Chapter 135: The Playboy's Provocation

“Take your hand off her.”

Just as Yan Xu was tightly holding Mei’s delicate hand, marveling at how soft and boneless it felt, a voice suddenly rang out.

At the same time, a man abruptly forced his way between them, seized Mei by the arm, and pulled her aside. He glared at Yan Xu with naked fury and hostility.

Yan Xu stared at the man who had appeared before him out of nowhere. He was over six feet tall, somewhat taller than Yan Xu, though rather thin and not nearly as sturdy. He seemed to be about the same age as Yan Xu, perhaps only a few years older. In terms of appearance, he was undeniably handsome. Much as Yan Xu hated to admit it, there was a considerable gap between himself and the man before him.

The man’s complexion was somewhat pale, like the vampire protagonist from Twilight, and he had faint dark circles beneath his eyes, giving him the appearance of someone who had indulged in pleasure far too often. He was dressed with impeccable taste—indeed, with elegance. His perfectly tailored suit was utterly free of wrinkles, and a gold Omega watch glittered on his wrist. He was the very embodiment of wealth, looks, and privilege.

“Jenkins, what are you doing?” Mei demanded.

She shoved the domineering man away and wrenched her arm free of his grasp.

“This guy dared to hold your hand and refuse to let go. He was obviously taking advantage of you. I was just going to teach him a lesson.” Jenkins shot Yan Xu a glare, then immediately turned toward Mei with a smile full of affection.

“What gives you the right to interfere? We’ve already broken up.” Mei frowned at him, her expression and tone both cold.

“You say we’re finished, and that’s the end of it? You could at least give me a reason.” Jenkins looked at Mei, unable to understand why this gentle woman had suddenly become so unreasonable.

She had abruptly called him and announced that they were breaking up. When he tried calling her afterward, no one answered. Even the hotel room he had booked for her had been canceled. She had vanished for several days as though she had ceased to exist. Knowing that she would be attending the awards ceremony, he had hurried over—only to find her holding hands with an Asian man. There was no disgust on her face. Instead, her cheeks were flushed.

As for this man called Jenkins, Yan Xu was initially puzzled. But it did not take long for him to understand. This handsome man, who looked as though he had exhausted himself in the pursuit of pleasure, was probably Mei’s boyfriend. For some unknown reason, she had broken up with him, and he had chased after her.

Could it be because of the night he and Mei had spent together?

Yan Xu could not help drawing the connection as he looked at the two of them.

“Watch where you are,” Mei said when Jenkins reached for her again. She deftly avoided his hand and glanced around. Many people had already begun entering the venue, but no one seemed to have noticed them. Even if someone had, they would probably assume the three of them were merely chatting.

“All right, all right!” Jenkins restrained himself, though his anger was boiling. This was the first time a woman had ever dumped him.

“What have you been doing these past few days?” Mei asked.

“That’s what this is about?” Jenkins stared at her. “When did you become so petty? Didn’t I tell you? As the representative of the film’s distributor, I’ve had to discuss various matters with the judges these past few days. Just because I haven’t had time to keep you company, you have to make such a scene?”

Jenkins was quite confident about his whereabouts during those days. Aside from bars and hotels, he had hardly gone anywhere else. He also knew that Mei came from a strict family and almost never went to bars. A film festival, however, was an event filled with indulgence and release. As the heir to a film company and a distributor, he moved through that world with ease. Countless beautiful women were eager to throw themselves at him, and with his handsome face, he had always been invincible.

Besides, he was not the kind of man who would give up an entire forest for a single tree. He only replaced the woman at his side when he had found a new target. As for Mei, he had not yet grown tired of her. It had taken him considerable effort to win her over, and he had no new target at the moment. Back in France, he had fooled around like this several times, and each time he had managed to conceal it without difficulty.

Looking at Jenkins, Mei felt nothing but cold contempt. She could not understand how she had once been so foolish as to believe his lies again and again. Now that everything had become clear, she realized just how clumsy those lies had been. Thinking back, she had been deceived by them more than once. Perhaps women truly did become fools when they fell in love.

“Enough.” Mei cut him off. “Stop putting on an act. I know everything you’ve been doing. You must have had a wonderful time these past few days. What exactly were you doing in the bar restroom on the night before I called you? And don’t tell me that taking two women to a hotel that night was part of your work or some business matter.”

Damn. This man had not only done something filthy in a bar restroom—he had even gone in for a threesome.

“You were following me?” The incident had happened only a few days earlier. Having one of the women service him orally in the restroom had been something Jenkins was particularly proud of. And the threesome afterward had nearly left him unable to get out of bed the next morning. The memories were still vivid in his mind.

“Follow you? I’m not that shameless.” Mei’s eyes held nothing but disgust. “If I hadn’t been bored enough to attend a street carnival and happened to see you through the bar window, drunk with excitement, I would never have known how long you planned to keep deceiving me.”

Even Mei herself could not understand how she had ever fallen for such a playboy. She had known all about his sordid history, yet she had still believed that she was the woman he loved most, that she could make him settle down. Perhaps it had been his handsome face and his wealth, or the relentless way he had pursued her. Few women could withstand those tactics.

“I was only playing along for the occasion. You know I love you. I’m a man—sometimes a little mistake is inevitable. Besides, I’d had a bit to drink that night. You know what I’m like after I drink.” Realizing that everything had been exposed, Jenkins hurried to explain. As he spoke, he reached into his pocket and took out a small box.

“You’ve always liked things designed by Philippe Starck, haven’t you? I had someone find this necklace for you. This particular design is discontinued—there’s only one in existence.” Jenkins opened the box. Inside lay an exquisitely designed platinum necklace set with diamonds.

Yan Xu knew a little about Philippe Starck. In the future, his name would become almost synonymous with the highest level of design. Beginning at the age of sixteen, he had won nearly every major international design award, creating everything from monumental architecture to furniture, jewelry, and clothing. He was a true polymath of the design world. Although he was not yet forty, he had already become a celebrated figure, surrounded by devoted admirers. The value of his designs had risen accordingly. Though the diamonds in the necklace were not especially large, it was certainly worth a fortune.

“Hmph!”

In the past, Mei would have been overjoyed to see Jenkins produce something designed by her favorite designer. She might even have rewarded him with a passionate kiss. Now, however, she merely gave a cold laugh, her eyes filled with disdain.

“Take it and use it to coax some other woman. Don’t interfere with my conversation with my friend,” Mei replied coldly.

“Your friend?” Jenkins looked at Yan Xu, the ordinary-looking Asian man, and suddenly laughed. “Mei, don’t joke around. Since when have you had Asian friends?”

“Who I choose to be friends with is none of your business. You’re disturbing us. Leave.”

Mei walked over to Yan Xu and linked her arm through his. Her body leaned slightly against him.

“Kid, if you know what’s good for you, leave now. This isn’t something you can involve yourself in.” Jenkins frowned when he saw Mei leaning against Yan Xu, then turned his gaze toward him.

“I think you’re the one who should leave.” Yan Xu was deeply irritated by the contempt in Jenkins’s eyes. Deliberately provoking him, he extended his arm and wrapped it around Mei’s slender waist.

“You…”

The fury in Jenkins’s eyes intensified at the sight.

“How dare you speak to me like that? Do you know who I am?”

“If you have to ask someone else who you are, then either you’re suffering from memory loss or there’s something wrong with your head.” Yan Xu smiled faintly.

His words made Mei burst into laughter beside him.

Jenkins’s face flushed red with rage. He wanted nothing more than to tear Yan Xu apart and swallow him alive, but they were in public, and he still had to maintain his appearance. Besides, although Yan Xu was somewhat shorter than him, he was far more powerfully built. Even if Jenkins attacked him, he doubted he would gain much advantage.

“This isn’t a place just anyone can enter. Believe me, I can have security throw you out.” Jenkins had clearly mistaken Yan Xu for some insignificant nobody who had slipped in with a film crew or as a fan. As the heir to a film company, he had certain connections with the organizers of the festival.

“Throw me out?” Yan Xu gave a cold laugh. “I’m a guest of the festival, as well as the director and producer of a nominated film. I’d very much like to see whether you really have the power to throw me out.”

“You?” Jenkins was genuinely surprised.

He had assumed Yan Xu was a nobody. He had not expected him to be the director of a nominated film. Jenkins was astonished that an Asian film had even been nominated. Although he carried the title of producer and was the heir to a film company, the title was merely ornamental. He had never involved himself in the company’s affairs. More than anything, it served to make it easier for him to pursue women.

He had already been in Sitges for some time. But since he had spent his days indulging himself in bed, he had remained completely unaware of Yan Xu’s sudden rise to fame.

“Don’t think being nominated makes you special,” Jenkins said. “Only Asians take pride in something like that. To you, merely being nominated is already a victory. The festival nominated you simply to show you some consideration. As for winning an award, you can forget about it.”

“What if I win one?” Yan Xu’s expression darkened at Jenkins’s certainty and his contempt for Asian filmmakers.

“If you win an award, I’ll run naked right here.”

“Fine. You said it yourself. I don’t need you to run naked—no one wants to see that skinny frame of yours. All I want is for you to promise that you’ll never harass Mei again.”

House No. 1 had been nominated for four awards. Yan Xu did not dare claim that it would win all of them, and such a thing was probably impossible. But he was confident that it would take home at least one. A film with so many nominations could not possibly leave empty-handed.

Jenkins nodded. Naturally, he had no intention of accepting a losing bargain.

“And what if you don’t win?”

“Then I’ll run naked right here,” Yan Xu declared firmly.

To be continued...