Chapter 125: Exclusive

During the days when Shen Yanlie was absent, Mai Xijun often found herself lost in thought, staring fixedly at a single spot for hours on end—sometimes for an entire morning or afternoon.

She had heard that "Night Flame" was a venue Shen Yanlie had once built for Xie Yunting. Suddenly, she felt compelled to visit it—to see how the man she deeply trusted and loved had once poured his heart and soul into a woman from his past.

To say she wasn’t jealous would be a lie. Yet, she knew which kinds of jealousy were worth feeling and which were not. At least, this particular jealousy she could manage. If she ever wished to claim something from him, she could simply act a little more coquettish, tease him a few more times to make up for it. After all, Shen Yanlie’s tolerance for her charm was nearly ninety-seven percent successful, so it was worth a try.

Night Flame was an extravagantly luxurious nightlife venue, steeped in opulence. Perhaps it had once been a tranquil haven for playing and appreciating music, but after Xie Yunting’s departure, Shen Yanlie had rarely set foot there, let alone managed it. Over time, the place had transformed entirely—a commercialized den of indulgence and decadence.

Inside, Mai Xijun ordered a drink and settled into a quiet corner, watching the throngs of people thriving in this place. She didn’t particularly like it here—not that she disliked the place itself, but she had never been fond of such environments.

After a while, she decided to leave. Every place he had lived or visited stirred new emotions within her. Love, she realized, could permeate to the very bone and follow one like a shadow, as if his presence lingered in every corner of her life.

Just as she stepped outside, boredom made her pause. She glanced around. The surroundings were quite pleasant, situated on the edge of a bustling district. Though neon lights still dazzled at night, there was a certain quiet mystery here, a calm that softened the usual clamor.

For some reason, her gaze lingered on a familiar sight.

That familiar car body.

That familiar figure.

A white Porsche Cayenne, and a tall, solid man clad in a black suit—the sight held her gaze captive.

She had called him more than fifty times. She had missed him countless times. Whenever she had a moment to herself, she had to admit that he filled her life completely, omnipresent.

Yet now, with him right before her eyes, she found herself at a loss for words.

His back was turned to her, and he was with a woman.

Tears welled up in Mai Xijun’s eyes. She worried whether his work had overwhelmed him, whether his schedule was so chaotic he had lost track of meals. But when she realized none of these worries were true—that he was right there in front of her, with the very woman who had once arrogantly flaunted herself before her—the emotions swelling in her chest became unbearable. She felt a wave of helplessness, weighed down as if her feet were filled with lead, unable to move forward.

“Lie, marry me,” Zhou Jing, graceful and ethereal like a fairy, stood before Shen Yanlie.

“Don’t make me repeat what I just said,” Shen Yanlie’s voice was cold and hard, his expression icy to the extreme. His long lashes cast shadows under the dim night lights, lending him an even more enchanting, almost hypnotic aura.

This scene felt like a sharp needle piercing Mai Xijun’s heart. She desperately wanted to tell herself to trust Shen Yanlie unconditionally, no matter when or where. Yet, after days of silence with no word from him, and now witnessing this casual closeness between him and another woman, she couldn’t unravel the tangled feelings inside her.

Yes, she must believe in him—unconditionally.

With that resolve, Mai Xijun turned to leave, trusting that once Shen Yanlie finished his business, he would come to her.

In her peripheral vision, she caught Zhou Jing drawing closer to Shen Yanlie, their kiss intimate and unrestrained from the side.

Turning away was swifter than tears.

***

The latest event hosted by Yuwen Media was set for Saturday. Mai Xijun was formally invited by Yuwen Si to attend, dressed in a gown personally selected for her by Yuwen Si. She took her seat in the third row from the front.

Throughout the exhibition, Mai Xijun frequently glanced around, each time keeping it subtle to avoid drawing attention. Yet the repeated waves of disappointment were undeniable.

“Looking for me?” A deep, magnetic voice whispered into her ear from behind, sending a pleasant shiver down her spine.

“You... when did you get here?” Mai Xijun’s cheeks flushed a warm pink.

“I saw you the moment you appeared among the crowd,” Shen Yanlie replied with a playful smile, the corners of his mouth curling mischievously. He circled around the seat and took her hand, which she met with a gentle smile.

Their eyes locked, and the warmth between them seemed to have never left, only growing more intense.

Shen Yanlie led Mai Xijun out of the venue, carefully avoiding the crowd to prevent interruptions or questions—especially since Yuwen Si was already searching for her.

The man holding her hand and running alongside her—the scent, the warmth, the undeniable dominance—she adored all of him. This outstanding man was meant to belong to her and her alone. She vowed to keep him by her side, ensuring no other woman would ever be near him again.

As Mai Xijun got into Shen Yanlie’s car, by the time Yuwen Si arrived, only exhaust fumes remained. His disappointment was palpable. Truthfully, Yuwen Si’s invitation to Mai Xijun had been partly to showcase his achievements, but there were deeper motives at play.

“President, it’s time to take your seat,” Wu Meili had searched the entire estate for Yuwen Si, nearly exhausted, only to find him standing at the exit, gazing into the emptiness. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking, only that he was utterly captivated, almost obsessed.

“Alright, I know,” Yuwen Si replied, hands in his pockets, glancing sideways. As Wu Meili turned to leave, he called her back. “Remove the jewelry design segment from the original plan.”

“Remove it?” Wu Meili was stunned. This was a key part of the president’s carefully arranged event—how could it just be scrapped?

“Yes, remove it,” Yuwen Si said coolly, turning and brushing past her, returning to the runway.

This fashion show was poised to catapult Yuwen Media to the forefront of public attention. Yuwen Si had planned to elevate Mai Xijun as the lead jewelry designer for this event, leveraging her past role as a designer at LOV. This would inevitably spread the news of the Luo family’s decline, amplifying the significance of his actions.

But he never expected Shen Yanlie’s sudden return, taking Mai Xijun away. He knew if Shen Yanlie found out what he had done, he wouldn’t let it slide. Still, Yuwen Si had gambled everything on this move.

Yet, the inexplicable feelings in his heart, the emotions he had opened up—where could they be placed now?

Unable to unravel the tangled thoughts, Yuwen Si felt a heavy sense of frustration. No matter—he would stop thinking, stop yearning. With enough time, anything was possible.

At the exhibition, Mo Shaoxing took care of things comprehensively—it was his duty. After all, the event was jointly organized by Shen Yanlie and Yuwen Si, and Mo Shaoxing had known Yuwen Si for years. Such an important occasion would never be without him.

All the honored guests were present—every single one—like a bidding conference. Yet the seat reserved especially for Mai Xijun remained empty, leaving Yuwen Si uneasy.

“Assistant Wu,” Yuwen Si called, beckoning Wu Meili over.

“Sit over there,” he indicated. Wu Meili followed his gaze and frowned. “That’s the VIP seat.”

“You can’t sit there?”

“Well... isn’t that Miss Mai’s seat? Yuwen Si personally assigned it. I can tell how important Mai Xijun is to him—I don’t want to get on his bad side.”

“Now’s your chance to be in the spotlight. Go sit there,” Yuwen Si said, nodding toward the seat.

Indeed, sitting there almost guaranteed an eighty-nine percent chance of being photographed or filmed during the event—whether one was outstanding in some way, or possessed charm, beauty, purity, or allure. Being caught on camera here could spark attention and sensation.

Wu Meili hesitated, unsure what to do. But seeing the seriousness in Yuwen Si’s expression, she steeled herself and walked toward the seat.

Nervously, she opened the folder placed there and took a deep breath, lifting her eyes just as Yuwen Si turned away from her gaze.

That seat had originally belonged to Mai Xijun, and now Wu Meili sat there, feeling uneasy. After all, she was no one, hardly deserving of anything meant for Mai Xijun. Though some feelings had unknowingly taken root, they were never truly hers to claim...