It was a compromise. Acknowledgment of the new 'rule,' but with parental boundaries firmly in place.
Zi Xin nodded. "Yes, Father."
As they left the bedroom to join Zi Xuan and the girls, the suite transformed into a hive of quiet, last-minute activity. Hair was given final touches, dresses smoothed, tiny suit buttons fastened.
Downstairs, the grand ballroom of the Hilton shimmered. Crystal chandeliers blazed, reflecting off polished marble and the sequined gowns of early arrivals. The air hummed with murmured conversation, clinking glasses, and the distant strains of a string quartet.
From a secluded VIP balcony overlooking the scene, Gu Tingyi stood alone, a glass of sparkling water in his hand. His grey-clad guards were invisible in the crowd below, but he knew where each one was positioned. His eyes were not on the glittering throng, but on the private elevator bank, waiting for it to open.
He didn't have to wait long.
