Inside the inner hall of the Capital Merchants' Guild's First-Rank Tower.
Jiang Xiaobai reclined in the seat of honor, his eyes closed, sleeping soundly.
The people present were still murmuring among themselves.
Their gazes kept drifting toward the seat of honor, their expressions growing increasingly anxious.
A whole hour!
Ordinarily, that would hardly have counted as long to them.
But with such a lucrative business opportunity right before their eyes, never mind an hour-even seven or eight minutes would have left them unbearably impatient.
Just then, Jiang Xiaobai stirred, stretched, and slowly opened his eyes.
"He's awake! He's awake!"
At the sight, everyone's faces lit up with delight.
Jiang Xiaobai slowly sat upright and straightened his clothes before looking at everyone. "Sorry for the wait, everyone!"
"Young Heir Apparent, there's no need to be so formal with us!"
One trading house steward reacted exceptionally quickly, his face utterly earnest. "To tell you the truth, witnessing the Young Heir Apparent rest today has made me feel blessed across three lifetimes!"
"Pfft..."
Jiang Xiaobai had just taken a sip of tea and nearly sprayed it out, staring at the steward in shock.
Wasn't... that going a little too far?
"Hmph! Steward Pan, isn't that utterly shameless of you?"
Another steward looked thoroughly disdainful. "And... it's so perfunctory! Not a shred of sincerity!"
Then he turned to Jiang Xiaobai with a smile. "Young Heir Apparent, to tell you the truth, the sight of you sleeping just now reminded me of my father, who passed away many years ago!"
"If the Young Heir Apparent doesn't mind, I'd gladly take you as my adoptive father!"
Huh?
Jiang Xiaobai's mouth fell open, and he froze on the spot.
"You're even more shameless than Steward Pan!"
Another steward beside them could no longer sit still. He hurried