Mr. Stennis and his wife stood at the entrance throughout the entire event, welcoming guests. Clearly, as the hosts of the evening, they were no ordinary people. Luo Ding, aware of Tommy Lee’s respectful and polite demeanor toward them, did not attempt to attract attention. Instead, he opted for a subtle nod when greeting them, making no mistakes.
Initially, the Stennis couple did not take note of him. However, when Duan Xiubo approached, greeted them, and stood beside Luo Ding, they finally turned their attention toward him.
The tall man let go of his wife’s hand and gave Duan Xiubo a tight embrace. “How have you been adjusting to life in China?”
“That’s my home,” Duan Xiubo said with a smile, patting him on the back. The hug lasted only a moment before Duan Xiubo placed a hand on Luo Ding’s shoulder. “With friends around and busy shooting, everything’s been great.”
Mrs. Stennis, whose face looked somewhat severe, softened into a gentle expression. “Oh, you’re a good child. And this is?” She turned her attention to Luo Ding.
Tommy Lee, still somewhat unsure why Duan Xiubo was so familiar with the Stennis family, quickly responded to her question, “This is Luo Ding, my friend. He’s an actor like me.”
“… Oh…” Mrs. Stennis smiled, though with a slightly peculiar expression.
Duan Xiubo added, “He’s also my good brother.”
Her smile became warmer, and any trace of doubt disappeared instantly. “Welcome! I hope you enjoy your evening.”
Luo Ding flashed a charming smile that perfectly complemented his handsome features, making Mrs. Stennis feel slightly dizzy. “I will. Thank you.”
As Luo Ding and Duan Xiubo walked away, Mr. Stennis watched them, lost in thought.
His wife, noticing her husband’s distraction, nudged his shoulder lightly. “What’s on your mind?”
“That young man was really handsome,” Mrs. Stennis, whose face had initially looked stern, now wore a soft smile full of admiration. “I thought he might be Tommy’s boyfriend.”
“He wouldn’t dare,” Mr. Stennis remarked dismissively. “He’s just a reckless kid. On the contrary, Ike has the guts to stand up to his father, even leaving Switzerland without looking back. It’s been five years since he returned. Completely independent of his father, and now his career has taken off.”
“Tommy isn’t so bad either,” his wife remarked.
“True. Compared to our kids, Tommy is much more mature,” Mr. Stennis said, realizing his wife’s displeasure and quickly changing the subject.
Inside the villa, there were many guests. The maids, dressed in black-and-white uniforms, guided Luo Ding and the others. Duan Xiubo led the way confidently, walking at the front with a composed and steady stride. Occasionally, someone recognized him, though most only knew him as an actor. They couldn’t quite comprehend why he was at such an elite gathering. However, after observing the major figures who greeted Duan Xiubo one by one, no one dared to question further.
“Ike, you’ve grown so tall!” said old Mr. Xia Rui, a renowned venture capitalist, as he puffed on an old-fashioned pipe. The moment before embracing Duan Xiubo, he had been reprimanding someone.
“Ike, you’re here too!” This time it was Susan, the wife of the well-known lawyer Jack, who was notorious for her arrogance.
Tommy Lee, walking alongside Luo Ding, grew increasingly frustrated as they lagged behind Duan Xiubo. “They’re completely ignoring me!”
Tommy Lee’s father was a successful businessman with considerable assets, but in this elite circle, that wasn’t enough to make people take extra care. Moreover, Tommy Lee had several siblings, with him neither being the best nor the worst, but often overlooked. Later, he even pursued acting, making him even more invisible to these high-ranking individuals.
Luo Ding wasn’t quite sure how to comfort him, especially since he was also surprised by Duan Xiubo’s reputation and popularity. Until the situation became clearer, Luo Ding decided to remain silent. Duan Xiubo, on the other hand, had a clear purpose for attending this event.
“He’s my good brother,” Duan Xiubo repeatedly introduced Luo Ding with pride whenever anyone asked about him, casually draping his arm over Luo Ding’s shoulder.
The older men were intrigued and pleasantly surprised by Duan Xiubo’s straightforward declaration. Their previously indifferent attitudes began to shift. Conversations, once polite and reserved, soon became more engaging. Naturally sociable, Luo Ding had no trouble leaving a lasting impression on these influential figures.
Old Mr. Xia Rui raised his glass and pulled Duan Xiubo aside, as if wanting to have a private word. Luo Ding tactfully excused himself before Mr. Xia Rui could ask, “I’ll go get some fresh air with Tommy Lee.”
Duan Xiubo grabbed his arm, gazing deeply into his eyes for a long moment before glancing at Mr. Xia Rui. Only then did he say, “Be careful. I’ll come find you later. And don’t go upstairs with anyone.”
“Upstairs?” After Duan Xiubo left, Luo Ding scanned the space. This house had an unusually high ceiling, typical of Western preferences. From the second floor onward, the rooms encircled the building, with the doors leading to a carpeted hallway in plain view.
“What do you mean by that?”
Tommy Lee, visibly more relaxed now that Duan Xiubo was gone, grinned. “Did you forget the name of this gathering?”
“What?” Luo Ding thought for a moment, suddenly realizing, “Supermodels?”
The maids at the door pulled it open for them.
Outside, the swimming pool shimmered under the dim lights, with the glow from the water reflecting off the surface. Along the edge of the pool stood tall, beautiful women, all meticulously groomed, with slender and fit figures. Most had pale skin that seemed to glow in the dark, though there were a few with tanned or deep complexions. Their delicate features and carefully applied makeup made them look like living works of art under the night sky.
Luo Ding, who wasn’t the best at distinguishing between foreign faces, took a while before recognizing several international top models.
He turned to Tommy Lee and asked, “Who are they?”
Tommy Lee leaned in to murmur, “Whether they’re lovers or femme fatales, you should be careful. Don’t stray too far from me.” His smile faltered as he noticed a group approaching.
“Brother,” called out a man, taller than Tommy, who walked over at a steady pace.
This man’s features were more Western than Tommy’s, likely inheriting a greater portion of their mixed heritage. He was quite handsome. “Tommy, everyone’s missed you. And this is…?”
“I’m Luo Ding,” Luo Ding quickly introduced himself, sensing Tommy’s reluctance to interact.
No occupation, no backstory, no detailed personal information—just a simple introduction from someone of equal status.
The man raised an eyebrow, his gaze lingering on Luo Ding’s face for a long moment before finally settling on his features.
“Oh…” he smiled, raising his glass to his lips, his eyes filled with a subtle, unreadable expression. “Hello.”
His odd attitude left Luo Ding uncertain of how to respond. Sensing this, Tommy Lee spotted his intended target and hastily pulled Luo Ding away, almost in a panic.
As they hurried along, Tommy Lee griped through clenched teeth, “That’s Dante Lee, the most annoying guy.”
From his name, it was clear this was Tommy Lee’s brother. However, their relationship seemed far more strained than any ordinary sibling rivalry, even compared to strangers awkwardly making small talk.
Meanwhile, Mr. Xia Rui was complimenting Duan Xiubo from the heart, “Your younger brother is really charming, one of the most delightful young people I’ve ever met.” As a man of advanced age, Mr. Xia Rui found himself with fewer topics to discuss with younger generations. It wasn’t just in China; the generation gap was universal. Younger people often found older topics and jokes uninteresting. Yet during his brief chat with Luo Ding, Mr. Xia Rui had laughed more heartily than he had all year.
Duan Xiubo, glowing with pride, responded, “He’s brilliant, just lacking the right opportunities.”
“I see. Well, I still have a few invitations to some major brand events. Watches, fashion labels—I’ll be sure to invite him.” Then, changing the subject, Mr. Xia Rui asked, “How long has it been since you last spoke with your father?”
“Not long,” Duan Xiubo lied, though it had actually been nearly half a year. “Why do you ask?”
Mr. Xia Rui easily detected the lie, sighing, “He just got married in Greece last week. We all attended. I told him not to be so reckless, but he wouldn’t listen.” Pausing, he realized Duan Xiubo might not follow and added, “Your new stepmother used to be an exotic dancer.”
Duan Xiubo’s face twitched slightly, unsure how to respond.
Over the years, he had grown accustomed to this. His father had never been a man for long-term commitment, flitting from one marriage to another. How many wives had he had by now? Sixteen? Fifteen? Duan Xiubo had lost count. There had been businesswomen, prostitutes, office workers, widows, tour guides, even the family maid. His father’s romantic conquests were both numerous and diverse.
Beyond a few highly educated women who understood the situation, most of his father’s lovers had viewed Duan Xiubo as a threat. They seemed convinced that Duan’s father loved them more than life itself and that everything—his estate, his fortune—would one day belong to them or their offspring. Initially, Duan Xiubo had been scared by these women’s hostility, but over time, he became indifferent. Whether they stayed or left, he focused on escaping from his family. At sixteen, he applied for boarding school and later sought complete independence. During that time, his father had been too distracted to notice.
It wasn’t until Duan Xiubo had truly left that the old man began to panic. Whereas before, they would speak once every few months, now his father called every few weeks. Duan Xiubo, however, no longer wanted to maintain such a connection.
Deep down, Duan Xiubo knew that his father’s sudden attention wasn’t born out of love or concern. It was a practical realization—his father was aging, and none of his numerous wives had borne him any children. His mother despised his father, and his half-brother, Yú Shaotian, had never even taken their father’s surname and would certainly have nothing to do with him in the future. Duan Xiubo’s father was growing old and would soon need someone to take care of him.
This cold, transactional aspect of their relationship, buried within the family dynamic, filled Duan Xiubo with disgust.
Mr. Xia Rui understood the source of Duan Xiubo’s aloofness toward his father. Even among old friends, Duan’s father’s behavior was often seen as outrageous. Those willing to overlook his many failed marriages and still marry him were rarely saintly themselves. But his father had a strange, unwavering preference for these women. His neglect of Duan Xiubo had always baffled people like Mr. Xia Rui, who cherished their children.
“I’ve heard some troubling news this time,” Mr. Xia Rui said.
Duan Xiubo, thinking there could hardly be worse news, responded calmly, “What is it?”
“Your new stepmother,” Mr. Xia Rui frowned, his face filled with disdain, “she’s pregnant. Believe me, we’ve all mocked her past, but at the wedding, she and your father announced that she’s expecting his child.”
Duan Xiubo was silent for a long moment, waiting for the rest of the story. “Oh.”
“That’s all?” Mr. Xia Rui widened his eyes. “Ike, your father is having another child. Do I need to remind you what that means?”
Duan Xiubo understood all too well. His values had never aligned with those of the older generation, but he stuck to his principles. “I know. I understand what you mean. But all of that is his business—it has nothing to do with me.”
“You’re his biological son!”
“And there will be more.”
Mr. Xia Rui gazed at him for a long moment before finally looking away, exhausted. “I see.” He patted Duan Xiubo’s arm gently. “You poor boy. You deserve a better life.”
Duan Xiubo often struggled to understand the thinking of people like Mr. Xia Rui. By all accounts, Duan was young, successful, wealthy, handsome, and healthy—living a life far better than most people could ever hope for. Yet, for the older generation, even the slightest flaw turned someone like Duan into a pitiful figure.
He had long since ceased being pitiful. Nor was he self-sacrificing.
The maid from the Stennis household found Duan Xiubo, informing him that his father had called, having heard about his presence at the event. Duan Xiubo chose not to answer.
His mood was now thoroughly ruined. He needed a way to cope.
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