Chapter Forty-Four: Shattered

Just as Xu Shu was about to take a closer look at me, the two of us drifted apart amidst the moving dance steps. I knew she had probably recognized me, but she couldn’t believe I would appear in such a setting. And dressed as I was now, she must have found it all the more bizarre.

Lost in thought, my already unskilled dance steps faltered; I missed a beat and stepped right onto Hua Jingjing’s foot. She cried out softly in pain, then glared at me and hissed, “Tang Qian! You did that on purpose!”

Our dance faltered to a stop. To avoid drawing attention, I smiled and placed my hand gently on her back, gesturing with my left hand as I guided her off the dance floor.

Her steps were a little unsteady—she was clearly still in some pain. Afraid others would notice her embarrassment, she tried her best to act as if nothing had happened. Only once we were off the dance floor did she grab my arm and, with a sly motion, pinch the flesh on my arm hard.

Pain flashed across my face and I shook off her hand, whispering, “What are you doing?”

She retorted angrily, “You did that on purpose! You wanted to make me look bad, and now I’m mad!”

“Who did it on purpose? I’m not even good at dancing. Why insist on dancing anyway? Would you die if we didn’t?”

“Liar! Last night you danced just fine later on. Was it because you saw my pretty classmate and got distracted, with your head full of wild ideas?”

My face flushed and I was at a loss for words. While it wasn’t as serious as she accused, it was true that Xu Shu had distracted me. Seeing my silence, Hua Jingjing grew even more annoyed. “I knew it! Men are all the same—they lose all sense of decency at the sight of a beautiful woman, hmph!”

Rubbing the sore spot where she’d pinched me, I could only mutter helplessly, “You’re crazy! Don’t talk nonsense about things you don’t understand!”

“Don’t understand? What is it that I don’t understand?”

I ignored her, focusing instead on massaging my probably bruised arm. She was about to press me further when the music suddenly stopped; the waltz had ended.

As applause rose from the crowd, Xu Shu and Zhang Yaren each offered a European-style courtly bow. Xu Shu then leaned over to say something softly to Zhang Yaren, gesturing in Hua Jingjing’s direction.

Zhang Yaren nodded with a smile, and the two of them walked toward us. Hua Jingjing was the first to rush over to Xu Shu, the two women joyfully clasping hands. One exclaimed, “Xiao Shu! You’ve changed so much these past two years—you’re practically an international superstar. I really envy you!”

The other laughed, “Don’t tease me! You’ve changed even more. I hear you’re already helping your father manage the company? Wow! Such a young entrepreneur, with a bright future ahead!”

“Oh, please! It’s just a small subsidiary, and I’m only the deputy general manager. What future is there in that? Unlike you, heading to Hollywood to make movies—now that’s a promising future!”

The two women, reunited after so long, fell into endless conversation, leaving Zhang Yaren and me standing awkwardly to the side. Zhang Yaren, ever the superstar, handled the situation with practiced grace. He smiled and extended his hand to me, saying, “Hello! I’m Zhang Yaren, but just call me Yaren.”

Remembering the etiquette Hua Jingjing had taught me, I smiled, reservedly extended my hand, and replied, “It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Zhang. My name is Tang Qian.”

Just then, Xu Shu and Hua Jingjing, still holding hands, approached. Hua Jingjing teased, “Xiao Shu, you’re so sneaky! Since when did King Zhang become your boyfriend? I haven’t heard a thing!” She leapt in front of Zhang Yaren and grinned, “Hello, Zhang Yaren! I’m a big fan—will you sign an autograph for me later?”

I nearly broke into a cold sweat. Hua Jingjing had just warned me not to do anything as childish as asking a celebrity for an autograph, and yet here she was… I was at a loss for words.

Zhang Yaren released my hand, turning to Hua Jingjing with a beaming smile, “Of course! You’re Miss Xu’s friend—any request is fine.”

Hua Jingjing was delighted. “Thank you! Xiao Shu, I’m so envious—you’re a superstar yourself, and your boyfriend is a megastar too. Truly a match made in heaven!”

Zhang Yaren’s smile grew even broader, but Xu Shu only gave a faint smile. “Yaren isn’t quite my boyfriend yet,” she replied.

Hua Jingjing teased, “Still keeping secrets? I’m not a reporter; you don’t have to worry about rumors.” Xu Shu didn’t respond, but instead turned to Zhang Yaren. “Yaren, Miss Hua Jingjing here was my best friend in school. She’s the only daughter of Mr. Hua, chairman of Hua Group. You know him too.”

Zhang Yaren’s eyes lit up in recognition. “Chairman Hua? Of course, we met in Hong Kong last year. You introduced us, didn’t you? So she’s his daughter?”

Hua Jingjing was puzzled. “You know my father? How come I never heard about it?”

Xu Shu replied, “You were still in America at the time. Does your father have to report to you every time he meets someone?”

“It’s not the same,” Hua Jingjing huffed. “My dad knows I’m a huge fan of Zhang Yaren but never got me an autograph. So unfair.”

Xu Shu couldn’t help but laugh. “Your father’s in his sixties—do you want him to act like a groupie and ask Yaren for an autograph?” As she spoke, her sharp gaze swept over me, and she said to Hua Jingjing, “After all this talk, Jingjing, you still haven’t introduced this very distinguished gentleman by your side.”

Only then did Hua Jingjing remember me. She stuck out her tongue, then quickly took my arm, saying happily, “This is Tang Qian, he’s my… well, it’s a secret! I won’t tell you!” But her blissful expression and affectionate gestures made everything obvious to anyone watching.

Xu Shu’s face immediately took on a cold smile. She said blandly, “Mr. Tang must be quite remarkable. Our Jingjing is never interested in ordinary men. I wonder what special talents Mr. Tang possesses to win her heart?”

A sharp pain stabbed through me; I instantly understood her meaning. Xu Shu had seen me before—she knew I was a nobody, a struggling man on the verge of unemployment. She was afraid her friend would be deceived by me, or perhaps she feared her friend already knew my situation but was being beguiled by my words. In Xu Shu’s eyes, I was utterly unworthy of Hua Jingjing, just a small man climbing upward by deceiving women.

In that moment, the beautiful image I once held of Xu Shu shattered completely. Was this how she saw me? Was the Xu Shu I once admired and liked so biased against ordinary people? Did she really believe that anytime a poor man was with a rich woman, it must be the poor man deceiving the rich one?

My heart ached with both pain and anger, to the point that I could not speak. But Zhang Yaren said, “It’s not surprising! I think Mr. Tang is quite distinguished—he and Miss Hua make a perfect couple.”

At that moment, the music began again—a tango this time. Xu Shu said coolly, “Is that so? By the way, Yaren, Miss Hua is your most devoted fan. She truly adores you—won’t you invite her for a dance?”

Zhang Yaren nodded politely, first turning to me, “Excuse me, Mr. Tang—may I borrow your girlfriend for a moment?”

I was in no mood to refuse, and I realized instantly that Xu Shu was sending Zhang Yaren and Hua Jingjing away in order to speak to me alone.

I nodded. “Please, go ahead.”

Zhang Yaren made an inviting gesture to Hua Jingjing. “Miss Hua, may I?”

She was thrilled, placing her hand in his. “It would be an honor!”

The two of them quickly joined the dancers. Xu Shu faced their direction but spoke to me softly, “If I remember correctly, you used to be a sales rep at one of Hua Qiming’s minor companies, didn’t you? How is it that in just a few days, you’re about to become his son-in-law? I really misjudged you. Which one is your true identity?”

I no longer felt any respect for her—a person who looked down on ordinary people and harbored prejudice against the poor was not worthy of my affection. I didn’t want to answer her contemptuous questions, but since she was the host of the banquet and the guest of honor, it would seem petty and rude not to respond. So, though I was seething inside, I still answered politely, “You really have misjudged me. Are you always this bad at reading people?”

Xu Shu’s brows furrowed and her face darkened. She was about to speak when Mr. Wilson, Vice President of Universal Pictures, approached and enthusiastically invited her to dance. Xu Shu, of course, could not refuse, and with a pleasant smile, she accompanied Mr. Wilson onto the dance floor.

Suddenly, I felt an intense aversion to these gatherings of high society. I was bored and out of place. If not for Hua Jingjing, I would have left long ago.

I turned and walked through the hall, out the main doors, onto the lawn outside. I just wanted to breathe some fresh air, to keep from being tainted by all that glittering ostentation inside. I pulled out a cigarette and searched for my lighter, about to light up.

Suddenly there was a metallic click—a Ronson lighter appeared before my cigarette, flaring to life with a crisp sound.

I looked up and saw the man holding the lighter—long hair tied back, strikingly handsome—it was Li Mingfan, Hua Jingjing’s former classmate.

Li Mingfan lit my cigarette, took a drag himself, and then said, “I’d like to talk to you, if I may?”