In the opulent banquet hall, elegant classical music rose and fell as guests holding wine glasses mingled, chatting and laughing merrily.
Ye Fei found it utterly dull. Such evening parties were essentially social arenas where everyone, whether acquainted or not, inevitably engaged in polite small talk.
Perhaps to avoid unnecessary complications, the Chi family had not invited many guests this time. Those who could attend naturally belonged to families in Jiangcheng that ranked above them.
These families possessed substantial influence and maintained a policy of non-interference with one another, so there were no scenes of insincere pleasantries.
Compared to other evening parties, the interactions here seemed more genuine and equal.
After finishing the cake on her plate, Ye Fei was drawn by the commotion at the entrance.
Her seat was located on the side near the entrance, in the guests’ rest area, offering a clear view of the doorway.
To put it bluntly, it was akin to a watchman’s post, which was why no one else wanted to sit there.
Raising her eyes, Ye Fei saw a silver-haired elderly man being ushered in by a crowd.
He wore a light blue Tang suit with golden-threaded floral buttons, clearly advanced in years yet still radiating vitality.
In all of Jiangcheng, only one family could command such attention from both the hosts and guests of this evening party.
The newcomer was Grandpa Zhi, Zhi Yuanhong. Beside him stood a man with dignified features who appeared quite young.
“You old fellow, I thought you really weren’t going to show up,” said Grandpa Chi as he approached with his wife.
Grandpa Zhi’s voice boomed, “At my age, I still need to get out and about more, to see old friends, don’t I?”
The two were long-time friends. Zhi Yuanhong had stepped back from Zhi family affairs many years ago and had not appeared in any public setting for over two decades.
Unless invited by someone close, it was impossible to catch a glimpse of Grandpa Zhi.
Grandpa Chi, of course, understood his friend’s temperament. After exchanging greetings, he led the group toward a quiet private room.
Grandpa Zhi disliked idle chatter, and those present were not foolish enough to approach him uninvited.
Yet, there were always those who lacked tact. Ye Fei raised an eyebrow as she watched Ye Yanqiu straighten her dress and walk over.
It seemed she truly had the Zhi family on her mind, but after all these years, she still couldn’t read the room.
Ye Yanqiu wasn’t entirely without manners. She waited until the Chi couple had moved on to greet other guests before stepping forward.
“Hello, Grandpa Zhi.”
Zhi Yuan, standing beside the old man, glanced at her. She was not unattractive, but neither was she exceptionally striking.
Zhi Yuanhong remained silent, simply holding his teacup as he observed her.
With just one look, the imposing aura of a person in power washed over her.
Someone who had steered such a prominent family for so many years was naturally no simple figure in any respect.
Suppressing her nervousness, Ye Yanqiu offered a gracious and gentle smile.
“You may not remember me. My name is Ye Yanqiu, daughter of Ye Qingyuan, chairman of the Ye Group.”
This self-introduction elicited little reaction from the old man.
Before Grandpa Zhi could respond, Zhi Yuan had already gestured for someone nearby to escort her away.
Ye Yanqiu had barely begun when she was politely ushered off. Her expression darkened as she looked up and noticed someone staring intently at her.
Recalling that she had witnessed everything just now, she felt her pride was wounded.
Feeling even more displeased, Ye Yanqiu walked up to Ye Fei with that anger in tow.
“What are you laughing at?”
Her tone was extremely unfriendly, though she still minded the people passing by one after another.
Ye Fei finished the last bite of black truffle cake on her plate just as the person arrived before her.
“Don’t get too pleased with yourself. Just because Grandpa Zhi ignored me doesn’t mean he’ll pay attention to you,” Ye Yanqiu said, staring at her.
Although she was indeed fearful—after all, Ye Fei’s grandfather had been acquainted with Mr. Zhi back in the day.
Now, rumors were swirling outside that Grandpa Zhi was preparing a marriage for his grandson, though it was unclear which one.
But marrying into the Zhi family was her best option, and also the hardest to achieve.
Having eaten and drunk her fill, Ye Fei was in a rare mood to offer some guidance. “Do you know why Grandpa Zhi ignored you?”
“What are you trying to say?” Ye Yanqiu glared at her.
“Being overly obsequious will only backfire. Someone of that status is used to seeing people grovel. Approaching him like that is too low-class.”
Her words made Ye Yanqiu frown, but she quickly caught on.
“You’re insulting me!”
Ye Fei glanced at Zhi Yuan, who was already surrounded by the crowd. “You want to marry him?”
The children of the Zhi family were dazzling presences wherever they went.
“Targeting him seems like a pretty good choice.”
Thinking this, Ye Yanqiu straightened her posture, like a proud peacock. “I, Ye Yanqiu, have only ever had men grovel before me. I won’t lower myself to chase after anyone.”
But her bold declaration failed to stir even a flicker of emotion in the person before her.
“I hope you’re someone who matches words with actions, and doesn’t end up losing on both fronts.”
After saying this, Ye Fei made a gesture, and Jing Chu obediently pushed her toward the garden connected to the hall.
Ye Yanqiu stomped her feet in place, infuriated by the nonchalant attitude.
Exiting the banquet hall led to the hotel’s connected garden, where Sheng Huai Hotel’s grounds were filled with pure white cherry blossoms.
Every year during cherry blossom season, the vast, undulating waves of white flowers here made headlines countless times.
Now was precisely the season when the cherry blossoms here were in full bloom. Petals fluttered down in profusion, drifting with the wind and falling into the nearby swimming pool, swaying with the ripples.
The pure and serene scene here stood in stark contrast to the dazzling lights, flowing wine, and clinking glasses ahead.
“Boss, there aren’t many people here,” Jing Chu said, pushing Ye Fei under a tree.
Don’t girls usually like such floral scenery? It seemed the bejeweled women up front weren’t interested in coming to the back to take a look.
“I’ll stay here alone for a while. You can go ahead.”
Hearing Ye Fei’s words, Jing Chu happily loosened his tie and walked away.
He had been feeling stifled to death—finally, he could go out for a stroll.
Leaning back in her wheelchair, Ye Fei looked up at the white waves of flowers swaying in the wind above. Through the gaps between the blossoms, she could see the twinkling lights in the sky.
Having such a large cherry blossom grove in the prime, land-scarce center of Jiang City was enough to show the immense wealth behind it.
A gentle breeze passed, and the hanging petals began to fall one after another, brushing past her delicate brows and eyes before settling on her.
That oppressive presence appeared once again. Those with keen hearing could detect faint breathing sounds.
Ye Fei, in her wheelchair, turned her head and saw the scene behind her.
In the midst of the flower grove, a man reclined on a lounge chair. Unlike the other guests coming and going, he wore a dark blue sweater.
Judging from his long, lazily crossed legs alone, he was not short. Ye Fei’s gaze continued upward.
She saw fallen petals clinging to the man’s delicate brows and eyes, while a flower that had brushed past his high, straight nose bridge drifted down to settle in the hollow of his collarbone.
That face was exquisitely stunning, even the curve of his brows and eyes seemed meticulously carved.
Yet, it was all too familiar.
As if sensing her gaze, the man on the lounge chair opened his eyes and looked over.
Their eyes met, and Ye Fei finally understood why he looked so familiar.
Number Thirty-Nine.
Ye Fei pressed a button to turn her wheelchair around, propping her chin on one hand as she watched the man opposite her without the slightest hesitation.
At this point, she wasn’t foolish enough to think he was here because he’d been invited to fight.
When Chi Yan returned, he saw the two figures in the flower grove.
The man on the lounge chair was all too familiar to him, but how could the stunning young woman in the wheelchair be here?
And why did the atmosphere between them seem so strange?