Chapter 75: The Gala of Stars

After Chen Erpao had indulged his desires, he stopped, his eyes gradually clearing. He lit a cigarette and half-reclined at the head of the bed.

Chen Liu cast him a puzzled glance, then sat up herself, a trace of sorrow in her eyes. “Are you disgusted with me? I know I sought after Li Ziyang’s family background and became his woman, and later, for you, I broke up with him without hesitation. But after what happened today, I realized that I have truly fallen for you. I know Wang Xuemei may have dated Li Ziyang before, but they never had a physical relationship—her most precious first time must have been with you. I can’t compare with her, but as long as I can stay with you, I’ll be satisfied. I am willing to be your own social butterfly, to do anything for you. From now on, my body belongs only to you; I’ll never let another man touch me again. Ever since you said, ‘including those around me,’ I made up my mind.”

Chen Erpao had not expected such frank words from Chen Liu. She spoke plainly and clearly. He replied in a calm tone, “You can be my woman—I won’t treat you poorly—but only behind the scenes. And any woman of mine must belong to me alone. If you wish to leave in the future, I won’t stop you.”

Chen Liu nodded and quietly nestled against him. Only after indulging his desires once more did Chen Erpao leave. Although he had had the perfect opportunity to linger with her, he chose not to. Since she had already offered herself to him as his secret woman, there was no need to rush.

At eight that evening, Chen Erpao and Wang Xuemei arrived together at Zhang Xiaoyu’s residence in a luxurious villa complex. Both had dressed with care for this gathering. Considering Zhang Xiaoyu's status, the guests would be celebrities or members of the wealthy and powerful elite, so appearances mattered.

The villa was magnificent and spacious, with an imposing entrance and an air of grandeur. Inside, lush greenery and trees created an atmosphere of elegance, suiting Zhang Xiaoyu’s temperament perfectly. In front of the villa lay a spacious swimming pool, now surrounded by a lively crowd—young and old, men and women alike, all in sharp suits and stunning dresses.

At a glance, Chen Erpao saw a gathering of celebrities and tycoons he’d only ever seen on television.

“Hey, isn’t that Liu Fei? And there’s Zhang Yu, Zhong Hong—they’re all here! They’re my idols!” Wang Xuemei beamed with delight. Dressed in a pink gown, she looked like a noble princess herself, no less radiant than the many beautiful actresses around.

At that moment, Zhang Xiaoyu was by the poolside with several friends, holding a wineglass, though she seemed distracted, frequently glancing toward the entrance. A stunning woman beside her teased, “Xiaoyu, what are you looking at? Waiting for an old flame?”

Zhang Xiaoyu’s cheeks flushed as she shot a glare. “Nonsense. I’m just waiting for two friends. Last time I ran into trouble with Dundy, it was thanks to them that I got away.”

Just then, Chen Erpao and Wang Xuemei entered together. With his extraordinary bearing and her elegant grace, their arrival immediately drew many eyes.

Zhang Xiaoyu’s gaze lit up with delight, especially when it landed on Chen Erpao. She couldn’t help but glance at him several times, a strange thought rising in her heart: “Why does this man feel different every time I see him? The first time, he seemed like a harmless rogue, then a righteous hero, and now he appears a perfect gentleman.”

Chen Erpao, too, found himself stealing glances at Zhang Xiaoyu. Tonight, she wore a white lace dress, her long, slender legs accentuated by white stilettos, exuding a sense of purity and innocence, like a fairy or a saint. She possessed a powerful allure for any man.

Zhang Xiaoyu quickly approached, offering a faint smile as she nodded to Chen Erpao. “You’re finally here. I thought you were going to leave me hanging.”

Wang Xuemei replied, “There was a bit of traffic, so we’re late. It’s such a lively evening—I’ve spotted so many idols.”

Zhang Xiaoyu said, “Really? I’ll introduce you around later. This is Jiang Jiao. You must have heard her songs. And this is Wang Xuemei and Chen Erpao—also friends of mine.”

She gestured to the young woman beside her, whose beauty rivaled her own. Though Chen Erpao didn’t pay much attention to celebrities, he recognized Jiang Jiao from television. She was a singer who had risen to fame in recent years, though her reputation wasn’t spotless and her style starkly different from Zhang Xiaoyu’s. Tonight, she wore a low-cut black dress that left much of her full, fair chest exposed, with a dramatically high slit revealing her long legs nearly to the hip. With her stunning looks, she was both seductive and alluring. Rumor had it she’d landed a lead role only after a few nights with a famous director, and her career took off from there with a hit album. Whether or not that was true, Chen Erpao couldn’t say.

He smiled and nodded politely. Jiang Jiao returned the smile and asked, “Mr. Chen, what line of work are you in?”

Although Zhang Xiaoyu had met Chen Erpao several times, she’d never known what he did. Hearing Jiang Jiao’s question, she listened intently, eager to find out.

“I’m just an ordinary office worker,” Chen Erpao answered without changing expression.

Zhang Xiaoyu was taken aback. In her eyes, Chen Erpao was enigmatic and extraordinary. After all, he had defeated the bodyguard Dundy had hired at great expense. With skills like his, entertainment moguls would fight to have him as a bodyguard, not to mention the billionaires with money to burn. Yet he claimed to be an ordinary office worker, which she found hard to believe.

Jiang Jiao’s demeanor changed instantly. The friendly smile vanished, replaced by cold indifference, as if someone of Chen Erpao’s station was beneath her notice.

Chen Erpao took note but was entirely unbothered; such women weren’t worth his attention.

Soon after, Wang Xuemei was whisked away by Zhang Xiaoyu to meet her idols. Chen Erpao, uninterested, wandered off by himself to savor the fine wines—there were nearly ten varieties, all of the highest quality and value. Tonight, the wine outshone even the most beautiful women.

Before long, the party was in full swing. Elegant music began to play, and most guests paired off to dance gracefully. Chen Erpao sipped his wine, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Xiaoyu approached, extending her slender hand with a serene smile. “Would you care to dance with me?”

“With pleasure, my beautiful lady.” Chen Erpao gallantly took her delicate hand, his other arm encircling her slim waist. Her subtle fragrance drifted over, prompting him to tease, “You smell wonderful.”

Zhang Xiaoyu blushed and shot him a fierce look. “You really are shameless. I don’t know what Xiao Mei sees in you. If you hadn’t done me such a favor last time, I wouldn’t have invited you.”

Chen Erpao rolled his eyes. “How am I shameless? I was talking about that flowerpot over there—it smells wonderful, doesn’t it?” He nodded toward a pot of brilliantly blooming flowers.

Zhang Xiaoyu, flustered, turned her head and said nothing more.

Chen Erpao smiled but didn’t press further. The two of them danced in silence to the melodious music.

When the song ended, the music shifted to a more upbeat, wild rhythm. Many people left the dance floor to rest, leaving fewer than ten still moving energetically to the beat. Most were young, stunning women—singers and actresses with tall, alluring figures who drew every man’s gaze. Jiang Jiao was among them. As she danced, her already barely concealed curves threatened to break free, and the high slit of her dress revealed tantalizing flashes of white.

As everyone was enjoying the spectacle, a group of uninvited guests suddenly entered, led by none other than Dundy, who had been thoroughly humiliated by Chen Erpao last time.

Tonight, Dundy wore a crisp white suit, exuding the air of a privileged heir—he stood out immediately. At his arrival, Zhang Xiaoyu’s cheerful expression vanished, replaced with a hint of anger. In contrast, Jiang Jiao’s face lit up with delight, her gaze fixed on him from the moment he walked in.

Dundy’s father was one of Hong Kong’s top ten tycoons—a family of immense prestige. Many of the stars present knew him and hurried over to greet him. Others, less impressed, simply watched in silence.