Beijing.
The Golden Lotus Hotel glittered under the soft glow of chandeliers with their light reflecting off polished silverware and crystal glasses. Round tables draped in cream linens were arranged neatly across the room while a musical band played a gentle lody in the corner.
Jia lingered at the entrance, her fingers slightly tightening around the strap of her purse. She scratched the back of her head, awkwardness settling in.
It had been ten years since she had seen any of them - ten years since high school graduation, since she had slipped out of their lives without much notice. She hadn’t been unpopular, just...forgettable. A quiet girl who sat in the back, who never quite belonged to any of the tight-knit circles that now filled this room.
Ugh, I was right. It was a mistake coming here. I look like a sore thumb sticking out...
"Jia!"
Minmin’s voice rang out, bright and beaming that cut through the chatter. She rose from her seat, her sleek black dress hugging her waist perfectly.
"You actually ca! I was starting to think you would really ignore my personal invitation too!"
Jia forced a smile. "I figured ten years was long enough. But I can only be there for an hour or so. Work calls."
"No worries, no worries! Everybody will be so happy to see you!"
Jia doubted if that would be that case.
Who is exactly excited to et when nobody hardly knew back then...?
Minmin looped an arm through hers, pulling her further into the room.
"Hanjun! Look who finally decided to grace us with her presence!"
Hanjun, ever the effortless charm, turned from his conversation and grinned. "Jia! You finally ca. Phew! You saved here."
"Saved you?"
"Bet. I betted that you would co and others didn’t trust you so much," he smirked. "Who is the winner now?"
The others grumbled, bitter with defeat as they took out their wallets.
"Hanjun can go to any lengths to win a bet, even if it would be begging."
"So cheap, dude," another sneered.
"Shut up. You are just salty that I won."
Jia felt more and more regretful of coming here now.
Was I just a source of betting entertainnt for them? Shit, I was so happy at ho. Ugh, can I turn back?
"Woooo, are you really Song Jia? Damn, you look so different!"
Jia stared at the guy, wondering if he even knew how she used to look before.
But she murmured a thanks anyway as Minmin steered her toward a table where familiar faces turned to greet her with an open curiosity.
"So, Jia," said Lina, leaning forward, her diamond earrings catching the light. "What have you been up to? ? Well, my husband has been far too busy with his work nowadays. He is in corporate law now and just beca a partner at Chen & Wu. The hours are brutal but the bonuses? Worth it. But sotis I wonder who he has really married to, or his laptop?"
A burst of chuckles echoed while Jia tried to comprehend her.
She asked what I was doing and suddenly steered the focus on herself?
With the way Lina frequently adjusted her hair locks near her ear, Jia felt it wasn’t much of a rocket science to understand her intentions.
"Wow, your diamond earrings are so pretty," a woman sitting opposite her comnted.
Bingo, Jia thought to herself.
"Oh these?" He shrugged. "He got a hefty bonus like I said so I said to better give sothing amazing for putting up with your hectic lifestyle."
Doesn’t seem like you are suffering much though...
Hanjun smirked. "Well, the one and only , just closed a deal with a tech startup in Singapore. Seven figures. They practically begged to take the offer."
An echo of impressed murmurs rose around the table.
Minmin rolled her eyes playfully. "Don’t let him fool you. He still complains about his golf handicap every weekend."
Laughter bubbled up and Jia smiled faintly, sipping her juice.
"What about you, Jia?" asked Bolin, the undefeatable playboy. "I imagine a cop’s life must be tough. Why did you seriously beco a cop? You are totally cut out to be a model~ Those are so quite nice muscles," he eyed her thoroughly.
"Nice muscles that pack a punch," Jia smiled. "Very useful against perverts."
He choked. "Did you just call a pervert?"
"I was generally appreciating my muscular strength. I am very proud of it."
Laughter rose across the dining table again.
"Yo, Bolin was called a pervert."
"Wooo, I didn’t know Jia could give witty responses like that."
"But a cop’s job hardly pays, right?" A woman dressed in purple sighed. "Do you live in an apartnt?"
"Yeah," she said. "Just a small apartnt, nothing fancy."
"Oh, you have to visit my penthouse," Minmin gushed. "The view alone is insane. Hanjun and I host dinner parties all the ti right, babe?"
Hanjun nodded, already pulling out his phone to show off photos of their latest vacation to Bali.
Jia listened as the conversation spiraled to promotions, high-salaried jobs, luxury cars, investnt properties and the list was endless. Each boast was t with envy. She felt like a silent competition was going on to prove as to who had achieved the perfect life.
"Hey is that a ring I see on your finger?"
The woman in the purple dress let out a long drag of a sigh. "Finally sobody noticed!"
"Wooooo! Congratulations!"
"Wow, sobody actually managed to woo the ice queen of our tis?" One joked.
"What can I say? He was just that charming~"
"Tch, everybody is lucky to have husbands and boyfriends."
Minmin gasped. "Obviously! Who is single here anyways?"
Jia looked around in silence and quietly raised her hand.
"What? You are single?" Minmin couldn’t believe it. "But I saw you with a handso office in the bureau!"
"He is just my good friend and colleague."
Bolin snorted. "Hoo? What’s wrong? Are n scared of your muscles you are so proud of?"
"I don’t want such a man to get all scaredy cat because of my muscles anyway," she grimaced. "In fact..."
Spicy has such a strong and sexy figure~ So, when we can explore our bodily functions in depth?
She tilted her head.
"He should admire them even more than I do."
Right at that mont, her phone buzzed with an incoming video call.
Talk of the devil and he is right here...What, does he have an antenna or sothing?
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