However, the next scene left everyone rooted to their spot, staring in astonishment at what unfolded before them.
Arnold Simmons reached out, took the wine glass from Hannah's hand, glanced over her with a seemingly amused pair of peach blossom eyes, and downed the drink.
The now empty wine glass clinked crisply as it landed on the glass tabletop, the sound especially stark in the enclosed room, resounding against everyone's eardrums.
Louis Snyder glanced from a distance, seeing only a crowd gathered together without any clear details. He furrowed his brow and withdrew his gaze, but a sense of unease weighed heavy in his heart.
A girl immediately approached him at the sight of his discomfort, expressing her concerns. Despite the disgust boiling inside him, Louis Snyder managed to force a smile and reassure her that he was fine.
Arnold Simmons had just accepted a toast from a minor celebrity, an act which caused as much of a stir in the room as a pebble dropping onto a calm lake's surface, ripples spreading out layer upon layer.
The women who had just been mocking Hannah for her audacity became silent all at once, tarnishing their self-esteem as they scuttled back to their seats. But there were a few itching to try their luck after seeing Hannah's success at toasting Arnold Simmons.
Hannah, however, returned to her seat as if nothing had happened, showing no more interaction with Arnold Simmons.
Finally regaining his spirits, Arnold Simmons began to casually chat with those around him.
Oliver Taylor still hadn't fully grasped the earlier scene, watching as Hannah resume her place next to him, any traces of contempt and amusement had vanished from his eyes.
Of course, as long as Second Master Simmons didn't show any disapproval, no one would dare lay a finger on the young lady.
As time passed and seeing that Arnold Simmons had no intention of taking Hannah away, the others began to grow brave, pouring her several more glasses of wine, all of which she accepted and drank with a smile.
After several rounds of drinks, a tipsy Hannah leaned against the couch, her eyes hazy as if filled with stars, her cheeks flushed both seductive and innocent.
Taking advantage of the liquor-induced courage, she glanced at the man nearby, who didn't reciprocate her gaze, as if there was no connection between them whatsoever.
Another man, also bolstered by alcohol, attempted to grope her, but before he could touch her, Hannah grabbed his wrist with a playful smile, "I need to use the restroom."
Embarrassed, the man quickly fled the scene.
Arnold Simmons glimpsed at the vacant seat, tossed the cards he held, pulled a cigarette from his pocket, and lit it. He nudged Oliver Taylor, whose was pretending to be fazed, his voice icy, "Don't let me see the guy who tried to maul her here again."
Oliver quickly agreed, thinking to himself that this young lady surely knew how to operate, gaining the protective attention of Arnold Simmons. His chances were now non-existent.
In a short while, Arnold Simmons stood up and walked out of the room.
Besides a few rich second-generation friends who were in good terms with Arnold Simmons, no one dared to connect him to Hannah, who had just gone to the restroom.
Meanwhile, Hannah was washing her hands in the restroom when Golden Lily burst out in her mind.
"Master, are you out of your mind? Are you truly trying to incite Arnold Simmons? Do you even know who he is?"
Hannah answered nonchalantly, "I know, the main antagonist in the plot."
Golden Lily was taken aback, "You know and still enticed him?"
Arnold Simmons, the Second Young Master of the Simmons Family, though a 'second master,' he is in fact the illegitimate son of Grand Old Sir Simmons. When Arnold was accepted into the Simmons Family, he was the same age as Jimmy Simmons, the Eldest Young Master. Thus, not only was Arnold targeted within the Simmons Family, he was also ridiculed and humiliated by outsiders.