Chapter 26: Banquet

Inside the Ling Family Estate.

"WHAT?!"

Ling Han nearly exploded after hearing the latest report.

He stood up so violently from the couch that the glass table shook.

Several servants nearby lowered their heads instantly in fear.

"The Shen Family took over her company?! How is that possible?!"

One of the assistants standing nearby nervously explained:

"T-The Shen Family directly bought controlling shares... And multiple investors immediately switched sides..."

Ling Han staggered backward slightly before collapsing back onto the couch.

For a moment...

He genuinely looked like he might faint.

Ye Chen quickly placed a hand against Ling Han’s shoulder while secretly circulating some healing Qi.

Helping to calm his blood pressure slightly.

Ling Han rubbed his forehead painfully.

"...I was only trying to scare her. I didn’t think she’d actually jump into another man’s arms..."

Hearing that...

A vein instantly appeared on Ye Chen’s forehead.

Because every mention of Ling Shuangxue and Shen Tian together felt like someone stabbing him repeatedly.

Still...

He forced himself to speak calmly.

"Uncle Han... I really think we should bring her back immediately."

Then his tone became slightly darker.

"If more rumors spread about her... How am I supposed to marry her?"

Although he tried sounding righteous...

The jealousy and possessiveness leaking from his voice was obvious.

At this point...

Ye Chen genuinely felt like an invisible green hat followed him everywhere.

Ling Han suddenly stood up again.

"Don’t worry, my boy."

He firmly grabbed Ye Chen’s shoulder.

"You and my daughter will marry."

Then his eyes shined ambitiously.

"And together... You’ll lead the Ling Family to greatness. To heights beyond even the Top Four Families!"

Ling Han genuinely viewed Ye Chen as the family’s future savior.

A heaven-sent opportunity.

Then suddenly...

Ling Han smiled.

"Tonight’s banquet. That’s your chance."

He pointed.

"You just need to win her heart there!"

Ling Han clapped his hands loudly.

"Hurry and prepare yourself properly. You’ll attend with me as my plus one."

Since Qin Ruobing was divorcing him.

He no longer had a wife to bring publicly.

So instead.

He fully planned on showcasing Ye Chen tonight.

Ye Chen calmly nodded.

"That works for me."

Honestly.

He preferred this anyway.

Much easier than sneaking into the banquet himself.

Though internally...

He felt slightly disappointed.

Because this meant he probably wouldn’t get a chance to dramatically face-slap guards at the entrance.

His brain, for some reason, worked that way.

Then after a brief pause, Ye Chen asked:

"So what will you do with your ex-wife?"

Ling Han’s expression instantly became cruel.

"...Her?"

He coldly laughed.

"She seems to have forgotten something. I still control most of her family’s business connections."

Then his eyes narrowed viciously.

"I’ll destroy them slowly. Painfully. Until she crawls back begging."

Ye Chen shrugged his shoulders.

Not seeing anything wrong with this at all.

He simply viewed it as a "strong man controlling his household."

Ling Han waved his hand dismissively.

"Enough. Let’s get ready for the banquet."

. . .

Arriving at the banquet.

Shen Tian and Ling Shuangxue were personally helped out of the car by the Li family’s servants waiting outside.

Luxury vehicles continuously arrived one after another as more elites entered the banquet grounds.

Young masters.

CEOs.

Celebrities.

Political figures.

Every important figure in the city seemed to be present tonight.

And the moment Shen Tian appeared.

Countless gazes immediately locked onto him.

The men wanted connections.

The women wanted into his bed.

Unfortunately for them.

Ling Shuangxue’s cold aura tonight was especially terrifying.

Every time another woman looked at Shen Tian too long.

Ling Shuangxue glared at them like she was about to freeze their souls.

’My man only deserves top-tier women,’ she thought proudly to herself.

In her eyes, most celebrities and wealthy young ladies barely qualified as "mid-tier."

Under the beautiful night sky filled with stars.

Shen Tian and Ling Shuangxue slowly entered the massive Li Family mansion together.

The atmosphere appeared lively on the surface.

People laughed.

Wine glasses clinked.

Servants walked around carrying expensive dishes.

Everyone wore elegant smiles.

Yet underneath all of it.

Everything felt fake.

Every conversation carried hidden intentions.

Every smile concealed calculations.

This was high society.

Shen Tian casually glanced around.

[The protagonist probably won’t show up until later...]

[Let’s just enjoy ourselves for now.]

Ling Shuangxue heard his inner voice and lightly nodded to herself.

A servant approached respectfully and handed each of them a glass of wine.

Shen Tian naturally drifted toward a group of young masters discussing business and women.

Ling Shuangxue went toward several wealthy young ladies.

The conversations around Shen Tian quickly became increasingly vulgar.

"...I heard that actress is attending later."

"...I’d smash."

"...Nah, Li Lian is the real prize tonight."

"...If someone married into the Li Family they’d instantly rise—"

Shen Tian mostly just nodded along lazily without much interest.

Then suddenly...

The entire hall gradually fell silent.

Everyone instinctively turned toward the grand staircase.

At the very top...

An old man slowly descended with a young woman beside him.

Li Yunhai.

And his granddaughter...

Li Lian.

Instantly...

Almost every man present stared hungrily.

Because Li Lian truly looked breathtaking tonight.

Her long, black hair flowed elegantly down her back.

Her black eyes seemed deep and distant, like empty space itself.

The black dress hugging her figure only enhanced her dignified temperament further.

Unlike Ling Shuangxue’s icy beauty...

Li Lian carried herself with composed elegance.

She wasn’t cold.

She was simply distant.

The hungry stares from the men around her only disgusted her further.

Li Lian had always hated men.

No man had ever touched her before.

Not even her own father received affection from her.

Li Lian’s eyes casually swept across the room.

Then paused slightly.

Because among the countless men staring lustfully at her.

One man stood out completely.

Shen Tian.

His eyes held no greed.

No lust.

No obsession.

Only indifference.

That alone immediately increased Li Lian’s opinion of him slightly.

Li Yunhai chuckled lightly.

"Little Lian, why don’t you go mingle with the younger generation? I’ll speak with the older guests."

Li Lian respectfully nodded.

"Of course, Grandfather."

The moment she reached the lower floor.

Young masters immediately surrounded her.

Compliments started flying nonstop.

"Young Miss Li looks more beautiful than ever tonight—"

"That dress suits you perfectly—"

"I heard your singing performance was extraordinary recently—"

Yet every compliment sounded shallow.

Predictable.

Boring.

Li Lian merely maintained a polite half-smile while nodding occasionally.

Then suddenly...

A voice echoed inside her mind.

[I seriously don’t understand why these guys are so obsessed with her.]

[She’s honestly not all that.]

Li Lian froze slightly.

Her eyes instantly shifted toward Shen Tian.

She didn’t even see his lips move...

Shen Tian calmly sipped wine without even glancing her way.

As if he genuinely didn’t care.

This immediately sparked Li Lian’s interest.

Noticing Li Lian’s eyes lingering on him...

A nearly invisible smirk appeared on Shen Tian’s lips.

Very slight.

Almost impossible to notice.

He already knew he had hooked her interest.

In the original webnovel, Ye Chen conquered Li Lian using the exact same tactic.

Indifference.

Women like her...

Women constantly worshipped and praised...

Eventually became numb to compliments.

What caught their attention instead...

Was someone unimpressed.

So Shen Tian casually sighed before looking away deliberately.

[Honestly, even her singing isn’t that impressive.]

The inner voice echoed clearly into Li Lian’s ears.

And once again.

She saw his lips never move.

Immediately, Li Lian became certain.

She truly could hear this man’s thoughts.

"Excuse me, gentlemen."

The young masters surrounding her all looked stunned when Li Lian suddenly walked away from them.

"...Young Miss Li?"

"Did we say something wrong?"

Li Lian didn’t even acknowledge their existence anymore.

She walked directly toward Shen Tian.

The entire banquet hall looked at them.

Because Li Lian approaching a man first?

That had literally never happened before.

Li Lian stopped directly before Shen Tian.

Then asked:

"Young Master Shen... Do you dislike my singing?"

Her tone remained dignified and composed.

Naturally...

She had zero intention of revealing she could hear his inner voice.

That information was far too valuable.

Especially when dealing with someone from the Shen Family.

Shen Tian casually took a sip of wine first.

"...It’s so-so."

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