Li Nuxie stood up when the emcee closed the show. With chin raised up and a black-rimmed eyeglasses that masked her eyes, she was an epitome of a formidable woman at the moment.
Her cousin was leaning against the wall, also watching the show.
"So? How was it?" Li Chanying asked.
Li Nuxie didn't answer. She just gave her thumbs up before picking up her purse. "Let's go," she went to the door, eyes that were sparkling.
"Uhm, where to?" Li Chanying's brows drew together.
"After party," was Li Nuxie's response.
Li Chanying walked behind her cousin. "After party? But you hate parties, right?" As far as she remembered, Li Nuxie never attended the previous after parties of NU C. She even ditched the first party she organized, leaving Li Chanying in charge.
Li Chanying arched her eyebrow, mouth curling up. Something was definitely fishy here.
Xu Wei signaled a waiter, getting a glass of champagne. His eyes roamed around the VIP room.
Half of the people around belonged to the higher echelon of City S. And yet, no one approached him. This was because only few people have met him as the First Young Master Xu.
It was always Xu Ming who dealt with business. However, he personally dealt with the building of Octagon Hotel. And even on that note, the people involved signed a nondisclosure agreement.
The muttering and clutter of champagne glasses denoted an air of the social elites.
The models mingled with the guests. From the other side of the room, Xu Wei caught sight of Hong Chi entertaining the guests.
"How are you? Enjoying the party?"
"Definitely, Miss Hong. The menu tonight is not something I taste during ordinary days," a guest told her.
Hong Chi smiled politely before opening her mouth. "NU C's owner personally oversee the menu. She wanted the guests to enjoy a gastronomic adventure while appreciating her designs."
Another guest's mouth formed an 'O'. "Are you saying the owner is a graduate of Country P's School of Gastronomy?"
Laughter escaped Hong Chi's lips before nodding.
The guests listening to the conversation were all wide-eyed. To be able to taste a recipe made by an SG graduate was already an honor itself.
How powerful and influential the NU C's owner to be accepted at SG?
Xu Wei found himself smiling as he eavesdropped with the conversation. He rubbed his chin. He loved women who knew their ways inside the kitchen. After all, it was his favorite part of the house. His previous girlfriends were all masters of the kitchen.
The conversations and whispers ceased. All eyes automatically stared towards the door which slowly opened.
Li Chanying took a step inside, wearing an immaculate dress that fell on her ankles. She walked with a smile on her face.
"Hello, ladies and gentlemen. Are we enjoying the night?"
"Yes, Miss Li. How about you? When are you going to let us meet the owner?"
Waves of laughter followed.
Li Chanying crossed her arms. "Why are you so eager to meet the owner? How about meeting the main model first?" she turned her head, glancing at the door.
RuRu emerged from the door, still wearing the bikini. However, she was wearing a cover up now.
Xu Wei admired her for maintaining a calm expression. It was no secret that RuRu was involved in a scandal that shocked the City S. It almost cost her the career she built up from scratch.
"Miss RuRu, nice job. You did well," a guest said with a polite smile.
RuRu slightly bowed, a modest smile was on her lips. "Thank you."
Other guests stepped forward to offer their congratulatory remarks. No one dare to snide RuRu or they will also insult NU C.
While the guests hovered over RuRu, Xu Wei noticed how Li Nuxie slipped inside the room quietly. She was still wearing the same dress while Hong Chi has changed into something formal.
Li Nuxie grabbed a glass of tequila and drank it, bottoms up. She grimaced as the heat travelled from her throat down to her chest.
"Shit," she muttered.
Someone tsked behind her. With a knot on her forehead, she turned around, prepared to lash out on whoever it was.
She almost fell when she laid down her eyes on that person.
Xu Wei's hand snaked around Li Nuxie's waist to steady her. He closed his eyes, inhaling her scent. She smelled sweet, with a hint of vanilla and pea.
He smiled inwardly as Li Nuxie's body went stiff.
"Let go of me," her hands grasped his biceps, her voice was raspy.
Just then, a slow music went on air, swaying the people's minds into closing their eyes. A pair of guests went to the middle, the man putting his hands on the woman's waist while the latter put hers on the former's shoulders.
"I want to dance with you," Xu Wei whispered. His breath fanned against Li Nuxie's ear making her hitched her breath.
Li Nuxie glared at him, trying to distance her body from him. "I don't want to," she hissed.
"If you continue doing that, I can't promise to be a gentleman, babe," Xu Wei told her and as if to prove his point, he brushed his lower body against Li Nuxie's.
Li Nuxie's eyes went round as she felt the steel-like rod against her lower abdomen. She shivered as her imagination took two steps forward.
"Y-You-" she lowered her eyes before glancing back to Xu Wei. "You're such a pervert!"
He chuckled. "I am only a pervert when it comes to you."
Xu Wei pulled Li Nuxie towards the middle of the room, expertly blending with the couples who were swaying to the sound of music.
He wasn't surprised that Li Nuxie can catch up with his rhythm. As the Young Miss Li, he knew that she was trained to be a socialite and that includes dancing.
Xu Wei caressed Li Nuxie's back as both of them twirled on the dance floor.
"I don't like it when a man flirts with me then flirt with others the moment I turn my back," she told him. Under the dim light, Xu Wei can outlined her face with a determined chin.
He leaned closer. "Trust me babe, I am a one woman man."
"Liar! I saw you getting cozy with your date!" Li Nuxie spat the words as her hands grasped his shoulders tightly.
Staring directly at her eyes, Xu Wei leaned closer. "Are you jealous?"
"Yes!" Li Nuxie dropped her jaw when she realized what she said. "I mean no!"
"And you call me a liar?"
"Okay fine, I'm jealous. What is it to you?" she turned her head away.
Xu Wei twirled around, supporting Li Nuxie's weight with his two hands.
"One wish."
Li Nuxie peered at him through her eyelashes. "What did you say?"
"I said you're entitled to one wish."
She stuck her nose in the air. "How is that related to me being jealous, duh?"
Xu Wei grinned, slowing down his movement as the music gradually came to a halt.
"Because you got jealous. I want to make it up to you," he said, removing his one hand from Li Nuxie's waist and using it to lift her chin. "And as a congratulatory gift."
The words were caught in her mouth when what he said entered her consciousness. He knew?
A satisfied smile decorated Xu Wei's lips as he took in the reaction of Li Nuxie. "Don't be shy."
She took a deep breath. The calm eyes behind the eyeglasses were in contrast with the beats of her heart.
"Can I put my wish on hold?"
Brushing some strands of hair that stuck to the side of her face, the corner of Xu Wei's mouth lifted, creating havoc to a woman's egg cell.
"Yes, babe. Anytime."