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Chapter 21 Part 1 Banquet Deals and Red Scarves
"Sigh, you youngsters why sleep by the pool instead of using a proper room upstairs? Here, take this blanket. Wrap it around you, or the dew and chill before sunrise will be too much for your girlfriend to handle."
"Thank you, Auntie. It is getting a little cold. Sorry to be in the way of your cleaning. I'll carry her out first she's a bit heavy."
"Ha, your girlfriend sleeps so sweetly! You're very considerate, sir."
I lifted my head. The moon had already drifted toward the west, only a scattering of faint stars overhead.
In the east, pale pre‑dawn light was already showing.
"Brother Chen, you haven't looked well all night. Come, have a cigarette!"
I wasn't a smoker, but I didn't refuse. I took one from Wang Linsheng, who even lit it for me.
Most of the banquet dishes had been served; after too much tea and juice, I'd just come back from the restroom and found Linsheng smoking on the terrace.
"Linsheng no, Wang gongzi, don't call me Brother Chen. Just call me Yayi."
My first cigarette burned my throat, but I forced down the cough. Wang Linsheng didn't notice, only gave a bitter little smile. "Don't call me 'young master.' I hate that. Just call me Linsheng."
Wang Linsheng was the son of the local tycoon Wang Zheyü. Zhang Yunyun had mentioned him. He was Zhang Yong's big boss, the CEO of ChuanSong Group. Still, he stayed humble and polite nothing like a spoiled rich second generation. Clearly, he'd been raised strictly.
In truth, he also seemed a little afraid of his father.
Guests were still going in and out of the bathrooms; whenever the curtain lifted, you could see waiters clearing cold dishes and half‑finished plates. The eating‑and‑drinking phase was ending. Elders and children had begun to leave; the rest stayed for the next segment.
"Yayi, I'm thinking of starting my own company too, and the direction isn't far from yours. I really think we can work together."
I didn't answer immediately. From this angle, I could see Lin Jiabi at the head table, sitting with Wang Zheyü and toasting guests.
She wore a bright red scarf draped loosely over her.
"Or you can go through Miss Lin's connection. When I saw how close you two were, I was surprised at first, but then I decided you're my friend now, no matter what."
Warmth stirred in my chest. Coming from someone in his position…
I stubbed out my cigarette and said seriously, "Thank you, Linsheng. I'm honored you see me as a friend. Let's set Miss Lin aside for now if you call, I'm in."
"Great. Should be sometime this week."
"All right. Better not keep your girlfriend waiting; she'll get bored alone."
"Haha, she loves chatting with strangers. What about you?"
"I'll finish this smoke and head back. Ate too much need to walk it off."
If he was starting a company, the money clearly came from his father. Strict, but generous enough to let his son "play." And with my temp ID, I couldn't open anything in my own name anyway I'd need others' help.
In a way, I'd always been lucky.
"Miss Lin, Sister Yunyun wants you to wear a scarf."
At the start of the banquet, I'd gone over to toast the Miss just as Xiaobai handed her that red scarf for modesty.
Whether out of etiquette or personal feeling, I had to say hello no matter what had happened before.
I took a deep breath to steady myself.
Overthinking wouldn't help. You face each day as it comes.
Let the anger and regret stay hidden. Showing them only hurts me.
Zhang Yong had arranged for Wang Zheyü and Lin Jiabi to sit at the second head table.
Wang Linsheng and Liu Yuejun came over to sit too; Wang Zheyü glanced at his son, displeased, but this was a banquet he said nothing.
Zhang Yong seated Linsheng and his girlfriend at that table, filling the four reserved seats.
Arm in arm, the newlyweds Wang Rui and Zhang Yunyun came back in. The whole room applauded.
Two rows of waitresses in black silk skirts and uniforms filed in, carrying dishes in perfect order. The banquet officially began.
Around me, others chatted freely. I didn't know them, so I stayed quiet. Oddly, many of them didn't even recognize Wang Zheyü. Wasn't he as famous as Lin Xiong?
"Miss Lin, I finally found you. I've been looking for you for two days. Glad you came." I lifted my glass and walked to her table.
"Yayi! Sorry to make you search two days. After you left, Dad took me to accompany Uncle Wang. I had no choice; I offered myself up, remember? Haha. But I just had to attend Sister Yunyun's wedding, so I asked Uncle Wang to bring me."
She looked happy to see me and stood to clink glasses, setting her scarf aside. Everyone could see we had an unusual relationship.
But "unusual" meant little here.
She mentioned "Uncle Wang"; nearby, Wang Zheyü looked up and our eyes met.
He was elegant, in gold‑rimmed glasses, hair neatly combed. Less like a tycoon, more like a scholar or professor.
He smiled and rose to toast me, while the Miss smoothly introduced me with just the right amount of detail, including my link to the bride.
"Mr. Wang, it's an honor. I'm Miss Lin's friend, Chen Yayi, also a friend of the bride. Today feels truly fated allow me to toast you." My mouth ran on autopilot. Inside, it felt surreal: the man in front of me had deflowered Miss Lin and was now openly bringing her here to show her off, yet her own status was anything but simple the city's other business titan's eldest daughter, former master of the bride, who had once been served by this same bride.
Strange, yet perfectly logical in this world.
"Haha, seems I've stolen Chen's beauty lately. The niece's friend has become my friend as well. If she values you, you must be something. Perhaps we'll meet at the company sometime," he said smoothly, a seasoned businessman casting his line.
I hesitated, half wanting to say, "I'm just a front desk clerk at Gen Root Mountain Resort."
"Yayi's been working at my dad's company, but now he wants to start something of his own. Later, it'll be up to you to help him, Uncle Wang!" the Miss jumped in to save me.
Naturally, "starting a company" carried more weight from her lips.
"She's right. Mr. Wang and Mr. Lin are my idols. I look up to both of you there's so much to learn. I'll be relying on your guidance," I added, even impressing myself.
"Haha, good. Young people these days have guts. When I was your age, all I cared about was screwing my female coworkers!" He finally clinked my glass; we drank and traded a few more polite lines.
Soon after, I quietly asked, "Miss, did you really come alone? Won't Yunyun be disappointed?"
She shook her head. "Dad just sent a gift that's why they started serving. As for Jiahua, you know her temper. She won't come to things like this. Lanrui and Xiaoding even less. Yunyun can bring Rui over later like visiting us as her own family again."
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