The party had been going on for a good hour when Ziran finally made her entrance. Despite the Solstice being a worldwide holiday, she wouldn’t be Ziran unless she squeezed in a few extra hours of work. She’d been kind enough to give all of her employees the day off, but it didn’t mean that medicine didn’t still need to be delivered or that partygoers wouldn’t want something to take the edge off. As much as she enjoyed her business, there seemed to be a disconnect between holiday and service wherein a handful of people still expected Tian Guan to be open despite the exceptions being made for nearly every other industry. Lucky for her, nobody expected her to be punctual so she took all the time she needed getting ready.
With burgundy lipstick, painted nails, and an endlessly spacious clutch, she exited her cab with all the flourish of an A-List celebrity. The outside of the Nest was sprawling with young party hoppers and paparazzi hoping to catch a glimpse of Ariosas’ elite.
Her friends were already inside and presumably on their way to getting absolutely wasted so she made sure to take an extra shot of whisky before arriving and a pill to reduce her Asian glow.
“Ziran! Did you get my email about partnering up?” one man asked, sliding next to her and pointing towards his phone.
Before she could answer however, a younger woman piped in.
“What’s your relationship with Arlo Daylee?” she asked before flashing a photo, "is it true you're supplying him with-"
Holding back an eyeroll, she smiled before answering.
“Today is the Solstice, everyone. Let's focus on celebrating before talking business.”
Large gatherings weren’t new territory for her. The Chao family was known for their lavish galas, inviting everyone from immediate family to business partners to friends of friends so long as they weren't paparazzi. It wasn’t uncommon for Chao parties to double as networking events, often leading to partnerships (both business and otherwise).
That was where the similarities ended however.
Her family didn’t look too kindly on recreational drugs, finding them to be a crutch compared to other types of stress relief. Granted, alcohol was still allowed on the basis of being considered a food rather than a narcotic. The level of alcohol consumption alone would be enough to make her father shudder. She didn't want to think about how the rest of the Nest's behavior would reflect on her if she made a fool of herself at the party.
Weaving her way into the crowd, Ziran spotted Priya along with two other parts of the infamous “Ariosas Girl Squad.” It was hard to miss the elven princess in her summery glory. Even among the extravagant decor, her brilliance was impossible to obscure and the Chao woman adored her for it.
“Hello, hello! Sorry I’m late everyone! Work was absolutely swamped today” she announced after approaching the four, “and I would absolutely love to grab a drink."
With burgundy lipstick, painted nails, and an endlessly spacious clutch, she exited her cab with all the flourish of an A-List celebrity. The outside of the Nest was sprawling with young party hoppers and paparazzi hoping to catch a glimpse of Ariosas’ elite.
Her friends were already inside and presumably on their way to getting absolutely wasted so she made sure to take an extra shot of whisky before arriving and a pill to reduce her Asian glow.
“Ziran! Did you get my email about partnering up?” one man asked, sliding next to her and pointing towards his phone.
Before she could answer however, a younger woman piped in.
“What’s your relationship with Arlo Daylee?” she asked before flashing a photo, "is it true you're supplying him with-"
Holding back an eyeroll, she smiled before answering.
“Today is the Solstice, everyone. Let's focus on celebrating before talking business.”
Large gatherings weren’t new territory for her. The Chao family was known for their lavish galas, inviting everyone from immediate family to business partners to friends of friends so long as they weren't paparazzi. It wasn’t uncommon for Chao parties to double as networking events, often leading to partnerships (both business and otherwise).
That was where the similarities ended however.
Her family didn’t look too kindly on recreational drugs, finding them to be a crutch compared to other types of stress relief. Granted, alcohol was still allowed on the basis of being considered a food rather than a narcotic. The level of alcohol consumption alone would be enough to make her father shudder. She didn't want to think about how the rest of the Nest's behavior would reflect on her if she made a fool of herself at the party.
Weaving her way into the crowd, Ziran spotted Priya along with two other parts of the infamous “Ariosas Girl Squad.” It was hard to miss the elven princess in her summery glory. Even among the extravagant decor, her brilliance was impossible to obscure and the Chao woman adored her for it.
“Hello, hello! Sorry I’m late everyone! Work was absolutely swamped today” she announced after approaching the four, “and I would absolutely love to grab a drink."