The Tianyue Restaurant was exceptionally lively tonight, with almost all the leading figures in Jiangcheng's pharmaceutical industry receiving invitations from Song Tianxiong. While ostensibly a tasting event for a new drug, it was more like a disguised selection of a son-in-law and an announcement of a business alliance.
When Qin Xiao appeared at the banquet hall entrance with three beauties of different styles—the bright and flamboyant Long Aobing, the heroic Shen Xingling, and the aloof yet slightly nervous Song Zhixue—he instantly attracted everyone's attention.
Song Tianxiong was chatting with several old friends with a beaming smile, while Ye Chen stood beside him like a proud peacock, enjoying the envious or inquisitive looks from everyone.
Seeing that Song Zhixue had appeared with Qin Xiao, and that she did not seem to be coerced, Song Tianxiong's smile froze slightly, and a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes.
Ye Chen's face immediately darkened. He stepped forward, his gaze first falling on Song Zhixue, with a hint of accusation: "Zhixue, how could you be with him?" Then, his gaze swept over Qin Xiao, finally settling sharply on Long Aobing.
With just one glance, Ye Chen's pupils suddenly contracted. This woman... possessed an indescribable yet powerful aura, subtly resonating with and repelling his own power.
He had only ever experienced this feeling with some of the core elders in the Dragon King's Palace!
Who is she? Why is she following Qin Xiao?
Long Aobing felt Ye Chen's scrutinizing gaze and glared back without hesitation. She curled her lips into a smirk, a hint of provocation in her expression, and deliberately moved closer to Qin Xiao, taking his arm as if to assert her dominance.
"Mr. Ye seems quite interested in Zhixue's whereabouts?" Qin Xiaoyun said casually, breaking the brief standoff. "However, she is my guest now. I don't think I need to report to Mr. Ye where I want to take her, do I?"
Song Zhixue subconsciously shrank behind Qin Xiao, avoiding Ye Chen's gaze. She had no interest in Ye Chen to begin with, and the pressure from her father and her experiences at Qin Xiao's house over the past two days had only increased her dislike for him.
"Qin Xiao! Don't be so arrogant!" Ye Chen lowered his voice, his tone unfriendly. "Zhi Xue is my fiancée. I advise you not to meddle in other people's business!"
"Fiancée?" Qin Xiao raised an eyebrow, looking at Song Tianxiong with amusement. "Mr. Song, I seem to remember that this marriage is still far from being finalized. Could it be that Mr. Ye has already started calling you father-in-law?"
Song Tianxiong was a little embarrassed, so he coughed and tried to smooth things over: "Young Master Qin is joking. Young people should understand each other better when it comes to matters of the heart. Come, come, please come in, the banquet will begin soon."
He doesn't want to cause any unnecessary trouble right now; he just wants to stabilize Ye Chen, his cash cow, as soon as possible.
At the banquet, toasts were exchanged. Song Tianxiong spared no effort in promoting Ye Chen, exaggerating the miraculous effects of his three prescriptions, which attracted the support and praise of many people in the medical field.
Ye Chenzhi was smug and would occasionally exchange smiles with Song Tianxiong, as if he had already secured the future of the Song family's son-in-law and Song's Pharmaceutical.
Long Aobing grimaced as she watched, muttering to Qin Xiao, "This boast is bigger than my chest... cough cough, bigger than the sky."
Shen Xingling also frowned; she couldn't stand Ye Chen's smug, petty face. Song Zhixue, on the other hand, silently drank her juice, occasionally glancing at Qin Xiao. Seeing his calm expression, seemingly unconcerned about everything, she felt a little more at ease.
After several rounds of drinks and dishes, Song Tianxiong cleared his throat, preparing to announce the in-depth cooperation with Ye Chen and the "double happiness" news, when Qin Xiao suddenly put down his wine glass with a soft sound, not loud, but enough to attract everyone's attention.
“President Song,” Qin Xiao began, his voice carrying clearly throughout the room, “I would also like to join in the fun at today’s grand event. I have a small suggestion regarding your daughter’s marriage.”
All eyes were on Qin Xiao. Ye Chen's expression changed, a sense of foreboding creeping over him.
Song Tianxiong narrowed his eyes: "Oh? What brilliant idea does Young Master Qin have?"
"I wouldn't call it a brilliant idea." Qin Xiao smiled slightly, turning his gaze to Song Zhixue with a hint of gentleness. "Miss Zhixue is intelligent and kind-hearted, and she is also the apple of Mr. Song's eye. Her marriage should naturally be handled with utmost care. In my opinion, perhaps... we could postpone this engagement for now, or even call it off?"
"Boom!" These words caused an uproar throughout the hall!
"Qin Xiao! What do you mean?!" Ye Chen suddenly stood up, glaring at Qin Xiao, his aura surging. "Are you openly provoking me? Or are you trying to humiliate the Song family?!"
Song Tianxiong's face also turned extremely ugly. He did not expect Qin Xiao to undermine him so directly.
"Mr. Ye, why are you so agitated?" Qin Xiao remained calm and composed. "I just feel that sacrificing Miss Song's lifelong happiness for a mere three prescriptions is a bit...unwise. After all, no matter how good a prescription is, it can always be copied or surpassed. But something that can bring long-term benefits to the Song family, or even change the entire pharmaceutical landscape, is something that can only be encountered by chance."
"Change the landscape of medicine? Hahaha!" Ye Chen laughed angrily. "Qin Xiao, who do you think you are? What can you possibly offer that is more precious than my ancient elixir formula?" His tone was full of disdain.
Song Tianxiong's eyes flickered. Although Qin Xiao's words were harsh, they did touch upon a deep-seated concern in his heart. As a businessman driven by profit, he naturally hoped to maximize his gains and that the marriage alliance would bring a more stable future to the Song family. Ye Chen's prescription was indeed miraculous, but Qin Xiao... seemed unfathomable. His remarks on the phone that day regarding the internationalization of biological agents and traditional Chinese medicine had indeed struck a chord with him.
“Young Master Qin,” Song Tianxiong pondered, “you mean you can bring greater benefits to the Song family than Mr. Ye?”
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