Lin Fei had not taken what had happened earlier to heart at all. He merely felt that it had delayed him a little.
By the time he returned to the Ji Family villa, Ji Yaoguang had already driven off in the Ferrari, heading to the Qing family's banquet ahead of him.
Qing Fen was extremely attentive to Lin Fei and soon called, offering to send someone to pick him up.
Lin Fei casually declined his offer, saying there was no need to go to so much trouble.
He simply took a taxi and arrived at the Qing family's garden villa about ten minutes before the banquet began.
Luxury cars crowded the grounds inside and outside the Qing family villa, a scene of wealth and splendor befitting a powerful family. Lin Fei was truly the only one to arrive by taxi, instantly drawing quite a few surprised looks.
Especially after seeing his unfamiliar face, these members of high society whispered among themselves about him, unable to resist taking a few extra looks.
At a glance, Lin Fei felt that what these people wore was not clothing at all.
It was walking yuan.
Zara, Prada, LV, Gucci, Dior-the list went on and on.
In everyday life, someone walking down the street covered in luxury brands would attract more attention. Yet at this moment, it was Lin Fei, dressed simply and casually, who stood out the most.
The security guards naturally noticed the out-of-place Lin Fei too, their expressions quite strange. In their eyes, someone who took a taxi and wore cheap clothes was obviously not qualified to attend a banquet like this.
Two security guards stopped Lin Fei and asked him to show his invitation.
After confirming that there was nothing wrong with the invitation, the two guards were even more baffled. They exchanged a glance, both looking somewhat hesitant.
"This Lin Fei... have you heard of him?" one guard asked awkwardly.
The other guard shook his head. After a moment's hesitation, he could not help asking Lin Fei, "Sir, could you prove that you're the Lin Fei on this invitation?"
Anyone invited to a banquet by the Qing family was naturally no ordinary figure. But the problem was that, no matter how they looked at the man before them, he did not seem like someone from high society...
Lin Fei gave them a cool glance and said, "What, I have to prove that I'm myself? Should I show you my ID?"
"Qing Fen certainly puts on airs. He personally invited me to his banquet, only to have people stop me at the door. I'd like to ask him just what he means by this."
The two guards were dumbstruck.
Fuck, such big talk! He doesn't even show the chairman of the Qing Clan Group any respect? Who does he think he is, Yao Zhicheng, the richest man in the southwest?!
Displeasure crossed the face of the guard on the left. Just as he was about to flare up, the guard on the right caught his arm in time and gave him a meaningful look.
Working for a powerful family like this required some caution. It was not the ten thousand ordinary cases one had to fear, but the one exception.
Seeing that the guard on the left had restrained his temper, the one on the right finally said with a genial smile, "Please don't take offense, Mr. Lin. We just didn't expect you to be so..."
The guard looked conflicted. After briefly considering his wording, he continued, "Down-to-earth. Since you have an invitation, you're an honored guest of the Qing family. Please, come in..."
Under the astonished gazes of the other guests, Lin Fei calmly walked into the Qing family villa.
He had only just stepped through the entrance when Qing Fen called him.
Upon learning that Lin Fei had already arrived, Qing Fen immediately wanted to come and receive him personally. Lin Fei casually declined, however, telling him to attend to the other guests.
"By the way, where's Ji Yaoguang?" Lin Fei asked.
"Miss Ji is in the bedroom with my daughter. They seem to be getting along quite well." Qing Fen smiled.
"What about Song Hao?" Lin Fei asked casually.
Qing Fen paused briefly, but soon replied, "He seemed to want to pester Miss Ji, but she ignored him."
Lin Fei nodded slightly. "I see."
With that, Lin Fei hung up.
He was not actually interested in banquets like this. Aside from growing restless after being idle for so long, his main reason for coming was Ji Yaoguang.
Lin Fei soon reached the drinks area. Several bartenders in tailcoats were stationed there, mixing drinks specifically for the guests. Everything was available, from highly alcoholic vodka and whiskey to all manner of mixed fruit wines with very low alcohol content.
He picked up a glass of fruit wine at random, sipping as he walked.
Quite a few people could not help casting surprised looks at the simply dressed Lin Fei.
Which family's young master is he? Why hasn't he even changed into formal clothes for a formal occasion?
Lin Fei ignored the looks of those around him. Instead, he leisurely wandered about, examining the furnishings in the Qing family's hall. He had nothing else to do anyway, so he treated it as a way to pass the time while waiting for Ji Yaoguang to come downstairs.
Judging by the hall's furnishings, Qing Fen enjoyed collecting antiques and had invested considerable money and effort into it. Besides the usual Ming and Qing porcelain and coins, there were quite a few treasured pieces bearing the weathered marks of time.
Lin Fei casually surveyed his surroundings. Ji Yaoguang had yet to appear, but he spotted two "familiar faces."
Meng Zhe and Han Enci. The two seemed quite close.
Han Enci's ear had once been cut by a business card Lin Fei had casually flicked at him. The wound had now healed, leaving only a faint scar.
Meng Zhe, on the other hand, had only yesterday been beaten by Lin Fei until he vomited blood on the spot and even suffered a broken bone, yet he now appeared largely fine. Apart from repeatedly sucking in a cold breath from the pain and instinctively keeping his back ramrod straight, there was almost no sign that he had suffered such serious injuries.
Seeing that Meng Zhe was largely unharmed, a barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of Lin Fei's mouth.
Although the injuries had not been fatal, recovering to this extent so quickly made it fairly easy to guess who had done it.
If Hua Ming had not poured all his effort into treating him, then someone from the Medicine Sect had personally intervened.
And neither was someone a third-rate wastrel like Meng Zhe could enlist. Clearly, Song Hao had looked after his own dog and taken him to a doctor.
Lin Fei could not be bothered with either of them. After a single glance, he looked away.
Having watched Meng Zhe along the way, Han Enci asked in some puzzlement, "Little Meng, does your back hurt? Did you go for something hardcore when you got a massage last night and order a three- or four-hundred-jin fat woman to walk on your back?"
"I-" The mere thought filled Meng Zhe with resentment, but he could only swallow his knocked-out front teeth along with his grievances.
There was no helping it. Nobody would want to spread such a humiliating story around.
Looking thoroughly dejected, Meng Zhe forced a reluctant smile. "Come on, Brother Enci. Stop making fun of me."
Han Enci chuckled and dropped the subject. Instead, he took two cocktails from a nearby waiter's tray and offered one to Meng Zhe.
Meng Zhe did not take the glass, however. Instead, he stared fixedly in one direction, his face filled with hatred, his teeth even clenched tight.
Somewhat surprised, Han Enci followed his gaze.
At that moment, Han Enci's hand shook, spilling the drink onto himself.
Holy shit, why is this great demon king here?
Before Han Enci could speak, Meng Zhe sneered, "A lousy bodyguard actually dared to sneak into the Qing family's banquet. Just watch how I deal with him!"