The Lady Beside Him

Ning Li stopped.

Her room was in the back part of the corridor, so the ladies must have gathered there to gossip about something.

"You're right! I heard that she was previously in Lincheng, where she always skipped school and involved herself in fights. Now that she's staying with the Ye family, she must have thought that she has changed from rags to riches."

"Her father was a murderer! Have you seen the video that's on the internet? She really looked like she was going to push that person down from the building. It scared the hell out of me!"

"I don't understand why Second High didn't expel her. Aren't they keeping a time bomb by their side? I'm really impressed by how kind Uncle Ye and Lil Ci are."

Suddenly, Ye Ci's soft and gentle voice rang out. "There must be a reason for that incident. Big Sister Ning Li is quite a nice person."

"Lil Ci, are you threatened by her? It's not worth defending such a person. Oh yeah, I didn't see her together with you and your family. Is she not attending the banquet?"

The lady, who was speaking, snorted.

"Ning Li must know that she's a disgrace, so she purposely excused herself from the banquet, didn't she? I heard that when she was in Lincheng back then, she had to work to earn a living. I'm afraid someone like that won't even have a gown for tonight."

The ladies snickered when they heard her words.

However, when Ye Ci heard those words, the smile on her face faded.

Then, what Cheng Xiangxiang told her on their call resurfaced in her mind.

Ye Ci simply smiled at them and provided no explicit answer.

"Big Sister Ning Li has something urgent to attend to last minute, so she didn't come with us, and she––"

Click.

The door behind the ladies was suddenly open.

Ning Li stepped out of the guest room.

The ladies, who were gossiping, were so terrified that they quickly turned their heads to look.

Upon realizing it was Ning Li, contempt and ridicule immediately appeared on their faces.

Almost everyone recognized Ning Li now because of the incident on the internet that had caused an uproar.

One of the ladies lifted her chin and sized up Ning Li.

When she saw Ning Li's bare but stunning face, she got envious. Nonetheless, when she realized that Ning Li was wearing jeans and a pair of white sneakers, she felt better.

"So, you're Ning Li? Didn't anyone ever teach you that it's rude to eavesdrop?"

Ning Li glanced at the lady and her lips curled into a cold smile. 

"Didn't anyone ever teach you that talking behind someone's back is not something to be proud of either?"

That simple sentence almost choked the lady to death.

"You!"

Suddenly, that lady took a look around her surroundings. As if she had thought of something, she raised her voice at Ning Li.

"Who knows what you're doing here!? This is the Chengs' residence. Do you think you can just walk in here?"

Ordinary guests were prohibited from entering the Cheng family's guest rooms on the third floor.

The way they saw it, she must have sneaked in. After all, she did not come in with the Ye family, yet here she was. 

The lady's gaze fell onto the box that was in Ning Li's hand.

"Are you trying to steal something?"

Ning Li's expression turned cold.

"It's best to think before you speak."

If the lady said that Ning Li was trying to steal something in Chengs' residence, did she mean that their security guards were useless?

However, the lady thought Ning Li was embarrassed and frustrated, so she sneered.

"I don't think you can afford to buy that brand even if you worked for 10 years. If you didn't steal it, then you bought it?"

When the lady finished her question, a clear burst of laughter came from behind them.

"Sister Li, there you are!"

The ladies turned their heads to look and saw a thin, tall figure walking toward them.

The man looked princely and playful.

His short grey hair was exceptionally eye-catching, and his brown eyes were gazing at all of them. He exuded an arrogant aura that could not be concealed. 

It was Ji Shu.

Today was a rare occasion to see him in a formal suit, yet he still carried out a wild and playful vibe.

The ladies were stunned when they saw him.

The Ji family was very successful in their business, and since Ji Shu was the only son they had, they spoiled him. That was how it was to be born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

Ji Shu strode toward Ning Li with one hand in his pocket and a playful smile on his face.

"Brother Xiyue said that you're on the third floor, so I came to see you. What happened here? Who the hell made Sister Ning Li unhappy?"

While Ji Shu was speaking, he widened his eyes as he stared at the ladies.

Aside from Ye Ci, the rest of them were in a daze.

Ning Li knew Ji Shu? Moreover, it seemed like she was very close to Young Master Cheng too.

Ning Li then said softly, "Nothing much. They think I've stolen something."

Ji Shu then swept his eyes downward.

It was definitely an expensive brand, but… was she short of money? 

"She must be blind, right?"

Ji Shu sneered.

"How would Brother Xiyue react if he finds out that a guest he brought here was accused of stealing?"

At that, the expressions of the ladies suddenly became interesting.

Ning Li was… brought here by Master Cheng himself?

If such, then they were doomed for doing what they just did. 

Ye Ci took a step forward and uttered, "Big Sister Ning Li, Ji Shu, you've misunderstood us…"

However, Ji Shu interrupted her. "Sister Li, it's almost time."

Ning Li sent a message to Lu Huaiyu.

[Which room are you in? I would like to pass you your tie.]

After a second, he replied to Ning Li's message.

[Maybe later. I've got something urgent to settle now. Why don't you hold on to it first? I'll get it from you later.]

Ning Li locked her phone before she glanced at Ji Shu and said, "Let me get ready."

…

The lobby of the Chengs' residence.

All of Yunzhou's famous and well-known individuals were gathered in the lobby. They were all in their best attire, toasting and enjoying themselves.

The guests clustered together in the lobby. It was lively and boisterous.

Cheng Xiangxiang and Ye Ci stood together, their eyes locked in one particular direction with their heads lifted.

"Look, that's Xu Yini. I heard that she's Second Master Lu's childhood friend."

Coming back to her senses, Ye Ci looked at Xu Yini and frowned.

As a matter of fact, most of the attendees were looking at Xu Yini as well.

Xu Yini looked innocent and beautiful, and she came from a famous family too. She was indeed the focus of the entire banquet.

"Yini, tonight's opening dance is yours."

Cheng Xiyue's father, Cheng Baiqing, said to her with a smile on his face.

Xu Yini withdrew her gaze and smiled back at him faintly.

"I'm afraid not. I'm terrible at dancing."

Cheng Baiqing then laughed out loud. "I know Cheng Xiyue can't get you to dance! It's the brat from the Lu family––"

Xu Yini's face blushed a little.

Cheng Xiyue glanced at his father, speechless.

However, Cheng Baiqing raised his hand and asked his son, "Go get Second Master Lu. See why he's taking so long. A lot of guests are waiting for him––"

Suddenly, the crowd fell silent.

As if the crowd had noticed something, they shifted their gaze in one direction.

A young lady appeared under the bright lights.

The off-the-shoulder tulle gown not only outlined her thin and delicate waist but accentuated her long and fair neck, as well as her bright collarbones.

Her long hair was let down and curly at the ends.

The lady was drop-dead gorgeous.

Beside her stood a rather young man.

The young man looked cold and distant.

Lu Huaiyu raised his brows a little when he realized that everyone's gaze was on Ning Li.

He tilted his head and glanced at Ning Li. Then, he stretched out his hand and chuckled. "Did I forget to tell you that I don't have a female companion today?"