EVERY LIKE, VOTE, AND COMMENT HELPS!

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Still caught up in the private room, Yuan Ming had cornered Li Qian.

"Are you really so free, A'Qian? First, you're 'conveniently' in the area to catch lunch with Jiao Jiao, and now she's at your birthday party?"

Li Qian was impatient, wanting to return to Jiao Jiao with the drink he'd promised. He sighed, "I can make the time for her, A'Ming."

Yuan Ming widened his eyes in disbelief. "Make the time for her? You ignored us all for months after you got back from your trip, but you've got time for her? I mean, I get it, she's sweet and cute and all, but..."

He took in the look on Li Qian's face. "Oh god, she's the one? But I thought you said... she's the fucking one? The girl you've been looking for? Are you going to tell her?"

Li Qian shook his head. "I haven't told her anything and don't know if I ever will. I don't want her to feel any pressure."

Yuan Ming raised a hand and clapped it on Li Qian's shoulder. "You'd better hope that Xue'er never finds out. She's already jealous of Jiao Jiao, but if she knew that Jiao Jiao's the one you've been waiting for, she'd lose her mind."

They glanced at the sapphire couch in the corner where they'd observed the two chatting earlier, but Jiao Jiao was gone. Only Ling Xue remained, sipping carelessly from a champagne glass and leaning against the plush cushions surrounding her.

Li Qian furrowed his brow in concern, but before he could move, the door to the private room burst open. Surprised exclamations sounded at the appearance of a tall, athletic man. His features were finely chiseled, and his strong jawline was peppered with stubble, giving him a sense of handsome rakishness. The sun-kissed warmth of his complexion spoke to countless hours under the sun, and his raven black hair was tousled artfully.

"Song Junhui?" Shouts and greetings sounded from around the room, as his was a figure that was rarely seen in Shanghai. After an unfortunate accident when he was a teenager, this big brother who had been an idol to them growing up had disappeared abruptly and only appeared occasionally to visit Old Master Song and his family.

Song Junhui scanned the room methodically, and as he met Li Qian's eyes, he walked over. He leaned in close and said quietly, "Come to the room next door when you can make your excuses."

A torrent of emotions rushed through Li Qian's chest, anxiety piercing him like an electric shock. Song Junhui left quickly after that, and the room erupted in gossip at his sudden appearance in Shanghai. Li Qian turned to face Yuan Ming and saw him frozen on the spot. He nudged his shoulder and asked, "You okay?"

Yuan Ming blinked a few times, then muttered, "I need a drink." He headed over to the bar, and Li Qian quickly followed Song Junhui next door.

Bursting through the door, he saw Song Junhui standing over a silent, pale Jiao Jiao. She was laid out carefully on a velvet settee, her eyes closed and hands clasped over her stomach.

"What the hell happened?" Rage gathered around him like icy tendrils of seething frost, clutching at the air with a chilling grip that mirrored the intensity of his fury.

Song Junhui whirled around to face him. "Ask your scumbag cousin what happened."

"Li Xiang? I didn't even know he was here. If he touched her, I'll..."

"Relax, he didn't touch her. But I witnessed him terrorizing one of the servers. Jiao Jiao must have accidentally walked into the wrong room and saw them. I caught her just as she fainted."

Li Qian clasped a hand to his forehead and knelt beside Jiao Jiao's sleeping form. "That asshole... did you call someone?"

Song Junhui sat on one of the chairs and poured himself a glass of water. "I called the manager over, and he pulled the server out. You've let him get too arrogant, A'Qian. If he's cocky enough to try that in the club, I guarantee he's done it before."

Li Qian's eyes were glued to Jiao Jiao's pallid complexion. His fingers brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead, his touch feather-light as he traced a line from her temple down to her throat. A swirl of emotions rose within him; frustration battled with rage, overwhelmed by an unshakeable sense of protectiveness.

He clasped her palms with trembling hands and looked over to Song Junhui. "Thank you for finding her, Junhui. She's more important to me than you know."

Li Qian's brow creased as he thought back. "That... how did you know to come find me? And you called her Jiao Jiao earlier. Have you met her before?"

Song Junhui chuckled and set down the glass. "I was drinking in the lobby when you two walked in earlier. When I came to join the party, I saw her slip out of the room. She seemed a little out of it, so I followed her down the hallway, and there you have it."

Li Qian still looked skeptical, so he added, "Grandfather bought Jing Mei's 'Verdant Elegance,' and he's not stopped talking about her since. Jiao Jiao's name must have come up in passing."

Li Qian sighed and rubbed Jiao Jiao's cold hands to get some warmth circulating. "Sorry, Junhui. Anyways, welcome back. Will you be sticking around this time?"

Song Junhui looked from Jiao Jiao's still figure back to Li Qian and said, "Yes, I'm here to stay."