After successfully escaping Chen Yi's clutches with the help of his mother's phone call, Ling Xie quickly got dressed as Churong. He had been informed that the location of the party had been set, and he could start the preparations as soon as possible. The event was in three days, which should have left Churong no time to dilly-dally after school. However, earlier, he had chased after Eun-tak and then got held up by Chen Yi.
Currently, he sat dazedly in the back of his car, his mind still reeling from his interactions with Chen Yi. He couldn't understand how things had developed so quickly between him and his one and only crush.
Could it be that Chen Yi is a playboy?
Churong furrowed his brows in thought. It was possible. From the way Chen Yi acted so smoothly, Churong could tell from his gut that flirting came naturally to him. A bitter feeling crept into his heart as he wondered who Chen Yi's other victims were.
"Young Master, we've arrived." The driver knocked on the dark, transparent glass separating the front and back seats.
Churong looked out the window, taking in the view of a magnificent mansion surrounded by lush green trees. "Thank you, Lupin," he said, grasping his bag before stepping out of the car. The sight before him was a beautifully crafted structure, perfectly situated in its surroundings.
He walked around the large fountain in front of the house and made his way to the door. Shaking his head, he tried to refocus, knowing he had a lot of work ahead. Churong pressed the doorbell, waited for a few moments, and was soon greeted by a maid who led him to the appointed location.
What awaited him there were the couple—his current clients—and two guys dressed in casual clothes. "Rongrong, over here!" Mrs. Fengli's voice called out, drawing his attention as she bounced toward him, making him feel slightly overwhelmed.
He walked unhurriedly, flashing a soft smile. "Hello, Mrs. Fengli, Mr. Fengli." Mr. Fengli nodded in greeting.
"What do you think? Beautiful, right?" Mrs. Fengli chimed in, gesturing toward the large ballroom. Only then did Churong take in his surroundings.
One thought immediately popped into his mind as he gazed at the magnificent design: Ah, Cinderella. Churong thought that if Fengli's son were a prince, this ballroom would definitely be the perfect setting for a Cinderella love story.
"It's perfect!" Churong felt his creative senses flare. This was, after all, where his true interests lay and what he was skilled at. He was itching to start designing, but he still remembered his manners. Turning to the two guys, he made a point to greet them.
But then he froze. Standing beside his client's eldest son was the root of his worries. Chen Yi?!
Noticing his stunned gaze, Mrs. Fengli happily jumped in to introduce them. "Rongrong, this is the man to be wed! Our Tian'er." The young man, with features that clearly showed the mix of Mr. and Mrs. Fengli, wore a wry smile. His silver hair, inherited from his father, and gold eyes, inherited from his mother, gave him an otherworldly aura that remained undisturbed even while standing beside Chen Yi.
Churong snapped out of his stupor, a little embarrassed. "Hello, I'm Churong." He raised his hand, intending to shake, and Tian Fengli took it with a smile.
"Tian Fengli. I've heard a lot about you."
Churong didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the all-too-familiar greeting she received at every first meeting.
Mrs. Fengli then went to hug Chen Yi's arm. "This is our Chen Yi!" Churong's face stiffened, and her smile became a bit restrained.
"Mrs. Fengli, I thought you only had two sons?" she asked. This was a fact she had learned during their discussion at Thousand Lotus Loft. Tian Fengli was the eldest, while Lou Fengli, who was traveling around the world, was his younger brother.
"Aunt Fengli is my mother's sister," Chen Yi replied, his gaze fixed on Churong. She had caught his eye the moment he saw her.
And Chen Yi became confused.
She was pretty, but Chen Yi had seen many more beautiful girls with more outstanding qualities than her. And yet, he couldn't look away.
Chen Yi was very confused.
She had blonde wavy hair that cascaded over her shoulders, sparkling emerald eyes, and a cute face that made him want to pinch her cheeks.
Chen Yi was very, very confused.
What was wrong with his heart?
She smiled at him and raised her hands. "I see. Hello, Mr. Chen Yi."
"Nice to meet you, Miss Churong." Chen Yi grasped her hand, almost expectantly. The soft, slender, warm hand made his heart race, and once again, he questioned what was happening. I already have Ling Xie. So who is this girl?
Chen Yi was very, very, VERY confused.
Could it be that his heart had broken into two pieces three years ago, and now they were beating separately—toward two different people?
Suddenly, Chen Yi felt as if a huge boulder had been placed on his head, giving him a splitting headache. His heart screamed with guilt as he tried to make sense of why he was being attracted to a girl when he definitely liked Ling Xie.
Churong, noticing Chen Yi's indifferent expression, sighed in relief. That's good. He didn't recognize me. She silently gave her mother a "good job" sign, impressed by her mother's exceptional makeup skills. I better kiss her when I get home.
Everyone else in the room, except Churong, was used to Chen Yi's cold countenance. They merely shrugged it off and got back to work. Churong, however, immediately became absorbed in her thoughts and didn't notice the heated stares Chen Yi was directing at her.
Chen Yi watched her in silence, contemplating. He observed the seriousness on her face as she discussed the best theme for the party, which drinks would be appropriate, and what food to serve.
"Right. Rongrong, Chen Yi will provide the dishes for the party, so you can discuss this with him." Mrs. Fengli beamed with pride.
Of course. How could I have forgotten?! Churong thought, feeling a bit trapped. Chen Yi owned multiple chains of restaurants, so his expertise lay in delicacies. No wonder he's here! But discuss with him? Churong didn't want to. I don't want to be found out! she silently cried.