A week later, Li Xiran found himself inside the bar that was indicated on the card Lu Qingfeng had given him during their last encounter. He wasn't sure what to expect tonight and wasn't sure why Lu Qingfeng was interested in a business deal with him, considering that his family's company wasn't doing well at the moment.
When the news broke out that his father collapsed and got a heart attack, the company shares plummeted and several of their prospective investors backed out. If only Li Xingtian was able to convince them that he could manage the company on his own, but alas, he didn't have the business acumen their father ingrained into Li Xiran during his childhood years.
If Li Xiran was raised to become his successor, Chairman Li raised Li Xingtian without the pressure on his shoulder, allowing the latter to do his own bidding. It was something Li Xiran hated about his father. He couldn't understand why his father was hard on him, but was willing to dote on his younger brother.
If he hadn't returned in time, Li Xiran was sure that he would find the business his forefathers started in shambles if it was left to his incompetent little brother for too long. Now, the board was looking at him as if he could pull out some miracle to save their company.
Li Xiran groaned at that thought. He couldn't believe he should sacrifice the career he started from scratch, without relying on his father's influence, over the years only to save his younger brother's ass. He supposed his birthright as the firstborn wouldn't allow him to lose the company because of Li Xingtian.
Having no choice but to do what was needed, Li Xiran could only suck it up and face the challenge as a man. He entered the bar and wasn't surprised when a loud crowd and music greeted him. He grimaced and continued to make his way to the VIP lounge.
Even though the place was thumping with loud and catchy music and filled with people, no one dared to approach him. He walked alone, and the crowd parted like the Red Sea giving way to Moses. Men got out of his way, while women could only ogle at him with interest.
None of them mattered to Li Xiran as he walked past them. He was here for business and not to socialize anyway.
He moved to the narrow hall, which was surprisingly empty, given how jam packed the dance floor was. There were several VIP booths on the second level, which he walked past until he reached the designated room on his card. Outside room 209, there were two guards wearing black suits and an earpiece on their right ears. They gave him a blank look as he approached.
"I'm here on an invitation." Li Xiran pulled out the card and showed it to the two guards.
They nodded, stepped aside, one of them opening the door for him.
Li Xiran said nothing else and strode inside, his eyes sweeping around the room, noticing how the place was comparably larger than the other VIP rooms he'd entered within the bar. He was then greeted with a sight of four men playing poker at the large center table with a bottle of alcohol an arm's length away from each of them.
The four men lifted their heads almost at the same time when Li Xiran opened the door. Each had different expressions on their faces.
"About damn time. We've been waiting for you." Song Yiran laughed as he saw Li Xiran. He then gestured for the newcomer to take a seat.
"Thanks. I'm Li Xiran by the way." He extended a hand and shook hands with the four men before taking a seat next to Song Yiran.
"Now we only wait for Lu Qingfeng to arrive." Ning Xuan commented as he continued to play with Zhu Baichuan and Yan Xiuchen.
"I already knew this would happen. He was head over heels for Su Xiaofei before. Now that they are married, I wouldn't be surprised if Lu Qingfeng is already wrapped around her finger." Song Yiran hummed.
"Lu Qingfeng is already married?" Li Xiran blinked at that. When did Lu Qingfeng marry Su Xiaofei? When he met the two last week, although it was obvious that they were comfortable with each other, he didn't think that they would've already tied the knot. But judging by their comfort level, it wouldn't be surprising if they told him they had been married for a long time.
"Yep. Surprise, right? He's the youngest amongst us, but he couldn't wait and jumped into marriage as soon as he got the chance." Zhu Beichuan answered him, while Yan Xiuchen remained silent on his seat as he took a sip from his brandy.
"I could see why he wants to marry her right off the bat. With a face like Su Xiaofei's, it wouldn't be surprising if men coveted her." Ning Xuan shrugged. Su Xiaofei was a pleasure to meet anyway, and he could see why Lu Qingfeng was attracted to her.
The door opened for the second time and the five men turned, their conversation forgotten. Lu Qingfeng came in sight, walking towards them in a hurry as he slipped his jacket off and tossed it to the empty couch in the process.
"Why is it that since you got married, you've been coming later than usual?" Ning Xuan asked him with a grin. "Su Xiaofei won't let you go?"
Lu Qingfeng groaned and shook his head. He took a seat next to Yan Xiuchen and gave Li Xiran a quick glance. He gave him a curt nod before facing Ning Xuan.
"No." He denied whatever Ning Xuan was implying. "I lost track of time."
Which was true. Ning Xuan got it wrong, though, because the one who wasn't willing to part from each other was him. If his wife hadn't reminded him of his meeting with the rest of the brotherhood, he would have totally forgotten about it and would have continued to bask in his wife's attention.
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