From Apocalypse To Entertainment Circle (BL)-Chapter 58: Beneath the Glamour: A Charity Gala Turned Nightmare l

Chapter 58: Beneath the Glamour: A Charity Gala Turned Nightmare l

It was in the early morning and an inky dark room when the two sat snugly side by side upon a vast black bed. Sunshine streamed through high French windows to shine upon the diminutive figure resting in the longer man’s arms.

Sian’s eyelids blinked softly before his eyes slowly opened. He was briefly dazed, his mind empty, not being able to focus on anything—maybe because he had woken up. Attempting to sit up, he noticed that his body felt horribly heavy as if something was weighing him down. Moving his head a little, he was met with just what he was expecting—a ginormous "puppy" stretched over him from the back, limbs wrapped tight around his body.

Sian sighed. Did this big puppy come into heat or something? Why is he embracing me like this?

The bed was big enough for five adult men to lie on it, and Lan Qisheng had perfect sleeping manners—he always woke up in exactly the same position he had lain in. He had never squished Si An or disrupted his sleep before.

Within a few seconds, Sian’s head cleared fully, and the memories of last night came flooding back. He remembered seeing a woman resembling his mother to a tee, and how she had even addressed him as "my son."

True, the shock of the previous night had taken place, but he was pretty much composed. It hadn’t caused any serious dent in his psyche.

But Sian couldn’t help but smile bitterly at the nasty joke which seemed to be being played on him. He longed for a fresh start, a life away from his former self and recollections of his past life. But again and again, things kept happening—people appeared, reminding him time and time again of his old world.

Firstly, there was the mysterious masked man.

And then, a woman who looked exactly like his mother.

It was as if this world would not forget him. It would not allow him to start anew as Sian.

When it was as if this world would not forget Xia Qing.

A suffocating pressure wrapped around Si An’s chest.

By then, the arms folded over his waist and belly had shifted. One arm tightened around his waist, and the other inched its way up his body until it was at his chest. And then, in a swift movement, Sian was pulled backwards—deeper into the arms of the man behind him, as if the latter was going to swallow him whole.

Lan Qisheng wrapped Sian in his arms and pulled him closer to his chest. Sliding down, he pressed his lips to the teen’s ear and whispered, "Sweetheart, it’s still early. Sleep a little longer."

Sian was not asleep.

And yet, for no reason he could understand, when the big puppy wrapped him in his arms and whispered in that deep, sleepy voice, his amber eyes drifted closed.

And he slept.

For two more hours.

As he at last opened his eyes, the fire in the back had vanished. Vanished as well as the heavy, chunky body which had encircled him.

There was the momentary d’appoint for an instant.

But that, too, disappeared the very instant Lan Qisheng was standing in the doorway, lugging a breakfast tray.

Seeing Sian wake and sit up on the bed, Lan Qisheng smiled as he approached and set down the tray. "You’re awake. I was about to wake you up. It’s already late, and you need to eat breakfast. You didn’t have dinner last night, so I made sure I prepared a filling meal for you."

Sian’s gaze remained fixed on the man.

In a greyish-blue suit, its smooth black apron draped over it, Lan Qisheng looked oddly domesticated despite his rough masculinity. The suit accentuated his broad shoulders and brawny build, exuding an aura of power and dominance.

"Good morning," Sian uttered in a soft voice before he began eating.

For real, he was starving.

Comfortably seated on the bed, he chewed slowly as Lan Qisheng settled down beside him, watching him with a pleased smile.

Lan Qisheng was afraid that Sian’s mood would be so bad that he would not eat, but luckily the teenager had a fairly good appetite

Once he finished his meal, Sian looked over at Lan Qisheng, raising an eyebrow. "Where are you headed?"

"Oh, you mean the suit?" Lan Qisheng sighed. "Don’t remind me. There’s a charity gala happening today. Of course, the ’charity’ part is just a front. It’s just an excuse for the city’s wealthiest families to gather. My grandfather wants me to start networking since I’ll soon be taking over the companies publicly. I hate these events, but the old man is too strong. If I refuse, he might break my legs."

"Oh". Sian responded absentmindedly, clearly uninterested in Lan Qisheng’s affairs.

He didn’t even ask where the companies came from or how a man in the military had suddenly become a business mogul.

But after some thought, Sian finally asked, "Will the family from last night be there?"

Lan Qisheng immediately understood. "You mean the Xia family? Yeah, they’ll be there. They own major entertainment and industrial businesses and have numerous projects in and outside of City B. Naturally, they received an invitation."

"Hmm." So, even their surname was Xia. How ironic.

Sian tried not to dwell on it too much, afraid his head might explode from overthinking.

And yet, he still wanted to see that family again.

He needed to confirm something.

"Can I go with you?" Sian met Lan Qisheng’s gaze as he asked.

Seeing the determination in his eyes, Lan Qisheng didn’t hesitate.

He didn’t ask why.

He simply agreed.

The charity gala was scheduled for around two or three in the afternoon, and it wasn’t even eleven yet. Originally, Lan Qisheng had planned to handle some business before the event.

But now, thanks to a certain someone, his schedule had changed.

Without the slightest guilt, he mentally tossed aside his grandfather’s very important assignment—perhaps into the deepest recesses of his mind, or maybe straight into the metaphorical trash can.

After all, his little lover didn’t have anything to wear to the event.

As a qualified boyfriend, there was no way Lan Qisheng would let Sian attend such a grand occasion without proper attire.

Thus, the two of them headed to the city’s high-end shopping district, hopping from one luxury brand store to another.

Sian swore—Lan Qisheng was more troublesome than any girl when it came to shopping.

Why?

Because a certain puppy dragged him into every single store, made him try on millions of outfits, shoes, accessories, watches, and even cufflinks.

He didn’t stop until Sian pretended to be exhausted—looking as if he was about to faint from sheer exhaustion.

Only then did the colonel’s shopping spree finally come to an end.

The charity gala commenced.

The city’s most prominent families and renowned figures gathered at the grandest hotel, on its topmost floor—a breathtaking sky garden.

The venue was stunning.

And dangerous.

The garden was enclosed only by a bulletproof glass railing, reaching just waist-high for an average adult.

Standing there, one could truly feel as if they were suspended in midair.

After all, this hotel was akin to a skyscraper, with more floors than anyone could bother counting.

Its name?

Paradise Hotel.

Arriving at the venue under the flash of cameras and the watchful eyes of reporters, Sian and Lan Qisheng stepped out of the car.