Chapter 2

Chapter 2

An after-party followed the awards ceremony.

Zhou Jibai’s current manager walked over, glass in hand, looking quite drunk.

With a somewhat greasy smile, he leaned in and whispered something into Zhou Jibai’s ear.

Immediately after, several young girls entered the private booth.

“My parties never involve this kind of thing. Don’t break my rules.”

Zhou Jibai scolded him with a frown.

However, his gaze suddenly froze when it landed on one of the girls wearing a white dress.

“What’s your name?”

Zhou Jibai stared at her, his tone finally shifting.

A knowing smile spread across the manager’s face.

“Jibai, you’re not the same person you used to be. You have plenty of choices now.

“These little rookies are dying for you to take an interest in them. After all, being noticed by you is a blessing, wouldn’t you say?

“Who wouldn’t want a chance at a meteoric rise?

“Just give them this chance… hmm? Think of it as helping me show the newcomers the ropes.”

The man’s voice grew lower, thick with implication.

Zhou Jibai didn’t move an inch, his eyes entirely fixed on the girl.

She was indeed different from the others.

There was a unique innocence about her as she slightly turned her face away, her smooth forehead forming a graceful curve.

I floated over to the girl in the white dress and studied her carefully.

She was pretty enough.

I had a dress just like that-a limited edition piece a certain brand had personally gifted me years ago.

Wait, that’s not right.

They said it was limited edition; why did she have one too?

The manager continued in a low voice, “After all, wasn’t it a ‘resource exchange’ between you and Xia Tu back then…”

Before he could finish, Zhou Jibai interrupted him coldly.

“Get out.”

I turned around and saw embarrassment written all over the manager’s fleshy face.

He must have been truly wasted.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have forgotten that the thing Zhou Jibai loathed most in this life was people gossiping about our past.

Zhou Jibai probably found it disgusting just having my name mentioned in the same breath as his, right?

“I’m saying this for the last time.”

“Everyone, get the hell out.”

Zhou Jibai raised his voice slightly, slamming the microphone in his hand onto the table in a fit of rage.

A deafening boom echoed through the booth, startling everyone.

The manager gave a forced smile and was forced to leave.

Eavesdropping from the side, I finally breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed he hadn’t changed.

“You, stay.”

Zhou Jibai loosened his tie and pointed at the girl in the white dress.

He had always had exceptionally beautiful eyes, with a faint mole beneath one of them.

At this moment, those downturned eyes were stained a suggestive red by the alcohol.

The girl clutched the hem of her dress, looking somewhat overwhelmed by the special treatment.

He was actually letting this girl stay?

I was shocked.

I once told Zhou Jibai that regardless of whether he became a power player in the entertainment industry, he should never use his status to take advantage of newcomers.

Bullying young girls was the height of tackiness.

It seemed he had long since tossed my words to the back of his mind.

I couldn’t help but grow tense.

Zhou Jibai stood up and approached her.

He reached out and gently touched the sleeve of her dress. His face was flushed from the wine, but his eyes were filled with a lingering tenderness.

“Take it off,”

Zhou Jibai said suddenly.

Then, he turned his back to her indifferently.

I flew around the room in a rage.

This bastard! He got rich and turned rotten!

The girl bit her lip, her hands trembling slightly.

Until the dress hit the floor.

The girl’s body was completely exposed to the air. She shielded herself with her arms, shivering slightly.

I couldn’t bear to watch anymore and rushed toward the door, only to be bounced back immediately.

In the next second, Zhou Jibai threw his suit jacket over her.

“Who gave this to you?

“Don’t wear clothes that don’t belong to you.

“What if they belonged to a dead person? Don’t you think it’s bad luck?”

At this, he gave a mocking laugh.

“Put that on and get out.”

I turned back and stared in his direction.

The girl’s eyes brimmed with tears as she bit her lip hard.

After wrapping the oversized suit jacket around herself, she whispered a small “thank you.”

I paused by the door, suddenly feeling a burning gaze on me.

Zhou Jibai picked up the dress from the floor and looked unerringly toward where I was standing.

His alcohol-brightened eyes were like spring water-clear and luminous.

That look made my heart skip a beat. I had a bad feeling.

No way.

Can Zhou Jibai see me?

I panicked.

“Xia Tu-”

The man’s voice was deep and cool as he softly called my name.

I panicked even more, desperately trying to bolt through the door.

However, Zhou Jibai was walking toward me, step by step.