The vast majority of these people came because they didn't want to miss the opportunity to befriend the Huangfu family, hoping to benefit from future business collaborations. Almost everyone who could come did.
In the hall, the tables were laden with all sorts of high-end custom-made desserts and delicacies, while servants in uniforms walked around with them, carrying red wine and champagne as they moved among the guests.
The guests chatted amongst themselves, some were people they already knew who were passing by and exchanging pleasantries, while others were people they had just met and were thinking about future collaborations, all laughing and talking together.
The most common topic of gatherings among the wealthy is the competition and gossip among women.
In a corner of the hall, a group of beautifully dressed women from prominent families were chatting idly.
"Jiaojiao, it's been a long time! You've become more and more beautiful," said a wealthy young woman with fashionable dyed hair.
Hearing this, Jian Jiaojiao, who was wearing a pale yellow princess dress, was very happy, but pretended to be modest.
"Long time no see, Sister Liya. Sister Liya is getting more and more outstanding. She's even on the cover of fashion magazines and is becoming more and more like a big brand. We sisters are so envious of her."
The "Sister Liya" that Jian Jiaojiao mentioned is the daughter of the Zhang family in the capital.
She started her career as a model in the fashion industry a few years ago, and now she's doing very well in the industry, a darling that countless companies are vying for.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Liya smiled smugly, "In the future, any of you sisters who want to join this circle, just mention my name, and I'll protect you."
Upon hearing this, the others nodded happily.
None of them had achieved what Zhang Liya had in their early twenties. Hearing Zhang Liya's words, they were immediately filled with longing for the future in the fashion and entertainment industries.
"Sister Liya, you have to keep your word, right? After graduation, I might really be planning to try my luck in the entertainment industry. You'll have to look out for me then, Sister Liya."
"Sister Liya, because of what you said, we're best friends from now on."
"..."
The group of people spared no effort in flattering Zhang Liya.
Zhang Liya seemed to enjoy it very much and nodded nonchalantly.
"It's said that Ye Mohan, the head of the Ye Group, will be coming tonight."
Among the group, someone whispered about the gossip they had overheard.
"Really? Didn't he never attend these kinds of banquets before?"
One of them said, somewhat skeptically.
"Are you stupid? Who in the capital doesn't know that the young master of the Huangfu family and Ye Mohan are good friends? How could he not come to his good friend's grandfather's 70th birthday celebration?"
Another wealthy young lady who frequently frequents high society explained.
Then the other girls joined in the conversation.
After all, Ye Mohan is the number one richest man in the country, and he has long been a topic of conversation among everyone.
The speculation surrounding him is no less than that surrounding top-tier celebrities.
"I've heard from the sisters who have had the privilege of meeting him that Ye Mohan is incredibly handsome. If he could just glance at me, I would die happy. I wonder who will be lucky enough to win his heart in the end."
"Yes, someone so outstanding and capable, what kind of person could be worthy of her?"
The group chatted amongst themselves, indulging in their infatuation, completely unaware of Jian Jiaojiao, whose expression had been rather unusual since the start of their conversation.
As Jian Jiaojiao listened to the others' guesses, she was the only one who knew the truth, and she felt extremely distressed.
She knew perfectly well that the person Ye Mohan cherished was the one she had once looked down upon the most.
She didn't want to say a word about such a slap in the face, so she silently listened to everyone's gossip.
Her feelings for Ye Mohan intensified, as did her disgust and jealousy towards Jian Yixue.
"Don't even think about it. Everyone in the capital knows that the head of the Ye family is not interested in women. Apart from Huangfu Xin'er, the daughter of the Huangfu family, no one else has ever been heard to appear by his side."
"If that's the case, then she's the most likely candidate to be accepted by the head of the Ye family."
Upon hearing this, the group nodded in unison.
Suddenly, one of the voices spoke up, "Not necessarily. I heard an elder mention it. It is said that back then, Old Master Ye personally arranged a marriage for his grandson, who is now the head of the Ye family, Ye Mohan. However, no one has mentioned it in recent years."
Who is that?
Zhang Liya asked in confusion.
She was just curious about what kind of woman Old Master Ye would arrange a marriage for at such a young age.
The others also looked at the rich young lady with puzzled expressions, waiting for her to explain.
Only Jian Jiaojiao remained, her expression somewhat evasive, as if she were afraid to hear it.
The wealthy young lady who had just spoken looked around and then whispered, "The daughter of Dongfang Tinglan, the woman who caused a sensation in the capital back then."
One of the people who knew a little about the situation thought for a moment and looked at Jian Jiaojiao, "Jiaojiao, isn't that your Jian family? I remember the elders saying that Dongfang Tinglan married your father, Jian Mingpeng."
Upon hearing this, Jian Jiaojiao's face turned pale; she knew she couldn't hide it any longer.
She spent over a decade proving she was better than Jian Yixue, and she wanted to take everything from Jian Yixue.
For more than a decade, she had been striving to do her best and successfully fulfilled her father's wish for Jane Yixue.
But Ye's one phone call destroyed more than a decade of her hard work.
Jian Yixue has returned, and she has married into the Ye family, the wealthiest family in the capital and even the whole country, becoming the head of the family.
She was just the daughter of the Jian family, and she had to be mindful of her father's feelings in everything she did.
She was unwilling to accept this; she wanted to take back everything that was rightfully hers.
But when she encountered Ye Mohan, nothing she did worked.
Jian Yixue during this period seemed completely different from when she first returned to the capital, leaving Jian Yixue unable to cope.
Now, she finds it difficult to speak of this wound in front of all her sisters.
After struggling with her thoughts for a while, and seeing the questioning looks on everyone's faces, Jian Jiaojiao had no choice but to say, "Yes, that's right. Dongfang Tinglan was my father's first wife. My mother married my father after she passed away. Dongfang Tinglan did give birth to a daughter, who is my half-sister."
As they spoke, Jian Jiaojiao repeatedly clarified on behalf of her mother, explaining that her mother only married into the family after Dongfang Tinglan's death, partly because she feared the people before her would look down on her.
After all, wealthy families are never short of mistresses taking over, so the children of the original wife are usually particularly disgusted and hateful of the children of the mistress.
Upon hearing this, everyone understood and nodded.
One of them, as if struck by a thought, asked, "Then how come we've never heard of you having an older sister in the capital?"
A hint of panic flashed across Jian Jiaojiao's face as she hurriedly said, "Since her mother passed away, my sister's health has been poor in the capital, so she was sent to another city for recuperation. She only returned recently."
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