Ran Xueyi tried to be polite to him even more. Though inwardly, she wanted to push the other and if possible, kick him on the shin, but as much as she wanted to do that, she was now attending a formal party hosted by the Song family and in her grandparents' stead. No matter how much she wanted to show an attitude and make this man know his place, she really didn't want to make a scene either.
Thus, she could only reply stiffly to the guy, "No, it's really alright. You don't have to call me baby please."
James chuckled when he heard her. Her voice sounded so pleasant and sweet, he felt like dragging her somewhere and cuddling her until she called out with that soft and sweet voice again.
"I won't call you baby then. I'll call you darling."
Ran Xueyi was now feeling uncomfortable at the man's persistent pursuit. This kind of person didn't know when to stop and would ignore the discomfort that anyone they desired to pour in their attention showed. She'd met some of this type of people before and even now, she didn't know what to do with them other than completely ignore these people.
Previously, she was trying to be as courteous and polite as she could be for the sake of her grandparents, but if the man continued to do this and harm her, she wouldn't mind becoming ruthless towards him.
"There's really no need. I cannot afford to have young master Duan's affection." Ran Xueyi showed a faint smile.
James Duan was quite surprised when he heard his name from her lips. He originally thought that this lady was someone new from the gentry. Seeing how she arrived alone and no one had spoken to her, added with how some people were casting their gazes and attention, he assumed that she was somebody's plaything and was only invited through her patron's help.
James asked after some thought, "You know me?"
Ran Xueyi almost rolled her eyes and replied indifferently, "James Duan, the third young master of the Duan family from City F. You're quite popular basing only on how the scions of the country liked to talk about you."
James Duan was even more surprised and he directly invited himself to sit on the chair beside her without any word. Ran Xueyi also no longer cared since the man didn't know how to stop nor care whether he should ask for permission to sit at her table.
"So you've heard about me." A smile appeared on his lips as he put all his attention to her. "Since you know me, can't the beautiful lady please tell me her name?"
"And why should I?"
"To get to know each other, of course!" James Duan answered as matter of factly before continuing to say, "Since you already know about me, I bet you also know why I approached you."
Ran Xueyi didn't respond.
Earlier, she didn't recognize who James was since she was distracted by the accident and her soaked gown. But when she saw the other person's face, she thought it was familiar and when she connected his face and the encounter tonight, she finally guessed what identity the other had.
James Duan was not so unpopular among her peers. He was almost included in everybody's discussion during a gathering. Being the third young master of the Duan family, a small coal mine tycoon, he had enough background to appear in some elite events and gatherings.
But James wasn't famous because of his family nor his outstanding appearance. He became infamous <anno data-annotation-id="f45c6520-6c21-4c59-bfa8-0425e52bfa7e">crescively</anno> due to his ravenous appetite. He could basically toy with anyone regardless of their gender and age, for as long as it would appease his desire and lust for flesh and pleasure.
And right now, if Ran Xueyi wasn't wrong, he had found a new prey...
And that prey just had to be her.
But the question now is... Will she be willing to become his prey?
The answer to that was a no-brainer. Anyone wouldn't try to involve themselves with a man like James Duan and Ran Xueyi was certainly not going to do the same as well.
Ran Xueyi said, "Mr. Duan, if you please don't bother me at my table? I reckon that there are order in how we take our seats. If you please follow such a simple rule, I would be more pleased with you."
James Duan didn't get what she meant at first. Then, his face contorted into an ugly sight the moment he could completely comprehend what she was trying to say.
The order of the seats, especially at the front, were specifically for those honored guests that received high respect from Old Master Song. James Duan, was an unwelcome guest and didn't have the ability to sit there. So, she was showing him that he didn't belong there.
Ran Xueyi was simply telling him that her level was too high for him to reach.
James Duan was stunned and speechless, "You...!"
Ran Xueyi didn't look at him and took a sip from her glass. She paused when she remembered that her bodice and sleeve was soaked with wine and thought that she might need to go home earlier than planned. It was really not good to stay there longer with her gown like this.
Forget it, she might as well as go home earlier after giving Old Master Song her grandfather's gift and sleep.
Lowering her gaze, Ran Xueyi thought that she should really go home now. At least, she accomplished her mission to attend Old Master Song's party even if she hadn't stayed here for long.
Ran Xueyi didn't know what happened but while she was lowering her head, she seemed to sense the surrounding area turning stiffer and colder. The sounds of people chattering and talking at their table seemed to have been muffled before it gradually disappeared.
'What's going?'
Suddenly someone came to their table and a pair of leather shoes appeared in Ran Xueyi's field of vision.
"Ran Xueyi."
The low voice that had now become overly familiar to her sounded from above, compelling her to look up.
Two pairs of eyes looked at each other and their figures reflected in their eyes.
Song Yu Han had come over here as she had expected.
<annotations style="display: none;"><ol class="tinymce-annotation-container"><li data-annotation-id="f45c6520-6c21-4c59-bfa8-0425e52bfa7e">Crescively = progressively, slowly, increasingly.</li></ol></annotations>",
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