Xiao Luo offered Guan Tong a ride after they left the bar, but he declined. He said that his house was a short ten-minute walk away, and he would take this opportunity to take a stroll. The conversation ended there.
Although Xiao Luo got home rather late, Su Li did not interfere too much into his private life.
The next day, Xiao Luo learned from Luo Pingxiang that Su Li planned to start her own entertainment company. It had already been registered under the name "Liyue Media." She had been busy planning for it recently.
"Why do you suddenly have this thought of starting your own company?"
Xiao Luo was curious, and he asked Su Li, who was drinking coffee elegantly on the sofa.
He viewed Su Li from her side profile, and with her snow-white skin, she was beautiful. Without looking up from the book in her hand, she replied, "I just felt like I wanted to take destiny into my own hands."
Xiao Luo flashed a dumb-looking smile at her. This woman was really independent. He figured it was probably the public relations crisis and her trouble with Huangpu that gave her the idea of starting an entertainment company of her own.
He nodded in agreement. "You do have that capability, so that's good," he said, "By the way, where is Xiaobei?"
"Su Canye took her to Yinlong Villa. She will live there for a while."
Su Li responded as she slipped a bookmark into the book's page before closing it. She put her coffee aside, got up, looked at Xiao Luo, and said, "There is a banquet this afternoon. Accompany me there. There's a senior I met when I was studying abroad. He is interested in becoming a shareholder."
Xiao Luo looked a little confused. "You shouldn't have any problems in terms of funding, why are you letting a foreigner take up shares in your company?" he asked.
Su Li pursed her lips and replied, "His family has a deep influence in the North American entertainment circle. If Liyue Media wants to penetrate the American market, then he would definitely be of help. Many complicated things can be made simpler."
So, that's why!
Xiao Luo suddenly realized that this woman's foresight was excellent. She was actually thinking of penetrating the American market.
"Qingyan is also one of the shareholders," Su Li added.
"That's good, but in my opinion, your foreign senior might not be so forthright in his intention to join your company."
Su Li frowned, "What do you mean?" she asked.
Xiao Luo raised his eyebrow, and with a chuckle, he said, "The heart of a wine lover is not in the glass."
Su Li obviously knew what he meant, and her cheeks turned slightly red. Who's to say that person did not have ulterior motives? "Which is why I asked you to accompany me," she said.
"Me, to be your shield?"
"So, are you going to do it?" Su Li said.
Su Li flashed her beautiful eyes at Xiao Luo, looking somewhat agitated. "He used to pursue me when we were studying abroad," she declared.
Xiao Luo initially wanted to say that he would not attend if he didn't see any benefit in it, but he inwardly felt slightly uncomfortable after hearing what she said. He coughed slightly and said, "I have no reason not to since there's a free meal. How about this, I'll head back to take a rest first. Let me know when you're heading over."
Xiao Luo then left for his apartment.
What arrogance! Was it so hard to admit that I was in his heart?
Su Li snorted as she watched him leave. Still, she felt his attempt at face-saving was rather cute and couldn't help letting out a chuckle.
...
Su Li called Xiao Luo and asked him to be ready by four in the afternoon.
Shen Qingyan drove a Jaguar to pick them up. As soon as the two got in the car, she said, "Li, you and this guy really give off the married couple look. Huh, even your clothes are in the same style. It's a bit like a couple's outfit."
Su Li's cheeks flushed. "What nonsense! Hurry up and drive," she said.
"How can I drive the car? This guy here is an employee of my company and I am in his boss. There is no reason for the boss to drive the employee around."
Shen Qingyan got out of the car and opened the door of the backseat. With her finger, she gestured towards Xiao Luo and said, "Xiao Luo, what are you doing sitting there like Buddha? Quickly go and drive."
"Are you not afraid that I will crash your luxurious car?" Xiao Luo quipped.
"You're speaking nonsense to me. I know your driving skills. Besides, if you really crash the car then you can pay for it with the commission you earned previously," Shen Qingyan said.
"...."
Xiao Luo was speechless and had no choice but to drive to the meeting.
Shen Qingyan and Su Li sat side by side. The former was in a blue dress while the latter was in a white dress. At first glance, the two beauties were really eye-catching. They were like a pair of lovely flowers—one, an orchid blooming in the night, and the other, a snow lotus that had been carved by ice crystals. Their beauty was beyond what mere mortals could attain.
After sitting in the driver's seat for a while, Xiao Luo looked in the rearview mirror and asked, "At least tell me the destination."
"Hengshan North Resort Hotel!" Shen Qingyan said.
"If you don't know where that is then turn on the navigation."
After saying that, she started chatting with Su Li on a woman's favorite topics—bags, jewelry, cosmetics, clothes, and such.
Xiao Luo sneered at this and drove off gloomily.
They arrived at their destination after half an hour.
Hengshan North Resort Hotel was located to the north of Xiahai. It was regarded as a suburb, but the environment and its landscape were stunning. Not only did it have a vast golf course, but it also boasted a beautiful artificial lake. It was similar to the Bode Mountain Villa, which had a mountain on one side and a water feature on the other. This created a very inviting ambiance for visitors.
Xiao Luo saw a foreigner in a private room.
He had green eyes and blond hair. He wore a white shirt and looked self-assured, exuding a regal bearing.
"Sabrina!"
The foreigner smiled at Su Li and walked over to give her a hug. "It's so nice to see you again. I haven't seen you in a few years, it seems you are getting more and more beautiful and sexy."
He spoke fluent Chinese with an accent. He was tall, bearded, and had a glowing complexion. He was definitely prince charming in the hearts of many women.
"Thank you," Su Li said.
She then introduced Shen Qingyan and said, "This is Shen Qingyan, the CEO of Huayao Group. You can call her by her English name, Demi. She is also one of the stockholders in Liyue Media."
"Hello there, my name is Leon. I am glad to meet you, beautiful Miss Demi," Leon said, stretching out his hand toward Shen Qingyan like a gentleman.
"Hello Mr. Leon, you're better than what I heard through the grapevine. You really look extraordinary!" Shen Qingyan said, smiling and taking his hand.
"Miss Demi, you sure are good with words."
Leon nodded with appreciation. He then looked at Xiao Luo and said, "Sabrina, who is this gentleman?"
Su Li walked up to Xiao Luo and said, "He is my husband, Xiao Luo."
Xiao Luo was shocked and looked at Su Li with amazement. For the first time, he heard her speak with such a gentle tone telling others about their relationship. But since he was here as her shield, he quickly got over it and tried to act natural.
"Oh? He is your husband?"
Leon looked very surprised. His expression changed, and there was a fleeting moment of hostility before he smiled again and said, "Hello, Mr. Xiao!"
"Nice to meet you!"
Xiao Luo replied politely.
Leon didn't' even bother shaking his hand. He turned his gaze away and said to Su Li, "Sabrina, I chased you two years ago and couldn't capture your heart, yet this Mr. Xiao succeeded. Can you satisfy my curiosity and tell me what he did to impress you?"
.....
Su Li couldn't help but looked at Xiao Luo when Leon asked that question. All the things that he had done for her slowly started to flash in her head. Hadn't he been the one protecting her all this while?
She turned around and replied, "Leon, there's no single specific instance that I can pinpoint, but rather, it's a kind of an instinctive feeling. I think you will only understand what I mean when you've finally met the person who is meant to share your life with you."
"Oh? If it's a kind of feeling, then I think I've already met that person. Because the person who is meant to be in my life—is you!" Leon said. He then grabbed Su Li's hand, lowering his head, and kissed the back of her hand.
Nobody could have imagined that he would've done something this bold. Su Li was stunned, but she quickly regained her senses and pulled her hand away. Her pretty face was flushed. She looked troubled but kept her composure and said, "Leon, please be careful of your actions and the things that you say. I don't want my husband to have any sort of misunderstanding."
"No, no, no... there is no misunderstanding. I'm merely speaking the truth. Sabrina, I've always liked you," he said, "If I were to use two Chinese phrases to explain this, then we're like a perfect match—you and me, we're like a match made in heaven."
Leon completely ignored Xiao Luo's existence and brashly confessed his feelings for Su Li in his presence. He pointed at Xiao Luo and said, "Before stepping foot in your country, I've already done an investigation and checked out all the high-status individuals in Xiahai. There are a whole bunch of incredible people in Xiahai, but Mr. Xiao here isn't on that list. So, please do not tell me that this guy is just some ordinary Chinese man, because if that's the case, I will not be able to accept this truth. I simply cannot and will not be able to accept the fact that I've lost you to such a guy!"
He got increasingly agitated as he spoke, and by the end of his sentence, he was almost yelling his lungs out.
Xiao Luo furrowed his eyebrows and instantly developed an intense hostility toward his romantic rival. He did not have a good feeling about this guy from the point they met, and now that Leon had been so condescending as to deride him in his face and completely underestimated his abilities, the matter had now become very personal.
"Leon, it seems that my husband was right about you. You're not sincere about discussing business or being a shareholder. It seems like I've wasted my time here."
Su Li's response was cold and bitter. "Let's go!" she said to Xiao Luo.
Leon was utterly shocked by Su Li's hostile reaction. He quickly rushed over to stop her and promptly checked his poor behavior. With a smile on his face, he said, "Sabrina, I'm really sorry. I should not have said what I said. Allow me to apologize to you. I'm really genuine and sincere about becoming a shareholder of 'Liyue Media.' I would not have flown all the way from my country to China just for this meeting if I wasn't."
Su Li didn't respond, and Xiao Luo didn't say anything, either.
Shen Qingyan intervened to ease the rising tensions, hoping to salvage the situation. "Mr. Leon, if we're discussing business then let's stay focused on it. We can talk about our private lives some other time. I'm pretty sure any good businessman would not be talking about their private life during a discussion about business. Besides, you've already let your own emotions take control and affected the tone of our meeting. How can we have a proper discussion about our partnership after this?" she said.
Leon nodded his head in agreement, "Yes, yes, I agree... Ms. Demi, you are correct. It's all my fault. I wasn't able to properly control my emotions at all."
No matter how much he wanted to pull Su Li toward him, he knew that right now, he ought to contain his urge for the time being.
"Li, come back and have a seat. Mr. Leon is willing to be a shareholder, and this can only be a good thing for 'Liyue Media.' We should just sit down and have an open discussion about the partnership," Shen Qingyan said. She took on the mediator's role, for she knew the kind of temper her best friend had. And, she believed that it wasn't right to succumb to one's temper when discussing business.
Su Li gave it a thought and eventually decided to return to her seat.
"Sabrina, your personality is still the same, you've not changed at all," Leon said, breathing a sigh of relief as he tried to reconcile the awkwardness between them.
"But you've changed," Su Li said.
Leon laughed and said, "How have I changed? Have I become a lot cooler?"
Su Li wasn't in the mood for jest or banter. "The skin on your face is a lot thicker now," she said.
"Haha...haha..."
It was as if the atmosphere around them suddenly became stagnant, and as Leon attempted to laugh it off, it felt awkward.
Shen Qingyan pitched in to lighten the situation. "Li, you're not going to be able to make any friends if you're always going to be this straightforward with the things you say," she said.
"No, this is Sabrina. She's real, kind, beautiful, and doesn't have the kind of hypocrisy that most Chinese people have."
Leon immediately jumped to Su Li's defense with the most outrageous remarks. Then, he switched the topic to Xiao Luo and asked, "Right, I've still yet to know what kind of job you do, Mr. Xiao?"
"I'm in sales. Ms. Demi here is my boss," Xiao Luo replied.
F*ck, how was it possible that he's just a salesman?
How was it possible that Sabrina actually married a salesman?
Leon was a little shocked when he heard that, but he merely smiled and said, "Mr. Xiao, you must be really capable in sales; so what is your annual salary like?"
"I only receive a monthly salary, not an annual salary," Xiao Luo replied. He was not very happy with these questions as Leon was evidently finding ways to make him look bad in front of Su Li.
"So, you receive a monthly salary, and here I thought... ah, it's nothing, nothing. So... just continue to work hard and I'm sure things will get better for you in the future. Anyway, you can't be all that bad since you're the guy that Sabrina has chosen," Leon said.
Shen Qingyan couldn't bear to watch this anymore and spoke out for Xiao Luo. "Mr. Leon, Mr. Xiao is already a really capable and impressive person. He just helped my company secure a huge order not too long ago. His commission alone was seventeen million," she said.
"Is that so? That's really not all that bad. It's about one-tenth of how much I usually invest in a movie. Considering how Mr. Xiao is just an ordinary guy without a large network, it's really impressive to be able to secure such an order. Come, here's a toast to show my respect," Leon said, smiling as he raised his glass of wine.
"I have to drive, so I can't drink," Xiao Luo said.
His response was cold, for he had already formed a poor impression of Leon.
"This is a 1988 Lafite, the alcohol content isn't that high. You'll be fine," Leon said.
"It is illegal to drink and drive in our country, Leon. I think we should just cut all this small talk. Let's just stick to our discussion about you becoming a shareholder," Su Li said. She did not like the fact that Xiao Luo was being looked down upon by someone else.
"Fine. Let's eat as we discuss then!"
Leon put his wine glass down, called for the waitresses waiting outside the room, and had them bring in the food.
While the three of them were discussing business, Xiao Luo was focused solely on the food. It went without saying that the quality of food served in a luxurious place like this was nothing short of superb. Besides, the timing was perfect as he was famished then, and he wasn't going to hold back. He gobbled everything down and, in his indulgence, ate noisily.
Xiao Luo's poor table manners made Leon, Su Li, and Shen Qingyan turn toward him and stare.
"Don't worry about me, you guys just continue!"
Xiao Luo shamelessly grabbed a scrumptious piece of braised wild boar meat and chomped on it like a peasant as the three of them stared at him, horrified. Xiao Luo was oblivious to their stares.
"Sabrina, pray, tell me your husband wasn't just released from prison?" Leon exclaimed, deliberately teasing her.
Su Li's cheeks started to turn red, and she glared at Xiao Luo with a murderous look in her eyes. She hoped that he would stop this kind of boorish behavior, but it was obviously not working at all, and she started feeling a little embarrassed. This was shameful, and there was simply no excuse for this. Regardless, one always had to show a little courtesy when having meals, yet she could feel that something wasn't right that day. Xiao Luo usually didn't eat that way, so why was he eating this way now? Could it be that he was perhaps... jealous?
Shen Qingyan was annoyed as well and coughed a little. "Xiao Luo, have you gone mad? You're eating as if someone's going to steal your food," she said.
Xiao Luo raised his head. "Don't worry about me. You guys just continue discussing your work," he said.
He was indeed a little angry, especially after noticing that Leon and Su Li were actually quite close. It was as if a claw was lightly scratching his heart, and it made him feel troubled. The purpose of him gobbling down all the food could only be seen as a childish ploy to emotionally force Su Li to her distance from Leon.