Chapter 31: Chapter 31
“Stop fidgeting and act natural.” YuZhi hissed at TangShi, lacking patience as he led her into the dark nightclub by the hand, guiding the way and keeping an eye out for their group. He was dressed in faded jeans and a black tee tonight, paired with a black leather biker jacket that made him seem like a different person to TangShi. For the first time she felt unattractive and inferior beside someone who could pull off this look. He was suave, and the casual style made him seem sexier than usual, especially over boots rather than his normal Italian leather shoes.
Rhea had set them up at a table in the centre of the club, for maximum exposure, with various friends from their social circle and guaranteed attention attractors. A few were known public figures while most were famous for being rich kids, or heirs to conglomerate families. Tonight, the aim was for pictures to be leaked of the two of them with their respective dates and seemingly happy about it while hanging out together. That way the fallout over YuZhi getting engaged soon would be minimal and the scandal of marriage averted, leaving them free to proceed and produce an heir in time. This was the start of dropping hints that TangShi and he were dating, and he couldn’t be more unhappy about it. The beginning of having to cuddle up, hold hands, and play lovers whenever they were outside their own home.
“Don’t walk so fast, I’m not used to these shoes.” TangShi tugged at his hand, stumbling behind him, aware of how hot and strong it was when clenching onto hers. To outsiders it looked intimate and sweet as though they needed to touch but to her, it was a vice grip borne of reluctance and he was dragging her in at speed. He didn’t care if his pace was faster than hers, or his hold was making her fingers ache.
“Why did you change your dress from the white one and make us late? You blend in too much. Just about every woman here is wearing black.” He turned and appraised her up and down with a frown. The point was to be seen and she had switched out a somewhat cutesy white lace number for this cocktail dress that was too sultry and sexy. Something Rhea had chosen on a shopping trip for her and not TangShi’s style at all. He preferred the white, as it somehow suited her more than this, brought out her natural beauty but he wasn’t about to admit that was the issue.
“My period came.” She dropped her tone, her cheeks heating with the admittance as she leaned in to whisper it loud enough for him to hear. Her heart sinking at the reminder that she had now failed twice to do what was required. “I didn’t want to be paranoid about leaking.”
YuZhi turned to glance at her, this time with a furrowed scowl and calculated the dates in his head. Second month of going to that clinic and the second time her period had shown up like clockwork two weeks later. He sighed, not overly disappointed about not having to start that whole mess towards fatherhood, but it just meant he had to keep visiting that place and jacking his load into a cup twice a month. It wasn’t pleasant and he hated going there. If his grandfather wasn’t so set on their timeline before he became CEO he would never be trying for a baby.
“Over here! YuZhi!!” Rhea’s voice drifted their way, saving TangShi form a response form him, and YuZhi led her on, increasing the pace until she was almost tripping to keep up again. She gritted her teeth and tried to run behind him.
“Hey, all. I am sure Rhea has filled you in on my bringing a girl tonight…… This is the gang we normally hang with, Miss Lei. Gang … TangShi.” YuZhi pulled TangShi level with him as they came to a huge round table that seemed crammed with glamorous people. Nodding to her as he flicked his chin at the assembled group, all giving her little waves and head nods of welcome. TangShi was glad to have a moment to catch her breath and didn’t struggle to let go of YuZhi’s hand as it was obvious he wasn’t about to. Some of the faces she recognised and some she didn’t, so she smiled warmly, out of her depth when in a place like this and nodded respectfully.
“Well, well, who is this little buttercup and why are we only meeting her now?” A tall man to TangShi’s right stood up, suddenly looming over her, and eyed her from head to foot in an invasive manner before extending a hand towards her. Dressed similarly to YuZhi and around the same age, although he was nowhere near as handsome or exuding the same presence.
“My girlfriend.” YuZhi answered blandly and leaned over to take a beer being handed to him by a familiar looking face perched on a stool. One that winked TangShi’s way, a mischievous knowing look and half hitched smile, and she instantly clicked it was ZhengLi Kim. TangShi gave a curt little smile in return and turned away from Mr Kim, to deal with this new intrusion.
“Nice to meet you. What family are you from, TangShi?” The man pressed on, ignoring YuZhi’s disinterest in a proper introduction, pulling her attention to him fully and moved in as close as he dared. Invading her air so that she instinctively stepped back against YuZhi’s arm and her grip in his hand tightened impulsively. She was never really at ease around strange men, especially ones getting in her space like this.
“The Lei family, as in Lei Enterprises.” She nodded respectfully in a semi bow, aware this was another rich heir to probably a more worthy family than hers and accepted his outstretched hand to shake. She knew better than to be rude. He was quick to envelope it in a clammy large palm and yanked her forward out of YuZhi’s grip, forcing his hand to release her on the other side as she tumbled at least three steps forward.
“Well, hello, TangShi Lei. I don’t think he’s the best date you could pick up tonight. How about you and I get better aquant….” He slurred into her ear, making her skin crawl and her heart hammer in rapid anxiety with the sudden assault. Retracting her body as best she could without being obvious and turning her face away to avoid his alcohol stenched breath. She inwardly yelped as she was tugged back with a new grip on her waist, which sent her tumbling into a hard form behind her and meeting a sudden stop as the hand slid around her abdomen and a flat palm held her tight.