Night slowly falls, and the nights in mid-September are already slightly chilly.
After Yun Rujin and Gu Yanxin finished getting ready, they instructed the Gu family driver to drive them to the hotel.
Less than ten minutes before the banquet was to begin, most of the guests had already arrived.
The banquet hall was lavishly decorated, with magnificent crystal chandeliers and embellishments of fresh flowers and greenery, making the entire venue resemble a fairytale world. The tables were laden with a delicious buffet, along with a variety of desserts and beverages.
The waiters moved silently through the crowd, providing attentive service to the guests.
Gu Qingshan looked around but couldn't see Shi Miao. He frowned and went to Gu Yunbai, who was greeting everyone with Gu Yanxin. He asked in a low voice, "Where's Miao Miao? Why is she here even though you're all here? Didn't you come with her?"
"Well, I came directly from the company. Xinxin, where's your sister?" Gu Yunbai paused for a moment, then looked down at her.
Wearing a white princess dress, Gu Yanxin obediently replied, "Dad, Mom and I didn't see my sister before we left. We called her but no one answered, and we sent her messages but no one replied. We saw that we were running out of time, so we left first."
Gu Yunbai asked, "Should I call and ask again?"
"What's the use of relying on you? I'd rather this old man do it myself," Old Master Gu said, exasperated.
Just as Gu Qingshan was about to take out his phone, the front door suddenly opened.
"Hiss!" Everyone gasped, exclaiming in amazement, their eyes fixed on the person who had entered.
The girl's long, seaweed-like black hair cascaded down her chest, and her off-the-shoulder black evening gown accentuated her snow-white skin. Tiny, shimmering brickwork at the hem of her dress rippled gently with each step, and her fair, alluring legs exuded a silent temptation against the black backdrop. Her delicate, oval face and slightly upturned red lips gave her the air of a queen walking in the darkness, mysterious and noble.
After a while, everyone finally came to their senses, only to see the girl standing beside Gu Qingshan, her cool and languid voice saying, "Grandpa."
Gu Qingshan patted her hand and said with a smile, "Hey, Miaomiao, you're here."
"What? This is the Gu family's adopted daughter?"
"Is this really an adopted daughter? She seems more like a biological child."
"This adopted daughter is so beautiful."
......
Gu Yanxin stood to the side, her face darkening. Her fingertips dug fiercely into her palms, as if all the effort she had put into dressing up all day had been a joke.
At this moment, a bodyguard came to Gu Qingshan's side and whispered, "Master, the Ji family from the capital has arrived."
A hint of surprise flashed in the old man's eyes, and he said in a deep voice, "What did you say? Quickly, take me there."
Gu Yunbai, who was standing nearby, also heard this and suppressed his excitement, saying, "I'll go with you, Dad."
Many of the nearby guests also heard it, causing a stir among them as they craned their necks to look towards the entrance.
"The Ji family is the leading family in the capital's elite circles. Logically speaking, the Gu family shouldn't be able to get in touch with them."
"Old Master Ji only has one son and one daughter. His eldest daughter, Ji Rou, is already married and has children, while his youngest son, Ji Yanchen, is the late-born son of the Ji family patriarch. I wonder which one of you has come today."
"The Gu family is about to soar to new heights."
...
Gu Yanxin learned about the Ji family for the first time from other people, and she couldn't help but feel excited. The capital city was a high society, which H City couldn't compare to. If she could marry into the Ji family... her face turned red involuntarily.
"Xinxin, do you think the Ji family might be after you?" Yun Rujin excitedly whispered as she pulled her hand.
"Mom, don't say that." Gu Yanxin was unusually shy, biting her lip and fidgeting with her fingers.
Seeing that the old man had gone out, Shi Miao went to the buffet area, picked up a small cake from the long table, and sat down on the leather sofa next to him to eat it slowly.
During this time, many wealthy young men tried to approach her, but were stopped by Shi Miao's cold gaze.
A discreet black Porsche Cayenne was parked outside the hotel.
Gu Qingshan winked at Gu Yunbai.
Gu Yunbai nodded, stepped forward, and knocked on the car window, respectfully asking, "Are you from the Ji family in the capital?"
At this moment, Fu Jin got out of the driver's seat, walked around to the other side, and opened the rear door.
Ji Yanchen got out of the car unhurriedly and said calmly, "Ji Yanchen."
Gu Qingshan was shocked and quickly said, "It is a blessing for Young Master Ji to be able to attend his granddaughter's family reunion banquet. Please come in."
Ji Yanchen corrected, "What Elder Gu said is my good fortune."
The Gu father and son were completely bewildered, but dared not say anything.
She quickly ushered the man inside.
With a creak, the banquet hall doors were slowly pushed open.
Ji Yanchen and Gu Qingshan walked side by side in front, with Fu Jin and Gu Yunbai following closely behind.
The man had a cool and aloof expression, and an extraordinary demeanor.
He wore a finely tailored custom black suit with a simple white shirt underneath, a crisp tie, and two obsidian cufflinks that accentuated his nobility.
"It's Ji Yanchen!" Someone had already recognized him.
The guests were in an uproar, all eager to go up and get to know the man.
However, due to the men's aura that kept strangers at bay, no one dared to make the first move.
Gu Yanxin was captivated by the man at first sight.
She had only taken two steps forward when she saw the man walking calmly toward Shi Miao's direction.
She stopped in her tracks, her drooping eyelashes casting a deep shadow under her eyes, which held an intense, unyielding hatred.
Gu Yunbai touched the bridge of his nose and asked uncertainly, "Dad, has Young Master Ji taken a fancy to Miaomiao?"
Gu Qingshan looked in the direction the man had left, and having made up his mind, he said in a deep voice with a worried expression, "It should be."
Upon hearing this, Yun Rujin and Gu Yanxin looked as if they had swallowed a dead fly; their faces were so dark they could drip ink.
Gu Yunbai suddenly felt that he had made the right decision in holding the family reunion banquet. It seemed that he should treat Shi Miao better in the future, and it wouldn't be too much to give her the position of young lady.
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