Facing ridicule

After a little while longer, Wei Zelin had finally teased the kid enough and took him downstairs.

The banquet began at eight, and it was nearly time. The glittering hall downstairs was already set up, with fruit, desserts, wine, and other drinks being laid out one after another.

The hall was filled with successful people in sharp suits, accompanied by male or female partners. A few had simply brought their assistants, like Shen Duo.

Most of those Magic Cube had invited were local business partners, but it also welcomed powerful outsiders like the Wei Family and Shen Duo, who offered opportunities for mutually profitable cooperation.

Those who recognized familiar faces went over to chat. Many of those present even appeared on the national rich list. Business opportunities were everywhere, and these shrewd businessmen were hardly going to let such a fine chance slip away. They mingled in twos and threes, building connections and exploring potential partnerships. Even Shen Duo, a newly risen tycoon from Capital City, had three or four people gathered around him.

Wei Zelin was a new face, but everyone had heard something about the Wei Family. After all, Wei Zexuan's imprisonment was still a hot topic. Thus, almost everyone knew who Wei Zelin was the moment he entered. The atmosphere cooled at once, and some even glanced his way and whispered among themselves. Given the Wei Family's standing as an old, established family, this would never have happened if Wei Zexuan had come today.

Neither Shi Yuan nor Wei Zelin lacked emotional intelligence, and both saw straight through that sudden shift. Wei Zelin's smile never faded, as though he had not noticed the meaningful looks being exchanged.

Shi Yuan tugged on his hand. Wei Zelin bent his head slightly, bringing his ear close to his lips, and heard Shi Yuan whisper, "I'm a little hungry."

Wei Zelin chuckled. His little sweetheart was quite easygoing, too.

"Once our host arrives, there'll be even better food coming."

Shi Yuan understood. It was not time to eat yet; they had to wait for the host to arrive. Just then, Wei Zelin beckoned...

"Fan You, someone's calling over there. You go."

"Shirley, aren't you looking to land someone rich? That boss is so handsome. Why aren't you going?"

"What do you know? Can't you read the room? Never mind that he already has a date-did anyone even acknowledge him when he came in? He's probably from some tiny company and pulled strings to squeeze his way in. If I'm going to hook someone, it'll be a real big shot."

Shirley looked haughty, and she certainly had the assets to attract men. The buttons of her white shirt strained tightly over a bust threatening to spill out, complemented by slender legs, pale skin, and a pretty face. There was no shortage of envy in the other servers' gazes. Even if they had the same ambitions, they did not have her seductive looks.

"Fan You, did you hear me? Hurry up," she urged. A complaint would not only mean docked pay; a serious one could get them fired. She had no attachment to this lousy job serving people, but she would only leave once she had secured a rich man.

Fan You's thin body lurched under her shove. He straightened again, gave the waitress a blank look, took the tray from her hands, and walked toward Wei Zelin.

"Sir, how may I help you?"

Wei Zelin said gently, "Could you get me a glass of orange juice?"

"Please wait a moment."

Fan You kept his head lowered, his long bangs covering his eyes. He returned to the preparation area, placed a glass of freshly squeezed juice on his tray, and prepared to bring it to Wei Zelin. As he passed Shirley, a leg suddenly stuck out in his path. Unable to stop in time, Fan You fell to the floor along with the orange juice. The glass shattered into several pieces on the marble, and his arm landed on the shards, leaving a cut that bled freely.

"You!" Fan You shouted instinctively.

Shirley lifted her chin and said shrilly, "What about me? You lost your own footing. What's that got to do with me?"

"Shirley, how could you?"

Another server could not stand watching and spoke up to rebuke her.

"You were the one who didn't want to go and made Fan You do it for you. Now you're bullying him like this?"

"Exactly." The others chimed in.

Shirley rolled her eyes. "What's it to you? Sticking your noses into everything-don't you have enough business of your own?"

They were indignant, but feared that a commotion would draw their supervisor over and get them scolded. They could only disperse and return to work.

Shirley told Fan Zuo imperiously, "Hurry up and get another glass of orange juice. The guest is still waiting."

Fan You scrambled awkwardly to his feet, a patch of sticky juice staining his white shirt. He pulled two wet wipes from the cabinet beneath the counter and wiped himself off carelessly, then pressed dry tissues against his still-bleeding arm. Taking another glass of orange juice and a tray, he walked toward Wei Zelin.

"Sir, your orange juice."

Wei Zelin thanked him, and Fan You waved his hand, overwhelmed by the courtesy.

"You're wel-"

Before he could finish, Wei Zelin had already picked up the orange juice and offered it to the person behind him, his voice full of affection.

"Come here, little glutton. Have some juice first."

Shi Yuan protested, "I'm not a glutton!"

"Huh? What happened to your arm?" Shi Yuan took the orange juice and happened to notice Fan You's disheveled state.

"I'm fine." Fan You covered his injured arm. Blood was seeping through the white fabric, clearly showing that the wound had started bleeding again.

His stained clothes also made it obvious that he was in a bad state, yet Wei Zelin had acted as though he had not seen any of it.

Shi Yuan frowned. Just looking at that large bloodstain, he could imagine how much it must hurt. "You should go to the hospital and get it bandaged."

Fan You lowered his head and hunched his shoulders, saying timidly, "It's fine. I'm really fine."

Shi Yuan's brow remained furrowed, but they were strangers, and he had no right to interfere. He could only sigh. "If you need any help, you can come find me."

Wei Zelin smiled wryly to himself. He was selfish and self-serving. Who could have imagined that one day his wife would turn out to be so warmhearted? First You Gui, and now this young server.

At eight sharp, Shen Yan, the CEO of Magic Cube Technology, arrived right on time.

As the organizer of the banquet, Magic Cube was on its home turf here. The moment Shen Yan appeared, he wore a courteous smile and greeted the various business owners.

Kuang Yuebin and another, female secretary followed behind him. The secretary occasionally stepped forward to whisper in his ear, giving him detailed information about each wealthy businessman.

Wei Zelin also found an opening to step forward and shake his hand. Shen Yan slipped a small object into his palm, his lips barely moving. "Brought this for your wife."

Wei Zelin raised an eyebrow and tucked it into his pocket. As Kuang Yuebin passed him afterward, the two exchanged a knowing glance.

Shi Yuan also looked over curiously. He had a good memory and still remembered this "staff member" from the venue.

Now the man was dressed in a sharp suit and navigating the wealthy guests with ease. Clearly, he was no ordinary employee.

With the host present, the kitchen got to work. Platters of cold dishes came out first, and the dessert section gradually filled up as well. Occasions like this usually featured Western food, but Shen Yan was passionate about cuisine. Chinese dishes, with their many varieties and diverse flavors, had been given a large section of their own.

While everyone else was busy networking, Shi Yuan was busy eating. He picked up two pieces of Longjing Shrimp. The fragrance of tea balanced the shrimp's fresh, savory flavor perfectly. Finding it delicious, he took two more pieces, intending to let Wei Zelin try them.

"Well, well. When Boss Shi took the money and ran, he didn't bring his son along-and apparently didn't leave him a single cent, either. Look at this. Can our Young Master Shi no longer afford even a few bites of shrimp?"

However composed Shi Yuan might be, he was still a young man who had only just entered society. His gaze flicked around, and sure enough, the man's words had drawn several people's attention.

Shi Yuan set down his plate of food, pressed his lips together, and looked at the newcomer, cutting straight to the point.

"I don't know you, and I don't believe I've done anything to offend you. That must mean you have a grudge against my father overseas. But everyone in Capital City knows I'm the son he abandoned. Why waste your time mocking me?"

The man had not expected such a response. Instead, he suddenly laughed. "Interesting. Has old Shi's eyesight gone bad with age? With a bit of polishing, this one could amount to something. Yet he just left his own son behind?"

The person beside him leaned over as well. "If his eyesight hadn't gone bad, could he have ruined the Shi Group like that? He worked with someone like Wei Ming and still thought he could get out unscathed?"

The two exchanged smiles and clinked their red wine glasses, their eyes full of unmistakable scorn. Clearly, they held Shi Guohua in little regard.

Standing to one side, Shi Yuan felt nothing but awkward. Fortunately, Shi Guohua was not his actual father, or this would have been truly humiliating.

"The Shi Family has fallen on hard times. How did he get in here?" someone questioned.

"Don't you know? Shi Guohua previously used him to forge a marriage alliance with the Wei Corporation. He must have come with the Wei Family's eldest young master." This speaker was also a wealthy businessman from Capital City.

"The eldest young master, huh..."

Everyone knew exactly how much that title was worth.

"Yuanyuan, what's wrong?" Wei Zelin approached with a small plate of desserts. He had spotted Shi Yuan's unhappy expression from a distance, along with the gazes of the people around him. His heart tightened, and he quickened his pace.

Wei Zelin's arrival eased Shi Yuan's heart considerably. He did not want Wei Zelin to hear those ugly remarks. He himself did not care; after all, Shi Guohua was not his actual father. But Wei Zelin had suffered this sort of gossip since childhood. As ridiculous as it might sound, Shi Yuan wanted to protect him.

"Brother Lin, I'm full. Why don't we leave early?" Shi Yuan went over and took his hand, his eyes pleading.

Wei Zelin, however, mistakenly thought he had been mistreated and no longer wanted to stay. He agreed with a smile, but his gaze swept over each of the so-called elites gathered before them. Their eyes held cruelty, arrogance, derision, and mockery, as though he and the person he loved were lambs awaiting slaughter, their worth free to be assessed and their backgrounds discussed without restraint.

Even after he and Shi Yuan turned away, he could still feel the almost tangible stares surrounding them.

Shi Yuan stayed quiet the whole way. He was actually fairly easygoing, but he had little experience of the world and could still be hurt by things like this. He thought of how You Gui had been driven to despair by precisely this sort of thing, then of how Wei Zelin had spent half his life surviving in such an environment and still managed to turn the tables on those disgusting members of the Wei Family. What incredible willpower that must have taken!

Wei Zelin was so capable. Shi Yuan should not let those awful people affect his mood.

"Brother Lin, did you get that Strawberry Daifuku for me?"

Though he had little appetite now, Shi Yuan still took it, then reached for Wei Zelin's hand with his free one. By now, holding hands with Wei Zelin had become quite natural to him.

Wei Zelin's hand was broad and warmer than his own, and it felt comfortable to hold.

"Yes. I saw lots of people taking some and heard them say it was pretty good."

Shi Yuan smiled at that and swung their joined hands. "I still think the Snow Lady you bought me that time tasted better."

Wei Zelin asked, "The time we were heading back from your house?"

Shi Yuan nodded.

"When we go back in a few days, I'll take you there again."

"Sure!"