Chapter 165: Too Much Ambiguity
“Isn’t that Lian Li? The man she’s eating with looks like the Second Young Master.”
“The girl is indeed Lian Li, but that man… is the Second Young Master Jin? No way.”
“Could it be the Eldest Young Master Jin?”
The socialites chattered amongst themselves. Few were familiar with the faces of Jin Shi Yue and Jin Yan Ting, hence their tone was filled with uncertainty.
Chen Wei Qi watched them with a displeased expression. The man’s profile was sharply defined, and even in the slightly hazy atmosphere, his exceptionally handsome features were visible.
This restaurant was famous for its hot pot. Although the environment was luxuriously casual and frequented by many rich young men and women, her two cousins would never come here.
“Shouldn’t it be Young Master Zhao?” Ruan Ning, who was invisibly present beside her, spoke softly.
Everyone in the Wen Gang Orchestra believed that Lian Li’s sugar daddy was that dissolute rake Zhao Lizheng, and they believed it wholeheartedly.
“Young Master Zhao? Oh, you mean Zhao Lizheng. But Lian Li is the Eldest Young Master Jin’s canary, what does she have to do with Zhao Lizheng?”
“Right, right, Lian Li is the Eldest Young Master’s canary. That man must be the Eldest Young Master Jin.”
Jin Shi Yue and Jin Yan Ting had similar facial features. With the angle and lighting, those who weren’t familiar with them couldn’t tell who was who at first glance.
Hearing this, Ruan Ning’s ears rang as if countless bees had burrowed into her brain, buzzing incessantly and frantically stimulating her nerves, causing her a headache.
The Big Shot from the Beijing Circle behind Lian Li was actually the Jin Family’s Eldest Young Master?!
So, her fabricated identity within the orchestra, claiming to be childhood sweethearts with the two Jin Young Masters and having a close relationship with the Second Young Master… Lian Li had known all along that her pretense of being a socialite from high society was not real!
Ruan Ning’s mood was complex, filled with the embarrassment of being exposed and the hatred of being deceived. Although she had asked Lian Li if she knew anyone from the Jin Family, Lian Li hadn’t answered by saying she didn’t know them, but instead asked, “Should I know them?”
Under the guise of being a fake socialite, Ruan Ning had been flattered and enjoyed many benefits. On one hand, she got close to true socialites like Chen Wei Qi, who were generous and would give away expensive clothes and bags without a second thought. On the other hand, she would take the information she learned from Chen Wei Qi and her circle, modify and embellish it to create a persona of someone very familiar with the Jin Family, thus deceiving those outside the wealthy elite.
If Lian Li’s sugar daddy was the Jin Family’s Eldest Young Master, then it would explain why the car that picked her up earlier was an extended custom Maybach.
“Wei Qi, Wei Qi, is that the Eldest Young Master or the Second Young Master?”
Chen Wei Qi slowly came back to her senses. She hadn’t seen her two influential cousins for a long time, as they were not idle playboys but busy with official duties.
“Brother Yan Ting,” Chen Wei Qi replied.
What kind of person was the Second Young Master Jin? How could he possibly be involved with Lian Li? Lian Li had only met the Eldest Young Master Jin through her father. It was already surprising that she was entangled with the Eldest Young Master, but to meet privately with the Second Young Master… what was that supposed to mean?
“So, are you going to go say hello?” her friend beside her asked. “Their atmosphere seems quite intimate.”
“You all go ahead and sit down, and order your food,” Chen Wei Qi said, her eyes fixed on Lian Li. “I’m going to catch up with my Eldest Cousin.”
“Okay, we’ll go ahead then. Ruan Ning, why are you just standing there? Hurry up and follow us.”
Only then did Ruan Ning snap back to reality. Her hands clenched silently, her fingernails digging into her flesh, leaving crescent-shaped marks. She forced a smile and said, “Coming.”
After her friends left, Chen Wei Qi, in her high heels, walked towards Lian Li.
Jin Shi Yue’s back was to Chen Wei Qi, so she couldn’t see his face clearly at first. Therefore, she smiled sweetly and, feigning sincerity, greeted Lian Li first.
“Lian Li, what a coincidence, you’re here too.”
Lian Li was looking down, eating with focused attention. Upon hearing the voice, she slowly raised her eyes to look.
Chen Wei Qi held her new million-dollar Hermes bag, her face plastered with a fake smile. When she met Lian Li’s gaze, she pretended to look away.
“Who are you eating with…” Chen Wei Qi turned her head and was taken aback by the sight of Jin Shi Yue’s indifferent, handsome face. She immediately stammered, “Shi… Shi Yue Ge?”
Jin Shi Yue slightly raised his eyelids, glanced at her, his expression unperturbed, and his voice was cool, “Is there something?”
Lian Li’s gaze flickered between the cousins. After a moment, she nonchalantly wiped her lips.
She was calm and composed, showing no panic at being discovered.
It wasn’t the first or second day that Chen Wei Qi had misunderstood her. Lian Li never paid attention to it, believing Chen Wei Qi couldn’t cause any major trouble.
Chen Wei Qi stood there dumbfounded, her speech system temporarily offline.
She could never have imagined it was actually Jin Shi Yue!
While she was very afraid of Jin Yan Ting’s words, she still had the courage to cause trouble openly or secretly, because Jin Yan Ting was a gentleman and would spare her considering her status as his cousin and their parents’ relationship. But if it were Jin Shi Yue…
Chen Wei Qi dared not act rashly and said hesitantly, “I saw Lian Li just now and thought I’d come over to say hello.”
“What a coincidence,” Lian Li smiled and greeted her. “Are you here for hot pot too?”
Chen Wei Qi stared blankly, “Mm…”
“You’ve said your hello,” Lian Li’s gaze swept towards the center of the table, spotting a group of people staring intently in their direction. “Your friends are waiting for you.”
A dismissal.
Chen Wei Qi’s mind hadn’t caught up yet, still shocked by why Jin Shi Yue was there. Hearing Lian Li’s words, she said foolishly to Jin Shi Yue, “Then… I’ll be going now.”
With that, she turned and left in a daze.
Chen Wei Qi irritably and fearfully ran a hand through her hair, glancing back at Jin Shi Yue’s retreating figure, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
Why was her second cousin there? Why was he eating with Lian Li? Why was their atmosphere so off, overly intimate?
Didn’t Lian Li like her Eldest Cousin? And now she’s involved with the Second Cousin!?
Lian Li’s entanglement with Jin Yan Ting allowed Chen Wei Qi to stand on a moral high ground and openly condemn Lian Li for ruining Jin Yan Ting and Duan Shiqing’s relationship. But with Lian Li and Jin Shi Yue… Chen Wei Qi was only surprised and confused.
How did these two people, who had no connection, get involved?
Even if they were just having a meal as ordinary friends, it was still baffling.
The Second Young Master Jin wouldn’t casually have a meal with just any ordinary friend, let alone a woman.
Chen Wei Qi’s mind spun and twisted through eighteen bends, yet she still couldn’t figure out what was going on between Lian Li and Jin Shi Yue.
She remembered seeing Lian Li and Jin Shi Yue at the clubhouse last time, and they clearly weren’t familiar with each other! Less familiar than strangers!
…
Lian Li was unaware of Chen Wei Qi’s ten thousand questions. She looked at Jin Shi Yue opposite her, who was also looking at her.
Their gazes met in mid-air, and they tacitly understood each other’s thoughts.
Chen Wei Qi was not worth mentioning.
She wasn’t someone who would spread rumors everywhere, and she certainly wouldn’t report what she saw and heard to the Jin Family.
At that moment, Lian Li’s phone rang.
She picked it up, glanced at it, and was slightly taken aback.
It was a call from Jin Yan Ting.
