"You're back?"
Yan Xi entered the house and saw her father, Song Hai, sitting on the sofa. She casually threw her bag onto the sofa. "Dad, you didn't go out?"
"I've got a private dinner party tonight, lots of business friends. I came back to change clothes first," Song Hai thought for a moment, "You should come with me. You can meet some of your father's friends."
Yan Xi immediately understood her father's intentions and was happy to indulge him. She agreed with a smile, which made Song Hai's face light up with joy.
"By the way," Song Hai stopped Yan Xi, who was about to head upstairs. "Sometimes, when I'm busy with business and can't be at home, the house still needs someone to cook and clean. How about we hire a reliable housekeeper to take care of the house for us?"
Though he was meticulous, Song Hai was still a man, and hiring someone to look after Yan Xi would make things easier.
Yan Xi froze for a moment. Her father had lived alone for nine years and never hired a housekeeper, and now he was considering it probably because of her.
"No need. We have a part-time worker who comes to clean," Yan Xi replied with a smile. "It's fine this way. It wouldn't be convenient to have someone living in the house."
Seeing that Yan Xi really didn't want a housekeeper, Song Hai reluctantly agreed. "Well, if you change your mind and want to hire someone, just let me know." He was always busy and worried that he couldn't take good care of her.
After returning to her room, she removed her makeup to let her skin breathe for a while. She sat at the desk and sketched some cute comics. Glancing at the time, she stood up to change clothes.
For such a business gathering, casual clothes wouldn't be appropriate, but overly formal attire would seem stiff. In the end, she chose a fitted off-shoulder dress, freshened up her makeup, and checked herself in the mirror. Satisfied with her neat and delicate appearance, she put on her earrings.
"Your Uncle Zhou is in the pharmaceutical business. This year, he developed a new special medicine and even received praise from the relevant departments," Song Hai said as they drove. "Tonight's event is sort of his celebration party."
Yan Xi noticed that Song Hai didn't mention much about Uncle Zhou's personality, which was different from how he usually introduced his other friends. "Are you close with Uncle Zhou?"
"He's a business associate. As long as there's no conflict of interest, he's fine," Song Hai answered ambiguously. "I heard he's got connections with the Song family, and he's been doing very well recently."
"Song family?" Yan Xi asked, unfamiliar with the business world. "Are they more influential than the Yuan family?"
"Well, in terms of history, the Song family isn't as established as the Yuan family, but in terms of financial power..." Song Hai paused, thinking for a moment, "They're a big family in the capital. When they speak, the economy feels it."
"So you're not really sure either," Yan Xi said, understanding. "Our family can't even get close to the Yuan family, let alone know how powerful the Song family really is." She didn't dare mention that she had just had lunch with the second son of the Yuan family earlier today, and she had probably offended him. She figured her father might think she was feverish if she mentioned it.
"Either way, we can't rely on the Song family. It doesn't matter how much money they have," Song Hai said casually. He was just there to show off his daughter.
As a proud father, Song Hai didn't want to miss any opportunity to brag about his daughter.
At the Zhou family's villa, people were coming and going, luxury cars filled the front and back yard. The Zhou family's son, daughter, son-in-law, and daughter-in-law were all busy attending to the guests. Zhou Boss was listening to the compliments from the guests, his face beaming with satisfaction.
"Dad," Zhou Boss's son whispered, walking up to him, "Will someone from the Song family really come?"
"Young people are always impatient," Zhou Boss smiled mysteriously, but his pride and excitement were evident in his eyes. "Don't worry."
Not only would someone from the Song family come, but it would be the heir to the family. The young man was the epitome of grace and elegance. Having met him just a couple of times, Zhou Boss could tell that this young man was extraordinary. Compared to him, his own son suddenly seemed much less impressive.
"Zhou, congratulations!" A rotund man walked over with a smile, extending his hand. "A person in a good mood is a happy person. This new medicine you've developed is not only a celebration for you, but also for all the patients. I'm thick-skinned, so I'll give you my congratulations first and enjoy some of the joy."
"Brother Song, you're too kind. We've known each other for many years. No need for such formalities," Zhou Boss said, shaking the man's hand and patting his shoulder. They looked like old friends.
Song Hai had once arrived in the capital with nothing, but now he was well-established, having built a wide network over the years. Zhou Boss didn't want to offend someone like him. His gaze then fell on the woman walking in with Song Hai. While she wasn't a stunning beauty, she had a delicate, pure look that caught his attention. Song Hai had never had a woman by his side, so perhaps he had developed a soft spot?
"This is my daughter, Yan Yan," Song Hai said as he noticed Zhou Boss's gaze, introducing her. "Yan Yan, say hello to Uncle Zhou."
"Hello, Uncle Zhou." Yan Xi's voice was soft and sweet. When she lowered her voice slightly, it was soft and obedient, which easily made people feel favorably toward her.
Zhou Boss was taken aback. He never expected a man like Song Hai to have such a delicate and beautiful daughter. He paused for a second before complimenting Yan Xi. The praise made Song Hai smile broadly, pleased and satisfied.
After listening to Zhou Boss's flattery, Song Hai leisurely led Yan Xi into the crowd. In the highest circles of society, Song Hai didn't know many people, but in the world of regular businesspeople, he was well-connected. As they walked around, Yan Xi was introduced to almost every uncle and aunt.
While chatting, Yan Xi noticed a few young people hurriedly walking outside. Curious, she looked toward the door. The man she had seen earlier, who seemed to be in a good mood, was now walking in with a young man.
The young man was dressed in a silver-gray suit, with fair skin, red lips, and gold-rimmed glasses. He looked both elegant and handsome, and Yan Xi couldn't help but glance at him a few more times. Fortunately, she remembered the occasion and managed to keep her gaze restrained, subtle enough that no one would notice her admiring the stranger's good looks.
Song Chao, with his graceful demeanor and elegant mannerisms, walked into the room like a phoenix among a group of peacocks. His appearance carried an air of reserved yet untouchable elegance. Despite some of the older businessmen wanting to approach him, none dared to do so. It was finally Zhou Boss, the host, who approached him with enthusiasm and started introducing him to the other guests.
No wonder the guests were so eager to please Zhou Boss tonight. They had been waiting for the grand arrival.
Having seen all the complexities of the business world, Yan Xi couldn't help but feel sorry for her father. She thought about how he often had to mingle in such settings, lowering his stance and flattering powerful figures. Her heart ached as she turned her face away and gently hooked her arm through Song Hai's.
At times like this, she just wanted to stay with her dad.
"Mr. Song, this is my long-time friend, Song Hai, a self-made entrepreneur who has even received recognition from the government," Mr. Zhou introduced Song Hai, emphasizing the phrase "self-made."
"Such a coincidence, Mr. Zhou and I share the same surname. Maybe we were even from the same family a thousand years ago," Song Chao extended his hand and shook hands with the self-made entrepreneur in front of him.
"Too kind, too kind. Mr. Song, a young talent, such a thing of us being from the same family might only happen in a dream," Song Hai said, bowing slightly and grasping Song Chao's hand.
"Mr. Song, you're too modest," Song Chao smiled slightly, his eyes remaining unchanged, not a single movement in the corners of his eyes. He withdrew his hand, his peripheral vision catching sight of Song Hai's companion. He took off his glasses, making eye contact with her, his smile softening. "This is Mr. Song's..."
"This is Mr. Song's daughter, a top student from Hai City University," Mr. Zhou, who hadn't planned to introduce Yan Xi, spoke up when Song Chao asked, "Xiao Yan, this is Mr. Song, the young director of the Song family."
"Nice to meet you," Song Chao bowed slightly and shook hands with Yan Xi, his face displaying a gentle smile. "Miss Song, you are truly radiant tonight."
"Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Song. I'm not worthy," Yan Xi glanced at her hand being held, uncertain whether Song Chao's gaze was genuine, but she knew for sure that he was very good at flattering women. She never expected that after more than 20 years of life, she would finally get associated with being radiant.
As for the fact that her surname was Yan, not Song, she didn't feel the need to explain.
"Miss Song, don't sell yourself short," Song Chao released her hand and put his glasses back on. "With your beauty, you must have had many admirers during your time at school."
She had already graduated, so saying that she had admirers while at school was fine, but why not just say that there were many admirers now?
Although she was being complimented, the praise didn't seem to make her particularly happy. "No, no, Mr. Song, you're just joking."
"How could that be? If I were your schoolmate, I would definitely pursue you," Song Chao said, lightly laughing as if his words were just a joke. "Miss Song, please enjoy yourself. Excuse me for a moment."
Yan Xi: ...
Heaven above, mom, your daughter is being flirted with!
Soon, news of Song Chao's ability to win over small and medium-sized business owners spread to the Yuan family. Even the guest list for this gathering, including the names of entrepreneurs and their families, was passed on.
Yuan Yi casually glanced over the list, and when he saw Yan Xi's name, he remembered her mentioning at lunch that she liked elegant and refined men.
Song Chao... seemed quite elegant and refined.
The Song family's internal relationships were complex, and Song Chao, a man who valued profit and was deep in thought, was not someone Yan Xi should be involved with. With her intelligence and status, she might suffer much more than she could anticipate if she became involved with him.
Unable to resist, he took out his phone, but then stopped all movement once the phone was in his hand.
Yan Xi wasn't his daughter. Why should he care about matters like this?