The banquet security was well-organized and in place.
With constant guidance from staff, Chen Fan walked into the banquet hall.
In the luxurious hall, guests were gathered, chatting in small groups amidst elegant music.
Their conversations revolved around business, networking, the guests of highest prestige, and the auction items.
In the four corners of the hall, there were catering and lounge areas.
A waiter approached with a tray of drinks and asked, "Sir, would you like champagne and the auction catalog?"
Chen Fan picked up a catalog himself and waved his hand.
The waiter discreetly left.
Chen Fan wasn't particularly interested in such banquets.
However, Yuan Liangping's visit to deliver the invitation carried a provocative undertone.
Since Chen Fan was free, he decided to see what Xu Shengqing was up to.
Opening the auction catalog, he found the names of all the items to be auctioned, some accompanied by pictures.
Most were jewelry and antiques, of considerable value.
"Mr. Chen!"
Chen Fan turned his head and saw Jiang Tiansheng approaching with a glass of wine.
As soon as Chen Fan entered, Jiang Tiansheng came forward, clearly having been waiting for him.
Behind Jiang Tiansheng, several guests looked on with surprise and speculation.
Jiang Tiansheng was generally low-key, but he was a figure of the highest standing within the Hangzhou Jiang elite circles.
Now, Jiang Tiansheng was neglecting them to greet Chen Fan, a young man dressed in ordinary clothes, leading them to speculate endlessly about Chen Fan's identity.
In a venue filled with celebrities, all impeccably dressed, Chen Fan's plain attire stood out.
Chen Fan nodded.
"There are rumors that Yuan Liangping and Young Master Xu are planning to establish a two-province chamber of commerce, inviting local prominent families from Hangzhou Jiang to join, and integrating resources from both Jiangnan and Jiangbei."
Jiang Tiansheng said in a low voice.
Chen Fan paused slightly and asked, "Did they approach you?"
"Not directly."
Jiang Tiansheng replied, "But they sent word through an acquaintance, promising me a position as a director in the chamber of commerce."
Chen Fan offered no comment and said, "You attend to your matters, I'll wander around for now and wait to see their next move."
"Understood!"
Jiang Tiansheng nodded and turned to leave.
Immediately, guests approached him, seeking to build connections and network.
Chen Fan headed towards the less crowded catering area, declined the waiter's service, and found a place to sit.
Most guests were busy meeting and networking with various individuals, congregating in the center of the hall or in the lounge areas. This section was less populated.
Pouring himself a glass of lemon water, Chen Fan casually browsed the auction catalog.
Suddenly, his expression turned peculiar.
A woman was in a corner of the catering area, heartily devouring an Australian lobster.
Her eating posture wasn't particularly elegant.
She wore a white women's suit, but it didn't seem to fit well.
Compared to the gorgeous evening gowns of the other female guests, it looked somewhat shabby.
As if sensing Chen Fan's gaze, the woman glanced over.
She was very young, around twenty-one or twenty-two, with short hair that barely reached her ears. Her features were pleasant, but she wore no makeup.
The woman seemed a little embarrassed and smiled at Chen Fan, then continued to tackle the large Australian lobster.
She didn't seem to mind Chen Fan's attention much.
The female waitstaff in the catering area were also observing the woman, whispering amongst themselves and commenting on her eating habits.
This woman looked like she had somehow snuck in.
It was rare to see such a person in a setting filled with elegantly dressed individuals and the confluence of wealth and influence.
She seemed more like someone who came specifically to eat, given that the catering at such banquets was naturally of the highest standard.
Chen Fan, influenced by her, also took a small plate of food and tried some. It tasted quite good.
However, compared to home-cooked meals, it lacked a certain flavor he anticipated.
"Xiao Xuan!!"
Suddenly, an angry voice rang out.
Two women approached the woman who was eating, their faces filled with disdain and anger.
One of them, with dyed brown hair and wearing a long black dress, sternly reprimanded her:
"I was wondering where you disappeared to, so you were hiding here to freeload?"
"Look at you now, like a hungry ghost reincarnated, are you trying to shame us all?"
The voice wasn't very loud, but Chen Fan was close enough to hear it clearly.
He glanced over, feeling a bit curious.
The young woman named Xiao Xuan looked up and said, "The food here is delicious. Elder Sister, Second Sister, why don't you have some too?"
The two women were exasperated.
The elder sister, dressed in a gaudy bright red dress, tapped Xiao Xuan on the head and scolded:
"Xiao Xuan, do you know how precious the invitation to this banquet is? I worked so hard to get one, and you're wasting it like this?"
Xiao Xuan scratched her head and said, "Sister, you know I'm not good at socializing!"
"I don't care. Since you're here, if you don't get contact information from at least five guests, you'll see how I deal with you when we get back!"
Xiao Xuan's face showed a hint of distress.
The servers were whispering amongst themselves, looking amused.
Chen Fan found it quite interesting.
From their words, it seemed these were three sisters who had gone to great lengths to obtain one invitation, and they had come with a specific purpose.
"You know, the future of our family's tea plantation depends on this opportunity. If you don't work hard, you'll be begging for food."
The elder sister continued to scold, pulling Xiao Xuan away.
Xiao Xuan, with a bitter expression, had no choice but to follow her two sisters out of the catering area.
The matter seemed to have concluded.
Chen Fan leisurely ate, continuing to look through the auction catalog.
As he was reading, his gaze suddenly narrowed slightly. Another figure quietly slipped over and then directly approached him.
It was Xiao Xuan from earlier.
She took a plate of food, put several mouthfuls into her mouth, and mumbled a greeting to Chen Fan, "Hello!"
Watching Xiao Xuan's unrefined eating, Chen Fan smiled and nodded.
"Can you give me your contact information?"
Xiao Xuan was very direct.
"No!"
Chen Fan responded just as directly.
He wouldn't give out his contact information casually. Even Jiang Tiansheng had to interact with him several times before earning the right to direct contact.
"Why?"
Xiao Xuan swallowed her food with effort and said, "It's just a phone number, it's not a big deal, is it?"
"Then why didn't you complete your task of getting five numbers?"
Chen Fan asked with a smile.
"Sigh..." Xiao Xuan rolled her eyes and said, "It's boring. I thought you were special, but you're no different from those people who look presentable but actually judge others with prejudice."
Chen Fan shrugged, noncommittal.
Xiao Xuan scooped some caviar into her mouth and said, "This kind of banquet is quite boring. Are you like me, did you sneak in?"
Chen Fan agreed with the assessment of boredom and replied, "Something like that."
"Then it's even more pointless. If you give me your number, you won't lose much. Can you help me?"
"Why should I help you?"
Chen Fan asked with a smile.
Xiao Xuan was stumped. Thinking about it carefully, it was true, why should he help her?
She thought for a moment and said, "How about this, I'll do you a favor and be your date tonight. You can help me deal with my sisters later, how about that?"
Chen Fan asked, "How do I deal with them?"
"It's simple, just brag. " Xiao Xuan said, "Say how wealthy your family is, how extensive your connections are, just blow your own horn as much as you can."
"Since you managed to get into this banquet, bragging a little shouldn't be a problem, right?"