The family reunion banquet

Three days later, at the Mu Family's banquet at the Mingding Hotel.

"I heard the Mu Family held this banquet to welcome their biological son back into the family."

"A family reunion banquet? Does that mean one of the Mu Family's three sons isn't actually theirs?"

"Who do you think it is?"

"Who knows?"

A white luxury car pulled up outside the entrance, and Mu Xingfeng and his family got out.

Yan Wen wore an ivory suit. Although it was his first time wearing one, his presence completely overshadowed Mu Huai'an behind him.

Mu Xingfeng and Xie Yunshu walked on either side of Yan Wen, the three of them chatting and laughing as they entered the hotel.

Mu Huai'an felt bitter. In the past, he had always been the center of attention, no matter the occasion.

He was, after all, the younger brother she had doted on since childhood. Worried that Mu Huai'an would feel hurt, Mu Xu Xi stayed behind to walk with him.

Graceful, melodious classical music played at the banquet. All the guests came from Weicheng's prominent families.

Some discussed contracts for upcoming business partnerships, while their wives chatted about the latest handbags and clothes.

"Chairman Mu and his family are here."

"The one in the middle must be the Mu Family's newly reunited young master, right?"

"Wasn't their biological son supposed to be from some backwater, with no experience of the world? He certainly doesn't look it."

"Could he have been born with that presence?"

Listening to the comments about him, Yan Wen inwardly broke into a nervous sweat. His palms were already damp with anxiety. He hoped everything would go smoothly at today's banquet.

"Host, the dangerous target will appear shortly. Please prepare yourself!"

Mu Xingfeng and Xie Yunshu glanced around warily. What dangerous target? They had arranged security and bodyguards for this banquet. No one could possibly cause trouble.

Yan Wen chuckled. "Xiao Qi, your host is going to show you something good."

Mu Huai'an approached with a man who looked like a refined scoundrel. The man gave Yan Wen a contemptuous glance. "Uncle, Auntie, isn't it inappropriate to leave An out in the cold like this?"

"So this is Fang Qingyan?"

"Yes. Fang Qingyan is the Fang Family's heir. Being chosen as the heir speaks to his cunning and intelligence, but after he met Mu Huai'an, it was as though his IQ plummeted. Mu Huai'an is all he thinks about."

"Even better. Come on, let me show you a true lovesick fool."

Mu Xingfeng and Xie Yunshu both knew how Fang Qingyan felt about their adopted son, Mu Huai'an. The two families were longtime friends, and Mu Xingfeng had even considered playing matchmaker with the Fang Family once Mu Huai'an finished his studies, if the two still liked each other then.

Mu Huai'an tugged at Fang Qingyan. "Xiao Wen, today's banquet was held for Wen in the first place. Of course Mom and Dad should spend more time with him."

Fang Qingyan spoke up indignantly on Mu Huai'an's behalf. "Uncle, Auntie, even if you've found your biological son, you can't treat An like this, can you? Aren't you afraid of hurting him?"

Yan Wen clicked his tongue and sighed softly. "His brain really is full of Huai'an."

"Host, should we go over now?"

"Of course. How else are we going to join in the fun?"

Seeing Yan Wen approach, Xie Yunshu took his hand and introduced him to the older guests one by one. Yan Wen greeted each of them, his manner poised and appropriate, without a single misstep.

"Xiao Wen, this is Qingyan, the Fang Family's eldest son and heir. He grew up with Huai'an."

Yan Wen nodded politely. "Hello. I'm Yan Wen."

Fang Qingyan merely frowned disdainfully, his face full of displeasure and distaste for Yan Wen.

Yan Wen tilted his head. "Don't you even know how to say hello?"

Mu Huai'an hurried to smooth things over. "Xiao Wen, Qingyan hasn't spent much time with people beneath his status. He didn't mean anything by it."

Yan Wen smiled. "I understand. He's an heir, after all. They tend to think rather highly of themselves. But this is someone else's banquet, and basic respect is still required. The Fang Family's influence in Weicheng may not amount to even a tenth of the Mu Family's, but they're still a respectable family. What if someone saw him talking nonsense?"

Fang Qingyan sneered inwardly. What a silver tongue. He's clearly after the Mu Family's power. He's barely been welcomed back, and he's already throwing their weight around.

"Fang Qingyan, eldest son of the Fang Family."

Mu Xingfeng changed the subject. "Has Old Mr. Fang been well lately?"

Fang Qingyan nodded. "Grandfather is in good health. Thank you for thinking of him, Uncle."

"Good. We've just finalized a business partnership, too. I'll pay Old Mr. Fang a visit in a few days."

Fang Qingyan stayed with Mu Huai'an the whole time, while Yan Wen watched the drama with the system, Xiao Qi, from an inconspicuous corner.

"Xiao Qi, how do you think Mu Huai'an will come after me?"

"Mu Huai'an wants to frame you as a sticky-fingered thief."

"Couldn't we just check the surveillance footage?"

"Mu Huai'an already arranged for someone to break the cameras. Host, we'd better think of something quickly, or you'll soon be branded a thief."

Yan Wen left the corner and deliberately headed toward the crowd, selecting food from the buffet table.

After choosing a slice of cake, Yan Wen accidentally collided with someone as he turned, smearing cream all over his clothes.

"Sorry, sorry! I didn't see you. I'm really sorry."

Yan Wen wiped at his clothes. "It's fine. I'll just go change."

A waiter came over to take Yan Wen to an upstairs room to change. Following behind him, Yan Wen laughed inwardly. "Is this the waiter Mu Huai'an bought off?"

"Yes, Host. While you're changing, this waiter will slip the necklace into your clothes. Once the lady who lost it realizes it's missing, Fang Qingyan and Mu Huai'an will suggest closing the doors and searching everyone one by one."

"Fang Qingyan arranged for this waiter, didn't he?"

"Yes. Fang Qingyan thinks you've wronged Mu Huai'an, so he wants to get even for him."

"Ugh. Even zombies wouldn't eat a lovesick brain."

The waiter brought the prepared clothes, handed them to Yan Wen, and left.

After changing, Yan Wen found a silver necklace in his suit trousers, just as expected. A clear, brilliant red gemstone sat at its center.

Holding the necklace, Yan Wen asked, "Xiao Qi, can you transfer this necklace onto Fang Qingyan?"

"No problem, Host. But why don't you transfer it onto Mu Huai'an?"

"He's the one who bribed the waiter and came up with the idea. Wouldn't it be a waste of all his effort if I didn't put it on him?"

"Understood. Xiao Qi will use the system to transfer the necklace onto Fang Qingyan right now."

Mu Xingfeng and the other two exchanged bewildered looks, unsure what to do. They could only hope that none of what Xiao Wen had said was true. Huai'an couldn't possibly do such a thing, and Qingyan was the Fang Family's heir, making it even less conceivable that he would.

Mu Xu Xi asked quietly, "But what if it's true?"

Mu Xingfeng rubbed between his brows, his head aching. "I hope those two boys won't do anything foolish."

Not long after Yan Wen came downstairs, a lady did indeed cry out that her necklace was missing. A friend beside her suggested checking the surveillance footage, and sure enough, a waiter came over to say that the cameras were broken.

Mu Huai'an and Fang Qingyan played off each other. "Everyone here is an important figure in Weicheng. Who would steal a mere necklace?"

"That might not be true for certain people. That necklace is worth enough for an ordinary person to live in luxury for several lifetimes."

Mu Huai'an suggested, "It's such an expensive necklace. We really have to find it. Why don't we ask everyone to put up with a little inconvenience and submit to a search?"

Xie Yunshu's heart sank. It had happened exactly as Yan Wen had said.