Night Fire Lingering

The man's hot breath brushed against her earlobe, sending a shiver down Wen Yan's spine. It felt as if he would suck on her earlobe at any moment, just like countless times in the dead of night...

This extreme ambiguity made Wen Yan instinctively move closer to Luo Beiqing.

"Young Master Gu, please return to your seat and do not disrupt the order of the scene."

Wen Yan's voice trembled slightly, a habitual reaction of her body to Gu Yanci.

Gu Yanci was tall, and even when he bent over and stood next to Wen Yan, he was still very conspicuous.

“If you’re bored, why don’t you contact your lawyer and see when he’s free to talk to me about the divorce?” Wen Yan said. “It’s dragged on long enough.”

Two seconds later, Gu Yanci sat back down in his seat with a blank expression.

As the auction progressed into its second half, Gu Yanci suddenly changed his previous lack of interest. He started bidding on every piece of jewelry he saw, and it was obvious to everyone that he was buying them for women.

But his expression didn't show any joy in shopping; instead, it looked like he was sulking.

Luo Beiqing only showed some interest in a pigeon-egg-sized emerald today.

She already has gemstones in several colors, including red, orange, yellow, cyan, blue, and purple, but she's missing a green one.

Emeralds were not favored and were not cheap, so soon only Luo Beiqing and one other competitor remained. The man in the front row wore a suit that made his shoulders look particularly broad, and his short hair was neat. Judging from the back of his head, he was probably a handsome guy.

"Brother Chuan, I love this color, will you buy it for me?"

Luo Beiqing vaguely heard a sticky female voice in the front row. Next to her competitor sat a young woman with her hair in a princess style, who was hugging her competitor's forearm and acting coquettishly.

Luo Beiqing frowned, feeling that this man looked somewhat familiar.

Before she could even remember who it was, her annoying competitor raised his paddle again, adding another five million in one go.

Luo Beiqing put down the sign, somewhat displeased.

"What's wrong? I'll take a picture and send it to you!" Wen Yan noticed that Luo Beiqing's mood was off.

"No." Luo Beiqing pressed Wen Yan's hand down. "We can spend millions to have some fun, but we don't want to spend money to fight over stones with a woman like this."

The auction concludes with an after-party.

The competitor in the front row, whose back of the head looked quite handsome, stood up, turned around, and met Luo Beiqing's gaze.

The man had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, a high nose bridge, and a handsome and dashing appearance with a touch of wildness, like an unruly and arrogant wolf king.

It was He Tingchuan, whom I hadn't seen for several months!

Standing beside He Tingchuan was a delicate-looking girl, about the same age as Luo Beiqing, who was happily chatting away with He Tingchuan.

He Tingchuan was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting to run into Luo Beiqing here.

"Brother Chuan, who is she?" The delicate-looking girl took He Tingchuan's arm, clearly asserting her ownership, and looked at Luo Beiqing warily.

Luo Beiqing glanced at the woman's movements, crossed his arms, and said with a half-smile, "I think I'm quite suited to the color of emeralds. He Tingchuan, what do you think?"

"Brother Chuan..." the delicate woman said nervously.

He Tingchuan removed her hand and introduced Luo Beiqing: "Mingzhu, she is my wife."

Mingzhu showed no remorse upon seeing the legal wife. She sized Luo Beiqing up and down, then scoffed disdainfully, "I know you, Luo Beiqing! If it weren't for your mother's shameless threats of suicide to force you to marry Chuan—"

Before he could even utter the word "brother," a sharp "slap!" rang out, and a hand landed!

No one expected that Wen Yan, who had been silent all along, would suddenly step forward and slap Mingzhu across the face.

"Miss Ming, didn't your elders teach you manners?" Wen Yan asked coldly.

Luo Beiqing lost her beloved parents within a short year, a pain she cannot mention. Mingzhu also spoke ill of her, and Wen Yan beat her mercilessly.

Mingzhu was stunned by the blow. She covered her face, tears streaming down her cheeks. Pointing at Wen Yan with her other finger, her lips trembled as she cried out, "Wen... Wen Yan! How dare you hit me! What right do you have to hit me!"

Wen Junming touched his handsome face and thought that although his second sister was fierce and not easy to mess with, she was still quite good to him.

At least I've never slapped him!

Wen Muzhi felt as if he had finally found an outlet for his emotions, and with a surge of joy, he quickly walked over.

She held Wen Yan behind her and apologized to Mingzhu: "Miss Ming, our Yan Yan has been naughty and willful since she was little, but she didn't do it on purpose. She just wanted to stand up for Miss Luo. It was definitely wrong of her to hit you. I apologize to you on her behalf! We're all in the same circle. It's not good to make a big deal out of this, is it?"

She is just like a responsible and good older sister who protects her younger sister.

Luo Beiqing and Wen Yan exchanged a glance, and the former gave the latter a thumbs up: Your cheap sister is really amazing. With just a few words, she has condemned us both and even managed to save herself a good image!

Wen Muzhi has been using this tactic since she was little. When she was a child, she was naive and thought that Wen Muzhi was protecting her, but she doesn't think so now!

Wen Muzhi's words gave Mingzhu confidence, and she raised her hand to slap Wen Yan back!

Luo Beiqing raised his hand before Wen Yan could, grabbing Mingzhu's wrist: "Miss Ming, do you really want to get beaten up tonight?"

Almost simultaneously, a gentle yet cold male voice rebuked, "Mingzhu!"

Gu Yanci walked over at some point, his gaze calm yet inexplicably awe-inspiring.

Mingzhu burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably. Pointing at Wen Yan, she complained to Gu Yanci, "Uncle! She hit me! Wen Yan hit me first!"

Gu Yanci didn't react much, calmly asking in return, "Do you want to fight back?"

The tone and expression were clearly asking: What kind of daydream are you having?

Wen Muzhi felt a tightness in his chest, silently clenching his fists until his nails almost dug into his palms, causing a piercing pain.

Ci-ge is actually protecting Wen Yan like this... Doesn't he hate her?

It must be because Wen Yan is now his wife in name only, it must be!

“Brother Chuan…” Mingzhu looked at He Tingchuan pitifully.

"Mingzhu, it's not my wife who's going to lay a hand on you." He Tingchuan shrugged, indicating that he couldn't help.

Mingzhu broke down and cried on the spot.

Luo Beiqing leaned back on the sofa, listlessly watching He Tingchuan and Mingzhu, who was breaking down in tears beside him.

After the organizers led the other guests to the party room, only a few of the parties involved remained.

Luo Beiqing asked He Tingchuan, "When did you get back?"

"last night."

He Tingchuan picked up a cigar and was about to smoke it, but then remembered that there were several ladies present, so he put it down and fiddled with it between his fingers.

Luo Beiqing said with a forced smile, "Young Master He, could you please let me know in advance if you have any such schedules next time? Thank you very much for your cooperation!"

He Tingchuan glanced at her: "Luo Beiqing, I sent you a message."

"?" Luo Beiqing frowned. "Impossible! I haven't received it!"

He Tingchuan suddenly reached out and pinched her chin, leaning closer with a tone that was half ambiguous and half dangerous: "Mrs. He, have you blocked me?"