Bai Jia'an's long fingernails dug deep into her handbag, leaving scratches on the expensive leather as she pulled out her phone. She dialed a recently called number. "Hello? Why aren't you here yet?!"
"What do you mean you can't get in? What are you even good for?" She fumed at the response.
"I'm warning you, if you can't get in within the next ten minutes, then our partnership is over!"
With that, Bai Jia'an angrily hung up the phone and disappeared into the crowd.
"Miss Bai, a gentleman asked me to give this to you. He said he is waiting for you on the balcony," a waiter said, handing over a red rose to Bai Nuanxi.
Huo Muchen had gone off to greet the guests, leaving Bai Nuanxi alone to idly scroll through her phone. With nothing better to do, she had no reason not to go.
"Alright, I'll go over," Bai Nuanxi replied, gracefully taking the rose and pinning it to her chest as she made her way toward the balcony.
At a birthday banquet like this, no one in their right mind would be here to flirt. If the host found out, they'd be lucky to get away with just a beating. So, whoever was looking for her must be someone she knew...
Thinking this, Bai Nuanxi slowly walked onto the balcony and turned to look at the man. "So it is you. Do you need something from me?"
"I..." Ji Ziyu seemed to lose all ability to speak the moment he saw Bai Nuanxi. His mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.
The sharp tongue he had when dealing with Bai Jia'an just moments ago seemed to have vanished instantly.
"What, you went out of your way to ask a waiter for help, just so I could come and watch you 'move your lips'?" Bai Nuanxi walked past Ji Ziyu, sat down on a chair, and crossed her legs, lazily gazing at him.
Although this pose exuded a certain wild allure, Ji Ziyu quickly regained his composure. "Nuanxi, just look at yourself now. Do you even resemble a proper lady anymore?!"
"Heh." Bai Nuanxi chuckled softly, "Are you here to lecture me? Whether I resemble a lady or not is none of your business... brother-in-law."
"I..." Ji Ziyu regretted his words as soon as they left his mouth. He was used to standing on a pedestal and chastising Bai Nuanxi, but now he was here seeking her forgiveness!
Yet he had just uttered something bound to provoke her. Would Bai Nuanxi still forgive him?
For a moment, Ji Ziyu felt uneasy, no longer as confident that Bai Nuanxi would forgive him and pretend none of this had ever happened, turning the page without another word.
After hesitating over his words, Ji Ziyu decided to take the plunge and said, "Nuanxi, I came to tell you that I love you."
Bai Nuanxi's eyes widened with shock. "Ji Ziyu, are you joking? Not long ago, a video of you hugging my sister went viral online, and now, here at an elder's birthday banquet, you're telling me you love me?"
Bai Nuanxi rolled her eyes. What was wrong with Ji Ziyu? Was his family business in trouble, and he came running to her for help? "Haha... I didn't realize your love was so cheap!"
"Are you jealous?" Ji Ziyu's eyes lit up at her words.
Bai Nuanxi was disgusted by Ji Ziyu's shamelessness, rolling her eyes in revulsion, "Ji Ziyu, you're utterly shameless."
"Nuanxi, how can you say that?" Ji Ziyu immediately retorted.
"And how should I put it? Isn't it just moving your lips to speak? What's the big deal?" Bai Nuanxi poured herself a cup of tea. "Instead of wasting time here, you'd be better off sitting down and having some tea. As for what you're saying, I can only advise you to stop dreaming."
The clear tea poured into the white porcelain cup, reflecting a faint green hue. The rising steam caused Bai Nuanxi's face to flush, enhancing her natural allure.
With a delicate hand, she placed the teacup in front of Ji Ziyu, her melodious voice ringing out, "What's wrong? Don't you want a cup of such fine tea?"
"I..." Before he could finish his sentence, Ji Ziyu's hand moved faster than his brain, grabbing the cup and even taking a sip!
"This tea..." Ji Ziyu's eyes widened in shock!
This tea was meticulously prepared by him... meant to set the mood for tonight. Now that he'd taken a sip... who knows what effect it would have!
Bai Nuanxi smiled, "Does this tea have something wrong with it?" She poured another cup, lightly tapping the earring on her ear.
"Do I smell good? So fragrant that it makes you... lose yourself?" Bai Nuanxi's smile was exquisite, like a character stepping out of a still painting.
But Ji Ziyu felt a chill down his spine. This was terrifying!
Ji Ziyu felt a shiver run through him, as if he were wearing a summer T-shirt in the icy winds of the Arctic. Despite her beautiful smile, it left him trembling.
"You drank the tea too!" Ji Ziyu thought that since Bai Nuanxi knew there was something wrong with the tea, she must have come prepared, so the tea... might not be what he had planned!
"Heh." Bai Nuanxi laughed as she unfolded the napkin on her lap, revealing faint yellow tea stains on the pristine white cloth.
"You..." Before he could finish his sentence, Ji Ziyu lost consciousness.
Bai Nuanxi set down the teacup, shaking her head. "Tsk, such stupidity. A fool who delivers himself to his death."
——————
When Bai Nuanxi returned to the banquet hall, she immediately sensed that something was off. The previously lively guests were now sitting quietly at their tables, eating in silence, with no noise to be heard.
Rubbing her arms, Bai Nuanxi noticed that the air conditioning seemed to be set too low; her attire felt a bit too thin.
"Where did you go?" A deep voice sounded from the main seat, the elegant male voice carrying an undercurrent of simmering fury, like a tornado ripping through the land!
Leaving the earth barren!
What happened...
For the first time since her rebirth, Bai Nuanxi felt the overwhelming anger radiating from the man, a soul-deep fear that almost left her breathless. Biting her lip, she struggled to reply, "I... I went to the balcony for a cup of tea."
The dark emotions flickering in the man's deep eyes were unreadable. His thin lips parted again, making Bai Nuanxi instinctively shudder!
"Come here."
Numbly, Bai Nuanxi walked over.
Then, standing before Huo Muchen, she closed her eyes.
Am I... about to be hit again?