At formal occasions, pairs must coordinate their attire. If people who ought to look well-matched wear outfits that fail to echo each other, they inevitably become the target of public criticism.
Gossip spreads at lightning speed, and as it passes from person to person, the truth quickly twists beyond recognition.
Shen Biyun absolutely refused to allow such discordant, half-hearted appearances, which was why she had specially prepared an entire room filled with clothing and accessories exclusively for Shi Jiufeng to use at such events.
Standing inside the walk-in closet, looking at the rows of luxury haute couture, ready-to-wear pieces, custom atelier designs, and cabinets upon cabinets of watches and other accessories, Shi Jiufeng felt a profound sense of boredom rising from the bottom of his heart.
Although clothes make the man, caring about attire to this extreme degree inevitably felt bordering on pathological, overcorrecting to a fault.
Delving deeper, the second reason for Shi Jiufeng’s displeasure was still Ling Xiao.
Not long after their wedding, Ling Xiao’s close friend Lu Jingsi celebrated his father’s birthday.
As Ling Xiao’s partner, Shi Jiufeng received an invitation to attend.
By that time, Ling Xiao had already moved out of the villa, leaving Shi Jiufeng with no way of knowing what his partner intended to wear. Therefore, Shi Jiufeng dressed according to his own preferences.
Upon arriving at the Lu family estate, however, Shi Jiufeng discovered that Ling Xiao had worn a pink, thorn-embroidered floral shirt beneath his suit, looking as flamboyant and arrogant as a strutting peacock.
Shi Jiufeng, on the other hand, wore an off-white shirt paired with a suit in a shade one tone deeper. He looked gentle and refined, as if he and Ling Xiao belonged to two entirely different worlds.
Less than half an hour after the two of them made their appearance, Shi Jiufeng became the hottest topic of conversation of the night, second only to the elderly birthday host.
Feeling deeply humiliated and unable to control Ling Xiao, Shen Biyun had turned her anger on Shi Jiufeng instead.
Through that experience, Shi Jiufeng learned a harsh lesson: in Shen Biyun’s eyes, a good reputation and social face were rare and fragile commodities.
Later on, during similar occasions, he did ask Ling Xiao what he planned to wear, even swallowing his pride to say things like, Please, tell me. Yet Ling Xiao remained stubbornly self-willed, refusing to say a single word.
Having seen the reality of the situation, Shi Jiufeng stopped asking.
At worst, he would just endure a few scoldings from Shen Biyun; it wasn’t as though a piece of flesh would be carved from his body. It didn’t matter anymore.
This time, however, was different. The venue for the banquet was the Jin Mansion.
That was the territory of the Jin family.
The Jin family’s rise to wealth could hardly be described as upright and honest, and they had barely managed to wash their hands clean by the end of the last century. Once a flourishing, widely branched great clan, only the main household remained active in the public eye.
Since then, the Jin family developed rapidly within the industry, seizing the top spot in a mere five years. At the dawn of the current century, riding the winds of the changing era, they expanded their industries and carried their business all the way to Europe and North America.
Compared to the Jin family, everything the Ling family possessed was merely a single drop in a vast ocean.
The person who issued the invitation was the current head of the Jin household, Jin Cixu. In elite social circles, this man was, in a sense, a living legend.
Seven years ago, most people in the circle did not even know such a person existed. Even those who did considered Jin Cixu to be nothing more than an unpresentable illegitimate son.
Many people whispered that Jin Cixu had personally murdered his father and older brother to seize the family estate.
From the rumors he analyzed, Shi Jiufeng deduced that this Jin Cixu was a formidable, dangerous character, much like the Rakshasa and Yaksha demons from ancient mythology capable of stopping crying children at night.
Shi Jiufeng didn’t quite believe it, though. Even if a son could bring himself to murder his father, what about Jin Cixu’s grandfather? His own son had been killed; could the grandfather really harbor no bitterness and hand over the wealth of an entire colossal family to this single grandson?
From a psychological standpoint, it simply didn’t make sense.
Yet, perhaps Jin Cixu really had done something terrifying, because even though he had never previously shown his face domestically, the arrogant young scions of high society were genuinely terrified of him.
Whatever the reason for their fear, this was nothing short of a blessing for Shi Jiufeng.
Because Shi Jiufeng knew that, for today at least, Ling Xiao would absolutely not wear a floral shirt.
Thinking of how he would suffer one less humiliation and avoid one extra scolding, Shi Jiufeng found a bitter amusement in his heart, feeling a slight lifting of the weight on his chest.
He casually picked out a black suit. Per usual, he buttoned the collar of his shirt all the way to the top, securing the tails down against his thighs with shirt stays to prevent them from shifting during walks or larger movements.
The matching high-waisted dress trousers were a bit too loose and unsuited for a belt; for a secure fit, he put on an X-shaped pair of suspenders. On his lower legs, he fastened sock garters to keep his socks in place.
Finally, he put on a tie clip, cufflinks, and a white gold Rolex Sky-Dweller.
Standing before the mirror, looking at his slender figure and skin so pale it was nearly transparent, Shi Jiufeng suddenly felt that he looked like a water ghost draped in human skin.
He curved the corners of his lips, attempting to force a vivid smile, but the stiff arc was so repulsive that even he found it sickening.
Perhaps Ling Xiao was right; he was simply a deeply unlikable person.
When they arrived outside the Jin Mansion, it was right on the dot at half-past seven. Numerous luxury cars were already parked ahead. The mansion blazed with bright lights, but the main gates remained tightly shut, barring entry.
The Jin Mansion sat halfway up Red Mountain in the middle of the city. At the peak stood a historical protection building donated by the Jin family years ago, which was still undergoing restoration and remained closed to the public from the mid-mountain point onward.
Everything below the middle of the mountain belonged to the Jin family.
Therefore, although the gates were unlatched, the vehicles could not strictly be said to be parked on the public road; rather, they were parked inside the Jin family’s private courtyard.
Wu Chang’an went ahead to inquire about the situation, returning to report: People from the Jin Mansion said the banquet starts at eight o’clock, and they won’t open the gates to welcome guests until the time arrives.
Refusing to let guests arrive early, this was a first.
In circles overflowing with privileged scions where arriving on time rather than late was often considered an accomplishment, this was the first time Shi Jiufeng had ever witnessed an estate keeping its doors tightly shut while a multitude of guests had already arrived early. And yet, those elite second-generation heirs, who usually looked down their noses at everyone, were actually sitting quietly and obediently in their cars, waiting.
Shi Jiufeng thought that the face and prestige Shen Biyun craved was likely built on things like this.
In the eyes of these upper-class elites, what truly fascinated them was never just money, but the power hidden behind the heavy doors of that wealth.
To walk through those doors was to possess true freedom and naturally acquire the foundational confidence to look down upon everything else.
After waiting for twenty minutes, the roaring engines of sports cars echoed from a distance, drawing closer.
Without looking, Shi Jiufeng knew it was Ling Xiao and his group of friends arriving.
In a prosperous international metropolis like Beijing, plenty of people drove luxury cars, but given the frustrating traffic conditions, true sports car owners were actually rare. Among them, the most notorious group of arrogant youths was led by Ling Xiao.
Wu Chang’an reversed the car slightly, yielding the front spot to Ling Xiao.
A fiery red Ferrari LaFerrari executed a stunning drift, parking steadily in the newly cleared space.
A chorus of whistles rang out. Shi Jiufeng frowned slightly, pushed open the car door, stepped out, and walked over to the Ferrari.
Ling Xiao casually tossed his sunglasses into the car. Stepping out and seeing the sea of surrounding vehicles, he frowned and asked Shi Jiufeng, What’s going on here?
Word for word, Shi Jiufeng repeated what Wu Chang’an had told him.
The impatience on Ling Xiao’s face instantly vanished. Only the Jin family could pull off such arrogance.
Lu Jingsi concurred approvingly. The mud they played with as kids was probably made of gold. Having some airs is completely normal.
Fu Linchuan raised an eyebrow, glanced at Shi Jiufeng who stood quietly to the side, and dropped a light comment: Madam Shi looks quite spirited today.
As soon as those words left his mouth, the gazes of the others inevitably fell upon Shi Jiufeng.
Feeling their eyes on him, Shi Jiufeng’s fingers curled at his sides, and his posture, already held rigidly upright due to the suit and various straps, grew even tenser.
Even if individual aesthetics varied, human perception of beauty shared a common foundation. Faced with a Shi Jiufeng who had been meticulously groomed and styled like this, no one could bring themselves to utter the word unattractive.
Most of the men in sight wore black suits, yet not a single one of them could wear such a plain-looking outfit with this kind of texture that hovered perfectly between cold detachment and gentle warmth.
Xu Kaize sported a head of flamboyant dyed red hair and a smiling expression, though the words spilling from his lips were dripping with sarcasm: Not bad. Dress like this all the time from now on, and maybe Ling Xiao will actually be willing to come home?
Ling Xiao sneered, Forget it. Hugging him is less comfortable than hugging a winter melon.
The group burst into suppressed chuckles.
Just then, the main gates of the Jin Mansion swung open.
A butler dressed in a tailcoat stood respectfully to welcome them, and the guests who had waited for so long filed in succession through the gates. Ling Xiao and his friends reined in their laughter, marching in line like elementary school students on a field trip.
Entering the gates, the first sight to greet the eye was a trio of Western-style villas centered around a grand fountain pool.
The main building comprised three stories and dated back to the Republic of China era. After several restorations following the nation’s founding, the exterior maintained its early-twentieth-century architectural style, though the interior had long since been completely modernized.
The other two buildings were constructed in the current century, matching the style of the main building.
The banquet venue was located in the villa on the left, which also stood three stories tall. The first and second floors were dedicated to dining and socializing, while the third floor housed private lounges for resting when the alcohol went to people’s heads.
The guests proceeded first to the dining hall, where servants marched in a continuous stream, placing dishes prepared from various rare and precious ingredients onto an extraordinarily long dining table.
Once the food was served, half of the servants departed while the remaining half split into two groups, standing rigidly on either side to wait upon the guests.
Name cards were attached to the chairs lining both sides of the long table. Following closely behind Ling Xiao, Shi Jiufeng had barely walked halfway down the table when Ling Xiao pulled out a chair and sat down.
Shi Jiufeng glanced at the seat beside him.
Ling Xiao clicked his tongue and, instinctively lowering his voice, rebuked sharply, What are you looking at?
Shi Jiufeng replied, Looking for my name.
Assuming Shi Jiufeng wanted to sit next to him, Ling Xiao said impatiently, There’s no space for you here. Go find somewhere else.
Shi Jiufeng:
They were representing a single household; where was the logic in sitting separately in a public setting?
Seeing that Shi Jiufeng still hadn’t moved, Ling Xiao grew annoyed. Move along; what are you standing there frozen for? Can’t read?
Ling Xiao’s words drew frequent sideways glances from the surrounding people. Shi Jiufeng pressed his lips into a thin line and continued walking forward to search for his own name.
Not until he reached the lower end of the head seat did he finally spot the sticker bearing his name. Glancing across the table, he saw that three chairs opposite him were completely empty, bearing no name cards; he had no idea who they were meant for.
The butler stepped forward, addressing the assembly respectfully, You may all begin your meal; Mr. Jin will arrive shortly.
With that, the butler turned and left, while other servants stepped forward to pour wine for the guests.
Looking at the geoduck placed right in front of him, Shi Jiufeng forced himself to swallow a couple of bites before laying his chopsticks down, losing all desire to eat.
In truth, the food was exquisite, but Shi Jiufeng had no appetite.
At a banquet like this, absolutely no one had come simply to eat. With Jin Cixu absent, the guests naturally broke off into separate conversations to network.
Those with career ambitions talked business, tossing around millions and tens of millions in project budgets, one boasting about investing in artificial intelligence, another claiming that playing with AI now was already too late, warning that a delayed start was bound to end in financial ruin.
Those without business ambitions, naturally, gossiped instead.
The lingering echoes of Shi Jiufeng personally delivering a set of couple’s luggage to Ling Xiao and his mistress in the middle of the night still resonated, prompting those seated near Ling Xiao to use the incident to flatter him.
Beaming with pride and glowing with self-satisfaction, Ling Xiao declared, He was the one who insisted on getting married in the first place; otherwise, how could I have tied the knot at such a young age?
Someone chimed in with teasing laughter, Brother Ling is just saying that. If your spouse were sitting right next to you, goodness knows how much you’d pamper him.
Another person had a sudden flash of inspiration and chimed in, Exactly! Besides, I don’t think the Jin family’s seating arrangement makes much sense. How can they separate a married couple? Brother Ling, why don’t you ask him to trade seats with someone so you two lovebirds can sit right next to each other?
As soon as those words left his mouth, Ling Xiao calculated the idea in his mind. Too lazy to get up and call out, he raised his voice directly: Shi Jiufeng!
That single shout instantly plunged the entire dining hall into dead silence, leaving only the reverberation of his shout echoing in the air.
Shi Jiufeng, even if some people couldn’t match his face to his identity, nobody was unfamiliar with this name. He was known for using some unknown scheming methods to force a marriage with Ling Xiao, remaining utterly unrepentant and devoted even after being given the cold shoulder post-wedding. It was simply a pity that such a memorable face belonged to such a desperate, fawning dog.
Shi Jiufeng lifted his eyelids and turned his gaze toward Ling Xiao.
This indifferent expression instantly stoked the fire in Ling Xiao’s heart. He had already condescended to let Shi Jiufeng sit with him, so why was this person so hopelessly ungrateful?!
Had he forgotten who had just been gazing longingly at the empty seat beside him?
Forcing a smile on his face, Ling Xiao said, Change seats. Come sit next to me.
Shi Jiufeng had no desire to go.
His current seat was exceptionally good. Since Jin Cixu hadn’t arrived and the people sitting near him were strangers, he welcomed the peace. Zoning out would make the time pass much faster.
Right at that moment, the sound of leather-soled shoes striking the floor echoed from close by, drawing nearer.
Accompanying the sound was a flat, emotionless voice:
Who wants to change seats?
The deep, resonant tone caused the gathered guests to turn their heads in unison.
A man dressed in a pure black, custom-tailored, handcrafted suit walked slowly into view. Standing at 193 centimeters tall, his broad shoulders and long legs exuded an overwhelming, suppressive presence. His hair was slicked straight back, rendering the sharp, stern lines of his face even more forbidding. His brows weighed heavily over narrow, sharp eyes that held zero emotion, while the corners of his lips curved upward into an indistinct, subtle arc.
Clearly smiling, it only gave the impression of a gathering storm before a burst of fury.
Trailing behind him were several similarly sharply suited men, each possessing strikingly handsome features unlike any unfamiliar faces seen in Beijing.
The chilling aura surrounding them was identical, and their frosty gazes instantly dropped the temperature of the entire dining hall by several degrees.
Jin Cixu’s gaze swept across the entire room, finally coming to a halt on Shi Jiufeng, who was just about to stand up.
Shi Jiufeng obediently sat back down.
Jin Cixu retracted his gaze, crossed his long legs, and reached the table in a flash.
Pulling out the chair at the head of the table, Jin Cixu seated himself, crossing his long legs naturally while one hand slowly caressed a mirror-polished dinner knife.
The other three men took their seats directly across from Shi Jiufeng.
Jin Cixu asked, Why did everyone stop talking? Who wanted to change seats? Speak up.
Not a single person responded.
Ling Xiao, whose attitude had been utterly arrogant just moments before, now kept his upper and lower lips glued tightly together as if sealed shut.
Jin Cixu’s pitch-black pupils shifted back toward Shi Jiufeng. His slightly lowered voice carried an unexpected hint of gentleness compared to just moments ago.
Everyone is freezing me out and won’t tell me.
Jin Cixu set down the dinner knife, leaned his upper body forward until only half an arm’s length separated him from Shi Jiufeng. His nasal passages were instantly flooded with a refreshing, cold fragrance, his Adam’s apple bobbed, and his voice softened further.
Why don’t you tell me, then? Exactly who is dissatisfied with the seating I arranged?