Chapter 4

The charity party had a deeper meaning beyond just playing around, making it a meaningful gathering. Most of the attendees were willing to contribute some love and kindness. When Li Han arrived, the grass was already lined with long tables, laden with large buckets of beer and cola, fruit platters, and chicken wings. Harley waved at Li Han from a distance, and Li Han, smiling, parked his Harley motorcycle to the side and walked over with a paper bag in hand. "I thought I could help out, but I guess I'm a bit late."

"Thanks, I really missed the taste of your grilled chicken," Harley gave Li Han a big hug, a friendly one, but with a bit of distance. Having seen more in the big city, Li Han seemed more ordinary in Harley's eyes. Li Han felt a bit disappointed, as he was different from Americans and found it a bit hard to adapt to his former intimate girlfriend now treating him like a regular friend. "Han, this is Chris, my boyfriend. Chris, Han is my closest friend."

"Hello." Li Han smiled and shook hands with the tall white man. Chris had short blond hair, a handsome appearance, and was nearly six feet three inches tall, a head taller than Li Han. He was dressed well and exuded an elegant and slightly proud demeanor, making Li Han seem less impressive in comparison.

"Nice to meet you, Harley, I'll go greet Dino and the others. Have fun, Han." Chris wasn't very interested in Li Han, said a few words, and turned to leave, walking over to a group of men and women. Harley stayed behind to have a drink with Li Han until a black girl from the other side came over. Harley said to Li Han, a bit embarrassed, "Sorry, Han, I need to go for a moment." "No problem, I can manage on my own."

Li Han, feeling a bit disappointed, walked to a corner of the lawn. Harley's family farm was five thousand acres, with over a thousand cattle and sheep, and even a dozen good quarter horses, making it a medium-sized farm. In comparison, Li Han only had a small plot of land. Leaning against the fence, he sipped his beer and watched the lawn gradually fill with people, thinking about the future of his own farm—whether to sell it or find a new path. "Han, Will said you came over. I looked for you everywhere, didn't expect you to be here. Hey, Harley's boyfriend is really cool, Han, you don't have a chance anymore."

Katy, who was hugging a beautiful girl, seemed to have just moved in from the corner. Li Han smiled and raised his beer to the girl. "Meeting such a beautiful lady is truly a pleasure. May I buy you a drink?" Li Han smiled faintly, his lips curling slightly, which made Katy want to punch him, feeling completely ignored.

"Thank you, Cynthia Emma." Cynthia smiled and raised her beer to Li Han, her smile showing that she was quite pleased. Everyone likes being complimented on their beauty.

"Hank, you can call me Han. It's a beautiful name, like the beauty of the moon goddess." Li Han glanced at the sulking Katy, took a sip of beer, and thought it was indeed a beautiful name, as Cynthia was known as the moon goddess Diana.

"Katy, Han, you're quite a charming gentleman." Cynthia was surprised that Li Han knew her background and became even more interested. As for Katy, she wasn't worried about Li Han being upset over Harley's boyfriend; she saw that he was already making a move on the girl she brought.

"Han, Kelly was just asking for you in the living room. She has something to discuss with you." Katy slightly blocked Cynthia's view and Li Han smiled, patting Katy. "Put the glass down for me. Kelly might really need me. Have fun, and see you later, Cynthia."

"Of course, Cynthia, let's go, the auction is about to start." Katy hugged Cynthia and walked in the opposite direction, but Cynthia turned and waved to Li Han. The pretty girl made Li Han's faint smile disappear. Men are always so base. He had let it go, but facing it truly made him feel a bit uncomfortable and annoyed. Li Han went to the living room.

"Little Hank is here." The living room was mostly older farmers from the surrounding area, who treated the young Li Han like a child. When they saw Li Han walk in, they couldn't help but laugh and joke.

"Uncle Ronald, Uncle Marbury, Aunt Alma, Aunt Donna, good evening." Li Han politely bowed and greeted them. These were the more familiar elders, while the others just smiled and nodded, wishing him a good evening.

"What a polite child." Marbury and Donna were particularly fond of Li Han, perhaps because his lifestyle was similar to Marbury's Jewish family, or because he often made delicious food to please little Mitch.

Li Han chatted with everyone for a while, mostly about farm matters and the state government's policies. After a bit, he got a bit bored and saw Kelly waving at him. He got up and said to everyone, "Hank, go quickly. Kelly has been looking for you a few times. Kelly is a nice girl," Marbury said with a smile, leaving Li Han speechless.

"Good evening, Kelly." Kelly was dressed differently from usual, in a black dress and high-heeled sandals, which left Li Han a bit surprised.

"Good evening, Kelly. You look as beautiful as the moon goddess tonight, truly captivating." Li Han sincerely complimented her, and Kelly smiled and thanked him. "Would you like a drink?"

"Of course." Li Han poured two glasses of wine. While the younger crowd preferred beer, the older group in the living room preferred the homemade wine. Will's family had a small vineyard, and every year, Will's father Ronald would make some wine, which tasted quite good. "Uncle Ronald's wine is really good. Would you like another glass?"

"No, thank you. Han, Harley has become even more beautiful." Kelly whispered, observing Li Han's reaction. "Yes, college is really good. What do you think of Chris? He's great, right?"

"Chris?" Kelly was a bit puzzled. She knew Li Han's personality—somewhat old-fashioned and with some peculiar ideas. Was this the difference between Easterners and Westerners? "Chris is a great guy, humorous and fun, with the same interests as Harley."

"Oh, the auction seems to have started. Let's go. Harley, what are you auctioning?" Li Han stood up, bent down slightly to help Harley up, and asked quietly. "A meteorite fragment I found when I was ten."

"A meteorite fragment?" Li Han was surprised that Kelly had brought a meteorite fragment, which was quite unexpected. When they reached the lawn, the auction had already started, with the proceeds going to the town's children's fund. It was a good idea, and each charity party auction usually raised several thousand dollars or more.

"The first item is Harley's oil painting." Kelly explained quietly to Li Han, who frowned and bid. "Twenty dollars." "Thirty dollars." Li Han looked over and saw it was Chris.

"Forty dollars." Li Han only had fifty dollars, and he planned to give up if it went over fifty. Sure enough, Chris bid directly. "One hundred dollars." Li Han shook his head. Chris never looked at Li Han, but Harley and Will were a bit surprised.

Kelly sipped her beer and handed it to Li Han. "Thanks." "The next item is the meteorite fragment provided by Kelly."

"Thirty dollars." Li Han raised his beer and bid loudly. This time, there were few bidders, and Li Han finally got it for fifty dollars, a meteorite fragment the size of a dollar coin. Kelly's lips curved into a smile, but Li Han didn't pay much attention, took the fragment, and casually put it in his pocket. After the party, Li Han returned home, fumbled for his keys, and accidentally touched the meteorite fragment, causing a sharp pain.

"Oh, shit." Li Han shook his finger and put it in his mouth to suck. The pain was intense, and he didn't notice the faint glow from the meteorite fragment in his pocket, as the blood droplets were slowly absorbed into it.