Half an hour later, Xi Qian was starting to regret allowing Li Xiran to leave with the host. She obviously knew the purpose of Li Xiran's attendance tonight, but that didn't mean she enjoyed socializing with other women who were above her status. She was able to dodge answering others' questions about her personal life and who she was to Li Xiran, aside from being his 'friend'.
She was aware that being here tonight with Li Xiran could be a recipe for disaster, not only for him, but for her as well. The only parties she attended before were hosted by Su Xiaofei or Lu Qingfeng and no one had bothered to cast her a glance among the crowd until now.
Xi Qian didn't think that it was anyone else's business if Li Xiran brought her or any other woman tonight. Neither did he need to explain why she was with him. Alas, some people wouldn't leave her alone.
Li Xiran had been a gentleman to her, always asking her for her opinion during their conversations even though it was obvious that she didn't have any knowledge about running businesses. He had also been patient with her, introducing her to the other attendees until the host whisked him away. Li Xiran needed to connect with other business associates who could become potential investors in their family business, and this was why she wasn't upset that he'd left her yet again.
"Well, if it isn't Miss Nurse!"
Xi Qian groaned for the umpteenth time that night and glanced at the infuriating man coming to greet her. Of all the places, why did she have to meet this man again? Hadn't Li Xiran and his younger brother made it clear that they were no longer associated with him?
"Mr. Long." She gave him a curt nod, even though she was dying to run away from this man. "Is there something you need from me?"
Xi Qian hadn't forgotten that this man tried to assault her during his last visit to meet Li Xiran. Had Li Xiran and Li Xingtian not come to her rescue that day, she would have already beaten up this lecherous man. Chairman Li and his wife had gone out for a date and she was left with the Li brothers at their estate.
Mr. Long had come to discuss business with the two, but somehow along the way, he caught sight of her. He stalked her and cornered her in the private library, where she was studying her notes, and Li Xiran had found her in a precarious situation.
Li Xiran had been fuming with rage at Mr. Long for what he'd done and decided right then and there to cut off their business connections with the man. Surprisingly, Li Xingtian agreed with him as he escorted Mr. Long out of their manor.
Xi Qian appreciated the Li brothers' concern towards her, but she could perfectly defend herself if the man insisted to lay a hand on her that day.
"Simple." Mr. Long grinned at her. "You."
He then looked around and noticed that neither of the Li brothers were with her.
"My, my, how could those scoundrels leave you on your own? A beautiful woman like you shouldn't be left on her own in a crowd of people. So what do you think, Miss Nurse?" He offered a hand for her to take. "Would you accompany me instead?"
Xi Qian shot him a bland smile and ignored the hand he was offering. She would be a fool if she accepted his offer after what he had done during their first meeting.
"I have to apologize, but I cannot go with you."
The smile on Mr. Long's face faltered, before his lips pressed into a thin line, clearly not pleased that Xi Qian was rejecting him for the second time. Li Xingtian had told her to keep a distance from this man, as Mr. Long was known to be a notorious womanizer.
Xi Qian then thought that obviously, he was one of those people who couldn't accept no as an answer. Did his mother drop him when he was a baby? There's clearly something wrong with his head.
"Now, now, don't be like that, Miss Nurse. What could Li Xiran possibly give to you that I couldn't? Li Xiran shouldn't be stingy when it comes to you and shouldn't monopolize all your time to himself, no?"
At those words, Xi Qian narrowed her eyes dangerously, her hand itching to throw the drink she was holding in one hand as she looked at his perverted grin. However, she was also aware that since she was under the employment of the Li family, her actions tonight might implicate them.
"Mr. Long is thinking too much. Mr. Li and I are nothing but good friends."
"But we could be friends too, right?" He winked at her. "I wouldn't mind if you reap benefits from it."
This man was clearly testing her patience. Xi Qian was really itching to slap away the smugness on his face. She couldn't understand what this man had seen in her and why he was targeting her.
"Don't be shy. Let's not make a scene in front of everyone here." He smirked and stepped forward before grabbing Xi Qian's wrist, forbidding her to escape.
"Let go of me." Xi Qian sneered, trying to pull her wrist out of his vice grip hold. She wasn't stupid not to know that he was threatening her using Li Xiran. If she dared to make a scene tonight, the one who would lose face was not her, but Li Xiran.
"It's just for one dance. Is there a reason why you are denying my offer?"
"Because Qian has promised me a dance. I'm pretty sure that she was speaking in human language when she said that she cannot accompany you tonight."
Xi Qian and Mr. Long turned to the direction of the voice to find Lu Qingfeng walking towards them, his arm extending to offer a hand for Xi Qian to take.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢