And so, the entire event was of Hayden skillfully navigating social interactions, while Isabella was happily enjoying the spectacle, thoroughly entertained. Nevertheless, in such a situation, there were more working staff than celebrities, hence the gossip was limited. Over time, there wasn't much drama for Isabella to notice. Just as boredom was about to get the best of her, she turned her head and was so surprised she nearly dropped her wine glass. Suddenly, Bianca appeared, briskly walking in their direction. Isabella somewhat understood why Luna had wanted to ruin her own face in the past. When that face appeared, it truly made one momentarily confused, a sensation that was enough to disgust Luna. That aside, what is she doing here? Bianca had come specifically for Hayden. From a distance, she spotted Hayden and assumed that Christopher would be with him. Unexpectedly, it was Isabella who was by Hayden's side. She paused for a moment, not daring to offend Isabella. Instead, she anxiously asked Hayden, “Hayden, is Chris here?” Hayden was annoyed, yet he managed to maintain a professional smile. “Nope.” However, Bianca refused to believe it, “Could it be that he's here but refuses to see me?” Although Bianca didn't raise her voice much, her commotion still managed to draw curious glances from many people present. This irked Hayden immensely. If the media caught wind of this, it would surely become a trending topic. The previous rumors about the two of them were already enough to give him a headache. As an agent, it was unacceptable to let his client face such troubles.Knowing that Bianca was not one to listen to others, Hayden had no choice but to shift the focus away. “Ms. Bianca, why don't we take this discussion outside?” “Alright, take me to Chris.” Hayden's face frozen as he turned to look at Isabella. Isabella was also at her wit's end. Luna was truly down on her luck. If the two sisters happened to cross paths, she was genuinely afraid that crazy Bianca would cause a scene. Seeing Hayden look her way, Isabella said, “I'm tired and planning to go out for a stroll. I'm fine with just Thalia accompanying me.” Hayden gave a nod, and swiftly, he and a few others left the venue, leaving behind a crowd that yearned for more drama, yet could only watch on helplessly. The Silvinubis Hotel was divided into three buildings. One was dedicated to dining, entertainment, and leisure activities; another was for accommodation; and the third was designated for meetings and other events. Once Isabella parted ways with Hayden, she returned to her room to change. At the same time, he sent a message to Luna. “Luna, I'm at the Silvinubis Hotel attending an event. I thought I caught a glimpse of you. Are you here too?” There was no response. Isabella wasn't sure if the other party hadn't noticed her message or simply chose not to respond. After all, she was Christopher's sister-in-law, someone the latter might have wanted to completely eliminate from her life. Nevertheless, the well-intentioned Isabella gave Luna a heads-up. “By the way, I saw Bianca at the event earlier. I hope you won't run into her.” When there was still no response, there was nothing more that Isabella could do. Together with Thalia, she headed toward the entertainment zone. Upon arriving at the first-floor lobby, they noticed a large crowd had gathered, their steps halted as they watched the unfolding scene with interest. How could I possibly miss this? Immediately, Isabella and Thalia stopped in their tracks and rushed forward to take a look. It was a sight to behold. A man was seen kneeling down, clinging to a woman's leg. Both of them appeared to be in their early twenties. The man bellowed, “Anais, I love you. I can't live without you. If you reject me, I won't be able to continue living!” The woman's eyes welled up with tears. “Zeke, stop it! People are staring!” “Anais, I'm sorry. It was all because I love and care about you too much. I acted impulsively in the heat of the moment because you got too close to that other man!” “Don't spout nonsense, you clearly knew he was my professor! You always jump to conclusions... Forget it, I don't want to discuss this anymore. We've already broken up. I...” “I don't want to break up. Please give me a chance to make things right. I'm begging you,” the man pleaded, his voice rising brimming with emotion. The woman could only express her grievance. “You've on more than one occasion acted out of irrational jealousy toward other men around me. You've made me embarrass myself to so many people. My friends say this is a psychological issue that you can't change. They've advised me to break up with you. I have given you a chance before, but you've become violent again. I'm utterly disappointed in you.” “Those people have ulterior motives. Being a woman, you wouldn't understand how a man thinks, but I do. I know what they were up to. I did all this to protect you!” “You're simply not making any sense! I should have heeded their advice and never seen you again.” “I was wrong, I was wrong. As long as you can forgive me, I'll do anything you say. I hit the wrong person, so I'll punish myself!” Having said that, the man began to repeatedly slap his own face.The crowd whispered among themselves. The woman held back for a moment, but she couldn't bear it any longer. She quickly grabbed his hands, her heart aching still. “Stop it. Our issues aren't as simple as this!” “I understand that you're still bothered by that incident. I've told you, there was nothing between her and me! I've completely cut off all contact with her.” “But my friend told me, they saw you two together again. They said you deceived me, asking me not to take you back.” The man's face contorted. “Nonsense, tell her to prove it! Didn't you say your friend has been unlucky in love? She's clearly just jealous of our relationship.” “She isn't like that. She is a good person and very accomplished. You can't talk about her like that. She was only looking out for me! There were so many times when we argued, and she was always there to take me in and comfort me!” “Would she sow discord if she really wanted the best for you? Yes, I might have acted impulsively, but everything I did was out of jealousy. Can you deny that? Did she even deny my feelings for you? She simply can't stand to see you happy!” “It's not... It's not like that!” Even though she denied it, her eyes clearly showed her wavering. “We've been together for so many years; would you really rather believe an outsider than me? Sure, I might have a few quirks, but I genuinely love you! We used to be perfectly fine, but ever since you started hanging out with her, you've changed. You used to be so good, but now you find fault in everything I do. It must be her stirring things up, whispering in your ear, and brainwashing you.” “No, it's not like that... Everything she said makes sense. You're too controlling. I don't have any freedom. I can't even decide what clothes to wear on my own. Others have tried to advise me too. I was too caught up in it to see clearly,” the woman said, her expression torn. “All those things are trivial. I just wanted to take care of you! And there's something you're unaware of, your friend actually has feelings for me!”The woman gasped in shock, “What? That can't be, she clearly...” “Every time I come to see you, she would always be watching me, constantly encouraging you to break up with me. If that's not a secret crush, then what is it? She's just trying to tear us apart. But I have no interest in her, and I certainly wasn't going to give her any opportunity!” The man spoke with righteous indignation. The woman was completely taken aback, as if she had been blindsided by this possibility. “But she... she's gorgeous, just like a big movie star. Why wouldn't you be interested...” “The one I love is you. Even if a stunning beauty were to undress in front of me, I wouldn't be interested!” “I... I'll go and ask her. If it turns out to be true, I'll forgive you and give you another chance. But if it's false... let's just call it quits. I don't want to be heartbroken over you again!” After a moment of struggle, the woman managed to push the man away and turned to run. The man, having knelt for too long, had numb legs, which prevented him from having the chance to catch up with the woman. “What are all of you staring at, scram!” The man seemed to finally notice the crowd that had gathered to watch his embarrassing spectacle, outraging him. Isabella and Thalia also walked away from the crowd. As they strolled, they chatted and gossiped. “Isabella, do you think they'll make up?” Thalia asked curiously. “They will,” Isabella speculated. Since she didn't know the whole name, she couldn't use the system, nor could he verify its authenticity. So, she could only make a wild guess. “Huh? So you're saying you believe everything that man just said?” Thalia asked quizzically. “But I have a feeling that he's not a good person.” “I'm not sure if what he said is true, but judging from that woman's reaction earlier, reconciliation is just a matter of time,” Isabella stated. “If what the man said is true, then there's nothing more to discuss. But if he was lying, then I can only sympathize with this woman's friend.” Thalia added, “Exactly. The friend was just trying to help, but he misconstrued it as having a crush on him and tried to sow discord by painting her as the villain.” “That wasn't the scariest part.” Thalia nibbled on her crepe, casting a puzzled glance in Isabella's direction. Isabella, with candied fruit in her mouth, mumbled, “The worst part is that the woman shifted all the blame onto her friend. This made the man only resent the friend for stirring up trouble. If they were to reconcile later, this friend would be left in an awkward position. This is what they call a bad friend, Thalia. In the future, when making friends, stay away from such situations.” Thalia quickly nodded, signifying her resolve to make friends with eyes wide open. The next moment, Thalia exclaimed, “That woman.” When Isabella turned her head, she saw Anais, the woman from the argument, walk into a nearby café. The café boasted a massive glass display window that faced the pedestrian walkway. However, Isabella paid no attention to the woman. Instead, her eyes were wide open, fixated on the two rows of seats inside. In the entertainment building's cafe, four scholarly-looking individuals were seated together, sipping coffee and discussing matters. “Our project was too advanced, and the local investors were rather conservative. I suspected it would be hard to succeed this time. Once we go abroad, we will have no choice but to try raising funds from foreign venture capitalists.” “Even though we are planning to collaborate with foreign research institutions, the professor still hopes that our team maintains control. Otherwise, we wouldn't have worked so hard to find investments domestically.” “Maybe we should think of another solution?”“Luna, you're no longer part of the Cowell family...” Someone was about to say something when they were abruptly cut off. The three people sharing the seat awkwardly turned their gaze toward Luna. “Apologies, I spoke too hastily,” the speaker quickly expressed regret. Sitting over there, Luna simply gave a nonchalant smile and said, “It's all right. Let's think of another solution.” At this moment, Luna sported a neat, short haircut, reminiscent of a boy's sporty style. She wore black-rimmed glasses as an accessory and was dressed in a simple white blouse. Even though she was seated in a bustling place, no one would mistake her for the rising starlet, Bianca. As they were talking, a pleasant male voice suddenly echoed from the booth seat they were leaning against. “Would it be possible for me to join the discussion? I'm quite intrigued by your research project, and I'm considering investing.” Luna felt her body stiffen, while the others looked up in confusion. A tall, lean man stood before them. He donned a hat, sunglasses, and a black mask. He casually rested one hand on the back of the elegant couch, while the other hand hooked beneath his mask, revealing a set of attractive lips. He slowly spoke, “May I sit down?” When everyone realized what was going on, their eyes widened as they glanced at Luna. Luna's fiancé was the superstar Christopher, a fact well-known among those who had been classmates with Luna for years. They had even seen him from a distance several times. Occasionally, the trending topics around her would pique their curiosity. It seemed like her fiancé had a closer relationship with her twin sister than with Luna herself. Recently, Luna returned and firmly decided to go abroad with her team for research. When the professor asked her about personal matters, she said everything had been taken care of. It was then that they discovered that she had broken off her engagement and severed ties with her family. They speculated that Christopher was indeed involved with her younger sister. After all, they were researchers, always busy and hardly available. In contrast, those in the entertainment industry were free to meet daily. They felt a pang of sympathy for Luna. After all, they had known her for many years. Even if they weren't particularly perceptive, they were aware that Luna had someone in her heart. That was why she had turned down all suitors. However, it seemed as though Luna did not require their consolation. Thus, everyone could only try their best to avoid mentioning the topic. Thus, it was simply perplexing for them when her ex-fiancé, a top-tier superstar, disguised himself and showed up. What did he just say? He wants to invest in us? It's clear he's here because of Luna. Could it be... they're getting back together? Even the most stoic researcher, who usually was calm and composed, couldn't help but feel the urge to gossip. The female researcher sitting next to Luna simply stood up and walked to a spot across the table. The three of them held their coffees, not daring to even make a sound. Upon seeing Luna's new appearance, Christopher's heart nearly leaped out of his chest. It wasn't his usual preference, but never had Christopher been so sure of something before. So, it turns out this is what longing and being smitten feels like. “Luna, I...” Christopher said nervously. “Even though you're a celebrity, Mr. Christopher, the investment we're seeking is substantial. It seems you might not have the financial strength for it,” Luna said suddenly, not even bothering to look at him.Luna wasn't one to let her pride get in the way and refuse impulsively. It was after all a matter concerning their entire team. Regardless of Christopher's intentions, they needed investment, and if Christopher wanted to invest, then it was strictly business. Christopher was taken aback for a moment, then quickly reassured them, “Don't worry. Your research is very meaningful, so Alexander would also be interested. I'm not investing in you as a celebrity, but to negotiate with you as a representative of Quirk Group.” Upon hearing this, everyone immediately became excited. Quirk Group had nothing to do with their research, so they hadn't considered them before. “If you're indeed interested in investing, you should directly discuss it with our professor. There's no need to negotiate with us.” Luna's expression was indifferent. Then she turned to the person across from her and said, “Could you please take Mr. Christopher to the professor?” Immediately, Christopher grew anxious. “No, I just want to talk to you.” Luna's expression darkened, finally turning her gaze toward Christopher. The evident impatience in her eyes felt like a sting to Christopher. Tears welled uncontrollably in his eyes, as he couldn't bear being looked at by Luna in such a manner. “Can't I speak with you? I still have so much to tell you.” “So you're using money and power to pressure me? I see you've learned this trick too.” The color drained from Christopher's face. A few seconds later, unable to bear the gaze of Luna, he didn't want to anger her any further. After all, as long as he could invest, he would have opportunities to learn about her movements in the future. “Alright, I understand. I'll go see your professor.” Christopher stood up in dejection. “Don't worry. I'll handle the investment matters!” Luna was momentarily taken aback. After all, considering Christopher's temperament toward her over the years, it was unlikely for him to give in. This sudden change felt surreal to her, as if she was watching the young Christopher who would hang his head low and agree to everything whenever he angered her. Regaining her composure, Luna noticed a stir within her heart and quickly bowed her head to sip her coffee. Christopher reluctantly gazed at Luna, ultimately left with no choice but to leave. The moment he looked up, he let out a brief gasp, staring in surprise at what was beyond the glass wall. Everyone was taken aback by his reaction, their attention swiftly shifting outside. Just like Christopher, they too were left startled. Two girls were seen standing by the glass wall, each laden with bags of various sizes. The most beautiful among them was staring straight at them. Her eyes were filled with curiosity, wide open in wonder. “Is she... a fan of Mr. Christopher?” someone asked. Luna was taken aback as she locked eyes with Isabella. “It's his sister-in-law.”Isabella told Thalia to return with the items she had brought while she squeezed in to join the fun. The three researchers sat in the comfortable seats, eagerly waiting to enjoy the show. Meanwhile, Luna, Isabella, and Christopher sat on the bench across the table. Isabella had no qualms sitting in the middle, just as Luna had intended. “Hello there,” Isabella greeted warmly and cheerfully. “Shopping is quite tiring. I was about to step in for a coffee. What a pleasant surprise to bump into you. I didn't expect to find you here,” she continued with a suggestive tone and a playful smile directed toward Christopher. Here comes a live portrayal of one going through great pains to win back one's lover. Woohoo! Christopher's expression stiffened when he overheard Isabella's thoughts. However, her interruption enabled him to catch his breath just as he was about to be driven away, and he was indeed grateful to her for that. As for Luna, she was still friendly toward Isabella, asking with confusion, “Didn't you two come here together?” Isabella instantly understood and replied, “I sent you a message, but you probably didn't see it. I came to participate in this industry event as a new artist from Christopher's agency. As for why he's here, you'll have to ask him. He refused to accompany me, his sister-in-law, to this event, yet he shows up here.” Her tone conveyed a hint of complaint, prompting the three people opposite her to wink at one another excessively. They became even more nosy when Christopher didn't offer any explanation. Isn't this essentially an admission that he came here for Luna? Luna pretended she hadn't heard the second part of Isabella's reply. Upon hearing that the latter had sent her a message, she pulled out her phone from her bag to check.“Sorry. I set my phone to silent mode because of the meeting and forgot to switch it back.” As she said that, her expression shifted abruptly. Isabella calmly sipped her coffee, not surprised by the former's current reaction. Despite Christopher's obstructed view, he kept stealing glances at Luna and naturally noticed it immediately. “What's wrong?” Luna furrowed her brows slightly as she looked at Isabella. The latter chuckled lightly before turning to Christopher and whispering, “Oh, it's nothing. I ran into Bianca at the event and reminded Luna to be cautious.” Although it was a whisper, everyone could hear it, causing the room to become even quieter. Christopher's expression turned cold, and he anxiously looked at Luna. “I had no idea she was here. I've long blocked her on all possible platforms.” However, Luna shifted her gaze away expressionlessly. “That's between you two. There's no need for the explanation.” Isabella didn't hesitate to fan the flames while watching the spectacle, saying, “She did come looking for you, but Hayden temporarily distracted her. Do you want to handle this?” Instantly annoyed, Christopher shot her a glance. He picked up his phone and sent a message to Hayden while replying, “There's no need for me to handle this. Hayden knows I won't see her again. He'll find a way to get her to leave.” Well, I'll be! He's upholding the virtues of a gentleman! Why didn't he do it earlier? Christopher stole glances at Luna, yet she showed no reaction, leaving him feeling somewhat disheartened. As for Isabella, she was keenly interested in asking about their coming to the meeting and was somewhat surprised upon hearing Christopher's actions.I initially thought Christopher was just here to be a persistent nuisance, but who would have thought he'd start investing? Mr. Christopher is planning to spend a fortune just for his beloved! Seeing the expression of complete understanding on Isabella's face, Luna suddenly said, “Our project won't be profitable in the short term, and it has nothing to do with the business direction of Quirk Group. Since Mr. Alexander Quirk runs the company, we can go directly to him for discussions if he's truly interested. There's no need to trouble Mr. Christopher.” Isabella instantly looked at the rascal beside her with a hint of sympathy, only to be greeted by his ashen face. As I thought, Luna's indifferent response isn't a pretentious attempt to play out a complicated love pursuit. She has genuinely moved on and no longer wishes to be bothered. Christopher's heart was already aching, yet Isabella's sentiments continued piercing him like a knife. However, he was undeterred by setbacks and discreetly tugged at the hem of Isabella's dress from below while furiously winking at her. What's the matter? Eye twitches? Christopher was exasperated. I need her help, so I'll endure it! “If Alex were to receive your report, he would have to follow the company's procedures. However, if you let me hear it first and assess the situation, I could expedite things. This would save quite a lot of time, considering I'm also a board member. Aren't you in a hurry?” Luna looked at Isabella, a hint of uncertainty in her gaze. Only the latter could provide the confirmation she needed here. “Is it true?” she asked. Isabella never expected to experience the first battlefield directly, confirming her sentiments that being nosy had risks and gossiping required caution, or one would unwittingly draw trouble upon oneself. Even though I yearn to help her as a fellow female...Hearing her thoughts, Christopher interrupted anxiously, “Isabella, your phone seems to be vibrating. Someone's probably trying to reach you.” Isabella was taken aback. But there's no... Huh? It's true. She picked up the phone, her eyes instantly lit up upon seeing the words on the screen: Transfer details: Five hundred thousand! Note: Don't interfere! Isabella was speechless. Is such a trivial matter worth half a million? Is money that easy to earn? What kind of person do you take me for? Heh! You're good at reading people! After placing the phone down, Isabella said seriously, “I don't know either...” Christopher breathed a sigh of relief. However, he could hear her chuckling inwardly. Sure enough, there's such a thing as a free lunch! I previously had no clue! Alexander and I are just a couple in name, so how could I possibly know their company's internal procedures? Christopher is truly an easy mark! Hahaha! In a flash, realization dawned upon Christopher, his breath hitching in his throat. In my flustered state, I mistook Isabella and Alex for a happily married couple. In truth, what he said was indeed correct. He was merely worried that Isabella would meddle too much, eagerly playing matchmaker. Given Alexander's current attitude toward her, there was a chance he might make an exception and give her an internal referral, which was why he tried to stop it. Far away in the company office, diligently working to generate income for his family, Alexander inexplicably felt his ears heating up. Luna had no choice but to give up after hearing Isabella's response. She wasn't curious about the reason for Christopher's current relentless pursuit, only wishing to cut off all contact with him. However, it turned out harder than anticipated, just as difficult as when she wanted to get close to him back then. Worried that Luna would next ask him to speak with the professor, Christopher immediately asked the trio across from him, “I won't be meeting the professor. I'm sure I wouldn't understand what he's saying anyway. Perhaps you guys could give me a rough idea about the prospects and your plans for the future. I overheard you mentioning something about going abroad. How much would you roughly need in terms of funding?” In truth, the issue Christopher cared about the most was going abroad. Upon hearing the words 'going abroad', Luna visibly relaxed. It was apparent she felt that no matter how tough things were currently, she was comforted that she would soon be leaving. The three people across dutifully collaborated and said a few things. Christopher's expression tensed up when he heard the crucial information. “So, you're saying that your professor, including your entire research team, are going abroad for a study that will last at least five years?” he asked. It's more than just five years! Luna has mentally prepared herself to relocate overseas after this trip, never to return. Isabella's thoughts made Christopher's breath hitch. I have died every night waiting for you... As Isabella's off-key singing echoed in his head, Christopher could only feel a chilling cold enveloping his entire body, probably sensing his sorrow. The female researcher among the trio was somewhat empathetic, adding, “The three of us had decided to go from the very start. Initially, Luna was hesitant, but now she has confirmed it too. There's just one person who's still undecided.” A gleam flashed in Christopher's eyes, the deep-seated sorrow within them becoming increasingly hard to hide. It's all my fault! In truth, the female researcher meant that Luna likely wanted to leave because of breaking things off with him. Therefore, there was a high chance she could be coaxed to return. After all, their team had couples with relationships that were constantly on and off, where a simple coaxing could lead to a reconciliation.Luna naturally understood what her well-intentioned companions were implying, but she could only signal them with her gaze in exasperation. As her gaze swept over, she caught sight of Christopher's sorrowful look. She froze slightly, taken aback that he could even make such a facial expression. However, Christopher quickly bounced back, being a person who didn't give up easily. He abruptly turned to look at Luna with burning intensity in his eyes, as if a thousand words were on the tip of his tongue. Luna was momentarily stunned, thinking this was the ever-radiant Christopher she knew. Following that, Christopher delved into some specific inquiries, with the actual underlying intent being to see if there was any chance to invite foreign institutions back to the country. However, as the conversation progressed, he realized there was little hope, so he could only think of other options. As they were talking, someone unexpectedly approached, accompanied by a surprised female voice. “Huh? You're... You're!” The person seemed to have recognized Christopher. Considering the basic etiquette of conversing, he had removed his sunglasses, leaving only his hat on. He also pulled down his mask to his chin. At that moment, Christopher instinctively wanted to pull his hat lower. However, he saw the researcher opposite him quickly stand up and usher the newcomer to sit down, saying, “Keep it down or you'll reveal him. He's discussing serious matters with us!” “But, he's Christopher Quirk... Christopher... How could it be...” “Hello,” Christopher greeted politely.Isabella had just finished her last bite of dessert and nearly choked on the piece of chocolate that hadn't yet melted in her mouth when she looked up. Her eyes widened in disbelief. What a coincidence! “Anais, why took you so long to fetch the document?” “Why is your face all damp and your eyes red? What happened?” The concerned inquiries from her companions didn't catch Anais' attention. Naturally, Isabella's chuckles from the side didn't either. Unlike Anais, Luna heard Isabella's snarky chuckle and looked at the woman beside her curiously.