The auctioneer announced, “Seven million going once, seven million going twice, seven million going three times. Congratulations to the lady at No. 38 for successfully winning this Romantic Star pink diamond!”
Meng Yan’s expression froze, without the slightest hint of joy.
Once the gavel fell, there was no going back on the transaction.
If Zhao Yunrui didn’t help her pay this sum, how could she possibly afford it?
If her father found out, he would surely tear into her.
And if word got out, she would lose all face.
The final few auction items were paintings by renowned artists, both realistic and abstract. Collectors who understood art spared no expense in bidding for them.
Seeing these works up close gave Meng Shuyao a bit of inspiration.
Of course, having tricked Meng Yan made her feel even better.
After the auction ended, Mark went backstage to handle the delivery procedures.
Pei Yuzhou still hadn’t returned, so Meng Shuyao went out to look for him.
He was on the deck, with an unfamiliar man beside him, probably a friend.
Meng Shuyao didn’t go over to disturb them. She stood off to the side, enjoying the breeze.
Zhao Hesong noticed her first and took the initiative to speak. “Brother Zhou, a beauty’s looking for you.”
His brows lifted. “Aren’t you going to introduce us?”
The girl from the racing club last time seemed to have been her too.
He remembered those pure, innocent eyes very clearly.
Pei Yuzhou narrowed his eyes slightly. “Are you that free?”
“I’m practically worked to death, but that doesn’t stop me from digging up a little gossip.” Zhao Hesong smiled carelessly, then went straight over and asked, “Beauty, what’s your name? Let’s get acquainted.”
“Meng Shuyao,” she answered.
Zhao Hesong introduced himself. “Hello, I’m Zhao Hesong, Brother Zhou’s friend.”
Meng Shuyao found his name somewhat familiar.
The Zhao family…
She remembered. “You’re the eldest son of the Zhao family in Bincheng?”
Zhao Hesong was rather surprised. “You know me?”
Meng Shuyao said, “I’ve heard of you.”
The one who truly held power in the Zhao family was the man before her, but he spent most of the year abroad managing the branch company and rarely returned to China.
“Then it seems we’re quite fated.” Zhao Hesong turned and asked, “Brother Zhou, want to go have a drink together?”
“No time.” Before leaving, Pei Yuzhou reminded Meng Shuyao, “There are rooms upstairs where you can rest. Ask the staff for a room card.”
She nodded lightly. “Okay.”
Zhao Hesong watched the direction Pei Yuzhou had left in and muttered, “Why’d he just leave? Is he really that busy?”
When his figure disappeared around the corner, he turned back to Meng Shuyao. “Miss Meng, what’s your relationship?”
Even Meng Shuyao herself didn’t know what her current relationship with Mr. Pei counted as. “Just friends, I suppose.”
“Friends?” Zhao Hesong curled his lips meaningfully. “Not ordinary friends, right?”
Aside from business partners, Pei Yuzhou never seemed to have any female friends around him, let alone personally bringing someone to an auction.
“Meng Shuyao!”
A sharp voice suddenly cut in, breaking the quiet.
Meng Yan strode over. After confirming she hadn’t mistaken the person, she questioned her with a dark expression, “Why are you here?”
Meng Shuyao hadn’t expected to run into her after all. There was little expression on her face as she calmly asked in return, “Why can’t I be here?”
Meng Yan was already full of anger because of what had happened at the auction, and her expression twisted out of control. “Where did you get an invitation?”
Watching the show, Zhao Hesong couldn’t help adding, “Who’s this? Why does she look so ferocious?”
Meng Shuyao said directly, “Your future sister-in-law.”
Zhao Hesong was slightly surprised. “Her?”
Since when had Zhao Yunrui’s taste become this bad?
Oh, he couldn’t really say that either. Zhao Yunrui himself wasn’t much better. It was already good enough that someone was willing to take him.
“Are you Mr. Zhao?” Meng Yan froze in place. Just now, she had been too busy questioning Meng Shuyao and hadn’t taken a close look at the man beside her.
This face bore some resemblance to Zhao Yunrui’s, but their temperaments were completely different. One was weak-willed and indecisive, while the other had a rebellious sharpness between his brows and an air of shrewdness.
Placed side by side, the difference was obvious at a glance.
How had Meng Shuyao gotten involved with the eldest son of the Zhao family?
“Where’s Zhao Yunrui? Why are you alone?” Zhao Hesong asked casually.
Meng Yan’s earlier arrogance was gone. “I’m looking for him too.”
Zhao Hesong had no intention of getting involved with them. “You two chat. I’ll be going first.”
Once he left, Meng Yan immediately pressed, “Meng Shuyao, how do you know Mr. Zhao? Did he bring you here?”
The more impatient she was, the calmer Meng Shuyao became. “I don’t think I’m obligated to tell you.”
Meng Yan’s face turned ashen, her eyes dark and gloomy as she warned, “Don’t forget, Dad has already arranged a marriage alliance for you. You’d better keep your distance from other men.”
“That’s my business.” Meng Shuyao walked straight past her and into the cabin.
Meng Yan tightly clenched her bag, her long manicure scraping marks across the patent leather.
If Meng Shuyao really got together with the eldest son of the Zhao family, what place would she have in the Zhao family in the future?
She would never allow something like that to happen.
-
Meng Shuyao went to the bar and ordered a signature cocktail, then ate two pieces of dessert.
Meng Zhenhua’s call came at that moment.
She had to admit, Meng Yan was truly quick when it came to tattling.
A rough, deep voice came through the receiver. “Yanyan said you were also at Phillips’ auction. Who did you go with?”
Meng Shuyao pinched the straw and stirred her cocktail. “A friend brought me. I only wanted to come take a look at the paintings in this auction.”
Meng Zhenhua was half-convinced, half-skeptical. “I heard you know Zhao Yunrui’s older brother.”
Meng Shuyao leaned against the high chair. “We’re just ordinary friends.”
“Yanyan is about to marry Zhao Yunrui. Keep some distance from that member of the Zhao family. Don’t give people anything to gossip about.”
Meng Zhenhua had his own considerations. If it weren’t for Meng Yan and Zhao Yunrui’s marriage, he would actually be very much in favor of letting Meng Shuyao get closer to Zhao Hesong. But now that there was already a marriage alliance, there was no need to waste another one. At present, he needed to establish a deeper cooperation with the Xu family, so Meng Shuyao could only marry into the Xu family.
“I know.” Meng Shuyao went along with him.
“If there’s nothing important, stay properly at school. Don’t run around. It’s not safe outside, after all.”
“Mm.”
Whatever Meng Zhenhua said, Meng Shuyao obediently agreed.
After dealing with the call, she put down her phone and ordered another cocktail.
It was a low-alcohol fruit wine, with a very refreshing taste. Jasmine tea and red pomegranate syrup had been added, diluting the flavor of the rum.
She drank alone at the bar. From time to time, men came up to strike up a conversation, but she politely turned them all down.
Luckily, she didn’t run into anyone who refused to leave her alone.
The resident band performed onstage, livening up the atmosphere.
More and more people came in. Meng Shuyao found it stuffy, so she took her phone and left the bar, heading up to the deck for some fresh air.
The cruise ship sailed slowly across the sea, swaying gently from side to side every now and then.
The night was thick, and the sea was dark and gloomy. Only the ship was brightly lit.
She didn’t know whether it was the delayed effect of the alcohol, but her head felt a little dizzy.
For some reason, she dialed Pei Yuzhou’s number.
The “beep, beep” of the ringtone sounded in the air.
About half a minute later, the call connected.
The sound of waves murmured past.
“What’s wrong?”
Through the phone, his voice sounded especially deep and magnetic.
Meng Shuyao crouched on the ground and asked softly, “Mr. Pei, are you done with your work?”