Chapter 31
Translator: Aafkee
Proofreader: Superclubs2
In a four-storey high villa where the dining room is lighted up by a suspended crystal chandelier, the guests’ waves of laughter, accompanied by the sound of high heels against the floor, can be heard here and there. There are a few high-quality black MPV* cars parked right outside the courtyard entrance, most of them are here to send their customers to the event venue.
(T/N*: Multi-purpose vehicle.)
At the end of the line, there is a silver-white coupe parked under the streetlamp. With the light shining on it, there is a long shadow cast on the ground from the back of the car.
A young man dressed in a suit is sitting at the front passenger seat, a lit cigarette between his long and lean fingers. The man has an outstanding appearance, he is remarkably beautiful. He drops his gaze slightly, his lack of interest evident in his eyes.
And at the balcony of the master bedroom of the villa, a man of about 60 or so years old is alone as well. He is sitting on a single-seater sofa. His back is crooked forward and in front of him is an ashtray filled with cigarette butts. He stares at the evening sky blankly. When he raises his hand, which is holding a cigarette, his fingers are unexpectedly trembling slightly.
At that moment, someone knocks on the bedroom door. Xia Hao pushes open the door and walks in as he looks towards the man at the balcony and shouts, “Dad, mum has called you many times now.”
Xia Yuanbo takes the last puff of his cigarette, puts it out and stands. He has been working hard trying to make a living for too long, his age extremely evident on his face. He is already over 60 years old, he is no longer young. Even his hair, which he has intentionally dyed black, can not conceal his seemingly old face and his exhausted expression.
Xia Yuanbo pauses beside his son, the gaze from him on his son is deep.
Xia Yuanbo arrives at the living hall. In front of the guests who are visiting here, he sweeps away the signs of haggardness and anxiety that were present when he was alone, equipping himself with a radiant expression before he steps out to shake hands with the crowd warm-heartedly as he accepts their praises and congratulatory words. He would even let out a hearty laugh once in a while.
It is Xia Hao’s birthday banquet tonight. Seeing that it is about time, Xia Yuanbo leads the crowd to take a car to the event venue. Madam Xia on the side is dressed elegantly and she is currently chatting cheerfully with other madams.
Naturally, Xia Yuanbo’s eldest married daughter, Xia Xuanrou, has returned to her parental home with her husband. She is leaning on the side of her car, her hand holding her daughter who is wearing a princess dress as her gaze penetrates the passing crowd and lands on her father and little brother.
Xia Hao plans to drive his own car to the event venue. Seeing that his family has gotten onto the MPV, he turns around and goes straight to the silver-white coupe at the end of the line.
The man seated in the passenger seat is expressionless. He does not even lift his head to look at him. Xia Hao closes the door behind him and glances at the other party, his gaze moving towards his neck. The man is wearing a thin pale golden collar on his neck, an extremely common design.
Xia Hao creases his eyebrows as he reaches out his fingers to hook the man’s collar, flinging it unhappily, “Why are you wearing this? It’s so ugly, what happened to the one I bought you?”
The latter hit his hand away impatiently, “I wear what I want.”
Xia Hao stares at him, his brow lifted in contempt as he laughs coldly, “What, are you feeling sad and broken-hearted because you thought of him?”
The man flicked his cigarette as he said without any expression, “You should care about your own fiance before caring about me.”
Xia Hao sneers, unbothered, as he starts the car. His smile, which is full of malice and offensiveness, is reflected clearly in the rearview mirror, “Let me give you a word of advice. You should understand how much worth you are and stop facing me with an expression as if I owe you something. Your mind is always on Xiao Zhan, isn’t it? It’s fine, I couldn’t care less anyway. Although, it’s a pity that he’ll never look you directly in the eyes ever again, Su Weiyu.”
Lu Chuiqing is sitting in the back row of the car, tidying his own tie. Xiao Zhan did not drive today, it was his driver, Uncle Wang, who drove them here.
Lu Chuiqing’s suit for tonight’s banquet was prepared by Xiao Zhan. It is a grey checked suit paired with a brick red coloured necktie. Perhaps due to his nervousness, Lu Chuiqing somehow feels that his necktie is always too tight.
He turns his head to look at Xiao Zhan who is sitting beside him. He is wearing a greyish blue double-breasted suit with a light blue rose-patterned necktie, emphasising his wide shoulders and narrow waist very nicely. Xiao Zhan’s hair is also styled for the event while his pair of eyes remain as sharp as before.
Lu Chuiqing travelled from Xiao Zhan’s house, he even helped Xiao Zhan tie his necktie so logically, he should be used to it by now. However, he still can not help but sigh in admiration internally whenever his eyes land on Xiao Zhan.
Xiao Zhan takes out his invitation letter for the banquet from his back and gets out of the car. Lu Chuiqing follows Xiao Zhan as they stride up the steps towards the venue. All the guests around them are dressed splendidly and when he glances over at the car park, he can only see luxurious cars which he has only seen on television before.
Lu Chuiqing purses his lips and looks down at himself. Xiao Zhan did not tell me the price of the clothes that are on him right now. It is probably at a price point that will make him feel flabbergasted. Although there is no way he can compare himself with the bunch of rich people at the event, he will, at least, not embarrass himself.
The staff responsible for welcoming the guests puts away the gift Xiao Zhan has prepared at the area designated for the gifts from any coming guests. They are very considerate and even let Xiao Zhan sign his name on the gift card to specify which is his gift. They then lead them to their seats at the long table in the event hall. Many delicate pastries and filled champagne glasses are already set up on the table. A pretty programme list and Bo Da Corporation’s introduction booklet and lucky draw number are placed on the right-hand corner of the table.
After being seated, Lu Chuiqing lifts his head and looks around the venue’s decoration as he sighs in admiration. He picks up the wine glass and takes a sip. Finding it delicious, he takes a few more sips.
Xiao Zhan is browsing absent-mindedly through the introduction booklet when Lu Chuiqing leans over and asks in a low voice, “Xiao Zhan, what present did you prepare?”
The present was prepared before Lu Chuiqing arrived at Xiao Zhan’s house. It was a rectangular gift box. Lu Chuiqing does not have much experience in this aspect of society so he could not guess what it was.
Xiao Zhan, “Cigar.”
It sounds like something that only rich people are interested in. Lu Chuiqing nods in response.
Not long later, the table is almost filled with guests who arrive by twos and threes. Lu Chuiqing realises that the guests at this table seem to be younger. Everyone seated around this table is basically around the same age as Xiao Zhan and most of them are friends from Xia Hao’s social circle.
At that moment, a series of lively footsteps can be heard from outside the hall’s entrance. The lead of this dinner banquet, the Xia family, has only just arrived. Xia Hao is wearing an eye-catching brick red coloured suit, his face displaying with a radiating smile as he stands among his family members.
Lu Chuiqing looks over with curiosity. Xia Hao has a very standard appearance. At the very least, he looks to be full of vigour. Xia Yuanbo and his wife are standing beside their son, conversing with the other guests with a smile on their faces. Xia Yuanbo seems to appear older than the photos on the internet.
It is already mid-September now, there are only two months left before Bo Da Corporation encounters a tremendous change. No one can tell if Xia Yuanbo, the core pillar of the corporation, knows about it in advance.
Lu Chuiqing takes spoon after spoon of his pudding as he watches the rich family. He notices a thirty-five, six years old woman wearing a slim-fitting cheongsam, standing amongst them. She is most likely Xia Yuanbo’s eldest daughter, Xia Xuanrou.
From Lu Chuiqing’s research on Bo Da Materials and its related information previously, he got to know that Xia Xuanrou has graduated with an MBA from a famous overseas university and that she is a very talented and knowledgeable person. However, Xia Yuanbo seems to be more biased towards his alpha son, Xia Hao, which resulted in Xia Xuanrou not receiving much recognition from their father. In the end, she merely becomes a full-time housewife to her husband who is a bank president.
Xia Yuanbo first goes on stage to greet the guests, asking the guests to rest a bit as the banquet will be officially starting soon after. Madam Xia and Xia Xuanrou take their seat first, while Xia Yuanbo brings Xia Hao to the tearoom on the second floor, confirming the general itinerary of the banquet with him.
Xia Hao sits on the sofa, feeling pleased. Seeing the staff sending a pile of presents up here, he asks, “Is there Xiao Zhan’s?”
The staff responds and passes him the gift box gifted by Xiao Zhan. Xia Hao opens the lid leisurely and glances at the ten neatly organised cigars in the box before he scoffs coldly.
A standard present, and it is not even an expensive brand.
Xia Hao tosses the box onto the coffee table, causing a loud bang as the cigars bounces slightly in the box. Xia Yuanbo turns back, his brows creasing at his son as he asks, “Who gave you that?”
“Xiao Zhan.” Xia Hao takes out a cigar from the box and puts it in his mouth. The staff near him immediately moves forward to help him light it up with a lighter. He takes a few puffs and spits out a cloud of thick smoke, “Dad, you asked me to make friends with him but the present he gave isn’t all that impressive.”
“What do you think you’re doing? Stop smoking right now! You need to get on stage later, how do you think you’d seem to others if you get on stage with a mouth filled with cigar smell!” Xia Yuanbo shouts at him, “I have already told you before, he is someone that is definitely worth making friends with yet here you are, ruining your own relationship with him!”
Xia Hao gets rid of his cigar, “Dad, you don’t have to attach so much importance to him. His family is indeed rich, but Xiao Hongguang has children other than him. If I remember it correctly, his stepmother even gave birth to a younger brother and sister, and both of them are alphas, right? He can only short-sell, there’s no part of him that is worth valuing.”
Xia Yuanbo glares at him gloomily, “Are you still in relation with CEO Su’s family’s brat from Shuo Zheng?”
“Su Weiyu? Yeah.”
“We’ll be announcing your marriage engagement tonight,” Xia Yuanbo says, “Don’t worry.”
Xia Hao responds half-heartedly.
Not long later, the banquet officially begins. Looking at the waves after waves of delicate dishes being served, Lu Chuiqing, who did not have much for lunch in the first place, does not have the mind for anything else. Since he is already here, he wants to eat well before he goes back. Besides, he knows no one besides Xiao Zhan in the banquet so he does not have many apprehensions.
Although he knows subconsciously that most rich people will not eat too much to show how they are more reserved and knowledgeable, he has absolutely no mind for such things. The more expensive the dish, the smaller the volume it has. He shows no reservation and eats a few plates of it in succession, not leaving any remainders behind.
Xiao Zhan, with his knife and fork, picks up the foie gras on his plate steadily, putting it on Lu Chuiqing’s plate.
Lu Chuiqing blushes slightly but he did not act modest towards Xiao Zhan, eating everything he passed to him.
Xia Hao is sitting on a sofa below the stage directly facing them. Beside him are his family members and his closest friends. A young lady wearing a light yellow gown is sitting on the other side of the sofa, drinking champagne quietly.
Halfway through the banquet, the birthday boy, the young master of the Xia family, goes onto the stage to give a thanking speech. He also held a raffle just to enliven the atmosphere where even the cheapest prize is more than 10,000. Lu Chuiqing looks on anxiously but he did not get a single prize until the end. He can only sigh in disappointment.
The raffle is followed by Xia Hao’s announcement about his engagement. His fiance gets on the stage with a smile on her face and stands next to him. They even shared a passionate kiss on stage. They look like an ideal couple who are deeply in love with each other, earning them a round of applause and well wishes.
Xia Hao claps his hand along with the guests before he picks up his mic again, “Everyone, please enjoy your food while I say a few more words. I have been working hard in my family’s company for a couple of years now and the company is doing better and better. It is thanks to the company that I have grown into what I am today and from the depth of my heart, I wish to thank many people for this.”
At such a banquet, the birthday boy would usually say something emotional about his outlook for the future. Given Xia Hao’s status, most of the guests show respect by putting down the utensils in their hands and lifting their heads to look at him, giving him their full attention.
“Since I have graduated as a research student overseas, many things have happened in these six, seven years. There are both happy and sad times.” Xia Hao’s looks emotionally touched as he laments, “But I’ll never forget my dearest family, my lover, and my closest friends who have been by my side since the beginning, giving me the most sincere encouragement. And today, there is an old friend whom I wish to thank especially. He was my senior from the same university during my time overseas, he is a successful person, a person that is worth learning from. He has given me much help along my path of growing up as a person. I have not contacted him for a long time because of work, so I’m extremely happy that he is able to find time from his busy schedule to attend tonight’s banquet. I hope he can come here on stage for me.”
Just when Lu Chuiqing is curious about who he is referring to, Xiao Zhan puts down his fork and knife beside him and picks up a napkin to wipe his lips as his gaze darkens, a hint of sneer appearing at the corners of his lips.
“He is Value Scan’s CEO, Xiao Zhan.” Xia Hao raises his hand towards the long table at the left side of the hall where Xiao Zhan is seated, his fervent and elated voice sounding in the hall through the mic, “Everyone, please give him a round of applause!”
Talk about having no shame...
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