“Stop fidgeting and act natural.” YuZhi hissed at TangShi, lacking patience as he led her into the dark nightclub by the hand, guiding the way and keeping an eye out for their group. He was dressed in faded jeans and a black tee tonight, paired with a black leather biker jacket that made him seem like a different person to TangShi. For the first time she felt unattractive and inferior beside someone who could pull off this look. He was suave, and the casual style made him seem sexier than usual, especially over boots rather than his normal Italian leather shoes.
Rhea had set them up at a table in the centre of the club, for maximum exposure, with various friends from their social circle and guaranteed attention attractors. A few were known public figures while most were famous for being rich kids, or heirs to conglomerate families. Tonight, the aim was for pictures to be leaked of the two of them with their respective dates and seemingly happy about it while
TangShi had had enough. A night of noise, invasive people around her, dancing on a crowded floor while surrounded by drunk women she barely knew, and Rhea was clinging to her and pulling her around like a puppy dog. Rhea was so drunk she had begun to behave like a needy child and TangShi seemed to be her anchor. It was suffocating and she longed to leave and go back to the peace of home.Her head was aching, her body hurt, and her stomach was cramping like crazy due to having her time of the month at the worst moment. She was tired, fed up, and emotional about being bombarded all night with questions, interrogative stares, and constant alcohol pushed her way which she tried to dodge. In the end she had drunk maybe three red wine tops all night and was feeling woozy and unsteady on her feet, but she was sober enough to still have her senses. It didn’t taste good, and she didn’t like the sensation of dizziness or dreaminess.YuZhi had stayed mostly with the m
YuZhi tossed the bundle of newspapers and magazines across the desk, so they slid in all directions, and one dropped off before ZhengLi scooped down to pick it up and threw it back on the pile. Amused at his friends agitated behavior.“Looks like our PR campaign so far is going smoothly. Nice pictures by the way, I hate how damn photogenic you are.” He laughed at YuZhi’s sour expression, who was leaning back in his chair scowling ZhengLi’s way. “Shanghai’s Golden couple double date outing! Really catchy. Or this one …. YuZhi Leng and Rhea Cheng find love again so soon! Bit cheesy but it’s better than this one…” ZhengLi held up a known gossip magazine and waved it with a mischievous grin on his face. “Foursome dates for the Heirs of Shanghai!” He laughed heartily at that one. Shaking his head at the implications, before laying it on top of the others with equally bad healdines.“Can you stop
“You stupid girl! Pick it up, don’t you dare leave a single piece on the floor. I am not moving until you pick it all up!” Aunt RuiZi was screeching at TangShi so loudly it was hurting her already delicate head. Suffering from her first time being drunk, and she was trying to ignore the washing machine stomach or pounding fluffy brain. Auntie her usual mean self and picking out absolutely anything she could to make TangShi’s life hard. If it wasn’t restricting her food, criticizing her hair, clothes or make up, day in and out, then it was finding random things to scold her for, like this.She was suffering from last night and was being unusually clumsy today. Having accidently walked into aunt who was carrying a glass of water and knocked it out of her hand in passing. The shards all over the floor were mixed with the undrunk water and Xiaosu was screamed at for trying to help her tend to it. Aunt was in a bad mood, as usual, and TangShi wa
“Are you sure this is the place?” TangShi wandered around the beautiful scenic courtyard of the traditional building, looking like something out of a historical drama with a curved tiled roof. It framed with billowing cherry blossom, draped over the eaves, lit by the sun of the day in an almost magical scene and she pulled out her phone to take a picture. It was too pretty not to.“Mmm hmmm” Linlin was already glued to her own cell, oblivious to this breathtaking view, checking the address and pulling up the details of the teacher she had been corresponding with. “We’re lucky he is going to meet with us. He rejects ninety percent of applications right off, but when I told him your name, he jumped to meet you. Seems you have a fan.” Linlin raised a brow but not her focus.“He’s a teacher, a well-known one. Why would he want to meet me?” TangShi was dubious. She hadn’t been sure about this when Linli
"Here, take my hand and relax. Lift your chin up, you look pretty, stop fidgeting." YuZhi gently scolded TangShi as he helped her out of his black Lotus Emira. His boy toy that he rarely got to drive nowadays due to needing his blacked-out chauffer driven SUV to avoid the press. It was low and hard to slide out of when wearing heels and a satin dress, so he had to tug her up and catch her to set her upright. Being the attentive date tonight.TangShi inhaled heavily, her nerves frayed about this dinner and tugged at her dress to make it longer, aware it was showing more leg than she was used to. It was one that Rhea picked out for her in a recent shopping outing, seeing as they were still making a point to hang out once a week for the lingering nosey reporters.A fitted navy shift dress that clung to her curves and brought out her nice figur
“Selfies!!!” Linlin pushed in behind YuZhi and TangShi on the dancefloor, holding her phone up high to capture while on tiptoes above the three of them as they huddled in then waved frantically at ZhengLi to come over. She was picture happy tonight, more so the drunker she got because she wanted to document TangShi’s first night partying with her. It was a long time dream of hers to have TangShi live a normal life of a twenty odd year old girl in Shanghai and she never for a moment thought a contract marriage would be the key to achieving it.“Stop taking so many.” TangShi giggled but still smiled and posed as YuZhi pulled her in beside him with an arm around her shoulders to ger in on screen, sticking his two-fingers up in a V sign as the three of them were caught for all time on Linlin’s cell. He was an old hand at selfies and having pictures taken and seemed to have no bad angles. ZhengLi wandered over with his tray in hand and a new rou
“You two look so cute together, you know?” Linlin cooed at YuZhi who was casually lounging in the corner of the booth, his arm stretched out along the back of the chair while dangling his beer bottle from it. TangShi was tucked into him under it, her head on his shoulder and completely out cold from far too much alcohol consumption and the late hour. It was almost two am and all four of them had gone far beyond the tipsy stage of drunk.“That’s because I’m handsome, and she’s pretty.” YuZhi smiled, confident in his own attractiveness, still not slurring anywhere near like Linlin was as he had higher tolerance and still had his wits about him. He dipped his chin to check on TangShi, watched her breath slowly and deeply for a moment and then went back to drinking his beer, comfy like this and not too bothered about being used as her cushion. She was peacefully and blissfully unaware of the noisy club carrying on around her.They
“Are you sure this is everything? We could check out the new store over there.” Linlin offered but TangShi shook her head without looking to see what the store was and finished putting the shopping bags into the boot of Linlin’s orange car. Glad to have finally finished ticking off her list. “I already have so many supplies and don’t need much. It’s an art school, not a college for scholars, and I’m sure I can pick up anything later I may have forgotten.” TangShi was excited about her starting date in only a few days and was eagerly counting them down. It seemed like it was coming so fast, and she was more than ready to start. To have something to fill her days with. “Clothes?” Linlin offered with a small smile. “I’m sure you need some fashionable and arty overalls or something!” “You
“Take it easy, watch the step.” YuZhi slid his arms around TangShi and guided her down the steps from the back patio into the decorated garden. Carefully holding her weight and concentrating on getting her down safely.“I’m pregnant, not disabled.” TangShi smiled at him wistfully, more in love with him every single day as he seemed to become more and more attentive to her needs and never failed to anticipate them. Taking his arm and obediently walking slowly down the steps into the sunshine, enjoying the gentle breeze on her skin of a pleasant day.“Come on you two, I was starting to worry. You were an age!” Linlin appeared, smiling brightly but with a tern stone of an unimpressed mother hen. She was looking ethereal in white today, a flowy sheer gown over a mini dress that was much like TangShi’s, although tang’s wasn’t a short underlayer but a long flowy skirt. “With you being this close you can&
“How about I marry a girl I love and you can cut me off and disown me from the Kim family, so I don’t tarnish it’s perfect name. I’m not doing this today, mom. So have a nice lunch and I’ll talk to you in a few days. I’m busy here.” ZhengLi closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose with his forefinger and thumb, his head aching already and knew she was only just getting started. He had no doubts if they figured out he had a girlfriend, a serious one, they probably did a background check on her.“Love? Don’t be ridiculous. It’s a passing fleeting feeling and doesn’t always guarantee a long and happy marriage. This is pure and simple lust because a wild playmate is currently fun, but her loose behaviors will be the end of you. A good pairing is the most important thing. A woman who matches you in every way.”“Well, I guess I’m lucky I found one. Who matches me in every way and is
ZhengLi stroked back Linlin’s hair as he watched her toss and turn on the bed, unable to get comfy because of her pain. Her body bruised and sore and still not herself even after being treated for mild chloroform poisoning. Nausea plaguing her and an infernal headache that was adding to her distress.“I can ask them for more pain meds.” ZhengLi was perched on her bed to one side, staying close and watching her like a hawk, being his usual cool self even though internally he was chaotic. So many emotions about today and seeing his girlfriend bruised and sick and suffering from a concussion. He had the urge to find that motherfucker and beat seven shades of shit out of him for every tiny mark on her body.ZhengLi wasn’t one who normally showed a lot on the surface, always preferring the smooth wise guy persona but this was proving difficult. When it came to Linin, he became irrational and over protective. He wanted to take away her pain and wipe e
“YuZhi? I’m here.” She called out to him, straining an already raw throat as the suited figure of her handsome man came sliding in the open doorway with fumbling steps. Rushing and looking ruffled and distraught. His tie was loose, his jacket open, hair disheveled and his normally pulled together façade was rumpled and wrinkled as was his shirt. He looked like hell.“Oh my god. I’m here, baby. I’m here. Are you okay? Are you hurt?” He flew to her side, cupping her hand in his and bent down smothering her face as he tried a hug in an awkward position and somehow squashed her nose against his chest and yet still managed to get his arms under her and squeeze her. YuZhi’s emotions on full display as he sniffed back the worried tears he had been keeping at bay. His body trembling with both adrenaline and fear at not knowing how hurt she was or
TangShi blinked open her eyes, her head throbbing from the impact, her eyes blurry as they rolled around inside her skull and she slowly came to. Aware of her body being heavy and still, warm and somehow relaxed, as nausea swirled and her head thumped so painfully she couldn’t move properly.“Linlin?” She mumbled with effort, woozy and disorientated and reaching out to feel out her friend beside her. “Are you okay?” Knowing the crash would have hurt her too. Only she found she wasn’t sitting forward at all but lying down and flat on her back and there was a hum of noise gently pulsating around her while her hand paused in midair finding nothing close. Confusion rising as she turned her head and forced her eyes open properly.“It’s okay Miss. Lei. It’s okay. Just relax and stay still whil
TangShi flicked her glance back in horror, seeing him come to and hurried Linlin towards their escape.“You can’t drive. It has to be me.” Linlin pointed out as TangShi tried to lever her into the open passenger door.“Look at you. How can you drive like this? We don’t need to go far, just away from here while you call the cops and we find out where we are. I can do that. I can try.” TangShi pushed Linlin in without further argument, having learned the basics of driving as a teen even though she never went onto pass her test. Linlin relented, slumping in and TangShi closed the door after handing her the phone and ran around the other side. One eye on him as she dashed as fast as she could.The keys were still in the ignition, much to her relief and she started it quickly. Her hands shaking, her vision blurry and she took a long calming breath to get her brain to work on the mechanics of getting going. Pulling up her lessons fo
“What are you doing?” Rong barked at her, sliding her body with him as he dragged her out of the car and dumped her at his feet in a careless manner. TangShi crumbling like an empty sack. Not able to keep a grip with the way he had to crawl backwards out of the car.“HELP…SOMEONE HELP, I’VE BEEN KIDNAPPED. HELP ME!!” TangShi screamed at the top of her voice, hurting her throat in the process, aiming at the car’s open door knowing she left the call connected to emergency services and praying they would have some way to track the cellphone. That if they could hear her then they would have some procedure in place to find them.Rong’s eyes followed her line of vision, confused with her erratic behavior once more, peering inside the car and spotted the illuminated cell on the floor. Rong lost his temper in instant fury, betrayed that this bitch would try and call for help and slapped TangShi hard across the face to shut her u
“He’s coming. You only have one chance. GO. Just go!” Linlin could see him over TangShi’s shoulder, pulling out of the car with water bottles and knew it was their only chance. TangShi’s blood ran cold, the way Linlin was glaring over her shoulder catapulted her into instinctive action. Fight or flight response initiating and not giving her a moment to think it through. Stroking a final hand across Linlin’s head and sobbing as she jumped up.“I’m sorry. I’ll come back for you. I’ll get help.” She hushed her saddened words at her through jumbled tears and broke off into an instant run in the opposite direction of Rong Cai.TangShi put her all into it, head down, legs and arms swinging fast as they could. She made a break for freedom and adrenaline gave her a speed she had never achieved before. The sheer fear of running for her life without looking back.“TangShi, No!” Rong yelled after
TangShi didn’t respond, her heartbeat racing and her palms clammy which was making the bar hard to grip, but instead kept on with her steady backwards sliding. Until she came level with Linlin and pushed Linlin’s outstretched leg gently with her foot to rouse her.“Linlin, are you awake, can you hear me? Please say something.” TangShi so desperately needed to hear her, even if it was just a groan to signal she was still alive. She looked completely lifeless and it was scaring her that he had done something awful.“Mmmmm.” A soft mumbling moan came from behind Linlin’s duct taped mouth covering and TangShi exhaled in sagging relief. Her head swimming with dizziness at hearing her respond and thanking god that she was conscious and breathing still. It made her less alone in this predicament and gave her hope that Linlin could still recover.“Did you think I killed her?” Rong started laughing, a cackling and man