The Only Choice - 9

The following afternoon, Guan Yuanbai went to the Nanjue Hotel for a meeting with the hotel's management team.

After the meeting, he had his driver take him to a restaurant called Senruo, a well-established place over a decade old that he frequented, for a meal with a business partner.

Walking inside, the decor was filled with antique-style ornaments. A server led him to a private room. When the door opened, the view stretched out to a deep, intense navy blue—a serene lake scene outside, with lights glinting on the ripples near the shore.

Closer by, the dining table was set, the aroma of wine already lingering in the air. One person was already seated there, wearing silver-rimmed glasses, with delicate, handsome features.

"Yuanbai, you're here."

Guan Yuanbai walked over and sat down opposite the man. "You've already decanted the wine? Didn't order any food yet?"

"Waiting for you."

Guan Yuanbai smiled at him, gestured to a server, and ordered several dishes.

"You're the regular here; you know what's good. That's why I left it to you."

Guan Yuanbai chuckled. "Just say you're lazy."

The man across from him was Yan Chenghuai, a business partner but also a friend.

Their paths had crossed through work, and they'd known each other for two or three years now.

"I brought good wine, originally I wanted to call a few more people to drink, but who would have thought... no one was free." Yan Chenghuai said, "Chengyan's on his honeymoon, but Song Li and Suizhou... how are they also too busy to be found?"

Guan Yuanbai replied, "Song Li ran off on a trip with his girlfriend. Jiang Suizhou has been staying at my grandmother's place with Guan Xi these past couple of days. Probably doesn't have time to come out."

Yan Chenghuai shook his head and sighed. "Everyone's paired up now. They forget their brothers once they have a wife. Seems like you're the only one left who can come out for a drink anytime."

Guan Yuanbai opened his mouth but found no retort. He fell silent.

Yan Chenghuai, however, seemed to remember something. "I heard you've been on a blind date?"

"Family introduction."

Yan Chenghuai grew interested. "How did it go? Any sparks?"

Guan Yuanbai's immediate response was "No," but the moment he said it, an image of Zhou Fanfan popped into his head. A belated hesitation flickered, but he quickly dismissed it.

Yan Chenghuai looked disappointed. "Why not?"

"She's too young."

Curious, Yan Chenghuai asked, "How young?"

Guan Yuanbai frowned slightly. "Twenty-three. And still a student."

Yan Chenghuai laughed. "Sure, she's a few years younger than you, but it's not excessive. She's an adult, isn't she?"

Guan Yuanbai didn't respond. Yan Chenghuai, thinking that if Guan Yuanbai said she was young, it probably meant the innocent, cute type wasn't his preference, said, "My cousin is hosting a dinner here today too, just next door. She's only a year younger than you. A real career woman, and very good-looking. How about it, want me to—"

"Weren't we here today to discuss business? Why are you veering off topic?" Guan Yuanbai interrupted him, displeased. "Hurry up, let me see the contract."

Yan Chenghuai spread his hands. "I'm just caring for you."

Guan Yuanbai scoffed. "You should care more about yourself."

Since Guan Yuanbai refused to engage on the topic, Yan Chenghuai had to drop it. Afterwards, the two got down to business and started discussing work.

They talked while they ate. By the end of the meal, the main points were mostly settled.

As they prepared to leave and stepped out of the private room, Yan Chenghuai suddenly called out to someone not far away. Guan Yuanbai looked up and saw the cousin Yan Chenghuai had mentioned earlier, the one from the next room.

Yan Chenghuai, intent on matchmaking, tried to get them talking. Guan Yuanbai felt completely unmoved internally, but maintained a polite and courteous demeanor on the surface.

The woman smiled and offered her business card. He accepted it.

Once outside, Yan Chenghuai shook his head and sighed. "After all my hints back there, you just took the card? Would it have killed you to suggest exchanging WeChat?"

Guan Yuanbai said, "Why would we exchange WeChat for no reason?"

Yan Chenghuai was speechless for a moment. "Alright, now I understand why you've been single for so long."

"..."

"You don't pursue anyone, and you don't give others a chance to pursue you. No wonder it never works out."

Guan Yuanbai reacted quickly, stopping in his tracks. "What do you mean I don't give others a chance? Besides, if someone wants to pursue me, they'll take the initiative. They won't just wait for someone else to create the opportunity for them."

Yan Chenghuai was taken aback. "Is someone pursuing you? Who would willingly sign up for that suffering?"

A cold glare shot from Guan Yuanbai's eyes.

Yan Chenghuai cleared his throat lightly and patted his shoulder. "What I meant was, who has such good taste?"

"No one."

"You're hiding it? Oh, could it be that blind date candidate?"

Guan Yuanbai's expression froze slightly.

Yan Chenghuai saw it clearly and was surprised. "It really is? Well, it makes sense. Although you're not the most approachable person, that face of yours can still fool young girls."

"Get lost."

Guan Yuanbai walked straight towards his car.

"A young girl who's new to the world. She'll learn the hardship of chasing you soon enough," Yan Chenghuai's teasing voice came from behind. Guan Yuanbai ignored him, opened the car door, and got in.

Ding. Just then, a text message popped up.

Zhou Fanfan: [Mr. Guan, thank you so much again for the book yesterday. Next time you're free, let me treat you to a meal.]

Guan Yuanbai skimmed the message twice quickly, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. His mood felt somewhat soothed.

Hardship?

What hardship? It wasn't like he was being particularly bad to her.

—

After Zhou Fanfan brought the Court and Country novel home, she placed it directly in the most prominent spot in her room.

An original copy signed by Guan Zhiyi herself, something even the most hardcore veteran fans didn't have! She felt incredibly lucky!

Moreover, after this latest meeting with Guan Yuanbai, both families had quieted down a bit. Her grandmother only occasionally asked during meals how things were going with Guan Yuanbai.

At such times, Zhou Fanfan could reply with a straight face that everything was progressing smoothly.

As the end of the month approached, so did Guan Zhiyi's birthday. Lately, Zhou Fanfan had been busy discussing in the Wild Stepmother Squad group chat how they would eat and have fun when the other two fans arrived in the capital.

She loved hanging out with fellow fans. They shared common interests, had endless things to talk about, didn't need to worry about appearances, and there were no ulterior motives or benefits involved.

In contrast, she rarely socialized with the young ladies from other wealthy families in the capital circle. It wasn't that she didn't get along with any of them, but as a homebody who loved chasing celebrities, she felt they had too little in common and was wary of all the subtle complexities.

Yet her grandmother, Zhao Dezhen, insisted on dragging her to various banquets, dressing her up like a doll to mingle amidst the clinking glasses.

Her grandmother said even if she didn't like it, she needed to get used to it, as it would be part of her life in the future.

One day, a woman in professional attire came to the house, bringing two assistants and a rack of clothes.

Zhou Fanfan was curled up on the sofa reading a novel, wearing a pink-and-white one-piece pajama set with a hood featuring two long rabbit ears that drooped down, looking soft and adorable.

"Fanfan, we have guests. The Madam said you need to try on these clothes for tomorrow evening," Auntie Feng came over and patted her rabbit-eared hood.

Zhou Fanfan pushed the hood back and glanced at the rack of clothes, slightly annoyed. "Where are we going this time... No need to try them. Auntie Feng, just pick one for me."

"I wouldn't dare. The Madam insists you try them. She said on the phone earlier that tomorrow night is a banquet at the Guan family residence, and you must prepare properly."

Zhou Fanfan's eyes, glued to the novel, instantly snapped away. Her previous annoyance and nonchalance vanished. "Really?"

Auntie Feng: "Yes."

Without another word, Zhou Fanfan scrambled off the sofa, shuffled over in her slippers to the evening gowns, and said, "Then I need to pick a nice one."

Seeing her newfound motivation, Auntie Feng was satisfied. It seemed Fanfan did have some interest in that young Master Guan after all. Knowing she was going to his home, she was eager to dress up.

With recommendations from the professionals, Zhou Fanfan selected a black velvet cocktail dress—elegant, noble, with a touch of sweetness.

Contrary to Auntie Feng's perception, Zhou Fanfan's enthusiastic clothes selection was in preparation for possibly seeing Guan Zhiyi.

If Guan Zhiyi was back from her honeymoon, she would most likely attend the Guan family banquet.

She didn't know for sure if her idol had returned... but what if she had!

What if they met? She couldn't be too casual! She had to make a good impression!

The following evening, Zhou Fanfan went with her grandmother to the Guan family's old estate.

The car drove down a tree-lined avenue flanked by intricate-branched plane trees. At the end, the gates were already open, staff standing by to welcome guests.

Inside, everything was decorated. The garden was filled with fine wine and delicacies, and many guests had already arrived.

She was no stranger to banquets, but this was her first time here, as their paths hadn't crossed with the Guan family before. Unlike usual, Zhou Fanfan felt a little thrill of excitement inside.

Zhao Dezhen led her towards the inner rooms to meet the senior members of the Guan family. She met Guan Yuanbai's grandparents and his father. They were very warm towards her, offering her food and chatting with her about school.

Throughout, she maintained a well-behaved and polite demeanor.

"Where's Yuanbai?" Zhao Dezhen asked at one point.

Instantly, all eyes turned to Zhou Fanfan, as if she would know the answer.

Zhou Fanfan was stumped. She hadn't been in contact with Guan Yuanbai the past couple of days, and they hadn't spoken before coming here today.

"Uh... He's probably a bit busy," Zhou Fanfan ventured a guess.

Guan Yuanbai's grandmother, Cui Mingzhu, chimed in, "Yes, that's right. He's always busy. Probably running late. Fanfan, you'll have to bear with him."

"No, no, it's fine, really."

Cui Mingzhu found Zhou Fanfan's fair and delicate appearance more and more pleasing the longer she looked. Smiling, she said, "These days, my only wish is for Yuanbai to settle down soon. He buries himself in work all the time; it'll turn him dull."

"Indeed," Grandfather Guan Hong added. "Even Xiao Wu is married now, and he's still alone. It's unacceptable."

For the elderly, marriage was the top priority in life. However, Zhou Fanfan wasn't paying attention to that at all at the moment, because she had just caught the name she most wanted to hear—Xiao Wu.

That was Guan Zhiyi.

"I wonder if Xiao Wu is having fun on her trip."

"With Chengyan accompanying her, of course she's happy."

These snippets of conversation instantly doused Zhou Fanfan's enthusiasm for the evening.

So her darling daughter wasn't back yet. Fantasy shattered...

Later, the elders from both families continued chatting together. Seizing a moment when no one was paying attention to her, Zhou Fanfan slipped out of the inner room for some air.

The garden was filled with people in suits and evening gowns. Everyone was exquisitely dressed, everyone wore polite, social smiles. As her grandmother had said, these occasions weren't for genuine conversation; people were mostly subtly discussing business and networking.

That wasn't something she could blend into.

Zhou Fanfan spaced out bored for a while, then walked over to the elegant high table, picked up a small slice of cake, and retreated to the edge of the colonnade, leaning against a corner to eat.

"I saw her too. Never seen her before. What's her background?"

"Jiaquan Shares, heard of it?"

"Ah...I know that one. Furniture, interior decoration, right?"

"Right. I heard she's the only daughter."

"But still, how does that connect to the Guan family? What kind of person is Guan Yuanbai... I mean, how did they even get connected? What luck."

"I heard Old Mrs.Cui took a liking to her first, probably because the family background is simple and clean. But the elders liking her is useless if Guan Yuanbai isn't interested. I think it's probably just a reluctant blind date out of respect for the families."

Zhou Fanfan, carefully eating her cake with a fork to avoid messing up her makeup, overheard the conversation between a few men and women nearby.

They were talking about her.

Zhou Fanfan listened with great interest, even becoming so engrossed that she accidentally poked the soft flesh inside her lip with the fork. She hissed in pain, her brow furrowing tightly.

The garden was brightly lit. When Guan Yuanbai arrived, the scene that met his eyes was exactly this.

Several beams of light fell on the ground, also streaming over the face of the girl leaning by the colonnade. Her long hair was down, a section braided back and fastened with a small crystal clasp.

Her cheeks were smooth, her eyelashes curled. From this angle, he could see her frowning tightly, her expression aggrieved.

Not far away, a few people were still laughing and gossiping.

Guan Yuanbai's eyes narrowed slightly. He walked straight over.

Zhou Fanfan was still nursing her stinging lip when she suddenly heard footsteps beside her. She turned to see it was Guan Yuanbai.

She lowered the small cake slightly and offered him a strained smile, preparing to greet him.

But he wasn't looking at her. He walked past her side and said in a low, cold voice to the group, "Don't you all have anything better to do?”

---

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