The banquet

"Huh? A banquet? Am I going too?" Gu Nian'an, who was petting the cat, suddenly heard the man say he would take him to a banquet at the Fu Family that afternoon and was puzzled.

Fu Xiuyuan looked calm as he said unhurriedly, "Members of the main family and some business partners will be there. As my partner, of course you should attend with me."

The banquet was not only an opportunity to make new acquaintances, but also to announce the change in the head of the Fu Family.

Recalling what Li Jiyuan had said last time, Fu Xiuyuan's expression chilled, and he gently rubbed the thumb ring on his hand.

It was also time to put those restless people in their place so they would stop entertaining thoughts they should not have.

After a moment's thought, Gu Nian'an nodded obediently and asked, "Then, sir, is there anything I need to prepare?"

He did not yet know what the banquets described in novels were like in real life, so he could not help feeling a little nervous. Besides, if he was attending as a partner, were there things he needed to watch out for?

"No. I've already prepared your clothes. If anyone talks to you there, respond if you want to. If you don't, just enjoy yourself. I'll stay with you. After the banquet, we'll spend the night there and come back the next day."

The young man's words drew Fu Xiuyuan out of his thoughts. He raised his gaze to the clear eyes before him, a trace of tenderness flickering in his own.

Hearing this, Gu Nian'an let out a small breath of relief and nodded, relaxing.

The next day, with Fu Xiuyuan's help, the young man put on a white suit with a rose brooch pinned to his chest.

Fu Xiuyuan wore a black suit. His shoulders were broad and his waist slim, and the well-tailored suit outlined his fit physique.

Gu Nian'an could not help stealing a few extra glances, admiration flashing in his eyes. The male lead really did look good in a suit.

The banquet was being held at a hotel owned by the Fu Family. After arriving at their destination,

they went straight to the third floor. The banquet was held in the hotel's third-floor hall, which had been lavishly decorated. Exquisite oil paintings hung on the walls, and the lighting was bright without being harsh.

Plenty of desserts and seafood were laid out on the dining tables, and the kitchen would bring out hot dishes throughout the banquet once it began.

A large table at the back also held plenty of fine wines. The hall had a professional service team as well, dressed in matching uniforms and waiting nearby, ready to serve the guests at any time.

Since most of the guests had traveled from out of town to attend, the hotel had cleared out all its rooms and reserved them for the arriving guests.

The guests had already begun arriving one after another. Without some wealth or standing, one could not attend this banquet, so nearly everyone present belonged to the upper-class elite, from both political and business circles.

Fu Xiuyuan entered with Gu Nian'an. Seeing the central figure of the banquet arrive, everyone turned to look.

Looking up, they saw the man slowly approach in a black suit. Beneath the banquet hall's lights, his handsome, tall figure looked striking, his bearing distinguished yet relaxed, as pleasing to the eye as the oil paintings on the walls.

As soon as he entered, he greeted everyone courteously, looking straight at them with his deep eyes.

So this was the newly appointed head of the Fu Family. Thinking of his methods and Old Master Fu, quite a few people inwardly marveled at how young and accomplished he was. The pupil had truly surpassed the master.

Then their gazes shifted to the young man he had brought with him. Beside the tall man followed a young man dressed in a pure white suit.

The young man had a slender figure, slightly curly hair falling softly beside his ears, delicate features, and eyes as dazzling as the stars and moon.

Watching the young man quietly follow at his side, many wondered who he was. Could he be a younger relative of Fu Xiuyuan's?

Noticing the confusion in their eyes, Fu Xiuyuan took the hand of the person beside him and said in a low voice, "This is my partner, Gu Nian'an. We only married a few months ago, so I haven't had the chance to announce it publicly."

A partner? A man, at that? They were already married?

Everyone was surprised, but after so many years in these circles, none of them let it show. Instead, they praised the two as a perfect match.

Still, at first glance, both of them were indeed exceptionally good-looking and looked very well suited to each other.

Several men approached and eagerly struck up a conversation with Fu Xiuyuan, hoping to discuss business with him.

Seeing this, Fu Xiuyuan turned and gently stroked the hand of the person beside him, saying softly, "If you're hungry, go have something to eat. I have something to take care of. Can you keep yourself entertained for a while?"

Seeing the concern in Fu Xiuyuan's eyes as he looked at him, an inexplicable feeling suddenly welled up in Gu Nian'an's heart.

"Okay," Gu Nian'an answered softly, giving the man a gentle smile.

Tenderness flashed in Fu Xiuyuan's eyes. He rubbed the young man's head, then turned and left with the others.

The men nearby took in their entire exchange. Thinking of the methods Fu Xiuyuan had used against his own family, then comparing them to what they had just seen, they could not help shuddering. This new family head really was...

Gu Nian'an picked up a plate of cake, casually brushed off a few people who tried to strike up conversations, and quietly sat down on a sofa to the side.

Several people had hoped to take the opportunity to ask the young man about Fu Xiuyuan, but seeing his response, and since they all had their pride, they stopped inviting rejection and walked away.

Gu Nian'an looked up at the man standing among the crowd. Holding a wineglass, he was casually discussing something with the people around him, the lighting lending his handsome profile a particularly gentle cast.

Gu Nian'an could not help losing himself in the sight.

Suddenly, a clear male voice sounded beside him, and Gu Nian'an looked up.

He saw a man with delicate features sit down beside him.

"You're Fu Xiuyuan's partner, right? Hello, I'm Li Zhuwan. I was Fu Xiuyuan's childhood playmate, so I suppose you could call us childhood friends." The man looked at him with smiling eyes and held out his hand.

Gu Nian'an froze for a moment before reacting and shaking his hand. "Hello."

But he could not help wondering. Li Zhuwan? The book never mentioned that name, and I've never heard Fu Xiuyuan mention him either.

Seeing that the young man had no intention of speaking, Li Zhuwan merely gave a faint smile, a dark glint passing through his eyes. He said slowly, "Xiuyuan's family and mine are old family friends, you could say. We played together as children, though we lost touch a little later on. How come I never heard him mention getting married?"

He then glanced at the young man's expression and continued, "I remember you. You're a celebrity, right? I've watched your talent competition and your variety shows. They were very entertaining."

With that, Li Zhuwan stared straight into his eyes with his own smiling gaze, as though searching for something.

Gu Nian'an paused, picking up on the malice in his tone. A smile curved his lips as he said softly, "I've never heard my husband mention you either. He took me out for a meal with his friends before."

He paused again, his eyes shifting as though recalling something, then added, "There were three of them: Li Jiyuan, Li Mochen, and Wan Xufeng. I remember Wan Xufeng saying he grew up with my husband. How come I never heard any of them mention you?"

After speaking, the young man tilted his head and looked at him with apparent confusion.

A trace of coldness crept into Li Zhuwan's eyes, and his voice suddenly turned rather shrill and biting. "You don't really think Xiuyuan married you because he likes you, do you? Do you know about the will his grandfather left? His grandfather-"

Before he could finish, a voice sounded from behind him.