Not long after Shi Miao and Cheng Si sat down, Shi Jing and Gu Wanqing walked in hand in hand, very affectionately.
The probing gazes that had been fixed on Shi Miao and Gu Wanqing immediately shifted to Shi Jing and Gu Wanqing, who had just entered.
This left everyone present even more surprised and shocked.
After all, everyone in the hidden family knows that Shi Jing, the head of the Shi family, has not married for many years and has never had any other women by his side. Why is he unusually accompanied by a female companion today?
Apart from Shi Song and Shi Ying, who already knew the inside story, everyone else was completely confused and couldn't understand what the Shi family was planning to do at this banquet tonight. They just felt that something was wrong.
Soon, the banquet began amidst everyone's doubts and speculations.
The first half was just like a regular banquet, with waiters serving food and everyone eating, drinking, and chatting. However, the people everyone was talking about were almost all Shi Miao and the others at the main table.
Especially noticing that Shi Miao and Cheng Si were frequently talking to Shi Jing, who sat at the same table, and seemed quite familiar with each other, I figured that these two must be quite extraordinary, and I started glancing at them more and more often.
I thought Shi Jing would say something after the banquet started, but he didn't say anything until almost the end. Fortunately, everyone present was a person of importance, so they were able to keep their composure.
Just when everyone thought that this inexplicable banquet would end so abruptly, Shi Jing finally made a move.
He slowly stood up, brushed off non-existent dust from his suit, and then walked to the stage at the front of the banquet hall. His gaze swept over everyone present, and the next second, his deep and authoritative voice rang out, "I invited you all here today to introduce my wife and children."
His words immediately caused an uproar at the banquet.
Seeing Shi Miao and the others walk onto the stage, everyone suddenly realized what was going on.
I was utterly shocked. I never expected this to happen. How could such a big child suddenly appear? I don't even know if he's my biological child or adopted from a collateral branch.
Seemingly noticing the confusion in everyone's eyes, Shi Jing slowly added, "He's my wife's biological son."
Then, the names of the two were introduced: "Shi Miao, Shi Si." (From now on, we'll use Shi Si's name.)
"Congratulations, Patriarch Shi."
"Yes, congratulations."
Soon someone took the lead in responding, and the others naturally followed suit, filling the banquet hall with congratulatory voices.
...
Shi Song was naturally in no mood to congratulate him. His brow twitched, and he finally understood why Cheng Si felt so familiar at first glance. It turned out that he was Shi Jing's son. There was no doubt about it; the two looked too alike.
Shi Ying frowned, looked at the people who had already stepped off the stage, and asked in a low voice, "Third Uncle, what's going on? How come there's another son? Is he really his biological son?"
Shi Ying had little contact with Shi Jing to begin with, let alone seen him when he was young, and she had never compared and scrutinized him up close, so it was normal that she didn't notice the similarities between Shi Jing and Cheng Si at first.
Shi Song narrowed his eyes slightly and tapped the table a few times with his fingers. "It can't be wrong."
As soon as he finished speaking, the screen of the phone on the table lit up.
Upon seeing this, Shi Song picked up his phone, unlocked the screen, and saw the information he had been asked to investigate about another person who had been on the plane yesterday.
Actually, he had already guessed before clicking that person that it should be Shi Si.
Sure enough, the information showed that it was him.
The investigation revealed a simple case: an ordinary person with nothing remarkable about him. However, after the lesson he learned from Shi Miao, he dared not let his guard down.
It seems the information has been manipulated, and what's presented is only meant for others to see. Moreover, Shi Si himself gives off a feeling that he's not simple.
Shi Song glanced at his phone a few times before putting it away, though his expression was somewhat serious.
I thought that Shi Miao was the only competitor for the position of heir, and that was already a bit tricky. But now there's another one, Shi Si, whose strength I don't even know yet.
Although they didn't know who Shi Jing intended to put as his successor, in this two-on-one situation, their side was clearly at a disadvantage.
Shi Ying naturally thought of what Shi Song had thought of as well. She pressed her temples with a headache and said, "Third Uncle, the news of tonight's events will probably reach the Elders' Council soon."
Shi Song's eyes were filled with frustration. He really had no other choice at the moment. Moreover, even if Shi Jing didn't do the bombing last night, it must have been a warning from someone else.
"We can only wait and see how the successor assessment goes. Go back and prepare well, and also keep in touch with the elders."
"Hmm." Shi Ying nodded, glancing up in the direction of Shi Miao. She appeared calm on the surface, but she felt uncertain and increasingly uneasy inside.
...
Soon, the banquet drew to a close amidst everyone's congratulations. However, people would occasionally come over with wine glasses to toast Shi Jing, and some would even strike up a conversation with Shi Miao and Shi Si.
Shi Miao didn't like crowded places to begin with, and she was already feeling a bit stuffy and annoyed by people constantly trying to strike up a conversation with her. After saying goodbye to Shi Si next to her, she got up and left the banquet hall.
She walked leisurely to the lobby, glanced at the signs, and then turned and headed towards the restrooms.
Just as I reached the bathroom door and was about to go in, I bumped into Shi Ying, who was coming out of it.
Shi Miao didn't stop walking. She only glanced at her indifferently, as if she were a stranger, before walking past her and continuing inside.
"Congratulations, Miss." Shi Ying suddenly spoke up.
Upon hearing this, Shi Miao stopped and turned to look at her. Her delicate and striking face showed little emotion, and she asked rather casually, "Congratulations on what?"
Shi Ying slowly turned around, too lazy to pretend anymore. She raised her hand to tuck a stray hair behind her ear, her smile not reaching her eyes. "It's nothing, but let me remind you, don't think that just because you have the identity of a young lady, the position of heir belongs to you."
Shi Miao raised an eyebrow slightly, somewhat surprised that Shi Ying had so quickly broken off relations with her. She had thought Shi Ying would pretend for a while longer. She said calmly, "That's quite interesting. If it's not mine, is it yours?"
Shi Ying chuckled lightly, not losing in terms of momentum, "You're really talking big. Getting past the Elders' Council won't be that easy. Just you wait and see."
Shi Miao didn't reply, but gave her a deep look before turning around and continuing to walk into the restroom.
Only after Shi Miao casually picked a room, pushed open the door, and went inside did Shi Ying slowly withdraw her gaze, turn around, and leave the restroom.
...
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