Lei Zhengyang's blunt admission—living off Liu Weiwei's generosity—puffed up the smug couple's egos, but to his surprise, Liu Weiwei didn't shy away. Instead, she doubled down, her voice steady and proud. "Zhengyang's new to Tianhai, still finding his footing. Of course I'm helping him out. He's a man with big dreams, destined for greatness. I believe in him."
He Shaobin scoffed, his tone dripping with condescension. "Vivi, a word of advice: people aren't always what they seem. Don't let some smooth talker fool you."
"Exactly," Hong Yulian chimed in, clinging to her fiancé's arm. "Not every man's as devoted and true as my Shaobin. Darling, you'll love me forever, won't you?"
Her saccharine cooing made Lei Zhengyang's skin crawl. He Shaobin, unfazed, wrapped an arm around her waist, gazing into her eyes with exaggerated devotion. "Yulian, my heart sees only you. You're my one true love. I swear, I'll cherish you for life."
Lei Zhengyang nearly gagged. Liu Weiwei's grimace said she felt the same.
"Mayor Hong's here! Mayor Hong's here!" A commotion erupted as a crowd surged into the venue, led by two middle-aged men. The one in front, sporting wide black-framed glasses and a scholarly air, was unfamiliar to Lei Zhengyang. But Liu Weiwei, a Tianhai veteran after nearly a decade, recognized him instantly: Hong Kangji, the city's new deputy mayor.
Hong Yulian's eyes gleamed with triumph as she turned to Lei Zhengyang and Liu Weiwei. "You two, make yourselves at home. My father's arrived. If your boyfriend needs a job, Vivi, just say the word. For Shaobin's sake, I'll pull some strings. In this city, few dare cross my father."
Her haughty tone and lofty posture screamed superiority.
Liu Weiwei stayed silent. It was a hollow offer, pure posturing. Besides, if Lei Zhengyang were truly hers, his career was her concern—not some outsider's.
As the couple strutted off, she spun on Lei Zhengyang, eyes narrowing. "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"
He smirked, feigning innocence, and sauntered to the buffet table. After enduring the hosts' snobbery, he wasn't about to hold back. If he didn't indulge, he'd be shortchanging himself. He piled his plate high, unapologetic.
"I'm an honest guy," he said, popping a shrimp into his mouth. "Right now, I'm crashing at your place, eating your food, using your stuff. Gotta say, I'm grateful."
Liu Weiwei sighed, shaking her head. "Fine, I overthought it. I don't care about appearances. As long as I'm happy, who cares what others think? Dig in—it's free. I dropped a thousand bucks on their gift. We're eating our money's worth."
To his amusement, she grabbed a massive plate and joined him, piling it with delicacies—sea cucumber, abalone, and a bottle of Lafite wine. While the other guests fawned over the engagement ceremony upfront, the two of them skulked in the back, sneaking bites like mischievous thieves.
Lei Zhengyang grinned. This was… fun.
In his old life, women were props—shallow, vain creatures who threw themselves at him once they heard he was a Lei. He'd never respected them, viewing their eagerness as weakness. But Liu Weiwei? She was different. Genuine, sharp, unpretentious. For the first time, he saw a woman as a friend.
He raised his glass. "To crossing paths in this vast sea of people."
Liu Weiwei's smile lit up the room, her charm magnetic. "To our fate—and to my savior. Thanks, Zhengyang."
He took a swig of the Lafite, grimacing. As a former playboy, he'd tasted the real deal. This was bargain-bin swill, an insult to the name. "Your thanks lacks punch," he teased, eyes glinting. "Now, if the lovely Miss Vivi offered herself to me, that would kick off our hero-saves-damsel tale with a bang."
Her cheeks flushed—wine or his words, he couldn't tell. She met his gaze boldly. "Settle in Tianhai for real, Zhengyang, and I'll give you a shot to woo me. This is my first time making such a serious offer. Hope you've got the charm to win me over."
Liu Weiwei was no shrinking violet. In just two days, she'd sensed something undeniable between them. Love wasn't fated—it was a spark, a gut feeling. And right now, her heart was racing with that reckless thrill.
Lei Zhengyang shook his head, his voice tinged with melancholy. "Problem is, I'm only here for a month. Tianhai's not my home."
His tone carried a weight beyond his years, a seasoned sorrow that didn't match his twenty-something frame. Liu Weiwei felt it—a man with a story, locked behind a door she yearned to open.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining my daughter's engagement celebration!" Hong Kangji's voice boomed from the stage, wrapping up the ceremony. "Let's raise a glass to their lasting happiness!" Leveraging his deputy mayor status, he'd drawn a crowd of Tianhai's government elite, a testament to the Hong family's clout.
As He Shaobin and Hong Yulian shared a ceremonial toast, applause erupted.
Lei Zhengyang leaned in, his voice low. "Vivi, you ever think about finding a big shot to lean on, maybe get engaged yourself? Show your old flame you're no slouch. With your looks, snagging a catch like that'd be a breeze."
She laughed softly, unfazed. "Nah, I'm not that shallow. Glitz and glamour fade. I want what I earn with my own hands—that's real happiness. I don't need fireworks, just a life with no regrets."
Lei Zhengyang's respect deepened. He clapped her shoulder, grinning. "Vivi, you're something else. Of all the women I've met, you're one of the two I truly admire."
"One of?" Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "There's another woman in your heart?"
He didn't answer right away. She pressed, "Is she beautiful?"
He looked up, a wistful memory flickering across his face. "Yeah, she was stunning. Back then, I was obsessed with her. Looking back, I was just a reckless kid, wanting to claim every shiny thing. So naïve."
"Do you still love her?" Liu Weiwei's voice was soft, almost hesitant.
He shook his head. "Not love. Just guilt. I owe her a chance to make things right."
Her mood lifted, a playful grin spreading. "When I first saw you, I thought you were some stoic badass. Didn't peg you for a romantic. But heads-up: if you want to be my boyfriend, no playing the field. I'm not signing up for a Casanova."
Lei Zhengyang stayed silent. He was a Casanova—or had been. His past was a blur of conquests, no strings attached. Even reborn, monogamy felt like a foreign language. Liu Weiwei was pure, vibrant, deserving of more than he could give. He wouldn't hurt her by promising what he couldn't deliver.
"Taste alright?" A snide voice interrupted. "Bet you don't get fancy spreads like this often. Go on, stuff your faces."
He Shaobin and Hong Yulian were back, basking in the glow of their adoring guests. Hong Yulian, puffed up by the presence of government bigwigs, strutted like royalty.
Liu Weiwei ignored them. It was their big day—no need to sour it with a spat. After tonight, they'd be strangers again. Why bother?
But Lei Zhengyang wasn't so forgiving. "It's decent," he said coolly, "but the wine's trash. Bottom-shelf Lafite. Makes my stomach turn."
The wine wasn't that bad, but the couple's self-righteous hovering was nauseating. Why keep eyeing them like they were about to swipe the silverware? As a man—and one who'd come to see Liu Weiwei as a true friend—Lei Zhengyang felt a duty to shield her from their venom. If someone had to play the bad guy, he'd take the hit.