Chapter 37: Impossible, He Doesn't Believe She Would Do This

In the evening, Natalie drove back to the Palace. While she was in her room changing into her gown for the cocktail party, her husband returned.

He raised his hand and knocked gently on the door. "Nanna, may I come in?"

"Come in."

Natalie had just finished changing and was pinning up her long hair in front of the vanity mirror when the tall man appeared in her reflection.

Their eyes met in the mirror.

He was dressed in a formal, elegant light-gray suit that perfectly complemented the gown she was wearing.

Natalie smiled at the mirror. "You're back so early to wait for me."

"The afternoon meeting ended early." He casually picked up a magazine and sat on the sofa, though his gaze never left her.

Her gown featured a deep-V halter neck and an open-back design. With her dark hair pinned up, a large expanse of her fair, beautiful back was exposed. The dress was adorned with translucent crystals, yet they were not even a fraction as radiant as she was.

He stared blankly, a restlessness stirring in his heart as his eyes reddened slightly.

After finishing her hair, Natalie began selecting jewelry. Unable to decide, she glanced at him. "Come over and help me see which set of jewels would be best to wear tonight."

Snapping out of his daze, he stood up and walked over. Scanning the options, he picked up an earring. "This one is nice. I'll put it on for you."

As he leaned down and his fingertips were about to touch her earlobe, she dodged. He froze.

"I'll do it myself," Natalie said, not forgetting to tease him. "Has Mr. Lu ever put earrings on the third Miss of the Zhou family?"

He replied in a heavy voice, "No."

Natalie didn't believe him. "For real?"

"She doesn't have her ears pierced."

Natalie burst into laughter. "Oh~ no wonder."

After putting on the earrings, she looked up at him with admiration in her eyes. "She’s impressive—a legend in the pharmaceutical world. She secured several patents at such a young age. I heard you two studied abroad together?"

The light in his eyes dimmed significantly, and his lips thinned slightly.

"She and I indeed had a long history. There was love, and there was hate. In the end, it was just about letting go. She is excellent, and so are you, Nanna. You have a bright future."

"I can't compare to her right now."

Natalie stood up and met his gaze, calm and composed. "But I will certainly work hard."

He smiled with relief. "I believe you will carve out a world of your own in the future. Since you’re all dressed up, let’s head out now."

The cocktail party was held at a private estate in the suburbs.

From the moment they got out of the car, he had been holding her hand. It was different from before, and Natalie felt somewhat uneasy, as if she were doing something wrong.

It felt as if a pair of sharp eyes were hidden in a corner, staring at her unblinkingly, warning her to let go of this man’s hand immediately or face punishment.

The younger Zhao brother was unlikely to appear here, but the elder brother, along with the two Zhou sisters, had all been invited.

Before going to meet Mr. and Mrs. Luo, the three members of the Qi family approached them warmly.

He introduced them to Natalie: "President Qi, Mrs. Qi, and their daughter, Momo."

"Momo and I know each other." Natalie had met her previously when she went to the Zhao residence to play mahjong.

Momo had heard they were divorced and said with surprise, "Miss Jiang..."

Her father immediately interrupted, "Call her Mrs. Lu."

"...Alright. Good evening, Mrs. Lu."

As they walked away, he remarked to Natalie, "The new money of the city. No need to pay them any mind."

Natalie understood the underlying disdain in his words. This social circle was divided into ranks; "new money" was just another word for low-level parvenus.

When the business talk was mostly finished, Natalie went to the restroom alone.

As she came out after touching up her makeup, she saw the elder Zhao brother standing nearby, smoking.

He saw her too and beckoned her over.

Natalie leisurely took a cigarette from her clutch, lit it, and walked over.

He narrowed his eyes. "I’m afraid this doesn't quite suit your look tonight, little princess."

Natalie lowered her hand to flick the ash, smiling slightly. "I’m no princess. He is merely using me. He has no idea what I like, and he doesn't care."

"If he doesn't know, what about his younger brother? Does he know your preferences?"

"He..." Before she could finish, Natalie turned her head and saw the younger Zhao brother sitting amidst the glittering crowd.

The man who was supposed to be at home enjoying the dinner she had spent all afternoon preparing was now here.

He was dressed in cold, austere black. While chatting and laughing with the elder Zhou sister, he exuded a sense of casual defiance—a wild, rogue energy in his bones that suggested he looked down on everyone.

The elder brother said indifferently, "He is also using you. That first night you 'accidentally' met me in Macau, you didn't do what he ordered. After you went back, he punished you. The wound on your forehead was his doing, wasn't it?"

Natalie glanced at him, her lips pursed in slight surprise. Instead of answering, she asked, "Aren't you worried he’ll steal your fiancée?"

With one sentence, she successfully turned the topic back to him. He chuckled. "With just him?"

Just then, Momo approached with two glasses of wine. "The second Master arrives and immediately takes the seat next to our eldest Miss Zhou. He definitely deserves a penalty drink."

The younger brother was surprisingly cooperative. He took the goblet from her and, without a word, drained it.

Momo didn't plan to let him off. She handed him another glass. "This one is for the eldest Miss Zhou; you should drink it for her."

He set down the empty glass and took the next one.

That glass was also emptied, but the socialite persisted. "Drinking for someone else requires at least three glasses. The amount you drink represents your sincerity."

Hearing this, the younger brother finally looked up. His gaze shifted from the elder Zhou sister to Momo, scanning her with a rakish look.

Momo instinctively covered her chest, her face flushing with indignation. "What do you mean by that...?"

She deliberately raised her voice: "Who here doesn't know that back when we were in school, you shamelessly chased our eldest Miss Zhou?"

"Exactly," another socialite chimed in. "Too bad our Bai’s eyes only have room for the eldest Master."

"True, only the eldest Master is worthy of her."

Suddenly, the air was filled with chatter.

"I didn't expect the second Master to be so devoted, still pining for her after all this time. How deep-seated. Maybe she should consider making him official?"

All eyes gathered on the silent elder Zhou sister.

"Give the man an answer so he can give up."

Amidst the laughter, she merely toyed with her nails nonchalantly, showing no intention of helping him out. Her inaction was a silent endorsement for the others to make him a laughingstock and trample on his dignity.

Seeing this, Momo grew even more arrogant. "People should have self-awareness. Don't be ungrateful when given a chance. Do you really think you're a member of this family? You're just an adopted son."

The glint in Natalie’s eyes was like a cold blade about to be unsheathed.

"What?" The elder brother said mockingly. "Seeing my brother being bullied, you want to go over and defend him?"

In any case, he didn't believe she would do it. She already knew he was just using her. Furthermore, at this party, she was the wife of the Lu family; she had no standing to intervene.

Natalie sneered. "The opportunity to get on his good side has arrived."

The implication was clear: If she didn't get on his good side, how could she help the elder brother steal the documents he wanted tonight?

She walked over just like that.

Under the gaze of everyone, she snatched the glass of wine from Momo’s hand and splashed it squarely onto her face.

A collective gasp echoed across the terrace.

Drenched, Momo came to her senses, her voice filled with disbelief: "You... what is the meaning of this?"

Chapter 38: How Much Longer Do You Plan to Stay Out?

Natalie leisurely set down the wine glass. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the flash of surprise in the younger brother's gaze, followed by a look of deep scrutiny.

She deliberately smiled at him. Turning back to Momo, her voice turned cold: "His surname is Zhao; he is undeniably a member of the Zhao family. No matter what, it is not Miss Qi’s place to judge him in public. Or does Miss Qi look down on the Zhao family?"

"You're talking nonsense! When did I ever say such a thing?" Momo instantly lost her composure. Unable to match Natalie’s aura, she was forced back two steps, looking at the others for help.

None of them dared to speak.

Natalie was right; no matter what, he was the dignified second Master of the Zhao family. Publicly provoking him was an insult to the entire family.

Momo finally looked at the elder Zhou sister, who ignored her completely.

Forced to stand her ground, Momo stammered, "I was only targeting him personally. Interfering in other's relationships... it’s immoral..."

Another voice cut her off: "Who is so wicked as to try and drive a wedge between my brother and me?"

"The... the eldest Master."

Seeing it was the elder Zhao brother, Momo was so terrified her legs shook. "I didn't... just now..."

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Get her out."

Immediately, someone stepped forward to handle it.

"Miss Zhou, I didn't mean it that way! Please help me..."

No matter how Momo begged, it was useless. Both she and her parents were escorted out of the venue. The Qi family had utterly lost face tonight.

The socialites watching on the terrace dispersed in a gloomy mood.

The elder Zhou sister remained seated next to the younger brother, her arm resting on the back of the chair, her fingers naturally brushing against his shoulder. She looked up at the elder brother.

"Are you two... close?"

"They" referred to the elder brother and Natalie.

He glanced sideways at the lovely woman beside him, who appeared small and delicate by comparison. He smiled. "We met a couple of times in Macau recently. Miss Jiang, thank you for speaking up for the family just now."

Natalie gave a forced smile and said it was nothing, looking for an excuse to leave.

Just then, her husband appeared and called her softly: "Nanna, the auction is about to begin."

Natalie hurried over and took his extended hand. "Mhm, let's go in."

"So eager. It seems there’s an item you've set your eyes on."

"Of course there is." Natalie’s lips curled into a charming smile. "The pair of pink diamond earrings I told you about earlier—I love them."

Once they had walked away, the elder brother remarked, "He really knows how to spoil a woman."

The younger brother had already stood up, looking in the same direction. He gave a rogue-like smile. "I remember you saying that women aren't meant to be spoiled."

He turned and went inside first.

The elder Zhou sister hurried to catch up. "Wait..."

He slowed his pace, allowing her to catch up. "Are you angry because I didn't speak up for you?"

She knew very well that when they were mocking him earlier, he hadn't shown the slightest sign of anger; he had been so calm there wasn't even a trace of emotion.

He looked over lazily, his expression distant. "It is my honor to be used as entertainment to amuse the eldest Miss Zhou."

His indifferent attitude made her even more frustrated. "You aren't having an affair with Natalie, are you? Otherwise, why would she stand up for you?"

"Wait..." The younger Zhou sister appeared just in time, interrupting their conversation. She walked to the younger brother's side and said with a smile, "Sister, the auction is starting. I’ll go and take our seats with him. We won't disturb you and your fiancé's reunion."

The elder sister finally seemed to remember the elder brother's presence and let out a sigh. "Fine."

The younger Zhou sister successfully led him away. After sitting down and smoothing her skirt, she teased, "My sister still likes you as much as ever; she doesn't even care about her fiancé."

The younger brother’s gaze drifted through the crowd, locking onto the stunning young girl in the distance. The happier she appeared, the darker his expression became.

Observing this, the younger Zhou sister chuckled behind her hand. "Could it be that what my sister said is true?"

In fact, she had noticed it the last time they met at the mall.

He didn't deny it: "She is my girlfriend. The kind of girlfriend I sleep with."

Seeing his bluntness, she couldn't help but praise him: "It seems we really can cooperate. You’re straightforward enough."

On stage, a pair of pink diamond earrings was being auctioned. The starting price was 1.5 million. Natalie deliberately let others bid first. When it was about time, she raised her paddle. "Five million."

Her husband had no objections. "If you like them, you must have them. It doesn't matter if they're worth the price or not; happiness is priceless."

But others continued to bid. When the price reached ten million, a new competitor emerged.

"Fifteen million."

A small stir went through the room.

Natalie looked over; the one holding the paddle was the younger Zhao brother. Sitting next to him was the younger Zhou sister. He was likely spending a fortune to win a beauty's smile.

In that case, Natalie didn't want to compete with him. She had made him angry over the past two days and had just managed to coax him; she didn't want to lose that progress.

However, her paddle was raised again by her husband. "Twenty million."

The crowd let out a small gasp.

Natalie turned and met his gentle eyes. He leaned into her ear. "What should I do? I really want to put them on you tonight."

Natalie knew this was just a man’s damnable competitiveness. She gave a subtle smile. "There's no need if the price is too high. The item might not even be that good."

"I don't lack the money to make you happy."

Natalie gave a muffled laugh; she knew he didn't lack money.

Unexpectedly, the younger brother shouted out: "Thirty million."

"Wow, what is happening..." The people below began to gossip.

Her husband was about to bid again when Natalie pressed his hand down. "Forget it. Let's not fight him for it. He is your cousin after all. If word gets out, people will surely wag their tongues."

He looked at her with interest and raised an eyebrow. "Give me a kiss, and I’ll agree."

Natalie: "........."

"Now... isn't a good time, is it?"

Without warning, he leaned in and gave her cheek a quick, light peck.

Natalie was frozen on the spot. He had always been such a gentleman; she hadn't expected him to pull off a sneak attack like this.

This scene was caught by the younger brother's sharp eyes.

The auctioneer struck the gavel, and the pink diamond earrings were sold.

The younger Zhou sister, watching the drama, remarked, "You have good taste. Those earrings suit her skin tone perfectly. You were a bit impulsive, but understandable. Love, right?"

He didn't say a word until they left.

Sitting in the car on the way back, Natalie looked at her phone anxiously, waiting for his call.

"Nanna."

Natalie snapped back to reality. "Mhm?"

Her husband took out a bank card. "It’s the same one as before. No limit."

Natalie hurried to push it back. "No need. The company account has plenty of cash. If I need anything, I’ll definitely ask you."

"Nanna, you've become distant with me."

He stuffed the card into her palm and held the back of her hand. "I think we need to return to the relationship we had before. It’s beneficial for you and for me. Don't you agree?"

Natalie bit her lip and nodded.

Back at the Palace, the younger brother’s call still hadn't come. Natalie waited for a while, eventually concluding he was out enjoying himself with other women. She tossed her phone aside and went into the bathroom to shower.

When she came out, the phone on the bed was buzzing. She practically lunged to answer it.

Through the faint static, the man's voice sounded deep and resonant, but his anger was clear: "How much longer do you plan to stay out?"