Respect the Line, Mr. Billionaire

Seated in the dimly lit, members-only pub, Catherine Shang finally felt the relief of drawing deep breaths. Stepping out of her suffocating home had revived her, giving her the illusion of freedom, even if only for a fleeting moment. The soft hum of jazz music and the quiet clinking of glasses around her allowed her to relax for the first time in weeks. “Catherine, honestly, you’re the best friend I could ask for. You just flew back today, and here you are, traveling all the way up from Taichung just to see me tonight,” said Rose Wen, her university roommate and one of the few people Catherine felt she could still confide in. After graduation, Rose had gone straight into the fast-paced world of journalism, carving out a name for herself as an entertainment news reporter. Catherine lifted her glass, gently clinking it against Rose’s before tilting her head back and taking a long sip. The cocktail burned slightly as it went down, a pleasant distraction from the thoughts that had been swirling in her mind. “It’s been over two years since we last saw each other,” Catherine said, smiling wistfully. “I’ve missed you, honestly.” Rose let out a soft sigh, her eyes reflecting a mix of nostalgia and warmth. “Yeah, two years have gone by in the blink of an eye.” The two of them had been more than just university roommates; they had been like sisters, sharing everything from late-night secrets to moments of quiet understanding. “How have you been these past two years?” Catherine asked, her fingers idly tracing the rim of her empty glass before she raised it again, signaling the bartender for a refill. “Not too bad,” Rose replied, her smile widening as she watched Catherine drain her drink and prepare for another. Seeing the bartender reach for another glass, Rose quickly grabbed Catherine’s hand, stopping her. “Hey, slow down! You’ll get drunk if you keep going like this,” Rose warned, half-laughing as she pulled Catherine back into her seat. Though the alcohol content of the cocktail wasn’t high, she knew Catherine wasn’t one to indulge often. “I’m just happy, that’s all,” Catherine replied, her tone evasive. “We haven’t seen each other in over two years, and it’s something worth celebrating, don’t you think?” Rose narrowed her eyes, suspicion creeping into her gaze. “This isn’t just about seeing me, is it? Your mom’s putting pressure on you again, isn’t she?” Given how well Rose knew her, it wasn’t hard for her to guess. Catherine’s family had always been a source of stress for her, especially her overbearing mother, who treated her life as a series of business negotiations rather than allowing her to have any agency of her own. Catherine’s smile faltered, a brief shadow passing over her face. “Nothing escapes you, does it?” Her response only deepened the frown on Rose’s face. “Tell me, what is it this time? What unreasonable demand has she made now?” Catherine met her friend’s eyes and sighed. “She wants me to go on a blind date… and get ready for marriage.” “A blind date?” Rose’s voice rose in disbelief as she reached out and grabbed Catherine’s hand in concern. “What kind of man is he?” Catherine shook her head, her voice resigned. “I don’t even know.” “Let me guess—he’s rich, isn’t he?” Rose said, her tone laced with sarcasm. Knowing Catherine’s mother, it was always about the money. “Probably,” Catherine muttered. Her heart wasn’t in it, and in truth, she hadn’t even cared enough to find out more. “And you agreed to this?” Rose pressed. Catherine had always been too soft-hearted, especially when faced with her family’s tears and manipulations. It was one of her greatest weaknesses—her inability to stand up for herself when it came to the people she loved. Catherine remained silent, her downcast eyes confirming what Rose already knew. “You do realize the guy could be a creepy old man, right?” Rose asked, her concern growing. “Who knows?” Catherine shrugged, her hands falling into her lap in a gesture of helplessness. The truth was, there wasn’t much point in thinking about it. Unless she found the courage to run away from home altogether, the blind date would happen. And once the man agreed, it wouldn’t matter what Catherine wanted; she would be forced into a marriage she had no say in. “‘Who knows?’ That’s your answer?” Rose’s voice grew more agitated, her concern turning to frustration. “Can’t you just stand up for yourself for once? Stop being so soft-hearted! Be firm with them, push back! Are you really willing to give up your 24 years of innocence to some old man?” Catherine looked down, her heart sinking. She had considered running away, leaving everything behind. But the thought of the fallout—her family’s tears, the shame, the inevitable guilt—was too overwhelming. She didn’t have the courage to make that leap. Seeing Rose’s agitation, Catherine managed a weak smile. “You’re more worked up about this than I am.” “Of course I am!” Rose’s voice was filled with exasperation. “You always let your family walk all over you. You’re too soft, Catherine.” Catherine’s face clouded over at Rose’s words, though deep down, she knew her friend was right. But what could she do? The decision had already been made. Her mother had arranged the date, and unless Catherine did something drastic, she would have to follow through with it. “I haven’t met him yet,” Catherine said softly, “so maybe he won’t be as bad as I imagine.” Rose sighed, clearly unconvinced. “That’s not the point, Catherine. You shouldn’t have to marry someone you don’t know, someone you don’t even care about. What happened to you making your own choices?” Catherine’s mind wandered. Maybe she could still have a choice in the matter. Maybe… she could take control of her fate, just this once. A sense of defiance bubbled up inside her, and for a moment, she dared to hope. As if on cue, she lifted her eyes, and her gaze landed on a man who had just walked into the pub. He was tall, with a commanding presence that made him impossible to ignore. His sharp brows, piercing eyes, and perfectly chiseled features made him look like he had just stepped out of a magazine. His height, at least 180 centimeters, gave him an air of authority that made him even more striking. Before Catherine could dwell on the thought, Rose tugged at her sleeve, snapping her back to reality. “Catherine, maybe you should stay at my place tonight. You still remember the way, right?” “Yeah, I remember,” Catherine replied absently, her attention still on the man. “Why?” Rose’s eyes darted toward the entrance, and she seemed on edge, almost like she was trying to hide from someone. “I just ran into someone I’d rather not see,” Rose muttered under her breath, quickly slipping off her barstool and getting ready to leave. Following Rose’s gaze, Catherine recognized a familiar face. “Wait, isn’t that…” Before she could finish her sentence, Rose clamped a hand over her mouth. “Yes, he’s a celebrity, but trust me, we do *not* get along,” Rose said hurriedly. “I’m sorry, I have to go. If he spots me, it’ll be a disaster.” With that, Rose quickly disappeared into the crowd, leaving Catherine to watch as the man she had been trying to avoid spotted her anyway. But instead of a confrontation, he greeted Rose with an embrace, kissing her passionately before leading her out of the pub. The mystery deepened. Catherine had always wondered why Rose had brought her to such an exclusive, members-only pub. Now she had an answer. But perhaps, another question lingered—what exactly was Rose’s connection to that man? Before she could dwell further on it, the bartender’s voice cut through her thoughts. “Mr. Long, what will it be tonight?” “Same as usual,” came a deep, smooth voice that made Catherine turn reflexively. It was him—the man who had just walked in. He was now seated at the bar, only one chair separating them.