eurekapd Chapter 208 Have we met somewhere before?
Chapter 208 Have we met somewhere before?
"Xiaoyi."
Lu Haotian observed her every move, and unconsciously became nervous. He gripped her hand tightly and called out softly.
Jiang Yi was lost in thought, her mind gradually returning to normal, but another petal fell from the lotus flower in her heart.
"The makeup artist has arrived."
Lu Haotian smiled, his gaze towards Jiang Yi filled with love and possessiveness.
After Jiang Yi was sent away, Abu stretched and deliberately twisted his body, pretending to relax.
“Abu, you should know that she cannot be stimulated right now.”
Lu Haotian's eyes suddenly turned sharp, his gentleness and smile vanished, leaving only a cold expression.
Abu's breath hitched. He stared at Lü Haotian without moving, a hint of doubt in his eyes, before suddenly smiling.
“I didn’t say anything, you don’t need to be so nervous. I just prepared a piece of jewelry for her to match her dress at the banquet.”
“Nothing is more important than her health right now. I know the eldest brother is very anxious, but this matter cannot be rushed.”
Lu Haotian's face was cold and weary, and his deep voice carried a hint of suppressed displeasure.
"Xiao Si and the eldest brother are engaged. As long as she interacts with the outside world, she will hear about it from others. The truth will eventually come out. What are you going to do then?"
"Now, Xiao Si has chosen me; nothing else matters."
Lu Haotian's handsome appearance was masked by a sense of aloofness, and he deliberately emphasized it in a very slow tone.
"You're taking advantage of her vulnerability. If Xiao Yi finds out the truth one day, she'll definitely hate you."
"You'd be satisfied if she remained as crazy as before," Lu Haotian retorted.
“We are not her, and we have no right to make decisions for her.”
Abu glared at Lü Haotian with righteous indignation.
"Abu, between me and the boss, who do you choose?"
With a sudden shift in tone, Lü Haotian's voice softened, and his cold expression vanished.
Abu smirked, displaying a nonchalant attitude.
“We’ve known each other for so many years, and I’ve always felt that you and Boss are my best brothers.”
"Then you should know that the Chi family is in chaos, and it's too dangerous for Xiao Yi to stay by the eldest brother's side."
"I see."
Abu fastened the buttons on his open jacket one by one, took out his sunglasses, smiled naturally, and strode away with a wave of his hand.
Jiang Yi changed into a light blue chiffon dress. The strapless top was adorned with crystals, and the mermaid tail design details highlighted the layers and ethereal feel of the skirt.
Lu Haotian wrapped his arms around Jiang Yi from behind, burying his head in her neck with infatuation.
"You are so beautiful, Yiyi."
Jiang Yi stood there stiffly, the sudden touch making her instinctively try to escape, but she was stubbornly held in Lü Haotian's arms.
Her long, flowing hair wavy out, and the dangling ornament between her eyebrows perfectly accentuated her beautiful face, making her look like a mermaid princess under the moonlight, serene and mysterious.
Lu Haotian changed into a black suit with a matching tie, which made his tall and slender figure look straight and gave him a handsome and dashing appearance.
"Let's go."
Jiang Yi always felt that he was deeply affectionate, elegant and unattainable, and his gentle beauty vanished in an instant.
The event was jointly organized by the Yu and Lü families, primarily to promote the integration of traditional folk arts with modern art.
A banquet was held for prominent figures from all walks of life, and all proceeds from the auction will be donated to those who dedicate themselves to traditional culture.
As dusk settled, the meticulously prepared banquet officially began. The magnificent hall was bathed in soft light from crystal chandeliers.
Celebrities and dignitaries, dressed in elegant attire, moved gracefully among the guests. Champagne flowed, and music and laughter mingled to create a lavish feast.
"Mr. Lü, welcome."
Yu Qingcheng is one of the managers this time. She wore a wine-red evening gown with pleated off-the-shoulder design that revealed her beautiful collarbone. The three-dimensional cut perfectly outlined her figure, making her look like a rose blooming in flames, exuding a powerful aura.
"This is for you."
"mask?"
Lu Haotian stared at the two masks in Yu Qingcheng's hands with a puzzled expression, his brows furrowed in confusion.
"To enhance the entertainment value."
Yu Qingcheng smiled gently, her bright eyes and white teeth exuding charm, leaving no reason for anyone to refuse.
"Quite interesting."
Jiang Yi put on the prepared mask, its edges outlined with silver thread and inlaid with tiny gemstones. It cleverly concealed the upper half of her face, leaving only a glimpse of red lips, adding an indescribable allure.
Lu Haotian fell silent, donned the same mask, and his thin lips, twitching his chin, couldn't conceal his charisma. He gazed at Jiang Yi, then took her hand and led her into the hall.
"Haotian?"
The high heels stopped as they approached. The mask concealed her face, but Lu Haotian recognized her at a glance because of her familiar voice.
"Long time no see, Xiao Si."
Liu Shiya greeted Jiang Yi familiarly and naturally.
Jiang felt a woman with a graceful figure smiling at her. She wore a black dress and had an exquisite makeup and hairstyle. The same mask could not hide her unique charm.
"I heard from your sister-in-law that you were hospitalized. Are you alright?"
Jiang Yi quickly thought back, but she couldn't recall any information about this person. However, since she mentioned her sister-in-law, she must be a friend of her sister-in-law.
"It's nothing serious, they're just making a mountain out of a molehill," Jiang Yi replied politely.
"It's been a long time. You still look so beautiful in this wedding dress."
Jiang Yi only needs to stand under the lights, the diamonds on her dress reflecting the light, making her look like a noble mermaid princess on a shimmering lake, dreamy and mysterious.
"Thank you."
"I wonder if Mr. Lü has time to talk to me?"
Liu Shiya leaned closer, her hands unconsciously pressed against her chest, and whispered in Lü Haotian's ear, her red lips slightly parted as if she were holding him.
"Xiao Yi, I'll sit here obediently, I'll be right there."
Liu Shiya didn't linger and headed straight for another exit, not worried at all about whether Lü Haotian would follow.
"Xiao Yi, are you alone? Where's Hao Tian?"
Abu looked around.
"A beautiful woman just arrived. What important business do they have?"
Jiang Yi spoke calmly, as if this were an ordinary matter to her. Her intuition told her that the two of them were hiding some secret.
"Lu Er is your boyfriend. Aren't you jealous that a beautiful girl called him away?" Abu probed.
Jiang frowned, seemingly lost in thought.
"Let me introduce you, this is my brother—Arui."
Chi Ruiche, tall and imposing, wore a black suit. His eyes, peering through the intricately carved gaps in his mask, shone with a gentle light. His deep and bright eyes captivated her.
“He was sick as a child and his vocal cords were damaged, so he couldn’t speak, but he could read lips.”
Abu briefly explains and narrates an ordinary event.
Jiang Yi pointed at him, gave him a thumbs up, and slowed her speech, "Hello, my name is Jiang Yi."
Chi Ruiche, who was wearing a mask, was stunned and mimicked her gesture.
"Xiao Si, you can actually use sign language?"
Abu was shocked. This couldn't be exposed; if it were discovered, he would be finished.
Jiang Yi's eyes gleamed with pride as she muttered softly, sounding somewhat unsure of herself, "All I do is introduce myself."
"That's good!"
"What did you say?"
Abu slapped his forehead, looking as if he had just realized something. "You two get to know each other first, I'll go talk to Miss Yu."
They slipped away and made a hasty retreat.
Jiang Yi didn't know what to say, and felt that he was bad at speaking, so she felt a surge of inexplicable sympathy. She took a sip of juice, looked down and counted the number of flowers on the tablecloth, trying to cover up the awkward atmosphere.
A note was handed over, with strong, bold handwriting: This is fruit wine, drink less.
"Really? It tastes quite sweet."
Chi Ruiche's lips unconsciously curled up, a little dazed.
Another note reads, "Have you learned sign language?"
"I learned a little bit from whoever I went to the sales home with when I was a child. Please excuse my ignorance."
Jiang kept glancing ahead, trying to ease her anxiety in this way.
"Hello, would you like a hot drink?" The waiter came over with a tray.
"Milk tea? Are banquets this cute now?"
Chi Ruiche seemed to read her mind. He placed a napkin on the table, turned the teacup handle to Jiang Yi's left, and left a note: Be careful, it's hot.
Jiang Yi's heart stirred, and when she met Chi Ruiche's gaze, she was momentarily lost in thought, her eyes seemingly drawn to him and lingering there unconsciously.
"Have we met somewhere before?"
Chi Ruiche's breath hitched slightly, his heart skipped a beat, and his eyes lit up.
"I'm sorry for being so forward. I just have this feeling that you know me quite well."
I feel the same way about you.
As Chi Ruiche's wrist moved, each character seemed to be imbued with life, penetrating the heart. Every stroke was just right, the characters reflecting the man himself.
The exchange of words and language broke the ice between the two. Chi Ruiche's gaze would occasionally linger on Jiang Yi, watching her moving cherry lips; Jiang Yi would focus on the paper, the pen scratching softly.
Abu hid in the corner, secretly taking pictures of the two profiles, his eyebrows raised, his fingers lightly tapping the shutter, humming a little tune, silently announcing.
"When two people have been together for a long time, how can they just forget their feelings?"