The car fell silent.
Li Yanzhou turned on the car stereo, and the soothing notes of classical piano music flowed out, slightly easing the tension brought by the silence.
While waiting at a red light, Li Yanzhou spoke again, his tone slightly gentler than before:
“Don’t worry. Chen Xu has already sent the profiles of tonight’s main guests to your email. You can review them on the way.”
“At the banquet, stay close to me, speak less, and just keep smiling. I’ll handle the rest.”
He rarely spoke this much, and though his tone remained that of assigning a task, there was a hint of reassurance in his words.
“Mm, I understand.”
Wen Yan nodded, took out her phone, and began browsing the email Chen Xu had sent.
The information was detailed, including the background of the host, photos of the main attendees, their positions, brief backgrounds, and even notes on certain social details to pay attention to and potential conversation starters.
She studied it carefully, trying to memorize the unfamiliar faces and names in the shortest time possible.
This was part of her professional discipline and the basic competency required of her as “Mrs. Li.”
The car finally stopped in front of a strikingly designed white building.
The sign for “Yun Shang” was understated yet elegant.
Staff waiting at the entrance immediately approached, respectfully guiding them inside.
For the next hour or so, Wen Yan felt like a meticulously dressed doll.
Following the suggestions of a professional stylist, she tried on several evening gowns of different styles, ultimately selecting a deep blue strapless satin gown with minimalist tailoring and excellent drape.
The color accentuated her fair skin, and the design was understated yet luxurious, not flashy but exuding quality.
Her makeup and hairstyle were also handled by top-tier stylists.
The makeup applied by the stylist was more refined and dimensional than what she usually did herself, emphasizing the cool elegance in her eyes and brows.
Her long hair was styled into a lazy yet sophisticated low bun, with a few loose strands naturally framing her face, softening her features and adding a touch of gentleness.
When Wen Yan stood before the full-length mirror, even she felt a moment of disbelief.
The woman in the mirror was noble, elegant, and seemed to glow.
Li Yanzhou, who had been handling emails on his tablet in the lounge area, finally looked up.
His gaze settled on her, and he watched quietly for a few seconds.
“Acceptable.”
He set down his tablet, stood up, and said to Wen Yan, “It’s about time. Let’s go.”
Without any additional praise, Wen Yan felt no ripple of emotion. She picked up the clutch bag that matched her gown, followed Li Yanzhou’s side, and got back into the car.
The car headed toward the Platinum Hotel.
Night had already fallen, and the city’s lights sparkled like a river of stars.
Wen Yan glanced at her phone one last time. Su Wan had sent another message about the details of their shopping trip tomorrow.
She simply replied with a “Got it,” then turned off the screen.
She placed her phone in her clutch, took a deep breath, adjusted her posture, and once again wore a faint, appropriate smile on her face.
The banquet hall of the Platinum Hotel was resplendent and magnificent. A massive crystal chandelier refracted dazzling light, and the air was filled with the rich blend of high-end fragrances, gourmet food, fine wine, and various expensive perfumes.
The air was thick with the scent of perfume and the clinking of glasses. Business elites in tailored suits mingled with elegantly dressed companions, their soft laughter weaving through the opulent scene—a glittering arena of fame and fortune reserved for the elite.
When Li Yanzhou entered the venue with Wen Yan on his arm, the flowing hum of conversation seemed to pause for a subtle, almost imperceptible moment.
Countless gazes, both overt and covert, converged on them like spotlights.
Li Yanzhou naturally commanded attention wherever he went, his status as the helm of the Li Group ensuring he remained the focal point.
But tonight, he was accompanied by a woman—a young lady of striking beauty and poise, yet a complete stranger to the vast majority of those present.
Even more eye-catching was the simple yet dazzling diamond ring on her left ring finger, and the way she lightly held onto Li Yanzhou’s arm, both unmistakable signs of an extraordinary intimacy.
Li Yanzhou’s expression remained as calm and stern as ever, as if the surrounding stares and whispers did not exist.
He tilted his head slightly and said to Wen Yan in a low voice, “Stay close to me.” His tone was steady, carrying an invisible sense of authority.
Wen Yan held his arm, straightened her back, and maintained a moderate, graceful smile on her face. Her gaze met the probing eyes around her calmly—neither evasive nor overly enthusiastic.
She remembered his instructions: speak little, keep smiling.
Soon, the host—a real estate tycoon—and his wife warmly approached them.
“Mr. Li! Your presence truly honors us!”
The tycoon beamed, his eyes immediately shifting to Wen Yan with just the right mix of surprise and curiosity. “And this is…?”
Li Yanzhou gave a slight nod, his tone plain yet clear:
“Mr. Zhang, Mrs. Zhang. Allow me to introduce my wife, Wen Yan.”
The word “wife,” spoken from his lips without any hint of affection, was like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, instantly stirring enormous ripples among the eavesdropping crowd.
When did Li Yanzhou get married?! And without a whisper of news!
Wen Yan took a half-step forward at the perfect moment, gave a slight bow, and said in a clear, pleasant voice:
“Mr. Zhang, Mrs. Zhang, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Her demeanor was neither submissive nor arrogant—graceful, poised, and perfectly befitting the role of “Mrs. Li.”
Mr. and Mrs. Zhang’s eyes flashed with admiration and understanding, and they immediately offered even warmer smiles. “So this is Mrs. Li! Our apologies for not recognizing you earlier!”
Pleasantries, congratulations, and toasts followed.
Champagne glasses clinked lightly, emitting crisp, delicate sounds.
This was only the beginning. In the time that followed, people continuously approached Li Yanzhou to greet him, and the conversation naturally turned to the suddenly appearing “Mrs. Li” by his side.
Wen Yan was like an exquisite exhibit, gracefully showcased by Li Yanzhou as she made her formal debut in Xijing’s top-tier business circles.
Every nod, every smile, every greeting, and every perfectly measured, brief response was executed flawlessly by Wen Yan.
She had received a refined education and professional training, and her poise and eloquence were among her strengths.
Thanks to her prior preparation, she could even whisper a timely remark—such as a detail about the other party’s wife’s recent charity work or an amusing anecdote about their children’s school—while Li Yanzhou conversed with a business partner. This often delighted the other party and earned their newfound respect for “Mrs. Li.”
Her performance clearly exceeded many people’s expectations, including Li Yanzhou’s initial expectations.
He occasionally glanced sideways at her, a flicker of satisfaction passing through his deep eyes.
At the banquet, not all gazes were friendly.
Wen Yan could sense that among the crowd, several glances from young socialites or women rumored to have marriage connections with the Li family were particularly icy and sharp, carrying undisguised scrutiny, jealousy, and even hostility.
But Wen Yan maintained her composed, faint smile throughout.
Midway through the banquet, Li Yanzhou was pulled aside by several important elders and business partners for more in-depth conversations.
Wen Yan, meanwhile, was politely invited by Mrs. Zhang and several other ladies to sit briefly in the nearby rest area.
“Young Mrs. Li is so youthful and beautiful. May I ask what you do?” one lady inquired with a smile, her tone probing.
“You flatter me. I work as a host for the finance channel at Xijing Television,” Wen Yan replied with a humble smile.
“President Li has kept her so well hidden—such a lovely wife, and only today do we get to meet her,” another lady teased, though her eyes kept appraising Wen Yan’s gown and jewelry.
Wen Yan simply smiled without speaking, neither overly enthusiastic nor coldly impolite.
She knew that in the eyes of these ladies, she was not only Li Yanzhou’s wife but also represented the face of the Li family.
Her every word and action would be magnified and scrutinized.
Just as she was navigating the ladies’ seemingly casual yet subtly pointed small talk, she caught sight of Li Yanzhou from the corner of her eye. He seemed to have finished his conversation and was looking in her direction.
His gaze calmly settled on her across the bustling crowd, as if checking on her.
Feeling slightly reassured, Wen Yan found an excuse, gracefully stood up, and after nodding politely to the ladies, walked toward Li Yanzhou.
She had just reached his side and hadn’t yet steadied herself when a slightly sharp female voice suddenly cut in:
“Brother Yanzhou, long time no see!”
A young girl in a pink strapless cocktail dress, with meticulously applied makeup, squeezed over and affectionately linked arms with Li Yanzhou, casting a challenging glance at Wen Yan.
“This older sister here… I haven’t seen her before. Which family’s daughter is she?”
The girl’s tone was sweetly affected, but her meaning was unmistakable: questioning Wen Yan’s background and implying she was unknown.
The air around them seemed to freeze for a moment, with many onlookers watching with amusement.
This girl was Li Mo, the only daughter of Li Zhaohai, chairman of the internet giant “SwiftRun Technology,” and a famously spoiled socialite.
More importantly, the exclusive interview subject Wen Yan had been striving to invite for the “Finance Frontier” program was none other than Li Mo’s father, Li Zhaohai, but she had repeatedly been politely declined by his secretary, citing “Chairman Li’s schedule is full.”
And the guest who stole all the spotlight for the premiere episode of Gu Weiwei’s “In-Depth Dialogue” was precisely Li Zhaohai.
Li Mo had always been interested in Li Yanzhou, and her family had previously attempted to arrange a match.
Li Yanzhou’s expression remained almost unchanged. He simply withdrew his arm from the girl’s attempted grasp, his tone cool and distant:
“Miss Li, please mind your manners.”
Then, he turned to Wen Yan, his arm naturally wrapping around her waist and drawing her closer to him.
Though subtle, this gesture was filled with a sense of possession and protection, starkly different from his usual restraint.
“Allow me to introduce,” his voice, though not loud, carried clearly to the attentive ears around them, “this is my wife, Wen Yan.”
He paused, his gaze calmly settling on Miss Li, whose expression instantly darkened, and added, “We just registered our marriage not long ago.”
Wen Yan nestled by his side, feeling the warmth and firmness of his palm through her evening gown.
She cooperatively offered a flawless smile, nodding slightly toward Miss Li. “Hello, Miss Li.”