Can't Hide My Love for You - Chapter 35

Chi Yi shared only a brief glance with Lu Qing before walking straight into the gala venue.

The entire hall was resplendent, decorated in gold and brilliance. Each table was arranged for a fixed number of guests, adorned with beautiful floral arrangements and nameplates for the VVVVIPs to find their seats easily. Dedicated staff stood at the entrance to lead guests to their places.

At least two celebrities were assigned to accompany guests at each table. Whether by design or coincidence, one of the actors at Chi Yi’s table was Cheng Yixin.

As Chi Yi glanced at the nameplate at Cheng Yixin’s seat, she happened to see an elegantly dressed noblewoman enter the venue, followed by the Marketing Director of a well-known brand. The lady shared a few smiling words with the director before a staff member stepped forward to lead her to the table adjacent to Chi Yi’s.

“Yiyi?” Luo Jing looked surprised to see her. “If you were coming, you should have told me. We could have come together.”

The staff member, quick-witted and seeing she had encountered an acquaintance, immediately said, “Well, Madam Luo, I won’t disturb you two then. Please call if you need anything.”

“Auntie,” Chi Yi walked over to greet Luo Jing with a smile. “I only heard from Uncle that you were coming while I was on my way. I was just about to call and ask if you had arrived.”

“Which table are you at?”

Upon learning they weren’t at the same table, Luo Jing frowned with a look of slight displeasure. “I’ll tell David to arrange it.”

David was the Regional Director for Grace, but in Luo Jing’s mouth, he sounded as accessible as a waiter.

“No need,” Chi Yi declined with a smile. She glanced at the guest list on Luo Jing’s table. Compared to her, a lady like Luo Jing was a key client for Grace. The actors accompanying her table included the brand spokesperson and Grace’s top executives.

“If I stay here, I’ll be interrupting your gossip session with your friends. Besides, our tables are close. If there’s anything you like, Auntie, I’ll buy it for you.”

“Our Yiyi is always the thoughtful one—unlike your uncle, who never even asks,” Luo Jing said. Seeing her acquaintances arrive, she dismissed Chi Yi playfully. “Alright, you young people go and expand your social circles. My ‘girlfriends’ are here!”

While Chi Yi was looking down, messaging Cheng Yixin, someone approached to greet her. She looked up to see an unfamiliar face.

“Hello, Director Chi. I am the manager for [Artist Name]; here is my business card.” The manager wore a fawning smile, handing over the card with both hands. “I hope we have the chance to cooperate.”

Chi Yi accepted the card, and the manager hurried off to distribute more to others.

At that moment, Cheng Yixin sent a photo. In the picture, she wore a light-colored cocktail dress. The highlight of the outfit was a white gold pendant with a green diamond, hanging from a pearl necklace.

[Chi Yi]: The necklace on your neck looks good. How much is it?

[Cheng Yixin]: 200,000.

Chi Yi looked closely. Indeed, when someone is beautiful, even a pearl necklace doesn’t look tacky. This seemed like something her aunt would like.

[Chi Yi]: Can I buy it?

Cheng Yixin replied with a “No” in seconds. Thinking Chi Yi just wanted to support her sales quota, she replied directly.

[Cheng Yixin]: This style doesn’t suit you. Pick something you actually like.

As Chi Yi was thinking of a reply, David, the gala organizer, came over to greet her.

“Director Chi,” David raised his glass, leaning in slightly due to the noise. “It is an honor to have you at our new product launch.”

To a heavyweight client, a Regional Director—who appeared glamorous to outsiders—was merely a high-end salesperson.

“Are you satisfied with your seating? We originally intended to seat you with Madam Luo, but considering you and our new friend Yixin are acquaintances, we placed you at the same table. If you are unsatisfied, we can move you.”

“No need to change,” Chi Yi nodded slightly. “This is perfect.”

Ten minutes later, the lights dimmed, signaling the start of the banquet. Following a performance by the orchestra and dance troupe, the brand spokespersons showcased the new jewelry in a runway-style show.

Earning tens of millions in endorsement fees, the celebrities kept their expressions flawless. Meanwhile, the socialites below treated it like a high-end market, mentally picking out pieces as if they were groceries.

Chi Yi selected a jewelry set showcased by a series spokesperson for her aunt. However, she still wanted a personal gift for Luo Jing. Her first choice was the pearl necklace Cheng Yixin was wearing; the backup was a brooch.

After the launch, the social hour began. Celebrities returned to their seats, though many were stopped for photos along the way. When Cheng Yixin finally found a moment of peace, Chi Yi approached.

“Yixin, can we take a photo together?”

Today, Chi Yi wore a slim-fit, casual dark-striped suit. Among the ladies who came with their husbands, she stood out with the aura of a capable, sharp businesswoman.

Once they were positioned, a PR representative immediately began snapping photos from every angle. After the photos, Chi Yi’s eyes landed on the necklace. Up close, the pendant sparkled, though the quality of the green diamond was slightly secondary.

“That necklace… I want to order one.”

Cheng Yixin immediately looked around. Seeing no one watching, she whispered, “Don’t buy it.”

Since she didn’t want to “smash the rice bowl” of her brand sponsors, she whispered so only they could hear: “Don’t worry about supporting me. It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t sell.”

Having climbed up from humble beginnings, Cheng Yixin would never spend hundreds of thousands on high jewelry herself, and she certainly didn’t want Chi Yi to buy an unsuitable piece just to boost her stats. Besides, she didn’t even get a commission.

Just then, someone else approached for a photo.

“Then… you stay busy. I’ll keep looking,” Chi Yi said.

Seeing her alone, a PR staff member asked, “Director Chi, is there a celebrity you’d like a photo with? I can arrange it.”

Thinking of the jewelry set she picked for her aunt, Chi Yi glanced at the spokesperson, Huang Xinxi, who was surrounded by young women.

“Huang Xinxi,” she replied. “But she seems busy.”

“Huang Xinxi? One moment, I will go and coordinate,” the PR person smiled.

Cheng Yixin’s face was nearly frozen from smiling. When she finally got a break, she looked for Chi Yi—only to find her taking a photo with another actress.

Huang Xinxi was the face of Grace, a refined lady in her 30s with high emotional intelligence. Cheng Yixin had admired her since childhood. Watching them, she saw that not only were they taking photos, but they were actually laughing and… exchanging WeChat contacts?

“Yixin, long time no see.”

A familiar voice interrupted her thoughts. She turned to see Lu Qing. Her brow furrowed instinctively, but she maintained a polite smile for the cameras.

“Let’s take a photo,” Lu Qing said, waving a photographer over. In this setting, celebrities couldn’t refuse a VIP’s request.

After the “work” of the photo was done, Cheng Yixin tried to leave, but Lu Qing stopped her, pretending to be interested in the pearl necklace. Cheng Yixin gave the professional pitch the brand had prepared.

Once finished, Lu Qing changed the subject entirely. “I saw on Weibo that you and Chi Yi interact frequently. You even have a ‘CP’ (Couple) super-topic now.”

“That has nothing to do with you, Director Lu,” Yixin smiled.

“True,” Lu Qing shrugged. “This necklace is only 200,000. Why is Chi Yi willing to buy a three-million-yuan set from someone else but won’t buy the one you’re wearing?”

Lu Qing gestured toward Chi Yi, who was now being given one-on-one service by the Marketing Director. “See? Chi Yi isn’t as devoted to you as I am. At least I’m willing to pay for your necklace.”

Despite the sting, Yixin wouldn’t give Lu Qing the satisfaction. She widened her smile. “Doesn’t that just prove Director Chi’s immense wealth? She buys millions in jewelry without blinking. What about you, Director Lu? You aren’t just paying with your mouth, are you?”

“Don’t provoke me. I’ll buy the necklace on your neck. I know you artists have sales targets. I’m here to support your work,” Lu Qing sneered. “I’m not like some people who run off to support other women.”

“Then stop talking.” Cheng Yixin called a staff member over immediately, giving Lu Qing no chance to back out.

Lu Qing, forced to show off her “financial power,” signed the order with a flourish. By the time she turned back, Cheng Yixin had vanished.

Near the end of the night, Cheng Yixin was introduced to a lady the brand staff called “Madam Luo.”

“You look familiar,” Madam Luo said, smiling.

Cheng Yixin, seeing how the younger male idols were charming her by calling her “Sister,” decided to follow suit. After all, the woman looked barely thirty.

“Sister, let me show you the details of this brooch…”

“Auntie!” Chi Yi’s voice cut in.

Cheng Yixin froze. Auntie? If this was Chi Yi’s aunt and she had been calling her “Sister,” the family hierarchy was now a disaster.

“Yiyi, you’re just in time. Does this brooch look good?” Luo Jing asked.

“It’s beautiful,” Chi Yi agreed.

“Si—I mean, let me take it off so it’s easier to see,” Cheng Yixin stammered, fumbling with the pin.

“Don’t move, I’ll help,” Chi Yi said, stepping close to unpin it.

Luo Jing watched them, her eyes twinkling. “I knew you looked familiar. You’re one of the girls from the magazines in the old man’s study.”

“Auntie,” Chi Yi introduced her formally. “We are good friends.”

“Oh—I see,” Luo Jing teased. “A very interesting girl. But if you’re friends with my Yiyi, calling me ‘Sister’ messes up the generations.”

“Um… Madam Luo…”

Chi Yi lightly tapped Yixin’s head. “Call her Auntie.”

Luo Jing smiled and decided to buy the brooch as a “meeting gift” for Yixin. It took a lot of convincing from Chi Yi—claiming she had already ordered a similar one for her aunt—to stop the wealthy woman from spending 800,000 yuan on a whim.

By midnight, they were back at their apartment complex. Cheng Yixin was in a foul mood, annoyed that Chi Yi had bought jewelry from a different actress instead of her.

When the doorbell rang, Yixin didn’t want to open it. “I’m changing my code tomorrow,” she muttered as Chi Yi entered anyway.

Chi Yi walked in carrying a tray of freshly baked matcha cookies.

“I bought that set because my uncle asked me to pick an anniversary gift for my aunt,” Chi Yi explained, kneeling slightly to meet Yixin’s eyes. “And the brooch was also for her. I didn’t buy the pearls because you told me not to, and then Lu Qing swooped in.”

“I didn’t ask her to buy it,” Yixin grumbled. “And she told me your kind only cares about social status—’matching doors and windows’.”

Chi Yi glanced out the window at their identical villas. “Our houses are perfectly symmetrical. If that’s not ‘matching doors,’ I don’t know what is.”

Yixin was speechless. The tension melted as they ate cookies.

“My mom and dad are coming to Jingning tomorrow for a wedding,” Yixin realized after a phone call. “But I have to go out of town for work! Who’s going to pick them up from the airport?”