Shenghuai Hotel, owned by the Zhi family, is the largest seven-star hotel in Jiangcheng and renowned throughout the Eastern Region.
The Chi family chose to hold their evening banquet here. As the Chi and Zhi families have been close friends for generations, the Zhi family naturally provided the utmost convenience.
The Chi family has been involved in politics for generations, with many members serving in the legal and political systems, and quite a few now hold high-ranking positions.
Coupled with the family’s established business foundations, they hold both wealth and power in their hands, making them a prominent and influential family in Jiangcheng today.
Old Master Chi Xulin and his wife have spent over half a lifetime together, always maintaining an extremely low profile.
Now, for their golden wedding anniversary, they have reluctantly agreed to a rare moment of extravagance at the request of their younger family members.
For this occasion, the Chi family invited half of Jiangcheng’s notable families to celebrate together, making the event even more grand than Old Master Chi’s seventieth birthday celebration.
The vast venue was exquisitely decorated, with air-freighted flowers alone costing nearly six figures.
Not to mention the expenses for beverages and other labor costs. Although the Chi family went all out this time, they did not allow any media inside the venue for filming.
The Ye family arrived in separate groups, and by the time they got there, most of the other guests had already arrived.
Gu Zhi set off first with Ye Fei and Ye Yanqiu, all three riding in the same car.
With Old Mrs. Huo keeping everyone in check, the journey passed peacefully.
However, just before getting out of the car, Ye Yanqiu meticulously adjusted her makeup and gown, afraid of making even the slightest mistake.
Ye Yanqiu walked ahead of Ye Fei, supporting Gu Zhi, while Jing Chu, who had been dragged along, tugged uncomfortably at his tie and continued pushing the wheelchair forward.
The Chi family had arranged for younger members to greet guests at the entrance. Seeing Gu Zhi arrive, Mr. and Mrs. Chi came forward to welcome them.
“Old Mrs. Huo, you look younger and younger.”
Gu Zhi smiled and exchanged a few pleasantries in response to Mrs. Chi’s compliments.
Soon, Mrs. Chi turned her attention to the young woman in the wheelchair. By now, the entire city of Jiangcheng had heard about her, so Mrs. Chi was not foolish enough to ask who she was.
“Old Mrs. Huo, you are truly blessed. Your granddaughters are each more beautiful than the last.”
Hearing this, Ye Yanqiu beside Gu Zhi greeted Mrs. Chi politely, her demeanor graceful and poised.
After a brief exchange, Mrs. Chi went to attend to other guests. Ye Yanqiu walked ahead, supporting Old Mrs. Huo, completely ignoring Ye Fei behind them.
It was clear she intended to leave Ye Fei alone at the back.
Ye Fei had no desire to get close to her either. In such a setting, everyone was too preoccupied to pay attention to others.
The farther away people were from her, the better.
Just as they were about to ascend the steps, before Jing Chu could call for a waiter to lend a hand, a gentle male voice spoke up, followed by a man in a smoky gray suit who took hold of the other side of her wheelchair.
“Let me help you.”
Ye Fei looked up to see the man beside her, handsome with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes.
He wore a white suit, elegant and dignified, exuding an air of nobility.
After lifting the wheelchair up the steps, Ye Fei politely thanked him.
“If I’m not mistaken, you are Ye Fei.”
Jing Chu couldn’t help but roll his eyes at such a line—it was an incredibly clichéd way to start a conversation.
“I suppose I’m not that hard to recognize,” Ye Fei said, glancing down at her wheelchair.
The man before her smiled and extended his hand. “I’m Chi Yan.”
Before heading out, Ye Fei had reviewed all the information on the Chi family. The patriarch of the Chi family had retired from the highest court in Jiangcheng years earlier, and now half of the younger generation of the Chi family were working within the judicial system.
Chi Yan was the second son among the younger generation of the Chi family. He was relatively young and currently served as a prosecutor.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. Truly, seeing you in person is better than hearing about you a hundred times,” Chi Yan praised sincerely.
“Thank you,” Ye Fei replied softly, lowering her gaze.
Seeing her well-behaved demeanor, Chi Yan raised an eyebrow. This seemed different from the rebellious girl rumored to frequent nightclubs.
Sitting in her wheelchair, her eyes curved into crescents as she spoke, carrying a gentle smile—obedient and beautiful.
Her appearance was even more striking than that of Ye Yanqiu, who had become a celebrity.
While Chi Yan was lost in thought, she had already passed him and entered the hall. As he looked up, he spotted someone stepping out of a car in the distance.
“Today must be a rare day indeed—even this ancestor has shown up,” Chi Yan remarked with a smile as he walked toward the person across from him.
Those invited to tonight’s banquet were all from prominent and influential families, making it the perfect occasion for socializing.
Many families attended in full force, such as the Ye family.
After Ye Fei entered, she drew quite a few glances—after all, sitting in a wheelchair made it difficult not to stand out.
Having Jing Chu find her a quieter spot, Ye Fei picked up a plate and began preparing to eat.
“I’ll be over there. If anything comes up, have Jing Chu come find me. If you get tired, go upstairs—here’s the room key.”
Ye Yanxia approached Ye Fei with graceful steps, leaning down to give her instructions. Yet, from her eyes, Ye Fei could still detect a hint of distrust.
“Don’t worry, I know what’s important,” Ye Fei said, taking a bite of a small cookie from her plate and looking earnestly at Ye Yanxia. “After all, I’m so obedient.”
Ye Yanxia merely took her words at face value—she knew Ye Fei’s temperament better than anyone.
On an occasion like this, the Ye family couldn’t afford to lose face.
Ye Yanxia was tall and slender, wearing a high-end custom gown from this year with a slit that reached her waistline.
Sexy yet sophisticated, sharp and captivating—it perfectly matched her personality.
Amidst clinking glasses and shimmering lights, guests in lavish attire moved about with smiles on their faces.
Such an occasion, while not overly formal, was laden with rules; though lively on the surface, it felt stifling and lifeless.
It certainly wasn’t a place where Jing Chu could feel at ease.
“Boss, what are you doing here? It’s so boring.”
Looking at the fake smiles on everyone’s faces, he felt like he was about to vomit.
“The Chi family has been involved in politics for generations and has a good relationship with the Ye family,” Ye Fei remarked casually.
Jing Chu’s eyes lit up instantly. Wasn’t Chi Yan, the second son of the Chi family, currently a prosecutor?
Thinking this, he leaned in closer and whispered, “Boss, are you planning to use a honey trap?”
Unsurprisingly, he received a sharp flick on the forehead from Ye Fei, making him almost cry out in pain.
All their investigations indicated that Ye Qingcheng’s case was not a pure accident. Before returning to the Ye family, Ye Fei had reviewed the case files as Ye Qingcheng’s daughter.
However, apart from a vague autopsy report, the files contained only a brief conclusion report.
Shortly afterward, the Ye family contacted her using the number she had left behind.
The Ye family acted swiftly, and Ye Qingyuan kept a tight watch, which allowed them to move so quickly after receiving news of her.
Since she couldn’t obtain the real case files as a family member, she had to find another way.
Ye Fei took a sip of juice from her cup, pondering her next steps.
A sudden cold breeze swept by, and she inexplicably felt a chill down her spine.
Years of cultivated vigilance had made her alert to her surroundings.
From the very beginning, Ye Fei had sensed a gaze fixed on her, like a predator eyeing its prey—aggressive and filled with intense desire.
Yet when she looked toward the source of the gaze, she saw nothing but the gilded Roman columns.
That gaze, however, felt strangely familiar.