The macchiato was indeed very sweet, but I didn't taste love in it. I just felt that I was like a bitter black coffee, and Lila Wei was like a sweet macchiato.
I watched her from time to time, mentally calculating the time of her encounter with Hugh Pei the day after tomorrow.
The A-City Summit was scheduled to start at 9:30 AM. Lila Wei, as a part-time hostess, would be waiting at the entrance of the conference hall early. Hugh Pei would see her as he entered and be struck by Cupid's arrow.
"Lila Wei, would you be interested in another part-time job? I can introduce you to a tutoring position. You can start tomorrow, and the pay is good," I asked in a low voice as Lila Wei was clearing the table next to me.
Lila Wei gave me a grateful smile but refused. "Sis Zoe, thank you for thinking of me, but my school starts in a few days. After I finish this temporary hostess job the day after tomorrow, I have to go back to school to register."
I was stunned. It was almost time for school to start.
I was a step too late. If I had asked a few days earlier, I might have been able to prevent Lila Wei from appearing in front of Hugh Pei.
But I also felt a sense of release. With the kind of fate between Hugh Pei and Lila Wei, even if I stopped them this time, I couldn't stop them the second time, or the third...
"No problem, I just suddenly thought of it," I said, taking another sip of coffee and smiling. "So you've quit your job here too?"
"Yes, I won't have time when school starts," Lila Wei said, looking around as if she were a bit reluctant to leave. Then she gave me a playful smile. "Sis Zoe, I'll miss you."
I felt a little awkward. If Lila Wei knew everything, she would probably avoid me like the plague.
Just then, another customer came in. Lila Wei went to greet them. I let out a sigh of relief, got up, paid my bill, and left.
From now on, I probably wouldn't have to come to this budget coffee shop anymore.
The gears of fate had already started turning. To watch everything unfold again from a bystander's perspective would not be any easier for me than it was in my past life.
I had already discovered from the incident with Evan Yu that the butterfly effect was powerful. There would definitely be some changes in the future that I would have to face.
For the next two days, with my in-laws at home, Hugh Pei came back every day for lunch and dinner and shared a bed with me.
Unlike his calm and composed demeanor, my heart grew more and more uneasy.
"What time are you going to the summit tomorrow?" I asked quietly.
"Eight o'clock," Hugh Pei said, his eyes closed as he feigned sleep beside me, his voice faint.
"Can you bring a guest?" I really wanted to witness that legendary scene with my own eyes. After all, the love story of Hugh Pei and Lila Wei had been a hot topic online for a long time in my past life.
Hugh Pei glanced at me sideways, a hint of mockery in his dark pupils. "A guest? You?"
I blinked. "Legally speaking, yes."
Of course, you could bring a partner or an assistant to this kind of business summit. Many entrepreneurs attended as a couple. Plus, with my father's status, it was reasonable for me to go.
But Hugh Pei didn't think so. He sneered, "Dream on."
I turned over and stared at Hugh Pei's profile. His features were incredibly defined and exquisite, especially the bridge of his nose and the brow bone, which were perfectly sculpted. How could such a handsome and wealthy man end up being captured by an ordinary girl?
It really had a Cinderella and Prince Charming feel to it.
"If you don't take me, I'll go and tell your dad to take me," I said, this time with a threat.
My father-in-law would surely wonder why Hugh Pei wasn't taking me and then question whether he was treating me badly.
As expected, this move was very effective, but the look Hugh Pei gave me was as if it had been dipped in poison. "Be up by eight o'clock tomorrow. If you're one minute late, I won't wait for you."
"Okay, I'll be up at seven-thirty. I need to do my makeup," I said, giving Hugh Pei a happy smile.
I had even thought it through. I wanted to learn more about the development of Hugh Pei and Lila Wei's relationship. After we divorced, I could even write a book as his ex-wife, detailing their love story. It would surely attract a lot of interest.
Just for the gimmick, it would definitely make a lot of money. It was a very good deal.
The next day, I woke up on time, put on light makeup, changed into a more formal outfit, and set off with Hugh Pei.
When we arrived, I looked at the magnificent conference hall. The doors were open, and several beautiful hostesses stood on either side. Lila Wei was among them, wearing a Chinese-style cheongsam that made her stand out. Hugh Pei unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car, apparently not having noticed Lila Wei yet.
"You go in first, I need to touch up my makeup," I suddenly said to Hugh Pei.
In my past life, Lila Wei knew Hugh Pei was married, but she had never met me or had any communication with me. It was better not to let her know about my relationship with Hugh Pei this time either.
Hugh Pei couldn't be bothered with me and got out of the car and left.
Through the car window, I watched Hugh Pei's figure walk towards the main entrance.
Finally, he stood in front of Lila Wei. Since his back was to me, I couldn't see his expression change, but I could clearly see his steps pause for a moment, as if he were sizing up the young, beautiful girl in front of him.
At that moment, my heart also plummeted to the bottom, a sharp pain, and at the same time, a sense of finality.
In front of so many people, even if Hugh Pei was moved, he wouldn't act on it directly. The occasion wasn't appropriate. So he quickly entered the conference hall.
Seeing his figure disappear, I got out of the car and walked into the hall by myself.
When Lila Wei saw me, a look of surprise crossed her face, but she quickly recovered and greeted me in a low voice, "Sis Zoe."
I smiled at her and went to find my seat without saying much more.
Hugh Pei was already seated in the front row, next to the person in charge of the venue for this summit. They were discussing something. My seat was next to Hugh Pei's. As I walked over and sat down, I happened to hear the person in charge say his last sentence, "Okay, I'll send you her number later."
Then he looked at me with some embarrassment and quickly got up and left.
"He's more perceptive than Ching Ching Pan," I remarked.
Hugh Pei turned to look at me, his gaze even more annoyed than before. He was probably so full of thoughts of Lila Wei right now that he didn't want to listen to my nonsense.
He didn't want to listen, but I insisted on talking. "Last time, Ching Ching Pan sat next to me for half the day and didn't even recognize me. She said I was just a figurehead."
"Normal," Hugh Pei replied blandly.
"Are you saying it's normal that she's not perceptive, or that it's normal for me to be a figurehead?" I asked curiously.
Hugh Pei didn't speak, just looked at Lila Wei, who was walking over not far away, his eyes brighter than I had ever seen them.
I was familiar with that look. It was the same look I had when I first met Hugh Pei.
Lila Wei's eyes were all on me; she didn't even look at Hugh Pei. This made me feel quite good.
I was starting to believe that Lila Wei truly loved Julian Qi. Her rejection of Hugh Pei in her past life must have been genuine. Otherwise, how could she have been completely oblivious to the man next to her with such a burning gaze?