Chapter 1: She Has a Big Shot from the Beijing Circle Behind Her
Lian Li sat in the lounge of the Wen Gang Orchestra, trying to move her left wrist.
Fortunately, no bones were injured, just slight swelling and pain.
Chen Siyang walked over quickly and handed her a bottle of iced drink, “Ice it first. You should still go to the hospital later.”
“Mm.”
Lian Li took it and pressed it against her wrist. The coldness against her skin eased the burning pain.
“I thought you all went to Ruan Ning’s birthday party. No one was here, so I didn’t pay attention when I opened the door. I’m sorry for causing you to get hurt,” Chen Siyang said guiltily, rubbing the back of his head.
He stared at Lian Li’s fair and smooth wrist for a moment, then shifted his gaze to her face and asked, “Didn’t Ruan Ning and the others invite you?”
“She’s not my daughter, why would she invite me to her birthday?”
Lian Li’s voice was sweet and gentle, her speech slow and soft, betraying no hint of malice.
Chen Siyang, however, looked embarrassed, completely unsure how to respond.
His mind involuntarily recalled the rumors about her.
As the principal cellist of the orchestra, Lian Li not only possessed superb performance skills but also had a beautiful face with excellent bone structure.
It was rumored that she had Beijing Capital behind her.
The orchestra was established by the capital specifically for Lian Li to pass her time.
The orchestra members often said sourly that they were merely playthings that the Big Shot spent money on to entertain Lian Li.
Not inviting her to the birthday party was clearly an act of exclusion.
Chen Siyang looked down on canaries from the bottom of his heart, but he still extended a polite invitation.
“They might have forgotten. I know the location, do you want to go with me?”
Lian Li’s expression remained unchanged, and she spoke softly, “Birthdays aren’t much fun to celebrate, funerals are more interesting.”
Chen Siyang was choked by her words and felt a chill down his spine.
After a simple ice compress, Lian Li left the orchestra as planned. While taking the elevator, she opened her mobile phone, and the screen showed chat records with Jin Yan Ting’s Assistant.
Miss Lian, there’s a gathering tonight, I’ll send someone to pick you up.
No need, I’ll take a taxi. Please send me the address.
Location.
Rui Kong Ju, a siheyuan located within the Second Ring Road, with red walls and grey tiles, elegant and private.
The courtyard was planted with lush and beautiful begonia flowers. When the wind blew, petals fluttered, filling the courtyard with rich fragrance.
The sound of the pipa was like pearls falling onto a jade plate, melodiously reaching her ears. Lian Li’s steps did not stop as she crossed the threshold at a steady pace.
The East Wing Room was antique in style, with a large screen on one side separating it from the inner room. She quickly examined it. A rosewood screen inlaid with various treasures, yellow pear wood furniture, and antique artworks of porcelain and calligraphy and painting on a side cabinet.
The entire room was decorated elegantly, with an antique charm and a faint scent of sandalwood.
The previously noisy gathering quieted for a moment when Lian Li entered the room.
Everyone in the room was a young master or young lady from Sijiucheng. Hearing the sound, they all turned their gazes towards her.
“Li Mei has grown even more beautiful than before, truly a great beauty,” someone joked playfully.
“Indeed. Mr. Jin has taken meticulous care of Lian Li, making her outstanding in every aspect. The relocation project on Bei Tang Lane can proceed, Lian Li is a great contributor!”
These words were both flattering and thought-provoking.
However, the man in the main seat seemed to hear nothing, his expression showing no ripple of emotion.
After many years, Lian Li had grown accustomed to being surrounded by people’s gazes, but she still felt a few seconds of nervousness when facing Jin Yan Ting.
He took off his jacket, wearing a well-tailored white shirt with a suit vest, looking very handsome and distinguished.
Seeing that Lian Li did not come over immediately, Jin Yan Ting’s gaze calmly fell on her face, his voice deep and gentle.
“Xiao Li, come here.”
Lian Li walked over, lowering her eyes, and called out, “Brother.”
Then she sat gracefully next to Jin Yan Ting.
Beijing, this capital of power, was a gathering of nobles. At the apex of the pyramid were the deeply rooted aristocratic families.
As the Jin Family’s Eldest Young Master, Jin Yan Ting’s bloodline, from birth, dictated his unattainable status.
Not many young ladies could receive special treatment from Jin Yan Ting.
The people at the gathering were quite surprised, their gazes towards Lian Li filled with scrutiny and appraisal.
The girl’s features were grand and delicate, naturally beautiful. Even in simple attire and with light makeup, she was still radiant amidst the opulence of the room.
However… no matter how good one’s looks, could they compare to power?
The person of high status beside her was the crucial factor determining her extraordinary nature.
Lian Li ignored the scrutinizing looks and quietly rubbed her wrist.
“What’s wrong with your hand?” Jin Yan Ting noticed her movement, his tone naturally casual.
Warm breath brushed past her ear, tickling her slightly. Lian Li’s fingertips curled slightly, and she lowered her eyes, saying:
“I bumped it against the door, it’s nothing serious.”
Jin Yan Ting looked at her for a moment, then remained silent.
After a while, someone invited Jin Yan Ting to the entertainment area to play some dominoes.
He disliked playing cards.
Maintaining politeness, Lian Li’s eyes curved slightly, and she smiled, saying she would do it.
Jin Yan Ting raised his eyes and glanced at the card table. There were neatly stacked piles of tiles in the east, west, north, and south positions. The young girl was in the south section, skillfully drawing and playing cards, occasionally opening her lips to chat, a faint smile always on her face.
She played cards without much strategy, relying entirely on instinct, but her luck was surprisingly good.
Even the worst hand could be turned around by her.
After the third round of cards ended, during the shuffle, Lian Li subconsciously looked back towards the main seat.
It was empty.
Jin Yan Ting had left at some point.
*
Tonight, the television station leaders were hosting distinguished guests in the main hall of Rui Kong Ju.
A waiter saw the usually haughty high-ranking officials step forward without any arrogance, all their imposing presence melted into the wrinkles of their smiles, willing to be humble.
He couldn’t help but be curious, what kind of important figure could make the Big Shots treat them as honored guests.
In the magnificent reception hall, only a few leaders were drunk into unconsciousness.
The distinguished guest was nowhere to be seen.
The door to the West Wing Room was suddenly pushed open from the outside.
Meng Dingkai quickly stood up, and in an instant, everyone stood up and looked at the man who had suddenly appeared.
He was exceptionally tall, his black shirt unbuttoned at the top two buttons, exuding a languid air. Most striking was his flawless face.
Unfortunately, the man’s aura was too powerful, and his gaze was withdrawn with a hint of disappointment after a single glance.
As soon as Jin Shi Yue sat down, someone came over to offer him a cigarette and a lighter. He held the cigarette between his long, slender fingers, the strong perfume in the room giving him a headache, and waved his hand.
“Get out.”
“Don’t be so boring,” Meng Dingkai said, putting his arm around his companion’s shoulder and smiling with narrowed eyes, “Even if it’s about cooperation, let’s talk about it straightforwardly.”
“Then how about you finish first and then we talk?”
Jin Shi Yue said, glancing at his wristwatch, “I’ll be back in one minute.”
Meng Dingkai’s expression changed drastically, but it softened within two seconds: “Harmony brings wealth in business, we don’t expose each other’s flaws.”
He gestured with his eyes, and his companion immediately walked out obediently.
Jin Shi Yue flicked the ash from his cigarette and said with a roguish smile, “I thought your illness was already cured.”
Meng Dingkai didn’t expect him to get more aggressive, but he couldn’t get angry, and said through gritted teeth, “This is the information for the L25 bid.”
Jin Shi Yue took the document and casually flipped through it, the pages rustling softly.
The cigarette was in his well-defined fingers, flicked once, then again, but never brought to his lips to smoke.
Meng Dingkai: “You came back early, was it just for a piece of land?”
Jin Shi Yue raised his eyelids, his gaze inadvertently sweeping past the window lattice, where he saw a pair of entangled men and women.
The girl was politely yielding, the man was persistent.
Three seconds after looking away, that delicate face gradually overlapped with a certain face from his memory.
Jin Shi Yue looked over again.
Tsk, it really is his older brother’s nightingale.
