"Then we'll wait and see."
Celia was growing bored watching the Su family scheme like it was some palace drama. Just then, Li Lan walked over and said coldly, "Celia, you'd better leave now. Don't stay for dinner. You'll only embarrass me if you sit at the table."
Compared to Qianrou's excellence and Sylvia's beauty, Li Lan couldn't understand how she had given birth to such an ugly and useless daughter.
"Alright then, I'll be on my way," Celia said without emotion, turning to leave.
Celia hadn't intended to get involved with the whole jewelry spokesperson competition, but Fu Yingying dragged her straight to the interview site.
"Cici, stop moping around! The biggest news in all of Ye City right now is that the Fu Corporation is holding open auditions for their new jewelry ambassador. Look—it's not just the top actresses from the entertainment industry. Socialites, influencers, even the campus beauties from our university—anyone with a pretty face is here. It's basically my uncle's large-scale beauty pageant!"
Celia glanced around. The event was indeed glamorous, filled with gorgeously dressed women competing for attention.
The jewelry ambassadorship was only a stepping stone. Their real target was the enigmatic heir of the Fu family—Nathaniel Fu.
This really was his harem-scale beauty contest. With just a look or a wave, these women would throw themselves at him.
Since the night she slapped him, Nathaniel hadn't returned to Yipinlan Villa. They hadn't seen each other since.
Good. Celia didn't want anything to do with him anymore.
Since she was already there, she stayed to watch the preliminary round. Sylvia and Wanessa both advanced smoothly.
Just then, Fu Yingying got a call and rushed off in a panic. "Cici, I gotta run! You can head home first—see you!"
Celia headed back to Yipinlan Villa a bit helplessly, only to realize she didn't have a key—Fu Yingying had it.
She sent her a message, and Yingying replied quickly:"Cici, I'm still tied up. My uncle has the spare key. I already told him you'll be stopping by—just go to the Song Hotel. He's playing cards in one of the private rooms there. I'll send you the room number."
Go find Nathaniel Fu?
Celia hesitated. She really didn't want to see him.
But without the key, she couldn't get into the house. Gritting her teeth, she decided to go to the Song Hotel.
Song Hotel, Private Club
In one of the most exclusive rooms, Nathaniel Fu sat at the head of the table, playing cards with Wen Shaoqian and Zilin Song. Around them were several other wealthy elites of Ye City. Another table in the room was filled with high-end "companions"—young, untouched beauties trained to entertain the city's most powerful men.
Nathaniel leaned back in his chair, one cigarette after another burning between his long fingers. The scarlet glow of the cigarette tip flared, then dimmed, before he flicked it into the ashtray.
Zilin and Shaoqian exchanged glances and chuckled.
"Second Brother," Zilin said, "you've been smoking nonstop tonight. Looks like something's burning you up inside."
Nathaniel was dressed in a tailored black shirt, the sleeves rolled up twice, revealing strong forearms and a luxury watch. The crisp fabric hugged his broad shoulders and muscular chest. His long fingers, pale and defined, toyed with the cards in front of him.
Even the elite companions at the table couldn't help sneaking glances at him. He was the type of man people fantasized about—cool, dangerous, and devastatingly handsome.
Nathaniel didn't respond, his expression unreadable.
Zilin leaned closer with a grin. "By the way, the Fu Group's jewelry auditions are heating up. Ten finalists have been selected—absolute stunners. Supermodels, rising actresses... Want me to have them stop by? I'm sure they'd love to meet you."