This evening's event was being held at a renowned hotel in Jiangcheng.
Rather than a typical banquet, it was more of an auction,
specifically for the development rights of several plots of land in Jiangcheng. Many companies had caught wind of this long ago and were gearing up, ready to bid with all their might.
Outside the hotel, a sea of luxury cars was parked.
The garden - style hotel boasted a long,
red carpet. Elegantly dressed men and women walked along it, being courteously attended to by waiters.
The air was filled with the scent of fine clothing and the clinking of glasses.
Suddenly, a low - key yet luxurious Rolls - Royce pulled up at the hotel entrance.
The iconic license plate was well - known to many. The doorman quickly rushed over and respectfully opened the car door.
A man dressed in a black suit stepped out. His features were as cold and chiseled as if carved from stone, and his eyes were as dark and icy as a frozen lake. Jasmine got out from the other side and walked nervously to his side.
This evening's event seemed to be of a grand scale, with all the big - wigs in town in attendance.
"Are you here to just stand like a statue?"
The man's cold voice jolted Jasmine back to reality. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she looked at Yiqin Chu with a hint of confusion in her eyes.
Her gaze then dropped to his arm. Biting her lip, she understood what he meant.
She reached out and took his arm. The warmth from his body seeped into hers, and as she got closer, she caught a faint, elusive whiff of sandalwood, cool and refreshing, just like the man himself.
She held his arm lightly, keeping a somewhat deliberate distance. Yiqin Chu frowned at this show of aloofness.
Before Jasmine knew it, she was yanked off - balance, crashing into Yiqin Chu's chest. Her nose bumped into his hard pectoral muscles.
"Ah..."
She quickly tried to pull back, but Yiqin Chu's arm snaked around her waist, pulling her firmly against him. Their warm bodies were now pressed tightly together.
"Do you think I'd take advantage of you?"
Jasmine licked her lips, her throat dry. She was at a loss for words.
"No..."
She was just used to keeping a distance from others.
"Get closer, Secretary Qin," Yiqin Chu warned, clasping her hand tightly. Then, with a stride, he led her into the hotel.
As the sky dimmed, the banquet hall was ablaze with lights.
The moment the man entered, the air seemed to stretch taut, like a tightly - strung bowstring.
For a split second, there was complete silence.
The man's black, custom - made leather shoes made a soft thud on the floor with each step, a sound that, despite its softness, seemed to grip everyone's hearts, making it a bit difficult to breathe.
Under the bright lights, his sharply - defined features seemed to glow.
He was a man who commanded respect and admiration without uttering a word.
Beside him stood a woman,
as delicate and elegant as an orchid. Despite the overwhelming presence of the man, she didn't fade into insignificance. Instead, they complemented each other perfectly.
"Young Master Chu is here!"
"I thought he'd declined the invitation.
What made him change his mind? If he's after these plots of land, few in Jiangcheng would dare to compete with him."
"Who's the woman with him?
I've never seen her before."
Jasmine hadn't been in the public eye of Jiangcheng's high - society for five years. And since most of the people at this auction were of the older generation, for a moment, no one could recognize her.
Under the scrutiny of so many eyes, Jasmine felt stiff all over, her palms sweating. But on the surface, she remained calm, a polite, elegant smile gracing her lips.
"Zhenguo! Look who that is!"
Yun Shu's shrill voice cut through the air. She stared at Jasmine in disbelief, her hand pounding on her husband's shoulder as if she couldn't tear her eyes away.