The Heiress's Game

When Bai Junze pushed open the door and came back, the noise inside had increased by an order of magnitude compared to before.

Tonight's gathering was organized by several friends he's known for many years—his childhood friends, his college classmates, and a business partner with whom he'd worked since the beginning of his business.

This group of people are usually influential figures in their respective fields, but when they got together, they argued like a pot of boiling porridge, making such a commotion that even the waiter at the door couldn't help but take a second look.

As soon as he entered the room, all eyes were fixed on him.

His childhood friend, Shen Shaoan, spoke first, leaning back and pointing in Bai Junze's direction with his wine glass in hand, his tone carrying the smugness of catching someone red-handed:

"You're back? Come on, tell me honestly, who did you call just now? And you even went outside on purpose. What kind of call can't you make in front of us?"

Song Xiuchi, who was standing next to him, chimed in with a meaningful laugh: "I heard you say 'drink less'—Bai Junze telling others to drink less, is that the sun rising in the west?"

Bai Junze walked back to his seat without changing his expression, picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and then spoke slowly and casually, "What's wrong with me calling my girlfriend?"

The private room fell silent for a full two seconds. Then, like a ladle of water being poured into a pan of oil, it exploded with a crackling sound.

"Wait, wait, wait—Bai Junze has a girlfriend? Am I drunk or are you crazy? When did you get a girlfriend? Whose is she? Do we know each other? Why didn't you say a word about it?"

"You'll know when we got engaged," Bai Junze said calmly, picking up his chopsticks and taking a bite of food.

"Engaged?!" Even Shen Shaoan couldn't sit still anymore; he slammed his wine glass heavily on the table.

"You only admitted to having a girlfriend today, how come you jumped straight to engagement? Are you dating on a rocket?"

A group of people bombarded her with questions, from "Whose daughter is she?" to "How long have you known her?" and then to "How did you meet?" The questions were so numerous that it resembled a press conference Q&A session.

Bai Junze ignored him completely, and when asked again, he would only glance at the other person.

The meaning behind that look was clear: know when to stop.

This group of people had known Bai Junze for many years and understood his temperament all too well.

What he doesn't want to talk about, you can't pry open even with a crowbar.

Moreover, given Bai Junze's importance in these people's hearts, he only needs to look at you to know that this topic can be put to rest.

So everyone reluctantly withdrew their questioning tentacles and swallowed their curiosity back down.

But the atmosphere didn't cool down; instead, it became even more heated because of the explosive fact that "Bai Junze actually has a girlfriend," and some people started to raise their glasses in celebration.

Some people started discussing what gifts to give for the engagement, while others began betting on who this mysterious girlfriend really was.

Just then, someone suddenly changed the subject.

"But to be honest," said Lu Yan, who was sitting opposite Bai Junze, his tone tinged with emotion.

"There's been a saying in our circle that you haven't had a decent woman by your side all these years."

"What do you mean?" Bai Junze looked up at him.

"I said you're not looking for someone because you have someone in your heart." Lu Yan put down his wine glass.

"It's Miss Xu, the one you dated in college. Didn't you almost have a falling out with your family because of her? Everyone in the industry knows that you can't forget her, which is why you haven't dated or married her all these years."

"The rumors have been circulating for so many years, and we were all skeptical at first. We thought that with your personality, it would be impossible for you to have remained so celibate for so many years if you didn't have someone in your heart."

Bai Junze's chopsticks stopped in mid-air.

He turned to look at Lu Yan, a rare look of astonishment flashing across his face, as if he had heard something completely beyond his comprehension.

He put down his chopsticks and glanced at everyone present: "You—you don't all think that way, do you?"

No one answered, but they all nodded in agreement. Bai Junze looked at their tacit expressions, remained silent for a while, then raised his hand to rub his temples and took a deep breath.

He was clearly completely unaware that his image in the industry was filtered through such an unfounded lens.

"I'd like to formally clarify this today."

He lowered his hand, raised his eyes again, and said, "Let me clarify something today—I have never had any so-called 'white moonlight' (ideal love interest)."

Miss Xu is my second girlfriend. We dated in college, but we haven't been in touch for thirteen years. I know nothing about her current situation, nor am I interested in knowing.

I don't date women simply because I've focused all my energy on my work these past few years. I haven't had the time or inclination to cultivate relationships, and it has nothing to do with being unable to let go of anyone.

His gaze slowly swept over everyone present. "Now I have a partner I want to marry, and it's my own choice."

I hope everyone will stop making these kinds of jokes in the future. I don't want my wife to hear these kinds of baseless rumors after we get married.

His attitude was so serious that the crowd, who had been making a ruckus just moments before, all stopped smiling and nodded solemnly one after another.

Shen Shaoan was the first to raise his hand, as if making a vow: "Fine, I'll be the first to object to anyone who says such things again."

Song Xiuchi quickly added, "Don't worry, we'll keep our mouths shut. After you get married, not a single word of gossip will reach your wife's ears."

Lu Yan raised his wine glass to him, saying nothing, but the nod he made was more serious than any joke.

Bai Junze looked away and picked up his chopsticks again.