Chapter 53 - 1#

Five years ago.

At the Yunlan Private Villa in Hai City.

In the outermost open-air parking lot, hundreds of luxury cars were parked in an orderly fashion. A taxi driver who had accidentally followed his navigation into the lot was stunned when he saw the license plates lined up.

“Wow, that’s quite a show?”

He took the opportunity to observe the passenger in the back seat through the rearview mirror—

A very handsome young boy, with particularly striking peach blossom eyes. He was wearing a white suit and fumbling with an invitation in his hand, seemingly also here for the banquet.

The driver reminded him, “Excuse me, we’ve arrived.”

Jing Shun pulled out his phone to pay, “Mm, thanks.”

Seizing the moment, the driver couldn’t help but ask curiously, “What big shot is here today? So lively.”

Jing Shun smiled as he paid and didn’t reveal much, “Sir, I was invited by a friend too. I’m not really sure.”

A minute later, the taxi drove off.

Jing Shun stared at his phone screen and sighed—

He had texted Chi Sheng with no answer and called with no reply. It was Chi Sheng who had asked him to come hang out, but now he was nowhere to be seen.

Maybe he should just call it off? The scale of this Chi family banquet seemed a bit intimidating.

“Excuse me, sir, are you here for the banquet?” A greeter waiter spotted Jing Shun and hurried over to greet him. “May I please see your invitation?”

“…”

Since I’m already here.

Jing Shun suppressed the thought of backing out and handed over the invitation in his hand. “I’m a friend of Chi Sheng. He invited me.”

Upon hearing their young master’s name and confirming the authenticity of the hidden code on the invitation, the waiter said respectfully, “Hello, please follow me.”

The estate was very large.

From the entrance of the villa to the main banquet hall, one needed to take a shuttle.

The scenery along the way was beautiful, but Jing Shun wasn’t in the mood to appreciate it. The bitterness buried deep in his heart refused to dissipate—

In the past two days, he had learned that his parents’ marriage had failed early on, and they had even formed new families behind his back.

Jing Shun was deeply shaken, feeling betrayed by both parents. He didn’t want to stay at home, so he came here to distract himself.

“Young sir, we’re here.”

“Thanks.”

Jing Shun got off the shuttle and entered the banquet hall.

Elegant classical music floated in the air. This banquet was far grander, more luxurious, and more solemn than he had imagined—almost every wealthy family in Hai City had gathered here.

For a moment, the concept of “glittering extravagance” was vividly displayed before his eyes.

“…”

Jing Shun felt he was used to seeing handsome men and beautiful women, as well as lavish luxury in the entertainment industry, but compared to this new world of high society, it was still a far cry.

Suddenly, someone grabbed him firmly. “Xiao Jing!”

“…”

Jing Shun turned his head and met Chi Sheng’s face, instantly relieved. “I called you and texted you, but you didn’t answer. I was about to go home.”

Chi Sheng kept his arm around his shoulder, looking Jing Shun up and down, seemingly satisfied with his outfit today.

“Sorry, sorry, my bad. Too many things going on at home today, didn’t have time to check my phone. Don’t be mad, huh?”

Jing Shun was easy to appease. “I’m not mad at you.”

As he spoke, he sniffed, as if catching a scent. “Chi Sheng, did you put on perfume? It smells really sweet today.”

“…”

Chi Sheng froze, then guiltily let go of Jing Shun. “Really?”

The reason he was late wasn’t that he was busy managing his family’s banquet, but that he had sneaked out last night to have fun and accidentally overslept from indulgence.

Chi Sheng had rushed over and only had time for a quick wash. He didn’t expect his friend’s nose to be so sharp, even catching the lingering scent of perfume!

Chi Sheng stepped back slightly and quickly came up with a plausible excuse. “I ran into two ladies earlier—friends of my mom’s. I must have picked up the scent when I got close to say hello.”

He joked to change the subject, “You’ve got a nose like a bloodhound, huh?”

“It’s a bit obvious.”

Jing Shun didn’t suspect him. He glanced at the seemingly endless banquet hall. “Where are we going now?”

“Don’t stay on the outskirts. Follow me.”

Relying on his status as the young master of the Chi family, Chi Sheng smoothly guided Jing Shun through the hall.

Soon, they stopped in front of a champagne tower.

Chi Sheng casually handed Jing Shun a glass of champagne and whispered in his ear, “Hey, look at your ten o’clock direction.”

At the front of the hall, guests were crowded two or three layers around the center. Old Master Chi, advanced in age, stood at the very core, and beside him was a young man.

Perhaps because of his eye-catching height, Jing Shun couldn’t help but take a closer look—

The man had a handsome, cold face, silently accompanying Old Master Chi, only nodding occasionally.

Chi Sheng took a sip of champagne, hiding his displeasure in his introduction. “See that? That’s my mom’s half-brother! This recognition banquet today is specifically prepared for that bastard son.”

A disgrace unworthy of the stage, daring to return to the Chi family and compete with them? Who did he think he was?

“…”

Jing Shun was surprised by his friend’s rarely shown hostility.

He had never quite understood the complicated relationships within the Chi family, but he had heard that Old Master Chi had found his long-lost grandson. So that tall guy was the one.

“What’s his name?”

He was actually quite good-looking, and seemed a bit familiar?

Having grown up on film sets, Jing Shun always had a first-impression standard for strangers, though he didn’t deliberately judge someone’s appearance.

“Chi Gui.”

Chi Sheng was filled with disgust for his nominal uncle and warned his friend, “Xiao Jing, stay away from him. He’s not a good person.”

“Oh.”

Jing Shun nodded obediently, thinking to himself:

Chi Gui?

A very unfamiliar name, not in his memory.

Before they could chat much longer, Chi Sheng’s father, Lin Yufeng, walked over. “Xiao Sheng.”

Chi Sheng introduced, “Dad! This is Jing Shun, the one I’ve told you about. He’s a celebrity!”

Lin Yufeng recalled his son’s night out and suspected Jing Shun had led him astray.

But in front of outsiders, he put on a proper front. “Xiao Sheng, come greet some uncles and elders with me.”

With Chi Gui back and clearly becoming the old man’s focus of cultivation, the eldest branch needed to quickly win people over!

Chi Sheng knew he couldn’t avoid this social obligation, so he patted Jing Shun on the shoulder. “Xiao Jing, have fun for now. I’ll come find you later.”

With that, he quickly followed Lin Yufeng away.

“…”

Jing Shun was alone again. He swirled his champagne without much interest.

In such a high-society banquet, almost everyone had ulterior motives. No one would waste time on a young kid like Jing Shun.

Bored, feeling out of place, Jing Shun casually waved over a waiter pushing a wine cart. “Excuse me, I’d like to get some fresh air.”

The waiter pointed, “Sir, the side door over there leads to the small garden.”

“Thanks.”

Jing Shun thanked him and, before leaving, picked up a freshly opened bottle of foreign liquor from the cart.

…

Away from the noise of the banquet hall, the world instantly quieted down.

To reduce the ground heat, cooling mist sprayed from the flower beds and grass every few meters, giving an ethereal look.

Rich people really knew how to put on a show.

The garden was large. Jing Shun found a pavilion near the fountain and sat down. He lifted the liquor he had taken and studied the label while sitting.

He frowned and muttered, “Is this high or low alcohol? I can’t tell.”

He had just turned eighteen today, and before this, he hadn’t even had a single beer. But times had changed—

Now, no one was going to control him! Since he was upset, he might as well try drowning his sorrows!

Resolved, Jing Shun cautiously took a sip, then widened his eyes in surprise:

It tasted like peach. Not bad.

Confirming the taste of the liquor, he stopped caring about the alcohol content and drank it sip after sip.

The garden remained quiet all along. The night breeze carried the mist, occasionally brushing his face with a refreshing coolness.

After who knew how long, Jing Shun, in a daze, heard movement nearby.

Someone was whispering on the phone:

“Mm, I’m doing well at the Chi family. Don’t worry.”

“Grandma, take care of yourself. I’ll come visit you when I have time.”

“Yes, I did. I ate eggs today too.”

“…”

Jing Shun tried to pinpoint the direction of the voice, leaning against the stone pillar of the pavilion to peek outside.

In the night, the young man paced back and forth on the gravel path, head down, a gentle curve on his lips as he talked.

Chi Gui?

The alcohol was starting to take effect.

Jing Shun blinked slowly, just about to confirm if he had recognized the person correctly, when the other man’s peripheral vision caught him.

“Who?!”

“…”

Their eyes met.

Jing Shun shuddered and shrank back behind the pillar in fright.

Chi Gui’s right hand gripping his phone tightened. His vigilance spiked.

He hadn’t expected that after finally sneaking away to make a call away from the Chi family, he would still be noticed by an outsider.

Chi Gui chose not to leave but steadily approached the fountain pavilion. Walking around the stone pillar, he saw the figure “hiding” behind it.

“…”

Jing Shun looked down at the leather shoes that had appeared before him and resigned himself. “I, I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop on purpose.”

“…”

The person before him wore a pure white suit, his pretty face a mix of maturity and innocence.

Perhaps trying to hide better, he had curled up into a tiny ball on the stone bench, clutching a bottle of liquor with a little less than half left, his peach blossom eyes looking very innocent.

Chi Gui stared at this face, and the alertness in his eyes instantly faded.

Seeing that he didn’t say anything, Jing Shun, his thoughts clouded by the alcohol, shook his head, took a light breath, and repeated his explanation:

“Hey, I wasn’t eavesdropping on purpose! Really! I was here drinking first!”

“I know.”

Chi Gui grabbed the bottle from his hand and glanced at the French label.

Jing Shun felt his empty palm and lunged to snatch the bottle back from Chi Gui, acting possessive. “Mine! If you want one, go get your own! Don’t steal!”

“I’m not stealing it. This liquor has a strong aftereffect. You should drink less.”

Seeing the drunkenness in his eyes, Chi Gui advised gently. “Are you here with family? I’ll have a waiter find them.”

At the word “family,” Jing Shun’s psychological defenses were torn down. He bit his lip to hold back the bitterness and softened his tone. “No.”

“I don’t have family. I came alone.”

“…”

Chi Gui frowned slightly and changed his approach. “Do you need a waiter to take you to the lounge?”

This banquet was held under the Chi family’s name.

As one of the hosts, even if it was just a passing stranger, Chi Gui had to ensure their absolute safety at the event.

Besides, to him, this face wasn’t unfamiliar.

Jing Shun ignored his kindness and grumbled, chasing him off. “Don’t worry about me. I’m just getting some air.”

Chi Gui didn’t rush to leave. Instead, he sat down across from him.

“?”