234 Love is Fragile

After all preparations for the assembly were done, Rentao headed back to the banquet hall to inform Huang Xur about the meeting. However, the moment he got to them, the heiress and Gianna were heading towards the exit door. He was about to stop them from leaving but Huang Xur immediately stepped forward, abruptly interrupted him from what he was about to do. 

"Is this how you treat VIP guests?" Huang Xur asked rudely.

Rentao should have answered when Wang Yuvin arrived just in time.

"We actually alter our way of service according to how polite or rude the customer is." Wang Yuvin answered promptly while staring intently at the person in front of him.

"And you are?" Wang Yuvin asked Huang Xur, pretending not to know her.

"Seriously? You do not know who the hell I am? Are you fucking kidding me?" Huang Xur replied with arrogance and contempt for the young man she was talking to.

Huang Xur's bodyguards immediately surrounded Wang Yuvin and Rentao, while Gianna forced herself not to burst into laughter.

"I am no mind-reader, so I don't know you at all. Besides, you are wearing a mask. How am I supposed to know who you are then?" Wang Yuvin replied as if he was still annoying Huang Xur.

"How about you? Do you know who I am?" Wang Yuvin asked foolishly.

"Shut up! Where's the CEO? I would like to speak with Oriental Europa's CEO at once!" Huang Xur could no longer hide his intense annoyance with the other person.

"Please forgive my intrusion. But the CEO just went home a few moments ago." Rentao answered gently to Huang Xur's question.

"Then I want to talk to the next in line! I do not want to waste my time on insects any longer!" Huang Xur's arrogant order.

"I am afraid the next in line doesn't wish to discuss things further with you." Wang Yuvin said, waving his hand in the air, sending signal to Oriental Europa's private army of bodyguards.

Soon, a group of at least 50 men in black suit marched towards the exit of the hall, making everyone inside the hall turned their heads to the source of the commotion.

"Well, basing from the uniform and number of your bodyguards ... I think you must be Lady Huang. And you know what, I am disappointed. I thought the heiress of HPA is well mannered. Unfortunately, I thought wrong. Anyway, the party is almost over, Lady Huang. I would like to excuse myself now. " Wang Yuvin replied as he quickly walked towards the exit because he can no longer share the same air with the arrogant heiress.

"Huh? I should be the one saying that to you! Disrespectful fool!"

"Lady Huang!" Rentao shouted, because of Huang Xur's blatant insult to Wang Yuvin.

"Calm down, Rentao. There's no need to stoop down to her level." Wang Yuvin said, abruptly halting his steps.

The next day…

The sun had just begun radiating its first few rays of the morning, but Wang Reiji was already up, on her way to her hotel's headquarters. Rentao was driving her, and he noticed how his boss seemed out of her element when he snatched a peek at Wang Reiji on the rear-view mirror. Instead of the composed and steadfast expression that made his knees tremble and tense, Wang Reiji has her gaze outside the window in a manner of haze and relaxation. 

Rentao was taken aback with her employer's unnaturally calm composure. "Is everything fine CEO Wang?" he managed to burp out. In a snap, the lady's features tightened, emanating the fierce aura Rentao learned to dread. 

"Concentrate on the road."

"Yes, ma'am"

It seems that a fraction of her thoughts slipped and appeared on her face. Deep within, Wang Reiji mused over the success that was last night's masquerade. All things considered, it achieved what she intended it to fulfill: to put the Oriental Europa in the spotlight. However, Wang Reiji knew that it was just the tip of what the hotel needs to bloom and prosper. It's the reason why even though the extravaganza finished up late last night, she still remained the early bird.

The car was pulled over the exclusive parking bay for VIPs, where Rentao left the keys of the automobile to a valet boy. He accompanied her boss up the elevator. Wang Reiji's high heels clicked and clacked against the ceramic floor as she strode towards her office. 

"Turn on the TV, then put it on news," she instructed her assistant as soon as she was seated. True enough, the Oriental Europa's debut ball was the center of attention.

"Last night was certainly one to remember as the Oriental Europa held a masquerade ball, attended by various figures in the business industry, to celebrate its much-awaited opening. Important individuals were spotted at the gala," the reporter on the screen expressed in a rhythmic flurry.

As the newscaster continued to explain how the birth of Oriental Europa will potentially provide jobs for the working class, a knock on her door reached Wang Reiji's ears. Rentao, who was struggling to organize the pile of proposals and offers that the hotel received, clumsily opened it for Wang Yuvin, who looked every bit dashing with a black blazer, cuffed slacks and laced leather shoes.

"You're up early today," Wang Reiji said to Wang Yuvin nonchalantly. Not to be fooled by her calm tone, Wang Yuvin stared at his sister's crooked smirk, which was nothing short of sarcasm. Everything on Wang Reiji's face was hinting at his romantic encounters of yesterday's eve.

"You're one to talk. Can't you at least lay off work for even half a day to relax and revel on what you've accomplished?," he scolded her elder sister. His eyes darted on the television, which was still persistent on detailing the advantages of the Oriental Europa in strengthening tourism. 

"See?," he motioned to the television. "The news is loving the hotel."

"Which is why we need to make sure that the publicity we are getting results in excellent deals and worthwhile investments," Wang Reiji reasoned out to her brother as she started to skim through the files Rentao dropped on top of her uncluttered desk. "With the amount of calls and projects the hotel's accumulating, we barely have enough to sift through it all and weed out the bad offers," she continued.

"Alright, fine…" Yuvin replied while showing her his palms in a manner of surrender. He knew that no one could stop Wang Reiji from pursuing her goals once her eyes were already set on the direction. It's one of the traits he always admired about his sister, and one of the traits that he aspires to develop. "Well, which companies have you got?," Yuvin initiated. He walked around the CEO's table and stood beside her chair, peeking over the paperwork on Wang Reiji's hands.

"That reminds me," Wang Reiji pondered to herself. "Is this all that there is Rentao? I could've sworn there are more of--" Her ensuing trail of words was cut off by a soft plop made by the high stack of folders Rentao promptly rested on the vacant corner of her work surface.

"Actually, we received many proposals, but I went the extra mile by making a compilation of the ones you might think are interesting and useful, which are already on your hands. I made sure to include the big names and companies, Rentao explained. "The rest are on this heap," he said while patting the files he just put down.

"Oh." Wang Reiji allowed her face to show a bit of approval, letting her assistant know that she is impressed with the initiative. "Thank you."

The disheartened feeling Rentao felt at the car quickly vanished. However, his guilt was slowly eating him inside. His boss was Wang Reiji, he should be loyal to her, right? Sadly, Wang Yuvin ordered him not to tell Wang Reiji about Huang Xur. 

"You were not kidding; this is a lot of work," Wang Yuvin remarked after glossing over the bunch of papers.

"What else can I do for you, Miss Wang?," Rentao asked her boss.

"Just keep me updated if there are more. You may leave now." Rentao bowed and left without saying another word.

As soon as the assistant exited the room, Wang Reiji poked Yuvin on his abdomen. Wang Yuvin, who was half-sitting on the desk, jolted up. "What?," he exclaimed with slight annoyance.

Wang Reiji raised her eyebrows cheekily. "I've heard that you've got your eyes set on the Kiang heir."

"What are you on about, sis?," he retorted, feigning confusion. His voice came out like a chirp, fickle and high-pitched. 

"Don't toy with me, it's obvious; even Europa could have sensed it." Wang Reiji said while settling her elbows on the table and leaning towards his brother.

"That's nothing. I- I…" his voice trailed off. There are no diversions or reasons left under his belt. Wang Yuvin's features continued to betray him as his face blushed deep red and his ears started flushing.

"You what? Please do tell what else being alone with a girl in a room means?" she asked in a mocking yet playful tone.

Yuvin let out a sigh. Of course, Wang Reiji would know. She caught Wang Yuvin off guard.

"Yes, we're a couple, if that's what they call it," Yuvin confessed, emphasizing on the word 'couple' as if it's something to cringe about.

The elder sister smiled lovingly at his brother, who was now pacing back and forth across the office space. "Calm down, that's all that I want to confirm. I don't plan on interfering. You're old enough to think for yourself," she assured him. She really means it; Wang Reiji genuinely believed that he has the ability to make the right decisions, and that he was entitled to venture on his own path.

However, Wang Yuvin's walk of nervousness persisted. His eyebrows furrowed, while his palms became sweaty as he rubbed them together. It was visible for Wang Reiji that her brother was troubled by something else, so she decided to ask. "What's on your mind?"

Wang Yuvin halted and faced her. He realized that Wang Reiji was always going to be there for him to trust. "It's just that… I'm worried about the whole prospect. There are people out there after us, waiting for the right time and planning the right way to pull us down. Sure, the Kiang clan also have their own share of enemies, but the truth is, I feel like I'm bringing Leilei closer to harm."

It was a reasonable excuse, one that Wang Reiji fully understood. In this society they were born in, attachments were huge liabilities. There was a small portion of her mind that brooded over the dangers that may befall on Europa. However, Wang Reiji knew how to absolve the doubt on Wang Yuvin's mind.

"Is she worth fighting for?," she questioned him, her eyes void of judgment. It was the same question she asked herself everyday to keep moving forward.

Yuvin nodded, then closed his eyes. When he opened them, he was already wearing a smile full of contentment. "But still, can you keep it classified? I don't want to take any chances," Wang Yuvin expressed.

Reiji chuckled. "Of course, that's the least that I can do."

"Thank you." Wang Yuvin realized how lucky he had Wang Reiji as part of her family. "In that case, I'm off," he said as he strolled to the door.

"Off to where?," Wang Reiji asked.

"Leilei and I will have breakfast first time as a couple," he replied.

"Make sure that Qin Rong doesn't spot you there," Wang Reiji teased. "He might divorce you."

"Very funny. Oh well, good bye!" Yuvin shut the door with a soft bang,

Once the door was shut, Wang Reiji immediately turned off the television, wanting to acquire silence and peace of mind before proceeding to work. Her plan backfired because after a few moments, she found herself thinking of her lost love years ago. Seeing Wang Yuvin in a state of romance brought it all back: Zhang Chenric's tender lips, his silky hair, his alluring aroma.

She leaned on her chair, letting herself be overcome with the memories, memories that glistened like glass. They were all sweet and bright, enough to make her smile momentarily. But when all is said and done, she had only one conclusion.

"Love is fragile... It either fades too fast or gets crushed," she whispered to herself. Maybe it was a good thing that they had their confrontation, even if it was hasty and informal. "A sense of closure, perhaps?," Wang Reiji thought. But something else bugged her, which hit her almost immediately. If Zhang Chenric claimed that he had nothing to do with her arrest, then who pulled the strings?