Chapter 21: Lou Jiaye

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“Knowing is knowing. Whoever’s at fault can take responsibility for it.” Ning Chu did not care in the slightest. Even though she had only met An Sheng twice, she already knew that An Sheng was no pushover. Still, as long as An Sheng did not come looking for trouble, Ning Chu had no intention of doing anything to her.

“What’s your sister called? Have you met her? What kind of person is she?” Chen Yixin asked.

Ning Chu said, “I’ve met her twice. She’s just like that—two eyes and one mouth. You’ll probably run into her someday.”

An Sheng would eventually enter this circle, and everyone would meet her. Those who liked An Sheng would adore her, while those who disliked her would loathe her. Ning Chu belonged firmly to the latter group.

The first time they met, Ning Chu had not felt anything in particular toward An Sheng. In fact, a minor character like An Sheng had not even been worthy of entering her gaze. But after encountering her again yesterday, Ning Chu had decided that a cannon-fodder character and the heroine truly could never coexist peacefully. They were simply incompatible, so she had resolved to dislike An Sheng.

Chen Yixin said, “Now that you mention it, I really do want to meet her. Does she look like you?” Ning Chu was so beautiful that Chen Yixin figured An Sheng, though an illegitimate daughter, could not be too far behind.

Ning Chu replied, “No. She probably resembles her mother. Let’s not talk about her anymore. There’s nothing worth saying.”

Chen Yixin shrugged. “All right. I was only thinking that if I learned more about the enemy, I might be able to help you.”

Ning Chu smiled. “She isn’t qualified to be my enemy yet.”

“True. Since I’ve just returned to the country, and you’re no longer listening to your mother, why don’t you come out and have some fun with me over the next few days? I’ll show you something exciting.”

“What sort of exciting things?”

“I’ll take that as a yes. Wait here while I have someone reserve a private room. I’ll come pick you up tonight!”

“All right.”

“I’ll let you experience the life of a rebellious girl. You’ve probably never tried it before.”

“I’m not a girl anymore.” She was already a married woman.

“With that face, you still look like a girl.”

That evening, Chen Yixin brought Ning Chu to a private room at a bar, along with several of her close girlfriends.

“Let me introduce you. This is my good friend, Ning Chu.”

Chen Yixin’s friends were naturally part of the same social circle, and they all knew Ning Chu. They simply had not expected the legendary woman herself to appear here.

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Ning Chu smiled at everyone. “Hello.”

When she smiled, it was as if a beam of light had entered the private room. Everyone held their breath. At last, they understood why people in their circle called Ning Chu the foremost socialite. With a face like that, they felt the title had clearly been made for her.

“Hello, my name is Zhou Xiangyao.” A young woman came over to greet Ning Chu, her cheeks flushed as she stared at Ning Chu’s face.

“Hello. I know your mother. She often praises herself for having such a wonderful daughter.” Ning Chu shook her hand. After getting married, Zhou Xiangyao would no longer attend gatherings for young people like these. She would only go to gatherings held by married ladies.

By then, Ning Chu’s status would place her among women twice her age, chatting with them as equals. It was rare for younger married women to occupy the same level as her. Ruan Shiman, at thirty, was already considered one of the younger ones.

Zhou Xiangyao: …What was going on? She felt as though she had just met an elder, even though Ning Chu was about the same age as she was.

“Hello, my name is Guo Youling. Guo Paper is my family’s company.”

Ning Chu said, “How has Madam Guo been lately?”

The smile on Guo Youling’s face stiffened, and a trace of guilt appeared in her eyes. “She’s well. Very well.”

She did not dare say that her mother had recently been delighted by Ning Chu’s divorce, and had even mocked her over it.

But looking at the beauty before her, Guo Youling suddenly felt that her mother was utterly awful. How could she speak of such a beautiful woman that way? She smelled lovely and sweet. Guo Youling wanted nothing more than to cling to her.

The others then came over to greet Ning Chu as well, and Ning Chu invariably asked after their parents.

Chen Yixin burst out laughing. “All right, Ning Chu. Why do you look as though you’re one of our elders?”

Ning Chu took a sip of her drink. “Aren’t I one of your elders now?”

Chen Yixin waved dismissively. “What kind of elder are you? You’re our age. You simply got married earlier than we did. Now that you’re divorced, this is perfect. There are plenty of handsome men in this bar. If you take a fancy to anyone later, you can take him out with you.”

Chen Yixin pressed the service button. “Where is everyone? Come in.”

“Yes, Miss Chen.”

Before long, a line of handsome men stood in formation inside the private room. Chen Yixin pointed at them.

“Ning Chu, pick whichever one you like.”

The men immediately turned their gazes toward the woman in the center. The moment they saw her face, their breathing slowed, and their hearts cried out involuntarily:

Pick me! Pick me! Pick me!

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Ning Chu looked at the men in front of her, all of them dressed up yet lacking in distinction, and shook her head.

“They aren’t handsome enough. You choose.”

Chen Yixin’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding, right? These men aren’t handsome enough? How handsome do you want them to be?”

Ning Chu blinked. “Someone like Tantai Chao, I suppose.” His skills in bed might be lacking, but his face was genuinely exceptional.

The corner of Chen Yixin’s mouth twitched. “This bar doesn’t have anyone who looks like your ex-husband. For that matter, it would be difficult to find anyone in the world who looks like him. Since you don’t want to choose, I will. You there—come over and have a drink with me.”

“Yes, Miss Chen.”

After that, everyone else chose one man as well. Ning Chu did not select anyone. She simply sat to the side, drinking her beverage while watching Chen Yixin and her friends sing, dance, and drink. From time to time, the men would show off their talents too, and the atmosphere in the private room grew exceedingly lively.

At first, Ning Chu found it novel. Later, she found it merely noisy.

“I’m going outside for a while.” After saying this to Chen Yixin, Ning Chu left.

She only meant to get some fresh air. She had not expected to run into someone she knew—Lou Jiaye.

“What are you doing here?” Lou Jiaye was completely stunned when he saw Ning Chu.

Ning Chu studied him for a moment before recognizing him. The lighting here was rather dim.

“Hello.” Her tone was distinctly distant. Lou Jiaye was a friend of Tantai Chao’s, and she had only met him a few times.

Hearing the reserve in her voice, Lou Jiaye swallowed whatever he had originally intended to say. In the end, he merely reminded her, “This place can be dangerous. It isn’t ideal to be here alone.”

“Thank you for your concern.” Ning Chu nodded at him, then walked away.

Lou Jiaye remained where he was, watching her. Once she had gone some distance, he immediately followed. He saw her stop on the balcony, apparently taking a rest, and stood to one side, continuing to watch her.

At one point, Lou Jiaye even considered calling Tantai Chao. Then he remembered that Tantai Chao and Ning Chu had already divorced. Since they were divorced, they no longer had any connection. And if they had no connection, then if he tried to pursue her…

That should not be a problem, right?

Lou Jiaye had first seen Ning Chu at Tantai Chao’s wedding. Before that, he had not even known her name. He had originally been studying abroad and had spent much of his time overseas afterward, only returning when Tantai Chao got married.

When he saw Ning Chu, he, like countless other men, had been stunned by her beauty. He had even envied Tantai Chao. But a friend’s wife was off-limits, so all he could do was offer his blessings in silence.

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