Chen Linyun scanned her from head to foot.
She was wearing a black shimmering tube gown down to her feet with a slit on the side up to half of her right thigh. She exudes alluring energy that made all the guests turn their heads. Her pale neck was adorned with a round necklace embedded with diamonds. Her jet-black hair was left down on her back. She stood up to her name as a goddess.
He was flustered. He excused himself from the group of people he was chatting with. He went over near the wall, grabbed a glass of refreshment, and returned his gaze on her.
The way she appeared now was so much different from the last time he saw her. The last time, she was wearing her grey hoodie and even had a cap on. She looked like a tomboy back in the day. He had even mistaken her for a boy.
But now, she was so gorgeous in her black sexy gown. Her movements were graceful and fluid and every move of hers had a touch of femininity that tickled his heart. He clutched his heart involuntarily.
Her long black hair was the same as he remembered it. During their first encounter, the time when she opened the door of his dormitory room and looked up at him, her hood fell and had revealed her jet-black hair. He longed to touch it.
His tomboy girl Xue Jinxu had become a goddess. Or, had she always been? He was not so sure. He had seen her for only once before. Mo Wenbin said before that she was popular in their school. There was no doubt about it.
All the loneliness and longing that he experienced during those five long year had been completely wiped away as if it never happened. His eyes and heart were both filled with her presence. He's full to the brim.
However, his perceptive eyes could not escape a glaring difference from her. Her smiles were gone. She did not look like the same sweet girl from before. She had this strong intimidating aura. She's not approachable at all.
Even so, the other guests both male and female tried to engage into small talk with her. 'Probably to curry favor' he thought.
Once in a while she smiled politely, but it seemed superficial. He was not contented. He wanted to see her genuine smile from before. He could only wait and watch.
He was blushing hard now. He traversed across the ballroom and settled on an empty spot near her. He could now have a better and more detailed scrutiny of her.
He could now see the details of her face – her pale countenance, her almond eyes, thin lips. During her polite smiles her dimple rarely peeked.
He could deduce from people around him that most of the gentlemen also shared the same admiration as him. Some even brazenly approached her to capture her attention. It was known in the business world that this lady boss is still single. It's enough encouragement for all the gentlemen out there.
Chen Linyun had observed that his woman seemed to be annoyed by something. Her face showed it a bit. It may not be obvious, but for him who was watching her closely, every change in expression was saved in his memory.
His curiosity was beyond the roof. He wanted to know more about her, about the change in her expression. He wanted to initiate a conversation with her. So he prepared to approach her.
There seemed to be an invisible line of all the people who wanted to seek audience with her. He waited for his opportunity.
Finally his turn came.
"Miss Xue Jinxu." He started. "You look gorgeous tonight."
She smiled politely, the kind of smile that only lingered in the lips, and did not reach her eyes. "You are?"
'Have we met before?' she thought.
"I'm Chen Linyun from Tiankong Investments. It's my pleasure to be able to meet you tonight." He held out his hand for a hand shake. She took it and shook his hand gently. The touch sent out electricity to his whole body.
"I see. The pleasure is mine." She smiled again. This time it was the genuine smile of hers from before. He blushed.
"I have heard good reviews about your company. Perhaps you can brief us with your investment programs sometime. You can contact our office for that."
"Th-thank you. I-I.. I'll contact your company." He stuttered. He was tongue-tied. He did not know what to do now. A few moments of silence between them and the air around them grew stale and awkward. She excused herself.
"It was great meeting you here Mr. Chen. Regret I have to leave now." She smiled again and left.
He looked dejected. That was his only chance and he blew it. He would not know when he will be able to meet her again, or talk to her. They were this close. His woman was not ordinary, he knew that very well. What happened to his brain, didn't he practice all the possible lines and possible ways of delivery that he could converse with her, during all these years they were apart? Weren't he considered an intellectual everywhere? Why had he become such a dunce at this moment?
'It's her effect on me. I have to fix this soon.' He was miserable.
Because she already left, he found plenty of spare time to continue with his networking. He now set to work and mingled with the crowd.
A few minutes had passes when another distinguished guest had graced his presence in this party. Everyone turned their heads toward the door.
"Oh look! It's the President of Xue Shipping." He heard a lady spoke.
"It's a rare chance to see him. He's usually too busy." Others chimed in.
'President? So he's my woman's brother.' He thought. Initially he wasn't interested. Realizing this, he finally turned his head towards the newcomer.
But he was confused. 'What the hell. What's happening now?'
'It's still her!'
He could easily see through her guise. After all, she was dressed like a boy the first time he saw her. This version of her was actually more familiar to him.
But wait, what? They called her the President, the Young Master Xue Minhe.
'What's going on here? His eyes widened from shock.'