A couple in matching outfits walked towards them.
The man in a suit was Cheng Yanzhe, Hao Manqing's son. The woman beside him was the daughter-in-law Hao Manqing had praised so highly.
Upon seeing the woman's face, Lin Xingwan couldn't help but freeze. She was Ye Qingning, the owner of Cangxiang Pavilion!
She hadn't expected this woman to be Cheng Yanzhe's girlfriend. They made quite a good match.
"Mom."
"Auntie."
Cheng Yanzhe and Ye Qingning walked up to Hao Manqing, whose face was beaming with pride.
"We were just talking about you two, and here you are. Qingning, this is the Lin family matriarch I often mentioned to you. This is Lin Xingwan, and this is Lin Shirou."
Hao Manqing affectionately linked arms with Ye Qingning, looking at her poised daughter-in-law with immense pride.
"Hello, Madam Lin," Hao Manqing said with a slight bow, then turned to Lin Xingwan. "Miss Lin, I didn't expect us to meet again."
"Hello, Miss Ye," Lin Xingwan replied, looking at Ye Qingning's smiling face. She hadn't realized this woman was Cheng Yanzhe's fiancée, a talented violinist and an internationally renowned dancer. Both were artists with strong artistic sensibilities, which explained why they were together.
Ye Qingning observed Lin Xingwan's expression closely. It was calm and harmless, unchanging from beginning to end.
"When I saw you last time, I felt an instant connection. I didn't expect you to be the friend Cheng Yanzhe mentioned from decades ago. It seems we are truly destined," Ye Qingning said. She then released Hao Manqing's arm, walked over to Lin Xingwan, and spoke intimately as if they had known each other for a long time. "I'm very interested in Cheng Yanzhe's childhood. Miss Lin, would you mind telling me some of his amusing past stories?"
Lin Xingwan was a slow person to warm up. She felt awkward pushing away the enthusiastic Ye Qingning and could only say, "I think it would be more meaningful if Cheng Yanzhe told you these stories himself. If I say something wrong, Cheng Yanzhe is quite the grudge-holder."
Some memories were too distant, and Lin Xingwan had forgotten much of it.
Those years filled with the flutter of a young girl's heart were long gone.
She harbored no feelings for Cheng Yanzhe, as the man she loved most stood by her side.
"Lin Xingwan, are you holding a grudge, or am I? How many years has it been since we last met, and you start by slandering me? What are your intentions?" Cheng Yanzhe said with a smile, forcing a nonchalant demeanor despite the bitterness in his heart.
"I apologize. My wording was inappropriate," Lin Xingwan replied, not wanting to continue the conversation with Cheng Yanzhe, as Hao Manqing would surely think she still harbored feelings for her son.
Lin Xingwan's indifferent attitude was like ice water, dousing the excitement Cheng Yanzhe felt upon seeing her again.
He couldn't understand why Lin Xingwan was so cold to him, just like when they were choosing universities for the college entrance exams. They had agreed to attend the same university, but in the end, Lin Xingwan went to a different one.
When Cheng Yanzhe learned the results, he confronted her.
She had simply told him with a cold expression that she had found another university more suitable for her.
Because it was suitable, she could deceive him?
What did he mean to her?
He was furious and, in a fit of anger, went abroad to study.
He even had his brother give Lin Xingwan his flight information.
In reality, he didn't want to study abroad at all. He just wanted her to try and stop him.
He was the last one to board the plane. As the flight attendant urged him repeatedly, Cheng Yanzhe glanced at the empty space ahead and left in despair.
He didn't know what he had done wrong. The girl he had protected for so many years was becoming increasingly distant.
If only she had cared a little more about him, would their outcome have been different?
Later, he convinced himself and found peace. Compared to losing her, what did being deceived by her matter?
But then he heard that Lin Xingwan was with Gu Shaoting. He didn't believe it and secretly returned to the country, only to see the girl he had longed for, walking hand-in-hand with Gu Shaoting, a gentle smile on her face that he had never seen before.
Cheng Yanzhe was disheartened and left. On the other side of the ocean, he grieved, felt lost, and despaired alone. Eventually, he accepted his family's arrangement and got together with Ye Qingning.
Later, he learned that Lin Xingwan had broken up with Gu Shaoting and was now with Zhou Jinbai.
She could have countless men by her side, but he could never be one of them.
Helplessness and sadness washed over him.
Even though they were only a meter apart now, Cheng Yanzhe felt an immense distance between them.
"Xingwan, what do you think of Qingning?" Hao Manqing's eyes, a mixture of a smile and a sneer, fell on Lin Xingwan. To others, this might have sounded like a casual inquiry.
But Lin Xingwan knew Hao Manqing's true intention was to convey that only a woman like Ye Qingning was worthy of her precious son.
No matter how much Lin Xingwan disliked Hao Manqing, Ye Qingning was innocent.
She replied with a smile, "Miss Ye is beautiful and kind-hearted. Her achievements in ballet are so high. She and Cheng Yanzhe are a perfect match, like a golden couple. I wish Cheng Yanzhe and Miss Ye a lifelong happiness and a harmonious union."
Hao Manqing's mood became even more triumphant. "Naturally. When Yanzhe and Qingning get married, I will definitely find a hotel better than the Vienna to host their wedding and have an even grander celebration."
Throughout the wedding banquet, there were only praises for Cheng Yanzhe and Ye Qingning.
They were not the bride and groom, yet they stole all the limelight.
Gu Shaoting and Lin Shirou hated the ostentatious Hao Manqing, but the Lin family was in such dire straits that they could only fret.
Just then, a commotion erupted at the entrance.
"Are we seeing things? Is that man actor Jiang Wenyuan? It looks like him."
"And Yan Yuxi."
"Master Qin."
"Boss Yang... Chen Yuchu, secretary of the Oriental Consortium... Xie Guanglin..."
Each of these individuals was a powerhouse on their own. To have them arrive at the same time caused a sensation.
Even Hao Manqing's triumphant expression froze upon seeing this group.
Although the Cheng family had developed rapidly over the past decade, they were merely a second-tier wealthy family.
Magnates like Master Qin and Boss Yang were people the Cheng family desperately tried to curry favor with.
The Cheng family had invited them countless times, only to be ignored.
Yet, now they had arrived as a group!
Chen Yuchu was even more so. As the sole daughter of the first-tier wealthy Chen family and the personal secretary to the CEO of the Oriental Consortium, she might even be the future mistress of the Oriental Consortium. Such a woman never attended banquets lightly, as she represented the Chen family and the Oriental Consortium.
Hao Manqing had always thought she was attending the Lin family's wedding banquet to mock them.
A second-tier wealthy family like hers was the only one giving the Lin family face by attending their wedding to boost their prestige.
But now, Master Qin was here, Boss Yang was here, Chen Yuchu was here...
"Miss Lin, it's your family's joyous occasion. We came uninvited, but I hope you don't mind?" Chen Yuchu, surrounded by a throng of people, walked up to Lin Xingwan. Her aura was so dazzling that Ye Qingning, who had been radiant in the crowd, instantly paled in comparison.
Before Chen Yuchu's arrival, Ye Qingning was a celestial maiden; after Chen Yuchu's appearance, she could only stand aside.
Conversely, Lin Xingwan and Zhou Jinbai, who had been relatively quiet, seemed to grow stronger in the face of such pressure. Standing before Chen Yuchu, they appeared to be on equal footing.
It was as if the three of them belonged to the same circle, and the hierarchy was immediately established.
"Guests are always welcome. How could I possibly mind?" Lin Xingwan quickly replied, feeling a bit awkward.
However, the fact that these people had come together made her extremely happy.
"Miss Lin, congratulations, congratulations. This is a five-million-yuan red envelope from me, Qin. I wish your sister and brother-in-law a happy wedding," Master Qin said, instructing someone to place a five-million-yuan check framed in a photo frame on the gift table. He added, "From now on, as long as Miss Lin is here, I will protect the Lin family. To be an enemy of Miss Lin is to be an enemy of mine."
Master Qin's words stunned the entire audience.
Master Qin was the local power broker of Rongcheng, influential in both legal and illegal circles. Ordinary people would tremble at the mere mention of his name, let alone dare to oppose him.
"Old Qin, you've taken the words right out of my mouth. After all these years, you're getting naughtier," Boss Yang complained with a smile. "Miss Lin, I've also sent a five-million-yuan red envelope for your sister and brother-in-law. My sentiments are the same as Old Qin's. As long as you are with the Lin family, we will protect them."
Boss Yang, known as the 'Smiling Tiger' in Rongcheng, was influential in political and business circles, and many dignitaries had to show him respect.
With their declarations, the Lin family was about to rise from a bankrupt minor family to prosperity.
"I don't have much to give. After all, the money I earn is all with my boss. However, today is my boss's sister's wedding, and her brother-in-law is the CEO of Gu's Group. So, I'll offer Gu's Group a free opportunity to film a movie. Boss, is it okay if I do this?" Jiang Wenyuan's constant mention of "boss" left everyone present utterly astonished.
What?
Jiang Wenyuan signed with Top Peak Entertainment?
Such a small establishment housing a dragon?
Oh! That's not right!
There was also a phoenix!
Because Yan Yuxi also spoke up, "Since Jiang Wenyuan is offering Gu's Group a free filming opportunity, I'll offer two. I don't have much to give, but I want to switch to Top Peak Entertainment and please my future boss in advance."
Xie Guanglin, though looking haggard, still spoke, "I'll give a ten-million-yuan red envelope."
The guests present felt like they were going to faint. Was this real?
The most luxurious wedding banquet in history, a super-luxury lineup, and an unbelievable scene.
The Lin family, how did they deserve this?
Hao Manqing was so angry she almost fainted. Seeing the Lin family prospering was worse than her own family going bankrupt.
These people were giving gifts to the Lin family because of Lin Xingwan, this "toad"? Why?
Chen Yuchu and Zhou Jinbai exchanged a quick glance. Zhou Jinbai nodded slightly, and Chen Yuchu smiled, saying, "This is a pair of Ruyi scepters from the Chen family, wishing Miss Lin's sister and brother-in-law a happy union."
As Chen Yuchu spoke, her subordinate beside her held up a pair of Ruyi scepters and placed them aside.
The Ruyi scepters were lustrous and pure white, truly exquisite. Some guests gasped, "The Chen family is indeed one of the top three wealthy families in Rongcheng. Their generosity is astounding. This pair of Ruyi scepters must be worth tens of millions!"
But Chen Yuchu's surprises didn't end there.
"This is a contract from the Oriental Consortium. As long as Miss Lin becomes the CEO of Lin's Group, the Oriental Consortium will entrust all its代理 (agency) in Rongcheng's construction industry to Lin's Group in the future."
Chen Yuchu spoke slowly and steadily, and the crowd erupted in an uproar.
The Oriental Consortium choosing the Lin family as their agency in Rongcheng's construction industry was tantamount to announcing that the Lin family would undoubtedly be one of the top three wealthy families in Rongcheng in the future.
Lin Xingwan was also shocked by Chen Yuchu's words. The Oriental Consortium had not notified her of this matter beforehand.
The sudden happiness made Lin Xingwan's head spin. Zhong Jingjing was overjoyed and tearfully exclaimed, "Thank you, Oriental Consortium, thank you, Mr. Dongfang Junze. Our Lin family will dedicate ourselves to the utmost!"
Her demeanor suggested she was about to kneel and express her gratitude.
Ye Qingning, who had been holding Lin Xingwan's arm, felt all her sense of superiority crushed.
She had always believed that Lin Xingwan was Cheng Yanzhe's "white moonlight" simply because they had grown up together for over a decade. If one disregarded those years, Lin Xingwan was merely the owner of a small entertainment company, how could she compare to Ye Qingning, the pampered daughter of the Ye family and a national-class dancer?
But now, all the light was focused on Lin Xingwan, with others serving as mere supporting characters.
Ye Qingning had lived for so many years, always being the object of others' envy. Now, for the first time, she experienced the destructive power of a "white moonlight."
A is always A, but B can be anyone.
Ye Qingning's hands, hanging by her sides, tightened their grip on the hem of her dress.
Before the Lin family could grow into a towering tree, she could uproot it.
A cold smile flickered across Ye Qingning's lips, her face full of determination.
Lin Xingwan was surrounded by more and more guests. Although all the benefits seemed to be directed at the Lin family tonight, in reality, all these people were doing it for Lin Xingwan's sake.
Lin Xingwan was the one they needed to curry favor with. A female tycoon was about to emerge in Rongcheng.
During their conversations, several bosses even expressed their intention to cooperate with Top Peak Entertainment. Normally, an entertainment company with sufficient funds would produce its own television dramas and films, but these people were becoming sponsors of Top Peak Entertainment in advance.
Hao Manqing's eyes turned red, and she almost gnashed her teeth.
She even ignored Ye Qingning and her own son standing beside her, angrily walking outside.
"Auntie—" Ye Qingning tried to follow Hao Manqing but was stopped by Cheng Yanzhe grabbing her arm.
"Let her calm down," Cheng Yanzhe said, watching Hao Manqing's retreating back. Hao Manqing had been slandering the Lin family for years, and it was difficult for her to accept their sudden rise to prominence at the wedding banquet.
Ye Qingning said with a cold sarcasm, "What, seeing the woman you love here, you're abandoning your own mother? But she'd rather choose a freeloader than you. Aren't you angry, Cheng Yanzhe?"
"Utterly unreasonable," Cheng Yanzhe said, looking at the sarcastic Ye Qingning before turning and walking away.
Meanwhile, Hao Manqing, who had left, had just stepped out of the Vienna Hotel when a black car stopped in front of her. Two burly men quickly put a sack over her head and threw her into the car.
The wedding banquet continued, but the car carrying Hao Manqing had already disappeared.
It wasn't until past eleven o'clock at night that Lin Xingwan finished her conversation with the last client.
Zhou Jinbai handed her a glass of water, which Lin Xingwan gulped down.
"It's the first time I've seen someone get so exhausted at someone else's wedding," Zhou Jinbai said with a hint of helplessness.
"In these few short hours, I've signed five major deals. I've never been this impressive, even at Gu's Group! If every day were like this, I'd be willing to die from exhaustion," Lin Xingwan exclaimed, her pretty face flushed with excitement, her eyes bright and radiant.
Just as Lin Xingwan and Zhou Jinbai were about to leave, an elderly man with white hair, leaning on someone for support, trembled as he approached them.
"Classmate Lin, do you remember me?"
Lin Xingwan nodded repeatedly. "Principal, how could I possibly forget you?"
The elder before them was Lin Xingwan's university principal, a highly respected elder. For years, he had been helping impoverished students, even establishing a charity in his name to support them.
He was a man of noble character, humorous, yet cunning like an old fox; one could easily be tricked by him.
Lin Xingwan had been tricked by him several times. For instance, after their student team won an English competition representing the school, the old principal tricked them into working as free translators. He claimed to treat them to a meal, but they ended up negotiating with other bosses...
During her four years of university, the path she had walked the most was the principal's schemes.
The elder smiled and said, "I'm so proud that my student has achieved such success. As your principal, I am truly proud. This is my congratulatory gift to you."
Lin Xingwan's intuition told her that she absolutely could not accept the gift from this old rascal.
Lin Xingwan forced a stiff smile. "Principal, I'm no longer the naive university student I was. I graduated years ago. Can I refuse your gift?"
The elder's smile remained unchanged. "Classmate Lin, why don't you open it and take a look at this congratulatory gift first?"