“I’ve spent so much money supporting you, and you can’t even find out a single person’s background?”
The person in charge bowed and said, “Young Master Ma, we’ve used all our overseas connections, even contacted the Mafia’s intelligence network, but all leads have dried up overseas. It’s as if their information has been completely erased; there’s no record of them. We even hired one of the top three hackers in the world, but not only did they not find anything, they were also attacked in return, losing three core servers.”
Ma Yun was stunned, then a hint of excitement and apprehension flashed in his eyes: “Interesting… Just who is this Jiang Wenxi?”
In the study of the Jiang family’s old mansion, the atmosphere was much calmer. Jiang Xunye sat in a rattan chair, holding a cup of tea. Standing opposite him was an elderly man with white hair, the retired butler of the Jiang family, who had been in charge of the Jiang family’s intelligence work for decades.
“Xunye, we can’t find anything.” The old butler’s voice carried a hint of emotion. “In my forty-plus years in this profession, I’ve never encountered anything like this.
The other party’s background is extremely well hidden. Whether it’s official files, private networks, or underground intelligence channels, we can’t find any useful information.
This kind of concealment is beyond conventional understanding; it doesn’t seem like something ordinary technology could achieve.”
Jiang Xunye’s hand holding the teacup paused, a deep light flashing in his eyes: “Hidden… is it?” He had heard rumors about top-tier mysterious organizations while studying abroad, supposedly possessing a core system capable of shielding all intelligence networks, but he never imagined he would encounter such people in Shanghai.
The old butler nodded: “Very likely. Moreover, the other party’s strength is unfathomable. As soon as our probing began, we received an anonymous warning: ‘Know your limits.’ For the safety of the Jiang family, I have ordered all investigations to cease.”
Jiang Xunye took a sip of tea, a faint smile curving his lips: “Jiang Wenxi…” The investigations by the three major families into Jiang Wenxi, the owner of the No. 1 Tan Palace, ultimately ended in vain. What they didn’t know was that Jiang Wenxi’s background had already been completely concealed by a system far beyond current technological capabilities. Not only them, but even globally, no top hacker or intelligence organization could uncover a single detail.
This mystery, like a magnet, intensified the curiosity and investigation of Shanghai’s elite towards Jiang Wenxi.
Everyone eagerly awaited the auction next weekend, wanting to see just how much more this mysterious owner of the Tan Palace was hiding. So many secrets.
A week later, the Shanghai International Auction House became the focus of Shanghai’s top elite.
Located in an art center, the auction house offered panoramic views of the shimmering river and towering skyscrapers through its floor-to-ceiling windows. The interior was decorated primarily in champagne gold and dark black, with crystal chandeliers casting dazzling light and shadow, and the air filled with a subtle blend of champagne and cologne.
Those invited were all prominent figures and heads of powerful families in Shanghai; every whisper carried a hidden probing and scrutiny.
Fu Yunzhe and his sister Fu Siya sat side-by-side in the front seats, Fu Yunzhe still dressed in… Wearing a dark gray suit, his fingertips unconsciously rubbed the armrest of his chair, his gaze seemingly drifting towards the entrance.
Fu Siya, dressed in a pink tulle dress, held a delicate handbag, her eyes filled with anticipation, occasionally peeking out, hoping to catch a glimpse of Jiang Wenxi.
Ma Yun leaned back in his armchair, two bodyguards in black beside him. He toyed with a limited-edition cufflink, a nonchalant smile on his face, but his eyes narrowed slightly when he saw that familiar figure.
Jiang Xunye sat alone in a corner, holding an auction catalog, his expression indifferent, as if… He was oblivious to the surrounding noise, but a closer look would reveal that his gaze had already been locked on the woman slowly approaching in high heels.
Jiang Wenxi’s appearance instantly drew everyone’s attention. She wore a long black velvet dress, the hem trailing on the floor, outlining her graceful figure. A simple yet luxurious pearl necklace adorned her neck, and her long hair was loosely tied up, revealing her slender, fair neck. Her pale skin shimmered under the crystal chandelier, her eyes carrying a detached indifference, yet possessing an undeniable aura.
“Wenxi, you’re here! I knew you’d come!” Fu Siya quickly stepped forward, her pink tulle dress billowing with each step, her eyes brimming with joy, her tone undisguisedly friendly.
“Mm,” Jiang Wenxi responded calmly, a faint smile playing on her lips—not overtly enthusiastic, but still polite.
Just as she finished speaking, a waitress gracefully approached. She wore a well-tailored pale yellow cheongsam with delicate silver stitching at the collar. Her demeanor was gentle and refined. She bowed slightly as she reached Jiang Wenxi, her voice soft yet clear: “Hello, are you Miss Jiang Wenxi?”
“Yes, it is.” Jiang Wenxi’s voice was cool and clear, like a mountain stream.
“Hello, Miss Jiang. Mr. Li from our auction house has specially reserved a private seat for you. Please come this way.” The waitress stepped aside to show her the way, her gaze respectful, maintaining an appropriate distance.
Upon hearing this, a collective gasp rippled through the room. The guests, who had been conversing quietly, instinctively stopped talking, their eyes turning in surprise.
The Shanghai International Auction House was known for its extremely high standards. Even top families like the Fu, Ma, and Jiang families only received fixed seating according to their invitation levels; they had never received the privilege of “specially reserved private seating,” let alone had a manager-level waitress personally leading the way.
“The auction house is actually treating her with such respect!” A middle-aged man in a bespoke suit whispered in the crowd, his voice filled with disbelief.
The lady beside him nodded, her eyes filled with inquiry: “For President Li to personally order her to be reserved, Jiang Wenxi must have an incredible reputation. I only heard she was the owner of No. 1 Tan Palace, but I never expected the auction house to treat her with such courtesy.”
Fu Yunzhe, not far away, frowned slightly. His Fu family had cooperated with the auction house for many years and had never received such treatment. Jiang Wenxi’s importance seemed to be even greater than he had anticipated.
Ma Yun raised an eyebrow, his chest rising and falling slightly beneath his burgundy shirt, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes.
Although he might not inherit the family business, he wasn’t a clueless playboy.
Jiang Xunye’s gentle gaze fell on Jiang Wenxi’s back, a hint of surprise flashing in his deep eyes before returning to calm.
He knew President Li’s character better than anyone else; he only recognized strength and background. For him to treat her with such seriousness, Jiang Wenxi’s background was probably far beyond imagination.