20 Who Is Your Best Friend?

Zhi Ruo stared at the table before her that was full of desserts and finger sandwiches. The urge to stuff herself full became stronger with each passing minute. She resisted the urge to drool.

Delectable desserts stacked on top of each other made the table all the more delicious. The light highlighting the frosting that coated the desserts made her stomach grumble. She wanted so badly to take a bite and eat to her heart's content but she couldn't [1]. Not when she was outside.

While she was busy contemplating on whether or not to eat the said desserts, a woman walked up to her. "Hello."

Zhi Ruo snapped out of her thoughts and turned to look at the woman. She was shocked to say the least. The woman was a bit shorter than her, with a dark complexion that paired well with her sharp looks. Hair that fell down past her shoulder in soft curls. She looked very much like a foreigner.

"Yes, hello. How may I help you?" So far no one has had the guts to approach her but now some random beautiful stranger obviously took an interest in her so Zhi Ruo kept her guard up. Though judging by her eyes, there was no malice in it but pure curiosity.

Indeed, she was akin to an exotic food that westerners were unfamiliar with and hesitant to approach. Zhi Ruo could not find it in herself to blame them. She would've acted the same if their roles were reversed. Observing such a stranger like a piece of meat.

"I couldn't help but notice you've been alone for most of the night. And I've never seen your face before. Are you perhaps new here? If you are, I can accompany you. Usually events like these bore me to death," the woman smiled quite happily, freely chatting away as if they had long been acquainted with each other.

Zhi Ruo wasn't the type to refuse a request. People like these had a natural way of charming people. They just had the right set of social skills which allowed any person to be swayed. Though Zhi Ruo was a different case, to say the least.

It wasn't because she had been swayed by the woman, per se. But rather the opposite. Zhi Ruo had that aura about her that despite acting distant, made people feel drawn to her, like a moth to a flame.

A very cliché way to describe a person but it was as accurate as it can get. Although she can be considered to have high IQ and EQ, there were times when her brain could not keep up with information being lodged in her brain, resulting in a bit of naivéness that made people unguarded around her.

"I suppose so. I also feel terribly bored. If not for my grandparents I wouldn't even be here," Zhi Ruo said rather unreservedly.

Something in her made her think that this woman could be trusted. And her intuition was never wrong. The woman perked up at the mention of her grandparents. Perhaps she can get an idea regarding her mysterious background.

"Oh! How rude of me, I haven't even introduced myself yet. I am Nesrin Yeung," the woman replied. Her tone was friendly and had a tinge of warmth to them.

Zhi Ruo scanned her memories and found that this woman was around her age. Not a lot of people were able to stand on the same stage as Zhi Ruo but this woman before her deserved the credit. She is a very prominent environmentalist.

"A pleasure to meet you."

Both women smiled and stared at the mingling crowd before them. It was quiet until Zhi Ruo spoke again.

"You're probably curious about my identity. I can see it in your eyes."

Nesrin Yeung laughed. "Was it that obvious?"

"A bit. But for now all I can tell you is that I'm from the Zhi family."

Zhi family? Nesrin Yeung wasn't familiar with the old noble families in the area because she had never found the time to research about them. If she wasn't busy about work, she would be busy with her family. So the thought of learning about the families in the so-called elite circle went over her head.

"I see. You're wearing a very beautiful dress tonight, who are you wearing?"

Zhi Ruo was beginning to be quite bored. As much as she wanted to converse with Ms. Yeung, the urge to leave was getting stronger by the minute.

"Thank you. Unfortunately I'm not familiar with the designer but my close friend told me it was from Carolyn."

Nesrin Yeung's eyes widened in shock. Did she not know who Carolyn was? It was impossible not to know of the retired designer that brought back the renaissance era of clothing.

"Pardon me for asking but you do know who Carolyn is, right?" Nesrin asked curiously.

Zhi Ruo furrowed her brows. "Of course I know who she is. She's a designer! My best friend said so."

Nesrin resisted the urge to slap herself in the forehead. Maybe this girl had been too sheltered from the world of designing that's why she doesn't know much about clothes. Or maybe she was just feigning ignorance. But the former seemed more apparent judging by her expression. But she was curious to know who her best friend was, it might give her more insight on whom she's related to.

"And who is your best friend?" Curiosity got the best of her.

Zhi Ruo's lips turned up in a small smile and said, "Xiao Tong, she's been my best friend for almost a decade now that I think about it."

Nesrin Yeung found herself to be even more shocked. Who is Xiao Tong? She's a very influential socialite in their circle. A person who's very being people look up to. Kind, beautiful, and fashionable. She's the envy of all women. Nesrin covered her mouth in shock.

She heard a rumour though... That Xiao Tong's best friend was someone who is even more amazing that her. Xiao Tong had even personally said that without her, she wouldn't be the person she is today. Someone that could influence China's top socialite deserved to be someone at the pinnacle of the world. If Xiao Tong claimed to be number two, then her best friend could only be number one.

Could she be...?