After many years, he once again attended a banquet hosted by these elites, or rather, the group of people closest to money and power.
The venue’s decoration style was retro and luxurious, with the center of the hall located directly beneath a huge and magnificent crystal chandelier. Heavy velvet curtains hung around the surroundings, and a carved-edge long marble table stood in the center of the banquet, adorned with fresh flowers, candlesticks, and champagne readily available for guests to take.
Naturally, no one without status and background could possibly appear here. The organizers had prepared an abundance of fine wines and delicacies, providing every convenience to each guest. The attendees clinked glasses and exchanged pleasantries with one another, discussing business, building connections, and unearthing various potential opportunities.
Of course, Shi Yi was no exception. Having not participated in this kind of social activity for several years, he still handled it with effortless ease, showing not a trace of the reserve or tension of someone returning to the social scene. People who had previously collaborated with the Shi family came forward one after another to greet him.
Generally speaking, being out of touch with the inner circle for years results in a massive information gap, requiring a reassessment of various figures’ personalities, relationships, and current standing. Normally, one would need someone to help introduce everyone individually to bridge the gap and build fresh impressions.
It was precisely in this aspect that Shi Yi’s monstrous talent showed. He exhibited no unfamiliarity whatsoever, answering business inquiries fluently as if he had never been away. Those whose impression of him had remained that of a playboy quickly set aside their contempt after talking with him, constrained by the Shi family’s prestige, and renewed their respect.
If Qianyi could see his current business-like, almost formulaic fake smile, he would probably be able to figure out just how Shi Yi’s acting skills had been honed.
Shi Yi walked toward the second-floor stairway. This vantage point overlooked the entire hall from above, allowing him a view of the situation across the whole venue.
“You came too?” Si Yanchen happened to be resting on the second floor. Spotting a familiar figure from afar and walking closer to see it was indeed him, he wondered what kind of wind blew him here today.
“You haven’t attended parties in years. Did you finally see the light?”
“I just happened to have this need.” Of course it wasn’t because he saw the light. Without looking back, Shi Yi continued observing the various postures presented by the guests below.
Si Yanchen could only guess based on conventional circumstances what kind of need a business banquet could fulfill. “Need? Are you trying to build connections?”
“I am gathering intelligence.”
Shi Yi’s gaze swept across everyone within view. Their body language while speaking, the length of their interactions, the frequency of conversations, and their facial expressions were all incorporated into his observation, missing not a single detail.
He hadn’t interacted with these people for several years either; through this method, many new faces and unknown networks became clear at a glance. Those walking side by side, those clinking glasses as mere acquaintances, those clearly just meeting, he matched each person’s face back to the background information stored in his mind.
“Just from the way these people converse and carry themselves, you can deduce a great deal.”
Fine then. Si Yanchen could tell he had definitely come with a specific purpose. Still, they couldn’t stay up here forever, as they weren’t really here just to relax.
Thus, the two headed downstairs together. As they walked side by side, the familiar image of them shoulder-to-shoulder overlapped with the past, giving Si Yanchen a sudden illusion of stepping back in time. Before Shi Yi completely rebelled and cut off all social activities, they had walked side by side like this on most occasions.
Yet, after several years, he hadn’t forgotten any of these skills; he was still just as formidable.
Si Yanchen felt a wave of nostalgia inwardly. When Shi Yi used to be around, things were much easier for him. Shi Yi’s exceptional insight and information-gathering ability alone were far more powerful than just adding wings to a tiger. He trusted the information Shi Yi shared with him, and they could consult each other on countermeasures when issues arose. Such a reliable ally was rare indeed.
Moreover, acting too willfully and recklessly was harmful to Shi Yi’s own development. The Shi family’s tolerance had its limits, outside gossip had never ceased, and on top of that, he wasn’t without rivals.
Thinking of this, Si Yanchen began trying to persuade him to return, unable to stop himself from nagging a bit more. “You really should show your face more often. If you keep skipping these networking events, I am afraid that illegitimate son in your family is going to come take your place.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, he unsurprisingly received Shi Yi’s disdainful sneer. Pausing on the upper step and lifting his chin slightly, viewing things from a slightly upward angle, Si Yanchen felt that this person’s aura was overwhelmingly strong, casting an intangible pressure across the surrounding radius.
“Thanks for your concern, but he is completely not worth fearing.”
Such arrogant words spoken in his tone carried a strange, compelling persuasiveness.
“If you weren’t my childhood friend, I wouldn’t even bother dealing with you.”
Every time his good intentions went unappreciated, who wanted to worry about him anyway! While Si Yanchen was still muttering complaints inwardly, Shi Yi gave him a shove forward. “You had better go get to work.”
Pushed directly in front of the lobby’s embossed decorative wall, in such a conspicuous spot, Si Yanchen was immediately swamped by daughters and female relatives from various prominent families. Familiar acquaintances directly reached out to link their arms through his.
“Young Master Si!”
“Our family is deeply grateful for your care over the past two years.”
“Young Master Si, do you still remember me?”
“Brother Yanchen, who was the person standing next to you just now?”
One young lady began inquiring about Shi Yi, while the others kept silent but cast glances in his direction, curious as to why they hadn’t seen him before.
Shi Yi was indeed striking, exuding a high-class aura in his formal suit. His handsome, sharp facial features, paired with his refined posture and slender fingers holding a wine glass, made him navigate the venue as casually as taking a stroll.
Although he kept a low profile, the occasional flash of dangerous aura made people hesitant to approach. In reality, the moment he stepped onto the first floor, the gazes of all the women in the room had concentrated on him.
Yet, having spent years away from public events, even those who had heard of the Shi family couldn’t necessarily match a face to the name. The young ladies were busily inquiring which family’s young master he was, lest they fail to recognize his identity and say the wrong thing, leaving a bad impression.
“He is the eldest son of the Shi family. He doesn’t usually attend events, so he is rarely seen.”
As Si Yanchen explained Shi Yi’s background to the others, most of the socialites were first shocked by his family pedigree, and then recalled rumors from long ago.
“So he is that young master of the Shi family.”
“What a pity.”
These discussions and gazes did not affect Shi Yi at all. He remained focused on scanning the crowd for the person he needed to see.
Kangxia Company, the family enterprise that Deinatz had recently been negotiating a partnership with.
Finally, his gaze locked onto a man in a corner of the venue. His age and appearance matched the dossier almost perfectly.
This must be the person in charge.
Naturally, the situation regarding their project had already been investigated thoroughly, including their needs and financial status. Right at this midway point of the banquet, he initiated this seemingly coincidental small talk.
Shi Yi raised his glass and clinked it against the man’s.
As the banquet reached its conclusion, the attending guests left one after another, and the entranceway was jammed with incoming pickup vehicles blocking traffic. At that moment, Shi Yi walked out alone onto the open-air balcony. The night wind carried a chill, along with the distracting fragrance of flowers filtering into the tip of his nose.
Every single plant had been meticulously pruned, presenting a serene beauty under the soft perimeter lighting. Yet, Shi Yi was in no mood to appreciate the garden view right in front of him.
He had no intention of waiting until tomorrow; since he had his conclusion, he immediately dialed the phone in his hand.
“Seize Deinatz’s order from Kangxia. You can offer appropriate concessions. I’ve already talked to them, and we can cooperate long-term moving forward.”