And then behind him—someone slightly shorter. Same longer hair, young, handsome. He had a black mask around the lower half of his face, and his hair fell around his eyes as he bent down to look at his phone. Where Liu Xiaokai and President Liu were untouchable beauties, this one seemed handsome in a very normal, approachable way. He seemed like someone Wang Li could run into where her friends went to college, just another good-looking guy on campus. Dark triangle eyes with stupid long eyelashes, long lithe limbs, shining black hair. He looked up as they walked in, his phone falling back to his side, and the corners of his eyes tilted upward when he made eye contact with Wang Li. She assumed he was smiling at her, and smiled back.

“It should only be delayed half an hour at the most,” said President Liu, glancing over his shoulder at his companion. “It’s inconvenient, but just make yourself comfortable here until the car comes to pick us up.”

“En. Do you want anything to drink?”

President Liu shook his head and found a seat right where his younger brother had made himself comfortable two months ago. His companion came to the bar and his eyes titled up again.

“Hey. Could I just get some ice water?”

“Yes, of course.” She made him a glass and slid it across the counter. “You’re on the departure flight today?”

He tugged down his mask. He was handsome underneath it too—he had a dramatic bow to the upper lip of his full mouth that seemed to pull it upward, exposing his perfectly straight white teeth, which he bared at Wang Li in a smile after he took the first gulp of water. “Yeah,” he said. “Is there only one today? This airport is so quiet.”

“It’s only for certain people.” She glanced at President Liu and he followed her gaze. “People like him.”

“Oh.” He nodded a few times. “That’s…a crowd for sure.”

She knew he wasn’t like the fu’erdai that frequented this place. All of her other customers only smiled at her when they wanted something, or when it was a leftover smile after smiling at their friends. This guy was handing out smiles like candy. “Are you not…?”

“No, no. I was, once upon a time. Too long ago to remember.” He swallowed another mouthful of water. “There’s not a lot I find in common with them now. The only reason I became friends with that guy is because I didn’t know what kind of family he was from.”

“That guy” was probably referring to President Liu. She couldn’t help looking a little doubtful. “Is he very nice?”

He laughed. “No, not really. He used to be.”

Be brave, Wang Li. “What about his brother?”