To Love You Again

The two sat without striking a conversation with the Lu. The Lu family was not a person who would approach people first. So this table was amusingly silent.

Lu Yin Ze gulped. At the moment that he meets the younger one's eyes, he thought of his older brother. The look of his brother's eyes and the young man who was wearing the mask was the same. Deep and detached.

He could not help but watched the two newcomers with wariness.

For some reason, his heart was beating loudly. It's a familiar feeling. The feeling of being afraid.

He tried to calm down himself. He already saw the list. His brother's name was not on the list. It's impossible for his brother to be here.

However, even though he said that Lu Yin Ze's eyes keep watching them. 

Gao Huan and the young man who was wearing the masked glanced at each other at the same time. Gao Huan hide his smile when his eyes met the young man's eyes.

A short conversation was there in one look.

Xiong Zhi glanced at the two new comers in the Lu's table. In the list that Linfeng gave to her, only one person doesn't have a full name and a picture. This person only has a pseudonym 'XLX'. 

The guest has a choice to use a code name. Especially in this theme. Where people could hide their identity easily through their mask. Only the organizer could know who they are.

However, ever since the creation of IAmFashionista, no one had to use a code name. No one tried to hide their identity. Because most of the people who attend this event were here to make their name shine brighter and to widen their connections. So it was really a wonder why such a person would attend the event while hiding their identity. 

What's their motive? Are they here to just purely buy a dress? However, Xiong Zhi does not care about it. As long as, they were not her enemy.

She chose to follow Linfeng's words.

Xiong Zhi remembered what Linfeng said.

"This person is very mysterious. He has a great network. He hid his identity very well. Those people who can manage to do that are either one of the big families that could rival the legendary family or one of the lords of the underworld."

It was shocking even for Linfeng. Because he spent a week of looking to this man's background, however, it was futile. The investigation couldn't find anything. It's like the man was a ghost. Xiong Zhi and Linfeng realized that this man was dangerous. Because his security could even rival a Xiong.

Linfeng then reminded her that this kind of person was better to be avoided. If they approached her for an offer she needs to decline.

Seeing the two, Xiong Zhi agreed.

Xiong Zhi waited more for one person to come.

That moment came.

Xiong Mai, Xiong Zhi's aunt in the third branch, was wearing a bright red long gown. She walked to the VIP area. Her seat was on the second row of VIP. It was only natural that she would be invited since she was the central figure of the European Union. However, she was a bit lacking compare to the persons in the front row of VIP.

Xiong Mai went to Xiong Zhi's table first to greet Old Xiong and Xiong Zhi. 

Xiong Zhi was happy to meet her. Their eyes met, with one look Xiong Zhi knew what her aunt Xiong Mai meant.

The guests and some VIPs keep coming. 

A while later, the refreshments were served and the people in the same table were having a conversation. Some were walking to other's table to introduce themselves. A lot of people keep coming and going into the VIP area. But of course, those people in the VIP seat remain seated.

It was only when the light in the platform turned on that all the guests returned to their seats.

It seems that the event, IAmFashionista was about to start.

A middle-aged chubby man who was wearing a pink tailcoat was standing in the platform.

He was a famous designer, rank number one all over the world, Mr. Cang Yi. The host of the IAmFashionista since five years ago.

"Good evening, royalties."

Royalties. This statement was very true. These people in front of Mr. Cang were kings and queens that dominated their own industry and country.

"I'm so happy to stand in front of you again and serve you tonight."

Mr. Cang looked around. Especially in the VIP seats. 

"It looks like our sponsors increase in number this year. It shows how our society is becoming richer as time passed by."

The guests were silently listening.

"Of course, not everybody can manage the feat to become richer and to stand at the top. That's why we are here. To help the poor. And those in need."

Xiong Zhi flinched at this speech. This speech sounds arrogant. She looked around.

No one was frowning like her. Maybe the guests were always hearing this every year?

Xiong Zhi was right.

The speech was a part of the script. It was made to compliment and satisfied the ego of those predators. 

The speech continued how the IAmFashionista was first established since the 2000's. How it becomes big. Some people were introduced, such as the legendary family, families from south America, big donors from the north, and many more. Those were the regular VIPs. The mentioned guest would be highlighted by the spotlight. They stand up and waved.

Xiong Zhi suddenly realized why these rich people choose to waste money like this. It was for fame. They are buying fame.

But she could not judge them. She was the same. Why else she would be here? Besides creating new connections and playing with Xiong Wuyue, she was here to make of her name. She was not different from them.

Next, Mr. Cang introduced the dresses that would be in the auction today.

Twenty dresses. Those dresses were made by famous designers throughout the world. 

And the main dish tonight was the three dresses that Mr. Cang personally made.

The guests then were given by their own plaque. It was a golden plaque with a steel stick for the VIPs. Silver color for the normal guest.

They would just need to raise it to let Mr. Cang know that they were participating in the bidding.

After the speech, the lights turned off. 

Old Xiong's voice sounded at that time, 

"It's now time to put your mask on."

Then the light opened. All of the guests were now wearing a mask.

Mr. Cang was on the platform together with the other designer, the designer would introduce the dress he made.

The auction started.

Models from different countries were walking in the platform one by one. They were all gorgeous. The six dresses were varieties of historically-theme dresses. There was an ancient dress from Asia, Old West dresses from the 1920s, and Victorian gowns. However, they were designed in a modern way. The dresses were all unique and very classical. 

The bidding started. These dresses started at the cost of $200,00 dollars. It raised to $300,000. Some were raised to $400,000.

The people who participated in the bid were all guests at the back. None of the VIPs bid.

When the guest keeps bidding, Xiong Zhi wondered if they would really wear it. What if the person they intended to gift it could not match the measurements?

This was answered by his grandfather who started to talk to her side.

"If there's anything you want, you can use the plaque." 

Xiong Zhi looked at his grandfather.

"I've been buying a dress every year since you were young. It's been wasted in the museum. Now, I don't need to waste it. I can buy a dress for you. "

Xiong Zhi hasn't visited the Xiong's museum. So she hasn't seen a row of dresses that were preserved in the glass box. All those expensive dresses were standing there and were just worn by the mannequin. 

The guest bought the dresses not for them to wear it. If someone from their family or close one fitted on the dress they bought, they gave it for free. However, some just displayed it in their hallway. It's their pride and trophy. Especially, some of their wives or the ladies who participate like to collect and display the dresses.

But there are still people who wanted to be introduced every year or to be promoted to VIP. The way to be recognized more was buying a dress from the auction. Aside from having their name in the front news, they would also be the talk of the year.

So these people were serious about bidding those dresses.

All the six dresses in the first batch were auctioned. The highest price among the six was $450,000. That's a great price.

The first auction ended and a small party for the guests to interact with each other started once more.

Xiong Zhi was waiting for these.

It was because the people who walked to their table earlier were not the people she wanted to talk to. Those people she targeted were surrounded as well. Because a lot of them were in the VIP as well.

She prepared to stand up.

Old Xiong frowned when she stands up. He warned her earlier that she doesn't need to stand up. That's the pride of the Xiong. Xiong Zhi saw this and she explained.

"Grandfather, I came here as the owner of my company, not just as Xiong Zhi. I managed to get the seat by your trial." Xiong Zhi lowered her voice so only his grandfather could hear her.

She really need to talked those people. Besides, she doesn't want to spend her free time here. It was not like she has to stay in their table with the beast seated beside her.

Old Xiong was stunned. He did not manage to say anything before Xiong Zhi walk away.

Well, he could not retort to her. Xiong Zhi managed to get the seat by winning a difficult trial. Actually, she managed more than that. If Old Xiong casually gave the seat and brought her here, Xiong Zhi would follow all of his instructions. Since she came under his wing.

But they already have an agreement before. Since she has won the trial, she had gained the seat by her own might, she doesn't need to follow blindly his commands. She has her own free will and she will have to do what she needs to do here today. Her grandfather could not stop her.

Old Xiong who realized this drank his wine. 

His granddaughter had grown.