Xia Liuyue was completely unaware of the conversation between Yan Hechuan and Du Jiashu.
But even if she had known, she would only have treated it as a piece of amusing gossip.
Seeing Meng Xiang wandering over with a wine glass, she reached out and pulled him behind the thick curtains in a corner of the banquet hall.
Caught off guard and pulled in, Meng Xiang stumbled a few steps. A flicker of anger was just misting in his peach-blossom eyes when his gaze landed on that familiar face.
His expression instantly transformed into a smile, even tinged with disbelief.
"Senior Sister, what are you doing here?"
"Call me 'sister'," Xia Liuyue propped her chin on her hand, arching her sharp eyebrows.
Meng Xiang offered almost no resistance, complying obediently. "Sister."
Xia Liuyue stared at his face, scrutinizing him up and down as if trying to bore a hole through it with her gaze.
He covered his face, feeling extremely awkward. "What's wrong?"
Xia Liuyue praised, "You have very beautiful eyes."
The corners of Meng Xiang's lips lifted slightly, just beginning to bask in the pleasant surprise of the compliment, when the next jaw-dropping sentence followed.
"They look a lot like Elder Zhao's." Her tone wasn't one of suspicion, but of certainty.
The casual expression on Meng Xiang's face gradually froze. He crossed his arms, a defensive posture.
"Sister, what do you mean by that?"
Xia Liuyue raised her hand and lightly patted his shoulder.
"Relax. You're not my prisoner, and I'm not interrogating you."
"Our cooperation has been quite pleasant lately. If you need help, you can come to me anytime."
Meng Xiang, who a moment ago had been like a bristling cat with its fur standing on end, gradually calmed down again.
His eyes flickered with ripples.
Lowering his voice,
he took a step forward, pressing Xia Liuyue against the wall.
"You know everything."
Meng Xiang was a conman.
Of course Xia Liuyue had investigated him from the start. Orphaned since childhood, raised in a social welfare institution, but he had entered a juvenile detention center very early.
He hadn't received much formal education, but his mind was sharp, his nature unruly and arrogant, holding the position of strategist in his gang.
His greed for money stemmed from the hunger he suffered as a child.
His latest identity was Tang Yinyao's sophomore junior at the capital university, the brilliant academic talent—Meng Xiang.
The thick velvet curtains formed a thick barrier outside, creating a small, secluded space within.
The expression on his face was no longer that of a simple, clear-eyed college boy. A hint of darkness had entered his originally bright peach-blossom eyes as he turned the tables.
He pressed his hands against Xia Liuyue's arms, pinning her against the wall.
A fierce, wolf-like gleam appeared in his eyes, staring unblinkingly at her. His gaze traveled from top to bottom—a look of predation and plunder.
Xia Liuyue wasn't flustered in the slightest.
She even curled the corner of her lips and said,
"I am Du Jiashu's wife, Yan Hechuan's girlfriend. I think you'd better let me go first."
Meng Xiang leaned in closer, his eyes darkening another shade.
"What if I say no?"
Xia Liuyue's red lips curved into a smile. Watching his approaching head, she pressed her slender fingertip against his lips and gave a soft "shh."
Speaking unhurriedly, she said,
"Didn't they teach you in Conman 101 not to develop feelings for beautiful women?"
"I haven't developed feelings," Meng Xiang retorted, the corner of his mouth twitching, and he began to pull back.
He had only meant to scare Xia Liuyue a little, afraid she would disrupt his plans.
But as he retreated, Xia Liuyue actually took half a step forward, rising on her toes.
The distance between their noses was less than half a fist.
They could feel each other's even breaths.
Those beautiful almond-shaped eyes met his deep peach-blossom eyes directly—no fear, only appreciation, and a hint of provocation.
"Someone once said that eye contact is a kiss without desire between adults."
"And you... very much want to kiss me."
Her tone was light and casual.
Yet it was like the most precise arrow piercing straight through Meng Xiang's heart.
His heartbeat began to skip irregularly.
Admit it.
You want to kiss him too.
Meng Xiang closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, his dark peach-blossom eyes were filled with possessiveness and concern.
"Yes, I care."
He leaned his head forward slightly, just a moment away from touching those pale cherry lips before him.
As if she had anticipated it all along, Xia Liuyue chuckled and dodged away.
Her tone was lazy, carrying a faint nonchalance.
"You lose."
"Tell me your real name."
Meng Xiang barely considered it, not even thinking about how telling her might ruin the plan he had meticulously crafted for years.
"Zhao Yunzhou."
"Remember, my name is Zhao Yunzhou."
...
The banquet ended hastily.
In chaos.
Because Old Master Zhao, the host of the banquet, had suffered a sudden heart attack and was rushed to the hospital.
Amid the chaos, Yan Hechuan and Assistant Chen searched for a long time but couldn't find Meng Xiang.
Assistant Chen said, "President Yan, should I call him? Maybe Young Meng is waiting in the parking lot."
Yan Hechuan gave a noncommittal "Hmm."
After all, Meng Xiang was his fiancée's junior and had been taking care of him these past few days. Nothing could happen to him.
Assistant Chen made several calls, but none went through.
He finally decided to head to the parking lot to wait, as the crowd was too dense now, and he feared a stampede.
Moreover, his boss was blind and couldn't see; safety was the top priority.
They had only walked a few steps forward when Assistant Chen spotted a familiar figure. However, thinking he might be mistaken, he rubbed his eyes. After confirming, he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise,
"How is it them?"
Hearing the surprise in his tone, Yan Hechuan asked, "What is it?"
Assistant Chen stammered, "I think that figure seen from behind looks like Young Meng. But when did he get to know Young Mrs. Du?" He paused, then added, "They're standing very close together."
"Take me over there," Yan Hechuan blurted out without thinking.
That strange sense of familiarity that Du Jiashu's wife had given him earlier.
It made him feel deeply unsettled.
As if some things were slipping beyond his control.
"Alright," Assistant Chen said, supporting his boss and walking quickly forward. But before they could get far, his phone rang with a return call.
He looked at it—it was from Meng Xiang.
Assistant Chen asked if he should answer.
Yan Hechuan: "Answer."
Assistant Chen took the call, responding with "uh-huhs" and nods.
"It's Student Meng. He says he ran into a sister he knew from before and has some private matters to handle. He'll return to the villa later to take care of you."
"It seems he and Young Mrs. Du are old acquaintances."
Yan Hechuan tightened his grip on his white cane. "Is Du Jiashu's wife still there?"
Assistant Chen squinted into the distance.
"She just got into a car and left with Student Meng."
Yan Hechuan's thoughts were in turmoil, but he grasped one key point.
He had heard that his fiancée, Tang Yinyao, did not get along with Du Jiashu's wife. So then...
Why would Tang Yinyao's junior, Meng Xiang, be an old acquaintance of Young Mrs. Du?
From any angle, it seemed impossible.
Yan Hechuan pressed his lips into a tight line and ordered,
"Investigate Du Jiashu's wife. I want all her detailed information!"
