Chapter 31 - 1#
After the charity auction banquet ended, Ji Tianheng had an outdoor dinner prepared on the west deck of the fifth floor.
The band on the deck was playing charming jazz music live. By now, some of the more relaxed guests had already gathered in small groups at the center, dancing ballroom.
Jing Shun knew it was inconvenient for him to be in a wheelchair, and he didn’t want to draw attention, so he deliberately found a corner spot.
The sun had just set. During the blue hour, the sea surface presented a rich, deep hue, and the boundary between sea and sky blurred into a pinkish-blue haze.
Jing Shun gazed at the distant scenery and let out a sigh. “So beautiful.”
Having lived in the city for so long, suddenly seeing such a vast, boundless view made even the shackles deep in his heart feel lighter.
A waiter poured wine that had been decanted early. “Gentlemen, tonight we offer a buffet-style dinner, but you can also order separately. Please take a look.”
Given the capital of the host family, the Ji family, even a buffet-style dinner would feature nothing less than top-quality dishes.
But despite being called a dinner, very few people actually came for the food.
Jing Shun was an exception. He glanced at the buffet table diagonally across from him. “I’d like some seafood.”
Chi Gui naturally picked up the conversation. “You stay seated. I’ll go take a look.”
Hearing this, Jing Shun’s gaze shifted to behind Chi Gui, and he noticed that some guests were already casting observing glances their way. “You’ll go? Will you even be able to come back?”
Many guests were just waiting for the right moment to strike up a conversation with Chi Gui, the young head of the family.
“…”
Chi Gui was well aware of the real intentions behind everyone attending this dinner, but he didn’t care.
Whether it was him or the Chi family behind him, there was no need to actively seek out all connections. On the contrary, other guests might be trying to use this chance to curry favor with him.
“Nothing is more important than filling your stomach.” Chi Gui stood up and glanced at the drink in front of Jing Shun. “I’ll see if there’s anything else to drink. You shouldn’t have alcohol.”
His body was still being regulated, so alcohol was off the table.
Jing Shun sensed the concern hidden in Chi Gui’s casual tone and curled the corner of his lips. “Mm.”
Jing Shun watched Chi Gui walk away before turning his gaze back. He looked at the excessively deep colors on the sea surface and, with interest, took out his phone to take pictures.
On the other side, Chi Gui didn’t head straight for the buffet. Instead, he specially instructed the waiter to have a few new dishes prepared.
Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice broke into his ears.
“Mr. Chi?”
“…”
Chi Gui turned around, and two unfamiliar faces came into view.
A young woman in a white feathered gown, and a middle-aged woman in luxurious attire. The two bore some resemblance in their features, looking like a mother and daughter.
Chi Gui searched his memory but, confirming he didn’t know them, remained silent.
The young woman hadn’t expected Chi Gui to offer neither a reply nor a question, which left her feeling a bit awkward.
However, she quickly put on a more charming smile and introduced herself openly and naturally. “Mr. Chi, hello. My name is Mo Man, and this is my mother, Ms. Xu Qin.”
Hearing the names of the two ladies before him, a faint association surfaced in Chi Gui’s mind.
Out of courtesy, he nodded. “Hello.”
Xu Qin looked Chi Gui over with an appreciative eye and spoke, “Mr. Chi, I’ve long heard from my husband that you are young and extraordinary. Now that I see you in person, you truly are remarkable.”
Chi Gui already had a guess in mind. “Your husband?”
Xu Qin had been waiting for him to ask. She deliberately adjusted the shawl on her shoulder. “My husband is Mo Jun of the Macau Financial Secretariat. You two have met before.”
“…”
Chi Gui understood.
Sure enough, the only “Mo family” worth mentioning in Macau was this one.
For the Chi family to secure the deep-water port project at 0202, the necessary procedures couldn’t bypass the approval and policy support of the Macau Financial Secretariat.
A while ago, Chi Gui had come to Macau and met with Mo Jun.
He hadn’t expected to run into the other’s wife and daughter on the cruise today.
“…”
A flicker of deliberation passed through Chi Gui’s eyes, but his expression remained very indifferent, completely lacking the warmth Xu Qin had anticipated.
Xu Qin’s smile stiffened slightly. Behind her back, she discreetly tapped her daughter.
Mo Man, having caught a glimpse of Chi Gui’s cold demeanor, quickly chimed in, “Mr. Chi, the reason I came to greet you so abruptly is that I wanted to thank you in person.”
Chi Gui was puzzled. “Thank me?”
Mo Man smiled and explained, “The modern art painting you bid on at the charity auction—it was my work, and also my first attempt at a charitable sale. Thank you for your bid and your appreciation.”
Thirty million—though it was for charity, once the price got out, it could also boost her reputation.
Mo Man looked at Chi Gui’s remarkably handsome face, a hint of expectation in her eyes. “After this cruise banquet ends, I wonder if I might have the chance to invite Mr. Chi to dinner privately?”
A handsome man and a beautiful woman standing together—it was bound to catch the eye.
Many guests had already cast glances their way, and some were even whispering:
“Miss Mo and Ms. Xu have set their sights on Mr. Chi, haven’t they? It’s rare to see them so proactive.”
“But didn’t Director Chi already bring a partner aboard? The one in the wheelchair at the auction? What was his name?”
“Who knows if that’s a partner or a lover? Which prestigious family these days doesn’t value a proper match?”
“Miss Mo is beautiful, has studied art since childhood, and her father holds a high-ranking position. Plenty of people want to form a marriage alliance or curry favor with their family. I didn’t expect them to look beyond Hong Kong and Macau.”
“The Chi family sits at the top of the pyramid in Haishi. Didn’t you see how even Ji Er treated Mr. Chi with respect?”
“…”
Gossip of this sort spread.
Mo Man unconsciously tightened her grip on her champagne glass. “Mr. Chi?”
Chi Gui replied bluntly, “Sorry, that’s not convenient.”
“…”
“…”
The refusal was too straightforward and unadorned, leaving both mother and daughter momentarily stunned.
It was worth noting that Mo Man was considered a high-society lady in Macau and Hong Kong, with no shortage of suitors. But she had high standards and had never taken the initiative to invite anyone before.
She hadn’t expected her first attempt to be met with such a ruthless rejection.
Mo Man suppressed the embarrassment in her eyes. “Not… convenient?”
Xu Qin naturally sided with her daughter and also felt a bit humiliated.
She was about to speak when she heard someone call out from behind, “Chi Gui.”
In the next second, Chi Gui restrained the coldness in his expression and walked straight past the mother and daughter.
Mo Man and Xu Qin both turned to follow his gaze—
The newcomer sat steadily in a wheelchair, his face young and delicate, with striking peach-blossom eyes that were exceptionally beautiful.
News traveled fast on the cruise.
Within just half a day, everyone knew that Chi Gui had a young man in a wheelchair by his side, rumored to be his partner.
Mo Man wasn’t ready to give up. “Mr. Chi, is this…?”
What if, just what if he was only a close friend?
But Chi Gui’s answer immediately extinguished her last spark of hope. “This is my lover, Jing Shun.”
Chi Gui could see through the mother and daughter’s little schemes, so he placed his hand on Jing Shun’s wheelchair and deliberately changed the way he addressed him. “Xiao Shun.”
Jing Shun’s heartstrings stirred, and he responded instinctively, “Mm?”
Chi Gui repeated the introduction verbatim, without any extra emotion. “This is Miss Mo Man and her mother, Ms. Xu Qin. The painting we bid on earlier was Miss Mo’s work.”
Jing Shun exchanged a glance with Chi Gui, understanding perfectly. “Hello, Ms. Xu, hello, Miss Mo. It’s a pleasure to meet you. The painting displayed this afternoon was very beautiful. Both Chi Gui and I liked it very much.”
No distant, formal “Mr. Chi” as outsiders might use, but the more intimate “Chi Gui,” indicating a closer relationship.
Mo Man maintained her composure. “Thank you.”
Chi Gui didn’t linger his attention on the mother-daughter pair. Instead, he turned his focus back to Jing Shun. “Didn’t I tell you to wait for me? Why did you come over?”
Jing Shun was sharp and had long seen through the real purpose behind this encounter.
Remembering the agreement between him and Chi Gui, he pretended to be a little spoiled, half-jokingly. “Who asked you to take so long? I was starving~”
A faint smile curved at the corner of Chi Gui’s lips, and his tone softened with tenderness. “Alright, I’ve already asked them to prepare something. Let’s grab a quick bite first?”
“Sure.”
Jing Shun nodded and then took the lead in bidding the mother and daughter farewell. “Sorry, we’ll be excusing ourselves.”
Mo Man watched Chi Gui’s entirely different attitude toward those inside his circle versus outsiders and tightened her grip on the glass.
“We were the ones intruding. Please, make yourselves at home.”
Mo Man ended the exchange gracefully and strode off quickly on her high heels.
With so many guests having witnessed Chi Gui’s rejection of her, and then seeing Chi Gui and Jing Shun flaunting their closeness right in front of her, her usual high pride couldn’t bear to stay any longer.
Xu Qin guessed her daughter’s inner shame and anger, shot a dark glare at Chi Gui and Jing Shun, and quickly followed.
Only after they had left the outdoor deck and re-entered the cruise ship’s interior did Mo Man’s eyes redden, revealing the humiliation of rejection. “This is so embarrassing!”
She stomped her heels twice on the floor, her cheeks flushed. “Mom, this was all your idea! Now that so many people have seen it, how am I supposed to face anyone again?”
“Baby girl, don’t cry, don’t cry. Don’t ruin your makeup.”
Xu Qin quickly tried to soothe her, equally annoyed. “I miscalculated this time.”
She had originally thought that by bringing up her husband’s name and official title, in front of everyone, Chi Gui would at least give her daughter some face.
But things had turned out differently. That Chi Gui was simply unapproachable!
Mo Man took a deep breath. “I told you, that Jing Shun is his other half. You just wouldn’t believe me.”
Xu Qin took out a tissue to comfort her and said in a low voice, “I just wanted to find a good match for you. I really hadn’t heard before that Chi Gui had a partner.”
Over the years, Xu Qin had seen and screened through the wealthy families of Macau and Hong Kong—
Either the age didn’t match, or the looks didn’t match; either they were already married, or they were spoiled playboys. Someone like Ji Tianheng or Qin Ye, with their complicated connections, were definitely not easy to mess with.
“The Chi family’s status in Haishi is no less than that of the Li, Ji, Zhang, and Qin families. And I’ve made inquiries. Chi Gui was only recognized by the Chi family a few years ago!”
“In just a few short years, he’s managed to secure the position of family head. That shows his extraordinary ability. And Mom can tell you’re quite fond of him, aren’t you?”
“…”
Mo Man’s cheeks warmed. She retorted, “What’s the use of him meeting my standards in looks? He doesn’t take me seriously at all.”
Xu Qin could still read her youngest daughter’s thoughts and had her eye on Chi Gui’s family background and status.
“Baby girl, listen to Mom—”
“There’s a Chinese saying: Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”