Eight o’clock in the evening, Sheng Family Gardens.
Inside a large private room decorated in Chinese style.
The table was lively with conversation, laughter and chatter filling the air, and more than half the drinks had already been consumed.
This Chinese-style banquet garden was part of the Sheng family’s property. Old Master Sheng loved to host lavish feasts here whenever he felt like it, inviting the younger generations of families that had been close to his for generations to listen to his ramblings.
Because of his age and high seniority, the major families all showed him great respect. Those invited among the younger generation would mostly attend with their male or female companions.
Qi Yan, who arrived alone, once again became the center of attention.
As he strolled in, the gazes of the women present closely followed his movements.
Dressed in a tailored suit, his figure perfectly proportioned like the golden ratio, he wore a distinctive black gemstone brooch on his chest. Mature and charismatic, he was like a walking hormone.
Old Master Sheng loved teasing him the most.
“Ah Yan, we were just talking about you. I heard you’ve got a girlfriend?”
Qi Yan took his seat. “Uncle Sheng, who told you that?”
His voice was cool and clear, tinged with a magnetic quality that made one’s ears tingle.
It sent shivers through the hearts of several unmarried young ladies from wealthy families present.
Everyone’s eyes shifted almost simultaneously to one spot.
Qi Chen, sitting beside the Sheng family’s young lady, smiled awkwardly.
“Bro…”
Qi Yan’s expression remained impassive. “Second Brother.”
Qi Chen was truly exasperated with his second brother.
Was the word “brother” some kind of quirk to him? Why couldn’t he just say it?
“Alright, alright, Second Brother it is! I didn’t say she was your girlfriend, though. I just told everyone that you brought a woman home to spend the night.”
Qi Chen, the third young master of the Qi family, feared nothing in the world except his second brother, Qi Yan!
If Second Brother got upset, he’d kick him off to work at the company. Heaven knew how much it pained him to see those red and green numbers jumping around in the stock exchange market!
Their family was so wealthy—what was wrong with supporting one useless person like him?
Why did he have to work hard? Working hard to spend money was a kind of effort too!
When the major families gathered, they either discussed business or talked about marriage alliances.
Qi Yan had always been interested only in the former and disdained explaining the latter.
He calmly responded with an “Mm.”
“Not yet, but soon.”
“Ah…” The young ladies from wealthy families who hadn’t believed it before now felt even more unsettled hearing him admit it himself.
It wasn’t that he was indifferent to women—just indifferent to them.
Someone grew curious. “Which family’s young lady is she? Is she a suitable match? She must be very beautiful, right?”
This was a question everyone wanted to ask.
What kind of woman could capture the lofty Second Master Yan?
He took a slow, deliberate sip of wine.
“She’s not from our circle.”
His voice was calm and deep, as if discussing something trivial.
“Her looks are passable, nothing out of the ordinary.”
Those present exchanged glances and instantly understood!
No family background, no exceptional looks—definitely not a suitable match!
Men, after all, grew tired of delicacies and occasionally wanted to change their palate, trying something plain like congee and pickles. It was understandable.
Just a fling. They’d definitely break up within three days!
Just as everyone was about to change the subject, they heard Qi Yan add with remarkable patience—
“Only men without ability would consider a suitable match.”
The private room inexplicably fell into an unsettling silence.
In their circle, arranged marriages between families are seen as the simplest and fastest way to achieve mutual benefit for both clans. A well-matched union is essentially a powerful alliance.
Since everyone in the entire circle operates this way, why does it not work for him?
For a moment, the man’s expression dimmed, and behind his glasses, his eyes held deep, unfathomable emotions.
A moment later.
Everyone heard a faintly spoken sentence—
“I am the one overreaching by pursuing her.”
Hiss…
The entire room drew in a sharp breath.
What a joke!
Could there possibly be a family in the capital more powerful than the Qi family?
Though puzzled, everyone tactfully steered clear of the topic.
Despite maintaining a calm facade, their gossip-hungry hearts were already wildly stirring.
Everyone present was shrewd.
Today’s family banquet was primarily meant to matchmake the Qi family’s third young master, Qi Chen, with the Sheng family’s daughter, Sheng Jiayue. It wouldn’t be appropriate to keep pressing Qi Yan, and judging by his demeanor, he didn’t want to reveal too much. It was best to leave it at that.
They could always gossip about it later—surely, some details would surface eventually.
Conversations at the table continued.
Amidst the clinking of glasses, someone suddenly exclaimed, “Damn! My goddess got hit on set!”
Someone asked, “Who’s your goddess?”
“Wanqing!”
“Didn’t you say last week you wanted to pursue that Angela?”
“Oh, times have changed! Who still cares about Angela now? Wanqing is single again, isn’t she? A few of my buddies are betting on who can chase her faster!”
“Hah! I think… it’ll be tough!”
An elder teased, “No wonder the name sounds familiar. Wasn’t she with that kid from the old Fu family? Last year, she even went horseback riding at our ranch. That young lady is truly lovely—you’ve got good taste, kid!”
“Uncle Xiang, you might not know, but they broke up not long ago!”
“Fu Si Yu really has a thing for that type. Even his new fling bears some resemblance to her.”
“Just a poor imitation…”
Amidst the back-and-forth chatter—
Suddenly.
Qi Yan’s wine glass was abruptly set down on the table, spilling a few drops.
The noticeable movement once again drew everyone’s attention.
Under the collective gaze, Qi Yan stood up, raised his glass toward Elder Sheng, and downed the wine in one go.
“Uncle Sheng, my apologies, but I must excuse myself for a moment.”
Before anyone could react, Qi Yan had already left his seat.