The venue was decorated with extreme luxury, the hall brimming with fresh flowers. While linking arms with Christian to enter, a waiter at the door handed us a box of chocolates. Accepting it, I glanced down inadvertently; the box was custom-made, with the names of the bride and groom inscribed on top.

Julian & Shen Yue.

Christian turned his head to look, laughing: "Julian's engagement party."

With guests as numerous as the clouds, I raised my eyes, my gaze piercing through layers of silhouettes until I spotted a familiar figure. Julian’s silhouette stood tall, his hair combed meticulously. He held a glass of red wine, his other arm linked with a woman in a long white floor-length gown, currently engaged in conversation with guests.

The fiancée turned her head every so often to exchange a word with Julian, quickly covering her lips as she burst into laughter.

He was actually getting engaged.

Suppressing the shock in my heart, I withdrew my gaze, pulling Christian toward the interior, and laughed: "They are quite a good match."

Julian and Christian had indeed crossed paths many times, but they possessed almost no friendship. I never expected Christian to suddenly bring me along to attend his engagement banquet. Men's circles—they truly remained an enigma to me.

Julian's fiancée, Shen Yue, had a significant background—the only daughter of the Shen Group, a wealthy heiress raised with a silver spoon in her mouth. The Shen Group also operated in real estate and was comparable in scale to the Julian Group; their only difference was that one focused on the mainland, while the other focused on Macau. Both parents had been close since their youth, and it was said their engagement had been verbally settled years ago.

All that was missing was a ceremony like today's.

The prospective bride and groom became the focal point of the guests' chatter.

"I heard Miss Shen graduated from Harvard. Tsk tsk, Ivy League education, a famous designer, and beautiful to boot..."

"Truly a perfect match..."

"Once the Julian family unites with the Shen family, with the Shen Group's support, the Julian Group will truly become the龙头 (leader) of the real estate world..."

Some offered sighs of envy, some were consumed by jealousy, and not a few were filled with dread. On the surface, everyone was harmonious, but the hidden intertwining of interests beneath the surface was far from simple. Staring at the resplendently decorated hotel, I curled my lips into a smile, suddenly finding Julian quite pitiful.

Chapter 48  Like Attracts Like

But I quickly pushed this ridiculous thought out of my mind.

Compared to feeling pity, it was more than anything just annoying. Julian walked slowly toward me, hand-in-hand with his fiancée, smiling warmly: "Mr. Christian, Mrs. Christian?" He reached out to shake Christian's hand, "Long time no see."

Julian studied me with a smile: "Mrs. Christian doesn't look well—is she feeling unwell?" Even with his fiancée present, his gaze remained unbridled.

Christian blocked Julian’s view of me, his voice slightly chilly as he said "Congratulations." Just then, more guests arrived to offer their well-wishes to Julian, which finally gave me a reprieve.

After socializing at the banquet for a while with Christian, he noticed my exhaustion: "The engagement ceremony doesn't start until evening, why don't you go upstairs and rest for a bit?" Christian asked, his face full of concern. Many political figures were in attendance, and he couldn't step away just yet.

I nodded. The villa had two floors of rooms open to guests as a place for them to relax. Most of the attendees were socializing in the grand hall, so there was almost no one upstairs. One room door stood slightly ajar; just as I was about to push it open, laughter spilled out.

The low, hushed conversation of a man and a woman mingled with soft moans and the sounds of intimate kissing.

"Don't..."

"Baby, don't forget me after today."

"Look at you saying that—do I seem like I lack a conscience?"

I assumed it was some loving couple hiding away for a rendezvous, but the next moment, I heard them mention a name.

"Julian? How could I have feelings for him? It's just a performance... Hey, take it easy..."

I froze, unable to resist peering through the gap in the door. Seeing that familiar long, floor-length gown confirmed my suspicions: it was Julian's fiancée, Shen Yue.

The man and woman were wrapped around each other, whispering sweet nothings, completely caught up in their passion, unaware of my presence.

I felt a surge of complex emotions. While I knew with high probability that this was a business marriage, and based on my understanding of Julian, he likely held no feelings for this fiancée either.

But on the day of his engagement, seeing his fiancée being so intimate with another man, and so blatantly, still left me somewhat shaken.

I wondered how Julian would feel if he knew he was wearing such a massive green hat. I shook my head—the waters of high society are far too deep, and I couldn't afford to get involved. I decided to act as if I had seen nothing.

As I turned to leave, I discovered Julian standing right behind me, completely silent. Clutching my chest, I glared at Julian; damn it, I almost had a heart attack.

The sounds of intimacy still drifted from the room. Once I realized what was happening, I quickly moved to block the half-foot-wide gap in the door.

I felt I was actually quite considerate.

Julian’s face remained devoid of any clear expression, looking entirely detached. Instead, his attention shifted to me: "What, are you afraid I'll be left with psychological trauma?"

"Still want to stay here and watch the show?" He grabbed my arm and dragged me downstairs.

Julian's grip was quite firm; I struggled to pry his hand off, and my wrist was already turning red. I stood on the stairs, glaring at him with fury. You’re the one being cheated on, why are you taking it out on me?

Julian turned back, saw my expression, and offered an apology. He leaned against the hallway wall, lit a cigarette, and toyed with his lighter. The usual arrogant, flamboyant demeanor vanished completely, replaced by an inexplicable sense of desolation in his expression.

Chapter 49: No Reason Needed to Be Wasteful

My heart softened for no reason. Speaking without really thinking, I comforted him: "Don't be sad."

Julian looked up, staring at me for two seconds before suddenly laughing out loud: "Is Chloe feeling sorry for me?"

Bah—I shouldn't have bothered with him, I cursed myself inwardly for being a glutton for punishment.

Julian held the cigarette between his long fingers, flicking the ash, and said nonchalantly: "Don't worry, a trivial matter like this isn't enough to affect my mood."

As it turned out, he had known his fiancée already had someone else in her heart long before the engagement. Shen Yue had a boyfriend of six years, and their relationship had been stable, but the man's family background was mediocre—he had no chance of catching the Shen family’s eye.

Julian's tone was slightly self-mocking: "Between her and me, to put it plainly, it’s just mutual utilization—taking what each of us needs."

He paused, looking at me: "Though I am a bit touched that you flew thousands of miles to attend my engagement ceremony."

The man's hand clamped onto my chin. I could smell the faint scent of tobacco on his breath as his eyes narrowed: "And you look so miserable; could it be that you’re unhappy because I’m engaged? Jealous?" His tone was even and steady, laced with a subtle hint of teasing.

My temper flared, my chest heaving with rage until I was speechless. How could this man be so shameless!

Julian nodded with satisfaction: "Mm, looks like you really are jealous."

He didn't intend to continue making things difficult for me and started leading me downstairs to find a new room. As we reached the landing, Julian suddenly stopped and looked up.

I didn't notice anything unusual: "What's wrong?"

Julian didn't change his posture, keeping his face tilted upward, and called out: "Mr. Christian?"

My heart tightened. I looked up—the hallway was completely empty, not a soul in sight. Julian lowered his head, pressing a hand to his temple: "Perhaps my eyes were playing tricks on me."

I saw Christian again in the banquet hall on the first floor; his expression didn't change upon seeing me. He stroked my cheek with his finger: "Your complexion has recovered quite well, seems you've had a good rest."

The engagement ceremony was held as scheduled that evening.

Afterward, Christian and I stayed in Macau for three days. He took me sightseeing, which was quite pleasant.

After returning from Macau, Christian threw himself back into his work.

During this period, I never met Julian again, spending nearly every day cooped up at home. Sera, fearing I’d grow mushrooms from inactivity, forcibly dragged me to the gym with her over the weekend.