Crowned by the capital
The news of Zhiwei's return spread like wildfire throughout the social circles of Beijing.
She is no longer the Shen Zhiwei who needed to rely on the title of "Mrs. Li". Now, she is beautiful and charming, in the prime of her life, and is also wealthy. She has a lazy and calm demeanor.
What attracted the most attention was that upon her arrival, she became a VIP guest of Longjing Capital, a prominent figure in Beijing's elite circles, entering and leaving its private club as if it were her own living room. Soon, various speculations began to circulate, with some saying that she had a close relationship with Liang Tian, the chairman of Longjing Capital, and others even claiming with certainty that she was one of the mysterious actual controllers behind Longjing Capital.
In addition, as a classically trained artist with impeccable taste, whether she appears at the opening reception of an art exhibition or a charity gala, every smile, gesture, and movement of hers becomes the focus. She no longer needs to deliberately cater to anyone's preferences; her clothing choices are entirely based on her mood. Sometimes she wears a simple and neat pantsuit, and sometimes she dons a charming and alluring long dress. She carries each style perfectly, prompting fashion magazines to analyze and interpret her style.
Almost overnight, she overshadowed the most popular stars, and the city's elite banquets considered it an honor to invite "Ms. Shen Zhiwei," as if her presence itself was a testament to taste and status.
In recent years, the "Wei Nian" brand has maintained steady operation under the management of a professional team. Several full-time designers regularly communicate their design ideas with Zhiwei, who is overseas, ensuring that the production volume and quality of the products remain at a consistently high level and maintain a good reputation in the market.
However, observant fans may have noticed that since that sensational wedding dress retrospective exhibition, no new designs have appeared bearing the name "Shen Zhiwei." This seems to further confirm a certain speculation—that her energy has long been channeled into a broader and more mysterious realm of capital.
Two months after her return, it happened to be the fifth anniversary of Zhiwei's mother's death. She quietly handled the family memorial service, her expression calm and showing little emotion, as if three years of travel and reflection had taught her to coexist peacefully with this longing.
Shortly after the anniversary of her death, a grand banquet, personally hosted by Liang Tian, chairman of Longjing Capital, was held at a private estate on the outskirts of Beijing that was not open to the public. The invitations were exquisitely printed, and the invitees included elites from all walks of life, including the entertainment industry, fashion industry, tech upstarts, and sports stars—a lineup so luxurious that it was rare in recent years. And the nominal protagonist of the banquet was none other than Shen Zhiwei.
That night, the manor was ablaze with lights, and celebrities gathered there. Zhiwei, dressed in a royal blue floor-length gown with only a simple pearl necklace around her neck, was dazzlingly beautiful and became the undisputed focus of the entire event. She moved among the guests with a relaxed and natural demeanor, and when conversing with dignitaries from all walks of life, her eyes revealed a composure and insight that came from years of experience.
Liang Tian, holding a wine glass, walked to her side, his eyes filled with the loving pride of an elder as he looked at the distinguished guests. Zhi Wei turned her head and whispered a teasing laugh in his ear, "Godfather, you've put on such a grand show. Those who know you say it's to welcome me back, but those who don't might think you're throwing me a 'concubine selection banquet.'"
He burst into laughter. "There's nothing wrong with choosing concubines. These are the most outstanding young women in the capital. What do you think?"
Zhiwei's eyes darted around, sweeping over the elegantly dressed women in the room. She noticed that most of the industry leaders and tech upstarts were accompanied by poised and graceful female companions—she couldn't tell if they were married wives, equally matched business partners, or confidantes.
A half-smile curved her lips, her voice soft yet tinged with a hint of mockery: "Godfather, look at all these talented young men who came tonight, isn't every one of them accompanied by a female companion?" She lightly tapped the rim of her champagne glass with her slender fingertips. "Even if I, Shen Zhiwei, am casual, I wouldn't stoop to stealing food from someone else's bowl, would I? That's so undignified."
Upon hearing this, a hint of admiration flashed in Liang Tian's eyes, but he merely took a sip of his drink without making a sound. "You," he shook his head and chuckled, "always manage to say such eloquent things. I was just thinking that since you've just returned, it wouldn't hurt for you to make more friends."
"Godfather is naturally doing this for my own good, I'll listen to him." Zhiwei met his gaze, her eyes clear.
"There are a few young people who have some good projects they want us to invest in. Zhiwei, you can take a look and see which ones you like."
"Godfather, I know nothing about investments. Longjing tea was built from scratch by you; I wouldn't dare take credit for it, nor would I interfere in your affairs."
"Weiwei, Longjing was invested in with your original money. We agreed back then that we'd split the profits 50/50. What? Don't you trust your godfather? Afraid he'll renege on his promise?"
Zhiwei chuckled softly, her fingertips casually tracing the rim of her glass. "Godfather, what are you saying? That little bit of money was just a small favor I offered you back then. The fact that you turned it into the Longjing tea you have today is your skill. I was just stealing your thunder. Even without me, you could have turned things around just as well. I'm not like you, always getting involved. With you protecting me, I can enjoy myself however I want."
Seeing that Zhiwei truly had no intention of interfering, Liang Tian felt even more appreciative of her clarity and insight: "Alright then, let's just do whatever makes us happy. Having someone to play different games with is much more fun than figuring things out alone. Last time, there was a project where a young man wanted me to invest in 'Yuanyu Universe Funeral Services'."
Zhiwei burst out laughing: "As expected, you have many tricks up your sleeve."
Their voices weren't loud, but attentive guests watched their lively conversation from afar. A moment later, more people from the business world came to greet Liang Tian. Zhi Wei smiled but remained silent, gently swirling the champagne in her glass; the amber liquid shimmered alluringly in the crystal. Her gaze casually swept over the guests, taking in all the admiring, inquisitive, and eager glances.
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