Chapter 179 - Sycophants
Lily used to hate events like this.
After arriving to Europe, she never wanted to associate herself with a bunch of sycophants[1] who were all wearing masks and who only showed her what they wanted her to see. However, her grandmother had taught her that everyone wears their own masks. The only challenge is how to maintain these masks in times of crisis and change.
Her grandmother taught her how to create and adjust her own mask to hide her true intentions, but the most important thing that Lily learned from Lilian Facci was knowing how to wear her own mask with more skill than everyone else. And this... this is one of those moments when Lily needed to use everything that her grandmother had taught her.
This did not mean, however, that Lily would become one of those pretentious women who would act weak and scheme behind the scenes. No. Lily’s mask would never be capable of hiding her blunt and bold style in dealing with the people who offended her.
Just like tonight. Lily chose to announce her presence in Hong Kong. She was still adamant about making this big move in spite of knowing that this would attract more attention and create issues. She wanted to make this gamble and announce that she, Lily Facci- Zhuo, will build her own empire in Hong Kong with her lovely consort- ehem, husband, Zhuo Jingren.
"Ready?" Zhuo Jingren asked, with a small smile on his face. Seeing his face under the shimmering crystals instantly reminded Lily of those movies about angels - Zhuo Jingren being the angel with his own halo. However, no matter how much Zhuo Jingren tried to hide it, Lily knew that this smile was just another mask, a fa?ade to hide his bloodlust.
Lily was not a fool. The moment they heard that the accident was intentional, she immediately felt the change in him. The usual easy going and silly vibe that he always gave her was replaced by something... suffocating. Though it was too quick for her to analyze, she knew it was bloodlust, something that he never once displayed before her.
Lily gave the man a meaningful smile, her hand resting lightly on his arm before she watched the artificial smoke effect that was starting to spread along their pathway, adding another dramatic element to the grand entrance that she’d planned.
Gasps and murmurs shrouded the whole venue as they took their first steps towards the stage, her hand on Zhuo Jingren’s arm while a small smile was plastered on her face.
Everyone watched with their mouths agape as the light continue to follow the two. Amazement didn’t quite cover it. Lily Facci- Zhuo was wearing a dazzling jumpsuit that seemed to sparkle every time she took a step, while Zhuo Jingren was wearing an all-black suit that seemed to contrast but completely complemented Lily’s outfit. The pair dangled small smiles on their faces, making them look good - too good. With the fog swirling around their ankles like wisps of clouds, they were reminiscent of two deities as they walked towards the stage.
Lily Facci- Zhuo
Zhuo Jingren
Does this mean that...
Everyone widened their eyes before giving each other a knowing look. Contrary to women from China, women from the West would take their husband’s surname but it still took a minute or two for the news to register in their brains. Lily Facci- Qin - an individual feared in Europe - just married Zhuo Jingren, an individual feared in Hong Kong. Considering the level of influence that each wielded separately, everyone wondered what kind of storms they could cause in this country.
Some were excited and some were extremely shocked, but no emotion can describe what Qin Mo and Qin Liwei were feeling right now. Qin Mo’s face was extremely pale, and his hands were balled into fists. His body started to quiver from anger as it started to grow in him like a tumor, threatening to wreak havoc inside of him.
Meanwhile his son Qin Liwei, who was sitting next to him, was confused, so confused that he could not utter a single word. It was as if someone took away his brain, leaving him with nothing. "Relax. I have a surprise for you." Qin Liwei shifted his gaze towards his mother when he heard her whisper to his father. Tang Lingyun’s voice was low but it was enough for both Qin Mo and Qin Liwei to hear.
On the other side of the table, Yang Lina and Xuan Hui as well as Xuan Zeng were also speechless, their mouths ajar while watching Lily walk past them. Lily married Zhuo Jingren?
Zhuo Jingren of Zhuo Capital?
Flashes of emotion were seen in Yang Lina’s eyes, however, she was quick to hide it. Lily being Zhuo Jingren’s wife was something that she never expected. How could Lily marry someone just a month after her failed engagement? Yang Lina immediately concluded that this was nothing but a marriage of convenience.
Marrying Zhuo Jingren would give Lily all the advantages in the Far East, while marrying Lily Qin would give Zhuo Jingren all the advantages in the West. Two empires, one from the East and one from the West. Wasn’t this just the most convenient marriage in the history of business?
Was this also the reason why Lily was not in the hospital right now? Yang Lina gritted her teeth in annoyance. Zhuo Jingren is a very surprising variable that could alter her equation, and a very strong one at that.
Moreover, now that Lily had already married someone in Hong Kong, this could only mean that she was planning to stay here. And that would be a very big problem for Yang Lina.
While Yang Lina was engrossed in her own thoughts, her son Xuan Hui was also experiencing a different emotion right now: Fear. The word was not even enough descriptive enough to indicate the amount of fear that he was feeling right now.
Zhuo Jingren. Of all the people that Lily could marry, she married Zhuo Jingren, someone who’d sponsored most of his films. One of his top investors and the top businessman in Hong Kong. How could something like this happen?
historical
Meanwhile his father, Xuan Zeng, was shocked. Though his wife had previously told him about Qin Jinghua being Lily Qin, seeing her in person was still something that surprised him very much. The woman walking gracefully in front of them now did not bear any resemblance to what she was seven years ago. From her hair to the different look in her eyes, from the way she moved her hips with her head held high to the way she smiled at everyone while walking, this woman... is like the opposite version of the Qin Jinghua that he used to know.
As everyone else had done, Xuan Zeng easily assumed that the two got married because of business. After all, people in the business industry often married someone they barely knew because mergers and acquisitions led to greater power.
Out of all the people seated at their table, only Tang Lingyun was feeling happy about today’s events. She was the only one who knew of Lily’s true identity and who her husband was before this...show. Though she never anticipated Zhuo Jingren being present at an event like this, she still found it good that he showed up. Wouldn’t this mean that the present she’d prepared for Lily would have a double impact?
A beautiful smile bloomed on Tang Lingyun’s face as she continued to watch Lily and Zhuo Jingren.
[1] Sycophants is a person who tries to win favor from wealthy or influential people by flattering them.