2 II

One of the most prestigious hotels in City M, Night Palace Hotel, known for its grand architecture and high-end professional services, was currently bustling about. Turning left to right, dizzying their heads in the process, all staff were busy receiving high profile guests. The stream of people, dressed with the most luxurious things, poured in.

A glass dome, situated at the rooftop, wherein stars twinkle beyond the clear ceiling and the city lights can be viewed at its most mesmerizing moment, this exquisite banquet hall serves as the setting for tonight's party, hosted by the Gao Family.

This party is said to be a celebration for the successful recovery of the family's eldest grandson, Gao Ming. However, rumor has it that it was all but pretense and the real purpose was to find him a bride.

If this happened before, not to mention a grand party, just a word of his intent on settling down and a mountain of marriage proposals shall accumulate. After all, Gao Ming not only had the influence, background, and power, he was also the rightful successor.

But after a devastating car accident, not only was he stripped of all his rights, he is now also disabled. In the future, he will live using the family's sympathy and the wife he'll be marrying will be the one holding up the sky for him.

When the star of the evening came, the whole place turns eerily silent. Sharp gaze swept towards his direction but no one dared to directly meet his eyes. Using the wine glass, they hide their sneering mouth in a half-hearted manner.

At this moment, Gao Ming's hand slipped and dropped his plate of fruits.

"This… This!.." He kept pointing at the monitor, directing his widened eyes towards the butler. No matter what, Gao Ming cannot compose a sentence proper enough to describe the turmoil in his heart.

His idiot brother thought of himself as smart and went to the party as 'him'! 

Gao Ning sat in a wheelchair, with half of his face wrapped up in a bloody bandage. He stayed at the side, using one eye to stare down at people, looking like the zombie king. He must have been feeling proud inside being able to deceive this many people.

But Gao Ming almost coughed blood at this turn of events. Of course, no one will question why he didn't attend his own party, they all thought he went with that ghastly appearance! He can no longer tell if he is hurting psychologically or physiologically.

"My face, ah! My face! Even if the wound is appalling right now, once it scabs over, I'll still look handsome, ok?! Even with a scar after, I'll just turn to look heroic! But never like I crawl out from hell like that. Ah, Alex, I cannot look anymore. I'll have nightmares. Narrate to me instead."

Alex was loyal enough to comply. "All ladies scattered in fear."

"Fvk, so heartless. Be more thoughtful with your description."

The guests busied themselves contemplating the pros and cons. While they must be careful not to express interest in marriage, they cannot completely disregard 'Gao Ming' and the opportunity to worm their way towards the Gao Family. But they didn't need to wack their brain for so long as Gao Ning caught a girl who wasn't able to flee as fast as her peers. He took her to wobble in place long enough to finish a song and then, with the excuse of his health, retreat for the night.

"He really just showed his face. How could he get married at this rate?"

Gao Ming hastily removed the earpiece. After all the acting he put in, who would have thought his brother would one-up him and directly impersonate him. He thought he schemed well into packing Gao Ning straight to an intended matchmaking event. But that brat is so cunning it's frustrating.

Alex, "..." You're the one they told to get married.

Back at home, Gao Ning still remembers to check at his sick brother. Gao Ming had Alex tossed all the spying equipment and evidence of his eavesdropping to the bottom drawer.

"How was the party?" Gao Ming turns his eyes quickly, trying his best to appear distressed.

As his good brother, Gao Ning brought what he's selling. "Not bad."

Staying at the corner, having your own little bubble is indeed 'not bad' for an anti-social you!

Gao Ming told himself not to break character.

"I did dance with someone." Gao Ning added, trying to direct the topic into himself.

"Oh?..." The gears on Gao Ming's head turned and turned till he recalled the unstable image of Gao Ning. His brother stood using a crane and limp to grab a hold of a minor. "...Oh.."

Mother! All I see is you scaring a poor little girl! Swaying in place with a young girl in a death grip cannot be called a dance, ok? Be ashamed of the word romantic at least. No, fear our protection law!

Seeing Gao Ming complexion shifting from dark to pale, Gao Ning was afraid of what he would ask. He doesn't have the heart to upset his brother nor want him to learn what the outside is saying.

"It's time for your rest. Leave the talk for tomorrow."

Gao Ning chose the best tactic known to humans, which is to flee.

Once he got out of sight, Gao Ming lunged onto Alex with pure dejection. "If I got reported for pedophilia, our brotherly trust is no more. You go bail me out instead, Alex."

"En," Alex agreed without sincerity.