“The President's Surrogacy”.

17

The young man made his grand entrance with exaggerated flair, a sight that made Luo Yiwei furrow his brows in mild disgust. Clutching a blonde on his left and a tall, elegant Asian beauty on his right, Yan Tianyou strode confidently through the passageway. Removing his sunglasses, his piercing blue eyes cast electrifying glances around the room, captivating everyone. After giving each woman a brief embrace and a playful kiss, he sent them off with a casual, “Go on, have fun,” before swaggering over to the VIP booth.

“Judging by your faces, I must have been sorely missed,” he joked, grinning as he settled into the seat. Looking around at his companions, he asked, “Where’s everyone else?”

“Zhengyan’s here,” Yan Tianyou replied just as He Zhanyan pointed toward the bar, where Ji Zhengyan was skillfully mingling amidst a crowd of admiring women. As they observed, Zhengyan emerged from the throng with an amused expression. Yan Tianyou chuckled, “Looks like he’s got his hands full tonight.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Luo Yiwei remarked, his gaze shifting toward the entrance. There stood a heavily disguised man, cautiously scanning his surroundings before heading straight for their booth with hurried steps. “Tonight’s workload might just fall on Ren Feng, our superstar.”

When Ren Feng reached the booth, he shrugged helplessly. “Fame has its burdens, what can I say?” He removed his hat and sunglasses, heading toward the bar.

“Is that Ren Feng?”

“Wow, he’s even more handsome in person!”

The bar erupted into a frenzy as the women who had been flocking around Zhengyan shifted their attention to Ren Feng. With a mischievous smirk, Ren Feng glanced over at Zhengyan, who clasped his hands together in mock prayer and mouthed, “Good luck!” before slipping away to the booth. Relaxing into his seat, Zhengyan grinned and said, “That guy’s a natural. I should thank him for pulling me out of the fire.”

The group exchanged knowing looks, silently affirming Luo Yiwei’s earlier prediction.

Meanwhile, at the entrance, two young women stood in awe.

“Wow! This place is amazing!” Chen Xiaolu exclaimed dramatically, her excitement unmistakable.

Beside her, Xia Zixin was equally mesmerized but far less animated. Tugging at her slightly uncomfortable outfit, she asked her friend, “Is this the place you were so eager to bring me to?” Earlier, Xiaolu had insisted they dress up, only to reveal their destination last minute.

Xiaolu nodded enthusiastically, her face glowing with excitement.

Zixin hesitated, sensing a problem. “Xiaolu, this is a high-end private club. Isn’t entry restricted to members only?”

Xiaolu patted her friend reassuringly on the shoulder, a smug grin on her face. “Don’t worry!” She reached into her bag and pulled out a sleek membership card, flashing it triumphantly. “Ta-da! Look what I’ve got!”

Zixin’s eyes widened in surprise. “How did you get this?”

“Well…” Xiaolu admitted sheepishly, “I borrowed it from my brother’s room. Don’t worry about the details!” Grabbing Zixin’s hand, she pulled her toward the grand entrance.

However, just as they were about to step inside, a security guard blocked their path. “Ladies, may I see your IDs, please?”

“IDs? To enter a nightclub?” Xiaolu frowned. Without addressing the guard’s request, she waved the membership card in his face. “Isn’t this enough?”

“I’m sorry,” the guard replied firmly. “Our policy requires both ID and a membership card for new faces.”

Xiaolu’s frustration was evident. “I forgot to bring my ID. Can’t you make an exception?”

“Apologies, miss, but rules are rules,” the guard said without wavering.

Exasperated, Xiaolu demanded, “Then call your manager!”

“The manager doesn’t handle such minor issues. It’s our job to enforce these policies,” the guard replied coolly.

Zixin tugged at Xiaolu’s arm, whispering, “Let’s just go. This isn’t worth the trouble.” She glanced uneasily at the imposing guards, who exuded an air of intimidation.

But Xiaolu, ever the stubborn one, refused to back down.

Unbeknownst to them, a small group of well-dressed men had been observing the scene. Among them was Yi Fei, the sole heir to a prominent Hong Kong real estate empire. Removing his sunglasses, he casually stepped forward, his gaze briefly meeting Zixin’s.

The moment their eyes locked, Zixin quickly looked away, tugging at Xiaolu once more in an attempt to leave.

Yi Fei, however, addressed the guard. “They’re with me. Is that acceptable?”

With a nod, the guard stepped aside. Yi Fei turned to Zixin and extended a hand. “Miss, shall we?”

Zixin froze, unsure how to respond. Before she could react, Xiaolu eagerly accepted the invitation on her behalf, dragging her friend inside. As they entered, Xiaolu shot the guards a triumphant smirk, her earlier frustration forgotten.

Inside, the club was even more opulent than its exterior suggested. Xiaolu’s excitement grew as she marveled at the lavish décor. Zixin, though still uneasy, couldn’t help but admire the exquisite design. Gradually, her tension began to ease as they were led deeper into the vibrant space.

“What’s your name?” Yi Fei asked as he settled beside Zixin.

“Xia Zixin,” she replied softly, her unease resurfacing now that Xiaolu had disappeared to use the restroom. Gripping her knees nervously, she resolved to leave as soon as her friend returned.

The music’s volume drowned out most sounds, but Zixin’s quiet reply reached those seated nearby. What she failed to notice, however, was the curious gaze of someone seated in the adjacent VIP booth.