The sisters got home by evening, and since they’d bought so much, driver Old Li helped carry things upstairs.

The moment she walked in, Xiao Taozi clapped and called out to Zhou Sao: “We’re back!”

“Sister bought so much—” she flapped her arms like a little bird, sweeping a big circle for Zhou Sao’s benefit, “You, you get some too, and toys, and today there was a Mr. Meng—”

“Mr. Meng?” Zhou Sao blinked, quietly asking Xiao Taozi, “Which Mr. Meng?”

Wen Tingli had already ducked straight into the inner room — she absolutely could not be late for tonight’s banquet.

She wasn’t on the guest list, so she shouldn’t dress too flashily, but she also didn’t want to look too plain. After much deliberating, she chose a black velvet fitted evening gown, with a pearl necklace at her neck.

The necklace had originally belonged to Gao Xiaowen — the pearls were large, round, and lustrous, but she had several such necklaces, and seeing that Wen Tingli didn’t own many everyday accessories, she’d simply sold it to her at a very low price.

Once ready, Wen Tingli took a car to the Lu residence. Reaching the tree-lined drive in front of the Lu house, she could see from far off row upon row of parked cars, so numerous and grand that people gasped.

She had driver Old Li pull directly up to the steps of the Lu mansion, and someone politely stopped her: “Good evening.”

Wen Tingli smiled and handed over the invitation Meng Qiguang had given her.

The steward looked back and forth between the card and Wen Tingli’s face, asking with a smile: “You’re Miss Wen, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Please, follow me.” He quietly signaled someone beside him.

Steward Xu got word of this very quickly.

“You’re saying Miss Wen came to the party using someone else’s invitation?”

“Yes, we’ve confirmed it several times over — Miss Wen’s name isn’t on the list at all. She’s the first uninvited guest tonight.”

Steward Xu’s expression turned grave: “I’ll report to Young Master Cheng immediately.”

By this time, Wen Tingli had already been led into the banquet hall. Holding her handbag with reserved poise, she looked around — everywhere, splendid flowers and gleaming gilded tableware met her eyes, elegant, gentle music drifted through the air, and there wasn’t the slightest trace of stuffiness.

Clearly, the Lu family knew exactly how to arrange a banquet — the grander the scale, the more effortlessly they handled it.

But no matter how she looked around, she couldn’t spot a single familiar face, let alone find any sign of Principal Zou.

A waiter came by with a tray of drinks — besides champagne and wine, there was also Xili Pear Juice.

No wonder Lu Shicheng hadn’t bothered finding a celebrity to advertise it — making Xili Pear Juice the featured drink of tonight’s banquet was already the best advertisement in itself.

Besides that, the tray also held a hand-copied product brochure introducing several new medicines from “Dasheng Pharmaceutical,” priced more reasonably than foreign pharmaceutical companies — from this booklet alone, one could clearly see Lu Shicheng’s ambition to advance national industry.

Suddenly she heard someone calling to her from upstairs.

“Little Wen.”

Looking up, she saw Principal Zou standing behind the carved railing of the second-floor circular corridor, looking down at her — and beside Principal Zou was none other than Lu Shicheng.

Without a word, Wen Tingli lifted her skirt and hurried upstairs. Just as she reached the landing at the turn of the staircase, she saw Principal Zou coming down alone.

“Where’s Young Master Lu?” Wen Tingli asked, surprised.

“Steward Xu had something urgent to report to him and pulled him away.”

Wen Tingli happily hooked her arm through Principal Zou’s: “Are you thirsty? Let’s go get something to drink in the garden.”

They’d barely taken a few steps when they saw the steward leading A’Xi over, A’Xi carrying a small cloth bag, saying anxiously: “You forgot to take your medicine today.”

Principal Zou slapped her forehead: “I knew I’d forgotten something. I’ve been at the hospital all day with my sick friend, and came straight here from the hospital tonight. Good A’Xi, thank you for remembering me.”

Praised, A’Xi beamed happily at Wen Tingli: “Miss Wen.”

Principal Zou pulled Wen Tingli aside: “Isn’t that film of yours supposed to be confidential? With so many people coming and going here, it wouldn’t do to sign it for you openly here — who knows if it’d leak. Why don’t you wait for me in the back building for a bit — I’ll go find some warm water to take my medicine first.”

“All right.”

Just then, someone called out to Wen Tingli from behind again — it was the Gao siblings.

“Miss Wen.” Gao Tingxin looked her up and down with a smile. “How come you’re here already — is Qiguang not here yet?”

Wen Tingli was baffled.

Gao Tingxin was about to say more when a group of well-dressed young gentlemen pulled him aside.

Wen Tingli asked Gao Xiaowen: “What did your brother mean by that just now?”

“He never says a single serious word — why bother with him. Tsk, isn’t that Ms. Ning, the major shareholder of Guangdong Wanlong Shipyard, over there? Come, let me introduce you.”

She slipped off to the first floor corridor of the back building to wait for Principal Zou — it was always quiet there with few people. She stood outside a floor-to-ceiling window, waiting silently.

Beneath the window, violets seemed to be in bloom, a faint, pleasant fragrance drifting persistently toward her nose.

Wen Tingli thought to herself, how could there be spring flowers in this season? Then she remembered — it was already April.

Out of curiosity, she pushed open the French window and leaned out to look.

Suddenly she heard a voice behind her: “What are you looking for?”

Turning back, she saw Lu Shicheng standing in the corridor, watching her.

Wen Tingli startled, then naturally moved toward him: “When did you get here? I’m waiting for Principal Zou.”

But in that brief moment of eye contact, a strange feeling suddenly swept over her heart.

Ever since he’d returned from Nanyang, his coldness toward her had only ever been in words — unlike now, where his entire being radiated an air that pushed people away, keeping them at a thousand miles’ distance.

Wen Tingli tried to ignore the strange feeling in her heart, stopping where she was and pointing outside: “I’m looking for the flowers.”

Lu Shicheng asked her in a tone as low and cold as pressure dropping before a storm: “Where did you get your invitation?”

“What?”

“As I recall, Miss Wen wasn’t on the Lu family’s guest list for tonight.”

Wen Tingli felt irritated the moment she thought of this: “Can’t I find my own way to come? I had something very important I needed to see Principal Zou about.”

“So, did Principal Zou give you the invitation?”

Wen Tingli sensed something was off: “No, it was another friend.”

“A friend?” Tonight, Lu Shicheng seemed rather aggressive. “Which friend? What kind of friend?”

Wen Tingli didn’t understand.

“Tonight’s invitations were one per person. If that person gave their invitation to you, it means they themselves can’t come. As the host of tonight’s event, I have an obligation to know who this guest is.”

No wonder she hadn’t seen Meng Qiguang all evening. Wen Tingli recalled Li Chengying’s words, silently cursing Meng Qiguang for having played her: “It was… Mr. Meng who gave it to me.”

She added: “Meng Qiguang, that is.”

Lu Shicheng didn’t respond. Wen Tingli suddenly realized her remark had been somewhat redundant — of course Lu Shicheng knew who Meng Qiguang was.

“He probably had something come up and couldn’t make it, so he passed the invitation to me.”

Lu Shicheng listened to this with an expressionless face, then nodded and said: “I see.”

His dark pupils were full of her face, like two tiny silver stars glimmering.

No, wait — he seemed to be angry.

Was he upset she’d come uninvited? Or upset she’d used Meng Qiguang’s invitation?

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Moonlight streamed in through the window, stretching their shadows long, his shadow partially falling into hers, inseparable from one another. She felt a pang of emotion at this, and was just about to speak when a chill suddenly touched her chest — the pearl necklace around her neck had slipped off.

“Oh!” She hurried to bend down and catch it, but Lu Shicheng was right in front of her and caught it with one reach. He straightened up and handed it back to her.

Wen Tingli, still shaken: “Good thing it didn’t break — this necklace was a gift from a friend. Tonight was actually the first time I wore it.”

A friend.

His gaze fell to her neck.

She carefully lifted the necklace, turning toward the glass window to put it back on.

Since she treasured this necklace so much, her movements were extremely careful.

Lu Shicheng’s gaze lingered first on those large, round pearls, then slowly rose to study her, watching without blinking.

Wen Tingli, entirely unaware of his gaze, focused solely on fiddling with her treasure, only to find she couldn’t get it fastened no matter what — she then discovered the clasp was broken. She hurriedly pulled a soft cloth pouch from her bag and carefully put the necklace away. Once done with all this, she let out a small breath of relief.

Turning her head, she only then noticed Lu Shicheng watching her, his gaze still as a frozen pool.

“What business did you have with Principal Zou?”

“It’s like this — our crew wants to borrow Wushi Girls’ Middle School for two days of exterior shooting. The Principal has already agreed.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t agree.”

Wen Tingli was stunned: “Why not?”

Lu Shicheng’s face showed not a trace of a smile: “Wushi is a school with strict academic standards, not suitable for lending to outside organizations. As a board member, I have an obligation to consider the students’ safety.”

With that, he turned to walk away.

“You—” Wen Tingli chased after him, “The students won’t be on campus over the weekend, so it won’t disrupt school order at all, and I guarantee filming won’t damage any campus facilities. We can even sign a written guarantee with the school board.”

Lu Shicheng stopped, looking straight ahead: “Shanghai has so many schools — why does it have to be Wushi specifically?”

“Because—” Wen Tingli pressed her lips together.

Lu Shicheng turned to look directly at her.

“Principal Zou and I are that close, and you… well, we’re friends too, aren’t we? If you won’t agree, I’ll just go find another school!”

Lu Shicheng seemed to be quite sensitive to the word “friend” tonight — hearing this, his expression only darkened further. He nodded and walked on ahead without another word.

Wen Tingli stared dumbfounded as he walked away.

She’d never seen Lu Shicheng be so unreasonable before.

What on earth was wrong with him tonight?

She waited in place a while longer, but Principal Zou never came. She suddenly realized Lu Shicheng must have sent Principal Zou away on purpose.

She went to the front building to find Principal Zou, intending to just say a quick hello before leaving, but she searched high and low without finding her anywhere.

She finally spotted Steward Xu in the crowd and hurried over to ask: “Excuse me, where’s Principal Zou?”

Steward Xu shook his head blankly. Just then, melodious music drifted in from the courtyard — the Russian orchestra had begun their performance, and a large crowd of guests headed toward the garden, leaving the hall half-empty in an instant.

Wen Tingli followed the crowd out a few steps too, then, glancing back without thinking, caught sight of a familiar figure.

This person was moving against the flow of the crowd, heading deeper into the hall.

Principal Zou!

She followed, all the way to the east corridor — ahead lay Lu Shicheng’s study. Wen Tingli slowed her steps involuntarily; the study door was left ajar. She raised her hand to push it open, then, suddenly remembering Li Chengying’s warning, withdrew her hand and resolutely turned to leave.

Just then, a faint gasping sound came from inside the room, the tone strangely familiar.

Wen Tingli’s hair stood on end. Principal Zou!

She warily pulled her gun from her bag, quietly walked back to the door, held her breath, and pushed it open to look inside.

Someone was lying on the floor of the study.

“Principal Zou!” Wen Tingli cried out in shock, turning to shout down the corridor, “Someone come quick!”

Principal Zou appeared to have been attacked — a large lump had swollen on the back of her head.

Just then, a flurry of footsteps sounded in the corridor — Steward Xu and Kuang Zhilin arrived with people in tow.

Wen Tingli hastily put the gun back in her bag, but the moment was still caught by Steward Xu and Kuang Zhilin.

“What happened?”

“I’m not sure either — I came in and found her lying on the study floor like this.”

As she spoke, she moved to go in and crouch down to check on Principal Zou’s injuries, but Kuang Zhilin said: “Miss Wen, please don’t move for now.”

His tone was gentle, carrying a note of reassurance, but Steward Xu’s tone was much colder: “Right. Everything waits until Young Master Cheng arrives.”

As they spoke, Lu Shicheng arrived. Seeing Wen Tingli, he seemed somewhat surprised, looking her up and down before noticing Principal Zou on the floor. He rushed over, crouched to examine the wound, and said urgently: “Looks like she was struck with the butt of a gun. Quick, go to Huiqun Hospital and get Director Wang!”

Wen Tingli tried to move closer too, but Steward Xu blocked her as if guarding against a thief. He then recounted everything that had happened to Lu Shicheng in detail.

Lu Shicheng asked: “When you came in, was it only Miss Wen and Principal Zou here?”

“Yes.” Steward Xu took a list from his coat and handed it to Lu Shicheng. “Tonight there were three uninvited guests in total — Miss Wen is one of them.”

Lu Shicheng didn’t take the list from Steward Xu’s hand, but turned instead to look at Wen Tingli, his expression complicated.

Wen Tingli was taken aback: “You suspect me?”

In a flash, everything became clear to her.

“You suspect I’m a spy sent from outside?! Do you even know what you’re saying?” Her face showed utter disbelief. “Just because I didn’t have an invitation?”

Lu Shicheng asked: “What did you see when you came over here?”

Wen Tingli took this as an interrogation and grew even more incensed: “I already told you — I only came to find Principal Zou. The moment I arrived, I found her lying on the ground. I don’t know anything else.”

Steward Xu forced a smile: “It’s not that we’re suspecting you without basis—”

Wen Tingli gave a series of cold laughs: “Is that so? Then please, do explain your basis. Don’t tell me it’s just this list?”

She pointed sharply at the paper in Steward Xu’s hand.

Steward Xu: “But you have a gun on you!”

“You—”

Suddenly seeing Lu Shicheng walking toward her, Wen Tingli wasn’t sure what he meant to do, but she knew the situation was extremely unfavorable for her right now. Once he reached her, she demanded in a low, furious voice: “Just because I’ve deceived you a few times, does that make me a liar for life? Is my character really so worthless in your eyes?”

Lu Shicheng grabbed her arm without a word and pulled her toward the door.

Wen Tingli struggled: “Going to have me arrested? You actually believe their reasoning? Wait — if we’re talking about uninvited guests, why don’t you look into that A’Xi?!”

Everyone in the room startled, and Lu Shicheng stopped in his tracks.

“Didn’t she come by earlier tonight under the pretense of delivering medicine to Principal Zou? Is she still here now?”

She looked around: “Something’s definitely off about this person. The first time I met her at Principal Zou’s house, she told me she couldn’t read — but last night when I went again, she was somehow able to recite the exact contents of the invitation card at Principal Zou’s house, word for word. Hey, Lu Shicheng! Are you listening? You giant fool! You’d rather believe others than believe me, is that it?”

She abruptly cut herself off, because a group of people had come through the doorway, and the one bound hand and foot among them was none other than A’Xi. A’Xi had a cloth stuffed in her mouth, thrashing wildly.

“Young Master Cheng, we’ve caught her.”

Steward Xu’s mouth fell open, and Wen Tingli’s eyes went wide too.

Lu Shicheng calmly instructed: “Take her down.”

Wen Tingli was struck speechless. Glancing at the “giant fool” beside her, she realized — it wasn’t that he didn’t believe her; rather, deep down, she was the one who didn’t fully believe him. With no way to save face in the moment, she simply covered her forehead with her hand and groaned: “My head’s spinning.”

She closed her eyes, swayed on her feet, and collapsed against the sofa in a faint.

“Miss Wen!”

Wen Tingli lay there limply “fainted” — her natural talent for acting, combined with years of trained technique, unleashed its full power in this moment. Everyone in the room seemed to have taken the bait, but she knew she likely couldn’t fool Lu Shicheng.

She clung firmly to the arm of the sofa, refusing to open her eyes no matter what.

She was determined to ask him directly: why was he being so unreasonable tonight?

If he had the nerve, let him admit outright that he was jealous over Meng Qiguang!

Seeing her faint, Lu Shicheng crouched down before the sofa with practiced ease, on one hand tactfully shielding her from others’ view, and on the other, watching her face closely, waiting for her to “wake up” on her own.

But before long, he too grew unable to stay composed, reaching out to touch her forehead.

“Wen Tingli?”

She showed no response.

Lu Shicheng gently patted her cheek, his movements growing more and more urgent. Steward Xu said worriedly beside him: “My fault for pressing too hard — Miss Wen’s emotions were genuinely running high just now. It’s only natural she couldn’t catch her breath. Director Wang will be here soon anyway — why don’t we move Miss Wen upstairs for now? I’ll have someone clear out the corridor.”

Before long, someone came back to report: “Young Master Cheng, there’s no one outside anymore.”

Lu Shicheng immediately picked Wen Tingli up and carried her out.