8 Beautiful

Shi Ailin had walked back towards the garden exit, away from Luo Wanting, when she bumped into a broad figure after being momentarily distracted. Luo Tian.

She gritted her teeth.

"Ailin," he said; his tawny eyes narrowed at her.

"Tian," she responded flatly with disdain.

"I…" he began to say. "I didn't expect you to come."

Shi Ailin's eyes widened slightly, but she composed herself and said, "Well, Mr. Luo. Unfortunately, my uncle encouraged me to come."

Luo Tian then smiled—a cruel and devastatingly beautiful smile. He stepped closer with his hands tucked in his pockets. "It's been a long time since I've seen you. You don't want to marry me, do you, Ai?" He teased playfully.

Shi Ailin flushed, clenching her jaw. "No! Believe me. I didn't want to come!"

Luo Tian straightened, his face was impassive. He narrowed his eyes, gazing at her. Shi Ailin lifted her chin high. "I should be on my way," she said prim and proper.

"See you around, Ai," she heard him say.

...

Shi Yen felt like she walked over every inch of the mansion, and she still couldn't find her sister. And yet, she heard someone call her name.

"Yen!"

Crap! She whirled around, trying to smile politely. What was her neighbour doing here? She spent the last month avoiding him. "What are you doing here?" she questioned Bo.

"I'm here for my sister, who is interested in the Luo's. I didn't know that you were interested in the Luo's, too. If you're interested in marriage, I can offer you—"

"No!" Shi Yen said too quickly. "I mean—sorry. I have my sights on someone else."

"Not the Luo's?" he asked.

Shi Yen shook her head.

Bo smiled, taking a step forward. "Then that particular person you like. Is it me?"

Shi Yen felt like slapping her forehead. Why did he make such a bold assumption? Shi Yen shook her head again. "No."

"Are you playing hard to get?" Bo questioned, taking another step closer, nearly backing her up against the wall near the closed kitchen and bathroom.

"No," Shi Yen replied seriously. She was beginning to lose her patience with this persistent man.

…

Yuan Shun exited from the restroom, heading back to the event in support of his good friend, Luo Wanting.

Around the corner, near the kitchens, he stumbled upon that woman from earlier. Only now, a man had her pinned against the wall, which looked very awkward. In her heels, the woman was taller than the man who reached up to kiss her, standing on his toes.

He wondered if that beauty had a lover, and he wasn't surprised that she did. But, then why was she at this banquet? He was going to keep walking when he heard, "Bo, stop!"

Yuan Shun stopped in his tracks, his ears straining. He leaned over slightly from an indoor column.

The man had aggressively and forcefully pinned her against the wall, frustrated that she was taller than him. And when Yuan Shun started walking towards them, he saw the woman twist her assailant's arm.

She then kicked him in the groin, and instead of letting the man fall from his injury, she lifted him up by the collar to punch him in the jaw. Her assailant then fell unconscious. The dark-haired woman brushed her hands together as if she was dusting them off. She loomed over him, checking his state, and determining he was alive, she stood up.

The woman then glanced at her surroundings to look if anyone has seen her, and Yuan Shun knew he should have disappeared, but he couldn't help but stay rooted on his spot. She turned, facing him, locking eyes; her lush painted lips parted slightly.

She then marched over him gracefully, and his heart twisted in ways he didn't know was possible. She narrowed her dark brown eyes at him, asking, "Did you see what happened?"

Yuan Shun found himself speechless. "Yes," he breathed. He couldn't help but stare at her, struck by her beauty and composure.

"Well, I hope you keep this to yourself," she said. "I don't want word spreading that I had knocked a man unconscious."

"Why?" questioned Yuan Shun. "He was the one that assaulted you. If he tried to sue, then you can say it was self-defence."

"It's just…" the woman began to say, finding herself stuck. "I don't want to embarrass him."

Yuan Shun almost didn't believe what he did next, but he laughed.

The woman furrowed her brows. "Why are you laughing?"

Yuan Shun tried to settle down. He couldn't believe her. He stepped closer, observing the flutter of her dark lashes, her plump lips, the way her ink-black hair swept over one shoulder, looking like a waterfall. "I can't imagine why you don't want to embarrass a man that assaulted you."

The woman drew in a sharp breath at their sudden closeness. Yuan Shun was taller, a tower compared to most women. She crossed her arms, but she kept her gaze locked up at him. "Well, if I have to explain it, it's simple. I don't want certain people to know. He assaulted me, and I punched him in the face. I say that's equal."

Yuan Shun still didn't understand. There seemed to be more than she was letting on, something she was not telling him.

"Well, Miss. I won't tell anyone. Enjoy the rest of your evening," he said with a smile.

The woman stared at him impassively, not responding. She didn't seem to be invested in his charms.

Yuan Shun didn't know what else to do other than to start walking away.

"Wait," said the woman.

Yuan Shun turned, facing her. Her expression changed, almost as if she was hiding a flush beneath her cool countenance. "Thank you," she said. "For keeping it to yourself."

She was absolutely beautiful.

Yuan Shun knew he wasn't a good man. He schemed; he hurt people, many people. But he didn't want her to go back to the party if there is a chance that the Luo's wanted her for one of their sons. And Luo Wanting was one of his best friends. But Yuan Shun had an inkling, that Luo Wanting wouldn't mind.

"Would you like to go somewhere?" he asked her.

The dark-haired woman then smiled at him broadly.

But Yuan Shun had no idea that he was dealing with someone more wicked than him.