Isn't This a Contract Marriage? Why Are You Sneaking Kisses! - Chapter 12

The crystal chandelier refracted a halo of light like fragmented gold. Across the entire top-floor hall of the luxury hotel, soft piano and violin melodies served as background music.

The clinking of crystal glasses and sounds of laughter echoed, while the aromas of sweet cream and fine cuisine drifted through the air.

Fei Qingya stuffed a plate of sliced fruit into her mouth, looking gloomy and not daring to look at Shen Silie beside her.

Master Ming Hua didn’t come.

Aaaaaaaaaagh.

Ten million alpacas stampeded through her heart.

Shen Silie looked at the uncharacteristically defeated Fei Qingya with amusement and comforted her: “It’s alright, I’m having a great time today anyway.”

Fei Qingya looked up, blinking. “Then will you still let me play dress-up with you?”

The corners of Shen Silie’s mouth twitched. The words “don’t push your luck” were practically written across his face.

Fei Qingya turned on the “starry eyes” look.

“I even ordered a deep blue formal suit.”

“Please!!!”

Heaven knows how hard it is to find someone with a good build, a great face, and a personality kind enough to sit still and let her fuss over them. Ever since her eldest sister turned ten, she hadn’t let Qingya touch her wardrobe.

While Fei Qingya was still trying to dazzle him into submission, Shen Silie averted his gaze and scanned the ballroom to save his vision from her pleading stare.

Ming Hua was a mysterious painter who had burst onto the scene four years ago. Her work featured eerie color palettes and a dreamlike style; her debut piece, Seen from My Dream, broke the record for the highest auction price for a rookie artist.

She had never held an offline exhibition, and all her works entered auction houses through commissions. However, it wasn’t just her paintings that made her famous.

It was her background and the family behind her: The Gu Family.

Back then, the Gu family’s youngest daughter, only ten years old, was kidnapped by a competitor. The kidnappers’ car crashed on the highway; one kidnapper vanished without a trace, and with the lagging technology of that era, the trail went cold.

Despite the police investigation, the girl was never found. The outside world, and eventually the Gu family, believed she had been “silenced” by the kidnappers.

The elder Mr. Gu’s health failed, and he was rushed to the ER several times because of it. Over time, the incident faded from public view.

Until four years ago, when the painter named Ming Hua emerged under the Gu family’s protection. Although no one has ever managed to photograph her face, the identical name and the Gu family’s tacit approval practically confirmed that she was the daughter who had gone missing all those years ago.

Since that incident, the Gu family had been extremely protective of their children, only allowing a few grandchildren to make public appearances in the last two years.

As Fei Qingya chattered in his ear, Shen Silie’s mind continued to wander.

“Excuse me, are you Shen Silie?”

A clear, refreshing voice came from behind. Shen Silie turned around and met a pair of moist, fawn-like eyes.

The youth was wearing a proper black suit. His features were handsome but still carried the awkwardness of unrefined youth. His light brown eyes were filled with anticipation, and a silver star brooch was pinned to his chest.

“Hello. May I ask who you are?” Shen Silie didn’t recognize him and only nodded instinctively.

The moment Shen Silie turned around, the youth’s eyes lit up. His face flushed with excitement, but his upbringing allowed him to quickly restrain himself. “My name is Gu Anxi.”

“I’m your fan.” Gu Anxi pointed shyly at the star on his chest.

Following the youth’s finger to the star brooch, Shen Silie froze for a couple of seconds.

Fei Qingya reacted faster than he did, lunging forward. “Are you from the Gu family? Then you must know Master Ming Hua!”

Gu Anxi was startled by her sudden movement and took two steps back. “Y-yes. Ming Hua is my Mommy.”

“Mommy is very grateful for Auntie Yuran’s help. She wanted to come in person to celebrate Auntie Yuran’s birthday, but since it’s spring, Mommy has some old lung issues. After she caught a cold, Mama didn’t dare let Mommy leave the house.”

Gu Anxi’s voice was nervous. While he talked to Fei Qingya, his gaze kept drifting back to Shen Silie.

“So this time, I was sent to celebrate Auntie’s birthday.”

After the introduction, Gu Anxi rubbed his nose and continued to look at Shen Silie. He didn’t speak, just watched him expectantly.

Seeing the trepidation in the boy’s eyes, Shen Silie softened his tone and reached out his hand: “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“And thank you for your support.”

Shen Silie’s eyes curved into a gentle, professional “business” smile.

Gu Anxi took his hand, his face turning beet red. He stammered for a long time before finally blurting out: “Could we… exchange c-contact info?”

Shen Silie didn’t hesitate.

The two exchanged information. Gu Anxi looked delighted and wanted to say more to Shen Silie, but a stir behind them caused the surrounding conversations to halt abruptly, as if a pause button had been pressed.

The group instinctively looked toward the entrance.

A hand-tailored charcoal suit perfectly hugged a pair of broad shoulders. His hair was gathered back, and his red-soled leather shoes made a rhythmic, measured sound against the marble floor, quietly suppressing the clamor of the ballroom.

He looked down to adjust his emerald cufflinks, his cool white skin contrasting with the jewel’s luster. Once finished, Shang Jichen lifted his green eyes, which showed no emotional ripple.

The chatter nearby almost vanished.

Shang Jichen tilted his head to speak with a middle-aged woman in a qipao beside him, his expression smiling yet tinged with a distance that kept people a thousand miles away.

“I’m sorry you had to make a special trip to receive me.”

Beside him, Fei Yuran wore a slim-fitting burgundy qipao. Her hair was up in a sharp style; though nearly fifty, she showed no signs of age, exuding an elegant and natural aura.

“Mr. Shang, you must be joking. Your presence here is an honor; there is no ‘trouble’ to speak of.” Fei Yuran’s voice was pleasant, her attitude neither humble nor arrogant. “Besides, a guest is a guest. As the host, it is only natural to take care of you.”

Fei Yuran’s lips curved into a smile, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes softening her sharp features.

Shang Jichen turned to the younger woman on the other side, Fei Mingzhu, and took a glass of wine from a passing waiter, raising it slightly. “I must also thank your daughter for being willing to part with her treasure.”

“I like that painting very much.”

The young woman, also in a qipao but with shoulder-length hair and a pearl clip, shared a resemblance with Fei Yuran. Hearing his words, Fei Mingzhu simply smiled and nodded, lightly clinking her glass.

“It was meant to be an exhibition piece. It isn’t particularly ‘precious’ in that sense. If it falls into the hands of a collector who truly appreciates it, it’s far more worthwhile than sitting with me.”

At this, the aloofness in Shang Jichen’s eyes dissipated slightly.

Not far away.

Fei Qingya pushed up her glasses and squinted. After some effort, she finally pulled the name from her memory. “Shang Jichen? What’s he doing here?”

Shen Silie had also spotted him.

Hearing Fei Qingya say the name, he was slightly taken aback and asked instinctively, “You know him?”

Fei Qingya looked surprised. “Of course! He’s the head of the Shang family.”

“I might love slacking off, but I can still recognize a big shot like that, okay?”

But… why was he here? Fei Qingya frowned in confusion.

She wasn’t putting her own family down, but she vaguely remembered that this particular member of the Shang family almost never participated in purely social events. Not to mention their families had no business ties; given their current status, there didn’t seem to be a reason for him to seek them out.

Turning to see the odd expression on Shen Silie’s face, Fei Qingya scratched her head. “What’s wrong?”

Thinking back to his “dazed” state at the hospital when he wasn’t wearing glasses and couldn’t recognize people without focusing, Shen Silie pulled back his gaze.

“His driver is the one you’ve been cursing for the last half-month,” he replied flatly.

Fei Qingya’s eyes widened. “Huh?!”

Shen Silie smiled and didn’t elaborate. He went back to chatting with Gu Anxi—who had recovered from his shyness and was now happily talking about movies.

On the other side, the crowd resumed their networking. With Fei Mingzhu and Fei Yuran acting as intermediaries, many people had gathered the courage to step forward and strike up a conversation.

Shang Jichen stood at the center of the crowd, a lukewarm smile on his face, handling the social pleasantries with practiced ease.

“If there’s an opportunity…”

Before he could finish his polite deflection, his gaze swept across the room—and his heart skipped a beat.

His vision cut straight past the shoulders of the crowd, locking onto a distant corner.