Time passes quickly.
As night falls once more, the Hanjiang Grand Hotel is surrounded by luxury cars.
The grand banquet, which has caused a stir throughout Hangjiang, is about to begin, and dignitaries, celebrities, and wealthy socialites arrive in pairs.
The opportunity to meet and even forge a connection with the distinguished young master Xu from the capital is something that no prominent family or wealthy household is willing to miss.
This young master Xu is said to be from the Chen family in the capital, and the Chen family is a top-tier aristocratic clan.
Across the entire country, only a handful of other clans can compare to the Chen family.
There are even rumors that the auction at the banquet is being held because young master Xu wants to see if there is anything that might pique the interest of the Chen family patriarch.
This is why various prominent families are vying to present their family heirlooms for the auction.
It is not about the money they might earn, but solely to secure a potential favor.
Even some influential families from Jiangbei have sent representatives to attend the banquet.
It is said that the grandeur of this banquet will be unprecedented, bringing together the city's top wealthy elites and celebrities, and it will be talked about for a long time to come.
On the black market, a regular invitation has been inflated to a staggering price of one hundred thousand.
Even so, those with some wealth but insufficient status or connections still find invitations extremely difficult to obtain.
Although there is still some time before the banquet officially starts, many people have gathered outside the hotel entrance, waiting.
They gaze longingly at the special channel set up at the entrance, waiting for the guests attending the banquet, hoping to find a way to enter the banquet hall.
Inside the presidential suite.
Yuan Liangping, holding a glass of red wine, stands alone by the floor-to-ceiling window.
Looking down at the bustling city, he narrows his eyes, his gaze sharp.
He has actually been planning for a long time to consolidate the Hangjiang business community and establish an alliance.
Today, it will be an opportunity.
The banquet and auction are merely formalities; his true objective is to become the paramount figure in both Jiangbei and Hangjiang.
He wants his will and influence to envelop all of Jiangbei and Hangjiang.
From Jiangbei to Hangjiang, and then leveraging the combined strength of the Hangjiang families, he would return to Jiangbei.
Compared to the top aristocratic clans and distinguished families in the capital, local families, no matter how wealthy, are ultimately inferior.
But he has never underestimated himself.
"A toast to celebrate?"
A voice suddenly rings out, with a hint of laughter.
Yuan Liangping turns around. It is Xu Shengqing.
"Young Master Xu, at this moment, shouldn't you be in your room, enjoying tender moments with the young lady of the Wen family?"
Taking a glass of red wine, Yuan Liangping asks with a smile.
"In your heart, am I merely a profligate who only indulges in revelry?"
Xu Shengqing asks with a half-smile.
"How could that be? Others may look down on you, Young Master Xu, but I never will!"
Yuan Liangping says, "If you were an heir of the Chen family, those distinguished young masters from the capital would be insignificant in your presence!"
Hearing Yuan Liangping's words, Xu Shengqing's expression falters slightly.
A hint of disdain and unwillingness flickers in his eyes.
He lets out a laugh and raises his glass, saying, "That's why I have come to win you over, my ally, isn't it?"
"This region of Jiangbei and Hangjiang boasts a prosperous economy with immense potential and a limitless future. If the forces of both regions are integrated, even within the circles of the capital, no one will dare to look down upon you!"
"Perhaps, I will have to rely on your strength!"
"Young Master Xu is too kind."
Yuan Liangping is not surprised by this.
This young master Xu is by no means a mere fop; on the contrary, he is ambitious.
It is a pity that, within the Chen family, young master Xu is ultimately from a collateral branch.
And although the Xu family can leverage the influence of the Chen family, they are, after all, merely a minor force among the prominent families and distinguished clans of the capital.
"If my wish is granted, Liangping will be your most steadfast ally, or rather, your follower!"
This is precisely what Xu Shengqing wants to hear. He laughs heartily and says, "I toast you!"
Yuan Liangping also raises his glass and smiles, "I toast you as well. May you gain the approval of the Chen family patriarch soon. I will wholeheartedly assist you!"
The glasses clink together with a crisp sound.
After draining their glasses, Yuan Liangping straightens his clothes and says, "I must go and greet our guests. Young Master Xu, you can spend more time with the young lady Wen."
"Haha!"
Xu Shengqing waves with a smile.
Yuan Liangping walks out of the suite.
Xu Shengqing stands where Yuan Liangping was, a shadow of gloom appearing in his eyes.
Yuan Liangping's words have stirred his emotions.
He feels he has done enough, yet he still needs to conceal himself behind revelry and feign disinterest in the Chen family's power.
Only then can he occasionally gain some opportunities.
The reason for this is simply that his surname is not Chen, but Xu.
"The Chen family, hmph..."
...
Outside the hotel, as one luxury car after another pulls up, well-dressed elites walk onto the specially laid red carpet.
Under the protection and guidance of security personnel, they enter the hotel one by one.
Those waiting outside the hotel entrance stare at every guest arriving for the banquet, searching for an opportunity.
Their attention is focused on guests who are not accompanied, or who are accompanied by only a few people.
It is said that the invitations have different specifications, limiting the number of companions that can be brought along.
"Manager Wu, it's me, it's Li from Yunteng Trade. Do you have any room next to you? Can you take me to the banquet?"
"Young Master Huang, Young Master Huang, over here! Can you take me into the banquet hall?"
"Manager Lu, please give me a chance. Tonight, I'm yours!"
"..."
Some are fortunate enough to achieve their wish and happily enter with the guests.
Most can only watch with envious eyes, observing the distinguished guests disappear from view under the guidance of security.
Of course, they are also commenting on the identities of the guests attending the banquet.
"That's the head of the Zhang family. He's attending the banquet himself, and only brought his daughter?"
"Manager Xiang of Longda is here too. The person next to him is the famous star Zhao Yuxuan. So, Zhao Yuxuan is indeed being kept by Manager Xiang!"
"Don't spread rumors casually, be careful you don't get overheard."
"The eldest young master of the Tian family is here. Huh? His female companion is the young lady of the Liang family, isn't it? So the news about the Peng and Liang families getting married is true!"
"I see who's here, Mr. Jiang from Shengshi. He's also attending the banquet?"
"..."
As more and more guests arrive, many of the informal rumors that have been circulating are surprisingly confirmed.
The distinguished identities of the guests also validate the caliber of this banquet, leaving those who are unable to enter with a sense of loss.
Finally, as the banquet officially begins, fewer and fewer guests arrive, and many leave in disappointment.
It is at this moment that a young man in ordinary clothing walks up.
Security approaches him, and the young man casually hands over an invitation and walks onto the red carpet.
The remaining people who haven't left their eyes light up.
"Who is this person? He looks unfamiliar, and he's so young, yet he has an invitation?"
"I don't recognize him. Does anyone know?"
"Never mind, this is an opportunity!"
This young man is not accompanied by any female companion, which makes women who are unwilling to give up and are looking to find a wealthy partner's eyes gleam.
As Chen Fan approaches, a woman who is quite confident in her appearance gathers her courage and walks over.
She is stopped by security as she gets closer.
The woman flashes a smile at Chen Fan and says, "Handsome guy, I can be your companion. Give me a chance, tonight I'm yours, okay?"
Another woman squeezes to the side of the channel, striking a pose, "Handsome guy, can you take me into the venue? We can have a story tonight!"
Chen Fan doesn't even spare them a second glance, his expression indifferent as he walks past.
"Damn, dressed poorly, and who knows where he got that invitation from, what's he pretending for?"
"He's showing up this late, could he have picked up a lost invitation?"
"..."
Having failed to achieve their goal, these women, like streetwalkers, curse him.