Chapter 381: Chapter 381: Kiss of the Night Ga
Shang Lvxing glanced at the jealous man ahead, curled his lips slightly, and entered the banquet hall.
Many young heirs from prominent families quickly ca over to greet him.
Shang Yueling’s gown was borrowed from Zhuang Tian. If it weren’t for Zhuang Tian, she wouldn’t have had the chance to stay on the cruise, let alone witness this scene.
“Lu Xining!” She gritted her teeth as she stared at the woman not far away.
Seeing the resentnt on her face, Zhuang Tian patted her arm and advised, “There are a lot of people here. Don’t let others see and laugh at you. Small impatience spoils big plans. She’s the type who loves acting calm in front of n. If you get angry and lose your temper, you’re falling into her trap.”
“Sister Tian, doesn’t this anger you? Don’t you like Ji Muye? Seeing him tangled up with his ex-wife, aren’t you even a little upset?”
The two won stood near the corner of the banquet table, holding glasses of champagne, their gazes converging on Lu Xining, one icy and the other fiery.
Zhuang Tian sneered, “Does anger help? I couldn’t hold back before and confronted her directly, and the Zhuang Family imdiately received warnings from the Ji Family. Do you think her laboratory is thriving purely on rits? It’s all thanks to the n behind her.”
From the mont Zhuang Tian helped her stay on the Royal Cruise, Shang Yueling had ntally placed her in her alliance.
She liked Ji Muye. She liked Shang Lvxing.
Both n were entangled with Lu Xining. They now shared a common enemy: Lu Xining.
Shang Yueling’s gaze darkened as she spat contemptuously, “Seductive witch!”
“Yueling, you can’t say things like that in front of n. I’ve suffered for doing that before,” Zhuang Tian deliberately lowered her stance, subtly fueling Shang Yueling’s anger toward Lu Xining.
The corners of her lips twitched with brief sarcasm, and when Shang Yueling looked over, she pretended to sigh, “She’s smarter than us. She knows how to project herself as strong and independent in front of n. Look at Ji Muye and Shang Lvxing—don’t they seem completely under her grasp?”
These words only made Shang Yueling even angrier.
“She’s just a worn-out flower who’s given birth to three children, and yet she’s bewitched my brother. He would rather help her than .”
Zhuang Tian knew the Shang Family had been pressuring Shang Yueling into an arranged marriage with another prominent family and that she had tried various ways to sabotage it.
Her lowered gaze concealed her true feelings as she fully embraced the role of a confidante in front of Shang Yueling, step by step stoking her hatred toward Lu Xining.
Not long after, Shang Yueling emptied her champagne glass, failing to notice the fleeting smirk of success at the edge of Zhuang Tian’s lips.
Such love-struck minds were the easiest to manipulate.
On the other side of the banquet.
As soon as Lu Xining and Ji Muye entered the hall, a blond-haired, blue-eyed man approached them enthusiastically.
Holding a glass of wine, he spoke in sowhat broken Mandarin, “Hello, I’m Lott, the host of this Royal Cruise banquet.”
Ji Muye was well-versed in the social dynamics of such events. Without needing Lu Xining to intervene, he engaged Lott in conversation proactively.
Lu Xining slipped her arm from Ji Muye’s elbow. Aside from greeting Lott with a polite smile, she had no reason to say much else afterward.
Her peripheral vision scanned the surroundings. In addition to noticing Zhuang Tian and Shang Yueling long ago, she also spotted Li Mai of Fuxin Pharmaceutical, surrounded by a number of high-society ladies, her smile exuding confidence and poise.
Li Mai noticed her as well, lifting her wine glass slightly as a gesture.
Lu Xining exchanged a few brief words with Ji Muye before he glanced at her and reminded, “Drink less wine.”
She pursed her lips, nodded, and walked away.
She hadn’t yet reached Li Mai when the latter, in ten-centiter heels, strode briskly over and greeted her with a warm hug.
“Ningning, if I had known you’d be here today, I would’ve joined you from the start.”
Lu Xining smiled back, “I only just learned that Aunt Li also ca to the Royal Cruise. Otherwise, I would’ve invited you to stroll around together earlier.”
They were all from the sa social circles.
Collaborations between them were common enough, especially with the added relationship of “Li Mai being Ming Yuan’s godmother,” which made the bond between them warr than most.
“Co, Aunt Li will introduce you to so friends—they’re all from the sa circle. We might find cooperation opportunities in the future.”
It’s said that you could connect with anyone on the planet within six degrees of separation, but in their social circles, connections were of utmost significance.
Many people exert great efforts just to secure a thread of contact.
In the elite world, a simple introduction from one high-society lady might set the stage for major business collaboration.
The n’s conversations were always heavily business-oriented.
The ladies’ topics, on the other hand, were more casual and carefree.
But don’t be deceived by the talk of luxury goods and shopping sprees. Many tis, such casual exchanges lead to significant benefits for their husbands’ businesses or their maiden families.
After all, the influence whispered from the pillow isn’t just idle talk.
Although Ji Muye seed deeply engaged in his conversation with Lott, introducing him to other acquaintances, his eyes discreetly searched for Lu Xining’s whereabouts.
Whenever she moved with Li Mai to et new wealthy ladies, Ji Muye’s gaze followed quietly.
The current banquet was rely an appetizer for the evening.
The real spectacle was yet to unfold.
Suddenly, the bright lights of the banquet dimd, instantly drawing Lu Xining’s focus.
Lott took the microphone and stepped onto the stage, announcing to everyone that the evening ball was officially beginning.
He gave the crowd a mysterious, aningful smile before stepping off the stage.
In an instant, the formal lighting of the banquet transitioned to an exceedingly suggestive ambiance. Scantily dressed n and won ascended the stage, performing sultry dances.
Each movent brimd with imnse allure.
Li Mai nudged Lu Xining’s arm with her elbow and chuckled mischievously, “The real show of the evening has begun.”
Since her divorce from her third husband, Li Mai hadn’t remarried, yet her string of young boyfriends had never been interrupted. According to Ming Yuan’s description of her godmother, Li Mai’s condition for dating was simple—her boyfriend’s age must not surpass her goddaughter’s age limit.
Ming Yuan was now twenty-six.
In the past, all of Lu Xining’s encounters with Li Mai had been in formal settings. It was her first ti seeing Li Mai so relaxed and uninhibited.
She couldn’t help but notice how different choices shaped different lives for every woman.
Lu Xining responded with a faint smile, “Aunt Li, this doesn’t quite seem like your style.”
“Exactly! As age creeps in, your Aunt Li prefers the younger crowd.”
Unafraid to hide her liberated approach to relationships, she embodied how awakening won’s awareness could make indulgence no longer a male prerogative.
anwhile, Zhuang Tian began making her way toward Ji Muye, while Shang Yueling positioned herself beside Shang Lvxing.
Just as Lu Xining and Li Mai were lost in the performances, the lights in the banquet hall suddenly went completely dark!
“Ladies and gentlen, let’s begin your kiss in the dark!”
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