The banquet (-)

The car drove straight to the entrance of the manor. After they got out, Shangguan Mingyue took two boxes from the trunk and handed one to Chen Ze. "There's a longevity Buddha carved from red coral inside. Give it to my grandmother as a birthday present later."

Chen Ze hefted the box. It felt quite heavy, probably three or four jin. He couldn't help asking, "How much did it cost?"

Shangguan Mingyue glanced at him and said coolly, "A friend of mine found the material, and I hired someone to carve it. It's worth five million, and money alone couldn't buy it."

Chen Ze clicked his tongue inwardly and tightened his grip on the box, afraid it might slip from his hands if he wasn't careful.

Shangguan Mingyue leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Do you still remember why you came here?"

Chen Ze smiled confidently and leaned close to her ear in turn. "Of course. Take someone's money, take care of their troubles. President... ah, no, Sister Mingyue, just watch me. I'll make sure to wreck this marriage arrangement for you!"

"Then how do you plan to do it?" Shangguan Mingyue continued whispering in his ear.

Chen Ze gestured for her to lower her head a little more, raised a hand beside his mouth, and whispered, "I'm planning to start with your prospective marriage partner. If I can make him embarrass himself in front of your grandmother, we'll be halfway to success!"

"Oh? What about the other half?" Shangguan Mingyue's curiosity was piqued.

"If I'm not mistaken, this marriage was most likely arranged because your family and that man's family wanted to gain something from it. The other half depends on whether your family is willing to give up those benefits. If they aren't, then even if they tell you to marry an old man, you'll have to marry him," Chen Ze said thoughtfully.

Shangguan Mingyue was secretly startled. She hadn't expected this little man to be so clever!

Chen Ze stroked his chin and thought for a moment before adding, "To make your family give up the benefits of this marriage, there would have to be even greater benefits elsewhere. Otherwise, even if we wreck the arrangement today, your family might find you another marriage partner tomorrow."

Clap, clap, clap! Shangguan Mingyue applauded, though with a gift in one hand, the clapping wasn't very loud.

"Well said! But you've already taken the money, so first you have to help me deal with this trouble," Shangguan Mingyue said.

"I'll do my best, but let's get this straight first: even if I don't succeed, I'm not giving the money back!" Chen Ze gave her fair warning so she wouldn't pick fault with him later!

"Hmph! You little money grubber!" Shangguan Mingyue said, thoroughly displeased.

To outsiders, the two of them whispering in each other's ears looked exceptionally intimate.

Shangguan Mingyue suddenly bent her arm and gestured toward Chen Ze with her brows.

"What?" Chen Ze didn't understand.

"Take my arm!" Shangguan Mingyue suddenly felt that this little man could be very shrewd at times, yet very silly at others.

"Oh... oh!" Chen Ze caught on and hurriedly hooked one arm through hers, carrying the gift bag in his other hand. He leaned toward her, tilting his head slightly against her shoulder, looking very much like a little bird seeking shelter!

If he was going to put on an act, he had to go all the way. Chen Ze was very professional.

When they reached the manor entrance, a middle-aged woman dressed like a housekeeper came forward and said respectfully, "Third Miss, you're here?"

"Yes. Aunt Liu, has everyone arrived?" Shangguan Mingyue asked coolly.

"Everyone except the eldest miss has arrived," Aunt Liu said respectfully.

Aunt Liu gave Chen Ze an unobtrusive glance but said nothing. She stepped aside and said, "Third Miss, please come in."

Shangguan Mingyue nodded and strode into the manor with Chen Ze on her arm.

The two followed a pebbled path past artificial mountains and fountains. Chen Ze was deeply struck by the manor's luxury! He couldn't help asking, "Who owns this manor?"

"It belongs to the Cheng Family, one of the Capital's four great families. You're not in a position to come into contact with them yet, so there's no need to know so much," Shangguan Mingyue said coolly.

"Oh, that woman just called you Third Miss. Does that mean you have two older sisters?" Chen Ze had seemingly turned into a curious child, wanting answers to everything.

"I'll tell you when there's a chance!" Shangguan Mingyue didn't seem to want to talk about it.

"Oh!" Chen Ze knew better than to press her and shut his mouth.

The two arrived at the villa and entered the banquet hall, which was already packed with people.

Everyone inside was dressed in splendid finery, displaying elegance and composure as cups and goblets passed between them. Everyone conversed in low voices, with the occasional clink of glasses.

Their arrival drew the attention of some of the guests. One of them whispered to a companion, "Look, that's the Shangguan Family's third miss!"

"It's her? I heard she had a huge quarrel with the old madam three years ago, then went to Tianmei Entertainment. She hasn't been home in three years!" the companion said.

"Oh, what did they quarrel about?" the first person asked.

"I'm not sure. In any case, the quarrel was pretty fierce. The eldest Shangguan miss tried to persuade her several times, but she still didn't go home."

"Ah, among great families, isn't it always about those few things? It's nothing unusual anymore."

"Mm, that makes sense!"

"But who's the man beside her? He's so beautiful!"

"I don't know, but he looks a little familiar. I think I've seen him somewhere?"

"Look how close they are. Could he be her partner?"

"Impossible! I know some inside information. Apparently, the old madam is going to make an announcement in front of everyone at this birthday banquet."

"What announcement?"

"Apparently, it's about an arranged marriage for the third miss!"

"An arranged marriage? Which family's young master is she marrying?"

"Which other family could it be? Of course it's the Wang Family, another of the four great families!"

"Aren't there no men in the Wang Family's current generation?"

"Not in the current generation, but there are in the previous one!"

"Hiss!" The person sucked in a breath of cold air!

"You mean that forty-year-old widower from the Wang Family?"

"Shh! Watch your words, watch your words!"

"Have you been well lately, Sister Yue?" Wang Jing asked, walking over with a glass of red wine in her hand, her figure swaying.

"Thanks to you, Sister Wang Jing, everything's well." Shangguan Mingyue didn't seem to care much for Wang Jing, and her tone was neither warm nor cold.

Chen Ze studied Wang Jing curiously. She wore a blue strapless evening gown, her bare, delicate shoulders as white as creamy jade. A crystal pendant hung around her snowy neck, its tip reaching deep into her cleavage, rising and falling as she walked. A pair of crystal high heels made her long legs look even more fair and flawless!

Name: Wang Jingjing

Gender: Female

Age: 22

Height: 186

Figure: 90

Physique: 95

Bearing: 85

Charm: 93

Holy crap! Her physique is so high. Could she know martial arts? Chen Ze clicked his tongue inwardly.

Wang Jingjing paid Shangguan Mingyue's attitude no mind. She smiled faintly and said, "It's been over a year since we last saw each other, hasn't it? I never expected that the next time we met, you'd be about to become my aunt. Life really is unpredictable!"

Shangguan Mingyue's expression, as still as an ancient well, finally cracked. "Wang Jingjing, it's a little too early to be saying that," she said angrily. "It's impossible."

"Oh, Sister Yue, isn't it only a matter of time? After this banquet, I'll have to start calling you Aunt." Wang Jingjing beamed as she spoke. But the cold glint that inadvertently flashed in her eyes made her seem a little different on the inside from the outside.

This woman is no simple character! Chen Ze thought to himself.

She had seized the initiative as soon as she appeared, putting her finger on Shangguan Mingyue's sore spot and making her unable to keep even her most basic emotions in check. That showed how formidable she was.

Shangguan Mingyue was just about to lose her temper when Chen Ze suddenly tugged on her hand. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself.

Shangguan Mingyue's expression settled, and she said coolly, "There's no need for you to concern yourself with that, Sister Wang Jing. Our elders will naturally decide what happens between your uncle and me."

Shangguan Mingyue's expression changed, and she said with a hint of mockery, "But I heard that Sister Wang Jing was made to take the fall by Old Madam Wang as soon as she graduated. I wonder how much longer that lousy company of yours can hold on? I've heard your maternal uncle has done quite a number on it! If you don't have any good ideas, Sister Wang Jing, you can come and discuss it with me."

Wang Jingjing's beaming face suddenly turned livid. "There's no need for you to concern yourself with that, Sister," she said coldly. "I have my own ways, naturally."

The lousy company Shangguan Mingyue spoke of was none other than Huasheng Entertainment. Apart from the parasite Wang Fugui, the greater reason for Huasheng Entertainment's rapid decline was that Shangguan Mingyue had poached its key members. As a result, when Wang Jingjing took over, she discovered there was hardly anyone useful left. On top of that, the two had never gotten along since childhood, which had led to the scene before them.

Their words were barbed, and Chen Ze watched with considerable interest.

"The handsome man beside you looks very familiar, Sister Yue. I wonder what he is to you?"

Wang Jingjing suddenly changed the subject. She had seen Chen Ze tug on Shangguan Mingyue's hand just now. She had originally wanted to upset Shangguan Mingyue, her archenemy since childhood, but Chen Ze had stepped in and ruined her plans.

Shangguan Mingyue gazed at Chen Ze with deep affection and said, "His name is Chen Ze. He's the man I love deeply!"

Holy shit! Chen Ze exclaimed inwardly. He really had no idea how she could go against her conscience and pretend to look so affectionate. Women really were born actresses!

Chen Ze also put on an affectionate expression and gently rested his head on Shangguan Mingyue's shoulder, looking very happy!

"Oh! I remember there was also a man named Chen Ze on The Voice of Great Xia some time ago. Could that be you?" Wang Jingjing said, feigning surprise.

She had recognized Chen Ze as that Chen Ze from the very beginning. As the general manager of an entertainment company, she couldn't possibly be unaware of the entertainment world's recently viral rising star. She was deliberately saying this now for some purpose.

"That's me. Hello, Miss Wang!" Chen Ze put on a thoroughly polite front.

"It really is you! I love all the songs you sang on the show! Everyone says you're a musical genius who only appears once in a hundred years, and I couldn't agree more." Wang Jingjing seemed to have turned into one of Chen Ze's fans, her expression full of excitement!

"You flatter me, Miss Wang. My songs are only average," Chen Ze said with a smile, looking innocent and utterly free of guile.

"You're too modest, Chen Ze. I wonder if you've joined an entertainment company yet? Would you consider our Huasheng Entertainment Company?" Wang Jingjing asked.

Wang Jingjing knew full well that Chen Ze belonged to Tianmei Entertainment, yet she pretended otherwise and tried to poach him right in front of Tianmei Entertainment's president. She clearly wanted to disgust Shangguan Mingyue.

"That won't be necessary. Chen Ze already belongs to Tianmei Entertainment," Shangguan Mingyue said coldly.

Chen Ze put on an apologetic expression, then turned to gaze "tenderly" at Shangguan Mingyue.

"I see! What a pity. Since Chen Ze already belongs to Tianmei Entertainment, I won't take what someone else loves," Wang Jingjing said. It was unclear what she meant by "what a pity."