Chapter 11 Song Sinian, Are You Avoiding Me?

The man who had killed her together with Xiao Jinglan! Xiao Mo!

She had anticipated encountering him in this life, just not in the present circumstances.

Xiao Mo was Xiao Jinglan's nephew, and it was said that he often visited the Song Mansion to play when he was a child, and thus, the two of them could be considered childhood acquaintances.

That was what she had believed too, until she was killed by Xiao Jinglan and Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo noticed Lu Zhaozhao staring at him and didn't speak. He felt somewhat embarrassed and tugged at the corner of his mouth, "Do we... know each other?"

Lu Zhaozhao snapped back to reality and gently shook her head, "No, I just thought you looked somewhat familiar."

She suppressed the urge to stab the fork in her hand into his face and did her best to even out her tone.

Hearing this, Xiao Mo chuckled softly, "I never imagined I'd be recognized by such a beautiful lady. I'm truly fortunate across three lifetimes."

Ever since he entered the charity banquet, he had noticed Lu Zhaozhao sitting on the lounge bench from afar.

Not only was she beautiful, but her aura was also ethereal; even sitting there enjoying some pastries, the curve of her eyes and brows was enchanting.

He hadn't expected to find such a stunning beauty in a place like Nanjing.

Lu Zhaozhao had no desire to engage with Xiao Mo, so she merely nodded at him and continued to eat her cake on her own.

After surveying Lu Zhaozhao up and down, Xiao Mo finally spoke slowly, "I've just arrived in Nanjing and am not very familiar with this place. Could this beautiful lady perhaps guide me?"

He was in Nanjing all because of Sinian's sudden business trip—which Xiao Jinglan insisted he investigate.

But investigation after investigation turned out to be simple tasks, many of which didn't require Song Sinian's personal involvement at all.

Lu Zhaozhao tugged at the corner of her mouth, revealing a just right curve, "Sorry, I'm not a local either. If you need a tour guide, you should ask the organizers."

The impenetrable way she presented herself only heightened Xiao Mo's interest.

He propped his chin and looked at Lu Zhaozhao, saying with an air of regret, "Since that's the case, how about we get to know each other? My name is Xiao Mo, a department manager of the Qin Group."

"..."

Seeing Xiao Mo's self-satisfied demeanor, Lu Zhaozhao really wanted to tell him directly that she was his boss's wife.

"Miss..."

Just as Xiao Mo was about to speak again, sudden clamor came from the entrance of the charity banquet.

Almost everyone turned to look in that direction.

Naturally, Lu Zhaozhao was no exception.

The person entering was Song Sinian, and almost instantly upon his arrival, he was surrounded by people.

Even if Lu Zhaozhao wanted to go over, she guessed she would be squeezed back.

As she was thinking of how to attract Song Sinian's attention, the entire banquet hall eerily quieted down again.

She looked questioningly towards the previously noisy direction, but her gaze inadvertently met Song Sinian's.

She slowly stood up, intending to walk over, when Song Sinian turned away his gaze and left outright.

"???"

Had she just been ignored by Song Sinian?

Was it that he hadn't recognized her, or was it deliberate?

Xiao Mo seemed to notice Lu Zhaozhao's confusion and chuckled lightly, "If you're interested in that man, I'd advise you to give up—he isn't interested in any woman."

Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Xiao Mo and gave him a smile that was more a grimace than genuine, "I'm only interested in him right now, excuse me."

With that said, she took a glass of red wine from the table and walked away.

Xiao Mo watched Lu Zhaozhao's retreating figure with no hint of anger.

It was normal for Song Sinian, a good-looking man, to be popular with women.

Moreover, he was the president of the Qin Group—who wouldn't be tempted by him?

He liked these ambitious women; they hit a wall with Song Sinian, which actually made them easier prey for him.

He raised the stem glass in his hand, with Lu Zhaozhao's silhouette reflected in the amber-colored liquid, as if he had her in his grasp.

Xiao Mo's lips curled up smugly, tonight didn't seem like it would be boring after all.

Meanwhile, the people beside Song Sinian had also been mostly sent away by Zhao Xi.

Only one or two were left, and they, too, were hovering around Zhao Xi.

From a distance, Lu Zhaozhao watched Song Sinian head toward the balcony and, lifting her head, downed the red wine in her hand in one go.

She headed straight for the balcony.

Zhao Xi was about to step forward to stop her, but as soon as he recognized who it was, he froze.

Why was Lu Zhaozhao here?

No wonder their master had seemed off the moment he walked in; it turned out he had seen his wife.

However, Lu Zhaozhao's arrival was quite strange. It would be better to inquire about it with the butler.

As for now...

He'd better keep watch for their master.

At this moment, Lu Zhaozhao, having entered the balcony, closed the door behind her and stood before Song Sinian.

She had braced herself mentally upon arrival; if she angered Song Sinian later, she would just claim she had drunk too much and couldn't remember a thing.

Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao took a deep breath and walked straight forward a few steps.

Under the moonlight, Song Sinian stood by the balcony edge, his deep eyes hadn't moved away from her since she entered.

He hadn't known she would be attending the charity dinner, and even less had he expected her to dress so beautifully.

Song Sinian, thinking about the man who just now had been sitting close to Lu Zhaozhao and getting along with her quite intimately, felt his gaze darken considerably.

There was a dull feeling in his chest, making his breathing uncomfortable.

He lifted a hand to loosen the tie around his neck; his slender fingers on the dark tie made his skin seem like jade.

"Song Sinian, have you been avoiding me?" Lu Zhaozhao asked, just as a night breeze began to blow.

The tendrils of hair by her cheeks brushed across them, looking stunning in the moonlight.

Song Sinian, looking at Lu Zhaozhao, who was so close, slightly lowered his gaze and reached out to brush her stray hair behind her ear, giving her a despairing answer in a calm voice, "Yes, I've been avoiding you."

Lu Zhaozhao didn't understand: why were his actions towards her so tender, yet his spoken words so painful?

Feeling agitated, her nose couldn't help but turn red.

She wanted to cry.

Thinking about the grievances she'd suffered in her previous life, she couldn't help but want to cry.

But she couldn't cry; she needed to confront Song Sinian and ask why he was avoiding her.

Just as she was about to speak, Song Sinian suddenly reached out to grasp the back of her neck, and his warm lips landed on hers.

Lu Zhaozhao shivered, but the large hand at the small of her back held her even tighter.

He didn't give her any space to retreat; his breath, somewhat disordered, rushed onto her face.

His barely concealed urgency successfully soothed Lu Zhaozhao's flustered heart.

She softly wrapped her arms around the man she had been longing for these past few days, responding to him as tenderly as she could.

"Thump, thump..."

In the quiet balcony, their hearts beat slowly and heavily.

A strange feeling spread from the tip of the heart, gradually seeping into his bloodstream.

Suddenly, Song Sinian's brow furrowed slightly…