14 The Beginning of Many Encounters

At five thirty, the Bai Entertainment Gala began, and the room fell silent as the host stepped onto the stage.

"Sirs and madams, good evening. Please help me welcome and thank the Bai family this evening for holding a grand gala and for a great cause at that. Let's welcome the man himself, President Eyan Bai."

The dining hall erupted with thunderous claps as Eyan Bai gracefully walked up to the stage, smiling and waving at the audience below. After delivering a brief welcoming remark, he turned the stage over to the host, who proceeded to introduce the faces of Bai Entertainment.

Among the actresses presented on stage stood Natalia Omalu. The people at the Zi's table were surprised to see Natalia as one of the actresses under Bai Entertainment. Alex, who had no idea about her profession, had never wondered. He never once considered her to be an actress.

As the awards were presented, a fifteen-minute break was announced. To Alex's right, he noticed the girl he had been keeping his eye on stand up and gracefully walk out of the dining room. Intrigued, he stood up and decided to follow her.

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Throughout the award presentations, Zunnie felt an overwhelming sense of nervousness, and deep down, she found herself yearning to retreat back home. The uncertainty of who would win the dinner with her filled her with anxiety. She wasn't adept at handling obnoxious or annoying people, and to avoid potential embarrassment and trouble for the Bai family, all she could do was hope and pray for a favorable outcome.

With each step toward the bathroom, silent prayers resonated within her. Expressing her wish for the winner to be someone pleasant, be it a woman, man or a genuinely good person. As she emerged from the bathroom with ten minutes to spare, she decided to take a leisurely stroll around the lobby, taking in the artwork adorning the walls. Her attention was captivated by a painting depicting a young girl gazing at a pond, with a castle-like house in the distance. A wave of sadness washed over her as she reminisced about her mother. Pulling out her phone, she captured a picture of the poignant artwork.

Zunnie continued to stand before the painting. Her words that followed expressing the melancholy she felt.

"Such a lonely and sad painting," she murmured.

"It is. They say most painters paint what they feel," a soft but deep voice replied.

Unbeknownst to Zunnie, she wasn't alone, and the person standing next to her had been following her since she began observing the paintings. She was taken aback when she realized someone was beside her.

'When did he get here?' Zunnie wondered, silently exclaiming within.

Not wanting to be rude, especially since her family was hosting the event, she politely responded, "So, I've heard…"

Glancing at her phone, she seized the opportunity to excuse herself.

"Ah, if you'll excuse me, I must head back."

With six minutes left before the auction, he tried to encourage her to stay and chat a bit more.

"I'm aware of the time…"

"Are you trying to run away from me? Just a moment ago, you were really admiring them. Please don't stop because of me," he smiled, pushing his hand into his pocket.

Lost for words at his remark, Zunnie contemplated whether he had been following her. In case he was a stalker, she scrutinized him closely.

The man exuded a cold yet warm aura, handsomely dressed in a navy-blue suit over a white dress shirt. Two top buttons were undone, revealing a hint of exposed skin. A neatly folded tree-green kerchief adorned his left breast pocket. His jaw was sharply defined, and he had been cleanly shaved. Zunnie's eyes traveled from his face down to his light brown suede loafers. Despite the unease, she couldn't deny that he was an attractive and well-dressed man.

After thoroughly analyzing him and absorbing every detail, Zunnie flashed him her professional smile and uttered, "No, sir, I am not. Please excuse me."

Swiftly turning around, she strode back to the dining hall. Upon reaching her seat, Zunnie sighed, stealing a glance back to scrutinize the man who followed her. He was looking at her. He smiled, nodded, and then sat down with the Zis. While she was aware of the Zi family's prominence, she couldn't recall meeting them personally. Knowing they were good friends of her father, she was relieved she hadn't been impolite to the man she had encountered earlier.

The host's announcement interrupted her thoughts. "Sirs and madams, the auction will now begin. First up, we have…"