Returning - Chapter 12
Chapter 12: Fallen for Me?
For Zhao Yu, the only person she couldn't see right now was Zhuang Yiqing, and since Zhuang Yiqing had been abroad recently, she definitely wouldn't appear at that ball.
So she agreed to accompany Xue Zi'ang.
Xue Zi'ang thoughtfully prepared a gown, shoes, and a clutch for her, even asking in advance if she could dance, offering to teach her.
Zhao Yu certainly could.
In these three years in America, besides sleeping with Shang Lu and working, her other task had been self-improvement.
Etiquette, musical instruments, dance, painting... she tried to learn everything she could. Throw in the time for fitness and skincare, and her life had almost no spare moments.
Kuangshiji focused on real estate and investment. The Xue family had little overlap with the Shang family, and even less of a deep relationship. Xue Zi'ang and Shang Lu were merely acquaintances who knew of each other.
Xue Zi'ang, however, shared more common ground with Shang Lu's second brother, Shang Kun, as both were notoriously famous playboys. They interacted more privately and could be considered fair-weather friends.
The moment Shang Kun saw Xue Zi'ang walk in arm-in-arm with Zhao Yu, he approached with a raised glass, his gaze unabashedly lingering on Zhao Yu, his tone rather flippant. "Young Master Xue has found himself another beauty. When will you bring her out to play together?"
Xue Zi'ang reached out and wrapped his arm around Zhao Yu's waist, pulling her closer to him. "Sorry, she's taken."
This act of claiming ownership was too obvious, and Shang Kun understood naturally. He didn't dwell on it further, merely raising his wine glass to Xue Zi'ang. "Then let's have a drink together another day. I just got my hands on an '03 Richebourg, just worrying about having no one to share it with."
"Second Young Master Shang is at the peak of his power. The people who want to taste wine with you could line up from Donghai to Tibet. Those words are hardly true."
Shang Kun gave a soft snort. "A certain someone has returned. A brother like me is having a hard time."
The two exchanged a few more pleasantries. Once Shang Kun had walked far away, Xue Zi'ang lowered his voice. "Don't listen to his nonsense. I would never take my own woman out to play with them."
Zhao Yu smiled. "President Xue, there's no need to explain this to me."
Her words carried a clear sense of distance. Xue Zi'ang looked at her, knowing this wasn't the time for such discussions, and could only naturally change the subject. "The Shang family's third son, Shang Lu, is back. The Zheng and Shang families are forming a marriage alliance; Miss Zheng has designated Shang Lu as the one she'll marry. Shang Lu was banished to America three years ago. Now that he's making a comeback, Shang Kun's days probably won't be easy."
At this, he gestured with his chin towards a spot not far away. "There, that's Shang Lu, the least favored son of the Shang family. But word is his tactics in the business world far surpass his three brothers."
Looking in the direction he indicated, Zhao Yu saw Shang Lu, who was smiling and greeting someone. He wore a low-key black suit, his conversation still refined and courteous, perfectly poised.
Zhao Yu was just about to withdraw her gaze when Shang Lu, as if sensing something, turned his head slightly in this direction, his eyes landing directly on her face.
She remained utterly calm. It was Shang Lu who noticeably froze for a moment, then quickly adjusted his expression and walked towards them with a smile.
"President Xue."
"President Shang."
After greeting Xue Zi'ang, Shang Lu looked at Zhao Yu with polite inquiry. "And this is...?"
"Zhao Yu, my..." After a slight hesitation, Xue Zi'ang nodded gently. "My companion for tonight."
"Miss Zhao."
"President Shang."
Both exchanged smiles and nods, acting as if they had never known each other.
The ball was held at the Shang family's hillside villa, and the guest of honor was Shang Lu's new twenty-year-old stepmother.
This university student, not yet graduated, had used her child to elevate her status. Relying on the four-month-old fetus in her womb, she had successfully married into the Shang family, becoming Kuangshiji Chairman Shang Liren's fourth legal wife.
During those three years with Shang Lu, Zhao Yu never pried into his private affairs, but some information about the Shang family was effortlessly easy to learn.
Shang Lu's mother was Shang Liren's second wife. Although she had married into the Shang family legitimately, much like a concubine in the ancient imperial harem, her period of favor was too short.
Because of his mother's influence, Shang Lu was not favored by his father from birth—a fact evident just from his name.
Of the four Shang brothers, the eldest Shang Chen, the second Shang Kun, the fourth Shang Xun—all were jade. Only Shang Lu was merely a common weed.
The Shang family's internal strife had lasted over ten years. Three years ago, the reason Shang Lu was banished to North America to manage a small investment firm was because he had been schemed against and suffered a crushing defeat.
Now, with the Shang family soon to welcome another son, this struggle would only intensify.
After dancing two dances with Xue Zi'ang, Zhao Yu moved with him to sit at the side. Just as she raised her wine glass, another person came up to greet them.
"This is the Vice Chairman of the Board of Yiyuan Group, President Ling."
Following Xue Zi'ang's introduction, Zhao Yu nodded with the same smile. "President Ling."
"Miss Zhao."
The man's gaze lingered on her face for a few seconds, somewhat meaningful. Xue Zi'ang felt displeased. After the man had walked away, he muttered quietly, "Even married, his eyes don't know how to behave."
Zhao Yu smiled but said nothing. When she went to the restroom, she encountered that man again in the hallway.
His face was very familiar. Actually, even without Xue Zi'ang's introduction, Zhao Yu knew he was called Ling Jianyuan.
She had not planned to greet him again, but Ling Jianyuan, as if deliberately seeking her out, stood before her with a smile. "Miss Tang."
Zhao Yu smiled. "President Ling must be mistaken. My surname is Zhao."
The smile on Ling Jianyuan's face deepened. "I trust my own eyes; I wouldn't misidentify you. Five years ago, I saw your photo on my brother's phone. How times have changed indeed. If President Xue knew it was thanks to you, Miss Tang, that the Ling and Zhuang families ended up like this three years ago, I wonder if he would be grateful."
Zhao Yu maintained her calm smile. "Is President Ling here to settle old scores with me?"
Ling Jianyuan shook his head with a smile. "Actually, I should thank you. That brother of mine never suffered any setbacks growing up. It's a good thing you helped him grow."
He paused, then added, "Don't worry, I'm not a gossip. I won't mention past events to others. And, of course, I won't tell my brother about today's matter. But you probably don't know yet—he'll be graduating and returning soon."
Zhao Yu understood. "Rest assured, President Ling. I have my own life, and I guarantee I won't appear before him."
Xue Zi'ang came out looking for Zhao Yu. From a distance, he saw her and Ling Jianyuan standing together, seemingly talking and laughing. By the time he got closer, Ling Jianyuan had already walked far away.
"Such an old lecher, married and still can't keep his eyes off you."
Listening to his jealous mutter, Zhao Yu smiled. "He just thought I looked like someone he used to know and came over to confirm. But that friend of his was surnamed Tang, not me."
"That's the most classic pickup line men use." Xue Zi'ang squeezed her cheek. Gazing at her lips, made even more luscious and tempting by the alcohol, he couldn't help lowering his head to kiss her.
A light taste only made it more delicious. He ignored the people passing by, held her head in place, and deepened the kiss gradually, from light to heavy, kissing her over and over, entangled with her for a long time before reluctantly letting go.
"I'll deal with you in bed tonight." Helping her tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, he added, "I'm going to the restroom. Wait for me here, don't wander off or you might get targeted by another lecher."
Zhao Yu smiled as she watched him leave. Turning back, she only then realized Shang Lu was standing not far from her side, she didn't know for how long.
She continued to pretend not to know him and turned her head away, refusing to look at him. But he had already walked towards her, stopping right in front of her. Staring at her kissed-smudged lips, he asked, "Are you really with Xue Zi'ang?"
"President Shang seems to be overstepping."
Overstepping.
This was the word he had once used on her, when she unintentionally pried into his private affairs.
The rules—these were the rules between them, the principles a sugar daddy and his mistress should follow: no mutual entanglement, no mutual interference.
Shang Lu was taken aback for a moment, then quickly looked at her calmly. "Xue Zi'ang isn't a good person. If you stay with him, you'll end up losing out."
Zhao Yu smiled. "For someone like me, isn't it the same no matter who I'm with? It's all for money anyway."
"If it's just money you want, I'll give it to you."
Zhao Yu looked at him with amusement. "President Shang wouldn't be reluctant to let me go, would you? Or... have you fallen in love with me?"
Shang Lu's gaze froze, and then his entire eyes turned cold. After pausing for two seconds, he spoke indifferently. "Sorry, I've had too much to drink tonight."
Watching the man's retreating figure, the slight curve at the corner of Zhao Yu's lips lifted a bit more, tinged with a certain irony.
He had his ambitions, she had her hatred. Their determination to move forward was more resolute than anyone else's.
They were the same kind of person, but destined never to walk the same path.
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