Love Began with the First Meeting

"Distinguished guests, thank you for coming to attend my birthday party today..."

With a reddish glow creeping on his face, Roger stood on the stage wearing a stately Tang suit, a traditional Chinese garment. Hidden lights cast soft and gentle beams of light on his large family, which included his son, daughter-in-law, daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren and so on. He delivered the note of acknowledgement like a much younger man, whose strength belied his age. There were sounds of clicking against the shutters from time to time, which presented a most harmonious tone to this sonorous moment. "Today, I would like to make an announcement." Roger paused, indicated that the audience should focus on Henrik, and then Roger continued with a proud smile, "My grandson Henrik is going to be taking charge of The Kingdom of Rocks."

Although the gathered guests and media representatives might have already predicted the announcement before the party, they were still somewhat surprised when Roger made the official announcement. At that moment, all the spotlights were shining on Henrik, and the reporters looked forward to creating a dramatic headline.

"Fine, let me be brief. If you guys take care of my Henrik, I would be incredibly grateful." Roger seemed to crack a joke then. "Next, let's welcome Henrik to give us an opening dance!"

The party was being held to celebrate Roger's birthday, but right at this moment, the lime light had shifted from Roger to Henrik. The news had now been released that he would take over The Kingdom of Rocks. In other words, this announcement had been Roger's real purpose all along. After all, the four big families had to do something to fight back, since Eric had so ruthlessly suppressed and crippled them.

Henrik hadn't brought a dance partner to the party. However, there were dozens of starlets and single ladies from established families who were willing to oblige. Therefore, as the gentle music began playing, these women were all hoping that Henrik would invited them for this special dance. The Ji Family was on the same social level as the Tang Family on Dragon Island after all, and it was also one of the double tycoons in the four big families. It would be exceedingly good fortune for any woman to marry into the Ji Family.

However, Sally was different from any of them. Her eyes were scanning the whole crowd of the Ji Family, noting all of them, from the most impressive to the lowliest. No matter whether they were close relatives or distant ones, the Ji Family had a large family tree. However, Rachel was still nowhere to be found within this huge population.

'Was that picture an authentic one?'

Sally found that her mind was as confused as a tangled skein, and her hands that held her handbag couldn't help clenching it. All that she really wanted was an opportunity to get out of here, in order to check if the location on the picture was nearby this villa. To her surprise, Henrik came up to her without any warning, put his arm around her waist, and assumed a parabolic posture to invite her, like a gentleman, for a dance.

"Miss, may I dance with you?" Henrik extended the invitation in a low and horse but attractive voice.

All of the guests and the gathered media also turned to look at Sally. Of course, there was no lack of jealous and envy in the looks which some of the more ambitious of the women gathered about Henrik flashed her.

Finding herself in such an embarrassing pickle, Sally couldn't help cursing Henrik for a thousand times in her mind. The last thing that she had wanted was to draw public attention to herself. "I'd love to, but I'm sorry. I can't dance." She rejected him with an indifferent politeness. Her hands grasped the handbag even tighter as she became nervous. Besides, she could clearly sense Addison's detached but penetrating look from across the room, and it was about to tear her heart apart.

Hearing this, Henrik still smiled at Sally's delicate face. He forcefully seized her hands, as if he had not been turned down. When Sally tried desperately to get away from him, he whispered in a low voice that only she could hear, "Aren't you coming for me, today?" Seeing that Sally was about to quit struggling, Henrik smiled. "You really don't know what it means to give up."

Sally was shocked for a moment. Before she realized what Henrik meant, he pulled her on the dance floor.

With the melody of waltz ringing out, Henrik gave his best dance performance and lead Sally in beginning a fabulous display of grace and rhythm on the middle of the stage. With a beautiful movement of pulling, pushing and pulling Sally back again, Henrik continued their conversation. "I had heard that you didn't want her to be influenced by you before you were sentenced to prison, but now, aren't you contradicting what you said before?"

Henrik forced Sally to join him passively in the dance. Fortunately, prison had not only had meals and labor tasks, but also activities such as dance to keep them occupied. Thanks to the ballroom dance they had learnt in prison, she was capable of handling this bizarre occasion. "I'd never thought of trying to influence her," Sally sneered. "Of course, I have to make sure that she lives a happy life."

Henrik dragged Sally forward and with a powerful palm bent her waist over. Then he looked down upon her with his lips in an airy smile. "Do you think she lives well in the Ji Family?"

"Well, I can't give you that answer for sure until I see her in person." While talking, Sally was abruptly pulled upright by Henrik.

Their quiet conversation while moving in the dance might have been seen as a gentle whisper from the outside. It couldn't be any warmer or more affectionate, or so it seemed. As a result, all of the women present who were crazy for Henrik's attentions stared at Sally with an envy that couldn't be suppressed. If looks could kill, then they would have murdered Sally a thousand times already.

Sitting off to the side, Addison swirled the wine in his goblet slightly with his slender fingers. Under the light of the lamps, the wine slowly trickled down the side of the glass to join the scarlet spirits at the bottom of it. It reflected glaring crimson lights within the clear surface of the glass vessel. This was exactly how he felt right at that moment, watching Sally and Henrik dancing together.

He had been waiting for her to grow up. However, he had never had the chance to dance with her on such a formal occasion. Addison felt the bitter pangs of regret in his heart. Charlie said that she had been guided by him to the VIP room because her clothes had been spoiled. Compared with the black outfit which she now wore, the previous white one was more suited to her. In other words, the complicated and intricate patterns on the black costume failed to fully show off her beauty. In contrast, the simple, snow white dress presented a much more pleasing view.

But the man who was dancing with her was an eyesore for Addison.

Addison could no longer bear to watch them, and setting the goblet aside he stood up and moved outside. He had originally only planned to stay for a brief show of face at the party, and that was all, but what was happening now made him reluctant to stay here any longer. Mentally speaking, it made him feel contemptuous.

He had received the training which came with being a ruler candidate, and possessed a sense of superiority which came natural to the Long Family. Under these circumstances, and as a proud son of the Long Family, he could not allow this situation to continue. "Bro, are you going to leave?" Charlie asked with his hand holding a plate loaded with food, while Elsa was next to him, burdened with her own mountain of food.

Addison sneered and was aware that Charlie had made the plate for Evelyn, so he frowned and reminded him, "It's not so healthy to eat a lot in the evening!"

Charlie looked down at what he was holding and replied with a shrug, "Evelyn is going to the beach with Ezra to collect shells, and it requires a lot of energy." He handed the food to Elsa. "Please, take over for me. I need to have a talk with Addison." "Okay." Elsa gave an innocent smile and said goodbye to him. "Mark, see you."

Addison nodded, and the two of them stepped out of the hall to take in some fresh air leaving Elsa behind.

The night breeze was warm and comforting. A fresh scent of salt spray from the ocean and fresh cut grass filled the air. It relieved some of their fatigue and tension.

Charlie spoke first. "Perhaps I should not ask, because I'm afraid I'll touch your bottom line, but I still believe it is necessary to talk with you." After a pause, he turned around and looked searchingly at Addison. "You know Sally, right?" There were both hesitation and certainty in his voice. Although it was phrased as a question, it sounded more like a statement of fact.

Addison stopped walking and stared at Charlie speechlessly, as if waiting for him to finish speaking.

"I've never heard this from you." Charlie spoke in a light voice.

"It couldn't be mentioned at first. Later, it was not possible to talk about it," Addison also replied in a light voice. "But now it is forbidden to discuss it!"

Upon hearing this, Charlie frowned. "Is she the girl who I had accidentally seen on your cell phone?" he exclaimed in a low voice.

"Hmm." Addison didn't contradict this statement, and turned around to keep walking along. The night lamps cast shadows which lengthened and shortened as they revealed a nameless solitude in the deserted grounds. The revelry inside the dance hall was a stark contrast to Addison's stiff back as he walked.

Charlie followed with concern on his face. "Is she the girl you cannot let go?"

"Hmm." Addison just murmured, making it difficult to tell his exact attitude towards Sally from his voice. "Don't let Evelyn know about it. Not to mention Mom and Dad. You'd better not try to make an in-depth analysis of it, either."

Charlie shrugged. "Of course, it's your own business. The reason why I'm asking is to avoid stepping into a minefield. Even though you are the candidate for ruler, we are brothers and I have no interest in that position. So your future career had been already well organized when you were still young and sacrificed yourself." His words were heavy of heart. "When you are in such a position, especially considering the status of Dragon Island in the whole world, and its degree of openness, we have to sacrifice a lot..."

*

Even though Charlie didn't elaborate on these points, Addison understood them better than anyone else. Nevertheless, if sensibility couldn't be controlled by one's sense, it was not sensibility at all.

The party was lively and bustling with dancers and festivities. After the opening dance by Henrik and Sally, the other guests also crowded onto the dance floor as well. The royal waltz was one of the most delicate and elegant dances. It could convey the yearning for a better life, particularly when performed with those that they loved.

However, neither Sally nor Henrik had focused on the dancing itself. The engaging waltz was instead interpreted as sarcastic and ironic, given their relationship, while in their eyes it was a public display of drama.

"You won't see her here," Henrik bent down near to Sally's ear and whispered. "I didn't bring her back." After these words, he straightened and with a smile offered a gentlemanlike salute to Sally, let go of her hands, and invited another woman to dance on the stage. Sincere or hypocritical smiles blossomed on everyone's face. Sally stayed where she was, as the dancers twirled around her. It was as if she was isolated from the rest of the world. After a long while, she seemed to startle at the movement around her and came back to reality. She received a detached look from Henrik, so she was determined to turn around and leave the dance floor.

Sally kept looking around in the hall, but Rose was nowhere to be found in the crowds of people. Likewise, she also didn't see Addison anywhere. A sense of frustration gripped her, so she had to step out of the villa. Standing in the winding corridor, she took out a photo and tried to look at it closely with the help of the dim light from the recessed sconce lights.

There was a crouched girl sitting in the corner of the picture. Her slender arms were draped around her knees, and her weepy eyes gave her a terrified appearance. She seemed scared to face the world, and was filled with fear.

The picture was actually blurred and quite faded away, which gave it a mysterious appearance. However, it was still fair enough for her to recognize that the girl was Rachel.

What had happened that could have brought Little Pear into such a sorry state?

Sally gnashed her teeth in sorrow. When she turned the photo over, there was a line of small words scribbled on the back. "If you wish to meet your sister, then go to the villa owned by the Ji Family on the Dragon Island!"

She had no idea who the cryptic writer was, but the only hope for her to find out the truth was to go to the place mentioned on the picture. Before going back inside, she looked around at the surroundings and quickly saw that there was a second, smaller, three-story villa located behind the four-story main villa.

Sally put the photo back into her handbag, and pretending that nothing had happened she wandered into the garden of the Ji Family's villa. Today's guests were quite numerous. Not only did they gathered in the main villa's party area, but also had fun and cavorted outside the villa. Because of this, Sally managed to blend into the groups of small crowds, and she never became the focus of anyone present.

Sally found nothing after searching around for a while, so she began to think that it was a joke Henrik had played to make fun of her. Had she just walked into his trap without even noticing it?

Sally curled her lips in disappointment and went back along her way until someone appeared ahead of her and blocked her way.

"Excuse me, are you Sally?"

Sally sized up the man in front of her to be in his 30s with unremarkable features. "Do I know you?"

The man smiled and introduced himself, "Hi, I'm lan, an assistant to Master Matthew." After a pause, he continued, "Master Matthew wants to see you."

Sally frowned and couldn't understand why. "Master Matthew?" She still did not know who this man was referring to.

"Yeah!" lan answered. "Matthew Tang, the eldest son of the Tang Family. Master Matthew!" He laid a strong emphasis intentionally.

Sally looked lan up and down and replied in an indifferent way, "If I do remember correctly, I don't know him at all."

"Oh, no..." lan spoke slowly. "Didn't you receive the package from Master Matthew? I thought you were related to each other."

Sally's face turned pale at once. "The package I got was sent by Matthew?" Her face became still with the shock of discovering there was another player at work.

"This way, please." lan didn't answer her again, but just gestured to the side and made space for her to walk through.

There was no hesitation. Sally just followed lan, even though she knew it might be a trap. Her steps were even rapid with anticipation. This was simply because she had to figure out so many things. Henrik had refused to cooperate as her inside contact, but now there was Matthew.

"Sally, please!" lan stopped. "Over there, on the bench, is Master Matthew."

Sally looked where lan had pointed and without uttering a word walked straight there. She stopped before him and stood still, measuring up this man so famous for his hypocrisy and cruelty among the younger generation of the Tang Family. Different from the beauty of the Tang Family's ruler, Matthew was only distinguished by his fortitude. With large eyes under bushy eyebrows, his facial lines appeared gloomy and sinister. He induced a sense of terror in Sally, and she trembled despite the hot summer night.

"Sit down." Perhaps Matthew was used to giving orders so his words were spoken with an air of arrogance. Nevertheless, he still had an imposing aura going for him. After all, apart from the Long Family, the Tang Family boasted the most dominance and could not be ignored on Dragon Island.

Sally behaved quite obediently and sat down as he instructed. "I hear that the package which I received in T City was actually sent by you, Master Matthew?" She looked at him guardedly.

"Yeah," Matthew agreed, and smiled at Sally. "I thought you might take it easy, but..." He didn't say it out loud and taunted her then, "You fight alone against the Ji Family. So even though I give you the address, it is still in vain."

Sally rubbed her hands for a moment, and automatically ignored Matthew's irony. "Then why are you telling me... about my sister's situation?"

Matthew sneered and carried on with his eyes turning evil, "Don't you know that I am Henrik's implacable enemy? I will undermine whatever he wants. Likewise, he does the same to me." After a pause, he stood up. "Since there is a chance to send trouble his way, I would like to do that."

Although Sally had only been released from prison just a month ago, she had quickly caught up on the news. T City, the port of Dragon Island, was renowned for its dozens of newspapers and online gossips, especially about Dragon Island, and she had learned fast. Even though Sally didn't want to know what happened on Dragon Island, she still had access to the rumors and knew something about both the Tang and Ji Families.

"I'm afraid it will not be that easy!" she said adamantly. Sally was not an idiot. While she had been isolated from society for seven years, her IQ didn't degrade in that time. "Such things might have a negative impact on me, but cannot make any difference in striking Henrik." After a pause, she smiled grimly. "On the other hand, Henrik is in charge of the Ji Family's business now As far as I know, The Tang Family is not controlled by you!"

Matthew's face flashed with anger for a brief moment, but he soon regained his calm at once. "So what?" After a pause, he lay back on the garden bench, watching various guests at the party strolling about. "You just need to tell me whether you wish to see your sister, or not. If your answer is no, we can call it a day."

Sally wished to turn him down, but she was not forceful enough to act like that. Her sister was her vulnerability and allowed for her to be manipulated.

"What are your terms?" Sally gnashed her teeth. There was no such thing as a free lunch, particularly with these guys from the super-rich families. Everything that they did had a reason behind it.

"You are so calm." Matthew leaned forward and smiled wickedly. "I'm kind of into you."

"You'd better not be!" Sally sneered. "Otherwise, I guarantee you will regret it!"

Matthew had a broader sense of humor and didn't take Sally seriously. "My terms are quite simple. If you help me with one thing, I will do you a favor and bring your sister back to you. Perhaps I can even set her free from her own status quo."

"Why should I believe you?" Sally questioned scornfully. "I haven't even see her, so how do I know whether your picture was photoshopped, or not?"

"Then you can verify it first before you make a decision." Matthew shrugged to show that he could wait.

Sally smiled bitterly. "First, I have to know what you need me to do."

Matthew sized Sally up, and then focused on her cute face, uttering each word slowly and clearly.

"I need you to seduce Addison!"