well. The maid did as ordered, which unsurprisingly You Ronmeng rejected.
Then he asked for cookies, and again told the maid to ask her as well, and she rejected again.
And this time he asked for a good book to read and told the maid again to ask her if she wanted one, which this time she accepted.
You Ronmeng suddenly turned to look at him with eyes without emotion. Then she turned to look at Rose, but this time there was a spark in her eyes. A faint one, but noticeable.
She suddenly stood up and walked closer, and looked at Rose in the eyes, "Are you Jiang Rui Jia?"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
TemperancE
TemperancE Sorry it's late. I wrote two chapters because the scene was too long for one, but ended up changing the scene in the beginning which required me to change a lot of things.
also this chapter is absolutely painful for me, i might rewrite them a bit tomorrow
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