Page 123 of He Is My Bride

Hanjun said nothing, staring down at the floor like he would prefer to be buried alive.

“It’s okay, no harm done. Oh, you’ve popped the champagne.”

“It was pre-opened for us. I guess they don’t like customers making a mess in the car, eh?” Li Ying winked and nudged Hanjun, who put his hand over his face and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Both Li Ying and Hanrong laughed, and Li Ying poured them all glasses to toast:

“To a fun night!” Li Ying toasted.

“Ganbei!”

—

Wang Hao was posing with his newest girlfriend for photos by the venue entrance. The girl was not as pretty as Tang Xiuxiu, but Wang Hao couldn’t associate with that woman after she had been removed from the club by security. It had been disgraceful, not to mention Wang Hao himself couldn’t show his bruised, swollen face for weeks after Wu Hanjun had decked him. Wang Hao had wanted to presscharges for assault, but his father had prohibited him from ‘making an even bigger scene.’

There wouldn’t have been a scene to begin with, Wang Hao was convinced, if Xiuxiu hadn’t fucked with Hanjun’s bitch. But no, the stupid whore just had to get catty with that Li Ying, giving the uppity American an incentive to piss off Wang Hao. And Wang Hao wasn’t going to let awomanmess with him, so he’d told her off. And then Wu Hanjun had assaulted him! So whose fault was it, really? Not Wang Hao’s! Tang Xiuxiu wasn’t the least to blame either, so Wang Hao had blocked her. She had no business in his circle anymore.

And so, when Wang Hao saw Tang Xiuxiu walk right up to the doorman and present an invitation, he couldn’t believe his eyes.

“What areyoudoing here?” Wang Hao blurted.

Xiuxiu was wearing a tiny magenta leopard print dress and pink heels, having missed the theme by a wide margin, and was hauling a bag way oversized for a cocktail event. She looked at Wang Hao furiously, but a smug smile spread on her face nevertheless. She tossed her hair as she said:

“Your father himself passed me an invitation.”

“Are you fucking with me right now?!”

“No.” Her smug face was insufferable to Wang Hao. “He called me, you see, to apologize for how you treated me, and promised to make it up to me.”

“Liar.” Wang Hao’s father, going out of his way for someone like Xiuxiu?

“Just ask him if you don’t believe me.” Xiuxiu glared at the woman at Wang Hao’s arm. She looked away. “I would have still taken you back, you know, because when your father explained you couldn’t defend me on the grounds of keeping face, I understood. And like he said: we all know exactly whose fault it really is what happened at the club. But I see you already have a new woman.”

Wang Hao shifted on his feet awkwardly and swallowed. “Takemeback? Aren’t you being very presumptuous, Xiuxiu?” Wang Hao forced a chuckle.

“Wang Hao, why are you talking to her?” his date asked him with a frown.

Wang Hao ignored her. “I would have takenyouback if you admitted you behaved stupidly that night, but if you’re going to be this difficult, I’m not sure I want to anymore!”

“What?!You never even returned my calls after that night!” Xiuxiu sounded very hurt. “I will still apologize, if you apologize first.”

Wang Hao laughed. “Don’t be crazy, woman! What do I have to apologize to you for? And I’m not the one who has come to the party alone! I bet you came here just to beg me to take you back, so why act so difficult?”

Xiuxiu’s eyes narrowed. She made up her mind, “I’m not here for you!”

“Then what for, huh?”

“Revenge.” And with that, Xiuxiu went in, leaving behind a confused Wang Hao.

Indeed, Wang Guosheng would make it up to her. Handsomely. She could start over somewhere else, because the little favor Wang Guosheng had asked of her in return might burn the last of Xiuxiu’s narrow bridges in Shanghai. But it would be worth it. After all it was Li Ying’s fault she had lost her chances with Wang Hao—Li Ying had to pay.

Chapter 25: Rumors And Rickeys

The party was held at the French restaurant in the Peninsula hotel. At the front of the hotel there was a queue of nice cars and limos, bringing the crème de la crème of Shanghai to show off and connect.

Okay, Cindy, it’s ball time,Li Ying thought as their ‘carriage’ rolled up to the courtyard.

The trio waited in the car until the driver opened the door for them. Hanrong went first. Li Ying was not surprised to see the flash of a camera the moment someone exited the vehicle. This was a hired event photographer though, not a paparazzi. Hanrong acted as if the camera wasn’t even there, but Li Ying noticed he was giving it his best side while he waited for them.

Hanjun went next and assumed a position next to his older cousin. He didn’t look like he was posing. Simply standing there, he exuded a regal presence.