Chapter 26: The Little Girl Waited Up For You All Night
Young Master Zhao’s smile deepened. “Busy, probably coming a bit late.”
Winnie linked arms with Miss Meng as they entered the hall.
The French long table was filled with tableware and food. Everyone was casual, gathering together to chat and laugh.
Someone asked curiously, “Young Master Zhao, when did you meet these two great beauties? Won’t you introduce them?”
Young Master Zhao couldn’t introduce them; he didn’t even know these two young ladies’ English names. “Introduce yourselves.”
Winnie switched to English and spoke generously, “Hello, I’m Winnie. My friend is Elara.”
“Welcome, welcome!”
Young Master Zhao instructed, “They’re both younger. Take care of them.”
This group was mostly in their mid-to-late twenties and older. Miss Meng and Winnie were indeed young.
They teased, “Young Master Zhao sure knows how to cherish the fairer sex.”
Young Master Zhao laughed and cursed, “Get lost.”
Miss Meng and Winnie found seats and sat down to dine with everyone.
All those present were friends on good terms with Young Master Zhao, and the atmosphere stayed great.
After the meal, the group moved to the second-floor entertainment hall.
Some played cards, some played snooker, and others sat drinking and chatting.
Winnie had an outgoing personality and could have fun anywhere. They called her over to play billiards.
Miss Meng wasn’t good at it, so she sat on the sofa to watch.
Laughter and chatter filled her ears nonstop.
“Young Master Zhao, what are you doing? Can’t let her off easy just because she’s a beauty.”
“You’re not usually at this level.”
“Not allowed to miss?”
“That’s not how you miss either.”
“Keep this up, and you’ll drain the Pacific Ocean.”
“Hahahaha…”
Miss Meng checked the time several times. It was already nine o’clock, and Mister Pei still hadn’t arrived.
Young Master Zhao’s mobile phone rang. He set down the golf club and stepped aside to take the telephone call.
“Brother Zhou, you still not coming?”
The other end said, “Too late, I’m not coming.”
“You’re not coming?” Young Master Zhao glanced at the sofa. “Looks like someone’s waiting in vain.”
He deliberately sighed. “Poor girl waiting for you all evening with hopeful eyes, only for hope to be dashed.”
Pei Yuzhou hung up the telephone call.
Young Master Zhao couldn’t tell if he was really coming or not; there was no straight answer.
Miss Meng waited bored, scrolling her mobile phone now and then, then looking up at the doorway again.
Winnie finished billiards and sat back beside her, picking up the cup for a sip of water. “Why hasn’t Mister Pei come? It’s already ten.”
Miss Meng hid her disappointment and lowered her eyes. “So late, he definitely won’t come.”
As the words fell, footsteps approached gradually. Leather shoes clicked over the marble floor, the sound short and muffled.
Winnie looked up and saw a tall, straight figure enter her view.
The man was very tall, with broad shoulders and long legs, deep and three-dimensional features, top-tier bone structure, and an unattainably noble temperament.
“This is… Mister Pei?”
Miss Meng also saw him enter and was stunned for a few seconds before nodding lightly. “Mm.”
Winnie opened her mouth. “You didn’t say he was this handsome.”
Was this the charm of a mixed-blood mature man? Even a modeled face wasn’t this handsome.
Young Master Zhao stood to greet him. “Finally here. We’ve been waiting all evening.”
In the end, Miss Meng really had a lot of face.
The others all came over to greet Pei Yuzhou.
Miss Meng didn’t even get a chance to speak to him.
Young Master Zhao freed up a seat, letting Pei Yuzhou sit on the sofa. “Brother Zhou, what do you want to drink?”
“Red wine,” he said.
“Got it.” Young Master Zhao personally got him a wine glass and poured it.
Vintage Bordeaux, with a rich wine aroma permeating the air.
Pei Yuzhou’s legs were slightly apart, right hand resting on the armrest, looking lazy and relaxed.
Miss Meng sat opposite him. Their gazes brushed unintentionally, then quickly shifted away.
It had been over half a month since they’d seen each other; it felt like they’d gone back to being not that familiar.
Young Master Zhao quietly observed the two. “Don’t just sit there. Play cards together?”
Someone nearby chimed in, “Sure, what to play?”
Young Master Zhao grabbed the poker deck from the coffee table. “Texas Hold’em. Everyone knows how, right?”
A social card game commonly played in this social circle; no need to explain the rules.
Someone asked, “What’s the bet for wins and losses?”
Young Master Zhao raised a brow and smiled. “Just for fun. No chips today. Loser drinks a glass or does one thing assigned by the winner. How’s that?”
“Sounds good.”
No one present objected.
Young Master Zhao asked separately, “Brother Zhou, you in?”
Pei Yuzhou took a shallow sip from his wine glass. “Deal.”
The coffee table circle fit exactly eight people.
One person designated as dealer; each gets two hole cards, five community cards; best hand wins.
One key to winning is psychological warfare: reading opponents, controlling bets, adjusting strategy.
Miss Meng didn’t play Texas Hold’em often, had no skills, all luck.
The man opposite won several rounds effortlessly.
He seemed to handle everything with ease, no effort at all.
The unlucky one was Young Master Zhao, losing every round, already drank three glasses of wine, and was penalized by Pei Yuzhou to do thirty push-ups.
Winnie gloated. “Looks like the birthday boy isn’t lucky today.”
“Maybe this seat’s magnetic field doesn’t suit me.” Young Master Zhao wiped sweat with a tissue and turned to Miss Meng. “Miss Meng, how about we switch seats?”
Miss Meng didn’t react at first. “Ah.”
His seat was next to Mister Pei.
Winnie quickly helped, pushing her. “Switch, switch.”
Miss Meng instinctively glanced at Pei Yuzhou. His expression was indifferent, as if it didn’t concern him.
Young Master Zhao stood there waiting.
After a moment of hesitation, Miss Meng slowly stood, walked around the coffee table to the other side.
The two-person sofa wasn’t spacious. As she sat, her skirt hem brushed the man’s knee.
The black trousers were neatly pressed, hugging his legs, somehow giving a sense of restraint.
Miss Meng tugged her skirt back a bit.
Dealing continued.
Maybe there really was something mystical, or the seat’s feng shui was bad. Miss Meng got terrible hole cards; nothing could save them.
Young Master Zhao couldn’t suppress his smile. “Drink up, or other punishment?”
Miss Meng asked cautiously, “Can I hear the punishment first?”
Young Master Zhao lifted his chin. “Ask the one next to you.”
Miss Meng turned to look at Pei Yuzhou.
He parted his lips faintly. “Drink lemonade.”
“Hey, now that’s really going easy.” Young Master Zhao complained. “You made me do thirty push-ups without blinking.”
Pei Yuzhou glanced at him. “Keep talking, next round fifty.”
Young Master Zhao: “…”
Drinking lemonade was no punishment for Miss Meng; she liked it anyway.
The others saw it as gentlemanly, taking care of the girl.
But those who knew him knew he wasn’t the type to be considerate.
Next round, Young Master Zhao got a straight flush, redeeming himself. “Finally won one.”
Miss Meng hugged the pillow dejectedly, muttering, “Why am I losing again?”
Winnie exclaimed, “This seat is kinda mystical.”
Young Master Zhao smiled and asked, “Drink or what?”
Miss Meng didn’t want to drink and resigned herself. “You pick the punishment.”
Young Master Zhao thought for a moment, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Pick someone of the opposite sex here and kiss their cheek.”
