Feng Wang’s appearance at the banquet truly stirred the crowd.
On one hand, everyone in Ning City knew that Feng Wang rarely attended public events. On the other hand, they were shocked that the Qin Family managed to invite him. Everyone here was on the same social level, and some even had higher status than the Qin Family. How did the Qin Family manage to invite Feng Wang? Could it be that they secretly contacted the Feng Family behind everyone’s back?
Liu Baixu walked through the venue, with her partners and friends subtly probing her about Feng Wang. Some were jealous, others envious, but everyone agreed that this year, the Qin Family was destined to soar in Ning City.
After all, this was the Feng Family. Even a mere sip of soup from them could make someone immensely wealthy.
The envious glances and words greatly satisfied Liu Baixu’s vanity.
She spoke to her friends with a hint of pride, “What can I say? I’m just lucky to have such a wonderful son like Qin Jiaxu.”
Meanwhile, Feng Yuanyuan was pulling Qin Nian towards the crowd.
“Pretty brother, I want to eat a little cake.”
Feng Yuanyuan pouted, standing on tiptoe to point at the cake on the server’s tray.
Qin Nian took the cake and fed it to Feng Yuanyuan with a spoon.
In the center of the hall, a temporary stage had been set up, and Father Qin went up to adjust the microphone.
“Testing, testing.”
After a few tries, the audience’s attention turned to the stage, and the room quieted down.
Once he confirmed the equipment was working, Father Qin began his speech.
“I’m very pleased that everyone could honor us with their presence at our Qin Family banquet. The purpose of this gathering is to share some wonderful news. Our Qin Family has found our long-lost child, and we hope this event will allow him to connect with all of you.”
This was indeed the main reason for today’s banquet, but with Feng Wang’s presence, everything changed. Father Qin was eager to finish the formalities so he could speak with Feng Wang. He waved towards Qin Nian, “Xiao Nian, come up and introduce yourself to our friends and family.”
Qin Nian put down the cake and walked over.
All eyes were on Qin Nian as he made his way to the stage. The guests, dressed in high-end attire, watched him with curiosity, intrigue, and a hint of disdain.
Qin Nian’s gaze swept over them, his thoughts drifting to his past life.
In his previous life, how did he handle this banquet? He was filled with inferiority and shyness, unable to finish a sentence on stage, too afraid to lift his head because doing so would reveal the disdainful looks from the crowd.
Even though the venue wasn’t exactly quiet, those scornful words reached his ears with precision.
“How could the Qin Family have such a child? Surely there’s been a mistake?”
“He’s nothing compared to Qin Jiaxu.”
“A fallen phoenix is worse than a chicken. A phoenix raised in a chicken coop can only become a chicken.”
…
This time, it would be different.
Qin Nian took a deep breath and smiled slightly, “Hello, everyone. I am Qin Nian. I’m very pleased that you could come here today because of me. I am truly honored.”
In the corner, Gu Huai sneered and said to Qin Jiaxu, “What does he mean ‘because of him’? Clearly, he lacks insight. If this banquet wasn’t hosted by you, I doubt anyone would have come.”
Qin Jiaxu remained silent. Something felt off. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. He had arranged today’s event, yet it felt strange, as if things weren’t developing as they should.
Qin Nian on stage shouldn’t be this composed, and the way people looked at him shouldn’t be like this. Where did it all go wrong?
Clearly, the Qin Nian he had seen over the past few days was still so insecure, wearing cheap clothes from street stalls. Why was Qin Nian today able to wear high-end clothes and speak so nonchalantly on stage?
Could it be that everything yesterday was just an act?
Qin Jiaxu felt his mind becoming muddled.
His gaze fell on Feng Wang in the distance. Many people were secretly watching Feng Wang, and at this moment, he was looking at Qin Nian on stage with a focused expression.
Feng Wang, standing below, watched the young man on stage. The young man’s expression was indifferent, and inexplicably, Feng Wang thought of the pitiful Qin Nian under the shelter.
From his brief interactions with the Qin Family, it was clear that Qin Nian wasn’t well-regarded here. Yang Huan’s information hadn’t been wrong.
He hadn’t missed the shallow and self-righteous conversations between Liu Baixu and Qin Jiaxu. Since he was here because of Qin Nian, he ought to let others know that he was here because of Qin Nian.
After Qin Nian finished speaking, Father Qin quickly stepped forward, speaking hurriedly, “I’m sure everyone knows that Mr. Feng is here today. If Mr. Feng doesn’t mind, could you say a few words?”
If he could say a few words, it would be a great honor for the Qin Family in Ning City.
Feng Wang remained expressionless, and Father Qin, seeing this, felt a bit intimidated and quickly added, “If Mr. Feng minds, it’s alright—”
Before he could finish, Feng Wang actually stepped onto the stage.
The audience was stunned. Did the Qin Family save Feng Wang’s life? How could they have invited him so easily?
Feng Wang walked up to the stage under the watchful eyes of the crowd. He smiled slightly and took the microphone from the stand.
Liu Baixu, in the audience, wore a smug expression, quietly praising Qin Jiaxu to her friends, marveling at her good fortune, while those around her flattered her.
“I came here at the invitation of Young Master Qin Nian. Our meeting was quite fortuitous, and I am very grateful for Qin Nian’s invitation, which allowed me this opportunity to stand here.”
His words were like a bombshell in the room.
Liu Baixu’s previously smug face froze, her pale complexion suddenly flushed as if she had been slapped, while Qin Jiaxu, in the distance, felt his palms begin to sweat. The sudden shift in attention was all too apparent.
In the crowd, people whispered:
“Hey, wasn’t it said that Qin Jiaxu invited the Feng Family? How did it become Qin Nian?”
Another voice, tinged with sarcasm and envy, said, “They’ve invited him before, and he never came. But this time he did. Isn’t the answer obvious?”
“I saw Liu Baixu boasting about Qin Jiaxu. Could it be that she was deceived, and Qin Jiaxu took credit for inviting Qin Nian?”
The person sneered, “Who knows.”
The only one unaffected was Father Qin. After all, an invitation was an invitation, whether it was Qin Jiaxu or Qin Nian. But Feng Wang was indeed at the Qin Family’s event.
The subtle discussions around him left Qin Jiaxu flustered. He hadn’t expected to be praised for his social skills one moment and then immediately embarrassed by Feng Wang the next.
Clearly, his mother had also said that Feng Wang was definitely here because of him. How could this happen?
His hands trembled, gripping Gu Huai beside him like a lifeline, “Gu Huai, I’m so scared.”
Gu Huai noticed his friend’s distress and comforted him, “What’s wrong? Are you too tired?”
“The Qin Family’s biological child is so outstanding. I feel like I don’t deserve to be a part of the Qin Family.”
Gu Huai, hearing this, realized Qin Jiaxu was worrying again. He looked at Qin Nian, who had just stepped off the stage, feeling a surge of anger and said to Qin Jiaxu, “Jiaxu, you should rest for a bit.”
With that, he headed towards Qin Nian, and Qin Jiaxu, worried about what impulsive action he might take, couldn’t call out loudly in the banquet setting, so he whispered urgently, “Gu Huai, what are you doing? Come back, don’t be rash.”
Qin Nian watched the young man approaching him with a fierce demeanor. He remembered this person.
Gu Huai was a somewhat famous second-generation rich kid in Ning City and a popular online influencer. He was also a very close friend of Qin Jiaxu, so close that he constantly made things difficult for Qin Nian.
In his past life, after stepping off the stage, still reeling from his disheartened state, Qin Nian was blocked by Gu Huai. Gu Huai accused him of abandoning the adoptive parents who had raised him for over a decade, calling him greedy and materialistic.
His voice was loud enough for everyone to hear, leaving the already timid Qin Nian at a loss, unable to even refute. Seeing Qin Nian’s silence, Gu Huai felt even more justified, gloating as he humiliated Qin Nian, saying he should return to the countryside, as it would be better for both him and Qin Jiaxu. He mocked Qin Nian, “You must be a masochist. Look at you, what can you do besides highlight Jiaxu’s excellence?”
Recalling those unpleasant experiences, Qin Nian’s expression remained unchanged as he calmly asked, “Is there something you need?”
“Don’t you think you’re being excessive?”
The same old accusations.
He listened intently, “How am I being excessive?”
“You abandoned the parents who raised you for over a decade. Isn’t that excessive? In your heart, does their love not compare to the Qin Family’s wealth?”
In Gu Huai’s mind, Qin Nian returned to the Qin Family for money, while Qin Jiaxu stayed because of his attachment to the family.
Qin Nian’s abandonment of his adoptive parents was seen as materialistic, while Qin Jiaxu’s reluctance to leave was seen as valuing familial bonds.
How absurd.
Qin Nian tilted his head, chuckling softly, “Really? Isn’t it natural for every child to want to return to their biological parents? You’re curious about why someone would leave their adoptive parents after so many years. I’m curious about what kind of person would ignore their biological parents after finding out they’re not their own. To me, the Qin Family represents my biological family, and whether they’re wealthy or not is irrelevant because I was destined to return.”
However, Gu Huai believed Qin Nian was just putting on a facade. He scoffed, “If the Shen Family were wealthy and the Qin Family were poor, I doubt you’d come back.”
Qin Nian was surprised, “Why would you think that, Mr. Gu? Is it because you know someone like that?”
Only then did Gu Huai realize that while Qin Nian hadn’t explicitly said it, his words were directed at his friend Qin Jiaxu. He had fallen into Qin Nian’s trap, feeling both embarrassed and angry. However, with many people quietly observing their conversation, Gu Huai couldn’t do anything to Qin Nian.
As Qin Nian prepared to leave, he turned back, “Don’t misunderstand, Mr. Gu. I didn’t mean anything by it. I just spoke without thinking. It’s not your fault. After all, many TV dramas portray it this way, which can be misleading. Mr. Gu should watch fewer soap operas.”
A server happened to pass by with a tray of pastries, golden-brown with strawberry garnishes. Qin Nian thought Feng Yuanyuan might like them, so he took a few, thanked the server, and left without looking back.
Leaving Gu Huai standing there, fists clenched.