The sun in Los Angeles poured down unreservedly over the luxurious mansion area of Beverly Hills. The shadows of the palm trees stretched wildly on the scorching ground. Ye Long stood in the courtyard of that Spanish-style villa, still holding the clothes hanger with which he had just finished hanging the laundry. Suddenly, his phone rang, and it was Zhou Jiajia calling.
"Brother Long, I'm near the Beverly Center. Hurry up and come over. Brother-in-law, I'm counting on you!" Zhou Jiajia's voice was a mix of anxiety and excitement, much like a young girl about to embark on an adventure.
Ye Long hung up the phone, casually put the clothes hanger aside, and went back into the house. He picked out a slim-fitting Armani suit and paired it with Ferragamo leather shoes. In the mirror, his usual casual look was replaced by a sense of competence and handsomeness. His well-defined face, set off by the suit, exuded a bit more of a cold and stern temperament. He looked just like a male model stepping out of a fashion magazine.
Just as he reached the villa's entrance, a fiery red Lamborghini Aventador roared over at full speed. It made a beautiful drift and stopped right in front of him. The tires rubbed against the ground, emitting a pungent burnt smell, and the noise was like a bomb exploding beside his ear.
"Wow, Brother Long, you look incredibly handsome like this!" Zhou Jiajia jumped out of the car like a cheerful fawn. She circled around Ye Long twice, her eyes full of amazement, not hiding her admiration at all.
Ye Long looked at Zhou Jiajia. Today, she was wearing a white off-the-shoulder short dress by Versace, which perfectly showed off her youthful and energetic figure. The crystal-encrusted Gucci loafers on her feet sparkled in the sunlight, exuding the air of a wealthy daughter with every step she took. The Cartier necklace around her neck made her fair skin look as white as snow. Her long, wavy hair draped freely over her shoulders, making her look youthful and sexy, just like a leading actress stepping out of a Hollywood movie.
"Jiajia, you're incredibly beautiful today too," Ye Long praised sincerely, his eyes full of earnestness.
Zhou Jiajia winked playfully. "Then, between me and my sister, who's more beautiful?" When she mentioned her sister, a hint of cunning flashed in her eyes, as if she was expecting an interesting response.
Ye Long's mind conjured up an image of Zhou Ruobing's cold and stunning face. She always dressed in well-tailored business suits, and every gesture of hers exuded the elegance and competence of a mature woman, which was completely different from the playful and lively Zhou Jiajia in front of him. Ye Long smiled and didn't answer directly. "You both have your own unique beauty. It's hard to compare."
Zhou Jiajia pouted. "I knew you'd say that. Come on, get in the car. If we don't go soon, the party will be over."
In the car, Ye Long asked, "What kind of party is it today that you're in such a hurry to ask me to come?"
Zhou Jiajia skillfully shifted gears and accelerated while saying, "It's a birthday party of a classmate from my university. That guy has been pestering me non-stop. I heard that he's going to do something big at the party today. He's probably going to confess his love to me in public. I'm really fed up with him, so I asked you to be my shield. With you here, he'll surely give up." Just thinking of that classmate's harassment, a look of annoyance crossed Zhou Jiajia's face.
Ye Long nodded. "Okay, as long as I can help you. But you've made such a grand entrance. Is it just to reject him?"
Zhou Jiajia gave him a sideways glance. "Of course not. There are a lot of people I know at the party. I can't lose face. Besides, maybe I'll run into a few Hollywood producers. I still want to break into the acting industry." When talking about her dream, her eyes sparkled with light, full of longing for the future.
Soon, they arrived at the party venue. It was a huge mansion located on a hilltop. The European-style building was imposing. The garden was filled with all kinds of rare flowers, and the large fountain shimmered with colorful lights under the illumination. There were luxury cars parked at the entrance, including Ferraris, Rolls-Royces, and Bentleys, as if it were a top-level luxury car exhibition.
"Zhou Jiajia, you're finally here!" A tall and slender blonde beauty came up to them. She was wearing a deep V-neck evening dress by Dior, and the Hermès Birkin bag in her hand was particularly eye-catching.
"Moon, long time no see," Zhou Jiajia greeted her warmly and gave her a hug. Only then did Ye Long know that she was Zhou Jiajia's best friend, Luo Yueliang.
Luo Yueliang's eyes lit up when she saw Ye Long. "Who's this handsome guy?"
Zhou Jiajia proudly took Ye Long's arm. "This is my brother-in-law. He accompanied me here today."
Luo Yueliang sized up Ye Long from head to toe and exclaimed, "Your brother-in-law is so handsome. He's on par with Brad Pitt."
People around them cast curious glances upon hearing this. Ye Long's arrival was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples. Many girls showed envious looks in their eyes, while the boys felt a bit of jealousy more or less.
"Wow, who is he? So handsome!"
"Is he Zhou Jiajia's new boyfriend? I've never seen him before."
The whispers of the people echoed in the garden. Zhou Jiajia held Ye Long's arm, feeling like the center of attention, and she was extremely proud inside.
Just then, a man dressed in a custom-made suit walked over. He was tall and handsome, but there was an air of arrogance in his eyes. Ye Long guessed at once that he was the one who was going to confess his love - Ling Tianjiao.
"Jiajia, you're finally here. I thought you weren't coming," Ling Tianjiao said as he walked up to Zhou Jiajia. His eyes were only on her, completely ignoring Ye Long's presence.
Zhou Jiajia leaned closer to Ye Long. "Sorry, there was a bit of a traffic jam on the way. Let me introduce you. This is my brother-in-law."
Only then did Ling Tianjiao take a look at Ye Long, and a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes. "Oh, the brother-in-law. Nice to meet you," he said in a perfunctory tone.
Ye Long smiled and nodded without saying anything, but the aura he exuded made Ling Tianjiao feel an inexplicable pressure.
At this moment, the music at the party suddenly stopped, and the host stepped onto the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen, next, we invite the birthday boy today, Mr. Ling Tianjiao, to bring us a special program."
Ling Tianjiao raised the corners of his mouth, revealing a confident smile. "Thank you all. Today, I want to take this opportunity to express my feelings to a special person." As he spoke, he looked at Zhou Jiajia.
Zhou Jiajia grasped Ye Long's hand nervously and whispered, "Brother Long, you have to help me later."
Ye Long gently patted her hand and gave her a reassuring look. "Don't worry."
Ling Tianjiao snapped his fingers, and a group of dancers came onto the stage and began to perform a carefully choreographed dance. After the dance ended, Ling Tianjiao held a bouquet of red roses and walked up to Zhou Jiajia, then knelt down on one knee.
"Jiajia, I've liked you for a long time. From the first day I saw you in university, I was deeply attracted to you. Be my girlfriend," Ling Tianjiao said in a voice full of affection. The people around them let out exclamations and cheers.
Zhou Jiajia smiled awkwardly, not knowing how to respond. Just then, Ye Long stepped forward and put his arm around Zhou Jiajia's shoulders. "Sorry, she already has me."
Ling Tianjiao's face changed. He stood up and said, "Who do you think you are? You're just her brother-in-law."
Ye Long said unhurriedly, "Although I'm her brother-in-law, my relationship with Jiajia is something you can't compare to. Moreover, Jiajia has clearly shown that she's not interested in you. You'd better stop wasting your efforts." Ye Long's voice was low and forceful, and every word was like a nail, hitting Ling Tianjiao right in the heart.
People around them started to murmur:
"So Zhou Jiajia really has someone she likes."
"This brother-in-law is so imposing. Ling Tianjiao doesn't stand a chance now."
Ling Tianjiao's face turned very ugly. He gave Ye Long a fierce glare. "You wait for me." After saying that, he threw down the roses and turned away.
Zhou Jiajia let out a sigh of relief. "Brother Long, thank you so much. If it weren't for you, I really wouldn't have known what to do today."
Ye Long smiled. "It's no big deal. But you should find an opportunity later to make it clear to him and stop him from having any illusions."
"I know," Zhou Jiajia stuck out her tongue playfully. "Come on, let's go eat something. The pastries today were all airlifted from Paris."
They walked over to the dining table filled with delicious food. Zhou Jiajia picked up a macaron and fed it to Ye Long. "Brother Long, try this. It's really delicious."
Ye Long looked around a bit sheepishly. People around them were all casting envious glances. He hesitated for a moment but still opened his mouth and took a bite. Zhou Jiajia ate one herself and then fed Ye Long another one. Their interaction was just like that of a loving couple deeply in love.
The party continued. The sound of music and laughter intertwined. Ye Long and Zhou Jiajia enjoyed the delicious food and the joy at the party, almost forgetting the little episode that had just happened. But Ye Long knew that today's incident was just the beginning, and there would be more challenges waiting for them in the future. Especially the conflict with Ling Tianjiao probably wouldn't end so easily. However, he wasn't worried because he had enough confidence and ability to protect Zhou Jiajia and deal with any possible troubles that might arise.