The charity banquet was held in the ballroom of the Lansen Hotel.

When Ji Fuling arrived, the banquet had not yet started, but many guests and media reporters had already arrived.

Because today's occasion was to announce that Ji Fuling had returned to Yuncheng, the elderly Mr. Ji, who had not made a public appearance for a long time, also attended the banquet.

At this moment, the grandfather and grandson found a relatively quiet spot and were sitting and chatting.

Meanwhile, seeing that most of the people had arrived, He Wenxiu quietly hid to the side and took out her phone to make a call.

"We'll proceed according to the agreed plan. Once it's done, I'll give you a reward. You won't be treated unfairly."

"Don't worry, we know how to do it, and we guarantee you'll be satisfied."

The person on the other end of the phone replied with absolute certainty.

Thinking of Ji Fuling's fate, a sinister smile flashed across He Wenxiu's heavily made-up face.

After hanging up the phone, she noticed that the Ye family had also arrived, and immediately pulled her husband, Ji Xiangzhong, over to greet them.

"Master Ye, Madam Ye, you've arrived. My father was just asking if he'd seen you."

Upon hearing this, Old Master Ye looked surprised. "Old Ji is here too?"

"Yes, look, she's over there, with Fuling."

He Wenxiu pointed in the direction the two were, then changed the subject, "By the way, where's President Ye? Didn't he come with you?"

"Nan Qing has a social engagement today and can't come."

After giving a brief reply, Old Master Ye took his wife to chat with his old friend.

Upon learning that Ye Nanqing had not come, He Wenxiu frowned.

In her plan, besides embarrassing Ji Fuling in public and ruining her reputation, she also wanted to create an opportunity for her precious daughter to get close to Ye Nanqing.

But Ye Nanqing didn't show up!

What a missed opportunity!

Twenty minutes later, Ji Xinqi, having changed back into an apricot-colored strapless dress, hurriedly arrived just as the host was speaking on stage.

"...Before the banquet officially begins, the patriarch of the Ji family would like to take this opportunity to announce something. Now, let's invite the patriarch of the Ji family to the stage."

Grandpa Ji looked at Ji Fuling with gentle eyes, "Let's go, Fuling, let's go up together."

Ji Fuling nodded and helped the old man walk towards the central platform.

The crowd below whispered among themselves, all speculating about what Old Master Ji was going to announce.

"Everyone, I'm sorry to take up your time, but what I really want to say is very simple. My granddaughter, Ji Fuling, has returned from abroad, and I would like to take this opportunity to introduce her to you all."

Grandpa Ji took the microphone handed to him by the host and spoke each word with conviction.

After he finished speaking, he handed the microphone to Fuling, indicating that Fuling should also say a few words.

Ji Fuling reached out and took the microphone. With a calm and graceful expression, she said, "I am Ji Fuling. It is an honor to attend this banquet. I will donate two million yuan in my personal capacity for charitable donations."

As Grandpa Ji and Ji Fuling spoke, the discussions at the scene grew louder.

"Ji Fuling? So she's the Ji Fuling who was reported by the media to have committed suicide by jumping into the sea five years ago! I've heard she's very beautiful, and it turns out she really lives up to the rumors!"

"So she went abroad during those years she was missing. I heard she donated two million in her own name, so it seems she's doing quite well overseas!"

"Don't argue with me later, I'm going to be the first to strike up a conversation with her!"

"Give me a break. With your pathetic appearance, do you think Ji Fuling would even look at you?"

"How will I know if I don't try? Anyway, she's my perfect goddess now, and I want to be friends with her!!"

"..."

Not only men wanted to flirt with Ji Fuling, but women were also eager to make a move.

Several young women, all from wealthy families, huddled together and whispered among themselves.

"Ji Fuling's makeup is so beautiful, and her dress is gorgeous too. I definitely have to ask her where she got her hair and makeup done so I can get the same style!"

"Come on, we don't have her looks and figure. Even if we get the same style, we won't look as good as her."

"I don't care, I just want to wear the same clothes as beautiful girls, so that I'll be considered a beauty too!"

"..."

The whispers of the crowd reached Ji Xinqi's ears, making her so angry that her face turned green.

She turned her head and glared at He Wenxiu, annoyed. "Mom! What kind of terrible idea was this? Now look what happened, Ji Fuling has stolen the spotlight!"

"Listen to what everyone around you is saying! They're all praising Ji Fuling for being beautiful and having a great figure. It's like I don't even exist in their eyes! It's infuriating!"

Seeing her daughter's agitated state, He Wenxiu quickly patted her shoulder and whispered to comfort her, "Qiqi, calm down. This is the only time she can be so smug. She'll be crying later. As long as this succeeds today, she'll never be able to steal your thunder again."

Hearing this, Ji Xinqi's expression softened slightly, and she snorted coldly, "That's for the best!"

On stage, Ji Fuling said a few words and then helped Grandpa Ji back to the guest area.

The banquet officially began, with toasts and laughter filling the air.

On the sofa in the corner sat Gu Liao, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a camel-colored suit.

He was holding a glass of red wine in his left hand and a mobile phone in his right, making a video call.

Looking at Ye Nanqing's cold and stern face on the screen, he felt the temperature around him drop sharply.

"Third Master, let's talk this over. Could you please stop wearing that cold face all the time? Even though I've seen it for years, it still makes me uneasy..."

"Stop talking nonsense."

Ye Nanqing interrupted Gu Liao in a deep voice, "Get to the point, or I'm hanging up."

He has a rather important dinner party later and doesn't have time to listen to Gu Liao's rambling.

Seeing that Ye Nanqing was about to hang up, Gu Liao quickly blurted out, "I'm with Miss Ji right now!!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Nanqing's long finger, which was about to press the disconnect button, suddenly stopped. His thin lips parted slightly, and he uttered, "Explain yourself clearly."

Gu Liao put down the red wine in his hand and pushed up his glasses. "There's a charity banquet in Yuncheng today, and Miss Ji is here too. She even went on stage with Old Master Ji and said a few words."

Where is she now?

Upon hearing Ye Nanqing's question, Gu Liao looked up and glanced into the distance.

At this moment, Ji Fuling was surrounded by a group of young masters from prominent families...

He couldn't quite describe the scene, so he switched to the rear camera and pointed it at Ji Fuling's location, saying, "You should see for yourself."

Ye Nanqing spotted the red figure at a glance.

It's clear she dressed up specially for today; her makeup was slightly different from usual, giving her a more alluring and seductive look.

It's stunningly beautiful.

It was the swarm of flies around her that were really an eyesore; their eyes were glued to her, which made him furious.

Ye Nanqing's dark eyes flashed with anger as he coldly ordered, "Remove those things around her!"

Gu Liao had already guessed that he would be angry, so he wasn't surprised at all when he heard him say that. He simply raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's in it for you?"

"There are no benefits, but if you don't do it, there will be immediate harm."

Ye Nanqing spoke slowly and deliberately, his tone icy and devoid of any warmth.

Gu Liao: "..."

He shouldn't have asked that question.

After all, Ye Nanqing had countless ways to threaten him...

"Aren't you going yet!"

"Okay, okay, I'll go right away, immediately."

Urged on by Ye Nanqing's imposing manner, Gu Liao didn't dare to delay for a second. He stuffed his phone into his pocket and rushed forward.