Chapter 1 Just Playing Around

Chapter 1: Just a Game

“Let’s play a game of a playboy and a good girl. Whoever falls in love first loses.”

*

“Getting married?”

“I’m getting married? How come I didn’t know?”

In the luxurious private room filled with an atmosphere of decadent intoxication, the rich aroma of red wine swirled in tall glasses. The light refracted off the glass, casting shifting shadows that fell upon the face of a man hidden in the darkness—a face so handsome it was almost aggressively striking, causing the entering waiter to pause for a few seconds.

The man exuding a powerful aura wore a black silk shirt, casually unbuttoned at the top two buttons. His cold, sharp gaze swept over the room, making those present unconsciously hold their breath.

Only his slightly upturned peach blossom eyes and his current tone of careless mockery softened the solemnity a little.

The person who had first ventured the question quietly let out a sigh of relief.

His temper was unpredictable and unrestrained, yet his power was immense. For a moment, he had genuinely feared his anger.

If not for being asked by someone, he wouldn’t have pried like this.

Wiping away an imperceptible film of nervous sweat, he replied, feigning nonchalance, “Well, someone saw Master Jue and that woman picking out a ring together~”

“Giving a ring means getting married? Then our Master Jue would be guilty of bigamy countless times by now.”

The response didn’t come from Ling Jue himself, but from another teasing male voice.

Ji Xiuhang.

One of Ling Jue’s close friends, and also the heir apparent to the prestigious Ji family in the capital.

Perhaps only a close friend would dare to jest so freely with Young Master Ling, who controlled a significant portion of the economic lifeline of the country through the Ling Financial Group.

Ling Jue remained noncommittal.

He was never stingy with women. Over the years, he had given away countless pieces of jewelry. A mere ring meant nothing. Besides, that ring wasn’t a gift for her.

But others didn’t know that.

“Really? I thought your precious darling couldn’t hold back anymore and was pushing for marriage.”

From another sofa, Xie Muchen, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, adjusted his frames and spoke with a smile.

The corner of Ling Jue’s mouth quirked up, his tone certain. “She wouldn’t.”

After a pause, he emphasized, “She’s very well-behaved.”

She wouldn’t scheme tirelessly for the position of Mrs. Ling, nor would she cause a scene with him.

That rakish, smug attitude made Ji Xiuhang click his tongue in amusement. “Where on earth did you dig up such a treasure?”

Beautiful, not fussy or demanding, not greedy or clingy—she was practically the ideal kept woman.

Oh, perhaps not a kept woman.

After all, she was the only woman in so many years to whom Young Master Ling had formally given the title of girlfriend. A proper girlfriend.

“Your jealous face is truly ugly.”

Ling Jue retorted lightly, propped up his long, crossed legs as he stood, and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, where he lit a cigar and held it between his fingers.

The man’s indifferent gaze looked down through the drifting smoke at the sprawling, glittering city lights beneath him. Remembering his rumored fiancée—Qin Shuyi, whom he hadn’t seen for a few days due to his recent business trip abroad—Ling Jue’s mood lifted, and a faint smile touched his lips.

Ji Xiuhang rolled his eyes. “Not as ugly as Master Jue’s newfound virtuous husband act.”

*Putting on such an act, he really seemed like a decent person now.*

His other friend, Xie Muchen, chuckled.

The notoriously dissolute Master Jue suddenly settling down and having a serious relationship with an unknown woman from the Jiangnan region had been a running joke in the capital for the past year.

Of course, how much hidden jealousy and schadenfreude lay behind it was anyone’s guess.

“Seriously, I really thought you might one day quietly come back with a marriage certificate,” Xie Muchen said, not without amusement.

In their social circle, apart from marriages of convenience, so-called romantic relationships were usually understood to be just for show, most without even a formal title. Women around Ling Jue had never lasted more than a month.

Only this Miss Qin Shuyi was different. What started as a game had unexpectedly turned into a proper relationship that had lasted nearly a year.

Many people whispered among themselves: Had the Young Master truly met his one true love this time?

“No.”

Ling Jue’s voice was detached, his sharp features blurred by the smoky, shadowy light.

His “No” left it unclear whether he meant he wouldn’t get married, or he wouldn’t marry Qin Shuyi.

But the resolute word was enough to dispel the rumors.

The men and women in the room who had been listening in wore varied expressions.

The man who had first broached the marriage topic, who now didn’t dare to say another word, sighed in relief and quietly sent a text message.

—The rumor is false. What true love? Ridiculous. She can’t even get through the Ling family’s door.

Xie Muchen shook his head. “The young lady will be heartbroken.”

Ji Xiuhang also clicked his tongue lightly. “With the way our Master Jue acts, who wouldn’t think he’s serious?”

Ling Jue stubbed out his cigar, his tone casual. “Just playing around.”

The good girl liked playing pure love games. He didn’t mind acting along with her.

“Scumbag.”

Ji Xiuhang offered a sharp critique.

…

Outside the private room.

Xu Chen glanced at the woman beside him, dressed in a light cyan cheongsam, her hair casually pinned up with a wooden hairpin.

Skin like ice and bones like jade, features as if painted, with a perfectly shaped nose and cherry lips—indeed, she possessed remarkable beauty.

A hint of condescending pity surfaced in his eyes.

“Transcending social classes isn’t achieved through beauty and a facade of tenderness. Knowing your place and turning back from the bitter sea in time is a wise choice, don’t you think, Miss Qin?”

It's in a man's nature to be a player, especially for a golden boy like Ling Jue.

Of course, he knew that no matter how the Young Master played around, he would ultimately choose someone from his own circle, like that moon he could never reach.

But Qin Shuyi had stayed for far too long.

This plaything had overstayed her welcome to the point of becoming an eyesore.

He hoped that before the Bright Moon returned, those who shouldn’t exist would quietly disappear.

Having been dragged along to witness this spectacle and now labeled by everyone as nothing more than the Young Master's boredom-relieving plaything, Qin Shuyi remained unfazed.

"If you have a problem with me, Young Master Xu, instead of trying to get rid of me, why not persuade Ling Jue to settle down sooner? You know I don’t have the power to end this relationship."

Xu Chen’s expression darkened.

If Ling Jue were someone who could be persuaded, he wouldn’t have bothered scheming against Qin Shuyi.

His issue with Qin Shuyi wasn’t personal prejudice but rather an innate, top-down contempt born of class.

Anyway. He had already heard the result he wanted today.

Since Master Jue wasn’t serious, all he had to do was keep things under wraps and prevent her from kicking up a fuss that might reach Tao Wangxi, who was still recuperating abroad.

He gave her a meaningful look, pushed the door open, and switched to a fawning smile as he addressed the room. "Sorry I’m late. I’ll down three as penance."

As the private room door opened, besides Xu Chen, the female protagonist of their conversation was also exposed to everyone’s view.

Oh ho.

Caught gossiping right in front of her.

Ji Xiuhang looked gleefully at Ling Jue.

How was this going to play out?

However, Ji Xiuhang, who was waiting for the supposed good girl to throw a tantrum at the Young Master, didn’t get the scene he wanted.

Ling Jue showed no intention of explaining himself. He extinguished his cigar, slumped back onto the sofa, and patted the spot beside him. "Come here."

Qin Shuyi calmly walked over and sat down under the expectant, curious, or disdainful gazes of the crowd.

The spectators averted their eyes, reining in their curiosity.

Of course. Anyone with a brain knew that Ling Jue was not someone you could get what you wanted from by making a scene.

Crossing him would only lead to being kicked aside—no doubt about it.

With her status, even if Qin Shuyi heard something, she had to keep up appearances.

"When did you get here?"

Ling Jue naturally slipped his arm around the woman’s slender shoulders while his other hand played with her neatly trimmed, glossy fingertips.

Qin Shuyi picked up the freshly served floral tea beside his wine glass and took a sip, her voice calm.

"When you said it was just for play."

Thud.

The sound of an apple hitting the floor.

After a wave of coughs, the noisy private room fell into a momentary, frozen silence.

Holy shit, she actually dared to say it!

----------------------------------------