Chapter 4: The Banquet

Yan Xi noticed countless gossiping spectators in the comments section sympathizing with the former campus heartthrob and Song Yan, feeling grateful that she had already changed her name. Although she wanted to build a career and gain recognition, she had no intention of becoming famous due to this kind of online drama.

She closed the video and tried to remember who the campus heartthrob was back then. She thought for a long time but couldn't recall a single detail. All she remembered was that he was supposedly talented and had published poetry in the school magazine, with girls occasionally discussing him during their breaks. However, beyond that, everyone's main focus was on their studies—no campus heartthrob could be as alluring as getting into college.

The next morning, Yang Min, who worked at a digital media company, called her, and it was about that trending video.

"Dahe, could it be that the 'Song Yan' those two were talking about is actually you?" Yang Min laughed heartily on the other end. "Last time, I was wrong; you shouldn't be the tragic female lead. You should play the Mary Sue lead—just a bit off in looks."

"Shut it," Yan Xi replied, putting the call on speaker while typing away at her keyboard. "I'm busy."

"Busy with what, grinding dungeons?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, rich second generation," Yang Min's voice was thick with envy. "You sit at home all day; it must be boring. Why not do something meaningful?" She knew very well that with Yan Xi's abilities and looks, finding a job she liked shouldn't be too difficult.

After sending her opponent in the game to respawn, Yan Xi logged out. "I'm already considering it, but recently, I have a collaboration with a publishing house to finish, so I can't rush anything work-related just yet."

Yang Min knew about Yan Xi's online manga series with cute snippets: "Your comics have a decent following now. You could also try expanding in that direction."

"As a hobby, sure, but making it a career feels a bit shaky. I'll focus on getting this project done first. Worst-case scenario, I can always rely on my family." Yan Xi knew that while her mother had some fame in the art world, she herself hadn't inherited her mother's talent or artistic spirit. Although her mother had tried to foster her artistic inclinations, it was clear that she wasn't cut out for it, so they gave up.

"I thought you'd say something like, 'I want freedom; I don't want to be bound by the family business,'" Yang Min teased, used to Yan Xi's shameless humor. "Alright then, call me if you need anything. My boss is coming to check on us, so I'll hang up for now."

After hanging up, Yan Xi stared at her now-black phone screen, contemplating. Her two good friends frequently called, likely out of concern that she was bored and lonely. To the average person, Yan Xi had always been with her mother, only returning to her father after her mother's passing. Her father was the company boss, so they assumed he was distant and indifferent to a daughter he'd barely seen over the years.

Yan Xi was well aware of her friends' concern and goodwill, but she knew that even if she assured them her father was good to her, they wouldn't necessarily believe it. They'd probably think she was just putting on a brave face.

Misunderstandings like this were hard to clear up.

"Yanyan, come down for dinner." Song Hai called from downstairs, "I've made your favorite old duck soup."

"Coming." Yan Xi slipped on her slippers, went downstairs in her pajamas, her hair unkempt.

Near the end of the meal, Song Hai studied his daughter's expression and asked, "Yanyan, do you have any plans for the day after tomorrow?"

"The day after tomorrow?" Yan Xi shook her head. "No plans. Why, Dad, is something going on?"

"Well, it's like this. A prominent figure's wife in the business world is having a birthday celebration in two days. Over the years, I've gradually made a name for myself in the circle, so I managed to get an invitation to the birthday banquet. If you're free, you could come with me and meet some peers."

Yan Xi was initially surprised but then nodded, "Alright."

Song Hai had long wanted to show off his daughter to his colleagues, and when Yan Xi agreed, he beamed like a sunflower. "No need to be nervous when the time comes. Eat what you want, drink what you want. If anything happens, just find Dad."

Wasn't this kind of event supposed to come with a reminder to watch one's behavior?

Yan Xi glanced speechlessly at her father. No wonder her mother insisted on keeping her by her side; she probably feared her father would spoil her into a brat.

The next day, Song Hai's assistant delivered several luxurious dresses for the event, but they were either a garish red or purple. While glamorous, they weren't suitable for her age. Already resigned to her father's unsophisticated taste, Yan Xi ended up selecting a short modified evening gown herself. She even chose a suit and accessories for Song Hai.

Seeing that his daughter wasn't fond of the dresses he had picked, Song Hai was a bit disappointed. But seeing her take the effort to select an outfit for him cheered him up.

To avoid embarrassment, the father-daughter duo took the most luxurious and expensive car in the family, standing tall as they headed to the hotel.

"Dad, are you close with the chairman of Changfeng Group?"

"Not really," Song Hai replied honestly. "Our company has only collaborated with one of his subsidiaries. I've made a few connections with their higher-ups, which is how I got this invitation."

Yan Xi paused for a moment. "So, is this us trying to cozy up to him?"

"What are you talking about?" Song Hai chuckled, his round, chubby face resembling a pumpkin. "How could we possibly cozy up to the Changfeng chairman? We're just here to enjoy the event."

"True." Yan Xi nodded in agreement. Though their family appeared wealthy, in a place like the capital, they didn't really stand out. Just attending Mrs. Yuan's birthday party was something they could brag about for months.

Upon arriving at the venue, Yan Xi walked in arm-in-arm with Song Hai. The place was bustling, with many guests already present, mingling around like a dazzling spectacle of fame and fortune. Yan Xi clutched her handbag and glanced at Song Hai, but didn't say anything.

Song Hai patted her hand and walked a few steps before an acquaintance came over to greet them.

"Old Song, is this lovely young lady your daughter?" The man was impeccably dressed, his smile warm, looking at Yan Xi with the kindly gaze of an elder.

Most people in the business world had high emotional intelligence. Even if he suspected Yan Xi's identity, he wouldn't say anything that might be displeasing.

"This is my underachieving daughter, who just graduated from grad school," Song Hai said proudly, turning to Yan Xi. "Yanyan, this is Uncle Yao from Ruinong Company."

"Hello, Uncle Yao." Yan Xi recalled who he was. "The stationery your company produces is very good. My classmates and I often buy your products."

"Ah, so I'm meeting one of our customers!" Mr. Yao laughed and shook her hand. "How delightful."

He hadn't expected the plump Song Hai to have such a delicate daughter. When he shook her hand, he barely applied any pressure, afraid he might accidentally hurt her.

Seeing Song Hai's proud face, Mr. Yao thought to himself, "No wonder Song Hai never remarried after all these years. His ex-wife must have been beautiful with strong genes to have such a lovely daughter."

Song Hai didn't care about others' thoughts and went around introducing Yan Xi to his colleagues and friends, subtly boasting about his daughter's intelligence, academic ability, and beauty.

Although Yan Xi was ordinarily a seven in terms of looks, makeup and her father's flattery had elevated her appearance to a nine. While she wasn't the center of attention at the banquet, she was still striking enough to catch the eye. Sweet-talking and obedient, Yan Xi quickly earned compliments, even some good-natured exaggeration about her resemblance to her father.

"Your daughter has a lot of your charm, Mr. Song," one remarked.

There was really no resemblance to speak of, so all she could do was praise their "harmonious vibe."

Yan Xi smiled sweetly, but inside, she thought, No wonder these people are masters of the social scene; even their flattery sounds genuine.

While Song Hai might pour his heart out in front of his daughter, he showed a shrewd side to others. He could strike up a conversation with anyone, familiar or not, and even if he couldn't secure a partnership, at the very least, they'd remember his face.

Yan Xi's role was simple: not to drag her father down. She called women in their forties "sister" and those in their sixties "auntie," and whenever they corrected her, she'd put on a face of disbelief, as if to say, I can't believe it; you look so young. She diligently worked to gain favor among her fellow women.

Her face must have been deceivingly sweet, as even before the banquet officially began, she had already struck up conversations with several successful women.

Not long after, a middle-aged couple entered, catching everyone's attention. The man looked about forty-something, and his hand was linked with the woman beside him, exuding a clear sense of closeness.

The woman had an oval face, fair skin, and a smile that radiated warmth. Her beauty was enough to make one overlook her age.

Yan Xi couldn't help but take a few extra glances at this woman, hiding the admiration in her eyes.

This woman was likely Mrs. Yuan, the guest of honor at today's banquet.

Her guess was right—this couple was indeed the chairman of Changfeng Group and his wife. The two were showing their affection unabashedly, showering the room with displays of warmth. As Yan Xi sat by the dining table watching the couple, she couldn't help but smile a little.

After the couple had shown enough affection, their two sons took the stage.

The children of beautiful parents usually aren't lacking in looks, and the two sons of the Yuan family had it all—slim waists, broad shoulders, and long legs. The tailored suits they wore only enhanced their charm.

The elder Yuan son had a dignified appearance and seemed very serious—a man of principle and discipline.

The younger Yuan son was even more attractive than the elder, but the slight lift at the corners of his eyes, the straight nose, and slightly thin lips gave him a vibe of a "bad boy," someone who didn't seem easy to get along with and didn't quite understand what it meant to be considerate.

Yan Xi leaned over, covering her mouth as she whispered to Song Hai, "Dad, is the Yuan family heir the elder or younger son?"

Song Hai shook his head and whispered back, "How would your dad know this kind of high-society secret?" In a family as prestigious as the Yuan's, the public might hear a bit of gossip, but they'd never allow private family affairs to become everyone's idle chatter.

Yan Xi: ...

That made a lot of sense.