Chapter 109 - Party I

Devon was mortified. Although she had expected a banquet far different from in her world, the party was still beyond her imagination. 

"Sis, come!" Dion leaned in her side, gesturing for her to follow Mike and Bella.

She glanced at him, sighing heavily. The atmosphere was cozy, at the very least, in her vicinity. However, from her vantage point, she could see ladies in their bikinis and men in trunks — topless — around the pool through the glass wall.

"Hey, is this your first time being surrounded by models and celebrities?" Ghost Lin inquired from her other side, only then she realized the real problem. "Right… this is your first time going to this kind of party, eh? This is normal, though… I think." 

"Sis, what's wrong?" Dion came close out of concern, as she seemed truly bothered by something.

Devon shook her head, closed-lipped. "Nothing."

If Ghost Lin told her that this was normal, Devon thought she was being a bit sensitive. She just didn't need to look at them to avoid getting a secondhand embarrassment.

"I'll introduce you to people." Dion nodded and didn't pry about it as it seemed Devon resolved her issues on her own. "Don't worry, these people are harmless. They don't bite."

He joked just so as to uplift her mood, but he only received an emotionless gaze. Dion let out a sigh secretly, as he was worried if she would even enjoy tonight.

'Babysitting is hard. No wonder nannies get paid more.' Dion thought as he dragged his feet while Devon followed behind him.

****

Dion had introduced her to multiple people, and to his surprised, Devon was more amiable. Her elegant demeanor and temperament had gathered a good impression on the influential individuals that had attended.

"Miss Lin, this is my calling card. You can contact me if ever you change your mind and want to start a modeling career." One man in his tux offered his calling card to her with a polite smile on his lips.

Devon gazed at the card in between his fingers, hearing Ghost Lin yelling to accept it, so she did. "I will keep that in mind, Mr. Chan. Thank you."

"Well then, I will have to excuse myself first as my friend wants me to introduce to someone." The man excused and saw her nod before he shifted his eyes to Dion. "You have a great date, Di."

"How many times do I have to tell them you're not my date?" Dion grumbled as he walked closer to Devon, watching Mr. Chan walk away from them.

Devon ignored Dion's complaints and stared at the card… and then at the other cards in her other hand. Everyone she had talked to had given her a calling card; some invited her to be a trainee, some for modeling, some were workshops, and then the list just goes on.

"Sis, I didn't know you actually have social skills." Dion mused to her side as he also noticed the calling cards she had yet to hide in her purse. 

Well, Devon had attended too many to count banquets in her previous life. After many years, she had mastered the art of socializing and ruled the high society.

"Do you also had a card like this?" Devon raised Mr. Chan's calling card in between her fingers as she faced Dion.

"Well, I do. I think everyone needs to have one, you know."

"I see." She nodded in understanding before keeping all the calling cards inside her purse.

"You know, sis. Some people who gave you their calling cards are really remarkable people. Not everyone can get their calling cards… but eh…" Dion trailed off as he clicked his tongue, remembering something important. "… I mean, you still have the most powerful card of all. I mean, a trump card."

"What do you mean?" Devon furrowed her brows. "Have you drunk a lot? I don't understand what you are saying."

"I mean my brother? Being his girlfriend, those people will be grateful if you contact them. Instead of them doing you a favor, you will be the one doing them a favor."

Devon's speech bubble was filled with question marks. Of course, she understood Dion's words. What she couldn't understand was why? Was Lewis that important? Dion made it sound like he was some kind of king or something.

"Sis, seriously? Do you know my brother's job?" Dion let out a defeated sigh, as it seemed Devon was truly clueless.

"A merchant." 

Ghost Lin coughed as she had overheard it, despite not paying attention to them. "Right… I didn't correct her that time."

Dion also coughed. The latter even gasped in disbelief, looking at her from head to toe.

"My brother said he is a merchant?" 

Devon nodded. "He said he does trades and sells things."

His brows twitched at her answer. Well, Lewis was indeed doing trades, but those trades were worth hundreds of millions — some were even worth billions. Was Devon serious?! 

Dion studied her expression, and it didn't seem she was lying. So all this time, Devon didn't know Lewis's influence, net worth, and popularity in the upper echelon?! 

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, blinking cluelessly.

"Nothing, sis. I just thought you're really amazing." Dion raised a thumb, as he didn't know whether to feel sorry for Lewis or be happy for him. "Don't mind what I just said. I think I drank a lot."

"Don't drink too much," Devon murmured out of pure concern, worried that Dion would embarrass himself. 

"Sis, I'm not a lightweight." He just said that so she wouldn't think about his words previously. But he knew his limit and he wouldn't get drunk so easily.

Devon stared at him for a moment. "Can you promise me one thing?"

"Huh?"

"Don't walk around naked… please." 

Dion's face distorted as he found her words utter nonsense. Why would he walk around naked? he wasn't insane! He only realized what she meant when Devon glanced at the woman in her robe, walking not far away from them.

"They're not naked, though," he muttered, and Devon cast her a side-eye.

"They're not?"

"No, they are… I think." Dion massaged his temple. 

In his mind, Devon hadn't gone to the beach where everyone was walking around with their bikinis and topless men. Although he had enjoyed this sort of pool party in the past, Dion didn't enjoy it in recent years, or rather, he just fell out of love of parties completely. He only attended because it was Mike's party.

Speaking of the devil, Mike strutted his way towards them. His arms spread wide, holding a glass of wine in his hand while wiggling his body like a worm.

"Is he alright?" Devon wondered as they watched Mike smile brightly at them. "Why was he walking like that?"

"Damn… there he goes." Dion clicked his tongue as Mike's habit whenever he was getting drunk finally kicked in. 

"Dion! Devon! My precious friends!" Mike exclaimed cheerfully as he stopped a few steps away from them. "Why are you in the corner? Do you have to be on guard all the time, man? The ladies are so curious about Devon! You should let her mingle and have fun."

'There's no fun in here,' Devon and Dion answered in their heads as Mike seemed to be in high spirit.

"Mike, just mind your own business." Dion rolled his eyes. He only wanted to introduce Devon to decent people that could help her in the future, and not just any wild party animal.

"Come on! It's my day today!"

Devon pursed her lips. She didn't want to upset him, so she cast Dion a look and smiled. 

"I think Mike is right." She nodded reassuringly, but Dion frowned.

"But —" Before he could argue, Mike hooked his arms across his shoulder.

"It's alright, it's alright! Chill! You've been missing out on every party. Where is the wild Dion I know?"

"Dead." Dion's expression was a poker face, not pleased by this idea. He had a bad feeling about this.

"Eh, let's resurrect it! Come!" Mike dragged the reluctant Dion while Devon followed from behind them.

Soon, they arrived in the vast entertainment room. It was like three parties in one venue, as there were people who were enjoying the pool, the people outside who were just talking by groups, and this room was just occupied by around ten people in total.

"Miss Lin!" 

Devon flinched as soon as she heard Bella's cheerful voice. The latter rushed to welcome them, smiling at the upset Dion and then to Devon.

"We plan to play a game. Good thing you arrived!" Bella's attitude to her was surprising. "You should join us!" 

During their first meeting, Bella was confident, but also arrogant. Their second meeting in the elevator previously started awkwardly, but then she had smiled at her. And now, she was acting as if they were close. 

"We won't play." Dion refused coldly, but Mike tugged him playfully.

"Then, you can just sit in," Bella suggested, but her energy immediately pummeled down as she pursed her lips. 

Devon, who had been observing the situation, noticed how Bella's mood dropped instantly. She felt bad for her, and also, she actually thought she and Bella would get along if she remained amicable. 

"As long as it is not harmful, I would like to play." Devon smiled, making Mike and Bella smile brightly.

"Really?" Bella walked closer with her eyes sparkling.

She was like a teenager in Devon's eyes, so she nodded. "As long as it is harmless."

"Of course, it is harmless! It's just truth or dare!" Mike grinned before he dragged Dion towards the couch.

Devon stared at Dion worriedly, as it seemed he didn't like it. However, she felt bad about his friends and she was worried he would have no friends in the future. Her attention shifted to Bella when the latter spoke.

"Honestly, I like to be friends with you, but then, I sort of misunderstand you during our first meeting." Bella expressed after taking a deep breath and exhaling it sharply. "I'm sorry."

"Being friends doesn't necessarily need to start on the right foot. We can still be friends despite that." Devon smiled, making Bella smile as well.

"Then, shall we start with a clean slate?" Bella proposed, and Devon nodded, smiling at each other before Bella invited her to take a seat.