Volume 1, Chapter 60: Conflict at the Banquet

"Sister Wanqiu, I didn't mean to, this..."

Yan Fengjia froze in place.

Qin Wanqiu, with her back turned to him, was wearing simple and form-fitting undergarments that highlighted her perfectly curvaceous figure, her skin taut and smooth.

It was the ultimate embodiment of the ideal female form in the hearts of countless men.

Qin Wanqiu let out a sharp gasp and quickly squatted down. Her dark, coiled hair came loose as a hairpin slipped, cascading down like a waterfall due to the sudden movement.

"Don't look, turn around," Qin Wanqiu said, her face flushed with embarrassment and annoyance.

Yan Fengjia quickly turned his back.

Moments later, Qin Wanqiu hurriedly pulled up her dress. "C-Could you help me ask the salesperson for a size larger? This one isn't quite right for me."

"Ahem, ahem. Sure!"

Shortly after, Qin Wanqiu emerged wearing a new long dress, her face blushing deeply, her eyes darting away to avoid meeting Yan Fengjia's gaze.

"I'll take this set," Qin Wanqiu said, taking out her bank card to pay for both the new dress and the previous one that had been ruined.

The female attendant smiled and said, "Miss, your boyfriend has already paid for everything. You don't need to pay."

Qin Wanqiu looked at Yan Fengjia, feeling a bit awkward, but she didn't bother to clarify their relationship.

"I'll transfer the money to you."

"No need, we're family. No need to be so polite," Yan Fengjia cleared his throat and casually tossed Qin Wanqiu's old clothes into the trash bin.

Seeing this, Qin Wanqiu rushed to retrieve them. "Don't throw them away. A tailor can fix them, and I can still wear them."

Yan Fengjia stopped her. "You are the executive president of a company. If you go around wearing patched-up clothes, people might start doubting our company's financial standing."

"Alright then." Hearing that it would affect the company's image, Qin Wanqiu cast one last reluctant glance at the old clothes before following Yan Fengjia out.

Just then, Yan Fengjia's phone rang.

It was a call from Elder Tang of the Monarch Group.

"Mr. Yan, I heard from President Gusu Yanyou that you intend to summon the rest of the board members for a meeting. Can I set off now and head to Qinghai City?"

"Go ahead," Yan Fengjia replied indifferently, then added, "How are the Long family mother and son doing now?"

"Ah, matters here have already been handled properly. For this meeting, the Long family will represent the Tian family in attending the board meeting."

Yan Fengjia hung up the phone and drove Qin Wanqiu to the hospital.

"Keep a close eye on her. No mistakes," Yan Fengjia instructed several bodyguards stationed at the door.

"Rest assured, Young Master Yan. With us here, nothing will go wrong."

These bodyguards were top-tier professionals.

Yan Fengjia had specifically hired them at a high salary through his Fifth Senior Sister's Huaxia Security Company.

...

Jiulong Island Villa.

As soon as Yan Fengjia arrived home, a buoyant figure rushed out to meet him.

"Yan Fengjia, you're finally back!"

Gu Qinghan was wearing fresh, tight-fitting jeans that accentuated her youthful, rounded hips, paired with an off-the-shoulder short-sleeve top that highlighted her slender, waistline.

A red-string bracelet was dangling from her wrist.

Yan Fengjia remembered that this bracelet seemed to be something he had given her back in high school.

He hadn't expected her to keep it all this time.

"Why are you here?" Yan Fengjia asked, puzzled.

Just then, he heard his father and Gu Cangfeng chatting and walking out of the study.

"Fengjia, you're back. I've been waiting for you for a long time." The more Gu Cangfeng looked at Yan Fengjia, the more he liked him.

Every day, he looked forward to the day Yan Fengjia would become his son-in-law.

"Uncle Gu, is something the matter?" Yan Fengjia let Gu Qinghan link her arm through his as he walked forward.

"Yes, there is indeed a small matter. Earlier, my company had a very important collaboration with a major out-of-town group."

"During further discussions this morning, we realized it would be very difficult for my company alone to meet the land quota requirements. I figured our two families should make a fortune together."

"Your father and I mean to say that this time we should join forces to secure this partnership, and split the profits fifty-fifty. What do you think?"

"Whatever works. You guys decide."

Yan Fengjia didn't care much for such small-scale ventures and wasn't particularly invested.

"Alright, then it's settled. Tonight, you and Qinghan will represent our two families at this banquet."

Yan Fengjia initially wanted to refuse, but realizing Qin Wanqiu was tied up and couldn't make it, he had no choice but to agree.

In the evening, Yan Fengjia drove to pick up Gu Qinghan.

Gu Qinghan had carefully dressed up for the occasion, wearing a slightly seductive, white low-cut evening gown paired with exquisite high heels, giving her an aura of mature, feminine charm.

Yan Fengjia, on the other hand, was dressed rather casually with a cigarette dangling from his lips. He raised an eyebrow and said, "Not bad, very sexy."

Gu Qinghan chuckled. "How's that? Not bad, right?"

No joke, Gu Qinghan was of campus belle caliber back in school, and countless admirers had chased after her.

Coupled with her family background, she could be considered practically flawless.

Yan Fengjia smiled. "Not bad at all, you really surprise me. Let's go, get in the car."

In Qinghai City, at a pool party held in a private estate.

The young master of the Shanghai real estate tycoon family, the Liu family, had invited numerous entrepreneurs from Qinghai City, and even quite a few heavyweights from other places had given him the face to attend.

"This doesn't look like a place to discuss business partnerships, does it?" Yan Fengjia got out of the car and personally opened the door for Gu Qinghan.

Seeing models in swimwear and successful men in suits mingling with each other, he felt a slight sense of aversion.

He didn't much care for banquets like this; he felt completely out of place.

Right then, the sound of applause rang out.

"President Gu, this evening gown looks stunning on you. You're definitely going to be the star of tonight!"

A man in a white suit with slicked-back hair walked over, flanked by an entourage.

Gu Qinghan smiled and extended her hand. "President Liu, I didn't expect you to remember me."

"Of course I remember. How could I not? I was deeply impressed by you during the last bidding round."

"And this is..." Liu Qing云 glanced sideways at Yan Fengjia.

Gu Qinghan was about to introduce him, but Liu Qingyun directly ignored him.

"Never mind. Come with me. Tonight you're the leading lady in my heart, and I'll take you to meet some of my friends."

"If this partnership goes smoothly, this friend of mine might be looking to work with you often in the future."

Gu Qinghan felt slightly awkward and withdrew her hand. "Lead the way, President Liu."

Liu Qingyun looked at his hand lingering in mid-air and smiled faintly. "Alright, follow me."

"This guy..." Yan Fengjia narrowed his eyes. "He seems to have a thing for you."

Gu Qinghan rolled her eyes at him. "Don't talk nonsense. I only like you. Besides, he's the son of a Shanghai real estate tycoon, how could that be?"

Yan Fengjia curled the corner of his lips and said nothing more.

"President Gu, let me introduce you. This is my best friend."

At the banquet venue, Liu Qingyun walked over proactively with his so-called friend in tow.

Yan Fengjia looked over and felt a flicker of surprise.

"This guy is a martial artist!"

The man had a buzz cut, wore a black suit, and possessed a tall build that rivaled his own.

Every movement he made exuded an aura of aristocratic grace.

Judging by his demeanor, his status was likely far higher than Liu Qingyun's.

"Hello, President Gu. My name is Ouyang Guan. It's our first time meeting, and I didn't prepare any grand gift, but I must insist you accept this."

Ouyang Guan glanced back at a woman wearing a cheongsam.

The woman produced an exquisite box.

When opened before everyone, it revealed a white medicinal pill emitting a refreshing fragrance.

The crowd immediately erupted into a murmur, and Liu Qingyun stared in jaw-dropping shock.

"Ouyang Guan, are you out of your mind? Are you really choosing women over brothers?"

"Back then, when I offered to buy this Youth-Preserving Pill from you with cash, you wouldn't sell it. Now you're just handing it to President Gu—don't tell me you've fallen for her?"

Everyone cast strange looks, turning their gazes uniformly toward Gu Qinghan.

Gu Qinghan's smile stiffened. "No, no need. This thing looks extremely rare, Mr. Ouyang, you should keep it."

Ouyang Guan offered a gentlemanly smile. "This Youth-Preserving Pill is a tier-four elixir. For a beautiful lady, it nourishes the skin and preserves youth—it's a top-tier medicinal product."

"Since President Gu is so stunning, a fine sword should be given to a hero, and fine flowers to a beauty."

"I believe only President Gu is worthy of taking this Youth-Preserving Pill."

Gu Qinghan felt increasingly awkward and instinctively glanced at Yan Fengjia.

"President Gu, why are you looking at him? Hurry up and accept it! I've been coveting this thing for ages. If you miss this village, you won't find this shop," Liu Qingyun urged enthusiastically, playing wingman to the extreme.

"Yan Fengjia, should I accept it or not?" Gu Qinghan hesitated.

Yan Fengjia gave a faint, dismissive glance. "A tier-four Youth-Preserving Pill? Barely passable. Even though it still has some flaws, taking it won't do you any harm."

"If you like it, I can refine a few better ones for you another day."

As soon as these words left his mouth, Liu Qingyun and Ouyang Guan froze in their tracks.