Chapter 5: In Lancheng's High Society, There Is Always Talk
1319 Words
He had said to her once, *Chi Huan, I can marry you, but remember this—I will never love you.*
…
A long time passed, until the sky had darkened and the streetlights flickered on one by one. Chi Huan finally, with an expressionless face, pulled out a pair of oversized, tinted sunglasses from her bag, which covered most of her face. She then hailed a taxi.
1999, being a members-only establishment, was not too crowded or noisy.
As soon as she walked into the lobby, a figure rushed towards her, bumping into her.
The person fell to the floor, and Chi Huan staggered back a couple of steps.
She frowned and looked down at the woman who had fallen awkwardly on the floor.
She was young, beautiful, and exuded elegance.
Chi Huan, being proud and vain, rarely thought much of other women, but this one caught her attention.
Could it be... Chu Xi?
In Lancheng’s high society, there had always been a saying: "North Chu Xi, South Chi Huan."
Both were heiresses of prestigious families, around the same age, and known for their extraordinary beauty.
The Chi family resided in the southern part of Lancheng, while the Chu family was in the north.
But while Chi Huan was a charming and glamorous queen of the entertainment industry, Chu Xi was a cold and mysterious beauty who kept a low profile.
The reason why the two were always mentioned together was simple—both were stunning and notoriously difficult to pursue.
However, both these untouchable figures had now fallen.
Chi Huan was engaged to Mo Xigu, ending her single status, and Chu Xi’s family had recently fallen from grace, leaving her no longer the illustrious figure she once was.
It was deep into autumn, yet Chu Xi wore nothing but a thin dress that was soaked, with the faint scent of alcohol lingering around her. It was obvious that someone had poured alcohol on her, making her dress semi-transparent and revealing the outline of her bra underneath. She looked utterly disheveled.
Chu Xi quickly got up and muttered, “I’m sorry…”
She froze when she looked up and saw Chi Huan’s face. Her voice was cold and detached as she repeated, “I apologize, Miss Chi.”
Though they had never met before, both knew of each other’s names and looks, though they had never crossed paths until now.
Chi Huan kept her sunglasses on, not saying a word before a group of wealthy young men and their bodyguards caught up to them.
One glance at the men, and Chu Xi’s face turned pale, her brows furrowing deeply.
Before Chi Huan could speak, one of the men leered at her, saying, “Oh, is this another friend of the beautiful Miss Chu? Another beauty, huh? What’s with the sunglasses at night? Come on, the more the merrier!”
As he spoke, the man reached out to grab her shoulder.
Chu Xi’s expression darkened as she coldly ordered, “Stop.”
The man laughed lasciviously. “Why so uptight? You were acting like some virtuous prude just a moment ago. What, now you’re upset because I’m touching another woman?”
Chi Huan let out a soft, bell-like laugh.
Even behind the tinted sunglasses, her disdainful arrogance shone through.
Her red lips curled up into a mocking smile, but her tone was icy. “Touch me with your filthy hands, and see what happens.”
Her words immediately drew the man’s attention to her.
He had seen his fair share of women with attitude, but one as blatantly haughty as her was rare.
With a sneer, he reached for her chin.
Chi Huan frowned and was just about to remove her sunglasses when a strong, slender hand suddenly descended from above, gripping the man’s wrist with swift precision.
A loud c***k echoed through the air as the bones in the man’s wrist dislocated.
The man’s face contorted in pain, and he let out a hoarse cry.
In one swift motion, his dislocated arm was yanked forward, forcing him to stumble before being kicked hard in the stomach. He stumbled back a few steps before collapsing to the ground.
Chi Huan had removed her sunglasses by now and turned to look at the man standing beside her.
He was dressed simply in black from head to toe, his tall, lean figure exuding quiet strength. His calm, expressionless face, framed by sharp features, radiated masculine energy.
This time, Chi Huan truly *noticed* him.
Maybe because he had been in her life for so long, his stoic, distant demeanor had become something she took for granted. But now, she was reminded that this man—her bodyguard, Mo Shiqian—had a face that could turn heads anywhere.
No wonder, during the years he’d been by her side, there had been more than a few actresses and socialites who had tried to seduce him, despite his lowly status as a bodyguard.
Chi Huan glanced at the man groaning on the floor and then casually pushed her sunglasses up onto her head. She shrugged off her red coat and draped it over Chu Xi’s shoulders.
“If you leave like that, you’re bound to have a wardrobe malfunction. Better cover up.”
Chu Xi looked at her, then down at the red coat, and murmured softly, “Thank you. I’ll have it cleaned and return it to you.”
“It’s just a coat, don’t worry about it.”
Chu Xi gave a faint smile. “But this coat is far too expensive.”
As a well-bred heiress, she could recognize its value with just a glance.
Chi Huan raised an eyebrow, her red lips curving upward. “Suit yourself. If you really want to return it, give it to the owner of 1999. I come here often.”
Chu Xi met her gaze. “Thank you. I’ll remember this favor.”
With that, she tightened the coat around her, cast one last cold glance at the group of men, and turned to leave.
Chi Huan twirled her sunglasses in her hand, watching the men with a smirk. “Still here? Waiting to get beaten up?”
As soon as she removed her sunglasses, they recognized her immediately.
After all, there were few in Lancheng who wouldn’t recognize Chi Huan’s face.
The man who had been kicked was helped to his feet, his expression twisted in anger. He glared at Mo Shiqian but then sneered at Chi Huan. “You’d better hope your mayor daddy stays in power. Because the day you fall from grace like Chu Xi, I’ll make sure you suffer even worse.”
Chi Huan didn’t get angry; instead, she laughed, lazy and nonchalant. “A bunch of men ganging up on a woman down on her luck—aren’t you embarrassed? Or is it because none of you have anything worth mentioning between your legs?”
“Damn it, Chi Huan, don’t think we won’t touch you just because you’re the mayor’s daughter. Say that again, and we’ll see what happens!”
Chi Huan’s smile widened, still relaxed. “Oh? Not happy about me being the mayor’s daughter? Fine. Here’s a deal: all of you come at my bodyguard at once. If you can take him down, I’ll play with you tonight. If you can’t—then don’t ever let me see you in 1999 again.”
Mo Shiqian’s brow furrowed silently.
Without a word, he grabbed her wrist and started walking away.
Chi Huan was taken aback and struggled against his grip, annoyed. “Mo Shiqian, what are you doing?”
She was angry now. How dare he defy her like this?
As she continued to resist, Mo Shiqian finally stopped.
Half-turning, his gaze swept over the group of men. His lips barely curved, his voice cold and indifferent, “You want to fight me, don’t you?”
- Writer
