Love for One Night

Ch 1: The Night I Can't Forget (8)

When Chinese doing matchmaking, they liked to say a perfect match should be between a "talented man" and a "beautiful woman". A man doesn't need to be too handsome; talent is enough. But, let's be honest, everyone enjoys looking at something pleasing. Especially in this era where beauty reigns supreme, being good-looking is also a kind of capital. Arden had always been confident in his appearance. If he could change his name to "Charming" it wouldn't be bad, though it might seem a bit silly.

When Arden saw the international student walking toward him with a fierce, vengeful glare, he knew trouble wasn't something he sought out—it sought him. 

Ryo and Moya, his usual 'retinue,' foresaw the situation and attempted to slip away, but Arden's firm grip forcibly pulled them back.

The girl—apologies, even after sleeping with her a few times, Arden still couldn't remember her name—stood in front of him, clutching her small bag, glaring up at him silently. 

Arden's lips curled into a charming smile as he said, "You have the most beautiful eyes, my lady."

The flattery didn't work. The girl regarded him coolly and asked, "Arden, what is it that you really want?"

Arden shrugged and didn't answer.

"Let's be clear today, what am I to you?"

"What do you think?" Arden also grew cold and retorted.

The girl bit her perfectly lined lower lip. The word "girlfriend" was impossible for her to say aloud. His attitude was clear. She should have understood it from the start but remained unwilling to accept it. After all, he was too handsome, too stylish, and too rich. 

Yet, from the looks of it now, letting it go might have been more dignified. Standing here now felt like self-inflicted humiliation. But she'd already come, spoken—there was no turning back.

Moya stepped forward, wrapping her arm around Arden's. Without even glancing at the other girl, she tilted her head slightly to look at him, using her sweetest voice: "Honey, who's this beauty?"

Arden chuckled, pulling Moya into his arms, planting a kiss on her forehead. His tone was so coquettish it made Ryo shiver involuntarily. "Baby, what beauty? You're the only one I see."

The girl studied the woman in Arden's embrace, who was strikingly tall and exuded the allure of a supermodel. Her eyes turned red with anger, and she pointed at Ryo, who was watching the scene unfold with fascination. "You... didn't you tell Christine that Ryo was your boyfriend?"

Ryo chuckled and walked over, slinging his arm over Moya's other shoulder. "Well, that's not entirely wrong."

The girl stared in disbelief at the three people in front of her, gritting her teeth and muttering under her breath, "So, she really is a bastard."

"What did you say?" Ryo's expression shifted, but Moya held him back.

The girl drew in a deep breath, lifted her chin, and pretended not to care. "OK. Threesome? If she can, so can I."

Ryo raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself, 'This girl got guts.' Just as he was about to act, Arden spoke. "Too bad—you're not even a bastard."

"Hey, Arden, weren't you a bit harsh this time? This is not like you." Moya said, glancing back at the girl who was still standing there bawling uncontrollably, feeling a bit sorry for her. Arden and that girl had shared some intimacy, after all. Even a one-night-stand deserves some lingering kindness, doesn't it? Treating her like this seemed too cruel.

It wasn't the first time a girl had come looking for confirmation of their relationship with Arden. He usually sent them off with a few sweet words. Who knows what mood struck this lord today to act so ruthlessly, leaving that girl bruised and humiliated. Moya couldn't help but sigh—men could be so cold and terrifying when they wanted to be. 

Arden put on his sunglasses. "She called you a bastard."

Moya gently patted his muscular chest with the back of her hand and sighed. "Good, you do have a conscience after all. My reputation was not sacrificed in vain."

Arden clasped his hands together then bowed of thanks. Moya burst out laughing; the ancient gesture seemed so out of place with him. "What, do you think you're some kind of chivalrous hero? If this were ancient times, you'd be nothing more than a 'flower thief'."

Arden grinned. "A flower thief isn't bad. Women are beautiful flowers after all."

Moya laughed heartily, drawing the attention of nearby men. Their gazes followed her laugh, enchanted.

Unwilling to be left out, Ryo leaned over to survey Moya. "Are you sure you're not a ba...I mean mixed-race? You are definitely not pure Asian."

Moya swatted on his forehead. "I'm a pure Uyghur."

"Your ancestors could be Huihe, Oghuz...who knows how their bloodlines were mixed?" Ryo loved bickering with Moya, probably because she was beautiful.

"What does it matter to you if I'm mixed?"

Arden ignored the two, who were once again at odds like bickering children. His hand habitually ruffled the slightly overgrown "crop circles" on the side of his head. The unconscious movement caused passing girls to whisper and giggle.

His mother had been a Miss Hong Kong Champion, and his father came from a military family. Arden inherited his mother's refinement and his father's majesty. Some things are innate and cannot be imitated. Moreover, he never cared to hide his external advantages.

Arden was accustomed to the "pink bubbles" that often popped up around him and enjoyed the attention most of the time, though it occasionally brought minor troubles. Such troubles had been part of his life since he could remember, which was why he preferred seeking fun within his own circle—everyone knew the game, and there were no strings attached.

Every now and then, he'd try something new, but it was always brief—sometimes just an hour or two, rarely lasting more than a month. He almost never grew attached. It was often the girls who were reluctant to let go, clinging to him. But when it was time to cut ties, he did so decisively.

Suddenly, an image of a beautiful face flashed through his mind, making his heart skip a beat. He had given her his number, yet she hadn't called. That was rare. Arden's phone number was something countless girls would fight tooth and nail to obtain. Did she overlook it, or...?