Limited-Time Attachment - Chapter 24

An invitation to a cocktail party was delivered to Boshen.

The sender was Shi Qi, the eldest daughter of the Shi family, major players in the jewelry and luxury goods industry. A shrewd and beautiful “money grabber,” she had invited Song Ming to attend the gala at the Ritz Hotel at seven in the evening.

The Shi family and Song Ming were on good terms personally. After reviewing the invitation, Song Ming felt there was no harm in attending.

As night fell over the horizon, the manor style hotel was bathed in the first glow of evening lights. Shimmering glass decorations scattered like starlight from the lobby entrance down to the intricate iron gates. Beneath the creamy white stone pillars, delicate flowers swayed gently in the night breeze.

A deep black Maybach drove into the front courtyard, circled the central sculpture fountain, and came to a slow halt before the hotel entrance.

Before the car had even fully stopped, a valet quickly ran down the steps, ready to open the door for the guest.

The first thing to emerge from the car was a slender leg. The muscle lines of the calf were sharp and clean; her ankle was framed by the edge of thin straps, which, paired with the stiletto heels, exuded a distinct sense of aggression.

The high heel struck the stone ground with a sharp clack. A short-haired woman with a cold expression stepped out. Clutching a handbag in one hand, she rested the other briefly on the roof of the car, ignoring the valet’s reaching hand as she stood steadily by the vehicle.

A slim-fit black slit dress wrapped around her lithe, elegant body. Metal earrings reflected the light spilling from the hotel, swaying rhythmically beside her cheeks. Her brows and the corners of her eyes were equally sharp. Her grayish-green eyes swept over the scene, casting a nonchalant glance at the valet who stood frozen with his hand still extended.

“Oh, thanks.”

Song Ming offered a lazy word of thanks. With an unceremonious lift of her handbag, she signaled to the waiting driver and began walking toward the hotel lobby on her own.

The well-trained driver understood the boss’s intent immediately. He stepped nimbly to the door and handed the tip to the valet on her behalf.

The valet took the money blankly, unable to resist turning his head to watch Song Ming as she strolled away at her leisure.

The woman’s posture was upright, her shoulders square, and the shape of her shoulder blades was strikingly beautiful. Despite the high heels, her stride was languid and relaxed. She held her handbag with total indifference, yet her aura was as piercing as a javelin, making it impossible to look down on her.

The banquet hall was crowded.

Shi Qi stood beside Song Ming, chatting idly while holding a glass of champagne. “I hear you’ve been cleaning up a fashion brand lately?”

“Mm,” Song Ming replied offhandedly.

“That company isn’t very big,” Shi Qi noted.

“Just some junk assets bundled into a deal,” Song Ming said dismissively.

Melodic music rose and fell throughout the hall. Two “second generation” heirs they were acquainted with but not close to appeared in their line of sight. Song Ming gave a cold, distant nod and ignored them.

Shi Qi laughed. “Wasting time on such small matters doesn’t seem like your style.”

Resting her hand on a long table, Song Ming said with a hint of boredom, “I have plenty of time right now.”

Shi Qi shot her a look. “So you chose the task with the lowest rate of return?”

Song Ming remained listless. Before she could answer, the doors to the banquet hall opened. The influx of conversation distracted them both. Song Ming instinctively glanced toward the door, and her gaze suddenly froze.

A red dress, vibrant and fiery. Skin cold and white as snow. Yet neither compared to the breathtaking glimpse of those light brown eyes.

Zhou Jibai’s gaze swept past, meeting Song Ming’s for only a fleeting second before shifting away.

Song Ming was stunned. She vaguely remembered that Zhou Jibai used to prefer cool tones, moon white, silver-gray… colors that wrapped her body simply, yet made one itch to investigate the colors hidden beneath the fabric.

Song Ming closed her eyes briefly and turned back to Shi Qi. “Why is she here?”

Shi Qi blinked. “We’re all in the same circle. It would be stranger if you didn’t run into her, right?”

Song Ming had no rebuttal. She simply frowned in silence.

“Hey,” Shi Qi said, glancing toward Zhou Jibai, who exuded the languid charm of a mature woman, then back at the clearly displeased Song Ming. She reached out to hook her arm through Song Ming’s, her voice teasing.

“Alright, don’t overthink it. If you really don’t want to see your ‘Sister,’ come to the side exhibition hall. I’ll show you some stones my family just got from South Africa.”

As she was pulled along, the word ‘Sister’ seemed to sting Song Ming’s eardrums.

“Get off,” Song Ming said expressionlessly, shaking off Shi Qi’s hand. “Stay away from me, you straight girl.”

“Pink diamonds, yellow diamonds… oh, and this one, a raw stone straight from the mine,” Shi Qi turned back to find Song Ming, intending to have her admire the gems, only to see her biting on an unlit cigarette with a look of total boredom.

Speechless, Shi Qi said, “…I mean, is this really a place where you can smoke?”

Song Ming leaned against a square table covered in a red carpet. A cigarette dangled from her lips as she stared blankly at a single point, not sparing a single glance for the room full of precious jewels.

“I didn’t light it, did I?” Song Ming shot back.

Song Ming’s expression betrayed a faint irritability. Shi Qi didn’t quite understand. She frowned, studying Song Ming for a long while before asking suspiciously, “You aren’t… doing this because of Zhou Jibai, are you?”

At those words, Song Ming’s expression suddenly went blank. Her teeth clenched, accidentally snapping the filter of the cigarette.

“You aren’t doing this because of Zhou Jibai, are you?”

Song Zhiqing had said the exact same thing. It was shortly after Song Ming had resigned from Songyun. Song Zhiqing had rushed over to demand her motive for plotting against her own father. It couldn’t possibly be for Zhou Jibai, could it?

Song Ming narrowed her eyes at the cigarette butt, removed the unlit stick, and hid it in her palm. She forced a flawless smile, her answer the same as it was two years ago.

“No, I’m not.”

Shi Qi breathed a sigh of relief. “I thought so. You didn’t seem that in love back then. I was worried you were going to settle scores with your ex at my party.”

Song Ming closed her eyes, frowning. “I won’t embarrass you. Don’t worry.”

“What are you saying?” Shi Qi felt reassured now that she had a definitive answer. “It’s not about embarrassment. Our collaborations have always been pleasant. If you really wanted to make things hard for Zhou Jibai, all you’d have to do is say the word.”

Song Ming remained expressionless, silently crushing the cigarette in her hand into a mangled ball.

Fortunately, Shi Qi didn’t press further. “Since you have no interest in jewelry, let’s head back to the banquet hall.”

Song Ming’s attitude was indifferent. As they walked out of the exhibition hall, Song Ming tossed the ruined cigarette into a trash can.

The reason Zhou Jibai was often called a “social butterfly” was largely because, ever since her formal debut in social circles in her teens, she was constantly surrounded by men at every banquet.

As time passed, Zhou Jibai had grown from a reserved young girl into a beautiful woman with the depth of a fine vintage. The number of men around her had only increased.

The moment Song Ming and Shi Qi re-entered the hall, they saw a crowd of men fawning over Zhou Jibai. The most egregious one was leaning in close to speak to her, coaxing a smile out of her.

Shi Qi took a glass of champagne from a waiter and looked from afar at Zhou Jibai. Framed by her red dress, she looked like a blooming red rose with a shallow smile. Even though Shi Qi wasn’t particularly fond of her, she couldn’t help but sigh to Song Ming: “Zhou Jibai really is stunning. Look, the moment she’s back, everyone swarms her.”

“Then why don’t you go handle it?”

Song Ming’s face was dark. “It’s your party. Are you just going to watch her get harassed?”

Shi Qi: “…Huh?”

Song Ming suppressed her temper. “I said, go handle it.”

Shi Qi was utterly baffled. She glanced toward Zhou Jibai a few more times before suddenly saying, “Uh, look at that. Does it look like I still need to intervene?”

Song Ming frowned and looked over. She saw a tall, thin girl wearing a bright yellow gauze dress who had appeared near Zhou Jibai at some point and was now talking to her.

The girl looked like a high schooler, someone completely unable to hide her feelings. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Zhou Jibai.

It takes less than a second for one of the same kind to recognize their own.

“…Whose kid is that?” Song Ming stared at the girl, her head tilting slightly as she asked Shi Qi in a deceptively calm voice.

Realization dawned on Shi Qi, and she sensed that things were about to take a turn for the worse. “That is… the eldest granddaughter of the Xu family, a pharmaceutical dynasty that just moved here from C Province in the north.”

Song Ming took a deep breath and let out a calm smile. “Good.”

It couldn’t be better.